So, Sunday evening, my car decided to start making smoke from the general vicinity of the alternator. Trying to start the car on Monday resulted in terrible screeching, grinding noises from the engine, which is never a good thing. Which means Monday evening consisted of calling up KC for help, and pulling out the alternator. If only the alternator in my car were actually designed to be removed.
It turns out that it's not too difficult to unhook the alternator, once you find the two bolts that hold it on. It's a bit of a squeeze trying to get the wrenches and sockets to the nuts and bolts, but it's not impossible. What is impossible, however, is removing the alternator from the car, even once it is complete detached. We were stuck at the stage for about 45 minutes yesterday. The alternator was free to wiggle, but there is no available path for it to come out. We finally managed to take enough things off that we pulled it free. But the auto parts stores all close at 9:00 in town, and were closed. We're going to Vegas tonight, which means we'll be working on part 2 of the adventure on Wednesday.
Tuesday, July 31
Thursday, July 26
A Post
I feel bad for having not posted for so long. My schedule has been all whacked out this week. We're growing more crystals this week than we ever have before! As a result, we have more puller hours to cover than ever before! My official schedule for the week was: 5pm to 9pm every day, plus whenever else I need to be here.
In the only bicycling news topic you'll see discussed here for the rest of the month, I'm going to go test drive a Trek 4300 tomorrow and see if I want to buy it. Since my last 3 bonuses from work and a tax refund have all been ear-marked for a bicycle, I'm finally getting around to buying one. The plan is to start biking to work in a month or so when it is somewhat less like the planet Venus here in St. George. You know, 400 °F with a sulfur/ash atmosphere.
Finally, on the "Labels for this post:" section of Blogger, it gives three examples of what sort of label you could be putting on your post. The three are: scooters, vacation and fall.
Scooters?
In the only bicycling news topic you'll see discussed here for the rest of the month, I'm going to go test drive a Trek 4300 tomorrow and see if I want to buy it. Since my last 3 bonuses from work and a tax refund have all been ear-marked for a bicycle, I'm finally getting around to buying one. The plan is to start biking to work in a month or so when it is somewhat less like the planet Venus here in St. George. You know, 400 °F with a sulfur/ash atmosphere.
Finally, on the "Labels for this post:" section of Blogger, it gives three examples of what sort of label you could be putting on your post. The three are: scooters, vacation and fall.
Scooters?
Wednesday, July 25
Monday, July 16
Weird Sizing
So, according to whoever it is that sizes cleanroom stuff, I have a medium sized body, medium sided hands, a large head and extra large feet. What a wonderful self image they're providing me with!
Pavilions
This weekend consisted of two things for me and Shannon: driving and pavilions. That's the only thing that seemed to happen. We drove up to SLC Friday night, slept and got up to have breakfast at the park. Willowcreek park that is, and breakfast was provided by my parents ward.
Next, we went to Flat Ironhead Mesa National Game Reserve, Fish Hatchery for the Blockburger Family Reunion. There was lots of people, lots of squirt guns, and lots of Barrs. Lunch was cooked by the Lems clan, as we ate in the pavilion.
After a brief A/C break at the Blockburgers, we headed off to Sugar House. Rumor had it that there would be scores of Hursts and some more free food, under a pavilion, of course. Even though we'd spent half the day outside, I still was dumb enough to play 2 soccer games. Both barefoot. My toe is somewhat bruised today, but I suppose it was worth it.
We drove back Sunday morning. Shannon tells me that there is a weekend somewhere out in October where we don't have anything planned.
Next, we went to Flat Ironhead Mesa National Game Reserve, Fish Hatchery for the Blockburger Family Reunion. There was lots of people, lots of squirt guns, and lots of Barrs. Lunch was cooked by the Lems clan, as we ate in the pavilion.
After a brief A/C break at the Blockburgers, we headed off to Sugar House. Rumor had it that there would be scores of Hursts and some more free food, under a pavilion, of course. Even though we'd spent half the day outside, I still was dumb enough to play 2 soccer games. Both barefoot. My toe is somewhat bruised today, but I suppose it was worth it.
We drove back Sunday morning. Shannon tells me that there is a weekend somewhere out in October where we don't have anything planned.
Touring
Well, in all fairness to the Tour de France, I will point out that it becomes much more interesting once people hit the mountains. My previous gripes that the breakaways always fail really only applies to the flat stages. Yesterday (and the day before according to Suzanne) people managed to beat out the main group. I think it's a lot more interesting to see lots of action as people try to ditch everyone up steep mountains. Today is a rest day, and tomorrow is the last of the Alps. But we've still got the Pyrenees.
Wednesday, July 11
Well, my Grandmother (Martence) and her husband (Jim Thornton) were in the paper the other day. Take a look, and see what you have to look forward to in a half dozen or more decades.
Tuesday, July 10
Stage 3
Well, the tour made me nervous this morning. 4 guys broke out for a lead about 5km in to the race, and held it for about 250km, or around 6 hours. But, there it was, like clockwork. They got caught about 700m from the end.
Tour DAY
My sisters will be glad to know that I've watched stage 1 and 2 of the Tour de France this year. (But not the prologue.) I find it interesting that I haven't actually seen them do any riding in France yet, but I'm sure they'll get to that soon. Stage 2 was a good one, though I ended up a bit disappointed. For those of you who don't watch professional cycling (it's on OLN, if you've been looking for it) let me explain how it works.
The riders set off on 150km or so long ride. Sometimes it's flat, sometimes it's hilly, but it doesn't really matter. (Unless it's a time trial, but we're ignoring that case.) The riders all like to ride in one great big pack called the peloton. ("peloton" is French for "ball" or "group" which is an interesting description of 180 cyclists trying to keep as close together as possible. Anyway, after about 10 or 20 km a small group of riders will take off and try to ride away and beat the whole group. It's usually 3 or 5 or 7 riders or something like that. (They seem to have a predisposition to choose odd primes.) This small group, called the "breakaway", will get 5 or maybe 10 minutes out in front of the rest of the group. And the peloton doesn't care. And for the next 3 hours, they will continue to not care. Those riders in the break away make their brave dash out on their own, and the 180 other riders they've left behind barely seem to notice.
But here's the important part. As a spectator, you might start to get excited to see something interesting where a few riders leave all the others in the dust. Don't worry, they won't make it. Because every time, like clock work, with about 10km left in the race, they get caught. Every time. For about 130km the breakaway manages to stay in front of the main group, but it never lasts. And stage 2 was no different. Every time I get excited that they might pull it off, and they never do.
Oh, and if you ever do see someone manage to hold on, you have to make sure to tune in the next day, too. That's when you get to hear about him failing the steroid test.
The riders set off on 150km or so long ride. Sometimes it's flat, sometimes it's hilly, but it doesn't really matter. (Unless it's a time trial, but we're ignoring that case.) The riders all like to ride in one great big pack called the peloton. ("peloton" is French for "ball" or "group" which is an interesting description of 180 cyclists trying to keep as close together as possible. Anyway, after about 10 or 20 km a small group of riders will take off and try to ride away and beat the whole group. It's usually 3 or 5 or 7 riders or something like that. (They seem to have a predisposition to choose odd primes.) This small group, called the "breakaway", will get 5 or maybe 10 minutes out in front of the rest of the group. And the peloton doesn't care. And for the next 3 hours, they will continue to not care. Those riders in the break away make their brave dash out on their own, and the 180 other riders they've left behind barely seem to notice.
But here's the important part. As a spectator, you might start to get excited to see something interesting where a few riders leave all the others in the dust. Don't worry, they won't make it. Because every time, like clock work, with about 10km left in the race, they get caught. Every time. For about 130km the breakaway manages to stay in front of the main group, but it never lasts. And stage 2 was no different. Every time I get excited that they might pull it off, and they never do.
Oh, and if you ever do see someone manage to hold on, you have to make sure to tune in the next day, too. That's when you get to hear about him failing the steroid test.
Night Time Activities
Here's a fun one: Go outside at night (it works well when you're working overnight) and watch Arizona burn.
From the parking lot here at work I can see fires dotting the hills and it smells like campfire. It's pretty interesting, and at least that is one fire that hasn't done much damage to people or property. I know the fires are still many miles away, but they sure seem closer at night when you can see the flames.
From the parking lot here at work I can see fires dotting the hills and it smells like campfire. It's pretty interesting, and at least that is one fire that hasn't done much damage to people or property. I know the fires are still many miles away, but they sure seem closer at night when you can see the flames.
Saturday, July 7
Summertime Competitions
For some reason, people like to get into "fishing story" contests about trivial things. Who walked the farther to school, who had the worst cold ever, and, at this time of year who lives in the hottest place.
But this time, I think I've got everybody beat.
I stepped outside at work on Friday, only to discover that it was 115° and raining ash. Yes, a fine white dusting of ash was falling from the sky and swirling around in the breeze as a result of the fires burning just down the road in Arizona. So if you want to try to top that one . . .
But this time, I think I've got everybody beat.
I stepped outside at work on Friday, only to discover that it was 115° and raining ash. Yes, a fine white dusting of ash was falling from the sky and swirling around in the breeze as a result of the fires burning just down the road in Arizona. So if you want to try to top that one . . .
Thursday, July 5
Welcome to July
Now prepare to be melted.
It's 103° at high noon today. Weather.com says that we'll peak out at 115°. The worst part is that it doesn't get out of triple digits until about 9pm, and it's in the 90s until midnight. So there's no real chance to ever do anything outside. I was driving to work at 8am this morning and fighting the urge to turn on the AC. Yuck.
It's 103° at high noon today. Weather.com says that we'll peak out at 115°. The worst part is that it doesn't get out of triple digits until about 9pm, and it's in the 90s until midnight. So there's no real chance to ever do anything outside. I was driving to work at 8am this morning and fighting the urge to turn on the AC. Yuck.
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