tryouts, and home improvements

This weekend saw the Ratza's going to Tryouts for the High School Softball Team. 'A' did good. Has a good shot at Varsity.
I tried my hand at hanging some doors. We bought 4 doors, that are 6panel doors, and the intent was to give the house a better look than what was installed originally.
Kim also purchased new hinges, and door handles. My Buddy Denny installed the first door, and instructed me as we went along. The last three were alll mine. It worked out pretty well.

Glamis 2010

Our camping, and riding trip started off all right, until all the people showed up.
Sasha tried to make friends with dogs from other camps. That was a mistake, as she was attacked by a dog from another camp, and the dog put a couple holes in her legs.














Here are some of the pictures of the higher points of the weekend

A's Spanish project video

I will post a link for you to click on to view the video The video is about the marketing of shoes that make you move faster, therefore shop faster:

Next generation of craftsman/craftswomen

We needed to make a little shelf to hold cases of water/soda/beer. I had some scraps of metal, and wood from earlier other projects. Made it cost effective, now we just have to design, and assemble. Me and Daughter #2 drew out what we wanted, cut the metal with a bandsaw. We broke out the welder, and #2 tacked some metal together as a learning expierence. I finished the welds, and painted the rack. I will post finished pictures soon. Kim and My Mom and maybe others may think it odd that I teach a beautiful little girl how to weld, but I feel it may help, and shouldn't hurt them.
There may come a day where she may need to rely on skills aquired working with Dad. She may have a husband that is tool challanged, or he may just be a tool.
Either way, I think it helps your understanding of how things work, and buiild confidence, and lower inhabitions.
Besides, doesn't she look so damn cute in her welders mask!?

Updating the garage

The garage was overwhelmed with too much clutter, and general disarray.
Step 1: Get rid of stuff on the wall ( get rid of peg board)
Step 2: paint wall.
step 3: replumb air (ovc) and add a fitting on ceiling, and a hose reel.
Step 4: add two shelfs, and an organizer bin.
step 5: build a cabinet under the work bench.
With some help from my sub-contractor,.. "S"
This project is on its way.
I have posted some before and after pictures.
I am not done, there is more work to be done to the bench area, and the West side of the garage, too.


Bench and wall before















Bench and wall after















bike area before

New Years Eve 2009

'A' had a few friends over, for a small, somewhat intimate party atmosphere. She had about 10-12 people over that included her little sister, and even our young neighbor came out. There was drinks ( soda) and weapons (silly string) and explosives ( party poppers with confetti).

















'A' invited her new ( first ever) Boyfriend, Zech, over, and everyone was well behaved.














At Midnight The party moved out into the street for silly string, and lots of noise makers. It was a bit cold, but it never seems to bother the kids... "The kids"....that sounds wierd just saying it, because it seemss like it was me, not too long ago, doing something similar.













On Saturday, we made another trip out to the desert for some riding. 'A' spent the night ( 40deg. ) on a flatbed trailer in a sleeping bag, in the desert, under the stars. 'S' and I had a good night sleep in our own beds, and met them the next morning.

Christmas 2009

What a wonderful day.
The Ratza's had a very good Christmas. Which to me, means We were all healthy, Happy, and safe. The weather was perfect ( about 64 deg.) and sunny. I have had a problem with a skunk around the house, but I am battling that as best I can, with mixed results. Never the less, I am staying prepared.















The girls were on a break from Softball, and school.

Christmas morning was an explosion of wrapping paper that saw the girls get only a little spoiled, but not too much. They both got some clothes, a purse, a few games, a wii., 'S' got a camera, Dad got a barstool with backrest for the garage, and some Oakley's.































Every year the girls get a tool to add to there tool box. When they are out on there own, they will have the means, and hopefully the knowledge, and confidence to try and fix things themselves.

















For those of you who sent us well wishes, I hope I got back to you, but If I didn't , Merry Christmas!

16's finish in 2nd at TCS

The Triple Crown event came to town, and the 16's brought the heat.
Or should I say the Tsunami brought the wave.
The finished 2, coming up a little short in the final.
'A' had a great showing on the mound, and she also hit a triple.
This qualifies them to go to the World Series in Utah in the Summer.

Las Vegas trip/Tournament

As we do every year, we made our annual trek out to Las Vegas, for a softball tournament. We won it in 2007, but not since then.
This year like last we took 2 teams. 'A' was with the 16u team, and 'S' was with me on the 14u team,
The 16's went 2-1 in pool play, and made it to the final on Sunday, and Won it all!!!
Way to go girls.














The 14s, had been undefeated going into the final, where they met a familier team (Magic, our former team) they took it all the way to a tie breaker, and lost 8-6. Excellent job girls!!

Glamis trip Nov 21/22

The first big trip of the year, is in the books. The Ratza Family loaded up what we had, and met up with our friends in Glamis. GLamis is a huge Sand Dune area. We had the quad (Honda TRX400ex) and Two bikes (the Crf250) and ( Crf450) I talked Kim into going, and The stipulation was that we don't actually camp, but that we go to a nearby(25 miles) Hotel. The riding was good, 'A' got a chance to learn her new bike. 'S' was familier with the quad, but hadn't rode it ina a while. She picked up where she left off, riding great. Kim stayed a camp a lot, but Went out on 2 rides, one in Dennys Buggy, and one on Carey's Razor. Nobody got hurt, and a few glitches here and there with the bikes. I will post some pictures, and some vidseo:
Hali got into the act:

Stick shift

We did our first dry run out to the desert. Included making sure all the bikes ran, checking new camping spots, making sure the trailer works ( which it showed a problem).
The trailer hitch lost the keeper pin, and the cotter pin that holds it in.
thank goodness for the safety chains.
The bikes ran great. So, 'S' tried her hand at driving a dune buggy. I had to ride in the passenger seat, so I could not get a good picture. This is a picture of 'S' driving the stick shift buggy. The buggy has the standard 4 speed 'H' shift pattern.
She learned to operate the clutch, and went through all the gears.

Photography.

I am still learning all the darn settings on the camera, and shutter speed, and finally how to properly frame a shot. Anyway, here is a picture of a neat tower I took.

Golf

The last 3 matches 'A' has been the medalist. She shot a 50 at Torrey South, a 47 at Torrey North, and a 36 at Balboa 9( she had two birdies). One of her birdies came on the par 4 last hole, and the par 3 first hole.

I hope when she gets a taste of victory, and a good score, it willl inspire her, or at least teach her what mindset she needs to be in.

Welding with entertainment

My buddy
Dave came over this weekend, so we could finish welding on his trailer.
Tha idea is that he needs a little more length on his trailer to accomodate his Ryno/buggy. We welded on some hitch receiver tubes, and built a 1.5ft, by 2.5 ft plateform that fits inside the receiver, and will support the wheels of the Ryno. When he gets to his destination, the extensions can be removed for ease of storage.
It was fun day of welding, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in connecting steal, and building something usefull out of it. Here Dave is learning how to perfect his welds, and that without gloves it does not take long to examine a hot piece of steal that has just been welded. ( hope the Aloe helped, Dave).

















The Canopy worked to shade our work, ( with the helmet on it is hard to see your work when you have light shining in from behind you) it also kept our project secret from the prying eyes in the sky, "The Blue Angels" claim they were in town for an airshow, but you can never be too sure when you are working on cutting edge inventions.