Get Fuzzy: Alcohol, IS a Drug...

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Thanks for sharing Get Fuzzy, Keri!

Central Vac

Since launch is snowed in (see 'blog title picture above with Short Divide in the distance!) - I might as well post something on the 'blog instead of dwelling on my acute airtime deficiency. So, you may find this posting a bit boring, but after all, my 'blog IS about my "Basic Life".

As a part-time second-job I install and repair central vacuum systems - mostly in new homes under construction. I come in after the plumbing, heating & electrical contractors have all done their work, but before the insulation and sheetrock. As a result I don't always have the best "runs" between floor joists and studs from which to choose, so I have to get creative to get my 2" c-vac tubing/pipe from point A to point B, C etc..

First I do a walk-through with the homeowner to determine the best locations (based on a 30' vacuum hose) for the wall inlets where the hose will eventually plug in. I then hang the boxes so the electrician can run 110 power to each one.

I also have to determine the best route for my main "trunk" line, which will allow for a "Y" branch to go to each inlet box. I have to maintain a certain distance from any bearing walls, and cannot go through any big structural beams. Once I have the general route the lines will take figured out in my head, I drill pilot holes followed by 2.25" holes and start running the pipe, gluing fittings, and making the connection to each inlet box.

Some of the large holes can be very difficult - especially if my hole saw or boring bit are getting dull. I've learned the hard way to keep my face & head on the right side of the power drill: If I happen to catch a nail or knot it can grab - causing the drill to swing uncontrollably and smack me silly, give me a black eye, a bloody lip - or at least bust a knuckle or two!

Most jobs begin in the garage, where the main vacuum power unit will hang.

After completing all of the runs, I pull the low voltage wire the entire length of the system, making the connection to each inlet box. Finally I put steel nail guards to protect my pipes at each stud,

and cover each inlet box face with a plaster guard. Believe it or not, some sheetrockers will just finish right over my inlet opening if I don't force them to cut a hole around my plaster guard! After the walls are finished and painted (which may be anywhere from a few weeks to a year) I return to finish the job.

Now I can install each inlet face/door, connecting the 110 volt wires and the low voltage wires as I go.

Then I hang the power unit in the garage and connect the trunk line and low voltage wire to it.

Finally I test out the entire system, checking for adequate suction, power, and continuity at each wall inlet.

Some homeowners opt for a toe-kick mounted "vac-pan" in the kitchen, bathroom, or pantry areas.

Then I demonstrate how to use the power head vacuum, hose and attachments with the customer. No two jobs are alike, and some can be very challenging or even downright frustrating. It can be hard work trying to coax, finesse and "persuade" the 2" pipe where I need it to go. Some fittings I end up crawling over cold air returns, squeezing between joists, and then blindly gluing a fitting that I can barely reach. Others are more straightforward. I seem to average up to about 1.5 hours per inlet, a smaller home having 4 or 5, and some larger homes having over 10! Some jobs - like those in the middle of winter - I'm just glad to be done with. Occasionally I will do an existing home installation, which can get very tricky and require crawling attics or foundations, and getting very creative! Some builders or owners try to do it themselves, but there is more to doing a good job than some realize.

Using the right fittings, in the right direction, with proper cutting and gluing can make all the difference between a system with moderate suction and one that really sucks!

An improper or sloppy fitting can be a plug waiting to happen - which can be very tough to fix once the walls are all finished. There is a certain amount of pride and satisfaction that comes from doing a good job. The work is not consistent and seems to come in waves, but that's OK. Our budget does not depend on it, so when I do get a job we can put most of what I get paid for it into savings.

So there you have it - everything you probably never really wanted to know about installing a central vacuum system - and then some! I warned you that it might not be very thrilling, but (thank goodness) it's a Free Country! Nobody forced you to read it - did they! :-)

Basketball Time

Landon (#43) had his first game of the Jr. Jazz season yesterday. As expected, both teams were a bit rusty and sloppy the first half. Landon's team was ahead by 3 points at halftime. The second half the teams seemed to improve and work better together.

Although it was a close game down the stretch, the coaches did a good job rotating the kids in so everyone got a chance to play, improve their skills and have some fun. The other team came from behind in the last minute to tie the game and send it into a 3 minute overtime.

Landon's team was down by one point with 35 seconds left. A defensive stop and a length of the court drive and layup by our main tall-guy to go ahead for good was the winning play of the game, 35-34. Although the emphasis is on participation and fun, it was almost too much excitement for a Saturday morning! Landon's off-season practice paid off - as he scored 10 points this game - which is more than he scored in all of the games combined last year. He may give up a few inches in height, but he makes up for it with scrappiness and hustle! Here is a little movie with some highlights!

New Year's Day!

Since it was "Tanner-Day", he decided that we would have a family sledding day! *See Keri's 'blog for more details on Tanner! http://simplykeri.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-years-baby.html

So, after sleeping in a bit, we headed out to the local hill for some high-speed fun!

Including (of course) Clover -

...who served as the tube-lookout and hill monitor!

A great time was had by all! - Check out the Mini-movie, including Clober the Snowman-Climbing WunderDog:

Happy Harley-Daze

I decided to do a 'blog post about some of our activities over the last couple of weeks, rather than focus on just one day. A couple of weeks ago (before the snow started to pile up) the boys went to G'ma & G'pa W's for their annual Christmas Sleepover.

They had fun with some craft projects,

service,

eating,

hay-ride carolling,

and just spending time together!

The day before Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve-Eve) most of the extended family went to G'ma W's to get a head start on Christmas activities, starting with a snow-sculptur-ing activity contest. Landon's snow-turtle was the winner - since it was the only one completed :-)

The family "fun" also included a service project of home repairs and painting at a local Family Support Center shelter. During the painting of the "yellow room", the sisters composed a G'pa Dave version of the 12 Days of Christmas, which they serenaded him with at Christmas Eve Dinner! (I would share it with you in this 'blog, but I would have to censor too many words for this family-friendly 'blog!) We had a very nice, simple, easy and affordable take-out dinner,

after which the gift exchanges began with the cousins,

followed by the sisters',

G'ma and G'pa,

and, of course, the always exciting, eagerly anticipated,

white elephant gifts!

Clover was not very impressed.

After the Christmas Eve activities, we carefully drove home in time for Santa to make his annual stop. The Christmas Day newspaper bundle arrived that night, so I walked the snowy neighborhoods at 10:30 PM with some noisy jingle bells attached to my delivery bag, wearing my red "Santa" hat delivering the papers. I did get a few strange looks, but I just waved and said "Ho, ho ho - Merry Christmas!!" Some houses were already dark, but most had lights on with people inside making last-hour preparations for the "big" day. After our last minute preparations, Keri & I finally got to bed some time after midnight. Although we have all teenagers now, there was still that "Christmas excitement" the next morning, as everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering that Santa did not just leave them a lump of coal! We had our "monkey-bread" breakfast, and spent the day searching for batteries,

playing new games,

practicing new instruments, figuring out new gadgets, and troubleshooting gifts (instructions? - what instructions?!)

That evening we had a nice Christmas family dinner, as we took time to reflect on how truly blessed we are - to have good jobs allowing us to make ends meet, to have a warm house, food & clothing, to live in a country where we are free to worship God and free to say "Merry Christmas", and mostly to have friends and family - both near and far! The forecast white-Christmas storm arrived that evening around 6 pm in the form of a blizzard which did not relent until early the next morning. We awoke to about a foot of new snow - which the wind had blown into some drifts nearly 2 feet high! I awoke early to deliver papers, but the bundle carriers could not get through due to some highways being closed down. So I just started shoveling, and shoveling, and by 8 am the whole neighborhood was out doing the same.

Everyone pitched in with snowblowers and shovels to help each other dig out, and to clear the walks and driveways of the older shut-ins who are not able to get out. After what seemed like hours of snow-pushing, lifting, and throwing, the sun came out. We took a break, delivered the late-arriving newspapers, and then spent the afternoon playing in the new snow!

We took advantage of the snow-packed streets for some motorcycle sled-rides. Clover joined in the fun, and later made her own fun by giving her deflated and mauled frozen soccer ball the "death shake" out in the snow *(see video). Keri made a trip to a store or two for "day after Christmas" stuff, and then spent some time starting to organize and put away decorations and Christmas-clutter.

Later some neighbors with snowmobiles did some tube-pullin' in the big field behind our backyard.

Landon returned with a big frozen-faced smile! We warmed up inside and had some tasty leftovers.

The day ended with a successful hot air balloon launch,*(see video) as the temperature dropped to near zero! Since the road to launch is snowed in, it's the only airtime I'll be getting for a month or two!

Is it Springtime Yet?

The first major snowfall of the season blanketed the valleys today. I awoke to a minor blizzard as the storm front arrived just in time for newspaper delivery!

By noon we had received about 5 or 6 inches. By 1 pm the sun was peeking through the clouds as we shoveled and played out in the snow. A great time was had by all -

including Clobberhead!