Gatos del vecindario

This is the window for our bedroom. Nice isn't it? I certainly think so.


Yes - it is exactly what you think it is and its right under the window shown above.

It's not so much that I hate cats, I don't. I just don't like that it's generally accepted that cats are allowed to run free throughout the neighborhood.

I cannot stand cat s*&t in my yard in general but directly under my window.... come on! We'll have that window open all summer long and the aroma from a freshly laid dooky is indescribable. The picture above is 1" hardware cloth, snipped and bent to make a carpet of standing spikes that will, I hope, will deter the little kitties.


This is the installed carpet. It is only about 6" wide so it doesn't cover everything that I'd like to cover so I may have to add more area.

Strategies others have used: Blender Defender, Motion Detector Sprinkler, Auto-Targeting Paintball Gun - I really like this one! Do you think Jacq will let me have it?

850 Glove Box

The glove box in Jacq's car broke about a month or two after we bought the car. It's repair was on my list now for six months (?) or so. I didn't worry about it because the glove box was closed and it looked OK closed. But while the car was in the shop last week, the wheels needed to be removed and the special lug nut wrench was inside the glove box. We told them to go ahead and hack the latch to get the door open and retrieve the special tool. This would have been a real pickle had she been on a trip and gotten a flat. Anyway - got around to fixing it today.



The pin in the circle had broken off.


Broken pin that I pulled out. This part is just cast and is not very strong.


A couple quick measurements and I came up with a game plan. The latch that was hacked out has the same (close enough) diameter as this pin. I drilled out the location of the broken pin then pressed in a section of the latch wire cut to size. The extra length to the right is not a problem as there is nothing there anyway.


I ordered a replacement latch from PartsGeek.com for about $6.00 that should be here later in the week sometime and the project will be finished.

Refer Madness

The other day I got home to find J clearing out the fridge. I ask her what's going on and she tells me that it is 60 degrees in there and apparently not working. I jump into troubleshooting mode. I futz with this and that but nothing is readily apparent. I check the web for info, finding some good and some crap.

I'm wary of appliance repair people (persons?) in general ever since I saw a report about appliance repairmen that gouge you. Appliance repair is seemingly a black art but it's just switches, timers, motors and the like so what's the mystery?

Well I was about stumped in this endeavor until I had a chance to peruse the electrical schematic stuffed inside an interior panel. Then it dawned on me! The freezer fan isn't running at the same time as the compressor fan. I check line voltage at the motor connector - 120V good => motor shot.

I found some information on the web for the motor that I pulled out and I was able to cross reference it to 5 other motors. Time to make some calls. A couple places in town that are supposed to be appliance part distributors and they would only give me the OEM fan for $85, $101 & $105 - that's way too much! I call a guy down at Ankeny Hardware on SE Stark & 11th and he was able to cross my motor to an aftermarket one. Yeah!

After about 30 minutes working with the guy at the hardware counter, we got the correct motor. The great thing about his particular motor is that it's reversible and I can make it turn in the direction that I need for this application.

I installed the new motor and fan blade. Of course, it's going in the wrong direction. Quick fix and I reassembled the refrigerator and it works. We closely watched the temperatures and adjusted as needed. Freezer at 0 degrees and fridge at 38.