Opener Changeout

Well, I'm done! Both garage door openers are now changed out. I've changed out the two smoke detectors, too. That just leaves the phones and the answering machine to replace, and we'll be ready for the next lightning storm. This job took on a life of its own. I have that luck. Even now it's not 100% done. This morning Wilma's opener button #1 opened her side, but button #2 opened BOTH doors. I spent time tonight reprogramming. Thought I had it. Hers works fine. However, my button #1 opens both and button #2 opens mine. Go figure. I'll try again tomorrow after I sleep on it.

Last Burn

Yard work is done for now. Been real rainy lately. So, I'm back in the garage changing out my garage door openers. My radio's tuned to the weekend programming on our public radio station. A bit of chill in the air, which reminds me I need to summerize (as opposed to winterize) my kerosene heater. So I've got heat, music and I'm working with my hands on a project. It doesn't even bother me that lightning caused all this trouble. It's a project that I can handle and gain some experience from. As I watch the glow of the mantle, feel the heat rise silently as I look down on it and smell the slight kerosene odor, I couldn't help think . . . SKETCH.

Spring Sprung

Well, my sketching has been sidelined a bit lately. I'm trying to replace the two garage door openers that the lightning killed, and the project just seems to keep growing. Stay tuned . . . sketch to follow. But, while doing yard work lately these darn tulips kept insisting that I sketch them. The yard isn't really green yet and the trees aren't awake yet. Kinda blaa. So, when these darn tulips spring up with the hyacinths they radiate color on steroids! You just gotta stare. Told myself I really didn't have time now to sketch. That worked for two days. Third day . . . I'm out there with my journal sketching. While doing my first mowing of some of the yard I see other things going on, too, that needed some sketching. Now that this sketch is done, I'll finish up on the garage openers.

P.S. Happy Birthday to me, or at least my identity as john-alooking.blogspot. Just noticed that one year ago today I started this blog! Glad I did.

Gig Night

We, the 89th Street Bluegrass Band, perform at a local coffee shop three or four times a year. Last Saturday night was the latest gig. Things went well (sometimes they don't). A few mistakes but we covered most and had fun. For once, all band members had people in the audience to see them, be it family, church or just plain 'ol friends. We do three one-hour sets. A sign of success is when you don't scare them off before the first set is done.

kaBOOM

Been having some weather with attitude lately. Spring. We've had close lightning strikes before. Real close. Lost a phone or two but nothing worse. Until this week. Luckily the dollar loss won't be outrageous.

The one thing I can't figure out is why the satellite clock was reset to Eastern Standard Time. It's battery powered so it would not see the surge that tripped the breakers. Yet it must have experience some energy field. Wierd. I actually had to change the clock settings, which can be a challenge for me. The kids laugh at my inability to work around digital mode settings without instructions. But I DID it. Now we just need to go out and start replacing things.

Spring Break '09

The weather's been nice. Spring Break is here and it's time to get out and do some hiking. We headed over to northern Arkansas to the Buffalo National River. It was Amy's idea to see some hiking and backpacking country. I was all too pleased to plan it out. We kept too busy for me to sketch during the trip. Took pictures, though. Got home and figured out what I wanted to show. The country there is so scenic I think we'll be back.

Another Spring Break, Pre-Trip

Time for Spring Break again. We decided to head down south again to pursue warmer weather. Arkansas this time. Wife and I, daughter and boyfriend. We'll catch some day hikes and three of us will do an overnight backpack trip while Wilma lounges in a cabin. Sounds like a plan.