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.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
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?
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?
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
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...
...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...
Monday, June 20, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
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...
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...
Saturday, January 22, 2011
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!