Just a note.. my last post had the wrong dates and place. Wheee! I are smart. It's actually the 3rd to 5th in SURREY. Oy. How'd I get it so messed up?
Anyway, a couple people mentioned they might wanna go and say hi, then I scared em off by telling them how much I'm paying to get in. That $50 was for the full 3 days...!
The daily rates go from $13 for a kid on sunday, to the most expensive being $35 for an adult on saturday. http://www.vcon.ca/registration.htm for details.
Joseph Picard's writing projects and life ramblings including the kiddos, and life in a wheelchair.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Lifehack is officially launched! and VCON confirmed!
Although the softcover's been available on the net for a little while already, I held off until I could approve the hardcover before I called it a launch. Well, I got the hardcover, and approved it, it's darn purdy. I'm really glad I did it.
Those of you who know me personally and live nearby can order from me now, before I put in my big batch purchase. Hardcovers through me will cost only $30, as oppose to the 40 I'm kinda forced to sell it for online, AND, I'll be eating those shipping charges for ya.
Those of you who live elsewhere would have to resort to buying it from the publisher. Shipping to Canada costs way too much, IMO, but to the US is very reasonable.
Softcover $19.95: http://www.lulu.com/content/2853707
Hardcover $39.95: http://www.lulu.com/content/3163628
As usual, you can also go to my site, www.ozero.ca to read about it, and check out the related posters. All the links have previews of the book attached to them.
---------
It IS confirmed that I am going to be at VCON (Vancouver Sci-fi Convention) and be selling there, (Hey, no shipping for people that buy direct form me!) October 3-5, in Surrey. (bonehead errors fixed thanks to jenni from the blo- er, the con.)
----------
Caitlin news: 15 steps for a freewalking record now. She gets 12s off pretty regularly now and is beginning to see walking as a viable mode of travel, not jsut a stunt that makes grownups happy.
She and I also had a big adventure on monday, downtown to be filmed playing for part of a DVD for other parents who aren't confident with their kids, or just play inappropriately. (Too much roughhousing, or too nervous to interact, etc) Thanks partly to my wife's influence I suppose, I was told I was a natural, and a very good play-buddy for a 1 year old. Also, my being in a wheelchair should show some parents that they cant whine about being tired at the end of a day, or having a bad back! hehehe.
We then popped over to GF strong, where I spent 6 months after my accident, and introduced Caitlin to some of the staffers who still work there. We also got to show off our custom baby-carrier. Then we had lunch at the GF strong cafeteria.. mainly for nostalgic reasons. The food was better in 2001. Darn cutbacks.
Form getting on the bus at 7:30 am, and getting home at 4:30pm, we had a LONG day. She fell asleep in my lap for a bit on the way home, the the skytrain woke her up. She wasn't fond of the skytain's sounds on the way in either. Still, despite that, and coming home tired as heck, I think it's safe to say we both had a pretty good day.
---------
International Students
Braveheart and FraidyCat have gone home, and all is well there. We have a little bit of quiet for a while. But Lo and behold, yesterday, PING magically appeared! She can drive a person nuts sometimes, but in small doses, she's lots of fun. She brought a china-made barbie ripoff for Caitlin, (with the words SUPERIOR GIRL on the side of the box) and olympic cell-phone dangly charms for me and Michelle. I filled her in on how things were going here, and she told me bits of what's going on in Beijing, and her impressions of the 'creepy' police presence that normally isn't there. She also checked on the stuff she's storing here until she finds an apartment downtown. Right now she's staying with family friends.
On the 27th, our 'usual' Korean student 'Radar' comes back, (doing her grade 12 and graduating here) then on my Bday, the 30th, the new german girl (no nickname so far) will arrive. We've been in correspondence, and she seems quite nice. She only stays for 5 months and then we're to get a new german.
Those of you who know me personally and live nearby can order from me now, before I put in my big batch purchase. Hardcovers through me will cost only $30, as oppose to the 40 I'm kinda forced to sell it for online, AND, I'll be eating those shipping charges for ya.
Those of you who live elsewhere would have to resort to buying it from the publisher. Shipping to Canada costs way too much, IMO, but to the US is very reasonable.
Softcover $19.95: http://www.lulu.com/content/2853707
Hardcover $39.95: http://www.lulu.com/content/3163628
As usual, you can also go to my site, www.ozero.ca to read about it, and check out the related posters. All the links have previews of the book attached to them.
---------
It IS confirmed that I am going to be at VCON (Vancouver Sci-fi Convention) and be selling there, (Hey, no shipping for people that buy direct form me!) October 3-5, in Surrey. (bonehead errors fixed thanks to jenni from the blo- er, the con.)
----------
Caitlin news: 15 steps for a freewalking record now. She gets 12s off pretty regularly now and is beginning to see walking as a viable mode of travel, not jsut a stunt that makes grownups happy.
She and I also had a big adventure on monday, downtown to be filmed playing for part of a DVD for other parents who aren't confident with their kids, or just play inappropriately. (Too much roughhousing, or too nervous to interact, etc) Thanks partly to my wife's influence I suppose, I was told I was a natural, and a very good play-buddy for a 1 year old. Also, my being in a wheelchair should show some parents that they cant whine about being tired at the end of a day, or having a bad back! hehehe.
We then popped over to GF strong, where I spent 6 months after my accident, and introduced Caitlin to some of the staffers who still work there. We also got to show off our custom baby-carrier. Then we had lunch at the GF strong cafeteria.. mainly for nostalgic reasons. The food was better in 2001. Darn cutbacks.
Form getting on the bus at 7:30 am, and getting home at 4:30pm, we had a LONG day. She fell asleep in my lap for a bit on the way home, the the skytrain woke her up. She wasn't fond of the skytain's sounds on the way in either. Still, despite that, and coming home tired as heck, I think it's safe to say we both had a pretty good day.
---------
International Students
Braveheart and FraidyCat have gone home, and all is well there. We have a little bit of quiet for a while. But Lo and behold, yesterday, PING magically appeared! She can drive a person nuts sometimes, but in small doses, she's lots of fun. She brought a china-made barbie ripoff for Caitlin, (with the words SUPERIOR GIRL on the side of the box) and olympic cell-phone dangly charms for me and Michelle. I filled her in on how things were going here, and she told me bits of what's going on in Beijing, and her impressions of the 'creepy' police presence that normally isn't there. She also checked on the stuff she's storing here until she finds an apartment downtown. Right now she's staying with family friends.
On the 27th, our 'usual' Korean student 'Radar' comes back, (doing her grade 12 and graduating here) then on my Bday, the 30th, the new german girl (no nickname so far) will arrive. We've been in correspondence, and she seems quite nice. She only stays for 5 months and then we're to get a new german.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
FraidyCat , LionHeart and the 12 step program
The other day two 16-year-old korean students came to stay for 3 weeks. The school board keeps em pretty busy most days, (mostly on touristy type things) and michelle seems intent on doing things with them on the days off... because there isn't much else for them to do.
Yesterday, then both found some toys- my nephew's scooter, a skipping rope, and a hula-hoop... (which is actually Ping and Radar's magnetic 'health hoop'.. wtf...) and then went out into the front area, and played. Yeek. Ladies, we have tv and vid games, and you're outside being randomly active? SICK SICK SICK!
Ah, I have to assign them 'minor-protecting-codenames'. Well, I don't know them that well yet, (and in the course of 3 weeks, I probably won't know them TOO much better, as their english is a bare minimum) so I'll be lazy and categorize them by one defining event.
I let my cat Leela jump up on my lap as she often does, and I wet to go introduce them to her. One of the girls FREAKED RIGHT OUT. I'd seen this kind of thing before, but it was because of a dog. (and it was a GUY, who screamed like a 12 year old girl whenever our dog came into view.) So, for the next 3 weeks, when the girls are awake and home, I'll try to keep Leela outside. In this weather, that's not such a bad thing, but when she comes back in, she demands attention. Lots.
So codenames? FraidyCat and LionHeart. Not that LH was eager to embrace Leela, but compared to FC's reaction... yeah. It's kinda sad.. Leela's the meekest little thing. (At least when humans are concerned)
We're going to attempt a couple Kimchi recipes. We never bothered with Radar, since she had already been in the country for a year and a half, and she was swept up in the kitchen chaos that Ping created.. so we didn't worry. Wish us luck.
Slightly less recent news- Caitlin is walking!! Not much mind you, she still sees crawling as far more efficient, even when carrying something. (her one handed, one-knee, one-foot crawl is hilarious, with an empty energy drink can under her arm like a football...) Her record walking so far is 12 steps. She only stopped because she reached her destination; the toybox. I think it was mainly an exercise in laziness. When I put her down, she was standing. She wanted to go to the toybox, and knew she had to stand to get at the toys. I'm sure she debated in her mind for a while about what was easier- WALKING over there, (what a pain in the ***! Walking! Sheesh!) or getting down to the ground, to crawl over, then having to get back up. Walking won.
Usually when we try to get her to walk, she won't, or takes one step before decided it's dumb and inefficient. He best walking is done for no particular reason, with no prompting, and with no camera around.
Oh yeah, she LOVES FC and LH. They like Caitlin quite a bit too, though I try not to let Caitlin bug them TOO much. FC and LH aren't here to babysit afterall.
AND.... Last moment Lifehack news- I'm still waiting on the first hardcover copy. The other shop in Maple Ridge that I was hoping to put some copies in officially said yes, and I had an unintentionally good day for local promoting yesterday.
As for those 2 shops and I going to the Vancouver Sci-fi convention- that's still up in the air, but I have identified which of the fellows would be leading the charge. He's out camping, so I didn't get to talk to him yesterday, but I did get come productive talk with the comic shop guy. So, the waiting game continues.
Before I ask people if they want copies for my big order, I still have to approve the hardcover copy, and settle the sci-fi con thing.
Yesterday, then both found some toys- my nephew's scooter, a skipping rope, and a hula-hoop... (which is actually Ping and Radar's magnetic 'health hoop'.. wtf...) and then went out into the front area, and played. Yeek. Ladies, we have tv and vid games, and you're outside being randomly active? SICK SICK SICK!
Ah, I have to assign them 'minor-protecting-codenames'. Well, I don't know them that well yet, (and in the course of 3 weeks, I probably won't know them TOO much better, as their english is a bare minimum) so I'll be lazy and categorize them by one defining event.
I let my cat Leela jump up on my lap as she often does, and I wet to go introduce them to her. One of the girls FREAKED RIGHT OUT. I'd seen this kind of thing before, but it was because of a dog. (and it was a GUY, who screamed like a 12 year old girl whenever our dog came into view.) So, for the next 3 weeks, when the girls are awake and home, I'll try to keep Leela outside. In this weather, that's not such a bad thing, but when she comes back in, she demands attention. Lots.
So codenames? FraidyCat and LionHeart. Not that LH was eager to embrace Leela, but compared to FC's reaction... yeah. It's kinda sad.. Leela's the meekest little thing. (At least when humans are concerned)
We're going to attempt a couple Kimchi recipes. We never bothered with Radar, since she had already been in the country for a year and a half, and she was swept up in the kitchen chaos that Ping created.. so we didn't worry. Wish us luck.
Slightly less recent news- Caitlin is walking!! Not much mind you, she still sees crawling as far more efficient, even when carrying something. (her one handed, one-knee, one-foot crawl is hilarious, with an empty energy drink can under her arm like a football...) Her record walking so far is 12 steps. She only stopped because she reached her destination; the toybox. I think it was mainly an exercise in laziness. When I put her down, she was standing. She wanted to go to the toybox, and knew she had to stand to get at the toys. I'm sure she debated in her mind for a while about what was easier- WALKING over there, (what a pain in the ***! Walking! Sheesh!) or getting down to the ground, to crawl over, then having to get back up. Walking won.
Usually when we try to get her to walk, she won't, or takes one step before decided it's dumb and inefficient. He best walking is done for no particular reason, with no prompting, and with no camera around.
Oh yeah, she LOVES FC and LH. They like Caitlin quite a bit too, though I try not to let Caitlin bug them TOO much. FC and LH aren't here to babysit afterall.
AND.... Last moment Lifehack news- I'm still waiting on the first hardcover copy. The other shop in Maple Ridge that I was hoping to put some copies in officially said yes, and I had an unintentionally good day for local promoting yesterday.
As for those 2 shops and I going to the Vancouver Sci-fi convention- that's still up in the air, but I have identified which of the fellows would be leading the charge. He's out camping, so I didn't get to talk to him yesterday, but I did get come productive talk with the comic shop guy. So, the waiting game continues.
Before I ask people if they want copies for my big order, I still have to approve the hardcover copy, and settle the sci-fi con thing.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Local order time is quickly approaching! Hardcover first copy-
-Has just been ordered. 10 days processing, then shipping. Assuming it looks good, I'll then be taking orders for hard and softcover copies of the 2nd edition! Remember, you locals will save big on shipping be ordering through me when I do my big order.. that is, you wont pay ANY shipping.
I'm kinda rushing myself so that I'll have a small stock on hand for the Vancouver Sci-Fi convention. I'm also going to be ordering a couple posters for the con- specifically updated versions of these 2:
Alisia Glow (Text updated from this version to reflect the new shorter title)
Regan's ZombieKiller Illustrated cover (Lower left barcode thing changed a bit)
I'm gonna get em in 20"x30" for display/sale. If anyone else local wants a copy of one of those, or any of my posters available, order though me NOW to make me eat the shipping cost for ya!
Lemmie rant about costs of some of those nonsense...
Gripe#1- shipping to Canada-
Lifehack 2nd edition softcover is $19.95
Shipping that book to canada: almost another $26. And THAT is why I have my stuff shipped to the US and a fraction of the cost, then get my wife to bring them back on her next trip across. Even after gas, it's a big saving.
This is also why I wanna order a bunk batch for anyone local who wants a copy. (That, and then you don't have to deal with paypal, or online shopping, or waiting for the shipment)
Gripe #2-
Retail markup-
For world distro, there's a markup applied for the 'end' retailers, which means the physical store you would order them through, or buy from. (Not that barns and noble or any big store is ordering my stuff- they don't even know I'm out there unless a customer asks for lifehack)
The retail price of the hardcover Lifehack is 39.95. About HALF of that is the retail markup! I had heard 30% was a typical cut for a store, which I can understand... but 50%? Yeek. I WAS hoping to retail the hardcover for 29.95- which I can still do for copies I'm selling locally myself, but yeesh. 39.95... Who's gonna pay that? Well, it's a good thing there's the softcover for $19.95. Much more reasonable and competitive. Thanks to some changes to the guts of the publisher, I can get the price that low, about 7 bucks cheaper than the first edition. The 2nd edition softcover is the version I plan to promote, the hardcover is mainly for a handful of 'collectors'.
I'm kinda rushing myself so that I'll have a small stock on hand for the Vancouver Sci-Fi convention. I'm also going to be ordering a couple posters for the con- specifically updated versions of these 2:
Alisia Glow (Text updated from this version to reflect the new shorter title)
Regan's ZombieKiller Illustrated cover (Lower left barcode thing changed a bit)
I'm gonna get em in 20"x30" for display/sale. If anyone else local wants a copy of one of those, or any of my posters available, order though me NOW to make me eat the shipping cost for ya!
Lemmie rant about costs of some of those nonsense...
Gripe#1- shipping to Canada-
Lifehack 2nd edition softcover is $19.95
Shipping that book to canada: almost another $26. And THAT is why I have my stuff shipped to the US and a fraction of the cost, then get my wife to bring them back on her next trip across. Even after gas, it's a big saving.
This is also why I wanna order a bunk batch for anyone local who wants a copy. (That, and then you don't have to deal with paypal, or online shopping, or waiting for the shipment)
Gripe #2-
Retail markup-
For world distro, there's a markup applied for the 'end' retailers, which means the physical store you would order them through, or buy from. (Not that barns and noble or any big store is ordering my stuff- they don't even know I'm out there unless a customer asks for lifehack)
The retail price of the hardcover Lifehack is 39.95. About HALF of that is the retail markup! I had heard 30% was a typical cut for a store, which I can understand... but 50%? Yeek. I WAS hoping to retail the hardcover for 29.95- which I can still do for copies I'm selling locally myself, but yeesh. 39.95... Who's gonna pay that? Well, it's a good thing there's the softcover for $19.95. Much more reasonable and competitive. Thanks to some changes to the guts of the publisher, I can get the price that low, about 7 bucks cheaper than the first edition. The 2nd edition softcover is the version I plan to promote, the hardcover is mainly for a handful of 'collectors'.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
EXCITING NUDES!
Er, I mean news.
I may have mentioned before that the 2nd edition of Lifehack will probably be carried in a comic book store, and a games (board games, pen & dice games, etc) store. I was in the games store yesterday, and got yapping.
It turns out that the fellow that runs the games store, and the fellow that runs the comic store, might be sharing a table at the Vancouver Sci-Fi convention. which happens in october. I mentioned that I'd considered going to a convention before to sell the first edition of lifehack, but the cost of setting up, coupled with the lameness of having a table with one product... well, I never could find someone to share a table with..
I was quietly fishing for an invite, and I got it. (Subject to comic book guy's approval, and them actually deciding in concrete that they ARE going.)
... but it sounds good! I might see if I can bring a couple posters along. I only have a couple "in stock", and they're my personal posters... so I might just bring those along to decorate the table.. OR, if the guys go for it, I might have a few printed up just for the occasion.
Ah, by the way, fedex says the first copy of the 2nd edition will arrive (at our PO box south of the border) on the 15th. The cost in shipping is just horrific to Canada, I'm afraid. That's why I like to order a bit of a stockpile, save on bulk shipping, and sell locally from that pile, instead of referring people to the website. - and for the customer, it's instant gratification, instead of waiting for delivery. Anyway, I'm not sure when I'll be able to get it in my hands, but yeah.. on the 15th, the ball's in my court again.
I have no idea how many I want to order.. how many books does one sell at a convention? (especially if you're an unknown... the last name PICARD might catch a few eyes at a sci-fi convention though.. heh.) I don't expect to sell many in Pitt Meadows, since it IS the same story as the first edition, (even if it's more polished, better formatted, and has some new content..) the typical reader isn't going to want the same story again. Maple ridge has been under marketed though, and Coquitlam is next for me to invade....
...but that's kinda off in the future, and doesn't help me decide how many to get now..
In other news, in the livingroom, my nephew, aka fireball (red hair, too much energy) is currently playing mario kart advance on my gameboy, because despite my tidy little collection of games, he refuses to play anything that isn't vehicle based. He's obsessed with cars. I tried to show him contra, figuring the shotting giant monsters and blowing things up (WITH MASSIVE CHEATS, TOO!) would appeal to a 9 year old.
"Is there any vehicles?"
"No, but take a look at.."
And he was off in the corner looking for remnants of his hotwheel collection. What kind of 9 year old boy doesn't want to play games with guns?! What is the world coming to?! That sounds kinda bad, but I've seen this kid drive. We'd all be much safer if he had an obsession with guns instead.
I may have mentioned before that the 2nd edition of Lifehack will probably be carried in a comic book store, and a games (board games, pen & dice games, etc) store. I was in the games store yesterday, and got yapping.
It turns out that the fellow that runs the games store, and the fellow that runs the comic store, might be sharing a table at the Vancouver Sci-Fi convention. which happens in october. I mentioned that I'd considered going to a convention before to sell the first edition of lifehack, but the cost of setting up, coupled with the lameness of having a table with one product... well, I never could find someone to share a table with..
I was quietly fishing for an invite, and I got it. (Subject to comic book guy's approval, and them actually deciding in concrete that they ARE going.)
... but it sounds good! I might see if I can bring a couple posters along. I only have a couple "in stock", and they're my personal posters... so I might just bring those along to decorate the table.. OR, if the guys go for it, I might have a few printed up just for the occasion.
Ah, by the way, fedex says the first copy of the 2nd edition will arrive (at our PO box south of the border) on the 15th. The cost in shipping is just horrific to Canada, I'm afraid. That's why I like to order a bit of a stockpile, save on bulk shipping, and sell locally from that pile, instead of referring people to the website. - and for the customer, it's instant gratification, instead of waiting for delivery. Anyway, I'm not sure when I'll be able to get it in my hands, but yeah.. on the 15th, the ball's in my court again.
I have no idea how many I want to order.. how many books does one sell at a convention? (especially if you're an unknown... the last name PICARD might catch a few eyes at a sci-fi convention though.. heh.) I don't expect to sell many in Pitt Meadows, since it IS the same story as the first edition, (even if it's more polished, better formatted, and has some new content..) the typical reader isn't going to want the same story again. Maple ridge has been under marketed though, and Coquitlam is next for me to invade....
...but that's kinda off in the future, and doesn't help me decide how many to get now..
In other news, in the livingroom, my nephew, aka fireball (red hair, too much energy) is currently playing mario kart advance on my gameboy, because despite my tidy little collection of games, he refuses to play anything that isn't vehicle based. He's obsessed with cars. I tried to show him contra, figuring the shotting giant monsters and blowing things up (WITH MASSIVE CHEATS, TOO!) would appeal to a 9 year old.
"Is there any vehicles?"
"No, but take a look at.."
And he was off in the corner looking for remnants of his hotwheel collection. What kind of 9 year old boy doesn't want to play games with guns?! What is the world coming to?! That sounds kinda bad, but I've seen this kid drive. We'd all be much safer if he had an obsession with guns instead.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Lifehack releasing soon, intenationl student stuff, and chaos, chaos.
Well, Lifehack, (2nd edition/revision of AZU-1:Lifehack) is finalized. It has an isbn code now, and a copy is headed my way for me to look over and approve before it officially can go up for sale on the interweb. Shortly after I approve it, I'll be setting up the hardcover version as well. I won't be ordering a huge stack of books this time, since I don't think too many people will feel the need to buy a slightly updated version of a book they bought 2 years ago- soon I'll be asking about 'pre-orders', so I can order an appropriate number of copies for the local crowd, and save us all a lot of shipping charges. Anyway, more on the (still undecided) launch day as it draws closer.
The hardcover version WILL be available on the net, but it's not really the type of book that usually does hardcover. This version will be mainly for collector types... myself, a few members of my family, and Carrie Shannon, who's request for a hardcover version caused me to create a whole new revision in the first place.
Alas, Carrie's store, 'Heron's book store and coffee shop', is no more, largely due to an awkward location. Lots of regulars will miss it. I don't know where else I should loiter now!
That's not entirely true... beside the starbucks-wannabe store half a block form heron's, (ew, it's SO dull and cold) I actually do a lot of loitering at the local community centre now. Besides being the new HQ for the MeadowRidge Optimist Club, there's also a fun drop-in thing in the gym 2 days a week, where I can go with Caitlin, (who turned 1 since the last blog post) and play on big toys, and meet other little ones.
The optimist club had a big showing on Pitt Meadows Day, and we were in the parade as well. So was Caitlin, strapped into my lap as we wheeled the route.
Frig, there's so much I could write about. 'Ping' left for China, maybe to return for a short time when she comes back to the area and looks for a place to stay closer to university. 'Radar' will be back for her grade 12 after spending the summer in Korea. 'Asuka' (from germany) is visiting with us right now for 3 weeks, which is awesome. She's the 2nd student to come back just to visit, (the first being Rei from Japan) suggesting that we're not jerks. In the summer, we will also be hosting two 10-year-old korean girls for a month, which is going to be a new experience for us, hosting for students so young. We had planned to do that last year, but ended up with the teachers, 'Snoopy', and ... oh, I forget the other one's code-name... then in september, we will be getting an all-new german student, as well as Radar coming back, as I mentioned.
Bah, so much to write about.. this is what I get for neglecting my blog for 2 friggin months. I should do separate entries for Caitlin's birthday, the new little assistants I have for taking care of her, my becoming the new 'primary caregiver', shine more of a spotlight on Optimist stuff... so much stuff going on.. now that I have a 'bonus' 3 hours of 'free time' 4 times a week, I might get more regular with blog posting... so much to do, so much to do...
The hardcover version WILL be available on the net, but it's not really the type of book that usually does hardcover. This version will be mainly for collector types... myself, a few members of my family, and Carrie Shannon, who's request for a hardcover version caused me to create a whole new revision in the first place.
Alas, Carrie's store, 'Heron's book store and coffee shop', is no more, largely due to an awkward location. Lots of regulars will miss it. I don't know where else I should loiter now!
That's not entirely true... beside the starbucks-wannabe store half a block form heron's, (ew, it's SO dull and cold) I actually do a lot of loitering at the local community centre now. Besides being the new HQ for the MeadowRidge Optimist Club, there's also a fun drop-in thing in the gym 2 days a week, where I can go with Caitlin, (who turned 1 since the last blog post) and play on big toys, and meet other little ones.
The optimist club had a big showing on Pitt Meadows Day, and we were in the parade as well. So was Caitlin, strapped into my lap as we wheeled the route.
Frig, there's so much I could write about. 'Ping' left for China, maybe to return for a short time when she comes back to the area and looks for a place to stay closer to university. 'Radar' will be back for her grade 12 after spending the summer in Korea. 'Asuka' (from germany) is visiting with us right now for 3 weeks, which is awesome. She's the 2nd student to come back just to visit, (the first being Rei from Japan) suggesting that we're not jerks. In the summer, we will also be hosting two 10-year-old korean girls for a month, which is going to be a new experience for us, hosting for students so young. We had planned to do that last year, but ended up with the teachers, 'Snoopy', and ... oh, I forget the other one's code-name... then in september, we will be getting an all-new german student, as well as Radar coming back, as I mentioned.
Bah, so much to write about.. this is what I get for neglecting my blog for 2 friggin months. I should do separate entries for Caitlin's birthday, the new little assistants I have for taking care of her, my becoming the new 'primary caregiver', shine more of a spotlight on Optimist stuff... so much stuff going on.. now that I have a 'bonus' 3 hours of 'free time' 4 times a week, I might get more regular with blog posting... so much to do, so much to do...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Rage against the machine
Flashback, a year or two ago. It was an seemingly fine afternoon, and I had just come home. The lift in the backyard waited for me with quiet spite. The day before, my mother said it sounded a little off... I dismissed it as 'probably nothing'...
I stuck the key in, and held the button to rise.. up, up... hm.. it REALLY sounded off. And getting slower. And slower. The top reach closer, bit by bit, and I muttered at the lift to 'come on.. just a little farther', as it inched up, ever slower.
Then, two inches form the top, is just stopped. "Son of a...." I sat, and debated my situation. If the door could open here, I could have 'jumped' the remaining distance easily, but the door could not open.. it didn't have clearance physically, nor did safety measures allow it to open if not at the top.
I pulled out my cell, and dialed my mum, who lives in a little suite on the lower floor. "Hey, can ya do me a quick favor?" We soon found out that the lift was indeed plugged in, but wasn't getting power. No breaker she could find would solve this.
I hit the up button again. Up half an inch. Then I lost control. I had entered the altitude where the lift decides "Ok, I see where you're going, I'll take you the last couple inches." Except it couldn't. It didn't have the juice. That didn't stop it form trying. Again, and again, every second or so, bouncing me ever so slightly. Lovely.
"Maybe we should call the fire department.." Ridiculous, mum! Get me the number for the lift guy. Well, the lift guy wasn't picking up. I left a message. "I'll give him some time to get back to me." (He was out of town)
Finally I relented and called the fire department. They came around, even an off duty one who lived nearby and saw his buddies. It ended up that I was hauled out and stuck on a deck chair while my chair was hauled out separately. Mildly embarrassing, but life goes on.
As it turned out, the power was out due to a previously unknown breaker located apart form the main breaker box. The lift had been trying to milk its battery, and without more power coming in, it's only managed to literally jerk me around. When not in use, the lift stores power to use above and beyond what the outlet gives.
Back to the near present. Last night, 9:30pm, after getting home from the weekly Optimist meeting... The lift had been sounding tired the last few days, but the power was flowing.. I must have been imaging it.... or not.
A quarter the way up, it was DEFINITELY going slow. By half way up, it had stopped. But the power was flowing...! I gave the battery a few minuted to soak up a little juice. And got up another 2 inches. I let it soak for one minute. And got up 2 inches more. 5 minutes? Still 2 inches. It seemed the battery had lost it's ability to store more than a trickle. (as batteries will do in time) I was determined to inch my way up.. and I was going pretty good.. then I remembered that if I couldn't make a 'large' leap at the end, I'd get trapped like before. Unable to convince it to give me more than a couple inches at a time, I finally gave up.
I rang up my buddy adam. "Hey, feel like some exercise?" "huh?"
I hit the down button, and slid softly back down, negating my half hour of inching up. Adam and my wife Michelle hauled my butt, chair and all up the front steps. And now I was stranded upstairs until I could get the lift guy..
thankfully we wasn't out of town, and had things fixed pretty quick, replacing the battery, and tuning a couple other quirks the lift had developed with age. I'd been putting off a few things with it for a while... like my gloves (had to order on ebay) and various wheelchair repairs... (still procrastinating...)
I stuck the key in, and held the button to rise.. up, up... hm.. it REALLY sounded off. And getting slower. And slower. The top reach closer, bit by bit, and I muttered at the lift to 'come on.. just a little farther', as it inched up, ever slower.
Then, two inches form the top, is just stopped. "Son of a...." I sat, and debated my situation. If the door could open here, I could have 'jumped' the remaining distance easily, but the door could not open.. it didn't have clearance physically, nor did safety measures allow it to open if not at the top.
I pulled out my cell, and dialed my mum, who lives in a little suite on the lower floor. "Hey, can ya do me a quick favor?" We soon found out that the lift was indeed plugged in, but wasn't getting power. No breaker she could find would solve this.
I hit the up button again. Up half an inch. Then I lost control. I had entered the altitude where the lift decides "Ok, I see where you're going, I'll take you the last couple inches." Except it couldn't. It didn't have the juice. That didn't stop it form trying. Again, and again, every second or so, bouncing me ever so slightly. Lovely.
"Maybe we should call the fire department.." Ridiculous, mum! Get me the number for the lift guy. Well, the lift guy wasn't picking up. I left a message. "I'll give him some time to get back to me." (He was out of town)
Finally I relented and called the fire department. They came around, even an off duty one who lived nearby and saw his buddies. It ended up that I was hauled out and stuck on a deck chair while my chair was hauled out separately. Mildly embarrassing, but life goes on.
As it turned out, the power was out due to a previously unknown breaker located apart form the main breaker box. The lift had been trying to milk its battery, and without more power coming in, it's only managed to literally jerk me around. When not in use, the lift stores power to use above and beyond what the outlet gives.
Back to the near present. Last night, 9:30pm, after getting home from the weekly Optimist meeting... The lift had been sounding tired the last few days, but the power was flowing.. I must have been imaging it.... or not.
A quarter the way up, it was DEFINITELY going slow. By half way up, it had stopped. But the power was flowing...! I gave the battery a few minuted to soak up a little juice. And got up another 2 inches. I let it soak for one minute. And got up 2 inches more. 5 minutes? Still 2 inches. It seemed the battery had lost it's ability to store more than a trickle. (as batteries will do in time) I was determined to inch my way up.. and I was going pretty good.. then I remembered that if I couldn't make a 'large' leap at the end, I'd get trapped like before. Unable to convince it to give me more than a couple inches at a time, I finally gave up.
I rang up my buddy adam. "Hey, feel like some exercise?" "huh?"
I hit the down button, and slid softly back down, negating my half hour of inching up. Adam and my wife Michelle hauled my butt, chair and all up the front steps. And now I was stranded upstairs until I could get the lift guy..
thankfully we wasn't out of town, and had things fixed pretty quick, replacing the battery, and tuning a couple other quirks the lift had developed with age. I'd been putting off a few things with it for a while... like my gloves (had to order on ebay) and various wheelchair repairs... (still procrastinating...)
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