Frozen Pipes?

Ugh!

The kitchen sink won't drain- perhaps a frozen pipe? I've plunged and managed to "break" the plunger. How does that happen? Chris stopped to pick up a new one before he came home. But, my thoughts after I was plunging the standing water this morning turned to the possibility that the drain pipe froze. Though the kitchen sink is on the north side and our house being 68yrs old and lacking newer, more insulated plumbing, the water line is not frozen. As best as we can figure, the drain pipe in the basement on the north end is frozen, the standing water in my sink has no where to go. I put salt down the drain, still nothing (read that on the web)



This too will go away, but right now I'm feeling super bummed! I haven't done anything today but linger about trying to fix the drain and sit back in a big depression. Blah!














Broken plunger, new plunger and standing water (and undone dishes) in the background. Crap, crap, crap!

Nice day for a Ski Race

Ah, what a lovely Minnesota sight! A Viking bellowing out the signal for the start of the Barnelopet on a bull horn!









The kids went down to Riverside park for the free race. It was the first annual Barnelopet sponsored by The Sons of Norway (closest chapter, Anoka, Minnesota- we are after all in the heart of German Catholicville).

All the kids had a great time and received medals (very nice, I might add).

The Sons of Norway really put out a nice spread and had such great people volunteering. There were tons of homemade goodies and hot cocoa. Two people were making fresh rosettes and krumkake

They also had runic letter key so that the kids write their names in runic, several large swords, axes and even a chain mail tunic!

We forgot our camera and didn't factor in Graham participating either. He was all for it and thanks to our neighbor Lisa Z. for taking the photos! As it turned out, her kids are in the ski club and so many other families we knew! We had no idea! Jack's physical ed. teacher gave the kids sign up sheets so they could get the info about the free race home to the parents. She also has been taking them XC skiing for class. The kids seem to love it!


Graham showing great form for his very first time on skis

Jack coming in for the big finish

Graham

receiving

his

medal after

finishing the

3-5yr old

race.

The race for the littles was 400m

Jack was in the 9-11 year old group and it was 2.1k I believe. But, being the hardcore competitor as usual, Jack decided to do the older kid's race as well. I believe that was 4k and involved several hills (ones that I've struggled to get up in the past). He was worn out and sore by the time we loaded up to go home. He had blisters on his heels (tied his boots too tight?) and needed a good, hot soak in the tub last evening. However, he was gung-ho to get to school to show off his medal (like I said, all kids got them). His phys-ed teacher was out there skiing also and helping and cheering on the few kids from their school that came out for the race (four, I think). She was out there with Jack encouraging him and skiing right along with him for that last big race. He needed that, he might have given up. He was second to last to come in and like I said, worn out. The kids that started off that race were in the ski club, much older (like 12-16yrs) and skate skiing like they were taking a daily stroll. What a beautiful sight! I only wish I could skate ski, but since I have that herniated disc, I'll be sticking to classical ski for the rest of my life (most likely).

Here's hoping for more snow (warm weather and rain in the forecast) so we can get out there again soon. My back is doing better and some steady, take-it-easy skiing would be great exercise for me.

Almost did it again...

post on Chris' blog! I did that last week and had to cut and paste everything back to mine. I like the convenience of "keep me signed in"... but, ugh! If I'm not careful his blog is going to have girly ramblings instead of manly beer talk.

Blasted Cars!

Blasted Cars! Why is it that whenever we seem to be getting ahead just a little, the blasted car issues come up? ARGH!

THE GOOD and the BAD

First the BAD:
Coming back from mother-in-law's house Jan 5th we started to smell a weird "wire burning" smell from the Saab. We were just pulling of the interstate and headed home. No warning lights, no hot gauges- so we got in the drive way and popped the hood. Smelled like an electrical fire- but no smoke. So, we used the Volvo until I could get it in a week later to be looked at. I thought I'd start it up and would hopefully drive it out the the mechanic. Um, NO! The cabin immediately started filling with stench and smoke! I called a tow truck and cancelled my chiro appointment. Grrr! Tow truck guy thought maybe a belt, but I was thinking the worse- it smelled like the engine went. It was smoking in and out of the car! Fear kept me from calling the mechanic the next day. When I'm afraid to hear the truth, I often run from it. Finally, I had to make the dreaded call. We were going to have to make a decision as to whether to fix it. But, alas it wasn't as bad as I feared. Wow!

Now the GOOD:
Thank goodness. It was a belt and it took out some other belt. The smell was burning rubber/plastic. I dropped the Volvo off for an oil change and help with a headlight and took the Saab home. Was just fine and no lingering stench. The total for both cars was $400.98! While that is a bite in our cash reserves and is not pocket change, it surely is better than having to fork over $2000.00 for an engine or a different car. So, with 226,000 on the Volvo wagon and 98,000 on the Saab and a few more hundred $$ into the cars, hopefully we'll be good for a bit. It sure beats monthly car payments! Actually, this is the first money that we've put into the Saab in the 1-1/2 years that we've had it. We are hoping it is the last for a while. I feel a little bit here and there is expected. Like I said, we aren't plunking $200-$300 monthly on car payments- older cars by far are the better investment in my opinion. The mechanic said the Volvo is running soundly, but needs some axle boots. A bit more money to put into it, but then it should be good for quite a while. Still a solid car at age 14-yippee!

And, on a side note. While we are no thrifty, penny-pinchers and often have a few too many extravagances imho, we don't roll in the money and expect to live high off the hog. Or, in that case, live far beyond our means that everything is spiralling out of control. I read an article in the paper about a local woman (I have some interactions with her through kid activities and certainly people know about her). Apparently she so needed everything, she started kiting checks and such to pay for those pretty things. Now she is going off to jail for a year for her criminal actions (poor kids). Yikes! No thank you, I'll just live in my 68 year old house, with the one bathroom and two cars from the 1990's.
Well, that is my rant for the day. Perhaps I shouldn't bring up that situation, but it struck me again how crazy things are in this world. How crazy we can get- caught up in all the material wants and then losing face because of it. Well, I think she lost more than face, but somehow I think she is quite oblivious to the whole seriousness of the situation. Don't know, just my humble opinion.

With that, go on and have a nice day. It's gonna be a COLD one out there! Keep warm and find the little things in life to rejoice today. I think I'll bake some cookies to warm the house up a little ;)

Oh, my aching back!

It's been over a week since my back went out. Friday January 4th I was having a little coughing fit (getting over that icky-sicky thing that has been going on around here) and "pop"- my back goes out. So, I guess it really isn't defined as "going out" but something snapped. If you've ever had this, you'll know what I'm talking about. It sounded/felt just like a "pop" inside, on my lower left side. Now, I've been dealing with a herniated disc that has bothered my right leg nerves and stressing all the way up my right glute for about 2 years. Since September I've been going to the chiro and she's done wonders for me. My regular doc (whom I love, he's great with all of us) was leaning towards me seeing a surgeon. ACK! I don't want surgery! I'm glad I went to see the chiro for that- she's been great.


I went to the chiropractor on Monday- way too long to wait, should have tried to get in Friday. However, I didn't know it would progress to the point where I couldn't get out of bed!

I took a few of Chris' left over Flexeril last weekend- man, I was useless! I also saw my FP and he said he'd write a script for me so I could "get my own Flexeril"- ha-ha! I also got some Darvocet-N.

By Thursday I was much better, but it still aches and I'm fearful that I'm going to turn the wrong way and "pop" it again.

Since this happened to me, I've had several people say that they or somebody that they know has done the same thing or cracked a rib just coughing, sneezing or what have you. Wow- something so seemingly small and I'm all put out!

So, for me the lesson is I need to get on my exercise ball and keep myself flexible :)

Hey! Joe Behm... You RAWK!

A few months ago we purchased a new coffee roaster- Behmor 1600

THE ROASTER

We had a few glitches with it (the drum), so Joe Behm was right there on it! The soldering that he talked Chris through still didn't fix the issue. So, he up and sends a whole new machine. Mind you, he had been calling on the phone and emailing Chris back and forth through all of this. Usually calling within a few hours after Chris called him. Same with emails- johnny on the spot. He never waited more than a day to contact us when we were trying to fix the issue with the drum. What customer service!

Just now the doorbell rang and I go to the door to see DHL driving away. Here, Joe sent the new smaller basket for roasting smaller beans sizes (like Peaberry, etc.). With 3lbs of greens to boot- no shipping cost, no ordering, no charge! Just sent it right to our door with a very nice, personal letter thanking us for business and the little hassles we had up front with the Behmor 1600. Now that is customer service! Man, unheard of these days!

Man, Joe really rawks! And, the machine really rawks as well!

Here's the Loot that came to the door~