Sprinklers! (Part 2)

I realized I hadn’t posted the above photo before on the blog yet and today seemed like a rather appropriate day to do so.  The sign comes from my Grandfather Bennett’s (nick-named “Benny”) garage.  A couple year back us Grandkids were given an option to have any one thing of their grandparent’s that they just really desired.  It was, of course, a time in which everyone was saying something along the lines of “well, if no one else really wants this then….” For me, the sign in the garage was definitely what I desired.

My grandpa was well known to us for making stuff out of junk.  He’d take old pipes and such and make the most amazing things (Like a playground for us grandkids).  Anyway, I felt it would be rather appropriate to tag this projects I do with the above photo since I inherited a lot of his “I can build that” attitude.

So, yesterday saw phase 3 of the project (with phase 1 being the research, planning, and presentation for approval, and phase 2 being the last post about tapping into the water line).  I called up a local (and free) business that came out and marked all the lines that were in my yard (electricity, phone, cable, etc).  With the lines properly marked, I laid out my parts and went over my plans one last time to make sure I had everything.  Here’s a picture of the parts I’m using (minus the parts I used in part 1, and 620 Ft of PVC pipe)

Convinced that I had all the connectors, couplers, glue, and controllers I needed, it was time to head out to Home Depot and rent a machine I affectionately refer to as “The Beast”

This thing took three full-grown men to lift it into the back of my dad’s truck.  My neighbor, Mr. Stroope,  and I managed to impair its decent just enough to not destroy the driveway getting it out of the truck.  It is a wonderful machine though.  Rather than having to dig every last inch of trench myself (a nightmarish task), “The Beast” would dig a perfect, 2-inch wide, variable depth trench with the dirt laid up in a pretty little line right next to it.  It was, however, a beast to pull (because you couldn’t push it, you had to pull it) and I was quiet worn out by the time I had dug all my trenches.

I had hoped to get the whole project completed in one day, and at first focused on digging the trench for one zone than laying out the piping for the zone.  I realized after the first zone was complete, however, that I was really needed to focus on getting the trenches dug completely so I wouldn’t have to worry about renting “The Beast” a second day.  Mr. Stroope was very impressed with the machine and I personally think he’ll invent some reason in the near future to let him rent and play with it himself in the near future.

At the end of the day, I had accomplished the following on the sprinkler project

1) Attached the sprinkler system to the water supply

2) Dug the trenches for all the zones

3) Laid out the pipe for half the zones.

Here’s some photos of my very own Maginot line.

Side Yard (Zone 1 and Water Supply)

Back Yard (Zone 2)

Back Yard (Most of Zone 3)

Front Yard (Zone 4)

My Anti-siphon Valves that Control the Zones

Though this project has been largely “McCormick’s Law” free, I have encountered two problems.  The first is all the Cable/Phone lines that cut straight through my backyard.  The solution is simple in theory.  You simply buy an attachment for going under sidewalks glue it onto a length of PVC pipe, hook it onto a water hose, and let the water pressure burrow your way to success.  There are two problems with it though.  The first is it has a tendency to go… askew.  Primarily, that means down, but it also means left or right.  In one of the burrows I did, I went down by about… 4 inches and too far left by 2 inches.  It may sound like nothing, but it really adds up in a project like this, especially when you have no true method of finding the errant other than blindly digging.  The other was hitting rocks, water pressure just won’t cut through rocks as quickly as I need it to.  The second issue I encountered was this:

Don’t see the issue, let’s zoom in a little.

That funny little black thing is a TV cable.  One of two cables right next to each other that Time Warner failed to mark for me.  It specifically leads to my internet.  I’ll call them up tomorrow and have them come fix it after I lay my pipe there.  Since they failed to mark it, I’m not liable for it’s destruction, fortunately.  Also fortunately, I was able to hook up to a non-damaged outlet and keep internet in the house! 

Total time of the project so far (times include mid-projects trips to Lowes/Home Depot to get missing items):

Thursday: 4 Hours to cut through old pipe and solder on new pipes)

Saturday: 12 Hours

Monday’s Tasks:

1) Finish laying out pipes (Zones 3 and 4).

2) Test system for leaks.

3) Attach Sprinklers

4) Install Controller

5) Cover up trenches

6) Install Rain Detector (might have to be delayed since it gets installed on the roof)

Sprinklers! (Part 2)

Sprinklers! (Part 1)

  The latest project that I’ve gotten to undertake recently is installing sprinklers around the house.  Several months ago I measured the area around the house for my dad.  Last week I was able to use those measurements to plan out the placement of a sprinkler system.  It’s been a long time desire of mine to get  a sprinkler system installed so we would be able to keep grass alive in the midst of these Texas summers.

After getting the plans laid out and getting the green light from mom and dad it was time to start with the water supply.

Here’s the old water supply line into the house.  I was rather glad to find it.  Originally I was going to tap into the supply inside the house, but then I noticed a strange little water meter box just to the side of the house… completely full of dirt.  Some minor digging revealed that it was the cutoff valve shown above.  The extremely beat up looking cutoff valve shown above.

The plan was simple, cut off the old pipe, solder on a new pipe with a T leading to the sprinkler system.  Then McCormick's law kicked in. (I made McCormick’s law, it states: The easier a project should be the longer it will take).  The first problem I encountered was the beat up pipe.  I tried to use pipe cutters on it, but all they did was crush the pipe (it was REALLY cheap/old piping) so I had to dig out a larger area to allow the use of a hack saw on the pipe.  Once I finally got the pipe off, I realized that I had to make my cuts further back than I had originally planed due to some major pinches in the pipe I noticed.  My original plan wasn’t going to work, I needed some couplers. So after my 2nd trip out to Lowe’s today (the first happened when I first got up to get some plumber’s bread), I was ready to solder it up.  I had a full can of MAPP-Pro gas and plenty of flux, it should have been easy, right?

About half an hour later and some Google searches on “how to use MAPP gas” I discovered a link to the torch head I was using.  Turns out the torch head was incompatible with MAPP gas.  Oops.  3rd trip back to Lowe’s later and the correct torch head (which was more expensive) and I was now ready to get soldering.  I had meant to take more pictures, but once I got back with the right head, everything just went FLYING.  So here’s the final product.  And best part, there’s no leaks!

Sprinklers! (Part 1)

Shogi Boards, Stories, Fish Tanks, and Certifications.

  So, long time no update.  Which is kinda strange since I was in the middle of a story and a project, but I hit a wall for both of them.

With the story, I realized that while I had wanted to make a book for nieces/nephews etc., I had just introduced the main character who had just graduated college and was going to get a job.  It makes for a bad kid’s story when they can’t identify with the main character.  Rewriting it so that the main character is more around the right age won’t be too hard, but it will take some time to make sure the story still goes when I want to.  I actually know how the story will end and the climatic…er.. well climax of the story.  Being patient long enough to get there, however, is the hard part for me.

With the Shogi board I hit a major problem.  The method of getting the images onto the pieces themselves have proven… not good.  No matter which method I tried, the images wouldn’t really stick to the wood, and what little image did remain, would make the area around it impossible to stain.  And seeing as how this is supposed to be a log budget project, I’ve been having problems deciding where to go.

Then it hit me: Card stock paper!  I’m going to print the images onto a piece of cardstock then I’ll use an exacto-knife to cut out the shapes I need.  It’s much sturdier than regular paper and won’t rip on me.  Then I can use the cut outs like stencil paper and paint the images I want onto the shogi pieces.  It will apply paint only for the images and allow me to apply a nice stain once it dries.  Perfect!

As for the fish tank, it seems that everyone forgot to mention that you’re only supposed to start off with a couple fish to get the bacteria in the tank going.  Putting so many fish in at once caused my tank to go into shock. So far the following fish have died:

1 blue guppy x 2 (I replaced him and his replacement died, then I learned that I should hold off on buying replacements until the tank settles)

2 Neons

1 yellow guppy

2 Mollies

Making for a total of 7 dead fish (since the blue guppy’s replacement died).  The fancy tail guppy has survived and seems to love to show off for me (though he looks a little aged from the survival).  A single neon, both algae eaters, and the catfish have also survived.  My last trip to PetSmart revealed that my water had FINALLY balanced out from the initial damage so many fish had caused and I have to go ahead to start getting my fish back, SLOWLY.  I think I’ll start off with 2 guppies then work on the mollies and neons in another couple weeks (or month)

Also for those who didn’t hear, I passed my Network+ Certification a month ago and am now working on my CCNA.

Shogi Boards, Stories, Fish Tanks, and Certifications.

I actually find this funny

The other day I saw a Mario Cartoon (made back in the 80’s) and it got me thinking about how Mario and Luigi are always attacking Bowser.  And then I thought, “Hey, I wonder what Bowser’s side of the story is about a couple of Italian “Plumbers” from Brooklyn who wondered into his universe and stole his girlfriend.”  Which made me laugh and go, hey, an Italian from Brooklyn with an obvious cover-up job?  It just screams Mafia ties. Thus I give you the Adventures of Mafia Mario and Luigi.

   Ah, Peach my dear, how is your dinner?

 

 

 

Oh, It’s perfect Bowser, it’s just…

 

 

Yes?

 

 

It’s just that I fear for your safety.  If Mario,

 

Mario!  Mario!  All we seem to talk about anymore is that blasted Plumber!  Please my love, let us discuss something else

 

No!  We MUST talk about this, we cannot continue to meet like this!  If Mario found out… I don’t know what he’d do, but I know it would be horrible for you.

 

 

Oh, Peach my love, I’d risk it all just to enjoy one more minute with you, and I know you love me too.

 

 

I do, Bowser, I do!

 

Then why don’t you tell Mario you’re leaving him for good?  Why must we keep our love a secret?  Why do you stay with him?

 

I… I don’t know.  It’s just… you don’t know how he used to be.  He used to be a good man, Bowser.  He used to be a doctor until that fateful day.

 

<FLASHBACK TIME!>

 

  Hello!  Welcome to my clinic, how may I help you?

 

 

I have a message from Mr. Danza, he says, “Hello”

 

 

Wha-? No!  Wait Please!

 

 

 

RATA-TAT-TAT-TAT!

 

NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!

<END FLASHBACK!>

*SNIFF*  Miraculously he survived, but he was a changed man and followed in the “family business” of plumbing from then on

 

Oh, Peach, I had no idea.   Nice as he may have once been, however, that doesn’t change what he is now.  You must -

 

You must stop disgracing me by affiliating with this lowlife! Peach!

 

 

 *GASP!* Mario!

 

Peach, why do you persist in dishonoring me in this manner after all I’ve done for you and your father?  Is this truly how you have chosen to repay the kindness of me and my brother?

No, brother, this is certainly not how one chooses to repay the kindness of the Mario Brothers.  Surely she must have an explanation.

 

She doesn’t need to explain anything to you!  Now leave at once, least you incur the wrath of the Koopa Clan!  For too long my seven brothers and I have tolerated your presence in our lands!

 

Heh…. ha ha…. HA HA HA HA.  Did youse hear that Mario?  He warns us of his seven brothers!

Indeed, Luigi.  This is quite the joke.

 

 

 

What do you mean by this laughter!?

 

Let us just say that we had difficulty in finding your house and imposed ourselves on the good hospitality of your siblings.  But you need not worry, we repaid their generosity with gifts of our own.

HA!  Gifts of our own.  Youse a riot Mario.  We gaves them gifts alright.  Gifts of hot lead!  I don’t think they liked it very much though.

 

No! Mario, say it isn’t true!

 

 

Go wait in the car Peach while I “rescue” you from this Lizard.

 

Wait Mario!  Please… I… I’ll never see him again, please just spare his life!

 

 

Peach no!

 

Very well Peach. What you ask of me is reasonable and I will aquiest to this final request of yours.  Come Luigi we depart

 

Youse got it Mario.  Consider yourself lucky this time lizard.  Weze outta here.

 

CURSE YOU MARIO!  ONE DAY I WILL SAVE PEACH FROM YOUR IMPRISONMENT.  I SWEAR THIS TO YOU!

 

<The End>

I actually find this funny

Am I My Brother’s (Fish tank’s) Keeper? (yes)

   So earlier last week I began to beg my mom for a cat.  Long story short, she said no… a lot.  But it’s really boring at home when all you do all day long is study.  That’s when I remember that we had an aging fish tank up in the office at my house.  I thought to myself, “Hey, that tank has everything you need for a fish tank but the fish and water.  I should totally bust it out.”

I was surprised to find it wasn’t as… complete as I would have thought.  The air pump was long gone, as was one of the under gravel filter tubes (the under gravel filter keeps fish waste from accumulating in the rocks… or so I’m told), the heater, the fish net, the water treatment stuff, the thermometer, and all the tubing for the air pump.  $20 dollars later (thanks to dad paying for the heater, thanks dad!), I again had everything needed for a fish tank except the fish.

A quick trip to Pet Smart fixed that problem.  Here’s what I got

3 Neon Tetras

2 Black Mollies

3 Guppies (1 Fancy tail, 1 Turquoise, and 1… yellow one)

2 Algae eaters of some kind of variety (I was going to get one, but the store lady informed me the one I wanted to get could grow up to 2 feet in length.  So I had to get a smaller one, but since I was worried that little guy wouldn’t be able to handle 8 other fish, I got two)

For a total of 10 fish in my (brother’s) 1o gallon fish tank.  If they play nice, that’s a gallon for each of them.

My dad has just informed that the algae eaters don’t eat the stuff off the bottom (half the reason I bought them), I might be going back for an 11th fish to make sure the bottom stays clean… I wonder if Pet Smart will let me exchange a fish.

Here’s a picture

 

(Daniel I guess I owe you a fish tank if you want this one before they all die)

Am I My Brother’s (Fish tank’s) Keeper? (yes)

The Big Move

The Big Move

Last Saturday I moved into my own apartment. Well, I have a female roommate but we aren’t really there much at the same time. I want to give a big thanks to all those who were able to help me move. I know it was a long way to drive and I really appreciate your time and effort. Here are a few pictures from the day:

The Big Move

Shogi Board Part 2

First of all, I made a slight edit to the materials needed. I realized that I needed 3 - 1/2" x 2" x 3' Pine boards, not 2. The reason being that since the boards are ultimately going to fold in half, I need the 1/2” board on all four sides and not three, as this photo depicts.

The missing side is right where the hinges need to go. If I don’t add the fourth side then the hinges would attach to the top of the board itself and wouldn’t close properly.

The next part of the project was to make the print outs that I’m going to iron to the pieces. I decided that I want people to easily pick up and play this game. For that reason I chose to not use the traditional Japanese characters for the individual pieces. Instead, I have a single letter (or a picture of a crown for the king) to indicate what the piece is and what moves are legal for the piece to make directly under it.

The lines with no arrows indicate that it can only move one space in that direction, while the lines with arrows mean it can move any number of spaces in that direction. I did manage to find a website that gave the proper angles to make a shogi piece (but I can’t find it again) such that I could make the above pieces. Once the shape was made, I optimized the size for something I thought would fit nicely in a 1.5”x1.5” square. You know, something large enough to grab on to, but not so large that it’s impossible to grip it without messing up the pieces in adjacent squares. From that base size, it was just some simple math to find the right size ratio for the smaller pieces (as in chess, the different pieces are different sizes).

Additionally, I think I’m going to label the board itself with the starting location of the pieces (haven’t decided yet).

Again, the idea isn’t so much for authenticity, as much as it is for ease of a first time player. Ideally, I’ll be playing this game with people who have never seen or perhaps even heard of shogi before. The game will be much more fun if you can set it up easily and not have to worry about remembering how each piece can move and which word in a non-Latin alphabet foreign language means what.

Here are the two excel files I made. The file for the shogi pieces includes a second sheet for their promoted side. We’ll how well I do in affixing the promoted side after I affix the non-promoted side. The Shogi Board file has some garbage at the bottom of the page. I’m using that garbage to iron it own to some scrap wood to get the technique down before using it on the real deal. It’s there for you to do the same. If you do use these, remember that you need to print them as mirror images to affix it to the wood.

Here’s the file I used for the shogi pieces

Here’s the file I used for the shogi board

These are both saved in a Excel 2007 format. You might need this patch from Microsoft to open 2007 documents in older versions of Office (assuming you don’t already have it, of course)

The next step is ironing the pieces on. We’ll see when I can do it.

Shogi Board Part 2