Dang!!!

So my co-workers and I were going to lunch when we passed by this set of cubes...we couldn't help notice this name. We just burst out laughing I had to take a picture of it. Well if you can't tell which name I'm talking about, it's the second from the top. The one below "Open"!

From Mechanic to Plumber Joe!

That's right, last week I was a mechanic and put in the Alternator to Jennifer's van, today was the toilet. Yeah it was clogged. The toilet paper dispenser fell in and was wedged inside the toilet. So guess who had to take the thing apart and get it out? That's right, yours truly. But I must say I had a good assistant...my lovely wife! :)

It was the stinkiest project I've worked on...literally! hahahaha. We got some tips from Jesse (my brother-in-law) and then the rest was just pure luck...I mean brains. I will say it was an easy project but there were just a few things I didn't like about it especially the smell. And when we finally got the dispenser dislodged, we had a few other "things" come out as well. I'll let your imaginations do the rest.

Needless to say it is a working toilet again. So right after I needed to have someone "send some mail" through it and Keil happily volunteered. He even let me check out the package he was about to send through to ensure it was "testable material". I told him I needed some fat donuts to send through and he produced the right size. So after I approved the package size, we let 'er rip! And she ripped alright. She spiraled down like a good package should and yes we are back in business.

The next project is finding out where the leak is for the van's power steering fluid. Oh and I still need to put in a new windshield for her vehicle. Man, we are just moving along!

Ice-cream, Burgers, Ice-cream...and Quality Time

Jennifer had to wait for a someone to come over so she could help them so unfortunately she was unable to come with us.

So we went out by ourselves. We started at MacDonalds where we enjoyed some McFluries and ice-cream cones because it topped out at 81 degrees today...another warm one.

Then afterwards we went to Braums for some burgers. As we were eating, Keil reckoned that Mom would have really enjoyed it with us. Sometimes callings come first!

So as we got up to leave, we went to get some ice-create to bring home. And true to his love for his Mom, Keil strongly suggested we get Mint Chocolate-chip ice-cream for his mom. So we got a 3-pint for Jennifer and another for them. So we're home now and finishing off our video-game faceoff before heading to bed. A good start to the weekend.

From 84 to 31 Degrees...All in a Days Work!

So Saturday was 84 degrees and set a record then Sunday we dropped to 44 and by Monday the high here in NE Dallas (Richardson) was 31 degrees. And as a result, we had icicles on the trees. Moreover, the poor Hot Dog guy wasn't so hot. As you can see, his momos were ice. He's normally happier than that but it must have been hard to push out that ice after drinking it all :)

Well, that's Bid D weather for you....hot again cold again. Then it warmed up today to 76 degrees again. Tomorrow is slated to drop a little but then we might be either in the teens or single digits next week. Love it!

Mechanic Joe in 84 Degree Temp on a January Day

Another nice warm day in Dallas and guess what I got to do? I was able to do all the following to the van:
* Replace the alternator
* Fix a broken windshield wiper
* Do a tire rotation
* Washed and dried it

Amidst that, I was also able to move a couch and deliver it to the family in need and still had time to start our fast on time. It was awesome!

It took me 47 minutes to take out the alternator and took me 55 minutes to put it back in. Even with dropping two bolts and having to jack up the vehicle to retrieve them and having to reroute the serpentine belt because it completely fell out of its track, it still only took me 55 minutes. I'm so excited about that. After 55 minutes, Jennifer's van was back running and she was driving it around.

I'm please with that accomplishment. Well, it was a record breaker today at 84 degrees and how awesome that we were able to do our yard work.

The kids and I even took advantage and camped outside last night. Just in time because the low tonight will be 33 and the high tomorrow will be 47. So last night we slept outside in 67 degrees: we call it "tramp camp" because we camp on the trampoline.

...and Hot Again

So just two weeks ago we were down to 21 degrees with 7 degree windchill and light snow on the trampoline. Well today was 70 degrees and as you can see we were making the most of the nice warm day on January 2nd 2009. Very nice.