We have a 'new' car in the family

This past weekend I picked up a 1968 Pontiac Firebird. It's everything I wanted and yet, not quite what I expected to buy. The car seems to be very solid. The previous owner had the body panels repaired a few years back. The interior was freshened up as well. The paint, while not my favorite color, is very good. Ahh...time will expose my expertise. I've driven the car here and there and it drives pretty darn good. The car seems tight - for a 45 year old car. I've had to tinker with a few things electrical, but luckily I fixed those. Over the years I'll improve the car here and there, but for now it's a fun driver.

The car is kind of rare because it has a overhead cam 6 cylinder. It's the Sprint version (which is even more rare). No one-barrel carb on this baby. This one has a four-barrel carb and in its prime was rated at 215 hp. The motor is a little tired, but it runs well - again, for a 45 year old car. It appears to have more than 165,000 miles on it. This OHC6 was only produced for four years. Some people really like them. Me? I want a V8 someday. Parts for the OHC6 engine can be hard to get sometimes. I want to get rid of the rarity and replace it with something for which parts are not a problem. One day I'll turn the car over to the boys if they want it. I prefer to make the car future pr  Why didn't I get a V8 car then? Just about any car I'd get would probably have a well used engine in it. Either way, engine work is in the future.

Kathleen likes it, but she would have preferred a convertible. Me too, but oh well. The boys like it too. Parker thinks its the fastest thing ever. Our minvan could run circles around it.

I like the redline tires.

 

I wanted a 4-speed manual. This one is just a 3-speed.

Although it doesn't look fancy, this is the deluxe interior. This was on my check list.

The engine has a little seepage here and there, but I haven't seen any drips on the floor...yet.

I always like the big chrome bumper and quad lights of the Firebird.

The tail lights and turn signals weren't working properly. Forturnately a couple of new sockets fixed the problem. Easy peasy.

Skiing at Okemo, VT

We spent our Presidents Day weekend skiing in Vermont. Conditions and weather have been perfect. Except for Sunday it has snowed everyday. Friday was deep powder. By Saturday the resort had the trails well groomed. Sunday was clear and sunny, but chilly. Kathleen got in a lot runs by herself, but she also skied with Payton when he wasn't in lessons. Parker had a day and a half of lessons. He skills are improving. We also did a little swimming in the evening hours. Today was finished off with some tubing and Payton did some nighttime skiing by LED 'torchlight'. He enjoyed this a lot. We're sure glad we got out of town missing the winter storm that buried home.

Baby it's cold outside...

It's still cold and a little snow is expected this afternoon, but that doesn't keep Kathleen and the boys out the hot tub. Me? I'm like a cat; I hate getting wet.

Kathleen and Payton went skiing today

Kathleen and Payton went skiing today. They're really making an effort to go more this year. Today has been great; something like the mid 40s. They met up with Uncle Jack and Cousin Ryan.

Say guys, what's this posing stuff? Do you think you're a couple of dancers?

Whoa Uncle Jack, I almost couldn't see you in that ski outfit.

Mama loves her boy.

Parker on this fine Saturday morning

Payton won a Pinewood Derby race

Tonight was Payton's Cub Scout troop's annual Pinewood Derby. Each car had six races; one race in each lane. All lanes seemed even because Payton's speed was consistent from lane to lane. Out of six races Payton won one. His best speed was 144 mph. He was a bit off the winners pace of 154. He never finished last. All in all it was a good race.

Tough guy pushups

Parker for some reason started doing some tough guy pushups. Check out this short clip. Pushups with elevated feet are tough. It's almost lifting your own body weight.

Nothing like a little science with breakfast

It's cold this morning; about -1°. Add in the wind chill and it's -22° according to my weather app. I decided to try the 'throw boiling water into freezing air' thing for the boys. And guess what? It's works!

After our science in the morning thing we sat down for a breakfast fit for champions - biscuits and sausage gravy. Mmm Mmm good.

Burrr. It's cold around here.

It's been cold around home as it has been for most in the U.S. Just the other day we got a decent snow fall of 8" or more. The daytime temperature is in the upper teens. It's been cold enough that Kathleen decided to break out her National Geographic parka! Actually it's an Air Force parka that used to belong to her mom. Kathleen reports that it is a plenty warm coat. The cold snow wasn't bothering Parker. He was having fun tromping around in it with his mom.

Crazy Cart

Santa gave Payton a Crazy Cart for Christmas, but Payton's little brother Parker has taken a real liking to the machine too. I think a second cart may be somewhere in the future.