sethrak

and the lack of funding sources in Obama's speech. I agree with his overall goals... I just want to know where the money's coming from. Preferably not a crushing debt for future generations.

Mark had another dentist appt. today. He was, predictably, uncooperative. We tried coaxing him onto the exam chair, instead of doing a lap-to-lap exam as on prior visits. We tried it by himself, and with me sitting there and him on my lap lying down. No dice.

So, another lap-to-lap like all the other times. No dentists or hygienists lost blood or skin. No Sethras were bruised by flailing feet, although he came close.

His teeth are fine, and all but one of his two year old molars are in. The last one is erupting, and once that's done, he'll have his complete set of baby teeth. ^_^

Working on dust abatement and energy saving measures.

Took apart the air filter we keep in the living room, and cleaned all the screens and filters. They're drying in the kitchen. It was amazingly dusty, especially considering the red 'clean me now' light wasn't on. I think I'm going to turn this into a monthly chore, like changing the filter on the Brita pitcher or defragging the hard drive. The red light seems a poor indicator of when it's dusty enough to impair function.

I need to vacuum more... But Mark freaks out so damn badly every time the vacuum is in use, and takes so long to calm down afterwards... ::sigh:: I wish I could afford a Roomba. Even a basic one. If the videos are accurate they're quiet enough to run at night and not wake Jack, and we'd avoid the entire problem of zodling-panic.

I may just save up my spending budget a couple months and get one. It bears plotting about, at any rate.

Energy saving measures are taking a ghetto-tacular turn. ::sigh:: I have given up on waiting for the carpenter to shim the back door so it hangs properly instead of leaving a decent sized gap between the door and lintel. The guy who "fixed" the fissure in the bottom panel of the door affixed weather-stripping around the outside of the door, but it's only designed to block normal cracks around a door, not something this wide.

So instead of letting cold air leak in and run up the heating bill, I... well... This is mildly embarrassing. I took one of Jack's clean urp cloths and stuffed it into the crack from the inside as best I could. It's wedged in quite solidly, and seems to be blocking the draft well. But it looks so ghetto. ::sigh::

And speaking of the bottom section of the door.... >_< The repair guy spackled it inside and out, and called it good.

Needless to say, the changes in temperature that occur on a daily basis made the wood contract and expand and reopened the crack, despite the thin coating of spackle. I took a roll of clear packing tape and covered it on the inside. It's visually inelegant but structurally does the job, and should be less prone to coming undone than the spackle.

Spackle... ::indignant:: Who uses spackle to fix a crack in a wooden outside door?

I realize that probably his only other option was to replace the door, which costs money... But it's my back door! Doesn't it kinda need to be structurally sound?

Tomorrow we attempt the tricky feat of taking to preschoolers to Ash Wednesday Mass without going insane. Wish me luck.

PS to LJ's Tech Squad: Hurry up and add Obama's name to the list of words spellcheck recognizes! The man's President now! You should be embarrassed.