Another Science Fair - done!

The Science Fair was again a bit of a struggle for Zach this year.  While it went smoother than the year before, I didn't like the subject as much.  Zach picked it out - "Can you use mints to cool down water?"  Kind of a cool premise, but in the end it didn't remotely work.  He DID however learn more about this scientific method, and he was able to do more of the project himself this year.  So . . . we are improving.  Next year (like every year) we  will try to get an earlier start.  Sam ALSO has to do a Science Fair project, so I am anticipating an extra dose of fun!!

The experiment "process" went fairly well.  There was a learning curve, but Zach learned a lot about the scientific method.

Despite not having a successful experiment, Zach earned a 19 out of 20 on his project.  Not too bad.  He missed one point on the oral portion of the presentation.  No big deal.  It wasn't enough to earn him a ribbon, but he should be proud non-the-less!

Spring is here!

Time to move the boat out of the garage!  The weather has been nice for about a month now and I have a trip in a few days.  The temps at night have not been below freezing for about a week.  What is going on with this weather?!?  This is about a month and a half earlier than we are suppose to have "summer" equipment out in the driveway, per the association.  Hopefully they don't mind as I have seen other boats out in driveways for a while now.

It takes about two hours to get the boat out of the garage.  The boat barely fits . . . but it does fit!!  To get it out (or in), I have to remove the bracket for the garage door and pull it all the way back so nothing is below the sill, I have to remove a piece of trim on the opening of the door, and then I have to let most of the air out of the trailer tires (50 psi down to 10 psi).  The boat is then ready to leave the garage.

After the boat is out, I then have about 3 - 4 hours of putting the top back together.  Tires are re-aired, radar goes up, antenna is attached, rod holders put back on, Yakima rack assembled, Zodiac put back together, crane installed and line attached to winch, Zodiac lifted to top of boat, motor mount put back on roof for Zodiac, canvas "ball cap" installed, windows for "ball cap" attached, canvas "top" installed, and ship pot davit put back in mount.  I am sure I am forgetting a few steps, but that is most of it.  It is quite the ordeal and once it is out, it is out.  Hope the HOA is fine with this.

* Update - I got a nasty e-mail from the HOA telling me to put boat back in the garage.  Long story short, after the PWS boat trip I parked the boat down in Girdwood to buy me some time.  I then went around the neighborhood in Anchorage and counted up all of the boats, RV's and 4-wheelers already out in peoples yards.  I counted 6 boats, 4 RV's and other assorted "summer" items.  I then politely wrote back and informed the HOA on my findings.  I didn't want to get anyone else in "trouble", but if I have to store my boat offsite, the rules should apply to all.  I got a note back saying that the committee determined that since spring seemed to have come early this year . . . boats and other summer equipment were now allowed in homeowners driveways.  Boom!  problem solved!

Germany Trip fundraiser - Texas Roadhouse

Fun evening at the Texas Roadhouse for a fund raiser for Zach's trip to Germany.  We had a nice dinner and sat with Herr Ball, Herr Berrs, Mike Richardson and a teachers aid Jackie.  The kids had their own table across from us so the adults could talk.  Zach spent most of the time hopping from table to table visiting with all of the other Rilke parents and kids.  10% of the proceeds go to help fund travel club spending money for the trip.