A Week of Technical Stuff

This has been a week of technical stuff for us both.  Pamela has been working on updating her "how to" book on Creative Memories and design tips.  She has ordered it and expects to have it ready for the Creative Memories event next month at the Portland Expo Center.

Meanwhile, Neil has installed the new DirecTV Genie receiver and has it programmed for all of the TV shows that we like to watch (and then some).  Since it can record five things at once, we no longer have to make choices as to what to record.

Genie DVR Installed

Gas Furnace Burners

Neil also spent a lot of time with the furnace repairman as he worked on our over twenty year old gas furnace.  We have a home appliance warranty that came with the house, so all of the visits have been covered under one co-pay--a really good deal.  We had the water heater replaced under warranty last summer, so we are way ahead.  

We have had trouble with the furnace over the past several weeks as the weather got colder.  The furnace high limit temperature switch would trip and the furnace would shut down and then start up again after less than a minute.  The result was that the furnace was not able to keep the house warm.  It took three separate visits, but the technician finally diagnosed the problem.  It actually turned out to be several issues; one being that the burners were turned up too high, and there was also a fan control that was defective and not allowing enough air to pull the heat away from the firebox.  As a result of the visits and helping the tech, Neil now knows a lot more about the gas furnace than he did before, and how do basic trouble shooting on the furnace.

This weekend, Pamela has a Creative Events open house here, and Neil is going to replace some fuses on the RV as part of a recall from Winnebago.  Essentially, they have downsized the fuses for the fridge in our RV and have sent us a three-amp fuse to replace a five-amp, and a fifteen-amp to replace a twenty-amp fuse.  It should be an easy fix.

Three Amp Fuse

Fifteen Amp Fuse

We also took down the Christmas tree and decorations.  Neil cut off the limbs and we used them to cover plants to protect them from cold weather. The rest of this week, Pamela will be getting ready for the weekend event here, and Neil will be working on getting more "stuff" organized in the garage.

Weather has been cloudy and cold, with temperatures during the day in the mid thirties.  There is actually a temperature inversion here with the valley being cold and in the thirties, while the ski areas on Mount Hood are having sunshine and temperatures in the fifties and near sixty.  It is actually cooler here in West Linn than it is in Juneau, but it probably won't last long.

We are doing well and looking forward to longer days and some more travels here and Oregon.  Thanks for visiting!

Neil and Pamela