Summer Time Projects

For the past several years I have had Summer Time projects that I wanted to accomplish, but for one reason or another I have failed to get some of them done.  This year I have lined out the list of projects I would like to accomplish before the winter winds and snow come back this year.  One of those projects was to install my new railroad scanner antenna.  About two months ago I bought a new commercial antenna for listening to railroad audio and I had not installed it as of yet, so today was the day.  I really didn't feel like getting this put up today, but it sure gives one a sense of accomplishment when a project is finished.   The amazing things is how much more I can hear with the new antenna.  Not only is it about 6 feet higher off the ground, but it also has about 5 db of gain (signal amplification).  As of a few minutes ago I was hearing not only the local trains, but trains calling signals about twenty miles away.  WOO HOO!

A summer time tradition - First trip to the Zoo

 This year like no other year I have sprung for a Fort Wayne Childrens Zoo membership.  This years prices was $92 for a year.  They have completely redesigned the entry way and have a whole brand new system for allowing for entry.  I even got a permanent card to use.  When they swipe your card it tells you how much time it is until you have to renew your membership.  Now the regular price to get into the zoo is $13 for an adult and $8.50 for children.  So, using the membership yesterday resulted in getting $30 back on the $92 I paid.  I figure the 4th use will be free. The kids seem to enjoy going and seeing the animals and it gives me a way to keep them entertained for now.  In this blog I am including some pictures I took from yesterdays visit.  These photos can also be seen at www.flickr.com/railfandad 

Memorial Day the Start of Summer

First off I would like to remember all those men and women who have given their lives to protect and keep our country free.  

 For me this is the offical start of summer.  The end of summer to me is labor day.  My kids wanted to go to what they call "Cannon Ball Park" on Friday when I picked them up.  What it is is a park maintained in Decatur called the "American Legion" park.  I assume the American Legion either donates to the park or runs and maintains it.  The kids indicated there was some new play ground equipment there they wanted to try out. Normally when we go to this park there are usually no other kids around to play.  This time the play ground was packed.  

Happy Mothers day!

Wanted to wish my mom and all the mothers a happy mothers day!

DIY Project - Mounting a coat rack

This afternoon I finally got my new coat rack installed near my front door.   It will give me a place to hang my coats that I use the most and a place for my kids to hang theirs.  The first thing I did was mark the location of the studs in the wall using a stud finder.  I had noticed that the screw holes for the coat rack didn't match up so I went down to Lowes and bought a piece of 1/4 inch oak board to mount to the wall so that I could attach the coat rack to it.  I could have used an anchoring system, but I thought this would be more secure.  I traced around the coat rack then used a jig saw to cut out the pattern on the piece of oak.   Next I mounted the oak piece to the wall then mounted the coat rack to the piece of oak.  Finally I installed the screw covers and the project was complete.  I hung my coat for tomorrow on it. One do-it-yourself project complete.

Has Spring Finally Arrived?

Has spring finally arrived? Took this picture of a tree in bloom in front of the Subway on Lima Rd.

Love according to the bible

I get a daily blurb on Facebook from a person who posts bible verses and this one caught my eye a while back. I thought I would re-post it here. It deals with love and how the bible views it. It is from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

The New King James Version says

¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Now, When I got this I had ventured back out into the dating world, but this verse is not only taking in that sense, but how we deal with people every day. I don't believe I have seen here where it says the person with the most toy's or the biggest fanciest house, car, boat, etc wins. I think love is not greedy would be added to this list if the person who wrote this were writing it today.