Wood for Woody

The wood train!

A very nice thing happened to Kim and I this weekend. While I was away at a Christian Men's retreat with my three brothers a huge load of wood was delivered and stacked in my woodshed. The shed is now full with approximately 5 and 1/2 cords. This is more than enough to make it through the winter. As a Rotarian, I have participated in community service many times. Beautification of the Loyalton Main Street, irrigating the city park, clean up along highway 49 to name a couple. However, this last weekend I was the recipient of the volunteer service. So here's the story.

Kevin Maneuvers his trailer

After my month long stay in the hospital last July, I came home weak as a kitten. While my recovery has been rapid (if I do say so myself) I have been in no condition to undertake the annual task of filling the woodshed for the winter. My old Homelite chain saw (about 32 years old) weighs so much it was beyond my prescribed lifting limit even if I had the physical stamina to attempt wood cutting. There was no way I could do it, and it was obvious to my friends in the Portola Rotary club.

President Hi-Ho and
President Ann

They put together a little project to supply my winter wood. One Rotarian, Bill Tantau, had cleared some trees from his property and had logs available to cut and process into firewood. My non-Rotarian friend (current District Ranger of the Sierraville Ranger District) Quentin Youngblood pitched in with Bill and others to cut the logs into rounds. Then over the next several weeks, Rotarians and others pecked away at the huge pile of rounds and split it into stove wood.

Last weekend I was out of town as I mentioned, but the Portola club invited my club (Loyalton) to help deliver and stack the wood. So, at around 9:00 am a fleet of pickups (Three plus a dump trailer) came rumbling down France Road to our driveway. The Presidents of both Loyalton (Hi-Ho) and Portola (Ann Taylor) led the charge. They quickly organized all the worker bees, while Kevin LaPlant expertly guided his huge dump trailer into position by the cavernously empty wood shed. He dumped the load (pardon the expression) and they all set to work. They used the old "bucket brigade" method to move the wood from the dumped pile, or the pickup bed, into the woodshed. Incidentally this is the same method hotshot crews use to move fire-line debris away from the freshly constructed line....I'm just sayin!

The "Bucket Brigade".

The work crew included Dave Gentry, Steve Clifton, Ralph and Ann Taylor, and Kevin LaPlant from Portola with Hi-Ho (Marie Silver), and Slack Jaw (Jeff Torrason) on the team from Loyalton. Of course Lucy and Kim pitched in to help as well. It took a while for Lucy to get the sleep out of her eyes, but she worked her tail off with the rest of them. It wan't too long before the crew was finished, and the formerly vacuous woodshed crammed with fuel for our winter fire.

The Crew minus Dave and Ralph

What a gift! Having the wood to get through the winter voluntarily donated along with all the labor (except for loading the stove and lighting the match) was wonderful, and greatly appreciated. However, perhaps even more appreciated is the knowledge that there are friends out there ready to help me and my family when we need it. Pretty awesome!

That's All!

Dog Days

Well, it is getting to be that time of year again. The time when leaves start to turn, a chill fills the air, and across the valley the sound of shotguns can be heard through the early morning stillness. Time to hunt! I look forward to this all year long. Having two German short-hairs I know they look forward to it as well. I decided to switch from Labradors to pointing dogs about 5 years ago after a Chukar hunt with Kim's cousin Jim. Jim had a German wire-haired pointer (looks kind of like a shaggy Terrier) named Penny. Penny put on a show to remember that day. She pointed about 10 birds. She was so steady that Jim started calling us from almost a quarter mile away to share the wealth and get the birds up. I was so impressed (and tired of running screaming after my Labs) that I decided then and there to get a pointer.

Delta perched like a cat

I started shopping, and Kim soon vetoed the idea of a German wire-hair. "They are too ugly!" she said. "If your going to get a new dog, get a pretty one!" I shouldn't have been surprised, since that is they primary criterion she has insisted on in all of our car purchases since we have been married. What the instrument panel looked like, and the paint job were always more important than performance or reliability. I can't complain. We've driven some nice cars! She encouraged me to look at short-hairs since they were so "beautiful."

I bought Delta, a beautiful chocolate brown short-hair, about two months later. She was a bit more difficult to train than my labs, but I just love the pointer's energy and instincts. Their pointing is an out growth of their stalking instinct. They look like a cat when the spot or smell birds. They get more and more cautions the closer, or stronger the scent gets (opposite of a Lab). I have watched Delta freeze and fix on a couple of tweety birds on our back fence, taking a cautious step about once every 2 or 3 minutes moving lower and lower the closer she gets, finally freezing in place in a "Mexican standoff". The whole process might take 15 minutes before the birds get tired of playing and take off!

Remmy's first point

Kim couldn't pass up the "cuuuute little puppy" a couple of years ago, and brought home a second short-hair. We named her Remington (Remmy for short). She is smaller and lighter colored than Delta. She is also a talented stalker/pointer. Remmy also brings a bonus. Short-hairs are not renowned for retrieving, but it is not unusual. However, Delta does not retrieve. She exuberantly delivers the "coup de grace" whether it is needed or not, then quickly drops the bird and gets back to hunting. That is why I was so pleased when Remmy turned out to be a fantastic and steady retriever. She has made some fantastic retrieves saving me lots of effort, and bringing birds I never would have been able to find.

The "Pointer Sisters"

Kim and I walk the dogs almost daily. We go up into the hills to the west of the house and usually traverse between 2.5 and 5 miles. The dogs thrive on it. Besides being good for me and my wife, the dogs get in shape, and practice their skills. I made a video of Remmy in semi stalk mode, unfortunately I can't get it to upload. I will work on it, perhaps it is too large. I made the video on one of our walks, and the "Pointer Sisters" were after a flock of starlings. The never catch any, but they never give up either.

Nothing like California Chukar!

Chukar season opened last weekend here in California, so now is the big payoff for me, and the dogs. Hunting these wily birds is much more about watching the dogs do their thing than getting meat for the table. But don't get me wrong...I love eating Chukar.

That's All!

Stalin

No this is not another of my rants on history. Stalin is my little 1965 VW Beetle. Okay, I guess I need to explain, here is the long version.

Me and the "Smart One"

I bought the car about 10 years ago for Viola to use as her high school transportation. I hauled it home on a trailer with a blown engine, and the original engine disassembled in a box. Viola helped me overhaul the original 1300 cc engine (we fly-cut the heads, and bought larger cylinder barrels to increase the displacement to about 1500) and otherwise fix the little car up. She named it "Ariel" after the Little Mermaid from the Disney movie. Not sure why, but it was kind of cute.

Ariel burned a valve and ruined a cylinder over the course of the next few years (it was my fault not Viola's). However, she limped along until the exhaust smoke got too bad, and the power just wasn't there any more. (Of course power is a relative term in the case of a 1965 VW Bug.) Finally I yanked out the engine again, and did a top overhaul, replacing the pistons, cylinder barrels, and overhauling the heads.  Voila! (as Maggie would say) the little car once again ran like a champ, and became Maggie's high school transportation.

Cute little Stalin

Well, Moe (in her teen quest for identity) decided to rename the car....Stalin. Now I am sure that both Hitler and Stalin are rolling over in their graves about this one. Stalin would be tremendously insulted having his name used on a vehicle whose design and manufacture were commissioned by Adolf Hitler, and Hitler I am sure would be incensed by having his automotive achievement named after his arch enemy. So it is a good thing they are both long dead, otherwise Mango might end up in Lubyanka prison, or be arrested by the Gestapo. So, go figure! Maggie can explain herself in a comment to this post.

The thing I like most about the car is that I can fix just about anything that goes wrong with it. I purchased a book on fixing and maintaining VWs almost 40 years ago called "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, With Step by Step Instructions for the Complete Idiot!" Since I am not an idiot, I rarely have to read all the instructions, well most of the time anyway. Okay, Okay, occasionally I can skip some of the instructions!

So, about the time school was getting out last June, the voltage regulator went on the fritz, and I ordered a new one. I replaced the regulator, and everything looked good for a few days. Then the same problem started again. Okay, a freak deal, probably got a bad regulator (can't return electronic parts!) So I ordered a second regulator. Voila! (Like that Mango?) It was fixed again. This time it only lasted a short drive!! So I went to the local parts house to have them check the battery. I desperately hoped it was the problem. Battery was good. However, I did notice that the generator was hotter than the rest of the engine, and that melted solder was dripping out of it! Hmmm maybe the generator is bad? (Duh!)

Sweet little engine

Yep, the generator was practically seized up! So I ordered a new generator (hoping the regulator hadn't been fried like an egg as it is bolted to the top of the generator).

Finally, the generator arrived, the sun was shining and I was full of hope. Changing out the generator was a lot more involved, but I managed to get it done working at a leisurely pace for about 4 hours. The engine started immediately when I was done, and the red light (indicating no charge to the battery) was on! Arrrrgh!! I double checked the installation, wire connectors, and belt tension....still no charge. So, I either got a newly rebuilt generator that doesn't work, or (most likely) I fried that (second) new voltage regulator. I am going with the latter and ordered a new regulator today over the internet (the only place I can find parts).

Very frustrating to say the least. I said I could fix anything on this car, I didn't say I could do it quickly and easily. Perhaps I should have read all the instructions after all!! I should have the new part in a week or so.

To be continued...

That's All!

Rotary Week

Well, we are back from a week of Rotary in Bellevue, Washington. It was my first serious training on the way to taking on the District Governor's role (District 5190) for the 2012-2013 year. (For non-Rotarians, that is July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013). It is a very big deal, and Kim will also play a major role as my sidekick (of course we have been sidekicks for nearly 37 years now :) . It will be a lot of work and responsibility, and I wouldn't have taken it on without Kim's commitment.

A reception at a local art gallery.

Any who, the first three days were classroom training called GNATS. That stands for Governor Nominee Advanced Training Seminar. It was very informative, but the best part was meeting my fellow Governor Nominees from our Zone (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and some of British Columbia!) There were 24 Governor Nominees (DGNs) there. It was very well done, and I know it will greatly aid me in getting organized for this important task. The training started Tuesday, and ended on Thursday.

 

However, that wasn't the end. The Zone Institute (a big, hairy conference for all the aforementioned Rotary Districts) ran from Friday through Sunday noon. This is a huge annual affair designed for current and upcoming District Governors and other district level leaders. It was amazingly well done with the theme "Around Our World". The daily programs and presentations were international, with different countries featured. The focus was on service Rotary can and is performing around the world, and was quite inspiring. It really renewed our sense of the "hugeness" of Rotary, and the potential for changing the world in a positive way, one project at a time. 

Arms spread, palms up!

Jon and Martha Greene "Out of Africa!"

The social side was very enjoyable too. Lots of good food and company, nightly receptions, and offsite gatherings. Thursday night was the formal dinner.  (Remember my tuxedo story?) The folks took the theme to great lengths. Upon registration, we were issued "boarding passes" and the Sargent at Arms were dressed up as TSA employees. I was "wanded" as you can see in the photo.


Then on Saturday night international garb was encouraged. Kim was incredibly beautiful in a dress her sister purchased in China, and I wore my new suit. It turned out to be more of a costume party, so I could have worn the funky "kimono" looking robe thing that Kim bought me at the local thrift store. I was comfortable in my suit though, and just told people I was dressed as an African businessman.

Kim and I with
RI President Ray Klingsmith

After brunch on Sunday, we met with Kim's cousin Steve Barkley. He and his wife Sally live close to Bellvue in the town of Woodinville. He gave us the grand tour taking us to Snoqualmie Falls, and around the greater Seattle area including lunch at a Thai restaurant. Steve then took us to visit the grave site of one of Kim's great grandfathers. Captain John "Jack" Fenn. (Her Daddy's first name was Fenn.) Jack was a sea captain and sailed up the coast bringing supplies and gold seekers to the Klondike. After a very busy day, we got back to the hotel at about 7:30 and just crashed.

Snoqualmie Falls

Captain Jack's Headstone

The trip home Monday was uneventful, and we got back to the house about 3:30 in the afternoon. All the animals were glad to see us (as was Lucy). After unpacking and cleaning out all the spoiled food from the refrigerator, we kicked back and relaxed. On Tuesday, I vegged out all day reading my book by the fire (cold and rainy weather outside). After more than 7 days straight of interacting with people I needed some "recharge time". So, I am back at it now, and yesterday put a new generator in the old '65 VW Beetle. But I'll save that for the next post!

That's all!