Date: 2009-03-11 00:17 Subject: Getting more plants in the ground and more CFL's in the house Security: Public Mood: quixotic

I got a couple of things accomplished on the GreenFront so far this week:

1.  Went wild purchasing more heirloom seeds and put 10 more in the germination rotation.  I have the first 12 bean plants started going outside.  Unfortunately, the temperature took a turn back to the pre-global warming lows and Ii decided to put a 40W incandescent lamp in the
little "greenhouse" I fabricated to keep the little babys from freezing.

2.  Purchased 2 more candelabra base CFL's for the dining room.  4 of 6 are now swapped out.  I need to keep at least one resistive load in the fixture so the parasitic voltage from the BSR does not wipe out the power supplies in the lamp bases.


1A.  As I generate "extra" plants, they will become available to those who wish to participate in our Victory Garden project this year.  Four of us did this last year.

Date: 2009-03-07 00:54 Subject: Join the Wave Security: Public Mood: chipper

Since I am posting, I should mention this.
A few weeks ago densaer  and I were talking about how we were getting tired of pessimism of the masses - we were especially frustrated with some comments about how the economy, the nation and the planet are in a downward spiral and nobody can do anything to stop it.  Frankly, we just don't accept that we are destined to fail.  We believe that the solution to our economic and energy problems are intertwined and that by solving one we can solve the other- we also believe that, if we use clean technology, we can save the planet.

The problem is, nobody seems to know where to start - so we are going to show  our neighbors how to get the ball rolling.
We have founded an organization called GreenWave  it's nothing fancy yet - just a way for us to start meeting with our friends and neighbors.  We think we can start by helping people understand their options, make some simple and inexpensive choices and start taking small steps.  We don't care if you drive a Prius or a Pontiac, if you live off the grid or just off the expressway, if you blame cows for global warming or enjoy warming a steak over a bed of hot coals - everybody can find something that the can do, that won't cost much (if anything) and that will not decrease their standard of living.  So much of the negative image of the "Green Movement" has come from the smugness of some of the early adopters or the "greenwashing" that is the latest trend on Madison Avenue.  That is not what we are about.

So, if you want to change a few light bulbs or save some rainwater or drive more efficiently or just learn where you are using resources - consider joining our movement.  The first meeting is in a couple weeks and we will discuss bringing together a group of "really smart people" to teach us stuff we don't know.

I celebrated the domain name registration by planting the seeds for my vegetable garden.  Now I just need to make water efficient beds.  Perhaps this weekend.

Date: 2009-03-07 00:41 Subject: Spring has almost sprung Security: Public Mood: accomplished

Wow, was it really December when last I posted?

It is a time of system refreshing here in the Router rack.  The kitchen finally got the new floor it so desperately needed.  That drove a new water heater (20% more efficient than the old but still not tankless) and a new microwave oven.  Actually the oven toasted its main transformer; sparks, flame, smoke and a call from "the first harmonic" as dinner was cooking - "Dad, where is the plug for the microwave - it just caught fire."

The water tank was a project.  I went to HomerDepot to buy a new one and thought I was buying an Energy Star unit.  12 Year rated, $500 - but hte EF was only .59 and Energy Stars are .62 or better.  Sitll, it is more efficient than the old one.  It was also slightly larger and taller and it became quite a project to install.  I put in a new water filter for the ice makre at the same time.

Since all the appliances took a trip outside, we washed the walls and ceiling of the kitchen and laundry room as well as all the appliances.
New floor looks nice.  Mrs. Router is happy.  Kitchen has less junk inside.

I also got a great deal on the materials and labor for the floor.  If you have cash in hand and if you are willing to ask, there are some great deals to be had out there.

We plan to do some more strategic spending to make the old house a bit more comfortable, green and economical over the next few months.

Date: 2008-12-21 01:16 Subject: A Massive Erection - Antenna that is. What were you thinking? Security: Public Mood: satisfied

I like antennas - way too much.

My neighbor has a huge plam tree between our houses - it must be 95 feet tall.
My neighbor has a huge redwood tree in his back yard - it must be 110 feet tall.
My neighbor is really cool about my antenna fetish.

Today, the tree guy (James from Cambrian Tree Service) came to my house and climbed the palm tree.
Today, three new anchor points went up into the air:
Double pully at 70 feet
Single pully at 55 feet
Single pully at 35 feet

Unfortunately, when I cut the first line on the double pully, I cut the WRONG line and we had to restring it - so it got fouled with some of the other lines.  Imagine if you will the scene in my front yard.  Two nylon kern-mantle antenna lines through a double pully high up in a tree so we had four ends suspended from the tree and deeply intertwined.  In a ritual that looked rather like a May Pole dance, Mrs. Router, NExt Door Neighbor, Across Street Neighbor and Packet and Sonet (the kids) tried to unwind the mess.  I would either join the dance or try to direct.

Each person had a line and tried to stand out about 20 feet from the base of the tree.  One person would look to the top of the mess with a pair of binoculars and try to tell which 3/16 inch line was which and how they were fouled.  They would then call out directions to try to untie the mess.  It actually sounded like a caller at a square dance e.g. "Sonet, take two steps toward the center.  Packet, cross right behind Sonet and stop.  Mrs. Router, take your line and stand behind Sonet then turn your line around hers counterclockwise.  This process took uas about two full, freezing, hours outside.

I got the Alpha-Delta DX-LB up in the air and started to modify the antenna into a DX-LB Plus by adding extra wires (line a fan dipole) for 10 and 20 meters.  I hope to finish tomorrow before the rains come.

Next step - the redwood.

Date: 2008-12-19 23:34 Subject: Christmas, "orphans", , breakups and such Security: Public Mood: nostalgic

Christmas is a bit strange this year.

My Dad is out of the hospital and recovering very well - but we are going to Mom and Dads Christmas morning so they don't have to drive over here.  All in all, I am very thankful for my parents health this year.

Mrs. Router is having a rough time of it since she lost her mom in May and her birthday would have been last Wednesday.  Birthday + Christmas = Depression.  She is doing pretty well buy has her tearful moments.

Last year we had a big Christmas with lots of friends over as well as my parents and our neighbors.  We will have my parents and at least one of our neighbors but most of our friends who were here last year will be gone this year.  The house will seem so empty and I know my wife would like to have it full so she can have the distraction.

Now I also know somebody else who will be an "orphan" and I would love to have her join us but she and my "other wife" broke up and there are lots of hard feelings over that.  Is it ok to invite her?  Will she resent the invitation?  Will she be angry I have not said something sooner?  What about him?  Will he be upset if I invite her (he won't be here)?  It's the classic breakup dilemma - who gets to keep the friends?

It would be so much easier if they were not both cool people.  If either of them was really evil, the decision would be simple.  But he is one of my very best friends and she is totally cool and smart and attractive and wonderful.  On the other hand, he is not perfect and she has been pretty down lately.  Why can't this be easy.  Can't we all just get along?

I'm just going to put this out there; you both know who you are.  One of you won't be around here on Christmas anyway.  If the other wants to come, you are welcome to join.  There will be no hard feelings or unhappy thoughts allowed.  It is, after all, Christmas.

Besides, Mrs. Router needs someone in the kitchen she can talk to about what an insensitive man her husband can be.

The truth is, Mr. Router does not like to dwell upon what he can not fix: he can not bring back Mrs. Router's mom or make the pain go away for her.  He knows the situation stinks and is unfair and that she hurts when she thinks about it or certain dates pop up on the calendar or an old friend calls who does not know what has happened and asks "Hey, how is..."  He can't fix it.  She will move on in her own time.  Life will pull her along through this year and the next.  The pain will fade.  The feeling that she was cheated will pass.  In time, she will understand the lesson and the reason.  This is her path.  Ah, were it only a flapping interface or something else easy to fix...

The offer is there for the taking.  You have my numbers and e-mails.

Date: 2008-10-26 00:52 Subject: Punction Marks - Music, Movies and Relationships Security: Public Mood: contemplative

 I was talking with densaer on a road trip last week about the starts and ends of my various relationships.

They seem to start with movies.  I guess movies are a good "first date" kind of thing so I tend to remember people by movies and vis versa.
"Star Trek  - The Motion Picture" was the movie Sharon and I went to see when we went form playing D&D together to something more serious.
"Silence Of The Lambs" was the first movie I saw with my wife (hey it was Jodie Foster and merry little lambs - who knew?).  In the middle there were Bond films "Moonraker" and "Octopussy" come to mind as well as "Cinema Paridiso" and "The Milagro Beanfield War"  with Becky.

Breakups are more about the music.  I guess I crawl into my headphones when I get bummed out.  When I split with Sharon, I got the "Split Enz" album - it had an image laser cut into the record.  With Theo it was J.D. Souther "When Your'e Only Lonely".  WIth Janine, it was Bob Seger "The Famous Final Scene"  The Eagles "Wasted Time" off the Hotel California album (or was it Greatest Hits?) was another.

There area other songs too.  The Oakridge Boys  "I guess it Never Hurts To Hurt Some Times" was on the radio as I drove home from Santa Cruz the night my Grandfather died.  I think of him whenever I hear it.  We played Vince Gill "Go Rest High On That Mountain" for my mother-in-law when we had her service.  "I've Been To Paradise But I've Never Been To Me" will freeze me in my tracks because of soem really bad associations.  Floyd Cramer's "Last Date" was on the Muzak in 1986 when my mom had her stroke.  "Dark Side Of The Moon" and "The Wall" bring back grat memories of hanging with friends with the beer on ice and the music cranked loud.

More recently, "Rossport" by David Barta will always be special because, when the kids were newborns, I would sit in the rocker with that disc spinning during the 2:00 AM feeding.  They seemed to like it.

As I look back, I realize that these movies and songs are punctuation marks in the story of my life.  I also discovered that there is a powerful use for the songs.  When I broke up with somebody, I would sink into the music for a few days or weeks - then I would put the record away.
When I put the record away, it was my way of putting te relationship away.  Now when I hear those songs, the relationship is remembered as a thing in the past - a lesson, an experience..  Now that the sentence is down on the page, I can look back and relish the writing of the paragraph.  Without those paragraphs and chapters, I would not be where I am at in my story today.

What's in your CD collection?

Date: 2008-10-08 01:14 Subject: What's up with the Economy? Security: Public Mood: frustrated

Wow, $700 Billion might not fix all the problems of the world???  The other shoe dropped today when B of A reported the news that people are having a hard time paying off their credit card debit.

So here is where being a bit older helps a little.  I remember 9/12.  I remember 2001.  I remember 1990.  We have been here before folks.  What we need to do is, as a nation, start acting fiscally responsible.  We need to remember that markets run in cycles.  Consider how you can save a buck or two and what debit you can retire.  I suggest you get a book called "Financial Peace" by Dave Ramsey.

That said,  the candidates were doing the same dance as always on the debate tonight.  I thought the McCain mortgage buyout plan was interesting - but wasn't that why the wanted the money in the first place?

What about all the pork in the bailout bill.  10M for film producers, 2M for toy wooden arrows,  49M for Exxon Valdez claims collectors, 120M for rum producers, NASCAR track owners, corporations operating in American Samoa???

Let's recap - Bailout is filled with pork and Wall Street does not think it will work.  We have been here before.  Get educated and be responsible.

Date: 2008-09-30 00:49 Subject: Why should I pay? This is NOT my fault. Security: Public Mood: aggravated

Mr. Router is reminded of a comment made by good friend Sgt. Dean who said, "I used to worry that we would become a third-rate power - now I am relieved to see we are taking the rest of the world with us."  As the rest of the world is opening for business, the "financial crisis" in the U.S. has now reached "across the pond" and is complicating life in the U.K.

So what am I to think of the situation.  The first thing that comes to mind is, "This is NOT my fault!"

Let's try to understand the issue.  While this is painted as all about Americans being kicked out of their homes, that is not the problem.  The real problem is that the folks who buy, sell and invest in debit as a way to make a profit no longer trust each other and are no longer willing to swap debit.  In short, banks and other institutions can't make money in interest if they cant loan money and they no longer trust each other because, in some cases, there is nothing to pay the loan back.  Why can't they pay the loans back?  Because the mortgages are not being paid back.  Why are people defaulting on the mortgages?  Because they can't afford to pay them back.  Why can't they pay them back?  Because they don't have enough money.  Why don't they have enough money?  Because the payment is more than they can afford.  Why is the payment more than they can afford?  Because of the high cost of living, rising energy costs, higher medical and food costs and the higher cost of house payments?  So why were they allowed to borrow more than they could pay? GREED.

When the cost of homes got so high because of the housing "bubble", lenders started getting "exotic" with loans.  Things like "interest only" and "no down, no point, no fee" loans appeared.  Some lenders even falsified documents to grant loans to people who could not afford them.  Some of those people did not understand what had happened and some just played along.  Those mortgages were bundled with others and sold as "securities" to investors.  When people found out they could not pay and started defaulting on the mortgages, the investments fell apart too.

I never went for any of those deals.  I pay my bills, own my cars and carry no credit card balance.  I went for a 30 year fixed rate on my home.  Why should I pay for those who, through ignorance, stupidity or greed got caught with their pants down?

I understand the need to restore confidence to the banking system but giving $700 Billion to Mr. Paulson and friends is not going to help.  I see no good coming of bailing out the investment houses and big banks.  If you want to restore the system, go back to the mortgage holders who are in trouble.  Renegotiate the terms of the deal (interest rate, loan term and down payment) and secure the loan with the property.  Those who can not afford a given property will surrender that property to the government for sale.  Yes, there will be a surplus of housing on the market at low prices for a time.  Yes, even the value of my home will drop some until things get back on track.  On the positive side, the supply of low priced homes will be good for first time home buyers and investors.

Oh, let's run this program under the FDIC and use some of those Washington Mutual or Wachovia employees that are bound to be let go run the program - but nobody at the VP or higher level.  No point putting the crooks back in power.

Any "Bailout" needs to be run like the Chrysler bailout of the 80's - the taxpayers made a $400 Million profit on the deal.  We should not be asked for a deal like we gave the airlines after 9/11 - we gave them money, management asked the workers to take pay cuts and, when things were running at a profit, the executives paid themselves bonus' but never restored the wages to the workers.

I support fiscal responsibility - not Socialism.  Please join me.  Write to your elected representatives and use your money wisely.

Date: 2008-09-18 22:58 Subject: Densaer, great people, our team - Reflections on Ike Security: Public Location: Texas Mood: thankful Tags: hurricane

It has been a long time since I have been on LJ.  There was some suck going on and I lost interest in the page.

It's time to pull my head out and get back to the business of life.

As many of you know,  densaer and I were deployed to help out after Hurricane Ike hit the gulf.  We have both done "stuff" before and we know that this is not always easy.  This is the first time we have worked a semi-lengthy deployment together and I was so  blessed to be assigned with him.  You meet people and make friends on these trips - but there is something very different about going out when you know that someone you absolutely trust with your life is with you.  It made the trip SO much better - and healthier - for both of us.  We were also blessed to have Barry and Nathan in on the trip too.  Nathan is a pretty intense guy and he was the perfect person to manage us.  Barry was also amazing.  With a single sweep of his hand he restored the Internet to our part of the world (it was a bit more complicated than that completely amazing).

The folks we spent most of our time helping were also amazing.  Anahuac is a small town that does not even show up in the spell checker.  Portions of the town are simply gone now - where houses once stood are only piles of debris.  The folks who run the county government moved in to the county courthouse and did all they could to get the city back together.  They were so appreciative and so generous.  They expected nothing and gave us everything - they treated us like part of their town family.

When you see people who have lost all they had and they come to you and thank you for coming to help...
When the IT Director and her daughter make sure you get over to the kitchen to make sure you get fed...
When the local judge offers to let you sleep in his courtroom and shower in his chambers so you don't have to sleep in the truck...
When you get back to a third rate motel on the side of the road and thank God for a real bed and a hot shower...

Things fall into perspective.  You realize what is important.  I prayed hard every night I was out for my family, my friends and those who serve this country. I thanked God every night for the blessings in my life.  The past week they have been simple blessings like food, water, a place to sleep and a 1.8m satellite dish.  it's the basics that matter.  Ike put things in perspective.

Date: 2008-04-04 21:41 Subject: A very different week Security: Public Mood: thankful Tags: job

This was one of "those" weeks.  Actually, it started last Friday at 4:45 PM when my team got a Voice Mail from our VP GM to be in a meeting room at 9:00 AM on Monday (employees only  - no contractors and no temps.)  If you know the Industry, that can mean only one thing.
The door closed at 9:02 and my team was dissolved and our product moved to another team for "sustaining".  It was all over by 9:20.

The company found places for all the engineers on other teams.   Marketing did not do as well.  Long story short, by lunch I knew I had a new job and that four of the seven of us did not.  Over the past few days, those four have been interviewing and finding new jobs.

After I shook off the shock, I went over to meet my new manager.  Since I was the first person to go introduce myself, I got to design my new job.

Basically, I am going to to become Quark from Deep Space Nine and build and run Holo Suites.  I will be designing and building a huge TelePresence center and technology showcase.   It's a pretty cool gig

So I went from total stress to being crushed to being relieved to being apprenshive to being excited in one roller coaster week.

I end the week being very grateful that the company found places for almost all of us and, that by the grace of God,  I ended up with a really cool new job.

Date: 2008-03-23 18:53 Subject: Away at Tahoe Security: Public Mood: anxious Tags: ham, tahoe

 Mr. Router and the family packed up the van and went to Tahoe for some Spring Break fun.  The snow is melting quickly but we had a good snowpack this year - unlike the past couple.  The kids and Mom are reading and I am writing QSL cards, updating my QRZ entry and looking for photos so I can put together a nice QSL card of my own.

Today we celebrated Easter with a non-traditional post Lent feast of burgers at The Bridgetender in Tahoe City.  I admitt it is a bit unusual.  I had given up French Fries for Lent and really enjoyed the waffel fries I downed.

I really do need to learn how to relax on vacation.  I am looking for projects.  Should I paint the trim, clean the attic or go through the closets?  So far I have limited myself to searching the garage for CAT 6 and LMR-400  for a couple projects.

Tomorrow I will go investigate renting skis for the kids and we will hit the slopes on Tuesday.

In the mean time, I'll try to relax.

Date: 2008-03-17 20:15 Subject: The economy is just in a "little rough patch" - yeah.... Security: Public Mood: melancholy

For the past few weeks, I have been on edge about the economy.
I am not an economist.  I don't have gazillions of pre-2001 stock dollars invested anyplace.  I'm just an average guy here in the valley with a wife, 2.5 kids and a mortgage.  So why am I on edge?

Today I got an e-mail from someone who went to work and found his pink slip in his office.  So now all that stuff on "Marketplace" about the sub-prime mess and the housing collapse is becoming real.  I also got spammed with a resume and bio from some guy in Toronto - a guy I have never met and have no idea where he got my e-mail address.

The next generation looks like they will find a world with a weaker dollar and a more service oriented economy.   I worry about my kids.  Their generation does not appreciate the value of work.

Or, perhaps I am echoing the same thoughts that fathers have always had about the next generation.

Each generation has had it's challenges.  In the 1800's, the oil crisis fears were about the declining whale population (yes, they were used for oil), the early 1900's had the Great Depression, the 40's had the threat of global tyranny, the 50's had "The Bomb" and the 60's had Vietnam and the Cuban Missile Crisis.  In the 70's we were still worried about the Bomb - but we realized a backyard shelter would not save us.  The 80's brought us HIV / AIDS and "Black Monday".  We had a boom in the 90's - except for distant terrorist threats in Tokyo and Oregon.  DOn't forget all the folks who bought new "End of The World Shelters" for Y2K.  2001 brought us the "Bubble" and the "Burst" and 9/11.

Every generation has it's challenges.  I guess I'll get over myself, wait for that big check to come and use it to fill up the gas tank on the SUV.

Date: 2008-03-17 00:59 Subject: Spring is in the air. Security: Public Mood: optimistic Tags: garden

This was a strange weekend in the neighborhood with a combination of wind, rain, sun and even hail.     Never the less, the calendar tells us that it is only a few days until the first day of Spring.  Last week the family started to weed the flower beds and today we made a field trip to see mitrian and get some of the assorted seed she had for us to start sprouting up our summer veggies.  In the past, I have just gone down to OSH and purchased a variety of tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas etc. but this year, in the interest of bio-diversity and greater involvement, we decided to grow our plants from seeds.

The kids listened to mitrian discuss the various varieties of herbs (who knew there are so may varieties of basil?) and fruits and other veggies and they picked out a grand assortment of seeds.  We made our trip to OSH and got sprouting kits and bags of soil mix so we could fill our urns, pots and fountain with rich soil for the plants. 

In about three weeks the yard should be filled with greens - just waiting for the snails and slugs.  At that point, Mr. Router will become Chemical Man.

Now all the kids have to do is keep up with the watering and weeding...