Nov 21 - missed opportunities

There was a window for boating but the rain wanted to occupy that same window.  Rats.  In between the drops, I worked on the dock/deck, removing boards from the walkway and replacing them with those I'd cut from the 12' boards not used so far.   The miter saw is getting a workout.

Progress is being made but I calculate that I need another 37x8x2x6 boards.  These will be 8' boards because they'll be riding in the X5 vs on the trailer.  That definitely won't be one trip.  I will actually need more than that to finish up the down pieces that form bumpers for the boat, front and side, as it comes into the dock.

Boom, boom, we've got thunder outside.  I ran in just as the big drops started falling.

I'm just about finished loading up all the home movies and other movies to Plex.  I've got something like 150 movies that had been recorded from TV along with various TV series. 

We had dinner at the SYC, running between the raindrops from the car to the club.  Earlier it had been pouring so we looked for a break in the rain but had to content ourselves with an easing.  We both had the crab stuffed salmon, which was rich but good.  As usual that includes salad and either veggie or starch.  Sandy had the mashed sweet potatoes; I had the broccoli.  Eating at the club is always such a good deal -- even with a glass of wine each (and they do very generous pours !), it only came to $51 before taxes and tip.  Our monthly minimum is $60, so we're not quite there yet.  

Cassie is doing well.  She was pretty excited yesterday, having spent too much time in the house with the rain, but she's getting used to her life, and it's a good one !  Perhaps we'll get out in the boat today; that would be good.

I forgot to mention that I did the battery swap which normally is an easy thing but BMW doesn't make it so.  At least in this X5, vs the prior, it's not under the spare tire.  There's this huge contraption over the positive terminal taking up much of the battery space that has wires going everywhere.  I didn't want to disconnect the power, afraid that the computer reset might involve something unexpected, so I used one of the batteries that we have around, connected via jumper cables, to the positive and negative ports under the hood.  That way, when I disconnected the on-board battery, the car wouldn't "know" that it was actually disconnected.  That worked like a charm -- I slid the battery sideways in the space, out from under the contraption, and slid the new one in place.  That space beside the battery is normally occupied by a plastic well for odds and ends (tools, spare oil etc., so it looks like someone anticipated this method of removing/replacing the battery.

Man oh man those Group 49 batteries are heavy.  They are about 50% wider than "normal" batteries.  Since the battery is technically positioned "inside" the car, it's also vented with a plastic tube, presumably for stray Hydrogen rather than risk an explosion.  That's a good thing. 

The old battery seems to have taken a charge with the Battery Minder, which is doing a desulfate now.  I'll try it out in the Skiff with the electric trolling motor and save the new battery that I'd purchased for the Hydra Sport.  If that doesn't work, I can swap that Group 49 battery at WalMart for another marine battery.

As I said, Batteries 'R Us !

Onward ... I hope.