We Went `A Walkin'

So we took a walk. This is something I have wanted to do for sometime. The JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) walk was 3/5/11, or Saturday. I always felt there was something for cancer, there was something for Alzheimer's, something for for heart disease, March of Dimes, you name it... but never anything for what I am affected by. I have been a type 1 diabetic since I was 27. Now I'm 35, almost 36, and I have the opportunity to do something. Or at least be around other folks that go through the same thing I do everyday.

I am not one that will go ask for money but you see a student of my wife's contracted the disease, his name is Jake, and I cannot fathom how he deals with the disease. Yeah I know I have the very same problem and I face the same hurdles he does, but he is just a kid, I got to have a childhood, he does too, but it is severely altered. I just can't even imagine trying to go to kids birthdays, or just munching on random things. It really isn't possible with type 1 diabetics as you have to , take your blood sugar, do the math on what you ate, and give yourself insulin accordingly. There is no mindlessness to it at all. So though we have already walked if you would like to donate, here is the link: Team Jake 

I do believe that this is a disease that can be cured. And honestly, you can't help it if you got it. Many diseases you can do something to stave it off, like eat right, exercise, make sure you aren't living where dangerous chemicals and whatnot are. Type 1 diabetics not so much, you might be one tomorrow. Anyway if you can give that is great, if you can't that is ok too. 

Oh No... Spend More Money

So... on top of the troubles with the teenager, the sickness of Songbird, and the just being of the baby, and my wife's after-school school to become someone of administration, my AC breaks... again. The AC of the house, not the car (which broke twice last summer). The same AC I thought was giving me trouble when it was cold outside (heat pump). So I enlisted the help of a friend, since he works on this sort of thing all the time. First we check the start capacitor. It is what helps high amperage things get started... almost like a battery, it holds an amount of a charge, then when the motor comes on it empties giving the motor just what it needs. it is a $3-10 part. the one on my compressor worked just fine. Dang!!!

So with that, the least expensive and easiest to fix item, was off the list. I turned on the AC at the request of my friend, and he says (and I already had a sinking suspicion) that the actual fan motor had gone... which was not the end of the world, but it was a bit more involved. Still all and all I'm only out $130 bucks $95 (I just picked up the motor), instead of who knows how much if I would have called a repairman (probably $300 minimum) and this is something I need to keep telling myself, as I have yet to complete this task.

I have the old motor removed, the new motor ready to be put in, and of course it is in the 60's, which means I won't get the "oh honey, you saved us" from the wife if it were 80+ degrees outside, but all things considered, I don't really need that anyway. Don't get me wrong, it would be nice, but not necessary.

Here we see our culprit, the outside portion of a split system heat pump. It is working now, but it wasn't before. I have enclosed photos so that maybe if you have the same problems you too can go get the parts and fix it yourself. But if you should make sure you can handle it and it would help if you had someone in the know around. I went to Fox Appliance Parts for the parts. They do not have a web presence but their number is: (912) 234-0911. ‎

This is the part that went south. How do I know this? Well, on my particular unit it was either this or the start capacitor. We checked the capacitor, which was good, barring that you may not have a capacitor checker, a voltmeter with that option, I would go ahead and buy a new motor anyway, as it cost me $95, and they threw in a start capacitor anyway (for an additional $3) Also in my instance there was a bit of slop in the old motor, you could grab the shaft and wiggle it around, with a new motor you won't be able to do that.

Here we have the new motor (with the fan blade on it... it was the same fan blade, I took this picture after the fact) See that little silver box at the bottom of the picture? That is the start capacitor... you need to make sure before you go poking and prodding that this is discharged. What does that mean? You need to short out across the leads with something metal, like a screwdriver. Otherwise, if you short out the leads with a hand or arm or anything connected to your body, you will become a fireworks show... not fun.

Ok I have it mounted back on to the grill. I should say this took the longest. Cutting the threaded screw wire down to size was a pain. During this portion I would recommend a 2nd person that knows what needs to happen, understands how it happens... or not the help of a teenager, as it was not very much help at all. My wife came to help and it all went a lot smoother from that point on

Ok this is the point where I am just about to put the fan back in. You can see the innards of the AC and the copper piping the carries freon. It is also where you need to make sure nothing is hitting or coming into contact with the fan. I had to loosen the fan and push it a tad bit back, also make sure your wiring is good, not in the way, through the right holes, etc.

From this point all that was needed was a place to mount the capacitor, we opted for a hot glue gun, and stuck it where we could fit it.All that remained is to tighten the screws and turn the system on. I have the ability to heat/cool my home again... at a much more affordable price too.

Classic Film Friday: Metropolis

 This is, by all standards, the most vintage movie of classic movies. Since the film is silent, there are other things that catch your attention. The music, the actors emoting process, I find myself trying to read the lip sync of the actors words that appear later on screen. Well that is until you figure out that they are speaking German.


Anyway this is the standard that pretty much every sci-fi movie is held up to. Joh Fredersen is the leader of his futuristic city. But it is a world in which society is divided into two classes: planners and management or rich, who live in luxurious skyscrapers and one of workers or poor, who live and toil underground or better known as the depths. Freder is Joh's son. and he serves as intermediary between the workers and his dad. Maria a preacher that comes up from the worker's city, befriends Freder, and Freder tries to talk to his dad about the workers. But it falls on deaf ears (some people have to learn the hard way).

Jon speaks to Rotwang, a mad scientist, and who happens to have a rivalry with Jon... that is until Jon's wife Hel died. But Rotwang has invented his "Machine Man" or robot. And he is putting on the finishing touches on it when he speaks to Jon. They plot to kidnap Maria, as she has much support from the workers and the robot will take the place of Maria, with nobody knowing except them (Rotwang and Jon). And from there things get really interesting. Rotwang is really looking to kill Freder and Jon, and there is confusion amongst the crowd since they believe the robot to be Maria.  You'll have to watch to get the rest but I promise, if you do take to time to see this flick, you will appreciate it...

Florence + The Machine - Dog Days Are Over

This video is a tad bit off... I really don't get it but it seems to be popular. Whatever... It takes all kinds. You'll just see for yourself.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

We sort of forgot... I mean we have been busy and the guy is dead (he would have been 107 today) but anyway, it is a chance that teachers make (the elementary ones anyway) to promote reading, and we are all about that. When we don't have 3000 other things going on. So read a Dr. Seuss story to a child or to yourself... I know we will.

You Really Shouldn't Have...

Check Your Mail

I come from a rather large family. I mean I have 6 sisters and 2 brothers just in my immediate family. 4 sisters and 1 brother are my friend on facebook. 1 sister has disowned me... she is the daughter of my step-mother and father. I don't know how I could reconcile with her, she is too much like her mother (crazy) and I simply can't suffer that. The remaining sister and brother either do not have a computer, or are not on facebook. I don't have their phone numbers either, so I am regulated to talking to them when I go down to visit or I happen to call my dad when one of them is over at his house.

I was going through the mail the other day... you know, that stuff with a stamp on the outside, and someone magically delivers to your door (except Sundays)... the same stuff that all your (or some if you don't have the option to end paper billing from your bank) bills come from. And what did I see? A card, addressed to me. Was it some long lost girlfriend? Was it my ex? Was it a stalker? None of the above. It was from my brother and it was rather nonchalant. Just kind of checking in to see how I have been. All I have is an address, so I'm writing him back.

My brother and I had a love/hate relationship. He did a lot of mean stuff to me. But I don't think it was any different than any other older brother did to any other younger brother. We were boys... plain and simple. Sort of like the Wonder Years... except maybe not as nice, a little more violent, more illegal (breaking things drinking/smoking, that sort of thing) but real all the same. Now all I can hope is there is nothing wrong with him... you know, has cancer, or 6 months to live, or anything like that. I wrote him back, and for now I'll just wait and see. Who does that anymore? I guess my brother does.

Thinking back on all the good times we had, with nothing... we didn't know how good we had it when we had nothing. And maybe that is just it... we didn't have anything so all we could have is each other. Now I know that sounds like a sappy Lifetime movie of the week... better used on a woman/man relationship, not between brothers, but it is what it is.Or I should say was what it was. Perhaps this will be a new relationship... one with no wedgies or frog punches or gross farting. One can hope... Yes?