In memory of my Honda Civic

Friday morning proved to be the topper for this month. After having to jump start my honda again (apparently all this time it was just a bad battery and not forgetfulness) I thought I was headed home but how wrong I was. Instead I was on a trip that ended at the side of Interstate 75 about ten miles from my work. My honda blew a coolant hose and nearly instantly overheated and quit running. I called my wonderful wife and she came to my rescue. I must note however that the one hour wait in subfreezing Ohio weather turned my transportation vehicle into a deep freeze. I was very glad to see Kristy's van when she pulled into view.

We were able to jumpstart the honda again and at least make it to the next exit and park it in a Waffle House parking lot. I never would have guessed that the short trip would be the last for my little honda. I replaced the hose and even the battery but all in vain. We tried and tried yet the honda would not start again. Saturday morning Kristys Dad towed the old honda here to Fairborn. Today I investigated the problem. I ruled out all possibilities except for the "worst case scenario". So with great hesitation I pulled out the spark plugs and sure enough, the cylinders are full of coolant, this indicates a blown head gasket or cracked engine head.

I can remember when I pulled off the lot last winter with our newly purchased Honda Civic, actually Kristy was driving the honda I was following her with our GMC Safari mini-van. I paid $500 for the little honda it had around 160,000 miles but ran pretty good. We where headed for Sidney, about 5-miles from our destination the Safari overheated and died. It was a good thing we had anticipated this event. In a matter of one hour we went from one car, to two, and then back to one.

The Honda now has just over 180,000 I am certain that I got my money worth, I just wish I could have had a replacement first.

In Memory of the 1989 Silver Honda Civic

She entered my life with a 160k and left with 180k.

Within those twenty some thousand miles

I replaced the spark plugs and wires, the distributor cap,

the air filter, a head light, a tail light, the stereo, and many tanks of gasoline.

I will miss my little Honda.......

Me and the late Honda Civic

This photo was taken this summer at our old apartment.

Jumpstart by Coleman

The Coleman Powermate Jumpstart System

For Christmas I usually try to persuade my friends and family to focus their gift giving to our children. However, this year my Dad gave me a gift that really came in handy these last couple of days. The Coleman Powermate Jumpstart System is designed to provide 12 volt power as well as jumpstart power if ever needed.

My little honda civic has a battery that isn't much larger than a household 9-volt. Usually this battery provides sufficient power to the needed areas, ie headlights, radio, heater fan, etc.. However if you turn the car off and run these things the batterys life span is shorter than that of a snowmans during August in Arizona.

Yesterday Kristy took the honda to school and forgot to shut the lights off. She called me in distress and to my relief the Coleman powermate came to the rescue. I had her bring it in the house to recharge it when she arrived home which resulted in me forgetting to put it back in the honda before I left for work. This morning I had to run over to Sidney and stopped in to visit with my Brother In-Law, Dale, and sure enough, forgot to shut off my lights. The powermate would have served me well. However I didn't learn my lesson because when I arrived home I once again forgot to shut off my lights. Tonight the powermate came to the rescue again.

I am not sure what my Dad paid for this crazy device but I have certainly got his money's worth in just the last 24-hours. Thanks again Dad!

A Night at the Game

There is nothing in life more fulfilling than that of time spent with your family. I have always believed that true success is not the power one might obtain in employment or the wealth one might acquire but rather the quality of your family relations. In fact it has been said by a very wise man that the greatest work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home (Harold B Lee). So with that in mind I feel time is more important than any other element of family interaction. The old thought that it was quality time rather than quantity is probably the direct cause of the deterioration of the family in recent years. So tonight, we spent time together.

Being a Wright State Student does have some good benefits, one of which is free tickets to all the basketball games. Tonight the Men's Raider team was challenged by the University of Illinois at Chicago. It was a good game and ended in favor of our Raiders. Final score 72-61.

This photo was taken by my aspiring photographer Molly, she has a lot to learn but has come very far, I mean you can actually see us in this photo. What a great shot of my sweetheart, her smile melts my heart, she is such a beautiful woman, I am such a lucky guy.


WSU Men's Basketball 1-26-05 (2)

The Raiders Biggest Fan

WSU Mens Basketball 1-26-05

Molly is a huge fan of Raider Basketball.....well actually she is a big fan of the mascot Rowdy the Wolf.

Pork Shoulder and Friends..........

Last night we had some friends from church over Aaron & Marissa and their little boy Gabe. Our girls loved playing with Gabe, he is a real Socializer and enjoyed all the attention they gave him. We were gathered for the consumption of a Pork Shoulder. Although many of you have never consumed such a cut of pork, I urge you to try it some day. I have found that in Ohio not many people know of the potential of this roast and thus you often find it on clearance in the grocery store. In North Carolina were I was first introduced to this side of the pig you would be lucky to find a roast for $15, here however I usually am able to snag a clearance sale roast for $5.

We had a wonderful time with our new friends and even enjoyed some cherry cobbler that Marissa made. It was a good time full of food and conversation.

Pork Shoulder

Boil a covered pork shoulder roast on stove top for 2 hours on Medium Heat

Then in a slow cooker (crock pot) place roast inside and fill with Caribbean Jerk Sauce

Slow cook for 3 hours on Low

This is the best way I have found to prepare a good pork shoulder, unfortunately I did not have the time required so I had to bake it in the oven on 200 degrees for an hour. The result is ok but not the way a slow cooked roast can be.

Super-Sized Congrats out To Morgan Spurlock

Super Size Me

This mornings Academy Awards Nominations provided one movie that I have actually seen. Morgan Spurlocks 30-day documented binge of my favorite American cuisine (McDonalds) has provided him a spot on the short list of Best Documentary Feature. An epic congrats out to the french fry filled film maker. It was certainly the only movie that made me hungry.

The biggest let down of all was the lack of Napoleon Dynamites name on the lists. We still love you all the same......and Pedro too.

By the way I couldn't help but notice that F9/11 made it to no list. From what I understand Michael Moores film actually did not meet the criteria for a documentary and so he was shooting for the best film category. He attended 55 Academy functions, shaved his beard, lost some weight, and sported a tuxedo yet all was in vain.

Neleha....too tired to eat.

Lazy Days of Winter

Neleha is captured here in this precious moment asleep in her high chair, she was so tired she could not even finish her lunch. I have decided that bears have the right idea about winter....as does Neleha. It should be well used catching up on some serious sleep.

Current Moxie Label

Current Glass Bottle Label for Moxie

Look at the origination date "1884". Moxie had a full 2-year jump on the 1886 invention of Coke.

Aint'ya Got No Moxie?

Original Tin Advertisment Sign for Moxie

Since I can blab about whatever comes to mind I wish to speak concerning Americas first nationally distibuted soft drink-Moxie. Originally formulated and peddled by pharmacists as an agent to restore "manhood" and eventually transformed into a soft drink claiming healthfullness, Moxie coined the phrase "Aint'ya got no Moxie" and was proudly endorsed by Boston Red Socks very own Ted Williams. Originating in the state of Maine it was Moxie, not Coke, that reigns with the honor of Americas 1st soft drink. However where Moxie was strong in taste the owners were weak in forsight. Coke secured their price for sugar prior to the great price increases and before long Moxie was reduced to selling their product solely back in Maine. Today Moxie is still found in plentifull supply on the shelves of grocery stores in the eastern tip of America. Every July brings thousands to a small town known as Lisbon Falls to celebrate its fine taste and history at the Moxie Festival.

Why another Blog???

So if you have found this blog it was probably through Get Fully Clothed which already carries a blog of its own. However this blog in contrast to the original ongoing GFC Lone Hanger Blog is going to be about my family, not the happenings of GFC. If you want to know what we are doing when we are not shooting fully clothed celebrities, this is the place to visit.

Our Wedding - November 20, 1999

In a suburb of Washington DC (Kensington, Maryland) within a majestic castle known as the The Washington DC Temple, a small farming town native from Ohio took a leap of faith and joined in Eternal Companionship with a rustic sailor from Arizona.....thus our future unfolds.

The Family Portrait - Fall 2003

The Batchelders of Ohio go Cyber

Adam, Kristy, Molly, & Neleha Batchelder

Fairborn, Ohio

Currently living in our recently purchased home near the downtown area of Fairborn. This city is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Wright State University. The former is what brought us here. Kristy and I are currently paying the ever increasing WSU tuition to further our knowledge of life, the world, and everything in between. Molly is also enrolled in school (preschool/headstart) and Neleha is currently enjoying infant life.
We are
The Batchelders of Ohio.