Power up!

Well it hasn't been a year since I bought the iPhone (used mind you...) but the battery seems to be needing a replacement. The amount that I use the device in a given day hasn't changed radically but the battery amount left at the end of the day has.

So do I send it off for a replacement and a small fortune (OK about 75-100 dollars) and leave the work to someone else? Or do I just pay some pittance for the parts (and a useful tool) and do this all myself?

Why hell folks that's a rhetorical question! Naturally I do it my damn self!

I can operate a soldering iron and I've taken apart many a small electronic device so what am I waiting for? The parts of course, I just ordered them...

Hmmm...

Scratch that post below...

I rode all of 1.2 miles to Starbucks and back yesterday. The little man wanted his usual Saturday constitutional, which proved aggravating due to his attitude. I couldn't find the interest to ride anywhere, that and I left my bike shorts at work, not that I need them to ride, but it makes for a convenient excuse!

And now as I write the wife has left for the day so I'm at home puttering about listening to the little man banter with his friend about Star Wars, legos and all that a 7 year old will conjure up. Maybe I'll try my hand at wheel truing... I noticed after the tumble the front wheel has a bit of a wobble in it... Maybe...

Weekend Accomplishments...

For You Doohickie:



I can fit one more in there for sure. The trick is this: loosen up the handlebars, turn them 45° and viola! Nesting them by putting one facing left then one facing right also helps.

I put the 170mm cranks on the LeMond, rode it on a shakedown ride today and brought it back to tighten up the bottom bracket (that I took out to inspect, clean and relube). I'll try again tomorrow to see if that helped. Chain is clean and lubed.

Laurie bought some tires today.

To do:

I need to call BMI and sort out my account

I need to write Marti Emerald an email concerning Kearney Villa road, since it's in her district. Paste a link to the Bike Forums thread discussing it in detail...

Shoulder!

Stem and handlebars...

Weston! Clean Your Room!!!!!

New steed in the barn...

Well I sprung for a geared bike... I decided it was time and since I had some dosh scraped together hidden under a mattress for the job I looked around and decided on a older LeMond Zurich.

It's more than my abilities in a way, but it spoke to me and screamed my name. I only wish it would have told me that the headset needed work before I exchanged cash with the previous owner, but after a $115 repair bill it's lesson learned to scrutinize things to a much higher degree than I'm used to doing and adjust the offer to suit the situation with this in mind. Oh well so it goes...

I've got some Crank Bros Quattros on it that I found used and I'm rocking some nice Cannondale shoes I got for 50% off, now I need some spandex to complete my kit... lol!

The Zurich is a different ride than the Kona for sure, it's twitchier and also gives one the feeling of speed. Being a steel frame it rolls pretty smooth and has a nice overall feel to it, I just need to spend some time in the saddle to really get to know it better, kind of like a women...

Time to be moving on...

Looks like a northerly direction will be in the cards, and if things don't work out then it's on the buyer's dime not mine. I guess I'll miss the old place and all that came and went with living here. A lot has transpired and a lot of nothing as well. I never made my first million, didn't bag 'The Big One', Haven't won the lottery. I did how ever manage to survive some dismal periods of my life with relative success and came out on top almost without trying. I must be mostly Irish after all...

We tried to recall some of the past residents the other day, some both of us remembered, some only either one of us did, and their cars and habits as well and some we both had a hard time recalling much of anything about that person. Tried to remember the residents at the previous place on Palm as well, funny how time flies and memories fade. A good deal of people that were here when we arrived are still here, still plugging away at life. Some have of course moved on, some have died; Here's to Joe the WWII vet, Arlene and the lady in 24 who the HOA had to place a lien on her place after not paying the HOA fee for some time, and to Richard whom I went to high school with and never met him 'til I moved a few doors down from him. Oh well so it goes.

And after 4 years of being an HOA board member and putting up with the typical crap, I did see the place get painted (oh what a battle for something so simple), the parking lot resurfaced twice (currently ongoing second resurface), new management company (a near disaster), numerous notices to residents, 4 years of Christmas trees in the dumpster after 4 years of notes telling them to do otherwise. New mailboxes and new laundry equipment (of course just as we're leaving the place) thanks to yours truly and plenty of other nonsense that I hope to avoid in my future as a renter.

Also during the past 4 years I have scraped, textured and painted the ceilings. Painted just about every surface at least once. Installed a new stove, dishwasher, AC unit, ceiling fan and kitchen sink. I did not install those low E vinyl frame windows we had discussed very early in our stay or add a washer/dryer area anywhere within the 999 sq feet we called home. I did break a plate glass window in a fit of rage and then paid $66 to have it repaired after removing it and taking it to the place while I waited. And then in another fit I punched a closet door and had to repair that. The key is using expanding foam and Bondo. After it's dried, sand it smooth, primer and paint. You'll never know I lost my temper into that door.

Yeah I guess I'll miss the old place, but I will have my memories and though we'll reminisce from time to time, those too shall fade... Somewhat.