Awake: 7:38am Sleep 7+25 cloudy overnight @ Indiana, PA.
After breakfast in the motel, using my Fluke meter, I take continuity & voltage readings on Kevin’s battery backup & surge protection unit for his home computers. About a week before we arrived in PA, he had called & asked me to bring my Fluke to see if I could repair the unit that he recovered from the university’s throwaway bin. My initial checks were inconclusive; without a schematic diagram, troubleshooting is most challenging.
Earlier this week, Kevin asked us if we could take some time to have the Ford Van’s Safety Inspection sticker renewed. Kevin selected the Toyota dealer in town to have this inspection performed. En route to Toyota, I drop Kathy off @ Michael’s craft store & then continue on to my 11:00 am appointment. (2) hrs later: with a new headlight, new wiper blades & a lot of talk about too much play in the steering box, the inspection failed. Lon, the mechanic suggested a rebuilt unit, made some phone calls, then handed me the estimated cost. “Oh, my gosh!” I replied. “I think I’d better talk with Kevin about this.”
In a phone call with Kevin, we agree to search for another place for purchase of a rebuilt steering box & someone else to install it. So I paid Toyota for the headlight, wiper blades & the cost of the safety inspection (van to return & sticker applied when rebuilt steering box is installed & checked).
Kathy was quite concerned when over (2) hrs later, she was picked up. “No, there is no other woman” I told her.
We arrive @ the Foote Castle & park on the street, leaving driveway space for visitors, like my brother, Don, his wife, Josie, their oldest daughter, Adrianne & her spouse, Les who pulled in right behind us. Corinne arrived a little later & joined in the festivities. Their visit with the Foote family & our family was most enjoyable. We couldn’t help noticing a slight change in Corinne’s profile….slimmer is the word.
Adrianne spoke of her business @ Hilton Head Island & the recent changes. Les revealed their home building plan change to perhaps buying a home due to the real-estate market. Bro Don talked business & stock talk with Nick & Zack & Josie presented Kathy & me with a fancy wine bottle opener as a gift. That thoughtful gesture brought about extra wine refills to her. All of this activity took place while the boys sat & played in the small 1st floor playroom with Corinne & Melissa. About 3:30, the Foote family had to leave, being invited to a birthday party of the daughter of some good friends. Don, Jose, etc stayed until about 4:00pm.
Getting back to the Ford Van & that Safety Inspection; I called the local NAPA store & the guy quoted a much more reasonable price for a rebuilt steering box unit. They are open until 6:00pm so I rush right over there & buy the only one they have in stock. Also this afternoon, I called Al’s Tire in Barnesboro & asked if their mechanics could replace a steering box on a 1984 Ford diesel van; “Yes” was the answer & our appointment was set for tomorrow @ 10:00am.
Since I missed the dinner meal, I find the spaghetti with sauce, whole wheat noodles & homemade spaghetti squash, homemade whole wheat French bread & mixed salad… & make up for lost grub.
In the kitchen, Zack uses his computer to plan the routing for picking up his girlfriend, Katie, @ the Pittsburgh Airport tonight. Her arrival time from Chicago: 8:00pm.
After the Foote family return from the birthday party & their boys are tucked into bed, we play a few rounds of “Loaded Questions” & have some more good laughs. We didn’t stay for Katie’s arrival which was estimated to be after 11:00pm.
Lights out @ the motel: 11:21pm
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