Night Light & Rain

I woke up early this morning designing the nightlight circuit and mentally compiling the tools list and parts.  I was up by 0700 and checked email.  Over breakfast of Shredded Wheat, I finalized the sequence of events for the nightlight modification and by 0900 I was at it. I was pretty much finished by 1100.  Here is what I did to install the mechanical timer into the night light circuit:

• Remove the existing receptacle/switch and box.
• Install new box and switch/receptacle wired so when switch is off power is cut to light and receptacle.
• Install Menard’s mechanical timer after the switch so switch OFF removes all power down stream.
• Set time on/off for 2100/0500.  The photocell does not work well under the tree canopy.
• Check out operation.

I then spent the rest of the day running around trying to find a cover plate which I finally found at Trustworthy Hardware in Angola. Now at this time I just checked and the light came on at 2100 hrs.  Yes, another perfect project delivered.

Father’s Day – 19 June

Today is Father’s Day so congratulations to all you fathers.  I left the boat to come back to Indiana to be with family and immediate family.  We had a great time this afternoon doing some old fashion talking around the table at my sister’s house.  We thank Jess for coming home to be with us today and to be part of our lives.

I was chastised earlier in the week for not writing in this and our sailing blog.  I guess I was spending too much time with the AHS 60’s reunion website.  It is not a lot of time, but sufficient to make a dent in my other blog’s content.  I will try to do better.

Our boat’s dingy outboard motor is in the repair shop because of an unknown start – die – start and run for a while – die problem.  Hopefully it will not be an expensive repair.  It has not been into the shop for 6 years so perhaps it is due anyway.  I do not like the thought of being a couple of miles away from the boat at anchor and trying to get back by using oars that are bent and barely functional.  Add a contrary wind into the mix and there is potential for nastyness.

We went to church this morning and had a great time and some good laughs as the pastor presented his Father’s Day service.  We liked the Iron Man demonstration.  The winner got a $20 Walmart certificate.

New bicycle on order

With the blessings of SAM, I ordered a Huffy bicycle from Walmart tonight and it should be delivered to the marina next week.  I call it my fathers day present.  It is the 26″ classic style with only one speed.  A 24″ unit would have been OK too.

I saw a bicycle of the same type that had a motor mounted on it.  It reminded me of the Whizzer that I had as a young kid.  Perhaps I will mount a motor on it for tooling around the marina and town.  I wonder if I need to have a license plate in Michigan?  I guess I’ll have to look up the rules.

I am at the boat now and SAM is at home for a few days to take care of a sister that just got out of the hospital and is recovering.  It is cool tonight but the mosquitoes were out if force so I put the screens on the hatchway to keep them out.  It is working so far.  Fingers crossed.

Music – so good!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bipZdu3GSrE&feature=player_embedded

Mid June already?

We have been on the boat since the end of April but I have yet to update the blog.  Why?  Well, it is software technology called social media:  Facebook.  I have been using FB a lot and for some reason it feels comfortable but I am becoming uncomfortable with the intrusion FB is making into my life and that of my families.  This is the only way we talk anymore!

This has been the coldest, most rainy, longest Spring we have had since we bought the boat.  I have been doing a lot of reading – 4 books about Afghanistan, 1 on China, a few about sailing.  By far, the most time has been spent on websites.  I developed a new one – www.ahs60sgrads.org – for the 1960’s classes of AHS.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  Why are all my efforts pro bono?  I needs some money coming in!

Now we are enmeshed in the graduation season.  Garret is graduating from New Castle and we are on our way there tomorrow early.  It should be a fun time and we spent some cash on a memento that should be of some value throughout his life.  I know I use mine almost every day for something.

In our family, it used to be a watch but now that is passe’ since every cell phone has the exact time, calendar, alarm clock and every other conceivable tool under the sun.  So what to get a grad that he will use, remember and keep?  Guess – I will tell you in a few days.