Mr. Cool's Trailer: Snow Day and Teardrops

Snow-day and teardrops:
What is one to do on a snowy home bound day?

Shovel! And track a favorite obsession.
Awhile back the Cool family went to the local RV dealer to see about renting a motorhome for a National Parks road trip - but they are prohibitively expensive. So hey let's look at renting a trailer. My online escapades led me to the idea of building a teardrop travel trailer (search teardrop trailer on google images) for about the same price as renting an RV for a week ($1500).

After about six weeks of research and design in have decided on a less aerodynamic shape that is both more cost and time efficient and could sleep a family of three (snugly - the point of camping is to be outside anyway - not playing your wii sitting on the foldout couch out your condo on wheels).

I spent the aforementioned snow day building a 1/12 scale model of my design (foam board, hot glue, and a little duct tape). My actual build will sit on a 4x8 trailer and be built out of 8 sheets of plywood and basic building materials and cabinetry techniques.
Foam doesn't do it justice but it did prove a few working concepts of my design. I expect a build time of approximately 40-60 hours and am looking for investors and/ financiers. If you are interested in taking this trailer on a weekend getaway or just curious about the concept of crowd source fundraising and would like to support this project please let me know.

Photos:
1. Full Model
2. It includes a living space with internal cabinets.
3. A gear loft / child sleeping quarters (48x54x18).
4. And a galley kitchen with sink and stovetop.
5. Foam pieces for build

Mr. Cool's Amazing Quattro Creations

Lincoln has some Lego Quattro blocks. I am not very good at creating Lego creations without a schematic drawing, but Mr. Cool is. Check out a large knight, and a small knight, above, and dragons and horses below.

I am also posting these for easy schematic access for me, as there may have been a tantrum when they broke and I struggled to recreate them.

Cutie Pie Thursday: Bundles

The temperature may have dropped a bit here, and some members of the household may take umbrage at my thermostat dictatorship.

Cutie Pie Thursday: Swingin' Toddler Pad

Mr. Cool worked hard this week to be the coolest dad around, as he turned our under-the-stairs storage into a swingin' toddler play/toy closet. Earlier, he had worked on the door, cutting it in two and adding a shelf. The wee lad was already playing with that, unafraid of the power tools around him.

Now he can enjoy a sweet place to play, with nice new carpet, wooden walls, and a bean bag chair (for the ultimate lounging experience.) I would like to add some more posters to brighten up the walls!

I can hang out there too, with my bionic boot, and Lincoln has already moved in quite a stack of books!


And of course, he can always shut us out and have a wonderful time on his own!

Cutie Pie Thursday: We Climbed Into the Tunnel

Using personally cut PVC, hair bands, binder clips, and an old sheet, Mr. Cool crafted a tunnel for our small boy. Prior to this, Lincoln was using under the table as his primary tunnel. His horse is already fond of the tunnel.

Here are my guys deep within the tunnel! It has added a bit of an obstacle course feel to our daily "Run, mama!" sessions!

Mr. Cool's Christmas Crafting: The Finishing

Mr. Cool put his new routing skills to the test for Christmas this year, making all of Lincoln's cousins a fancy name sign. Here, we follow one through the finishing process. Above, you can behold it in its unfinished glory.

Mr. Cool used a poly/stain and handy painter's triangles to get them all evenly stained quickly. Above, he explains the staining process.

I love watching the projects he creates undergo the staining transformation. The bare wood always looks cool, but it's amazing when the stain brings out all the grain and hidden beauty of the wood.

Each sign received a double hook to enable usefulness, and Mr. Cool also pre-drilled hanging holes/spaces/brackets/something or others.

Mr. Cool proudly holds the finished project. The parents were pretty happy about the signs, and I hope the kids were too!

Rough Men Doing Good Work:

On November 23, 2010, Weld County Deputy Sheriff Sam Brownlee was shot and killed in the line of duty. I can't say I knew Sam well, but all of my interactions with him were positive and professional. By all acounts he was a good man and a good cop. He will be missed.



Officer Down.

Over 200 marked Patrol and Police cars partcipated in the processional.

In the military and Law Enforcement, the casket never stands alone.

Just a sample of the 120+ officers from the WCSO present.

Sam's radio number was WC 679 - making the "last call" significant and heart wrenching. "Weld 679, Dispatch...Weld 679, Dispatch...no response...Weld 679, Dispatch...no response - God bless."

A striking image - a hero remembered.

Our Honor Guard stood a Silent Watch in pairs, on rotating 15 minute shifts. From the Hospital, to the Morgue, to the Funeral Home, until he was laid to rest.

Butler-Hancock, on the University of Northern Colorado Campus, may not be pretty, but it is the only place big enough in Weld County to host the estimated 2,400 uniformed personnel and another 1,200 civilians who attended.

"Amazing Grace" played by the Denver Police Drum and Pipes Corp. A reverant ending to a beautiful tune. And woe to the man who makes fun a man wearing a kilt, whose belt carries a Glock. I would not mess with this man.

The Rank and File. The Deputy in power blue was a former WCSO, who travelled from Maryland to attend. Chicago PD, LAPD, NYPD, almost every State, County, and Municipal Law Enforcement Agency sent a representative.

As we honored WC 679, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by George Orwell: "People sleep peacably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Sam was shot by a fleeing felon in the height of his duties, a rough man standing ready - only be taken too soon.

Photos courtesy of WCSO and the Greeley Tribune

Just Daddy and Me

We like to read together.

I like to check and see what he's reading.

We like to sit next to each other--we tap on the chair to make noise!

Cutie Pie Thursday: Celebrate Good Times

Lincoln and Mark celebrate my cousin's wedding with champagne bubbles. Photographs taken by my lovely cousin Katie.

Two Pins and a Rod Later: My Scar Turns One

Well, it's been 1 year since I wrecked an ATV and almost died on a fire road. Thanks to some good friends, one cop, some EMTs, and the flight for life helicopter (the green one) I made it out just fine. If you look back into the blog from around that time last year you can read the full story and some subsequent results. My leg is doing well - almost 90% - and now my brother and I have matching double-compound fracture scars. Just to reminisce, I thought I'd post some x-rays from that fatefull day.

If you look close enough you can see the 7 pieces that are my tibia - fibula. Don't forget these x-rays were taken after they pushed the bones back under my skin.

That triangle chip to the left - it actually belongs in the light triangle spot. Cool, huh!

An Ode to My Husband, on Father's Day

Lincoln and his proud papa at Linc's first birthday party.

For over a year now you've been a proud dad,
You've helped me and helped him, and let me be mad.

You've cleaned up diapers--at least one a day!
And patiently work to earn monetary pay.

You've held him so I could run to the potty,
And let me ramble on when I start to get dotty.

You've listened to me ramble on historical topics,
And dreamed about maybe a visit to the tropics.

He loves you so much, my dear, and so do I,
We'd bake you a cake, or maybe a pie (if we had the time).

Happy Father's Day!

The Knitting Carpenter

Mr. Cool has been tricking out my knitting studio! This is his handcrafted version of a swift--a tool used to help me wind center-pull balls of yarn by hand. It works great, and much better than any previous technique I had.

The swift wasn't the end of his knitting carpentry--he followed it up with a pom tree! (He even let me paint it pink!) I haven't had a chance to use this yet, but I know it will work brilliantly, and then I can add pom poms to everything!

What should I have him craft next?

Bacon, Blanket, Baby Hat: Things We've Made

Over Mr. Cool's days off, we have been getting a bit crafty, with just a hint of productive. After surviving the Colts loss on Sunday (which has been exacerbated by the dozens of stories on how this is going to save New Orleans, which, really? It might have brought them some hope and a good time, but economic development and real work on housing will probably do more than a football game, but maybe I'm just bitter.), we got to work.

The heart will be explained more in a few days. For now, just enjoy the contemplative lad upon his new blankie.

Mr. Cool and I have been the king and queen of tied fleece blankets for some time now, and it was time to whip up one for our boy, who was starting to outgrow his baby blankets. As you can tell, his blanket is adorned with knights, castles, horses, and dragons, and should last him a good while. He slept peacefully under it last night.

I had a baby shower on Sunday, so I decided to whip up a little hat. I wanted to make a more elaborate hat, but I ran out of time, so I went with a basic pattern (the Stitch 'n Bitch Umbilical Cord Hat), and made it in two colors of Cotton-Ease. I think it could be a cherry, a tomato, an apple--any reddish fruit/vegetable with a greenish stem. (The cookie jar was kind enough to model it for me.

And finally, Mr. Cool made supper last night. I was breaking down a butternut squash for Lincoln and I to eat this week, so he took it upon himself to whip up some bacon, french toast, and juice. It was quite a yummy meal, but I'd like it to be noted that I don't photograph every meal I prepare!

Officer Safety - Pass it on!

In my five years plus of Law Enforcement, I've seen some very good training videos that reflect the practical realities of the trade. This is right up there as the best and most authentic when it comes to the use of force and arrest control. It is a short video, but well worth your time. At only 33 seconds, you may have to watch it a few times to get the full effect.

Tell me what you think, Mp.

Labor Day -- Finally!

Well, let me tell you, I've been looking forward to this 3-day weekend for almost 4 days. Each of those four days I worked 4 hours. Hours filled with alphabetizing, filing, doing small projects for the gracious gals of admin who took pity on me. I worked a total of 16 hours this past week, and man, am I ready to celebrate my laborious effort. I shall enjoy this day to its fullest, as come Tuesday it is once more into the breech for an 18 hour week - I just hope I can handle it.

In all seriousness, for those of you are working real hours at real jobs - thanks, you make the world go round. It was a good week, nice to be out of the house and to have a "normal" schedule to the day. Work was good, and I'm looking to get back full time here soon - in six more weeks hopefully. Happy Labor Day!

The Evolution of Beard

Well, blogger loaded my pictures in the opposite order I meant, and my small charge doesn't allow for a lot of extra blogging time, so this is going to be a reverse evolution--from man to amoeba, if you will. Mark had about six weeks of glorious beard time, and then had to shave. I could do a version of this as well, but nobody wants to see that. (I'm talking about my legs. Sorry to work a bit blue.)

Clean shaven and smiling?

The acceptable work moustache--forbidden by home, though.

The 1970s cop moustache--you have the right to remain funky!

The Chester A. Arthur--perfect for forgettable presidents!

The cleaned-up tough guy beard.

The full beard--six weeks of classy growth.

Happy Birthday!

The New Cool and me celebrate Mr. Cool's aging--here come the 30s! I love you, my dear, and look forward to my six days of being younger than you. May we all read together for many more years.