Johnny #5 salty experiment

Kieran got this little robot for christmas.  And he finally got around to putting it together.  I think he just didn't want to go to sleep.  Probably due to the Mike and Ike's and Hot Tamales that he had after skiing.

In any case.  It was quick to assemble.  He did it in minutes.  But it was super simple.
No batteries.
It runs on salt water.  And it kind of resembles Johnny #5 in the movie Short Circuit and Short Circuit 2 (that was filmed in TO).  Kieran's seen these movies from my era. They may not have the special effects of today, but they are still fun to watch.  He asked why there wasn't a Short Circuit 3?


In Johnny #5 head is a carbon-cloth-steel plate sandwich.  And you basically mix a salt solution and use the dropper to apply it to his head.  The galvanic reaction creates enough current to power the little motor.  I didn't expect it to go so fast.  But Johnny #5 is super light.

Neat-o.

(FYI, this is the name of the reaction that causes your car to corrode in the winter time.)

Must be Home console advantage

It started off great! I had car troubles earlier that morning after playing pick up and heading to the Sweet and Samosa Factory. That meant...It was swim meet weekend. Except we weren't attending.  Kieran was just recovering from an illness and didn't think he had the strength to compete.  Which I think is a good thing.  He's evaluating his own ability and is becoming familiar with it and understands what it takes.  It's experience.  The choice was his.

Tresa too, has been hit with illness over the holidays.  It's been recovery for several weeks now.  For both of them.  Lucky for me I've been spared the worse. 

From what I understand I can still get the flu, but the symptoms will be less harsh.  I was feeling a bit of this last week.

So Tresa and Kieran didn't come with me this year.  For the first time in a ages.  Too bad.  They missed the new kiddie.  She was so looking forward to seeing the kids and everyone.  But a sick baby sucks.  For the parents.  They could've come I suppose.  It's only Hong.  Payback for playing keep-away. LOL.

Then my car broke down. For the first time in 16 years.  Guess it's time to start looking for a replacement.

Man things weren't looking good for me this time.  But it's ok.  These things happen. You just have to look past it and not let it get you down.  I was actually pretty lucky.  It happened when I exited the highway.  I tried calling for a tow truck company when I couldn't get it going.  I figured I needed a jump.  Thinking it might be my aging battery and alternator.  But when I found out how much to just get a boost I hung up. I called Tresa to find out where she was and if she could come.
And about 5mins later a tow truck guy just happened to exit and he helped me out.  He also didn't charge me the full amount.  I was just grateful.  He told me that if the police had showed up it would have cost me more.  Because I was blocking an exit.  But Martin Grove exit was not busy at all at 9:30am Sat.  We tried to boost it, but the engine idled roughly and couldn't get going.  So it wasn't the alternator.  Had to be something else. Fuel pump? Filter?  I got it to my mechanic and lucky for me he was there!  I didn't think he'd be there on a Sat morning.  So it's there.  May seem like an unfortunate morning.  But it was fortunate too.

But glad I wasn't sick to come visit my buddies.  We've been playing this game for 14 years.  Before the trophy.   Seems like Tony and I haven't had our name on it for ages.

I'm gonna blame my car, just because it's inanimate and won't care.  I could also pin it on my knee because it was sore from pickup hockey.   I could always blame Derrick, cuz we've doing that since we were kids.  Can't even spell our names right.
Who's Antaro? and Raj. I'm not East Indian.  What are you trying to say dude? Just cuz I work in IT? Say it to my FACE!

But it was close.  Except for the 1st game.  Which we got blown out.  Cuz we sucked.  And the 3rd game, cuz I was trying so hard to lay a crushing body check on Hong for playing keep-away and pissing us off.

Yep we lost again.

I could say I don't mind losing.  It's great we just get together and have fun.

But it sucks to lose.  Winning feels much better. Next year we're going to have to find a way to cheat.  I could bring samosa's again and eat a bunch before and just let it go during the games.  To throw them off.

Or I could teach the kids to block the TV when they are in our zone trying to set up for the 1-timer.  Or throw the soft squishy ball at them when we are in their zone trying to jam the puck.  Or throw something hard like shiny metal truck.

Kids like throwing things around.  As long as it's at Derrick and Hong!  ha.

The pre-game Lupper was great.  Donna goes all out. The company was great.  Even the Re-Gifted Parting Gifts were great.  

Gonna have to Febreeze these.

Smells like Tony.

Or I'll wear them next year.

We gotta do this more often than 1x per year.
Except no need to re-gift.
Although the wrapping is nice.  I won't need to even unwrap.  I'll just have to cross out my name.

Maybe it's time to get an XBox just to practice.

 You know I made that darn CUP.  Frig man.  I want my name on it again.  And Again.  Dang it.

All Hail Neptune the God of the Sea

Well not exactly.  It's our new mandatory city water meter.  Our old one is to the left there.   And just below it is this little plastic thing on the outside of our house (well that's our neighbours. I forgot to take a pic before it got detached but it's similar to that) that I always wondered what it was for.  Then I saw a city person walking from house to house with a meter reading device.

I then realized it was for our water meter.  Instead of coming into the house to read it, they came to the house and stick this device to it and it will remotely read the meter without having to go in and note down the meter reading.

So end of Nov 2013, we received a letter for a mandatory meter replacement to this Neptune meter.  It basically takes that meter sniffing guy's job away.
And within 2 weeks of receiving the letter you have to book an appointment to get this work done.
I know because I didn't read the first letter and got a notice from the City Water gods that I hadn't booked.  I don't know what the repercussions are but I know someone that's had 4 notices and still hasn't had it done.

The meter is replaced by a newer one that is a little smaller. And a transmitter that will send back the water readings without the need of a meter person to come by with his device.

The city has a website describing the work, they say it takes 1hr to do.  They are all nicey nice and bring in a blanket to lay on the floor to keep the area clean. But ours took 40mins. And there was no blanket.  Only an old Target bag. But work duration all depends on how accessible the old meter is. And the guy was pleasant.

And if you need your shutoff replaced.  Now is the time.  But I did ours in 2008.  The old one wouldn't completely shut off the water.  But you should tell them in advance when you book.  Otherwise they won't do it.  This guy had 17 to do in our area and I think we were the first of the day.  Probably why he was still in a good mood.

Tresa was happy that the box is outside.  When I told her they would be installing a transmitter box inside (according to the video), her eye's lit up like a deer in headlights. "WHAAAAT?"  sort of like the McD commercial on how many calories in an egg mcmuffin.  But with an angry tone like when people find out about the caloric stat on a Big Mac meal combo.  Do a commercial  on that McD.  And people will be saying "OMG!" instead.

I asked how long the battery on that transmitter will last.
Ans: 15 yrs.
Response: WHAAAAT

Large fries please.

Five-Oh

Yea!  Sushi!  Soft shell crab! Waaaasabi!

I love fish.  Eating them, not as pets.  Although we did have that Beta fish for more than a year and a half.
Would've made it to 2 years, I think.

Maybe it was a coincidence that he went belly up after getting his tank knocked over and then his water replaced with warm water, by the kid with mop head next to me.

It probably shocked the fish into great sea in the sky.

Mel's 50th couldn't have been at a better place for me.
A deprived fish eating person.

Kieran's card for his Uncle Mel.  At least there's no spelling errors.  Last card he did...I made the sp mistake.
Must be genetics.  Dang it Darwin!

He drew the tank. All of it.
The real one is below.  If you couldn't tell from the uncanny realistic colours on the card.

I drew Mel feeding his fish.

Sort of looks more like Frankenstein.

All he's missing are the neck bolts and the scars.

Fire....BAD!





There's 2 shrimp.  One is clear and the other is not.  A fish that lies at the bottom most of the time and a few small fish.

Impressed by his memory.  So how come he can't remember to turn out his room light or put his socks in the laundry hamper?

Selective memory.

Glad I was here instead of home watching the Leafs get pummelled.  On top of the WJC Canadians Jrs. getting beat by the Jr. Ruskies.
Family, sushi and wasabi, much more satisfying.