Bullet Dodged! Aerostar. Pergola

"Many hundreds of owners of 1999 to 2003 Ford Windstar minivans have submitted complaints to the NHTSA about snapping rear axles, but there has been no investigation and Ford says there's no safety issue.
Two of the questions to arise, which still haven't been answered, are what is the threshold for customer complaints to be considered a safety defect, and when should the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration open an investigation?"
More at: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/05/ford-windstar-rear-axles-bring-hundreds-of-complaints/?src=mv
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Looks like I dodged a bullet.  Over a year ago I was looking for a minivan, as I knew that a side sliding door would work best with my carport.   I had the choice of a white Windstar with all the buttons, and a navy Aerostar with hardly any buttons.  I looked at the reviews of them both and decided on the rear wheel drive Aerostar.  (Rear wheel drives can tow more.)  I have had it over a year now, and I can't fault it, (except for not being white and not having all the buttons), it has been a great reliable vehicle.  The only thing I have had to do to it is a new serpentine belt and a set of tires, apart from regular oil changes.  That is until the 'check engine' light came on.

I am so glad that I looked at the reviews before I bought one, especially now that the Windstars have come up with this new problem with the axles.

BUT, I wonder if the Windstar, or any vehicle owners, realize that you should take your foot off the gas when you go over a railroad track?  Lots of axles break unless you do this regularly.  Something to do with one side being the driving side, and the other side freewheels, unless you have a different kind of axle. Now that wouldn't be the cause on a Windstar, as it is front wheel drive, and it is the rear axles which are breaking. Maybe they are trying to tow too much with them.

The check engine light had come on a while back on my Aerostar, and several people had looked at it, but not solved it.  Finally, Jim the mechanic down the street had time to look at it today.  He is retired, and waiting to have a knee replacement, so he can't always work on cars at will.  But he is convenient, reasonable, knowledgeable, and an honest auto mechanic.  Yes, I said 'auto mechanic' and 'honest' in the same sentence!

 
Now, the 'check engine' light is fixed.  He took it to a buddy who has a big computer analyzer, found the problem, and replaced some old vacuum hoses, took it back and had it analyzed again, so it runs a lot better.

Meanwhile, Jay and I cleaned the top of the pergola.  Well, Jay was up there with two buckets on ropes.   One was bleachy suds, and another bucket of tools to refasten the fiberglass to the boards underneath.  I was on the ground sending up what he needed, screws, broom, scrub brush, the garden hose.  We didn't want to use the pressure washer up there. Now it is a lot cleaner, and lighter, being rid of the pine needles, and we can finish attaching the leaves and flowers under it.

Thank you for your comment yesterday, about sitting under it drinking lemonade, Karen.    Heck No!   It is on the south side of the house, and way too hot there.  It was made to put shade over my front door, and the front of the adjacent  42' RVport/carport, without making it too dark there.

So that is what we did today.

Jobless Veterans. Pergola. Mikey.

Support the Troops: Hire Them!
"Today, Joe is facing a new fight: finding a job. For the last 14 months, this West Point graduate and Army Ranger has been unemployed. With his wife 100 percent disabled and unable to work, they are scraping by solely on savings and disability income.
Despite his superior qualifications and a good attitude, Joe is still jobless; and he's just one of the hundreds of thousands of unemployed Iraq and Afghanistan veterans relying on savings and unemployment checks nationwide. Last month, unemployment among Iraq and Afghanistan-era vets was an astounding 14.7 percent."
More at: http://uspoverty.change.org/blog/view/support_the_troops_hire_them
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"According to the Dept. of Labor, veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are among the hardest hit of unemployed Americans, with an alarming jobless rate of 14.7 percent. Among younger veterans (18 to 24 years old), the 2009 unemployment rate was 21.1 percent. "
From: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-legion-urges-congress-to-give-jobless-veterans-proper-training-and-tools-for-new-careers-91034349.html
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This morning Jay put up the rest of the lattice and ledger boards on my pergola, while I groomed Mikey from down the street.  I was expecting Mikey, so Patches and Prime, my two foster cats had their cages closed to eat their breakfast.  They eat in their cages, normally with the doors open, then they have the run of the grooming room, so they knew today was going to be different. Patches meowed a few protests, but soon settled down, as they just sat in their cages and watched me wrestle with this big dog.

Mikey is a large white Miniature Poodle (that's the middle size), and he gets lots of exercise, so he is strong.  Technically, he is a Standard Poodle (like Fillmore) as he is over 15" at the shoulder, but he isn't that big, and looks more like a Miniature. 
(Toy Poodles are up to 10" at the shoulder).  
Mikey gets so grubby, it took three shampoos to get him white again.  So he got bored with that. 
He keeps very still while being groomed most of the time, but he is a very energetic dog, so near the end, he gets antsy, and won't hold still.  This wears out little ole me. 

During one of my breaks from grooming Mikey, I helped Jay put some leaves and flowers on the pergola.  I had to take them off some fake trees that I had been saving for this purpose.  We can't use real plants, as there is nowhere for them to root.  Even if we did, the heat from the sun would kill them under that roof.  On that end, the pergola is attached to the cat's screen porch, which is through a patio door in the front of my living room.

It isn't finished yet, and going up and down the ladder in the humidity was tiring out Jay.  It will look a lot better after the fiberglass roof has been pressure washed.















Some shots to show what we accomplished today.

Nat. Parks More FREE Days, 5th & 6th. Workcampers. Volunteers. Glass Frenzy

More free days slated for national parks, federal lands
By Russ & Tiña De Maris | April 22, 2010 - 10:24 am - Posted in government, national parks
"Washington, DC — We earlier alerted readers to the National Park Service decision to drop entrance fees at the nation’s parks from April 17 to 25. Now the Interior Department has announced more free admission days to round out the balance of the year. Here’s the schedule:
June 5 and 6
August 14 and 15
September 25 (Public Lands Day)
November 11 (Veterans Day)
The admission applies not only to all national parks, but also all national wildlife refuges, and many areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management."
For more information about these free admission days, visit these web sites: National parks at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm  , national wildlife refuges at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/  , Bureau of Land Management areas at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation/BLM_Fee_Free_Days.html.
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Hurray for the Volunteers!
"Arizona's first state park will not be closed as planned thanks to efforts by local citizens, who have so far raised $34,000 and agreed to staff Tubac Presidio State Park with volunteers."
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Workamping, Anyone?
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is looking for RVers to serve as campground hosts for the summer at 14 state parks.
"Campground hosts receive a free designated campsite with hookups and a host sign, a host cap and name tag, and a recognition picnic at the end of the season. The requirements to be a campground host are the ability to commit to at least four weekends and pass a criminal background check."
More at: http://rvwork.rvtravel.com/2010/04/campground-hosts-wanted-for-iowa-state.html
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The headline reads, “Campground Hosts: Volunteers spend summers on government’s dime” at the Camp Verde Bugle. Citing a long-time volunteer in the Prescott National Forest, the article implies that Dave Underwood is getting a smoking deal for free! The article says, “For volunteering to keep an eye on things and make sure everyone is comfortable, Underwood is provided an RV spot, complete with running water, electricity, propane and sewage disposal — all free — from the first of May to the end of October.”
What the article doesn’t say is the value the government gets in exchange for their site. Not only that, not all sites have such amenities. Many lack electricity and propane is often not included either. If the government had to pay an employee to do the same tasks, it would far exceed the value of the site. At even $10 an hour for 40 hours (and many hosts are effectively on call 24/7), they would pay $400/week or $1730/month plus ante up extra for benefits. Is that site worth $1730 a month? Hardly. You could live in a resort with a pool, hot tub and bocce ball for less than that. (See”What is a campsite worth?” to see how value can be figured.)
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How much is a campsite worth?  And the Infernal Revenue.
"The ad reads: "Work 20 hours/week in exchange for your site. Extra hours at $6.50/hour."
Working in exchange for a site, or even a free site, is often part of the RV worker’s (or Workamper's) offer. But what are you really paying for that site? Is this a fair amount?
Will you owe income taxes on its value? Answering these questions can help determine if this job will be a moneymaker, or instead, cost you money."
More at: http://www.rvlifestyleexperts.com/free-rv-info/working-and-volunteering/campsite_worth/
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Sparky and Glass Frenzy!
Was it the right thing to return Sparky, my temporary foster dog, back to my SPCA boss?  I could have kept him and adopted him.  He loved me very much, I could tell.


When I woke up this morning, I knew I had done the right thing.  I always said I wouldn't adopt another animal, as it would outlive me, and then it would be looking for another forever home at an older age.  Chihuahuas are known for their longevity.  I do miss Sparky, but I am glad he isn't here any more.  I don't think I could ever replace my well behaved little Levi.  He was perfect.

This morning, I didn't have to quickly turn on coffee maker, grab a cordless phone, don a robe to put over my night clothes, a quick lick with a hairbrush, and take him outside in the drizzle.  As he wouldn't go outside by himself, I had to wait for him to wander around finding the right spot to do his thing, while I waited to do mine, with my legs crossed.  Then he would roll in the dirt and rub it off on my sheets and bedspread when he came back in the house!

So this morning, all I had to do was turn on coffee maker, open screen porch patio door, and let the foster cats saunter out of the grooming room to go their screen porch.  Bobcat was already waiting in the living room, at that door, first time in two weeks.  They looked furtively around to make sure Sparky wasn't here, but they were all much more relaxed. They took care of themselves while I went to the bathroom, drank my coffee, read emails, and got washed and dressed.

Then came the work!  First I stripped my bed, and washed everything, including my bedspread.  Then I went all around the house cleaning the doggie snout marks off 2 mirrored sliding glass closet doors, and 2 patio doors, and the 15 glass pane door to dog room.

When I worked for a solar window film company, they always used Scott paper towels, as they didn't leave lint, which could leave a little bubble under the solar film.  I couldn't find any when I needed them, so I got three different kinds. 
Now, the paper towel companies don't seem to want repeat business, as they don't mark the core with their brand name. So I got a marker and wrote around the inside of the core which brand they were, so I will know which ones work best.

Of course one thing leads to another, so that included my cleaning other mirrors, windows, and TV screens.

So my arms and wrist are shot for today.