Speaking of movies, we recently purchased "The Incredibles" (I always see "edible" when I read that, do you?). Another ~excellent~ movie. Once you've seen it, be sure to watch the extras on the DVD, such as "Jack-Jack Attack." Very cool.
This semester I taught Mechanics, Electronics, and Math 9. The group in Mechanics was good - I brought the Lotus back from home so I could work on it a bit. The first half of Electronics (half-course for grade 9's) was great. The kids were a nerdy bunch; energetic and acheiving. The second group were probably the second half of the population. I had to resort to projects I used to do in grade 8 as the kids needed the course very structured. Had an interesting moment with a parent - the mother wanted the school to pay for a shirt the kid wrecked using the etching tank. It seems that "wear gloves and goggles, watch your clothes, stains won't come out, be careful, don't get any on you, don't splash the acid, be super careful, here fill out a question sheet on the MSDS, etc.etc.," wasn't enough for the kid. She even admitted he has no brain (?!). To his credit, he was the ONLY kid who hot-glued his finger to his project. The only kid to ruin his shirt (and to continue doing so even after there was but a small stain). Mench kinder.
In Auto Mechanics we entered the Insane Impala in a car show. Didn't win anything, but at least got some exposure.
Math went well. Much better this go-round. I'm getting better at teaching in a classroom setting now. I'll be getting two blocks of math again next year, good stuff since I get to see a more representative cross-section of the populace, and hopefully sell myself to them to take electives from me the following year.
No racing at all this year. I sold my old race tires, and traded my old racing wheels for a lightened flywheel for the Lotus. I've set the Sentra wheel alignment closer to "sensible," and though it doesn't corner as wonderfully as before, the tires are wearing evenly, and the gas mileage has improved considerably.
My Sweetie and I started getting ready for the impending young one. I renovated the "baby's room" - painting the ceiling (THAT was fun....), and the top half of the walls a light creamy yellow, and the bottom a pea-soupy green, with a Winnie the Pooh border (also with those colours) dividing the paint. I'll be doing the trim next, and it will be done. We acquired a crib, and a bunch of baby clothes from friends and family (no newborn stuff yet - hint hint). Even a cool stuffed Tigger.
We finished our "Labour and Delivery" classes yesterday. It feels a bit akward for me. Probably nowhere near as akward as it will be for My Sweetie.... Gotta keep reminding ourselves that billions of people have done this before. You'd think with that kind of experience, people wouldn't be so concerned over it. Ah well. It will all work out. (grin) On the upside, My Sweetie's pregnancy has been going exceptionally well.
A while back we sent the latest ultrasound picture to family. While My Sweetie and I could quite clearly see the baby's face, I wasn't expecting the picture to be the Rorschach Test it turned out to be. "It's a bird." "No, it's a plane...."
One of my students asked if we were hoping for a boy or a girl. I said I was hoping for a puppy. They don't think it's going to work that way. As for names, if it's a boy, we'll name him 'Sir.'
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"And what's your name, little boy?" "You can call me 'Sir'." "Why you little.....!" |
Yeah, that's right. Command respect right from day one.
If it's a girl, Miss, of course. Maybe Ma'am, to inspire maturity at an early age. We haven't decided.
And if it's a puppy........
We've been doing a small bit of yard work. Trimming shrubs and cutting back junipers and trying to coax the lawn back to life. Cutting trees down too. I'm pretty happy with the progress, but I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to do it all THIS YEAR. I can do some, and ~eventually~ it will be how I want it. In the mean time, it's quite enjoyable, and when I am inspired, more happens.
We haven't started a garden this year. Partly because the soil is not very good, and mainly because we know we're not going to spend the time on it that it will need. Last year of all the carrots we planted, we had maybe 4 grow, all about 2" long. The Raspberry plants grew to a height of 2 feet. Pretty sad. Maybe with some good soil and some regular composting......
This summer I hope to fix the concrete steps out front. Well, make new steps and let the junipers take over the crumbling steps. If I am really inspired, undre ground sprinklers would be nice too. Apparantly nobody will come out to this area and dig the lines for you - the soil is pretty rocky. ("The soil of a man's heart is stonier, Alex...." Pet Sematary, Stephen King).
Speaking of puppies....
A student came by to ask me to sign his year book. He made the comment "Yeah, Mr. Wellwood, y'know all the guys who took Mechanics with you hate you."
At first I was a bit hurt, and thought that it couldn't be ~all~ the kids hate me. Then I remembered all the kids this guy hung out with. I reminded him why his friends hate me:
"Vvvvv hates me because I keep busting him for standing around doing nothing, and skipping my class.
"Wwwww hates me because I keep busting him for standing around doing nothing, and skipping my class.
"Xxxxx hates me because I keep busting him for standing around doing nothing, and skipping my class.
"Yyyyy hates me because I keep busting him for standing around doing nothing, and skipping my class.
"Zzzzz hates me because I keep busting him for standing around doing nothing, skipping my class, and because I won't let him drive a motor vehicle without a licence (boy did his mother rip me a new one over this). Not to mention that he drove a teacher's car into a power pole on a back road last year. Oh, and then drove over my foot while he was trying to start a car."
Are you noticing the same pattern I am?
You know, it's not my job to be their friend. Sorry. And you know what? Doing nothing and skipping work DOES NOT pay the bills. My shop expectations are the same as any job: Be productive, Work safely, Clean up. That accounts for 50% of their mark (100% once theory is done). My hope is that maybe later on in life, these kids will figure out that maybe I'm trying to establish in them some good work habits.
And they are so shocked that doing nothing didn't pass the course. What they heck were they thinking??
Besides, if that's all it takes for them to hate me, that's really pretty lame.
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"And the value of the goods you are bringing back with you?" "I don't know. It didn't come with a packing slip" "Then how much did you pay for them?" "I haven't paid for them yet" "but how did you get them?" "I ordered it, they shipped it. They said they'll bill me later." "Then what are the parts worth?" "I don't know, maybe a grand Canadian by the time it's all done?" "Alright, what's the name of the company?" "They don't have a web page" (I could see them on Google, looking for the name I gave) "How did you hear about the company?" "Well, a guy on a Lotus Clone forum mentioned buying from them, so I sent them an email." "Do you have their phone number?" "Yep, but not on me." "How much did you agree to pay?" "I didn't agree to pay anything, I knew the front fenders were $85 a piece, and between then and now, I decided I wanted everything, so I just ordered. Whatever they charge me was fine; I need the parts." "Did you give them your Visa number?" (by now, they're getting kind of frantic) "Nope. I've given them nothing. Frankly I'm surprised they sent it without getting paid. I don't trust people as much as they do." |
So, they took my fibreglass, and I went back home empty handed. When the bill came in the following week, I drove back down and paid my $75 in taxes and took them home. Nothing like spending $50 in gas to save $35 in fees. Cheaper, though, than I thought it was going to be. I think for future purchases I'll do the border thing again. No sense paying UPS exorbitant prices just to bring it through. Plus I can have lunch at that really cool shop in Oliver again.....
Traditionally, the fibreglass is fastened to the aluminum bodywork on a Lotus 7. I didn't like the idea of all that 'glass hanging off the 22ga aluminum. So I welded a number of little tabs to the frame to secure the fibreglass in at least three different places - the rest will be through the ally.
I found that the Corvette shocks I set up for the rear were way too stiff, compared to the Chevy Nova shocks I was using for the front. So, I swapped them around, putting the 'Vette ones on the front, and the Nova ones on the rear. Had to fabricate a new shock eye for the Nova shocks - easy to do with some left over bushing tubes and everything. Oh, I had ordered a pair of 140# springs from Suspension Spring Specialists. Was close to $180 by the time I got them shipped here. Nasty.
Then the front mounts had to change, as they were getting in the way of the nosecone. The nose also doesn't fit the bottom of the frame well - looks a lot like the samples in "The Book."
I've gotten small other stuff done on the Lotus this semester. Set up windshield wipers. Installed a roll bar. Re-did the gas pedal. Trying to fit a rad.
My hope is to have all the welding and grunt work done before the baby comes. Then I can bring the whole everything home to finish it there. Maybe two more years??