On rubber!

October 27, 2007 (5:50am)

38º F, Rain, WNW Wind, 5 mph.

Good morning,

Fjord is on rubber. All four corners too! The rim came yesterday, unexpectedly soon, and Eli and I wrestled it on, after getting a new tube for it. The valve opening was slightly out of round for some reason and the new stem would not go in. The rim fit on the old disk very tightly and it had to fight it all of the way on. Using a cold-chisel as a wedge to make it clear the mounting bosses. Two of the mounting carriage bolts had damaged thread so had to substitute others, and one rubbed off the shoulders and had to cut it off with a torch. FINALLY, the task was accomplished just as it was time to head home and I let the jack down after taking out the blocking.

Since we were able to get the steering shaft bearing in the day before. I started to put the “dashboard” together, along with snaking the wiring into position. Didn’t get far as the UPS truck came and the task changed. At least now Eli can move Fjord if he needs the shop space. It has bothered me some that it was occupying the space for so long. For a time it seemed that everything I touched either broke or needed to be repaired in some way. Hopefully we are on the downhill run now. At least I hope.

Eli, every once in a while, asks me if I will be coming back to visit often. Told him we would stop when we get to town or had too much pie or muffins around and had to get rid of them. Apparently he enjoys our banter as much as I do. It really is a good thing that his shop is in Iron River rather than Crystal Falls - I surly would be there too much. But I do have an excellent source for advice or to get something done I can’t handle. I really enjoy is son Mick too. A chip off the block. Mick appears he will be leaving his Dad to work for the VA, mostly to get some health benefits he is not able to now. Would not be surprised to see Mick take over the business eventually though. Seems to be in his blood.

Our meeting with our Pastor was interesting and informative. Apparently the Presbyterian service is very short, 45 minutes, and it is a spoken service, no music. Appears I do all of the speaking and the folks do the listening. Different. Also chatted about several other things, but mostly about the upcoming services on the 11th. I have changed from some uneasiness to looking forward to the time. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. What does that mean? Doug was pleased to have me as a fill in for him from the sound of it.

Yesterday morning as I poured my 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee, the indicator light on the coffee maker went out - not a good thing for a Norwegian to be without hot coffee! We stopped at the hardware store in Florence and bought a new coffee maker. When Margriet set it up and turned it on after I went to Eli’s, it didn’t work either. The fuses appear to be OK. Guess I need to find out why the outlet is not working. Another 2-DO on my list for today. So we have a new coffee maker that we really don’t need. Probably will someday.

We went to Fob’s for a fish-fry last night. Our usual walleyed pike which as usual was very good. They really do serve a large portion. I think we have discovered the time to eat, a bit later than we normally would go. Seems everyone else likes the same time we do, so we will be a bit latter every Friday evening. After coming home, it wasn’t long before I went to bed. For some reason I was super tired and slept through to a bit later than normal this morning.

It rained very heavily this morning, even though the weather website indicated we were getting light rain. The radar shows the rain is on the way out of the area. Changed my ideas of what I will do today some. Supposed to be cooler tomorrow and possible snow. Either way, the fire sure feels good this morning. Hope to get out and work on the wood supply among other things.

Time to get the day a-going.

In Christ My Saviour,

Chris <><