Hurricane season is upon us

Yesterday I started my preparations for huricane season. And I got to thinking, why not publish a list, reviseable, for folks to reference, and also get the doggone word out early. I remember the hell my folks went thru with Katrina, and what my son & I went thru getting the hell out of Rita's path. So, here goes with the first draft of the list:

1. Flashlights - make sure you have the D cell kind, as they will last longer
2. Water - lots of bottles
3. Papers - insurance, birth certificates, passports, social security cards, bank account papers, et al. If you're trying to get the hell out of Dodge, it can drive you crazy getting these papers. It is a good thing to have a safe where you can store these, and grab and go
4. Video recording of valuables & possessions: I had my son go thru cabinets, closets, etc., filming and doing a narrative of what we had. I've burned a DVD, and stored in a safe, as well as on a hard drive somewhere.
5. Protection: if you are staying, or if you are leaving and going to be on the road, you need to be able to protect yourself and your family. I will go on the record here: I am a Life Member of the NRA. I don't agree with everything Wayne LaPierre says, but he is our chosen advocate. If I listened to Janeane Garofalo I probably would not agree with what she said, but I'll defend to the death her privilege to say it. If you are in a situation where there are people who want something you have, they sometimes will not have limits to what they will do. You need to arm yourself. Many times just the display will be sufficient as a deterrent. If you have never owned a firearm, I strongly recommend that you buy from a reputable dealer, such as a Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, or the specialty shops such as Carter's Country in Houston. Pawn shops are a no-no if you have never owned a firearm. I also strongly recommend that you enroll in some firearms safety courses. These can be found in your local yellow pages, or can be referred via the NRA's website, www.nra.com. To use the words of Vince Lombardi, 'Offense wins games, defense wins championships.' You have to be able to protect yourself & your family.
6. Cash - have several hundred stashed away if you have to get out. You do not know what condition the atm's will be in.
7. Hurricane tracking chart: The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate gives these out in Baton Rouge. http://www.2theadvocate.com/hurricane However, the one I use is (location to be added). I have it plotted out on a 20x 30 sheet of fome core, mounted in my office. Whatever you choose to use, make sure you can read it, and plot on it. The important thing is to have knowledge of where a storm is, and how it can affect you.
8. D batteries - would be good to have rechargeable
9. generator - best kind is natural gas powered, about $3500, then you have installation costs. You can get a gas powered one from Home Depot, Lowe's, or Tractor Supply for about $750, that may run a refrigerator and lights, but not AC. It will need to be hooked up by a qualified electrician, and periodically turned on to ensure it works.
10. covering for windows: http://plylox.com/ These are the plywood clips that you need to install on your windows and doors frames. They are built for using 7/16" OSB (oriented strand board). OSB is available at Home Depot, Lowes, 84 Lumber, and most of your local supply yards. Last year I helped a neighbor put OSB on his windows, and he had gotten 3/4". I had to use my router and trim the spots down to get the clips to fit. Also, measure all sides of all openings. One of the master capabilites of less than capable craftsman is to hide errors. I found this out the hard way, when I did not have the freaking time for it. Make sure you have a circular saw, jig saw, cordless drill, and portable trim saw available. Again, if you don't know what you are doing, get help installing. The plywood does not guarantee that you will be safe inside, but is intended as a damage prevention during the storm.
11. Gasoline. From June 1 to December 1, do not go home with less than half a tank of gasoline in your automobile. That 's a little extreme, but you cannot count on when gasoline stations will have gas when a storm is in the Gulf or headed for the Atlantic. If you are traveling, do not carry gasoline inside the passenger compartment, place on an external rack.
12. 12VDC to 110 AC adapter for your automobile - can run a tv, dvd player, battery recharger, at al.


There will be more, and please feel free to add comments and suggestions. This is intended to help all of us make it thru another season, with the Grace of God upon us.

Now for those looking for the Pat O's type of hurricane, here's a recipe, with credit to drinksmixer.com .

Scale ingredients to servings
1 oz vodka1/4 oz grenadine syrup1 oz gin1 oz light rum1/2 oz Bacardi® 151 rum1 oz amaretto almond liqueur1 oz triple secgrapefruit juicepineapple juice
Pour all but the juices, in order listed, into a hurricane glass three-quarters filled with ice. Fill with equal parts of grapefruit and pineapple juice, and serve.

Serve in:Hurricane Glass

Now, for the skinny on how to deal with a Miami Hurricane

It was a bad butt beating:

A good weekend almost goes to hell

Well, it was a good weekend, until Sunday afternoon at 7:30. My son decides to fall off his bicycle, and suffer short term memory loss. We then spent time in the emergency room. But he is OK, and that is what counts.

Now for real fun - college footbal is only 4.5 months away! Time to see if the Orgeronbeast can declaw the Tigers.

Rob in China

Rob in China

Here is a funny guy in China. After my wife and children spent 2 years traveling the Far East, it is a nice respite to see a man want to go, and look for something other than jewelry stores.

Here's to the Gators

Credit for this must go to Tom Sylvest, Jr., who does Tigertoons during the football season. Use as you like.

Geaux Tigers

Cool article about USC making another claim to the national championship.


http://onepeat.com/blog/?p=5

OK, it works

Now it is working after a new republish. Must add other stuff now.

testing the stuff

My blog is screwed up and this is a test

The Pool Table part II

Here it is - I need to add pieces that will store the rack and balls, but the kids love it.

My new Pool Table

Well, my son did the most wonderful thing the other night. The kids wanted a pool table for Christmas, and the wife wanted to get a <$200 one from a local sporting goods store. I indicated my dismay, as I thought it would last for a whole 5 days. My son then piped up "Why don''t we build one?" I could have kissed him. Well, actually, I did, but it was not a "Brokeback Mountain" kind of thing. We've downloaded the plans for one at www.pooltableplans.com. They reference some items such as the rails from one supplier, but I found better & cheaper, along with leather pockets at www.pooldawg.com. Shipping was quick and easy too. The felt can be bought from suppliers on www.Ebay.com, or the plans suggest using canvas duck material. I'll try some plain felt and see what that does.

Here is a picture of the last project I built, a desk, with simulated elephant hide on top, with lacewood skirt, and cherry legs. The "Wine Spectator" magazine is just for show. I am not a wine snob.

RFID

http://ereffidee.blogspot.com

The Rebel Wrap

The Rebel Wrap

Death Valley Saturdays

The Truth About Gun Control

The Truth About Gun Control

The Flood of 2005, Katrina

I look at the Great City of New Orleans, and I cry for its soul. The finger pointing has started in the aftermath, but too little too late. Last year, when a storm nearly hit, everyone was concerned over what would happen if the Big One hit. Well, after it didn;t, peope went on about their lives after a couple of weeks.

Now the big one has hit. No one even imagined a disaster of this proportion, or the logistics disruption. We always play the discussion of why couldn't we connect the dots, why didn't we do more to alleviate the issues: it is just like at my job - we present worst case scenarios, then the price tag. We get the look of the indulgent parent from our leadership: you know the one, where they say that' snice, but we really can't spend the money on something that may never happen.

Then the event happens, and things go to hell in a handbasket. The questions inevitably come to the point of "Why didn't you do something to prevent this?"

This is exactly the case on the Gulf Coast.

We will rebuild: we don't give up and walk away. That's not who we are; that's not what we do. It' s time to quit the bitcing and move on.

In the face of tragedy

The below post shows the most insensitivity to the tragedy occurring on the Gulf Coast. Naturally, it is written by someone from north of Memphis, and in the eastern portion of the US. I personally thank God for the blessings bestowed upon me, and those yet to come. I also thank the Good Lord I am an American, where I can speak my mind even if I am a spoiled stupid twit with an axe to grind. God Bless Al Franken and Ann Coulter (whom I don't consider a twit).



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/afor-they-that-sow-the-_b_6396.html

PC540

PC540

Miami Dolphins Football

Miami Dolphins Football

Mr. Fixit - the icemaker

For those who have to troubleshoot icemakers: my refrigerator icemaker is on the fritz. Being the do-it-yourselfer (or the wife's version: do-it-yourself-no-matter-what-the cost-or-how-*%^$#*-long-it-takes) I researched how to check it out and see if it could be fixed. I credit the website http://www.waterfiltermart.com/generic121.html with this information.




BASIC WORKING ICE MAKER THEORY: When ice maker reaches 5 degrees, the thermostat closes and the ice maker motor starts turning. Then the heater turns on to loosten the cubes in the mold so they can eject. The ejector bar(I call it the fingers) pushes the ice out of the mold. The heater turns off as the thermostat opens (due to the heat from the heater). Then the water solenoid valve is sent the signal to let water into the ice maker. This completes the batch as the motor stops. If any of these steps do not happen, you need to replace the ice maker.ICE MAKER IS NOT MAKING ICE! A. Check to see if the water is turned on.B. Check Water Filter (if equipped), to see if water flows thru the filter. If not, replace the Water Filter.C. Check to see if inlet tube (in freezer) is plugged with ice. If so, un-block the tube and Replace the Water Valve.D. If inlet tube is clear and no water, see our link-Water Valve troubleShooting.E. Check temp. of the freezer to see if it 5 degrees or colder. If not, set the temp. colder.F. Does Ice Maker Cycle(rotate)? If not, replace Ice Maker.


Here are a couple of tests:

HOW TO TEST A MODULAR ICE MAKER!! You Will Need a Jumper Wire. With the ice maker still installed, take off the front cover. Then take a 5" jumper wire (spliced approx. 1/2" at each end). Put one end in the upper middle test hole marked 'N' and the other end in the right upper test hole marked 'M'. (you are jumping neutral to the motor). The ice maker should start its cycle. Pull out jumper wire after approx. 10 seconds. The ice maker should complete its cycle by filling with water at the end of cycle.

How To Start A GE, Frigidaire, Gemline or U-Line Mechanical Ice Maker Take off the front cover of the icemaker. You will see the Big Gear which is held on by a Phillips Screw. Take a Phillips Screwdriver and hold constant pressure while turing the screw ClockWise for approx. 1/8 th. of a turn. The Ice Maker should start turning on its own. If not, turn the screw a little more. The ice maker should complete its cycle by filling with water at the end of cycle.

The SHEEP'S CRIB - Issues

The SHEEP'S CRIB - Issues

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Am I stupid or what?