Math

"Math is hard, let's make cookies for the boys!"

So many of my favorite quotes come from The Simpsons. Some are so true, and some just funny.

I have not been in a math class since I was in the Navy. Then it was all calculus and physics.

For the last few weeks, when I was home I was treated to helping Andrea with her math homework.

I know I can do it. I understand it. I like it, now. I did have to have a refresher course on shapes and geometry. I remembered a few of the formulas. Although, not in their correct application. Pi r squared is always a good one to throw out. 1/2 base times height. Another good one. 4pi r squared, always fun.

Just plug the measurements into the correct formula for the problem at hand and you have an answer. That answer may or may not be right, but it is your answer. A few tricks with the calculator later and I have figured out my fatal error. I can't read my own writing and put it the wrong number for h squared. Oh well live and learn.

Andrea learned a LOT today. I relearned some things. Found out how much I had forgot. Well not all of what I have forgot, but a good sampling of what is missing.

I also learned how frustrating it can be to try and teach someone a subject that they are having a hard time grasping.

Of course the toughest problem for the day.

Q: 2 boys + 1 television + ravenous appetites - peace and quiet - self control - the capacity to remember what you were just told 5 minutes ago = ?

A: frustration/give them whatever it takes to keep them somewhat quiet.

Although when the correct answers started flowing, with the correct formulas and legible hand writing all came together, I could tell that the transfer of knowledge was happening.

By George, I think she's got it!

Well at least some of it, the rest will come later.

The Benz Blues

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." I think that most of us are familiar with this line from Janis Joplin.

I like the song. I now think that she was missing a very important point about Mercedes ownership.

Maintenance. You know, paying for those little items that need to be replaced every now and then.

I guess that I can see her point. If I were to get the car for free, then I would have some extra money floating around to deal with these pesky maintenance issues.

Although there is no such thing as a "free" car.

Andrea (over the phone) "Honey? My car is making a weird noise."
Me "What kind of noise? Is it the same noise it was making the other day?"
Andrea "No, this is different. Kind of a squealing noise."
Me "Wow, that is different."
Me "Is it making it now?"
Andrea "No."
Me "What happened?"
Andrea "I turned it off."
Me "Turn it back on, open the hood and see if you can tell where the squeal is coming from."
Andrea "OK. I have the hood open. Do you hear that? Oh, the noise stopped. The belt broke."
Me "Well now we know what the noise was."
Andrea "What do I do now?"
Me "Wait for the tow truck."

Anyway, that is the important part of the conversation. You really don't need to know the rest to know that the car ended up in the shop 2 days later...

Our 12 year old Mercedes went into the shop. Unfortunately for us, we don't get to pay for 12 year old parts or labor. We have to pay for today's parts and labor. The car still runs and drives, but a seized part (air pump) on the outside of the engine, caused the serpentine belt to prematurely part ways with itself. In other words, the pump seized, the engine still worked and the belt broke.


When the pump seized, the crank kept turning. It moved the belt a little. Enough to muck up the belt, transfer VERY hot "belt rubber" onto all the other pulleys on the engine and finally to break. Causing the belt tensioner to "explode". Of course once you are in here working on this part of the engine, you may as well check out everything else. So we are doing a few other maintenance items as well.

I understand what happened. I don't understand why it cost over half the value of the car to fix a broken fan belt. I guess that at the core of the issue is the car manufacture. I guess, if you can't afford the parts and maintenance for a Mercedes, you shouldn't own one.

I just think that Miss Joplin would have been more correct if her song was "Oh lord won't you fix my Mercedes Benz, I spent all my money and the repairs never end."

At least that is what I think. Maybe she never got her Benz, then again I think that if she did, she could easily afford the repairs.

Stop and smell the roses

In an effort to slow down and/or stop my road going, fast food eating, drive till you pass out, work style I have decided it is time to do more than just talk about how I want to change.

I really hate eating fast food. If it just wasn't so convenient. If it just wasn't everywhere. If it just wasn't thrown in your face constantly. If I just had a few minutes extra, I could choose a sit down place. If I just had a few better choices.

Well I do. I have found a way to make myself SLOW down.

Normally I have a trailer and I can't go through a drive through anyway. Also I have a diesel pickup and I don't like to shut it off while on a trip unless I have adequate time for a proper cool down. If I don't have a trailer I can use the drive thru, but only if I shut off my engine as it is rather loud and makes any type of communication over a drive thru speaker near impossible while running. The best I can hope for is an order that is similar, but not exactly what I ordered. Yes I know this for a fact. If the engine is running, I will not get what I ordered. Of course I may not get what I ordered if I went inside and presented in on a piece of type written paper in large font that has been notarized either.

On a side note, you should always allow a "cool down" period for a turbo charged engine. Really any engine if you would like to extend the life. Of course you should also use a premium oil, changed regularly and, well never mind I will do that one later....

So, I am trying to alter my "on the road diet". Last week I was gone 6 days and only had 2 meals at fast food. The first was Carl's Jr. I had a grilled chicken salad with bleu cheese dressing and it was adequate. I was neither disappointed nor elated at the presentation, taste, size, or amount of plastic that it took to house and consume this wonderful meal. Topped off with a large diet soda and I was not "oogey" at the end of the meal.

No fries, no onion rings, no deep fried cheese, no criss cut fries. I was alright. I kept it together. Sure I stared longingly at the food some of the other customers were getting, but I knew if I went astray of the salad, I would not feel "good" at the end of the week.

All in all it was a good week. I ate an omelet with avocado and cheese and had water to drink at a nice family restaurant in Salinas. I had some excellent ribs and one of my favorite beers on tap at a nice homey restaurant just outside of Glen Ellen. I had the largest Cobb salad with wonderfully cheap blue cheese dressing in Santa Rosa. I also had my favorite (so far) spinach salad with candied walnuts, dried cranberries, and bleu cheese with a warm balsamic bacon dressing in Petaluma. I had other good meals that were memorable and nutritious. Just that these were better.

It is easy. Sure the temptation is there to just fill up, grab a bite to eat and hit the road, but I have to stop and smell the roses.

Just for the record, most fast food restaurants contain NO roses.