Write while the writing is good...

We had, as is customary in the Lower Drainland this time of year, a fierce windstorm last night. We awoke this morning feeling fortunate, as the City Faeries only had to hack up one of the trees out front, and the only cable that came loose from the house was a 2-wire AC line that had been used by former tenants for...Christmas Lights, I think.

BUT...we did not escape entirely un-scathed, for we discovered to our horror that our Internet Connection was no longer with us.

For those who aren't aware of my current living arrangements: Kath and Grant were evicted from their old place last summer. Not their fault; their Landlord wanted to retire and had sold the property to a new owner who wanted to put a new house up on the lot. There was a concentrated search to find a rental property in the same neighborhood, suitable for a family of seven. At about the same time, my divorce was being finalized and I too was looking around for new accommodations. The suggestion was made that perhaps Grant and Kathy and myself could combine forces (and rental funds) to lease a place that would be more amenable to our needs than we could afford separately. We wound up in a much-storied former duplex just off 75Ave on the Delta border. The place has pluses and minuses, but on the whole it is livable and the Landlord has been mostly diligent in keeping up repairs and maintaining the place.

We have only the one internet connection.

Grant and Kath pay for the TELUS DSL line that provides access. They've also got a D-Link wireless router that provides a "meh" signal to most of the house. The signal is weak enough that it was next to useless down here at the other end of the house where I am. I didn't want to pay to have a second DSL line run in, so I came up with an ingenious solution: a pair of D-Link PowerLine adapter nodes. Grant and Kath have two systems upstairs, one wired to the router and one on a Cisco USB wireless adapter, and I have a CAT 5 connection to my system downstairs via the PowerLine node.

None of which was working this morning after the 2Wire Advanced DSL modem TELUS sent with the account decided to pack it in. TELUS was nice enough to provide a new modem...which will arrive next Wednesday...

SO: what can we do, uncle Brian?

I had a look down in my "trunk o' junk" downstairs and lo and behold...I found a Siemens TELUS modem. The kind TELUS used about five years ago...Didn't know if it would work, of course.

It didn't.

That was that, of course...I couldn't possibly have anything else in my Vast Tickle Trunk of Obsolete Computer Hardware, could I?

Well, yes, yes I could. After several more minutes of digging, I dredged up an old D-Link 300G DSL modem. With adapter.

Not fancy, not "high-tech", no wireless broadcast or built in multi-port LAN switch...just one socket for the DSL line going in, one socket for the Ethernet line going out, and a plug for the power supply. In short, the bare minimum requirements to serve the purpose. If it worked, which it did. I literally had only to hook it up and plug it in and BAM! - we were online again.

I've no clue at ALL where that modem came from, much less why it works so well. It's kind of old and decrepit, and it isn't as robust as the 2Wire unit. I expect that it will also fail sometime in the next two weeks or so, but since we only need it for the next six days...that shouldn't be a problem. If it is still functional when its replacement arrives, I am SO keeping that sucker.

My 200TH POST!  I suppose it looked for a time as if I wouldn't make it this far, eh?

In keeping with previously established tradition, I'm going to make this here "post-Christmas" post a thing of weirdness and wonderment.

Let's talk "magnetizing".

I served a two year mission for the LDS church in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. Much of the time spent in the Memphis, Tennessee area.

In one area (Tupelo, Mississippi I believe), we had an investigator who was really into "new age" reading and study. When we shared the Gospel with her she gave up a lot of her "new age" books.  That was how I got to read "Illusions" by Richard Bach.  A book which introduced me to the concept of "magnetizing". Briefly: the way to bring anything into your life is to (vividly) imagine that it is already there. There are a few other details involved ("imagine the object surrounded by golden light"), but as I already mentioned, it is a New Age book.

Sounds like a lot of Hokum, right?

I've already used this technique, 'tho perhaps not for its intended purpose. I use it to find things that I've lost track of. Also, it has been some time since I last used it.

I've been quite forgetful lately. (Which reminds me, I've got to go retrieve that Xmas card Kathy and Grant gave me on Sunday last - I think it's still stuck in their couch.) One of the things I recently misplaced was the key to my new(ish) VW Passat.  I last remembered having it in hand on or about December 12th.  I first noticed it missing on December 20th. Way to maintain that mental acuity, eh? After fruitlessly searching for it in all the places I thought it could be, it dawned on me that I could have, in a moment of paranoia, hidden the key...and forgot all about where I had hidden it. It looked like I would be paying my local VW dealer to have a new key cut for the Passat.

As I have used the "magnetizing" technique to find lost objects before, and as I was at a loss for what else to do (apart from giving up and calling the VW dealer), I decided to use the technique once again to see if I could make the key "magically" show up. The key is a familiar object, as is the Teamsters key fob it's attached to. I know the size, shape, heft, texture and surfaces of that key so well I would know it even in total darkness.  So I sat down a couple days ago and spent a few minutes meditating on it, as if it were already in my hand. I spent a little time yesterday focusing my thoughts in like manner.  Then this morning, as I was waking up, I spent a few moments on the exercise...and I got the distinct impression that I had left the key (paranoia, remember?) in a jar on top of the fridge.

And there it was. On top of my fridge. In a glass jar. In plain view. I had probably been looking directly at it at least a dozen times in the past two weeks and simply had not seen it...until then.

If I'm this good with "lost" items, I wonder how effective this would be in finding a new career?

...or a slimmer, healthier body?

...or a new companion?

...or anything, really?

December 7th...a date "which will live in infamy".

Or not.

I'm getting a jump start on my New Year's resolutions.  I'm going to be writing a lot more on this 'blog.  Whether or not I'll have anything noteworthy to write remains to be seen.

So...it's been several months; what's up?

I joined the Ward Choir.  Then I joined the Stake Choir.  It's Xmas time!  Time to get my Cantata on!

We perform the night of the 11th.  Should be a good program.  It's not actually a Cantata as such...that's just what we've been calling it these past few years.  Our Choir Mistress, sister Ashton, has selected an interesting and even challenging  repertoire.  I do hope my voice will be fully recovered by then, because I've been sick with a chest cold these past two weeks.

Our Ward Choir will also be performing, although I'm not sure exactly when.  I've also been invited into a quartet to sing "With Wondering Awe".  I'm supposed to be learning the Tenor part for it.  With my voice in its present condition, this has been a little difficult.

In other news, Mom and Dad are not coming to BC for Xmas.  I was really hoping my kids would get some "bonding time" with their Sanderson Grandparents.  They have elected to stay home in Cardston to be near Karen and her kids; who may be needing a little extra support this year as Chad's health issues have come to a head of sorts and it's causing problems for Karen and their kids.

I should still be able to see my kids and get some good "Daddy" times in.  I'm spoiling those two rotten, and it's showing in my finances.  Of course, if I weren't spending my largesse (such as it is) on my kids, I'd probably just spend it on myself.

Speaking of which; I've decided to sell Max come the spring.  The VW Passat is a fun car to drive, but this particular example is just plain annoying.  Cosmetically and Mechanically the car is fine.  Electrically, however, it has revealed numerous bugs and glitches that mean I will need to spend some cash and time getting the car up to par.  I'm also selling the little Golf - still not dead yet - and Lord knows what I'll be driving next.  I'm even starting to get nostalgic about that Caravan!  Despite its age, it was a solid, mechanically reliable and easily-maintained vehicle.

I am slowly - oh so slowly - taking care of the numerous loose ends still left after the divorce.  Selling off items of property I don't need, banking, bonds, taxes, etc.  I really hate dealing with ANY sort of bureaucracy.  I should have everything wrapped up by the time Kath and Grant's lease on this place expires at the beginning of April.  No idea what they/we are going to do/move into next.  We'll see what happens.

Here's some pictures of Max:

Where to begin...


...At the beginning, of course.

Okay, here's how I'm doing:

I'm divorced.

I've moved into a bigger place.

I bought a better car.

Now for the details.  The divorce became final a week ago.  Co-incidentally, today is my 45 birthday.  Happy Birthday to me.  Dad is over and he is taking me and Kath and Grant (and kids) out to dinner to celebrate.  I hardly know what to do with myself and while I would like to say I've been sleeping better lately; I haven't.  There are still a few details here and there to take care of, and I'm still not feeling myself yet.  But I am slowly getting better.  I'm dealing with it all, is what I'm trying to say, I guess.

Readers of this 'blog will already have read me moaning about the inadequacies of my new residence.  It's not actually that bad. I've made a few minor fixes here and there that have helped.  I'm still waiting on the new counter top and sink in the kitchen, however.  This has been a longer "just a week or two" than I have ever waited for in my life up to now.  The last hurdle is usually the hardest, and I console myself that once that sink is fixed the place will be just about PERFECT...except for the new light in the bathroom and the laundry I'm planning on installing in the niche next to the furnace.  Where would I be without projects to keep me occupied?

Speaking of projects: that brings us to the Car.

I bought a 1999 VW Passat Turbo.

...Because it felt right.

I've been using that phrase somewhat lately, haven't I?  I saw the ad for the car listed in Craigslist and almost immediately got an inspiration that this was the car I was looking for.  I hadn't even done any research on the Passat model yet!  My original plans were to replace the Mk III Golf with a Mk III Jetta.  Then, as it became evident that I would have a bit more money to play with than I had originally anticipated, I began looking into the possibility of a Mk IV Jetta...perhaps even a TDI model!  I soon found, however, that a VR6 or TDI model was out of my budget (hey, I'm not going to go crazy here!) unless I wanted to buy a "fixer-upper"; and the required fixes that most examples I found would need were a little outside my skill set.

The Passat (I have named him "Max"), did not require any mechanical fixes...that I was aware of.  However, the dealership (Technique Auto Sales, 225 Kingsway, Vancouver - tell 'em Brian sent you) had the car listed for one half of its Book Value.  Well within my budget, but the lowball price listing gave me pause and made me wonder what the dealership wasn't telling me.

They wouldn't tell me.

So I brought it home, and after some cursory examination found the following:

-one of the tires had been slashed.
-the dealership had rotated the tires around the car in order to take the photos for the ad.
-the ABS system warning lights on the dash were on.  Permanently.
-the passenger side lock had been removed, and the dealership had stuck a plastic cover over the hole from one of the rear doors of another Passat.  Said cover fell off before I got the car home.
-The brakes and one of the brake sensor lines had been completely replaced.  Probably in an attempt to remedy the ABS system fault.
-Volkswagen wants 1950$ to replace the entire ABS assembly on a Mk V Passat or Audi A4.
-The anti-theft code on the stereo has been erased, rendering it inoperable.
-The moon roof had a tendency to open by itself.
-The one-and-only key the dealership gave me (the Passat model originally comes with 4 keys AND an alarm remote) would not arm the anti-theft system, or open the trunk, OR close the moon roof remotely.  I know the Master Key is SUPPOSED to do all that because I insisted that the dealership provide me an owner's manual for the 1999 Passat. The key I've got is the "Valet" key - it opens only the driver's door and will also operate the ignition; but will not operate any of the car's accessories.
-The passenger side rear door has had its lock and window servos disconnected.

Now, the guys at Technique Auto Sales said nothing about this car being in an accident, or having been stolen...but I think the car may have been in an accident and I know it's been stolen; and recovered.  The theft-and-recovery is probably why the former owner traded it in on a 2010 model Passat (yes, the dealer actually showed me the transfer from the previous owner - to show that the vehicle had Clear Title, I guess).

My conclusion after all this?  I bought a LEMON...Arrrrrrgh!!!

That probably explains why I heard the guys at the dealership laughing as I drove it away...

Now, after further examination...

-the ABS fault is quite common due to a design glitch in the ABS control unit that Bosch never did get around to fixing.  You can have the unit re-built for 100$-300$...or you could just pop it open and re-solder the loose wires yourself.  Fair Warning: do not attempt this repair yourself unless you are an electronics technician; or a hobbyist who has done component level repair on a circuit board with surface-mount components.  Also, there are specific tools and materials you'll need before attempting this kind of thing, or you'll probably just destroy the unit, rather than repairing it.

Do I have the techniques, tools, and materials to attempt this repair myself?  Oh yes.  Yes I do.

All the other issues with the car's locks, keys and electrics are fairly easy to fix, and will be done in short order over the next few weeks.  Except the moon roof.  I cranked that closed with the back-up mechanical system - and then disconnected the switch and the power to the actuator.  That sucker is staying put.

Technique Auto Sales supposes that they sold some sap a car for 3000$ that needs 2500$ + in repair.  At first, I thought I was that sap.

Then I discovered that what actually happened was that I got a 6000$ car for half its book value because I did my homework...and the dealership didn't.

But I didn't know that until after I bought it...

Perfect for a Monday...

I got up and walked into my kitchen a little after 5 AM this morning...

...to find a haze of smoke hovering about a foot off the ceiling and a strong burning smell coming from the vicinity of my fridge.  After staring aghast at the fridge for a full minute I realized two things:

1. I needed to open up the doors and windows before the new smoke alarm went off.

2. I wasn't going to make it to work this morning.

The fridge was cycling on-and-off every minute, but the compressor was LOUD and running more or less constantly.  I moved all the bric-a-brac off the top of the fridge and pulled it out of its niche in the corner.  Once around the back of the fridge, I was able to see the scorch mark on the linoleum and noticed the distinct tang of burned motor bushings.  With the fridge unplugged the smoke cleared and I waited an hour or so (about 6:45 AM) before calling my sister Kathy.

For those who don't know my living arrangements; I moved out of the house L and I owned and moved into a new place with my Sister Kathleen and Brother (in law) Grant...and their five kids.  I've got the downstairs suite and they've got the upstairs plus the other half of the downstairs.  It's worked out really well so far.  I figured I had to move out once the Divorce was final...more on that in a moment.

Anyways; I got all the frozen food into Kath's freezer in the garage and put all the items from the cooler section in a shopping basket to keep temporarily in their fridge.  Now I'm waiting to place a call to the Property Management Company who takes care of this place...I need a new fridge; and maybe a new stove while we're at it?

This place has been BEAT on!  The maintenance has been minimal and looks as if it were done by the Marx Brothers, Incorporated.  I have a tub in the bathroom that sits, no joke, 22 inches off the floor.  Got that?  The rim of the tub is three feet off the floor!  Makes getting in and out of the shower in the morning mighty interesting.  I may have to install a safety bar on the side of the tub surround.  Essentially, they left the old tub surround in place and simply parked a new steel-side tub ( the kind that doesn't need a surround) on top of the old surround.  A tub on top of a tub (that isn't there any longer), so to speak.  I shudder when I think of the re-plumbing of the drain that must have been necessary for this "kludge".  Then there is the kitchen sink that is slowly sinking thru the dry-rotted counter-top.  Then there is the oven with no bottom element (and no-where to plug said element into, the wiring has been ripped out).  Finally, there is the smoking fridge.

To be fair, the P.M.C. has fixed a few of the more pressing items.  The constantly leaking drain in the bathroom sink; which had rotted out the lower half of the sink cabinet, for instance.  The sink and cabinet were replaced and the drain line was re-done.  Not the most aesthetically pleasing job, but at least it works.  The holes in the wall have been patched...poorly.  The carpets and other fixtures that suffered damage from a minor flood that the P.M.C. rep didn't see fit to mention to us were replaced.  Although the over-sized, mismatched, and amateur - installed baseboards are kind of a dead giveaway.  At least the carpet was correctly done.  Indoor-outdoor, low pile, high traffic Berber; A.K.A. "airport carpet"...classy.

I really shouldn't complain too much.  We've only signed a one-year lease.  The P.M.C. has insisted that I take out Renter's Insurance to cover any damage done by my waterbed.  I think I'll be replacing the waterbed bladder with a foam mattress and the P.M.C. can have their Renter's Insurance once all the broken items are properly fixed around here!  Fair enough?

Now, speaking of "properly fixed"...

The case of Sanderson vs Sanderson was heard June 13th at the Vancouver Courthouse.  Because all parties were in agreement, the J.C.C. was wrapped up rather quickly and it was arranged to have His Honor hear the Plea for Divorce almost immediately.  So the Decree was issued from the Bench and goes into effect 31 days from that date.  This will be July 14th...Bastille Day.  There's some irony in there somewhere, but I'm too tired and annoyed right now to go looking for it.

Is this a monthly journal or a quarterly?

Okay, here's how the divorce is going:

First, some background; I have tried on several occasions to get my Ex 'round the table to hammer out an agreement about property and custody that we could take to court.  No success.

I contacted an Internet-based divorce mill and had them draw up the papers for a simple, no-fault claim based on separation.  I figured a good start date would be when I moved into my own basement: March, 2008.  I was ready to file in March of 2010, or shortly thereafter, but the Ex asked me to hold off until after October of 2010; until she could finish up her college courses at VCC. After thinking about it a bit, I agreed.  Final decision on filing the papers was set for last quarter 2010, or first quarter 2011.  I filed at the Vancouver Court Registry on February 2nd, 2011.  She was served her copy of the claim nine days later on Friday the 11th of February.  She didn't speak to me for the next three days...

Then she hired a Lawyer.  Then she invited me to sit down with the Lawyer and hammer out an agreement about property and custody that we could take to court. Success!...at least as far as she is concerned.

BC law states that the respondent to a claim has 30 days in which to file a response, after which the claimant is free to file for a Bench Decree in the matter.  The 30 days ended on Sunday, March 13.  I was told the Lawyer filed the challenge to my claim on March 1st, but I went down to the courts on Wednesday the 16th to discover that they had filed on day 31: Monday, March 14th.  I was too late to file my request for a Decree.  Should have planned that one better.  It is now March 20th.  I have yet to be served with my copy of the counter-claim.

I have, however, got a pretty good idea what form our property agreement is going to take.  It's a good deal - for my Ex.  I will likely have to hire a Lawyer of my own before this is all done.  The only advantage I have in this situation is knowing exactly what my Ex's expectations are...and how much she may be willing to give up if I let her have them.  My own needs are far more modest.

On to the work front; I finally signed up for our new online payroll accounting.  HBC stopped giving out printed pay statements sometime last year and I waited until now to sign up for them online.  I was dismayed to discover that I have not been paid for a full pay period for the last three months.  I have missed a number of days with my neck injury, but it seems all those days were paid out consecutively as Sick Days.  I have no Sick Days left.  Still, I haven't taken any days off recently and I am fully expecting my next pay statement to be a full hours one.  Watch this space for further bulletins - or flying fur.  I don't want to have to ask our HR department to audit ALL of my pay statements for the past year, but I'll do it if my next statement comes up short.

On the Automotive front: I have decided to fix up my beater VW.  In part because I don't have the money to replace it outright (yet), and in part because I've already sunk so much money into it just to keep it on the road that if I simply fix all of its issues, that puppy's going to be with me for another 10 years or more.

Or until I do find that suitable replacement.

I've been getting chummy with Lorne Kintrea lately.  He's been trying to get his mobile auto-mechanic business up and running.  What he really needs is a bigger vehicle.  He ought to sell his Land Cruiser and buy a van.  He could get a van for a song...I got TWO of them that way!  I've been looking on Craig's List and something like a Caravan or some such would be pretty reasonable.  I'll be buying an engine stand for the VW soon, and I've already told Lorne he can use it if he needs to.

Here's how January went so far.
Let's back up a bit first...

In December, my Aunt Audrey made me a surprising and welcome offer.  She had been waiting over three years for an opening at an Extended Care Facility in Langley.  The opening had finally been made, and she was going to be moving to Langley.  However, she didn't want to sell her house as the market is somewhat depressed at the moment.  She needed a Live-In Caretaker...and offered me the opportunity.

To say I was enthusiastic about the chance to Finally Leave the Basement is an understatement.  Audrey and I discussed the arrangement that first day, and I distinctly remember "no rent" and "your overall expenses shouldn't be increased".  All fine by me...'cause I couldn't afford any increased expenses.  I can barely afford the expenses I have now.  I am STILL paying off credit card debt from four years ago!  I haven't paid back  all the money I owe on my current vehicle.  By my reckoning, I've paid for that car twice already.  The trip to Disney was nice...but that was partially borrowed money too.  I've been living it up folks!  Well past time to finish paying the piper...


BUT...the move...didn't...feel...right.

I got some books and bookshelves moved over.  I left the rest of the move until after New Year's as I didn't think I would be able to arrange help until then.  I did try, but it didn't work out.  Audrey's grandson, Jason Laidlaw, did an excellent job of helping his Grandmother move her things out of the house and over to Langley.  He also went above and beyond in leaving the house clean and swept, and packing nearly all of the remaining items and putting them into storage in the garage.  The house was ready for me to occupy.

We spoke in person just before I left for Alberta.  He re-iterated what I had heard from Audrey about paying the utilities and then words to the effect that I would be paying the property taxes as well...

Huh?  That wasn't what I had heard.  Well, no matter, I can call Audrey and see what this is about.  She probably meant the Municipal Services Assessment.  I definitely would pay that; after all, if I'm living there, I may as well pay for the Water/Sewer and Sanitation services I'm using.  Audrey couldn't be expecting me to pay Property Taxes on a house I didn't own, could she?

Back to Jason.  He mentioned that his Grandmother was mostly moved in, and had had her new phone hooked up...but he didn't tell me the new number.  Hmmmm.

Note that nothing untoward or dishonest has been done at this point...but I'm starting to wonder.  So I called Eugenie.

Eugenie Sanderson is my Grandmother, she is also Audrey's sister.  I figured if anyone could tell me Audrey's new phone number, it would be her.  I was correct.

I called Audrey.  It was a somewhat unusual conversation.  It was rather abrupt, for one thing.  No money or Property Taxes were mentioned; but she seemed to be having a fair amount of anxiety over...the trees and shrubbery in the front yard.

So here's what I figured out afterward...I'm mentioning it now, because it will be important later.

Audrey wasn't just looking for someone to keep the lights on and the "hearth fires burning" at her house...she was looking for on call landscaping, trimming and arbor work!  I know that such work was on her mind because I met the nice man she had hired in years past to do the yard trimmings and tree lopping.  He came around while I was shoveling snow off the front walk and the driveway.  The lot that the house is on used to be much larger and it was, back in the day, heavily wooded.  There are still a few of those BIG pine trees along the north and south lines of the property.  Some of those pines are in need of arbor work.  Dead boughs needing to be lopped, etc.  All in all, there's a lot of major yard work needed to get the property more "presentable" for sale.  Audrey can't do it herself, of course; that's why she hires a professional to come in every so often.  I have no idea how much a professional landscaper/tree surgeon costs...but I imagine it's pretty expensive.

I also heard from Audrey, and from Jason, that living at the facility in Langley was going to be more expensive than Audrey had first anticipated.

Still with me?  Okay, here's what happened a few days after I got back from Alberta:

I got a phone message from Jason asking me to call him soon as I could as he had some important news.  I called...and the phrase "Eight Hundred Dollars a month in rent" came up early on in the conversation.

WHAT???

I should add as an aside that 800$ a month (plus utilities) is a really reasonable rent for a 3 bedroom 1 bath bungalow close to schools and shopping.  Especially in this neighborhood.  The rent was not the problem.  The Problem was that I can't afford to pay rent while I'm still paying the Mortgage AND child support HERE!!!

Okay...okay, I feel better now...

So how about it, unseen reader?  Would this latest development have raised any warning flags?  Would you want to tread carefully and diplomatically?  Too bad I didn't...

I asked, plainly and more than a little bluntly, if Jason would mind if I called Audrey to confirm the new stipulation in the deal.  Jason did not know at this time that I had obtained Audrey's new phone number without him.  His reaction, as I most certainly was not taking his word that this was Audrey's wish, was to take offense.  I don't blame him for taking offense at apparently calling his integrity into question...because I was questioning his integrity.  Without any real evidence, as it turns out.

Oops. After calling Audrey I found that yes, her expenses at the care facility in Langley were higher than she had anticipated, and yes, there was going to be a fair expense in getting the landscape and yard ready for sale.

Conclusion?  Audrey needs a rent-paying tenant in the house while she waits for the market to pick up.  Too bad that's not me.

AND...

I owe Jason an apology, I think.  I am probably going to have to talk to the guy again because I still have to give him back Audrey's LifeLine key.  He's already made it clear that he's "done with me" and I have "burned my bridges" where he's concerned.  So maybe an apology note will do?

Finally: Jason went way out of his way to help Audrey with her move and to take care of all the details involved.  It's possible he was already feeling more than a little frustrated with the situation when my slur on his character occurred.  If it had been somebody insulting me like that?  Yeah, I would have been angry...

Yappy Hew Near!

In keeping with my usual inefficiency, I'm going to play catch-up and summarize a whole month in a few paragraphs.

Christmas across the Rockies:

I was to have gone down to Cardston for Xmas with the folks on December 18th.  I didn't go then for three reasons:

-It would have meant 16 hours in a mini-van with my sister and her husband, and four of my five nieces and nephews.  Plus luggage.  Dodge Caravans only hold seven people, not including luggage...

-I had a number of small errands (including some Xmas shopping!) still to do.  At least one of them was divorce related.

-It didn't feel right.

That third reason is what actually stopped me.

Then, two days after Kath and Grant had left (and arrived in Cardston), my Dad sent me an email from the airport informing me that he was going to be in Vancouver and could I pick him up at the airport and also deliver him for his flight back to Calgary? (he commutes from Cardston to Calgary sometimes when he has a trip to fly).  On the spur-of-the-moment, I asked him how he would like to drive to Calgary with me?  He agreed and I knew at that moment: this is what I had been waiting for.  It felt right.

Dad and I enjoyed a great trip to Calgary.  Beethoven on the stereo the whole time, and we split driving between us.  The "junker VW" behaved itself admirably, and we arrived in Calgary in about 12 hours.  He picked up his Mazda and we drove down to Cardston separately as he had some errands to run.

Christmas was great.  The pinched nerve in my neck was not so great.  It's OK now, a month later; but my recovery has taken three (of four) weeks of medical leave/restriction and heavy medication.

The best part of all was Christmas morning.  So many kids!  Mine weren't there, of course; but there will be other years.  Even better was Sunday at my parent's home ward.  There is a wealth of musically talented members in Cardston and almost the entire service was dedicated to joyous and uplifting music.  I admit; I teared up a little.

Then I had to leave.

The VW made the trip there...but would it make the trip back?  I made three fateful decisions:

-Do the whole trip in one run.

-Do it at night.  The car runs "hot", and I believe I mentioned that chemical magic is what is holding its engine together at the moment.

-Take the southernmost route through the Kooteneys/Crowsnest Pass.

That last decision is where "fate" stepped in.

The Trans-Canada Highway (Rte 1) does not go through the Crowsnest Pass.  It goes across the Rockies much further north; through Banff National Park, in fact.  This is not because the route is shorter (it isn't), and not because this region gets less snow and fewer avalanche threats in winter (it doesn't).  It is because the route is straighter than the southern one.  The #1 highway is engineered to accommodate all the hazards of snowfall and avalanche.  It is fairly straight, wide...and very fast.

Highway 3, to the south, is NOT faster...just shorter.

This was a two-pair-of-underwear trip.

I won't say much about the trip itself.  There were one or two moments of terror...one of which threw the alignment of the car out slightly, and involved sliding sideways down the summit outside Courtney, BC.  The cars engine started leaking coolant.  This solved my lack-of-sleep problem.  About every 400 kilometers the "coolant low" warning would light up on the dashboard.  I would pull over at the next town and catch a catnap for an hour while the engine cooled down.  Then I would top up the coolant and drive on.  This happened two or three times...but it's all kind of a blur now.  Well, not entirely a blur; I distinctly remember the descent down the summit towards Hope BC.  A foot of freshly fallen snow, on top of four inches of packed snow...and not a snow plow in sight.

'Cause I had passed the snowplow about ten kilometers back.

Geared WAYYYY down on a seven percent grade, front end tracking back and forth as first one driven wheel, and then the other, lost and re-gained traction; with near-whiteout snowfall all around...

The last thousand meters down the slope I could see that the snowfall ended and the roadway was clear.  In other words: I was FINALLY out of the Rockies!

Then I saw a pair of headlights coming up the slope from the Clear Zone.  The driver got to within about 500 meters of me; to where he had to be able to see me zig-zagging back and forth in the midst of an epic Hollywood-esque snowstorm...and then he abruptly turned around and headed back down the summit towards Hope.  I didn't blame him.  The transition from snowstorm and snow-encrusted road to bare and wet road was quite abrupt.  Something you can only believe if you've seen it.  There are old and well-worn signs on all the BC-to-Alberta highways, and not a few of the BC interior highways, advising motorists to carry tire chains anytime between October first and April first.  I was carrying chains.

If only I had thought to stop and put them on.

God watches out for fools and small children.  Don't ever doubt it.

This entry only takes us up to three weeks ago.  More to come later!  Promise!

Well, well, well...

Here it is Christmas again.  Let's start with the announcements from past posts:

I waxed lyrical about the VW's oil pressure problems.  I figured that something, likely the intake filter screen, was getting caught up in the oil pump intake.  After further study...I was WAY wrong.

The 90's era VW's had a "dynamic" oil pressure monitoring system.  Perhaps it was over-engineered?  Anyways: faults in the oil pressure sensors is sort of endemic to these vehicles.  At the same time; the engine troubles this monitoring system is supposed to warn against show the same symptoms as a fault in the sensors themselves.

In other words: my oil pressure warning light (and accompanying annoying buzzer) was going off not because of a fault in the oil pressure sensors (either of them)...it was going off because my engine is really freakin' OLD and has 277,400 Kms (as of this writing) on it.  The wear on this engine is so bad that ordinary engine oil just isn't going to cut it.  Likewise the oil pump is also worn, so keeping the proper pressure is a struggle.

Ah, but how do I really know?

Well, first off was the almost CONSTANT pressure warning on the way to Gloria's two months back.  Even after I had an oil change done (it was due) in Merrit, the little buzzard was still with me at least part of the way home.  I chose to drown it out with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Then the head gasket started leaking.

Understand, dear reader, that when an engine with 277,400 Kms on it needs a new head gasket, you don't just replace the gasket.  Oh no, you do a Total Overhaul.  I don't have the time, space, funds...or inclination to re-build the engine on that HEAP.

So what did I do?

Well...if you can't tighten the engine...tighten the oil.  The head gasket leak was fixed with something called Rislone (tm) Block Seal.  "Just pour it in and forget it."  (no, not really).  It worked.  The VW is now running with 10w40 oil and Lucas Oil Stabilizer -- mixed 3 to 1.  I thought that with the cold temperatures, I would barely be able to turn the engine over most mornings, but that engine is so worn in that it hasn't been a problem at all.  It even passed AirCare!

Let me just repeat that for my own ego:  MY JUNKER VW PASSED AIRCARE!

Next up: the Divorce...oy, always with the divorce.

I got the package of papers from the Lawyer.  I'm supposed to review them and then file them with the Law Courts in New Westminster, I think.  I haven't finished the review...and it's been a couple weeks.  I am probably going to have some more questions before I file.

In other news: I'm moving.  But...not too far.

My Aunt Audrey lives two blocks away from us.  She's been waiting for a residence to open up with an assisted living facility in Langley.  The opening arrived, and Audrey moved.

But she doesn't want to sell her house in this market.  She needed a live-in caretaker.  Me.

I'm finally LEAVING THE BASEMENT. 

Her grandson Jason got her stuff (mostly) moved out last Tuesday.  The place still isn't quite empty but to his credit Jason has done his best to drop by when he can and get the rest of Audrey's belongings to her.  What she can't use at the residence, he has packed up for storage.  Me?  I'm moving most of the small items from my place over there; evenings after work.  The larger items I'll leave until after New Years.  The only real concern so far seems to be money: Jason mentioned me paying the utilities (can do) and the Property Taxes (umm, no way jose')...I think Jason might have meant the Municipal Service fees.  I can't see me paying Property Taxes on a Property I don't own.  In fact, I'm still going to be paying Taxes on THIS place until such time as I can persuade L to let me have my share so I can finally stop PAYING FOR MY EX WIFE'S HOUSE.  Again...Lawsuit, anyone?

I re-joined S.P.A.M.  Greg found a new hosting service that is hosting us for free and we're back at it again.  I've posted all my old articles, and Greg has also posted his; plus the articles he wrote for Examiner.com.

I'm off with Kath and Grant and the gang to visit Mom and Dad in Cardston over the Holidays.  'Twil be the first I have seen of the folks in quite a while.  I wish the kids could go, but their Mom's got them booked at their Grandparents this year.

Speaking of the Kids:  Colin is going up for his first degree Black Belt on Friday.  Watch this space.  He had a patch of "disheartened" a few months back; to the point that his Mom told him to just forget all about it.  Well, he and I had a talk, and I promised him that if he would try really hard, I could keep paying myself for his Tae Kwon Do until he had an honest-to-goodness shot at testing for Black Belt...and getting it.

He's got his shot.  It's all up to him to give his best effort, and then we let the Judges decide.  But he knows that he's GOT to give his best, otherwise there's no point.

Let's round it all off with a health report.  I've had flu in parallel with Grant this past week.  Luckily, we're both getting over it and should be fine by our departure on Saturday.

Question:  Why have an open media forum like YouTube...and then censor its content?

Don't ask me.  I just like finding ways around it.

Example: Beyonce's "Single Ladies"...a flash mob performance that occurred at London's Piccadilly Circus in 2009 as part of a promotion for Trident Gum.

There are several recordings of the performance, some of them from private contributors (ie: people who were there that day and had a camcorder with them).

However the "official" high-definition recording of the event has no soundtrack...even though the music was kind of the whole point of the dancing, eh what?

Why, you ask?  Copyright infringement was claimed by the record company.  Apparently, the recording used in the performance is a little too good.

But...it's an easy fix.

Of the Private Citizens witnessing the event that day, at least one of them had a commercial quality video recorder, with stereo sound capability.  The video in this version is rather poor, but the sound quality is awesome.  I just call up both videos and then sync the audio from the one to the video of the other.  Viola!  The original YouTube posting with soundtrack.

Censorship: not just wrong, sometimes it's stupid, too.

Anytime is 'Blog time!

This will probably just be an update entry 'cause it's getting late and although I haven't written in awhile I DO have a couple of posts gestating.

First up: cars.

I finally got rid of the Cavalier.  I sold it to Kelli.

Who is Kelli, you ask?  My carpool, that's who.  Now that she's got wheels of her own...I may be able to retire from the carpool gig and start riding my bike to work again.  Of course, since my shift at work got moved to 6 AM and this means a 5 AM departure and a 4 AM wake up...I'm not entirely enthused about riding to work.  Even less enthused about riding in the DARK; all year 'round.

The Golf I am still (STILL!) sinking money into.  I've had offers to buy it from me for less than half what I bought it for.  I am seriously considering those offers because I would like to be rid of it already.  Time to admit it: I could have done better in the car department.  The Golf has needed a new windshield AND a new radiator this month alone, and although neither was especially troublesome, I feel I am up against considerable "diminishing returns".

Next up: the Job.

Well, HBC is still there, and we are still without a Collective Agreement so far.  We held a Strike Vote a few weeks ago and Lo and Behold, our Union and HBC have finally come up with an agreement that they feel fit to submit to a ratification vote.  We'll probably agree to whatever they've come up with.
Container traffic has slowed somewhat.  We aren't shipping as many cartons per day as we used to out of Central Stock.  We are shipping as many cartons per day overall as we used to...but more of our flow thru traffic is not coming out of the Central Stock department.  This meant a few shifts with yours truly being loaned out to the Shipping department to chuck cardboard all day.  Now we've had two or three machine operators with their driving privileges revoked, so suddenly I am needed in my home department.

This is getting really old...

At least I'm being spared the fate of our part time and auxiliary staff: they've been getting regular one, two and three day layoffs for the past eight weeks.  Should a person feel like they're being "shafted" when they're laid off one day in a week and then asked to work an "overtime" shift on Saturday for straight time because, after all, they only worked four of the five previous days? 

Bastards...

I haven't been out socially in so long I think I'm going stir crazy...I find myself literally counting the days until the paperwork is FILED and I can finally make a break with the EX.

But I'm not bitter about it, or anything.

I really ought to update these more often...

So...what happened?

An opportunity...slipped away.  I had to ask "why?".

As it turns out, the "why" was because I wasn't ready for it yet.

Or, it wasn't ready for me.

Whichever.

So, I wondered, what should I be doing now?  Answer: whatever you were supposed to be doing if the opportunity had never arisen.

I am doing just that.  The new (old) plan has three parts:

1. Continue to increase my church activity and service.
2. Get my financial house in order.
3. Lighten my accumulation of "STUFF".

I'm having a GARAGE SALE!  The extra cash should help me bridge the gap and bring my credit line back to zero.  I'll have less to move when (or if) the time comes, and this will also help me get "in the swing" for a sell-off of my more substantial property; ie: the two junker cars I ought to be getting rid of in favor of something more...practical.  Yes, I'm thinking of yet another late summer / fall project car.

I'd love to sell off Granpa's stuff that's still filling up the garage and the shop.  But both L and her Mom have made it clear that particular Albatross is going to be more or less permanent.  I'll be long gone from here before any of Hendrik's junk is.

Insomnia...

I'm tired, I really am...but I just can't sleep.  Have a lot of grist in the mill, I guess.

Saw Paul yesterday.  He's down from Whitehorse visiting family here in town and out on the Island.  We went to see "Iron Man II"; 'cause he hadn't seen it yet.  Then we came back here and were met by my daughter Coral who had a somewhat unusual request:

"Dad, do you have The Trouble With Tribbles?  We're studying it in English class."

Confession time:  I managed to get a complete set of Paramount classic video VHS cassettes of Star Trek: The Original Series.  Me and the kids watch them on rainy Saturdays when there's nothing good on TV.  My personal favorite episodes are "Balance of Terror" and "Devil in the Dark".

So we watched "the Trouble with Tribbles".  I am not sure when this came up, but afterward Jeff Dunham's work was mentioned, and Paul admitted he's never seen the Comedian/Ventriloquist.  So, of course, we hauled out "Arguing with Myself" and had a good laugh.

Paul and I spent the remainder of the time catching up and discussing recent events...in my life, mostly.  I expressed my disappointment in not going to Alberta to begin my new life and career.  Also discussed was the decision to delay filing the divorce papers another six months while the Ex gets her final course work for her new career.  I will add in passing that Karen Li, the single mom that Colin and I went to Disneyland with a month or two ago, is a Medical Lab Tech, and she expressed some doubt that L's future prospects for employment in that field would be as forthcoming or as profitable as L herself believes.  But, that's none o' my bizness.  I'm filing the paperwork as soon as she's done her course.  After that comes my share of the communal property - assuming the house has any monetary value whatsoever by that time...let's face it; the bottom hasn't dropped out of the housing market yet, but it's going to.  I just hope I'm able to get out in time...I've got plans for all those mortgage payments I made all those years buying Our Happy Home...and I want that money back.

I've often thought on how, if dame fortune had happened to grant me a substantial lump of wealth, I probably wouldn't have a clue what to do with it.  I've really got no reason at all to desire any more money than I need to cover my basic expenses.

Until now.

I've got my reason.  If I won the Lottery today, I know exactly what I'd do with the winnings; or, at least, a portion of them.  I would help Keith make his dream come true.  A first-class wish fulfillment.  He's got an idea that works, and he has certainly put in the effort to make that idea a reality.  However, like any fruit of a determined individual's labor, this one may die on the vine due to lack of fertilizer.  It IS a good idea, both in theory AND practice...and it's not going to make any real money unless and until he can duplicate it several times over in a bigger market.  I want to be there to see it happen.  I want to contribute whatever I can.  Even if it fails, the effort will be worthwhile.

Speaking of worthwhile endeavors...

I bought a piano.

Okay, it's not a real piano.  I don't have near enough room in here for one of those.  It's a Casio ToneBank 100.  An electric piano with full-sized keys and everything a beginning music student needs to begin learning to play...including a headphone jack so you don't bother people while you're practicing.  Lessons are not a problem.  Google "free online piano lessons" sometime and you'll see what I mean.  I'll start with the basics and then move onto the LDS hymnal; if my ambition and ability are equal to the task.  Now I'll have something else to do when I get home from work besides watch Discovery Channel and spend my time FaceBook - ing.

Speaking of time spent...I had hoped to spend my time this weekend fixing my car.

The VW has been remarkably problem free...for a VW.  Thus far, the only major breakdown has been the starter; which I suspect was the original unit from the car's manufacture some 13 years ago.  Typical of a VW, when the starter went (with much smoke and fanfare), it took the horn fuse and possibly the headlight switch with it.  The headlights still work, but I can't turn them on unless the ignition is engaged, so I'm pretty sure the starter's death throes caused a short in the dash wiring somewhere.  The horn still doesn't work.  The starter itself I replaced in Lordco Auto Parts' parking lot.  The starter mounting bolts pass thru the engine mount and you have to jack the engine and transmission up in order to thread the bolts into the new starter.  Guess what I didn't remember to bring with me from home?  I used the tire jack, and discovered there was a notch built into the bottom of the transmission bell and engine block that exactly matched the shoe on the tire jack.  Coincidence?  Or provident engineering?  Either way, it got the job done.

What I had hoped to remedy this weekend is not so much a failure as an annoyance.

There is a tendency for VW to engineer their cars well...but cut corners on parts that don't stand out.  Take the oil pump, for instance: there is a little metal mesh filter on the end of the oil pump pickup that has a tendency to...well, dissolve gradually until bits of it - you guessed it - end up getting sucked into the pump intake.  When this happens, it can temporarily, or even permanently, cut off the oil flow to the engine.  Now, there is a pressure sensor on the oil circuit that will light up a telltale on the dashboard and start ringing a very annoying buzzer in time with the flashing warning light.  If this alarm comes on and stays on, it means that there's no oil pressure in the engine and that, in turn, means the engine will shortly eat itself.  Fortunately...or perhaps UN - fortunately, the alarm on mine is intermittent.  This means that something is blocking the oil flow only some of the time.  The proper fix in this case is to pop off the oil pan and dismount the oil pump and clean all the crud out of the pickup pipe.  This may even call for replacing the pump if enough shmutz has been drawn into the pump itself.  The problem lies not in the time or expense involved, but in the fact that there are no shops specializing in VW in the South Surrey area anymore.  BowWow auto parts closed down their franchise here in North Delta and it was taken over by an independent outfit a year or so ago.  They still have some of BowWow's inventory of VW sundries left, but they liquidated most of it.  Still, they can order stuff in for me...for a price.

Sigh.  Should have planned ahead.  Oh well, there's always next weekend, if the weather holds out.

And Now:  A Public Announcement.

No matter how tempted you might be, no matter how much you may enjoy the "horror" or "slasher" or "fangoria" film genre(s)...do NOT go to see "The Human Centipede".

I shall explain:

There is a KeenSpot website called TrailerStation.  They play movie trailers 24/7.  Nearly all of the trailers are preceded by an MPAA warning flash screen letting you know what the movie is rated and who the appropriate audiences are.

There's a glitch in the video stream.

The trailer for Disney Earth: Oceans documentary came on and then ended...and then the trailer for The Human Centipede started up - without the MPAA warning.  The beginning looks harmless enough (kinda like the beginning of the trailer from Hostel, or perhaps Bordello of Blood).  It soon moves onto a series of brief, flashing, jump cuts with some VERY disturbing images...But that's not the problem.

The Problem is that I had one of those rare moments of insight in which I suddenly knew the entire plot of the film JUST from the contents of the 30 second trailer!!  One of the few moments in my life when I REGRETTED being smart enough to Figure It All Out was when that particular realization hit me.  GAHHH!  Also, EWWWW!!

Unsee (v) 1.To erase the act of seeing something; to erase the memory of having seen something, or otherwise reverse the effect of having seen something.

I wish...oh, how I wish.

On the other hand...TrailerStation is also playing the trailer for an indie comedy film called Kickassia.  Kickassia is an almost perfect "light" offering to offset the "DARKNESS" of The Human Centipede trailer.

Seriously kids, don't see it, it'll mess you up.

I am spending a lot of time lately...cleaning things.

I've cleaned my place thoroughly.  I've even re-arranged the furniture.

I've cleaned up my tools and 'round back of the house.

I've even cleaned my deep fryer.  (It was time.)

During the Temple open house, I even volunteered for a couple of shifts cleaning there!

The reason I have so much time on my hands is that I booked off two weeks vacation last February for the end of April and beginning of May.  That's now.  I wasn't allowed to re-book the time, so I'm sitting here at home...cleaning things.

I was supposed to be in southern Alberta, seeing if I could embark on a new career as an IT tech, and helping KWY open up his new store in Lethbridge.  The financing didn't work out, so the new store isn't opening, so the new career will have to wait.  If I had the money I'd give it to KWY, but I don't.

I still have my "rice bowl".  I've also got a should-have-been-EXED-by-now wife who is taking what she swears is her very last college course before she gets to begin her dream career as a Medical Lab Assistant.  She wants me to hold off on the divorce proceedings until she graduates in November.  Oh well, it's not like I've got anywhere to go, or anything...

Sorry if it sounds like I'm throwing myself a pity party...but I feel like there's this LIFE out there waiting for me and I ought to hurry up and get started on it already!  Here, I'm just spinning my wheels.

Sooo...what happened in February?

I found a nice Chinese single mom from East Vancouver who wanted to take her eleven year old son to Disneyland. We went half and half on a package from Expedia. We went down Friday morning (the fifth) and are due to return today (the ninth). It's been a fun five days. We've done three days at Disney, a day at Universal Studios, and today we're going to hang out at Long Beach for awhile until we have to return to Irvine to catch our evening flight home. Not directly home, actually, we flew out from SeaTac to save money. We've still got a three hour drive from there to the border. We'll probably get home about 11PM tonight.

The boys are getting along well, they both like the same kinds of things that eleven-year-old boys like and have been on most of the same rides together. They've even managed to bring the Parental Units along on a few rides...against our better judgement. So far no-one has been sick, only minor bumps and scrapes have occurred, and everyone is in good spirits and has been getting enough sleep. My new mouth guard seems to be fairly effective at stopping my snoring but it's already starting to come apart again. I need to see Dr. Z and maybe get something stronger yet?

I sold Coral's laptop to Ramesh. I didn't test it, however, so I was embarrassed when we discovered that it wouldn't power up! I'm giving him his money back...

I haven't sold the Cavalier yet. It is drive-able, and so far the leak tracer I put in the power steering reservoir hasn't shown up. I guess it will have to be test-driven a little before we can find out where the leak is coming from. I've had some interest in it, but no-one has shown up with the cash yet.

L wants to hold off on finalizing the divorce until she's completed her last course for her TQ as a lab technician. She claims getting a job will be simplicity itself, but I'm a little doubtful. This is going to delay things (if I let it) for another six months.

Last weekend I took a road trip up to Merritt and back to celebrate Gloria's 20 Years Sobriety. She volunteers with the Nicola Valley AA and NA groups. I found out after I arrived that I was "Plan C". Part of the "cake ceremony" at these celebrations is for someone who knows the honoree well to give a short testimonial about them. The person she had originally picked wasn't able to make it and the backup didn't show either...so there I was.

I was very funny. An AA meeting is a very easy room. Kind of like the Toast Masters, but without the membership fees.

I still have a few days off this week, and I'll probably need them. I need some time off to recover from my Vacation.

What do I want?


I think my midlife crisis is setting in.


And not a moment too soon...


I bought a VW Golf. A 1997 model, as anything from 1998 onwards is subject to OBD analysis when going through Air Care. It's a whole lot easier on gas than the Caravan was, and really fun to drive, to boot. Of course, the current rumor is that the BC government is going to "phase out" Air Care sometime after march of this year. I'll believe it when I see it: entrenched, sprawling, revenue-generating bureaucracies don't generally just "go away" without a fight.

I still have to get the Cavalier fixed and sold off. I am seriously thinking of donating it to charity...or perhaps the proceeds of the sale. My intention when I bought all four vehicles last year was that one of them was going towards generating some good karma. After two of them died, however, my options for charity work narrowed somewhat.

I also need to get the garage in shape. I want a workshop!! The task is arduous, but I think it will be worthwhile.

I need to get myself in shape. I'm toying with the idea of riding the BC Ride To Conquer Cancer in June. This is actually going to require a little re-organization of my place. Keith P will have his car on the road in April and I can finally retire my jersey as the DC 507 "designated delta carpool driver". Then I can go back to riding the bike to work daily. I don't know if two months of daily riding is sufficient prep time for a 200km+, two-day bike ride, but I suppose I could get in some stationary bike time - starting now. The other aspect is getting my family and friends to pony up the donations to sponsor me.

I want to be single again. I have tried to push the process along...but with no success. I'm kind of stuck here.

I really need a vacation. A getaway. Preferably with some good company...other than my kids. Or am I just wishing for a do-over of the Honeymoon???

Currently on tap I've got a bicycle to overhaul for Marv, Coral wants me to try to fix her Toshiba laptop. I am toying with the idea of getting her a new netbook instead. I could then give the Toshiba to Colin.

And the Divorce. Always the Divorce.

...And then there was one.

I sold Mean Green, the other Dodge Caravan, yesterday. Only two people came to look at it. Both offered me 1500$ for it. Only one had 1500$ cash with them when they came. Guess which one took it home? Now I have to get the Cavalier back on the road; shouldn't be too difficult. I just wish I didn't have to work on it outdoors. I also wish I didn't have to bicycle to work in December...but you do what you have to do.

I'll be heading over to Kathy's today to visit my folks and do "Uncle Brian's Bag-O-Gifts Exchange". It really isn't that difficult to wrap up a dozen or so gift items for under 100$ I also got Kath and Grant a present just for them. The kids will swap amongst themselves for what they want. Nobody is excluded except Jacob...it will be a few years yet before I'll be including him. The game only works with gifts that nearly all ages can use, and Jacob is still at that age where gifts have to be tailored specifically to a preschooler.

I've had a good Christmas thus far. In spite of spending most of it alone, I have still visited and talked to family and friends, got to play with my kids, and had a pleasant Christmas Dinner with the Newtons and Flores' families. Thanks to Kerry for inviting me. He's been a true Brother and a good friend all through the separation.

Coming up, I'll be selling the Cavalier as soon as it is fixed. I'll probably have to clean out the garage because there is a good chance we'll have more snow sometime in the following weeks and I just can't see myself fixing that steering rack in a snowbank. I'll also be purchasing another car, and possibly another curbing project (we'll see). I have also laid the groundwork for a re-arrangement of my finances with an eye towards finally laying aside all my credit debt this year. That trip to Disneyland I didn't get to go on this year? - It's going to happen next year, Lord willing and the creek don't rise. I've also got the papers together to file for divorce. I was advised to see what options BC Family Law society could offer towards getting all the interested parties 'round a table to discuss a less expensive joint filing plan. I'll try that, I think, but if that doesn't work, I'll be filing solo and all the custody and property arrangements will have to be hashed out in court. I'm hoping the expense of that alone will persuade my Ex and her mother to play along with a mutually agreed upon joint filing.

We'll see. Here goes nothing...

Kudos and Props...

To Scott Road Husky Service Center.

They not only ran the van's engine thru an analyzer, and "scoped" the ignition timing, but they also took the van through AirCare for me - thus saving me the trouble of doing it myself. The van runs very well now and I consider this money very well spent. Wayne's only advice to me was to swap out the lower-temperature thermostat for one in the normal temperature range. He says fuel injected engines run best at the higher range. It's an easy fix so I'll see to it sometime in the next few days.

Got a nice Email from Paul. Had a nice visit with Gloria. She "surfed" my couch last night and I got her to the ferry terminal this morning. She's visiting her Mom on the Island. Kelli made me some homemade chicken soup (YUM) and a nice card.

Also got to see Mom and Dad. They're in town for a few days.

Red Mittens: who knew?

HBC is selling (about 10$ each pair) Red Wool Mittens. The mitts in question have the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics logo and are lined with polar fleece inside. The stores have been running out of them constantly. It seems everyone wants a pair; and at 10$, how can you go wrong?

Of course, I work at the warehouse...and shipments and stock do get "misplaced" from time to time. Such a mishap resulted in a couple of cases of the coveted Mittens ending up at our HR office, offered for sale to the DC staff. I bought a few pair. I have connections.

Why does technology have to be so difficult?

I've got a new phone...

And a new phone number.

The new phone I was planning on...but not the new number. I was told that my old phone number could be "ported" to the new phone if that phone was being activated with a new account.

However...

I signed up for the Bell Mobility account through HBC's Associate Buying Club. It was all automated, and my new phone and contract arrived already activated and with a number assigned. I was informed that I could pay extra to have my old number added to the new phone...or I could just tell everybody I've got a new phone number. Hmmmm...pay extra...nope, I don't think so.

It's also been a major hassle getting Rogers to shut down the old account. I may have to visit my friendly neighborhood Rogers retailer and see about getting "un-accounted". It seems that somebody (me?) set up a PIN for the account and since L doesn't know it and I can't remember either...We eventually got Rogers to accept that since L already has a new single user account and I am with Bell now, maybe they should cancel our old, expired, joint wireless account.

After the joint phone account is gone...the only remaining "joint" possession L and I will have is the house...

-I don't account my children as "possessions".

This sounds like a good juncture to get going on filing "the paperwork", eh?

Well...yes, actually.

The Caravan's engine is running without steaming. I was so elated that I threw caution to the winds and took it thru aircare on Saturday without so much as a tune-up.

It didn't pass. Then again, I wasn't really expecting it to.

All the emissions gear is in place and evidently working correctly, so they gave me a 90 day conditional. I could try a tune up and some automotive patent medicine (ie: Bardahl No Smoke), but I think it will be easier if I just flog this sucker outside the Lower Mainland. It looks good, it runs strong, it doesn't leak anything, and the transmission has less than 3000k on it. VMR says I can get about 2000 for it. I can only ask for that here in Vancouver if it passes aircare. We'll see.

I'm changing careers.

It's time. My heart just isn't into working for HBC anymore. I dented the conveyor incline at work while swapping out a clamp attachment on the #2 dockstocker. When you keep running into things because your mind is elsewhere...and you long ago stopped caring whether or not you are "getting the job done"...it's time to move on.

Here's where I am.

Separated 18 months. Financial part of separation agreement set out. No agreement yet for property division or child custody.

Credit debt: I have the means to pay it off in full now, if I want to starve for awhile. Instead I will park some (at 2%) and pay off the rest.

Assets: 1 used vehicle in good condition ready for sale. A second used vehicle needing a minor repair and a replacement tire. My great Aunt's legacy also arrived and I will be seeing about its disposition. Savings account is solid. Separation package from HBC will likely include getting my pension contributions back. Enough, perhaps, to go back to school for a few months?

Perhaps.

The thought of shifting out of my comfort zone ("rut"), no longer scares me. This is a time of opportunity, and I'm actually a little excited about it.

Stay tuned.

Am I ever going to have wheels before winter?

Checked in with Atkinson and Terry insurance tonight. Turns out the plates from the white van are now no good because the insurance is expired. The green van needs aircare, so I can't even put plates on it. I don't think it will pass aircare because it's still blowing a little steam...not nearly as much as the first time, mind you; but bad enough.

I may just take it through anyway on Saturday. What have I got to lose?

In the meantime, I need to get my one and only (so far) credit card back up and active so I can buy a bottle of blue devil and hope that seals up the engine. Ditto for coolant flush, a flush kit (or new hose clamps for mine), and fresh coolant. Might also want to do an oil change before this is over. Oh, and I could really use some additive to quiet down the valve lifters. One of them is probably stuck, if the castanet player under the hood is any indication.

I am wondering about the wisdom of trying to unload this sucker. If I can get everything to work, will it be worth it?

I'm already dealing with...issues.

The fuel gauge doesn't work. I am told that a solid hit with a rubber mallet on the fuel tank will sometimes jar 'em loose. I may give that a try. The battery keeps going dead, and for no good reason that I can tell. I think I gave Dad back his old charger before they moved. Granpa Stouten's charger doesn't work at all. I keep having to pull the battery from the cavalier to start the van.

The Cavalier is another issue. L didn't just grab that new tire she bought for it, she grabbed the whole wheel. A replacement will cost 25$ from a wrecker; maybe I can get one with a tire still attached? Yeah...keep on dreaming. The steering rack appears to be functional. If I can determine what bit of the steering gear is leaking (my favorite suspect is the connecting hoses), I may just replace whatever is worn, rather that replacing the whole steering rack.

So much to do...and all before it starts to freeze.

I figure I have about another ten days...at most.

Stay tuned.

But wait! There's more!

The Great Caravan Adventure: The final ignominy.

Well, it runs. It runs very well, actually...

BUT.

There's coolant leaking into one (or more) of the cylinders; causing lots of white smoke/bubbles in the coolant/coolant in the oil, etc. The leak isn't bad enough to either drag on or hydraulic the engine...but it is bad enough that the van will never pass aircare the way it is now.

I give up. In the meantime, I'll switch to the Cavalier. Now that the Van is at least mobile, I can move it to the end of the driveway and bring the Cav back to where I can drop out the steering rack. At least the Cav runs...

I'm going to try flushing the coolant system thoroughly and then treating the engine with Blue Devil. If that doesn't work...I'll see what I can get for it as salvage.

Update Time!

Work: I'm re-instated and no further incidents to report. We've instituted a new system for our storage trailers that is working well enough that I am confident we will get through most (if not all) of our backlog by the time I go on vacation in two weeks. I don't know who came up with this system but it's sheer genius. I no longer have to call trailers on and wait to see if they show up. We were getting 2-4 trailers done per shift using that "method". Now, I make up a list of outstanding pick trailers (usually dates from the previous week or earlier - eek!) and we run three doors on the crossdock. All I have to do is tell the gatehouse when I'm finished a door and to bring the next trailer. More precisely; the next trailer that they are able to find and move easily. Our yard is uncommonly crowded lately and it is going to take another week or so to get the situation under control. From a list of say, twenty trailers, they are usually able to find and move at least half of them. I've gone from 2 per shift up to 8 or more per shift. Running three doors means very little wait time between picks. Ideally; I'll be working one door, while a new trailer is being put on at the second door, and another (finished) trailer is being taken away from the third! Like I said, this is working really well.

The Caravan Adventure: the Final Chapter.

I managed to get the crankshaft pulley bolt and harmonic balancer off the crankshaft without an impact wrench. I removed the starter and jammed three Stanley screwdrivers into the starter port. You know, the screwdrivers with the big acrylic handles that are shaped like gears? Did a very effective job of holding the engine still while I removed and later re-installed the bolt. Ended up with ring gear marks on my large #2 Roberts, but more importantly; no damage to the engine or transmission. Today I'm going to complete the re-re-re-assembly, and hopefully the bucket 'o bolts will run this time. I believe that it will. Then...insurance and aircare, and THEN I have to "doll it up" to prep it for sale. Paint scratches, spots on the carpet, that sort of thing. Might also take a pressure washer to the underside of the engine compartment.

Got a few errands to run with it too...before I let it go up for sale.

It's getting on towards noon now...I best get going on it.

Well, it doesn't run...

...yet.

I think I set the static timing wrong. I may have over-finessed the position of the distributor rotor...or maybe it just needs a new rotor and cap. I'll pull it and check it over tomorrow. I also tried to hook up the new battery the wrong way around and almost fried something...

Today has not been a terrific day.

We're hip deep in stock transfers. We're also short staffed. I was switching between a short reach and a high reach to both pick and load the transferred stock. I was using a high reach to shove a skid off a loading ramp and into a trailer...

...when I rolled down the loading ramp and hit the bottom of the overhead door with the reach mast.

Nuts.

Now, this is only about the sixth or seventh time a loading door has been hit this way. We all know that the high reach machines are never, ever supposed to be anywhere near a loading ramp...

Disregard the rules and correct procedures at your peril...and it will bite you on the ass.

Especially if you are honest enough to 'fess up afterward.

SO:

"By the Book Brian" is not going to be bringing high reaches anywhere near the loading ramps.

Plus, I have to re-take the OPAL course on Machine Operator Safety. Last time this happened they made me re-certify.

It took MONTHS. I am not kidding. I was taken off the machine on or about November 15, 2007 for a "rack bump" that may or may not have actually occurred. But as I am an honest soul, I reported it anyway and even though there was no evidence at all...I still admitted that I had not been "following procedure" to Carlos. I finally got re-instated January 19, 2008...once the planets were aligned and the moon was in the fifth house of Aquarius. I do try to be on good terms with people; especially people I work with...but I didn't like Carlos. I really didn't like the way the whole thing was handled, either.

A short addenda on the continuing saga of the Great Caravan Adventure.

The days are getting shorter, with sunset coming about 7:30PM or so. I get home between 4:30 and 5PM, and I usually am very hungry from the ride home plus the full 8 hour shift at work...

So I'll eat...and then unwind for an hour or so. Then go out and work on the van about 6PM.

This doesn't leave me a whole lot of time.

The quick and dirty gasket replacement on the '94 was just that. I am now thinking I was lucky that engine started at all, let alone that it ran for six weeks. I simply unbolted the major components, swapped the head gasket, then bolted everything back together without checking for wear or breakage on anything.

I'm being much more thorough this time.

I finally got the manifold on, using the *TFAR method as opposed to trying to use my cheapo torque wrench to get the bolts tightened properly. I stripped one stud out of each head on the manifold side and one of them broke trying to get the jammed nut loose!

Fortunately, I have a pile of spare parts from another (identical) engine. In going over the intake plenum, I discovered the Idle Air Control valve needed replacing. I've already replaced the vacuum fitting that was the primary cause of the '94 van running so roughly. I'll be finished by the end of this week; I know I've said that before, but this time I MEAN it!!!

Things still to do:

Refit the alternator, thermostat, and distributor. Set up the static ignition timing. Re-connect the wiring for the alternator and distributor. Check the plugs and wires. Re-fill the engine with coolant, oil, and check the power steering fluid. Install the intake plenum and throttle, throttle linkage, and EGR bypass pipe.

After all that (some of which will take only a few minutes), I have to "roll" the engine over about 50 times to make sure the various fluids get to where they're supposed to go. Then I can finally re-connect the ignition and start the engine. Once the engine is running, I can put the RH front tire and fender shields back on. I'll still need to replace that door seal, and dress up the scratches on the paint, but it will finally be DONE.

I can hardly wait...

More on the Van;

The parts of the engine that require laying on the ground underneath the van are all done...almost. I'm still going to remove the oil filter (I was going to replace it anyways) so I can re-route the alternator wiring around the filter housing. Right now, it's stuck between the filter and the starter.

I need to replace a couple of the wheel covers on the passenger side.

The weatherstrip seal around the sliding door has a hole poked in it, fortunately the same seal on the '94 is intact; so I'll be replacing it.

I'll need a Simoniz (tm) Fix-it paint scratch repair pen. Some antisocial...individual...has repeatedly keyed the passenger side of the van. Not too bad, but bad enough to be annoying. All these minor fix ups so I can get as much ca$h as possible for the van when I sell it, which will hopefully be sometime REAL soon.

Another Air Show Season is almost over...so let's talk about the Snowbirds.

Nobody died this season, did they?

The last accidental death among the members of 431 demonstration squadron was on or about Thursday, October 9th (?) 2008, during a training flight at the squadron's headquarters in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The incident previous to that was May 18th, 2007 near Great Falls, Montana. Or rather, those are the most recent ones I could find...this year's season isn't over yet. As one website dedicated to the "Snowbirds Aircraft Replacement Project" (S.A.R.P.)1 stated; "the Snowbirds team becomes a political issue whenever pilots are killed". The Canadair CL-41 Tutor is a two seat 1960's-era trainer that at nearly 50 years old; is well past its intended service life.2

So why are we still using them?

Simple: we own them.

The current jet trainer in use by the CAF is the BAE Systems CT-155 Hawk.3 The Hawk would, in fact, make an ideal replacement for the Tutor...except for one problem: we don't own any, we lease them all from the British.

A number of options have been proposed by the Government and Military leaders who are currently sitting on this situation:

1. Keep using the CL-41 Tutors and accept that pilots are going to die while flying them. Accept also that these "regrettable incidents" are going to occur more frequently. Apologize profusely to the pilot's families and friends and whatever media flacks happen to show outrage over the latest lost pilot. Continue making noises about finding a solution to the "problem" and then go back to sitting on it when the media coverage moves on to something more interesting.

2. Use some other aircraft from the current CAF inventory. We do own, for example, a number of CF-116 Freedom Fighters...better known as the CF-5. A canadian variant of the USAF F-5 light supersonic fighter, the CF-5's were retired from CAF service in 1995. The remaining airframes still in Canada are currently stored at CFB Mountainview. CFB Mountainview is located south of Belleville Ontairio, near CFB Trenton. I don't know what it would cost to get these planes put back together and flying, but there is at least one other aerobatic team using them currently; the Patrouille Suisse. 4

3. Buy some more modern aircraft. The BAE Hawk, for instance, which our maintenance crews and supply depots are already set up to support; has been around for awhile. Earlier versions of the Hawk are available for purchase as surplus. For example: Venga Aerospace (a could-have-been contender from the 1980's) entered into a partnership with ALINC engineering to lease 20 Hawk mk 66 aircraft which were being phased out of the Swiss Air Force inventory. These earlier version surplus Hawks would have been cheaper to lease (or buy) than trying to buy (from the British) any of the present CT-155's currently operating. Most of the current operating fleet were due for upgrade or replacement as of last year...would it be too expensive to keep 20 or so of the older models as a basis for a new Snowbirds squadron? Would buying surplus Hawks be more economical? Better question: would operating Hawks be less expensive in terms of fuel, parts, and Pilots?

One final note:

The Indian Air Force demonstration team faced a similar problem. 5 For about the last 15 years, the Surya Kiran team (Sun Rays) has been flying the HJT-16 trainer. This is a two seat, 1960's-era trainer that is at this point about 45 years old. Sound familiar? The HJT-16's were manufactured in India by Hindustani Aeronautics Limited. Got that? The Indians manufacture their own aircraft. Of course, having hostile neighbors does tend to loosen the purse strings when it comes to military spending.

The HJT-16 "Kiran"6 looks a lot like a Tutor...flies a lot like one too.

To replace them, HAL developed the HJT-36 "Sitara"7. The Sitara looks a lot like a BAE Hawk

...and probably flies a lot like one, too.

I wonder if they're going to sell them for export?

Still not done the van engine...

Sorry I didn't get that update done; I spent the day in bed instead.

It's not that I can't figure out each piece and subsystem of the engine.

It's that I keep forgetting (as usual) in which order to install the parts!

Tonight I put the lift bracket on the outboard exhaust manifold. I forgot it when putting the manifolds back on the heads. Then I torqued up the cam sprockets and it wasn't until I finished that I realized that I couldn't fix the timing on the sprockets because the brackets that have the timing marks on them - which get installed behind the sprockets!!! - hadn't been installed yet.

Yikes.

It's been a Not So Good Day. We were short staffed at work too.

I can hardly wait 'till this week is over. The seasonal rains will be kicking in about...tomorrow, I think. Arrgh. I hate riding in the rain. However, until I fix up a working set of wheels; I really have no option, do I?