Hey, Buddy Can I Get A Lift?
So I've recounted the adventures of the broken spring, and the door lift Olympics up to the point that I headed off to work.
The tale continues...
By the time I got on the road after doing my upper-body and cardio exercise for the foreseeable future I realized I would not be getting to work before 9:00 (instead of 8:30ish), and I was hungry and really needed a cup of Joe anyway. I stopped at the Hardee's (just two minutes from home) on Post and 22nd St. and ordered the Ultimate Omelet breakfast combo with OJ instead of Java. I started out to get onto the interstate when the iPhone rang, it was Jenni telling me that the Garage Door Doctor people had called back and would be there by 2:00 PM. Even better the ad they had on the internet said a full service 12 point check and spring replacement would run $240.00 and the phone voice told her that it would be $140 for our spring and check up.
The new shiny spring that lifts the garage door.
The day at work started quietly but by 12:30 the place was jumping, by 4:30 we were all beat, and ready for home and rest.
Before I left I checked my phone for messages and saw that Jenni had posted a couple of comments about the door service.
They called before they came, they were on time and they were gone in less than an hour, the charge was $140 as quoted and the door works. I did have to adjust the down force on the opener but other than that it is smoother and quieter and works like new. The amazing thing is that the original spring lasted over 18 years, the technician told jenni that 4 to 5 years is average. I guess that in the next half decade I'll be hearing that thrum and seeing another spring burst, but I will hold out hope that it will be eighteen years or later.
Chuck Pace ©2010
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The tale continues...
By the time I got on the road after doing my upper-body and cardio exercise for the foreseeable future I realized I would not be getting to work before 9:00 (instead of 8:30ish), and I was hungry and really needed a cup of Joe anyway. I stopped at the Hardee's (just two minutes from home) on Post and 22nd St. and ordered the Ultimate Omelet breakfast combo with OJ instead of Java. I started out to get onto the interstate when the iPhone rang, it was Jenni telling me that the Garage Door Doctor people had called back and would be there by 2:00 PM. Even better the ad they had on the internet said a full service 12 point check and spring replacement would run $240.00 and the phone voice told her that it would be $140 for our spring and check up.
The new shiny spring that lifts the garage door.
The day at work started quietly but by 12:30 the place was jumping, by 4:30 we were all beat, and ready for home and rest.
Before I left I checked my phone for messages and saw that Jenni had posted a couple of comments about the door service.
Chuck Pace ©2010
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Spring Has Sprung
Jenni and I had gone to bed and were sleeping soundly when there came a noise that stood us both up in bed. A noise like a Giant loosing an arrow from a massive compound bow. The thrum of the mythic bow woke us and we both said, "What the hell was that?!"
I said, "It sounded like it came from outside!"
She said, "No it was from the garage!"
I pulled on a shirt and went to look, she wasn't far behind me. I opened the door to the garage, and turned on the lights. At first glance nothing seemed amiss. I hit the opener switch and the opener pull the top panel towards itself, but the door did not raise, and the machine stopped after a second or s. It was soon obvious that the torsion spring above the door that assists the lift through two cabled pulleys on either end of the two car garage door had snapped into two pieces. There was nothing to be done that night.
This morning my first alarm went off at 5:35 AM,m I set the snooze timer for 12 minutes but didn't fall back asleep, instead I was planning my strategies on dealing with the massively heavy insulated two car garage door. When the alarm sounded I got up dressed and took the dog for his morning constitutional walk, then, back inside I went to the garage and started pulling out what I would need to get the door up and the car out. Three two by fours of varying length and a short four by four block, and my three ton floor jack and handle.
I wedged a short two by four under the hand lift handle right off the floor and put another two by four under it and levered the door up about 3 inches. Then I took yet another two by four and turned it sideways under the door, took the four by four and levered the door up another few inches. Now there was room to get the lifting plate of the floor jack under the door and I jacked it to it's maximum 20 inch height. I rested one of the two by fours that was about 4 feet long against my chest and shoulder, then I squatted at the knees, grasped the door base and did a weightlifting "clean and jerk" move to get it high enough. With one trembling arm and hand holding the weight I positioned the 4 foot two by four under the door at about chin height.
The two by four in place and holding the door I rested and caught my breath for about a minute. Then I did a squat move using my legs and "pressed" the door the rest of the way up the tracks, gingerly releasing my hands ready to stop it if it decided to heed gravities call. It stayed up. After another brief rest I moved the BMW and then backed the convertible out of the garage onto the snow dusted driveway. That accomplished I pulled and eased the massive weight of the door gently back to the floor and made my way back into the house and prepared for work.
By then Jenni was up and surfing the inter-webs for a garage door specialist to bring spring early to our vehicular storage space. She found just the place Garage Door Doctor only a couple of miles from our humble abode. I called and left a message, then kissed her goodbye and was off to work, to get some much needed rest.
Chuck Pace ©2010
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I said, "It sounded like it came from outside!"
She said, "No it was from the garage!"
I pulled on a shirt and went to look, she wasn't far behind me. I opened the door to the garage, and turned on the lights. At first glance nothing seemed amiss. I hit the opener switch and the opener pull the top panel towards itself, but the door did not raise, and the machine stopped after a second or s. It was soon obvious that the torsion spring above the door that assists the lift through two cabled pulleys on either end of the two car garage door had snapped into two pieces. There was nothing to be done that night.
This morning my first alarm went off at 5:35 AM,m I set the snooze timer for 12 minutes but didn't fall back asleep, instead I was planning my strategies on dealing with the massively heavy insulated two car garage door. When the alarm sounded I got up dressed and took the dog for his morning constitutional walk, then, back inside I went to the garage and started pulling out what I would need to get the door up and the car out. Three two by fours of varying length and a short four by four block, and my three ton floor jack and handle.
I wedged a short two by four under the hand lift handle right off the floor and put another two by four under it and levered the door up about 3 inches. Then I took yet another two by four and turned it sideways under the door, took the four by four and levered the door up another few inches. Now there was room to get the lifting plate of the floor jack under the door and I jacked it to it's maximum 20 inch height. I rested one of the two by fours that was about 4 feet long against my chest and shoulder, then I squatted at the knees, grasped the door base and did a weightlifting "clean and jerk" move to get it high enough. With one trembling arm and hand holding the weight I positioned the 4 foot two by four under the door at about chin height.
The two by four in place and holding the door I rested and caught my breath for about a minute. Then I did a squat move using my legs and "pressed" the door the rest of the way up the tracks, gingerly releasing my hands ready to stop it if it decided to heed gravities call. It stayed up. After another brief rest I moved the BMW and then backed the convertible out of the garage onto the snow dusted driveway. That accomplished I pulled and eased the massive weight of the door gently back to the floor and made my way back into the house and prepared for work.
By then Jenni was up and surfing the inter-webs for a garage door specialist to bring spring early to our vehicular storage space. She found just the place Garage Door Doctor only a couple of miles from our humble abode. I called and left a message, then kissed her goodbye and was off to work, to get some much needed rest.
Chuck Pace ©2010
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Snooze Blues
They say that breaking "waking" up is hard to do , well I know, I know it's true...
I reset the timer and pushed the snooze until I got I involved in an REM state and was having a great exposition dream during a 10 minute countdown snooze. Before the alarm alarmed me I was clawed and patted by Charlie telling me of his own particular alarm which we all wanted to go off outside. ...
I'm up. I'm Up!
Hey it's after 7:30!
Come on Charlie wait for me to get a coat on...
I gotta pull these boots on...
...good boy here's a treat. Now where did I leave my brain, my consciousness, my billfold...
start the car to warm it up some...
finish post? nah there's not time for a post...maybe I'll just fluff this pillow on the couch with my head for a minute what harm could...
nope! ...yep, that cars running! see you soon!... off to Starbucks for sure then work, I suppose...
zzzzz, wha? zzzChuck Pace ©2010
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I reset the timer and pushed the snooze until I got I involved in an REM state and was having a great exposition dream during a 10 minute countdown snooze. Before the alarm alarmed me I was clawed and patted by Charlie telling me of his own particular alarm which we all wanted to go off outside. ...
I'm up. I'm Up!
Hey it's after 7:30!
Come on Charlie wait for me to get a coat on...
I gotta pull these boots on...
...good boy here's a treat. Now where did I leave my brain, my consciousness, my billfold...
start the car to warm it up some...
finish post? nah there's not time for a post...maybe I'll just fluff this pillow on the couch with my head for a minute what harm could...
nope! ...yep, that cars running! see you soon!... off to Starbucks for sure then work, I suppose...
zzzzz, wha? zzzChuck Pace ©2010
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Attitude Latitudes
Last years trophy-robot has been kegling on my mantle piece all alone for too long!
So yesterday on Facebook I declared February 24th optimism day, and gosh oh golly it was a swellistic day darn tootin'! Just about everything went right for me, and nothing bad found me hiding behind my smiles and cheer.
I got up and picked out great primary color clothing, bright and wonderful. Next, I decided to take US 40 into downtown Indy instead of hopping on the Interstate like I usually do, and the drive was smooth and hassle free, and I was listening to the new Pete Yorn -Scarlett Johannson CD "Break Up" and really enjoying it!
At work I heard horror stories from coworkers about their drives in on various highways and interstates about cars flipped on their sides and others off the highway 20 feet or more with people standing around gawking. I said I had no problems getting in and was enjoying a perfect cup of Starbucks coffee while hearing of their delays, detours and trials and tribulations. Later I enjoyed talking to the few brave shoppers that came out in spite of the latest White Death Snow show going on outside (although it wasn't sticking, and I think many drivers just forgot how to drive in Indiana winter weather after just three days dry warmer weather) and felt the satisfaction of helping them with camera issues and helping them select the right gear for their needs.
At lunchtime I walked to Ike and Jonsey's to have a favorite, (their awesome Patty Melt) and was able to finish two more chapters in the latest book I'm reading, Michael Crichton's "Pirate Latitudes". It is getting to the first plateau and very exciting.
After Lunch I got to see some old Herron friends Brian and Mary, whom I haven't seen since MaryJane and Jody's garden party last year, and to help several more fledgling photographers. I also sold a few more cameras and got closer to my sales goals for February.
After work it was off to the Old Pointe Tavern on Mass Ave to meet up with more old Herron friends: Russell A., Rob and Marsha D., Jenny McG, and my Jenni and to meet Russell's new GF Dawn. While there I learned that my bowling team is now in 1st place in the Chatterbox league after 7 weeks. We started in 9th, dropped to 12th (last) and since have take all 8 points four times and taken 6 of 8 the other time in 7 weeks of kegling. I am understandably proud of my teammates Annelise, Roe and David as well as myself for putting up such strong numbers week after week. We need to stay on track for 5 more weeks and take home the big trophies! My one little trophy for highest scratch game in last springs Chatterbox Jazz League needs company!
Chuck Pace ©2010
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Excercise
I have been reluctant to talk in the blogosphere for awhile, unwilling to sum up my disappointment in the outcome of the superbowl, or to embellish on the remarkably winter-like winter for the laff and the gaff, and the reluctance has weakened my blogging brain muscles a bit. I need to get back on the proverbial horse and ride it to where ever it takes me, and I'm doing just that. when I fired up the old blog-wear at 7:00 this am I had no direction or idea what would roll off my grey matter and through my digits, and yet here is a whole bunch of words just being spewed onto the phosphors and LED's of the inter-webs.
To horribly paraphrase Mr. David Byrne:
I'm blogging,
I'm blogging again,
I'm blogging,
I'm blogging again,
I'm cleaning
I'm cleaning my brain
You cant see it
Until it's finished!
Again I apologize the the Talking Heads and Mr. Byrne, who's writing prowess and imagination leave me paled and in the shade by comparison.
Here we are at the beginning of the 8th hump day of 2010, and I'm feeling optimistic. The weather is "maybe" starting to mellow, my bowling team is doing quite well and I'm involved in the organizing of another Herron When It Was Cool reunion party for mid year! And I'm putting some laps on my blogging muscles just to limber them up a bit. What could be more better? Well other than real content in my blog, but it's a rebirth, soon spring will be upon us and I will be sprouting seeds of ideation as mother nature is sprouting seeds of growth and renewal. Hot Damn! It feels good in here!
Chuck Pace ©2010
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