There have been quite a few developments in getting the truck really road-worthy. First, we got 4 new back tires for it as well as got the front ones balanced and it aligned. The front tires were already relatively new when we bought it. Then after we got it back, we took it to the Isuzu shop for them to just go over it. They called and the first thing they told Jim was that the mechanics were really impressed with all the work he had done on it. That made Jim happy! Plus they really didn't find anything wrong with it except for the fuel injectors that Jim already knew he wanted to replace. But it's apparently one of those jobs that has the potential to turn into more of an issue because they can break when you are trying to get them out. However, they quoted Jim over $1000 for the job. Since Jim never pays anyone to work on the vehicles, that was a bit much to swallow. He told them that he needed the weekend to think about it. When he got home, he called the place that got him the turbo and they can do it for about half the price. They probably can't do it til after next week but that's fine. So this morning we set out early before the snow was supposed to come to go pick it up from the dealer and bring it home. But it had gotten so cold that the accelerator line had frozen. He got it working and we set off for home. We were almost home when I noticed the truck started smoking and then the smoke turned really black. I got up next to him and told him so he pulled over. He knew the line was driving again but he was going to limp it home. Thankfully he got it working okay in the parking lot and we got it home. Whew!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
New Year Update!
Well...it's 2013...going to be an exciting year of many changes for us!
A little catch up is in order first...
The Christmas season is always such a busy time. But this year it was a little more mellow than some. The Christmas cards actually went out earlier than normal, the tree went up early, the house was decorated and we didn't have too many presents to buy so we avoided all the craziness of the stores for the most part. It started snowing a few days before Christmas and got cold, so we had a fire cranking in the stove and it really felt like Christmas.
Jim and I spent Christmas Eve with the May family and then went to Midnight Mass (well, 10:00 pm). The next morning we just spent quietly at home which was nice. Later in the afternoon, we went to an old section of west Akron that has all these beautiful homes just to get some ideas. It was quiet out and we just walked around some of these neighborhoods - very cool.
However, all that beautiful Christmas snow caused some travel issues. Kyle & Julia went to Chicago to spend Christmas with her family and had planned to take the MegaBus to Cleveland on the 26th. But a huge blizzard was predicted for that day - they were calling for up to 20" with crazy winds. We were worried about them traveling and weren't even sure how well we would be able to travel up to Cleveland to pick them up. Lots of texts back and forth with Kyle and they finally decided to postpone their trip one day. MegaBus ended up canceling their route so it all worked out. So they didn't get in til about 4:00 on the 27th.
It was so nice having them home even for a few short days. Actually, Jim and Kyle worked in the pole barn pulling things down from the attic and sorting them. Even ended up packing some boxes in the box truck ready for the first trip to NY!
We also went to Hartville Hardware on Friday...they built a new, huge store that actually has two houses inside it! Julia and I had fun roaming through them and "picking" out things we liked while the boys looked at power tools. So many decisions are in our future that it becomes overwhelming! But one step at a time!
Kyle & Julia ended up renting a car and taking all their presents home that way - they left on Sunday morning. Thankfully, they got back to NYC with no problems.
New Year's Eve we toasted to all our upcoming adventures - hoping for good health and good luck in carrying out our dreams!
We went to see my mom on New Year's Day - it was nice to spend a little time with her. She's amazing and we love spending time with her. That was my biggest hurdle about moving out of state - being so far away from her. But Jim and I both said that we will just make it a priority to come and see her as often as we can - and hopefully get her to come and spend some time up there!
Meanwhile, Jim keeps plugging away on all the things that have to be done around here. Lots has been happening...still working on the truck. We took it for its first on the road trip since we brought it home from Kentucky! We took it up to Sheetz and got it filled up with diesel fuel. It really ran great. The next step on it is to get some new tires and then Jim wants to take it to Isuzu for a check up.
He's also been doing lots of work in the house too. The molding factory is back in operation! So far, he's done the molding in the half bath and the laundry room as well as put the back shelf in the laundry room. He also replaced a couple sides on two drawers in the kitchen (the first ones he made) that he didn't like and didn't match the others. He put the center drawer in my desk too. Everything looks really good and each one gets crossed off the "to do" list.
Unfortunately, I took a tumble down our gorgeous wooden steps on Sunday afternoon. I had been working on typing and was still in my jammies and slipper socks. Thankfully, I was near the bottom but I came down hard on my side, arm and then hit my head. Instantly I couldn't breathe. Poor Jim came running up the basement stairs - must have sounded like a herd of elephants falling! He helped get me calmed down and to the couch. But we ended up going to the emergency room where they did xrays and said I broke a rib. Thankfully, it didn't do any other internal damage. But it's amazing how much it hurts! I'm getting better each day. I took this week off work - we were scheduled to be off Friday and Monday so taking 4 days off actually lets me stay home about a week and a half.
Stay tuned for more updates! And this year I vow to take more pictures as we go along!
A little catch up is in order first...
The Christmas season is always such a busy time. But this year it was a little more mellow than some. The Christmas cards actually went out earlier than normal, the tree went up early, the house was decorated and we didn't have too many presents to buy so we avoided all the craziness of the stores for the most part. It started snowing a few days before Christmas and got cold, so we had a fire cranking in the stove and it really felt like Christmas.
 |
| Christmas Tree 2012 |
However, all that beautiful Christmas snow caused some travel issues. Kyle & Julia went to Chicago to spend Christmas with her family and had planned to take the MegaBus to Cleveland on the 26th. But a huge blizzard was predicted for that day - they were calling for up to 20" with crazy winds. We were worried about them traveling and weren't even sure how well we would be able to travel up to Cleveland to pick them up. Lots of texts back and forth with Kyle and they finally decided to postpone their trip one day. MegaBus ended up canceling their route so it all worked out. So they didn't get in til about 4:00 on the 27th.
It was so nice having them home even for a few short days. Actually, Jim and Kyle worked in the pole barn pulling things down from the attic and sorting them. Even ended up packing some boxes in the box truck ready for the first trip to NY!
We also went to Hartville Hardware on Friday...they built a new, huge store that actually has two houses inside it! Julia and I had fun roaming through them and "picking" out things we liked while the boys looked at power tools. So many decisions are in our future that it becomes overwhelming! But one step at a time!
Kyle & Julia ended up renting a car and taking all their presents home that way - they left on Sunday morning. Thankfully, they got back to NYC with no problems.
New Year's Eve we toasted to all our upcoming adventures - hoping for good health and good luck in carrying out our dreams!
We went to see my mom on New Year's Day - it was nice to spend a little time with her. She's amazing and we love spending time with her. That was my biggest hurdle about moving out of state - being so far away from her. But Jim and I both said that we will just make it a priority to come and see her as often as we can - and hopefully get her to come and spend some time up there!
Meanwhile, Jim keeps plugging away on all the things that have to be done around here. Lots has been happening...still working on the truck. We took it for its first on the road trip since we brought it home from Kentucky! We took it up to Sheetz and got it filled up with diesel fuel. It really ran great. The next step on it is to get some new tires and then Jim wants to take it to Isuzu for a check up.
He's also been doing lots of work in the house too. The molding factory is back in operation! So far, he's done the molding in the half bath and the laundry room as well as put the back shelf in the laundry room. He also replaced a couple sides on two drawers in the kitchen (the first ones he made) that he didn't like and didn't match the others. He put the center drawer in my desk too. Everything looks really good and each one gets crossed off the "to do" list.
Unfortunately, I took a tumble down our gorgeous wooden steps on Sunday afternoon. I had been working on typing and was still in my jammies and slipper socks. Thankfully, I was near the bottom but I came down hard on my side, arm and then hit my head. Instantly I couldn't breathe. Poor Jim came running up the basement stairs - must have sounded like a herd of elephants falling! He helped get me calmed down and to the couch. But we ended up going to the emergency room where they did xrays and said I broke a rib. Thankfully, it didn't do any other internal damage. But it's amazing how much it hurts! I'm getting better each day. I took this week off work - we were scheduled to be off Friday and Monday so taking 4 days off actually lets me stay home about a week and a half.
Stay tuned for more updates! And this year I vow to take more pictures as we go along!
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