I finally had a weekend with good weather, some free time and a clear idea of what needed to be done with the pit. Unfortunately I had no idea how to do it or what stuff I needed. After this weekend, the truck can probably find Home Depot without me now.
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I’ve played around with Google’s free 3D modeling application, SketchUp, since about version 4 or so. I would download the free version, play around a bit, get frustrated and forget about it until I noticed the next version was released and repeat.
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Based on the average commute for the family, our move to the center of town is a major improvement. However, if I look at it selfishly and strictly based on commute distance, I lose. I’ve gone from a short and easy 3 miles (and that’s stretching it) to either 9 miles (by car on the highway) or over 11 (by bike).
This new bike commute has required a few changes in my routine. I used to just put on my “work clothes”, and bring a swap of shoes and my laptop in a backpack and ride to work, no problem. 11 miles is too long for me to ride in jeans or khakis comfortably and quickly, so I have a whole new routine.
Do you have any idea what a sewage ejector pump is? Chances are, unless you live on a steep hill, or have a bathroom in your basement, or are a plumber, you don’t. And just a few months ago, I was also blissfully ignorant of such a contraption as well. However, buying a house on a steep hill with a bathroom in the basement gave me a chance to expand my knowledge.
The whole saga began about 4 months ago. In the midst of one of the hottest and driest summers on record, in the throes of a multi-year drought, most of our yard look brown and crispy. There was, however, an oasis of green in this desert wasteland. Strangely enough, it was surrounding a PVC pipe that was sticking out of the ground. Upon further inspection, there were also some wires that came out of the ground as well and plugged into an outdoor outlet. With a bunch of other household stuff, not to mention Ironman training, to occupy my attention, I actively ignored the oddity of it all… until…
We’ve made it back safe from the other side of the planet. We had an outstanding trip and I’ll be writing more about it soon, but right now I’m fighting some mean jet-lag.
Sleep patterns since around 5PM Friday (all days and times are CST): Read the rest of this entry »