Well, I missed any input yesterday and thought I would write something but it just didn’t happen. Was busy with work. That four letter word pops up a lot and I hate it. I would rather be focused on some Radio or Antenna project but instead I was obligated to really put in some work. A conference call in the morning and most of the rest of the day doing some research on a future location visit to get an idea about what we would be looking at.
All that said, I did make a run to Lowes. I was looking for one of those big, old screen door springs. No one makes or stocks them anymore. I wanted the one that is stretched out and squeezes together, provides an increasing resistance as it is squeezed. They had some 1 inch springs that pull apart but I wanted some for the new Windom antenna ends to give some flex to the installation if the top of the tower decides to move a bunch. I am already used a pretty good length of 3/16 Nylon antenna rope off the ends At present I don’t figure it is going to move much as I have it guyed off pretty good at only 5 ft. from the top or tower (rotor point) so when I watch it doesn’t move much anymore.
I did end up getting some bungee straps (they were cheap) to put in and test… not sure I like them but I have one installed on the rope:
I didn’t get much else done, other than work. I did get a call from a Ham friend that was in the first steps of getting his Signalink USB hooked up. Since he has not done any digital to speak of he was having to start more-or-less at ground zero. I wasn’t much help as I told him I just ordered mine with the hook cable for the radio I had. Not that the hook up is a big problem but it sure made it easier for me to just hook it up. It is plain though that many manufactures do not have good technical writers, and even then they are not experienced when they write the instructions up. the worst are usually something to do with computers. The English is bad, the meaning gets lost and you at times do not really know which goes first. Maybe it is just me but I have to read the directions multiple times, but hey, who reads directions? We all are experienced Amateurs and have passed the tests so we know it all and can do it with out instructions right? We didn’t stick with the radio problem very long as we spent more time talking about investments and how we track them. I think he is doing a lot better than I am.
Today, I really didn’t want to get up but did anyway. Got around, checked “WORK” emails. Damn that “four-letter-word”. Then was off for an Eye appointment, but first a stop for breakfast. I had not been out for breakfast in awhile and no one else likes to go to MC-D but for some reason I have no problem with them. You can get oatmeal that is decent but over priced, although when I go out it is for some of the bad stuff, like the pancakes and sausage, or the Big Country Breakfast. I guess I also like the place as it has a good sunny area to set and I can see the big screen and catch up on the ESPN news. Sometimes I can even find a paper to read.
I then was off for that yearly eye check. It is amazing that you go into the Eye Doctors office and there is so much big equipment. They took pictures of my eyes from inside out, talked about “floaters”, made me read those stupid charts that have no meaning. What kind of word is EZNPS? They also put drops in and measured the pressure. Hell, my eyes have pressure? I think it may be all that WORK trying to get out? The good news is my eyes are about the same level of OLD, that they were last year. I do have some very initial starts of Cataracts but nothing to worry about for now so I keep the same reading glasses and pay my way out and have to go back in a year… or two?
Once the eye check was done I made a trip back home to recheck the email and to a little more “four letter word” BS. About Noon I headed in and picked up Sherrie and we ran by Dominos and had one of those lunch meals of a Sandwich and drink and took that to the park at Boomer. It was a really nice day, so we just sat there and enjoyed the warmth for a January afternoon and watched the ducks, geese and joggers. We probably would have done better to join them but we did just split the sandwich.
With lunch out of the way I took her back to “four letter word” and then I ran by the local crafts and hardware store to talk with the Ham that runs the place. We talked about some local Ham Radio goings on here in the big city and things going with the local club and various other issues. I really had gone to get information about a project I have in mind for the house. I needed names for “good” tile work and maybe remodel work. We have not been real happy with our tile work and figure we might get started by changing that in the Bathroom first? I have some names and will try to collect a few more then get some estimates and get scared out of the projects but maybe not? Who knows. When I got home I fired up the motor home to get it’s monthly run. Good to keep it lubed and run a little since I am not out on the road. I also needed to charge up the road batteries a little as well.
After that I came in and a little later started looking at the mail. OUCH!… I say that because I had a very small project for an electrician we needed done. move one light, install one in a closet and put in two timed switches… In times past I would have done it myself and done it poorly so we hired this done… they came in two trips, because they didn’t have the light switches and had to order them. They maybe spent a total of 3 hours here, maybe less and the total bill was $530. What a crockl!!!!!. Stupid me, I didn’t get an estimate beforehand, and on the bill there was a huge paragraph on how hard it was to run the power over to the closet because of the roof line, or some such BS… Well I for sure think I got stuck with that one, and have very little argument, so I will pay up but will look for a different electrician the next time I need repairs.
With that final blow of the pocket book and ego, I gathered up a cold adult beverage and planted myself on the back deck while the sun was just going down… oh it was 68 degrees out when I went out… great weather for setting on the back deck to watch the sun go down, along with my bank account….
Actually this pictures was taken last year about this time and the water is way lower now.
At least it doesn’t look like this (yet)…. ha note the date.
I spent a little time talking to my Dad and caught up on his daily goings. That was about it for the end of my day… We might get supper and we might not? I might do something else and I might not… I may go out and play a little Ham Radio, then again, maybe not? At this point, I am not sure, still a little frothy with that bill. – WD0AJG