Mr. Fixit

I got to spend the weekend doing something I enjoy, that's right taking things apart. Ashley's sewing machine was not working properly; it was bunching up stitches from the bobbin, and being all sorts of obnoxious. After reading the book for a possible cause (yes I read the manual sometimes), I figured that it hadn't been cleaned or lubricated since she got it, so it was about time.
After I got it all taken apart, with parts and pieces laying all over the table I jokingly said "I hope I can get all this put back together". Ashley didn't find this as amusing as I did.
I got it all back together without a whole lot of trouble, I even used all of the parts (I know it was amazing). So then it was time for testing. Operating the wheel manually the needle went up; it went down and then crunch! The super smart engineer that I am failed to realize that the bobbin wheel slot needed to be aligned to allow the needle to go up and down properly. So I got to not only take it all apart once, but twice, yeah! After some minor adjustment I got it all aligned properly and it seemed to be working. So it was on to testing. With the machine threaded and a spare piece of material at the ready it was time to sew. I'll admit I was a little nervous if it was actually going to work right. It was beautiful, nice even stitches, no problems. Yeah! I am so smart. Ashley was so happy that her sewing machine was working and it didn't have to get thrown out the window, and I got to tinker.

Money Trouble

I feel a need to apologize to the rest of the world for our confusing money. How is somebody from a foreign country supposed to know how much a dime is worth? Where did we get the arbitrary names of dime, nickel and penny from anyway?

Last week we were on vacation. We started off by going to Boise to be a part of our niece’s baptism. Instead of heading straight back home we took the scenic route through the Columbia River Gorge and Mount St. Helens. As part of vacation we are always on the lookout for pressed penny machines. (Ashley has quite the collection and is always looking to add more to the 600 or so she already has.)

So now on to the reason for my apologetic blog.
At the Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mount St. Helens there is a penny machine. Near the penny machine there was a display of various types of volcanic rock from different volcanoes from around the world. As I was examining the different types of rock I noticed a lady having a problem making a pressed penny. For those who have never had the experience of using one of these wonderful contraptions they are really quite simple. You place 2 quarters and 1 penny in the appropriate coin slots (the quarters pay for the privilege of squishing a penny, and the penny is what you squish), push them in and let her rip. Nothing to difficult unless you have no idea what the various coins are. The lady was from London and feeling a certain affinity to the English People, I offered my assistance. Her main problem was instead of using a penny she had a dime in the slot. Since she had no penny and I happened to have one in my pocket I furthered good will between our countries by giving it to her.
I understand her dilemma; there is nothing on our coinage that indicates its value. Other countries coins have a number clearly printed on them as to there value. But not us, we like to make it as confusing as possible for those dang foreigners.

Another funny money story from our vacation. We stayed in a B&B in Hood River Oregon. As I was bringing stuff in from the car I saw a penny, 1 cent >8-), on the ground or so I thought. Never to overlook making a little extra money I picked it up. Upon initial examination I thought it was a Canadian penny, but it just didn’t look right so I looked closer. It turned out to a Euro 2 cent piece. Huh! Little town in Oregon and I find a Euro coin. It has now been added to my jar of various coins from around the world.

I'm Back - Finally

Wow! July already. Where has the year gone? So I haven’t updated my blog for a while (as most of you have noticed). Here are a few of the lame reasons that I’ll use in my defense:
I had to go to Groton Connecticut for work, the basement swallowed my life for many months, I spent time in San Diego for work, work has been insanely crazy so I just couldn’t spend any more time on a computer when I got home, and the most believable reason of all LEGO Star Wars. Okay I'm going to try and repent and make the wait so worth while. I promise.