Dec 19 - no FAP, just down

Why can't I get FAPPED just before my satellite connection goes down ? My signal strength is so low that it doesn't take much cloud to mess me up. That's what happened this morning.

I talked to Tom Allen, Sue's husband, who is going to come over on Wednesday a.m. and re-ain the dish. He was amazed that we've not had to do that in 10 years. It can only be out a degree or two in any direction but that's enough to make the signal marginal. The last time that I had to use the system software to do a re-point I was up at the dish leaning on it ...

Tom is actually an authorized installer for Hughes, not Xplornet, but it's the same satellite owned by Hughes and licensed to resellers. He has the equipment to make the miniscule adjustments at the dish to fine-tune the signal.

It's 4:20 p.m. I just heard from Sandy who is about to head home from Sudbury. That will put her here around 6. She's been doing some last minute Christmas shopping as well as grocery shopping. She'll go back in on the 27th for last minute stuff before people arrive.

Jeffrey is still intending on coming up the 27th; David on the 28th; not sure whether Stef will make it.

The temperature was above freezing all day and the lake ice shiny. It's now glazed over as the temperature is now below freezing, heading down to -14C overnight.

I took advantage of the warm weather to get the 3-wheeler going. That took the better part of an hour. The battery had been in the basement, the machine not run in a year. It wouldn't start for the longest time, although I had good spark and could smell gas. There was likely some moisture in the tank as well, creating the problem.

I found my "quick start" which is ether, sprayed it into the mouth of the carb and it fired. Over and over I did this without keeping it running. Finally I re-installed the air filter and soaked it with ether and got it running. I took it for a spin down the road and it was running quite well ... it's now ready for David, or as ready as it ever will be. When out together, David tends to use the 3-wheeler and Jeffrey uses the 4-wheeler.

I brought a bunch of wood down to the house, using the hand truck to move wood from the woodshed by the barn. While there, I started the generator and let it run for a while; better to do that when it's warm and I'm not in dire need !

Abby spent a lot of time outside as I was doing my things; it's good for her.

I also got in a bicycle ride, albeit inside. I hate using a stationary bike !!!!

Sara and Jeffrey kept their OB appointment this morning that had been pre-scheduled for an ultrasound. She's going in for a D&C&E (I still haven't figured out what the "E" is) tomorrow and apparently they'll do some genetic tests, I guess, on the baby.

Emma is heartbroken, feeling that perhaps she'll never get to be a big sister. Who knows at this point ?

Last night we had the rest of the perch that we'd opened the prior night as well as leftover rice and peas. There are never leftover peas. I'll eat as many as are cooked !

Tonight ... don't know. Sandy might not feel like doing anything, surprise surprise.

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Sandy made it home before 6pm and several trips up the stairs later, the car was unloaded. I then moved the car up to the barn. It behaved well all day; I'll check the antifreeze out of curiosity and to add some more, if necessary, after my spillage due to checking it hot in Parry Sound.

We had turkey soup for dinner, out of the freezer, made by Sandy from our Thanksgiving turkey back in October. I'll have to let Susan know ! Paired with a nice Bordeaux ... but of course I pair everything with red wine :) ... it was very good.

The temperature is 14F right now so we'll have had some thickness added to the ice. With a little luck the ice will be walkable soon and driveable by the time Jeffrey and David are here, but there's no guarantee. The best that I can do is cross my fingers ! We are supposed to get some cold nights with most days below freezing and a couple hovering just above. There's no significant snow in the forecast but that could always change. No snow means better ice, better driving in the bush with the ATC's ... in fact any real snow and the ATC's cannot go into the bush, so perhaps it balances out ? We'll see.

Onward ... I'll go into town today to send and receive mail. That's it !