Crazy Thanksgiving Weekend...

 

Wednesday

I took Wednesday off work and Lisa, Justin and I took a trip to the Roseville Galleria for Lisa's birthday. I got her a pink 8Gb iPod nano with a car charger. Justin and I shopped around for games while she looked at clothes and baby stuff. We found a couple games for Justin for Christmas which we bought in stealth; meanwhile we gave Justin $20 to spend as he saw fit. He ended up selecting a zombie shooter called Dead Rising which was a blast.

Thursday

The next day we had to endure, count em, three Thanksgivings. First to Lisa's grandma's in Morada for dinner with her dad. Then to Papapavlo's in Stockton for some fine Mediteranian dining with my family; including my mom, grandparents, Eddie, Mike, Jen, Bella, Alex and Betsy. Afterwards we had to drop Justin off at his dads while we headed to Manteca for Thanksgiving with Lisa's step-mom and her family and friends at the Tiago's.

Friday

If that's not bad enough we decided to fight the crowds on Black Friday. Lisa and I got up at 3:30 am (sans Justin still), and headed to Sears in Stockton for a new toolbox. We got there at about 4:20 but then realized they didn't open until five. We got in a were able to get a new black Craftsman toolbox, a set of 25 screwdrivers and a 5hp wet/dry shopvac all saving us about $250 over retail. Not bad. Afterwards we headed to Baby's R Us where Lisa got a high chair and tub for the baby. Then back to home around 7:30am where I unloaded to car and and we went back to bed.

That evening, after a morning which made for a very weird feeling day, we headed to Galt to spend some time with her dad, Olaya, Susie and David. Susie also being preggerz we all had a great time. Olaya made a great artichoke dip, and dinner while we bsed, then we played some pool and darts upstairs for a few hours before settling down to a nice quaint movie: Tropic Thunder. lol not all the quaint, and quite crude but nonetheless one helluva funny movie.

Saturday

Man, how do I remember all this crap... Saturday, Saturday... Ah yes, the baby shower. So Saturday morning Lisa's step-mom and their family had a baby shower for Lisa and Susie in a cool rec. hall adjacent to their home in Manteca. This is where we got Marley from, so we took him along to play with his mom, siblings and friends (there were about six labs there; he had a BLAST!) So the shower: It was basically a bar, with a bunch of tables setup; there was also a pool table, foozball and air hockey. This gave the boys some fun while the girls talked. After snacks and a few rediculous games, Lisa and Sooz started opening presents; Justin and I were mom's wingmen helping with opening presents, sorting gifts and such. We got a ton of clothes, pampers, a bouncer, etc. Afterwards we headed up to her aunt Cheryl's place where Marley was at and hung out for a couple hours. Lisa and Sooz sorted through their loot and traded baby outfits while Justin and I played with the dogs outside. Mike's van, which Cathy, Susie and David came in from Nevada had the started go out and a few of the guys out at the ranch were able to help him replace the starter and get it running again.

Sunday

Yes. I know. There's more?! There couldn't possibly be.... that's what WE thought.

The Last Surviving Cable Line
Originally uploaded by davidremerson

Lisa and I slept in and had fun just cleaning the house most of the morning. I discovered that Marley chewed throught the cable line running to our room this morning. This after he's already gone through two other cable lines which I had to repair and the AC line which I repaired. I said eff it, and didn't bother fixing it today. We had enough on our hands just dealing with going through the presents and getting Andrews room setup. We got hungry around 3pm or so and headed out to Applebee's for lunch. During lunch we organized our gift cards and how we were going to use them, and Lisa started organizing her calendar of stuff to do when she gasped, "Oh my god! We're supposed to be at Jennifers for Thanksgiving and Alex's birthday!" We paid and left Applebee's; I saw that I had a text on my phone from Mike so I called and explained. We went over and had a great time. My mom was there. We had a great dinner and a coldstone cake before heading home.

I can't wait to go back to work. :o)

A chill weekend...

Well Lisa is 34-weeks preggerz this week and is really big, and really uncomfortable. We've read that the end of 36-weeks she'll be considered full-term, but we're to the point where we've prepared ourselves that it could be literally any day now. Pretty effing wild. This coming weekend we have a second baby shower with Lisa's step-mom and their family in Manteca. Personally I think she's nuts for wanting to do any sort of traveling this late and being this uncomfortable.

This past weekend was pretty uneventful. Saturday we did a Costco run just for food then later raked a shizer-load of leaves from the front lawn. It seems the two trees out front all drop their leaves within a two-week period every year. Sunday after church I cleaned out the garage and rain gutters, flushing the downspouts and mowed the back.

Last night I got Justin to try riding his new bike, which we got him last Christmas, and he's just about big enough to ride it now. So after riding a couple times up and down the street we got mom and Marley and headed for a walk to the lake. Lodi Lake was drained except a small area for the ducks, and the lower area was completely void of people. Given the opportunity, Justin, Marley and I went down and let Marley off his leash to run his legs off chasing the ducks and playing in the water while Lisa video taped us on the camcorder from a bench above. We all got muddy as hell and were caked with mud; including a face-plant in the mud after tripping over Marley. We had a great time.

Lisa's off all this week as Wednesday is her birthday, Thursday is turkey day, and Friday is black. Justin had the same days off school, and I am taking a vacation day Wednesday to equal their time off in addition to having Thursday and Friday off as a holiday myself.

A Working Washer

So Sunday I ordered a new transmission for the washing machine at $161 including tax and shipping. We received it on Tuesday, and I deferred installing it until last night. After work I pulled the machine all back apart with the skill of an appliance ninja who'd done this before. After pulling the transmission out, I had to remove the clutch from the existing transmission and install it on the new one. Easy enough... pull a safety clip off the drive shaft which prevents the clutch from raising too high with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Then pull a retention ring off the clutch that locks the clutch to the top gear of the transmission. Then slide it all back on the new transmission... reinstall the transmission, motor, and pump... put the case back on... clamp it, and screw it into place. Said a little prayer, and kicked off the first load... Success! So far we've run about four loads through it and I think it's as good as new! :o)

Talking with Lisa, the nearest I figure, we saved at least $150 over having someone else fix it, and I got free appliance education out of it. It would have been at least $300 for parts and labor for someone else to fix it. At least. Or, compared to a new washer, which I probably would have went with if a repairman gave me a quote of over $300, I saved more in the neighborhood of $450 over buying a new washer all together.

So we finished the evening with some dinner and helping Justin with his Geography homework, then Lisa and I hit the sack and watched Planes, Trains and Automobiles. A classic flick.

Kobalt Tool Chest Fail

So the update with the washer... Yesterday I pulled off the agitator and dropped the transmission on the washer. All the surrounding parts were pristine. But the transmission didn't seem to be functioning properly. So today I'll either be ordering a new one from a local shop or off the net for a replacement. I hope it gets here before all our clothes are stinky. :o(

On a separate note Lisa got me a new, black Kobalt tool chest for Christmas last night from Lowes but upon getting it home and putting it together I was very displeased with it's quality of construction. The top chest didn't fit properly onto the bottom set of drawers, the top deck was dented, and the whole thing was made out of relatively thin sheet metal that was spot-welded together. I ended up taking it back. I'll be much happier with a Craftsman tool chest the next time we find ourselves at Sears.

Whirlpool Washer Fail :o(

So Lisa had the day off yesterday and did a lot of housework while I was at work. When I got home I was fartin' around on the computer when I heard her doing laundry. Then I heard something to the effect of, "Ahh crap." Going to investigate she said that the washer had completed a cycle but the clothes were sopping wet. Crap indeed. We set it to Spin, closed the lit, started it... the motor was running bu but opening the lid nothing happened. I repeated this four more times. One of which it did start spinning but was violently shaking back and forth. It's shot...

So I hit the Internet doing various Google searches for our Whirlpool WTW5700SW0 Washer. Eventually I find the exploded diagram, and several forums describing common problems encountered. My first thought is the coupler connecting the motor to the transmission is shot. This would be a $13 part if that's the case....

So I start, and it takes me about 2 hours just get get the thing apart. First take off the two screws at the top on the back that secure the control console to the solid back of the washer. Next get a putty knife, or a big-ass flat blade screwdriver and jam it under one of the side, plastic caps and pry it up. It take a bit of force but the cap will pop-up. It's held in place by a metal bracket that will fall inside the caseing of the washer once you pop it off. Repeat on the other side and the console will lift off. Next use a flat-screwdriver and stick it down into each of the brass-colored brackets and pop them off. Now the housing is free. Now you tilt the housing forward and pull it toward you. It will completely come off; set it asside.

So now you're like, "Okay, now what." Look down under basket and you'll see the white pump with two hoses sticking out of it attached to the motor. You now pop-off the two black brackets holding this pump in place and pull the pump to the side. Viola, the motor...

There are two brackets holding the motor in place. Now using a 1/4" socket, remove the two screws holding the brackets on. Once the screws were out, I had to pry one of the brackets off and the whole motor dropped.

Here you'll find the coupling that connects the motor to the transmission. It's a rubber disk about 2.5" in diameter. And........ It looks absolutely PERFECT.

By this time it was after 9pm, and I gave up doing any further work on it, and resigned myself to doing further research on what to try next. Further reading on the net suggests that it's somewhere farther up. Either the transmission, basket drive, or most likely, the clutch. So tonight I'll be tilting the whole machine back and dropping the transmission to examine the clutch. With any luck, that's what it'll be and be about a $35 fix. If it's the transmission it'll be closer to $150.

Anyway, more to come on this topic!

Baby Shower at Wine & Roses

Baby Shower at Wine & Roses
Originally uploaded by davidremerson

Sunday we had an amazing first baby shower at Wine & Roses in Lodi which Jennifer put on for us. Those in turn-out included my mom, grandma, mom's friend Shirley, Jennifer and Alex, Lorena, a good selection of the Dermal Clinic girls, Justin and I. Mike and Bella showed up later to help with presents and such. We had an amazing breakfast there and played a couple baby-shower games before hitting the presents. We got a ton of clothes, a humidifier (what's that for? heh), a swing, and much more. Once we got back home we spent a good chunk of the remainder of the day getting the nursery put together. I put together the crib which was once Bellas, and the baby swing, while Justin arranged all the VHS kids movies, and Lisa got all the new clothes hung up. We've got another baby shower planned for the end of the month, but we're pretty damn-well setup. All we need now is a baby! :o)

Andrew's 3D Mug

Andrew's 3D Mug
Originally uploaded by davidremerson

Yesterday afternoon Lisa, Justin, and I met up with my mom and Jennifer at Tate Diagnostic in Lincoln Center in Stockton. We had an appointment for a 3d/4d ultrasound. We ended up getting the Ruby package which includes a 10-minute sonogram with a 10-minute DVD video and about 12 or so color and b&w images of widdle Andrew. It was a surreal experience and we all had a blast.

Afterwards I stopped by Lowes in Lodi and picked up a number of things. A garbage can to pickup a concrete walkway I sledgehammered Wednesday night which was causing one of the rooms in our house to flood a bit after the last rain. I also got a No Crank automatic hose reel. To try and prevent the damn dog from dragging the garden hose all over the yard. I also picked up a two-tier towel bar, and a toilet paper bar from the Moen Inspirations Sage line to spiffy up some of the ghetto hardware in my bathroom.

No... I wouldn't call this nesting. :o)

New 09 Jetta S

2009 VW Jetta S
Originally uploaded by davidremerson

Saturday Lisa had to work most of the day, though we met for lunch at the Butcher Shop. Later that day I went to Lowes and got supplies to fix another of Marley's blunders. This time he chewed through the control line for the air conditioner. I was able to do the repair for about $23 running a new section of 18-gauge wire down electrical PVC pipe. That night we watched Waitress, a pretty funny movie, and a couple episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm which we were just giving a shot.

Sunday after church we drove to the Stockton Automall and turned in Lisa's 06 Jetta SE which was on lease, and leased her a new 09 Jetta S. The downgrade will save us about $80 per month but the new ride came pretty loaded. Though she's lost her navi-system, leather seats, alloy wheels, and moonroof, we were very impressed with all the features this base-model Jetta still had: power windows, locks and mirrors; heated seats, cruise control and an iPod aux port.

Also starting today Lisa's officially working part time; the other benefit of having a cheaper lease. She'll be working three days a week now until the baby is due in January (or late December) at which time she'll be taking three months off to recoup and take care of the little one.

Thursday we have an appointment at Tate Diagnostic to have a 3D ultrasound performed. That should be a blast!