Hey...

Our hay broker passed away a while back so we've been trying our different sources. This time we had to pick up the load ourselves instead of having it delivered. It was a whole day operation for us, we started around 8:30 AM driving to where the hay was and finished at 4:40 PM after having unloaded and cleaned up.

This was our first time driving a trailer this size and loading this much hay. The hay broker, Jim of Mariah Farms is a personable and helpful person.

We're not sure yet if we will be doing this again, but it was an adventure in horses that I wanted to share.

Go Karting

I took last Thursday off from work to spend time with my brother in law, Joe, and his nephew, Zach. We ended up going to Action Karting at Bandimere Speedway. This was my second time racing go karts at this track, so I think I should have been able to beat Joe, but I didn't. His best time was 56 seconds and mine was 59.

No kidding

You may have noticed the goat on blog. Well, his name is Buddy and he has been with us since the summer of 2000. He was a gift from the owner of a ranch that Jennie worked at during her last year of college in Fort Collins.

Buddy has developed a bump on the left side of his jawbone. It kind of looks like he has a wad of tobacco in his cheek. Unfortunately, the Vet has diagnosed it as a cancer. In addition to the bump, there has been a lot of foamy spittle on his mouth and by him early in the morning. I'm assuming this is from him chewing his cud all night and the bump.

So... we've been left in a quandary of sorts. A biopsy would cost a whole lot.

Any how, he continues to be a good goat, eating some of the weeds we put in front of him.

Well... done?

Actually the well isn't done just yet. I started working on repairing the cement roof of the enclosed space that contains our well (pump, bladder and pipe). The cement roof had almost completely chipped off the top layer.

I spent most of today and part of yesterday evening doing the demolition by hand. I didn't want to risk the pump or bladder being damaged by an errant jackhammer or stray skid steer.

I was expecting to find some re-bar in the cement, to my surprise there was a heavy duty wire mesh embedded instead.

I had planned on Jeremy helping me mix and pour the concrete this afternoon. Unfortunately I wasn't ready yet, I think it turned out to be a good thing though since we had clouds roll in.

Carmina Burana

Last night Jennie and I attended an open air concert at the Arvada Center. The Arvada Center Chorale performed Carmina Burana. You've heard the first movement, O Fortune, before in a movie or TV ad.

Listen here This rendition is from the Northeastern University Choral Society.


I think we might be going to the June 30th Johnny Cash tribute by Rusty Evans and the Ring of Fire.

Grandma Heismann's Slideshow

Another Mexico Trip slideshow

Mexico Trip: Interactive Pile of Pictures

At the Marina / Heading out

Putting the boat in the water

Working on the boat

Dad has done quite a few projects in the short amount of time we've been here. Changing the diesel engine's oil, altering the stove so that it runs off of propane instead of compressed natural gas, and installing a new hatch are a few of the major items.

Dad and I started installing a new solar powered exhaust fan in the Head (boat term for the water closet, which is a british term for the toilet). We were unable to finish due to the lack of silicone gell (we'll pick some up tomorrow). Here we are trying to understand the directions.




Here I am in the Head, the hole we drilled is between my fingers.



We also spent time working on the deck resealing the some plates that are a part of where the halyards are attached to some metal that is attached to a bulkhead. (I think)





Tomorrow the boat goes in the water! More pictures to come.

Love you all.

Zac

p.s.


Here's a video of me (looking dorky in my golfing/boating hat) that mom took.

Marina Seca

Hola, como estas? Estamos muy bien!

We made it down to Mexico safe and sound on Friday afternoon. The scheduled move of the boat from storage to the work yard was successful.

This is a picture of Marina Seca and all the boats on dry dock/storage. The mountains behind the boats are to the north and the Sea of Cortez is to the east. You can only see a little bit of the water from where we are. In the mornings right now there is a nice breeze that come from the west that blows out towards the water. It has been in the 80s and low 90s here and it is pretty dry.



Picture of Mom and Dad in the living area of the boat that is below deck. I'm in the area where you sit when sailing.



Dad named his boat Obo, it has a punctiation mark I don't know how to make on one of the o's. The word is swedish for boat. We have to climb up the ladder to get in right now.




This picture is taken from the foredeck looking towards the stern. We've done some little projects and maintenance so far. You can see the new hatch Dad installed in the foreground of the picture below.



Here is a video I made of looking at the boat:

Good Morning... Tuscon!!!

We woke up to some moisture on the ground today and this view from our balcony.

Heading down to Mexico

I'm driving down to Mexico with Mom and Dad to spend time working on the Islander 32 and to do some sailing.

It's 80 degrees in Tuscon AZ, we escaped CO just in time to avoid a forecasted Spring snowstorm. It has been a leisurely drive in Dad's somewhat cramped Toyota Tacoma. The wind has been with us the whole way.

Tomorrow we will be heading South through Nogales onto San Carlos in the state of Sonora, Mexico.

Here's a picture of Dad and I at a rest area in New Mexico taken today.

My first JavaOne

I'm very fortunate to work in a profession where continuing education is paid for by the company., this includes certifications and conferences.

This year I'm going to my very first JavaOne. I'm going to the one in San Fran. It is one of the largest Java conferences and is put on by Sun Microsystems, the originator of the language.

Shameless promotion of another Website

Go visit this site: http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2007/03/10120/

Shameless, I tell ya!

Alllll Aboard!

Last Saturday, Jeremy and I took the Ski Train from Denver up to Winter Park Resort. This has been an annual benefit my work has provided since I started. Thanks Abacus!




It was sunny at times and very windy, but not too cold. We enjoyed some powder in the trees on Mary Jane.