Well, I was wrong

All this winter I had been thinking, up until now,  how mild it had been and thought maybe we would have one of the milder winters of the past. Well I was wrong. I know people in the north eastern US would not have agreed with that premise at all, here in the midwest it has been fairly nice for the most part. All that changed within the last week or so.

Lexington, KY (2-17-2015)

Temperatures have dropped to the below zero category with a forecast of minus 10 tonight. Snow has blanketed the area but I suppose we here in Seymour were a bit better off than a lot of places in the Kentuckiana area. I'm guessing we got maybe 4 inches or so, but my sister (Melody McKinney) in Lexington, KY sent me this picture which shows a bit more snow than that. You and Jim stay warm sis.


While the snow is bad, the real story is the frigid temperatures. I know people with arthritis understand how cold, cold weather affects them, but the thing I don't really understand is how your body knows how cold it is outside. I've been in my home for the duration of this latest snow and cold snap, but still my arthritis is acting up just as though I were out in the cold. In fact, it started before the storm and cold even got here, as if it knew it was coming. Very strange.

Fortunately on the arthritis front, I am now scheduled to see a specialist in Indianapolis on the 13th of next month. Hopefully that will lead to some more effective treatment because I really don't like being trapped here in my bedroom. Even the few steps to my attached bathroom is very painful and difficult.

Even though I have a couple of projects waiting for me in my workshop/spare bedroom, I have been unable to get to those for the last couple of weeks. One is a GE (model P-975D) AM/FM transistor radio of late 60's, early '70's vintage. The radio is complete, but had badly rusted battery contacts. After soaking in CLR and some wire brushing, I was able to put the batteries in to make contact and the radio appears to work very well considering it's age. I still need to clean up the case and controls, but I think there is nothing major wrong with this set.

Project number two is of slightly older vintage, around 1949 to be exact. It's a GE (model 150) 5 tube AC/DC battery portable AM radio. As seen in the picture, the speaker grille is missing some pieces, but I hope to have another case on the way soon. Also one of the tubes (1R5) was missing, but I managed to find one on eBay and that has been shipped here as well. Once I get to feeling better, I hope to to give the ol' girl a try.

I guess that is all I have for now, hope to write more soon...

Where the heck have I been?

Have no fear, I am back. Never really went anywhere, just got out of the habit of posting here. Can't promise I will post here regularly once more, but I'm posting now, so that is something at least.

I've had a lot of arthritis problems as of late and they have kept me from typing at the keyboard for the most part. Oh I could press a key or two with a couple of fingers, but nothing like I am doing now, which is touch typing.

I've also been busy with other projects, such as building an electronic repair bench and then videoing me working on various things there. You can view those on my YouTube channel and looking at the Electronics playlist.

I've done a little work on my Buick, I replaced the passenger side floor that was rusted out. Had the help of my granddaughters Lexi and Kylie for that, plus my brother-in-law Jim came up from Lexington, Kentucky to weld the new panel in. The next project I hope to accomplish on the car is painting the roof. I plan to use a roller and Rustoleum paint. Should be interesting.

Speaking of Lexi and Kylie, they have been learning to cook here on Wednesday evenings. I pick the girls up after school each day and their father usually picks them up after he gets off. But on Wednesday, he works late and Kylie has youth group, so it was decided that they would take turns cooking dinner here that evening. It has been interesting, but mostly good. I'm happy they are learning this valuable skill.

My favorite recent photo

I'm sure most of you already know this, but I became a great grandpa for the second time since last we spoke. My oldest granddaughter, Jordan, gave birth to little Lainee Rene' Eaton on September 30th of 2014. She was Born at 4:22pm, weighed 7lbs 15oz and was 21inches long. 

As a bonus, Jordan and her brother Billy moved into the place across the street from me. How nice is that? Sure is nice to have family living close by. Both of them are pharmacy techs at the CVS in Columbus, Indiana. My daughter Autumn, or Mimi as she is known now that she has a grand child, does most of the babysitting while Jordan is at work. 

So you can see, I have been fairly busy, not so much doing anything in particular, but just living life each day. BTW, it is 2:47 AM here and I'm mostly typing this because I can't sleep. I have a lot of those nights lately, but considering I went to bed about 9:30 the night before and didn't get up until 9 this morning, well, that does cause one not to sleep at a normal time I would think.

Hope to be more regular here if possible. Thanks for listening...