OK not completely… but let me tell you, I was pretty pleased with myself after I installed the speed sensor in the Jeep today.  To make it sound more impressive.. this is a part in the transmission!  To make it sound more realistic (and not impressive) its really a part *on* the transmission.  Like changing a spark plug.. except upside-down so oil falls out.

As with all projects, this one took more than one trip to the store to get the right part… but once that was straightened out, it was 1-2-3 done.  After 13 months of staring at the engine light on the dash.. this was one for the logbooks.

Waited 13 months to install a $19 part taking ten minutes of labor - the definition of procrastination!

Well, Nathan’s birthday is a reminder that I’m getting a year older also.  Having a birthday the day after your son’s is a neat thing.  I didn’t have much on my list really.  Two or three “gadgets” – a flight calculator, a new digital amp or another video camera.  I went with the camera.  I wanted to add a second camera to my cockpit video and have something to film with outside – hands free.  I bought myself the Vholdr ContourHD.  Happy 36th self.

Every since I fell in the Kenduskeag in freezing cold water (three times now), I’ve had some trepidation when I walk over the foot bridge to work each day. Especially when the water is moving and has ice floating in it.  We received a pile of rain this week and the stream burst over the sides again pushing ice in all directions.  Downtown Bangor, it has no choice but to be heaved to and fro.  I took a shot this morning because it looked kind of rugged.

The Mighty Kenduskeag Stream

Wow.. how the years have flown.  Nathan turned ten today.  As is tradition with many Mainers (though a vanishing tradition no doubt), turning ten is a right of passage in Maine.  It begins your privilege to hunt.  We’re not much for hunting, but target shooting is a fun challenge so I bought Nathan his first firearm.  We got a chance to get out and plink with it a bit and even though it was wicked cold out, we had a blast with it.

Nathan with his new S&W M&P Model 15-22

All too soon.. it was time to get new tires for the car.  That rolls around all too often with a Ford Focus ZX5.  They chop the tires right off the back end.  Thankfully, this time with significant amounts of persuasion, they pro-rate the tire to match the mileage warranty.  In this case… 50,000 miles.  Since I only drove shy of 30,000 miles, they gave me about $50 back for each $120 tire.  The only real kick in the teeth with this car.  Oh, well.. we’re good until the next state inspection sticker!

Goodyear Eagle GT's - Sweet tires.

Nathan had a school event tonight.  A Pirate Party thing.  Games, food, etc. He had a great time and we were able to get a dinner date in.  Thankfully… he waited until the end, when they were cleaning up, to get hit by an inflatable tree and have a gusher of a nose bleed.

The staff/helpers did a great job cleaning him up.  His nose was still dripping when we arrived.  He was a tough guy and man-ed up.

Nathan and his big night out.

It is possible!  To go out to a restaurant, with friends and have mostly uninterrupted adult conversation. We had the chance to visit with friends and share a meal together in Brewer tonight.  Nathan had a school event that he wanted to attend so we jumped at the chance to have a couples date.

We ate at the Muddy Rudder in Brewer and even though we had to wait FORTY-FIVE MINUTES for our ALWAYS LATE friends, we still had about two hours to visit.  Thanks for hanging out Matt & Sarah!

Muddy Rudder, Brewer Maine

Sledding is underway at the Libby Luge!  We had a test run before the last snowstorm and it was hard, icy and fast.  Too hard, too icy and too fast.  The latest storm helped that out. We hit the slope and had a great time and no one ended up getting hurt… that bad.  Video coming soon. (or late).  (We measured the run, its 1/10 of a mile long!)

Shawn and Jess - Photo Credit: Nathan

Nathan is back at it.  A couple of years ago Nathan was taking piano lessons through school on the urging of his mother.  Jess plays herself, she’d like Nathan to learn piano and music theory so if he wanted to play some other instrument, it would come easier to him.

Recently, he practically signed himself up for lessons.  He’s doing great and he practices at home without being told… so, so far so good.

Nathan tickles the ivory