Replacing My Attic Ventilator Fan

Some time last year the electrical circuit to my hallway, hall bathroom, and master bedroom closet lights started throwing the breaker. My electrician finally tracked it down to a short in my attic ventilator fan. He disconnected the wire to the fan so it wouldn't throw the switch for the other locations. I didn't get the fan replaced immediately, but there was a noticeable increase in my electric bill every month. A few months later Jerry and I found what we thought would be the right fan to replace it at Home Depot. The price was reasonable, so I bought it.


Several weeks later we climbed up in the attic, or rather Jerry climbed up in the blazing hot attic sauna, to disconnect the thermostat from the rafter. I handed him what I thought was my sturdy hammer to pry it from the rafter. I knew Jerry was a good toolman, but I had no idea he was strong enough to ruin my hammer!

So much for my hammer.

Next we climbed up on the roof to pull out the old fan and install the new one. The fan we had picked out at Home Depot was a perfect fit. And yes, I helped.

Taking out the old fan.

Jerry loves his work.

Prepping the new fan.

Where does this piece go?

Replacing the fan was a fairly easy job. Finding where my electrician disconnected the wire was another story. I ended up having to call my electrician, and he couldn't remember where he made the disconnection. So we had to postpone finishing the job. We finally decided to check the connection behind the attic light socket, and there it was! After Jerry got it wired and set the thermostat, I flipped the switch and the new fan kicked on.

Check out Jerry's cool lighted cap.

Good as new!

I have definitely noticed the house being cooler the last few weeks, but I guess the real proof will be when I get my next TECO bill. Thanks Jerry!

Mulberry Relay for Life 2008

The 2008 Mulberry, Florida, Relay for Life began Friday evening April 25, and continued through the night until Saturday morning when the announcement was made that they had raised $75,000 (currently $76,000) for the American Cancer Society. This was about $30,000 more than the previous record. They also had the best crowd turnout ever in their relay history.

The event was held at the Mulberry High School football stadium AKA "The Phosphate Bowl."

U.S. Congressman Adam Putnam sent an American flag and letter in honor of the event.

Due to technical difficulties, American Cancer Society representative Colleen Mangan stepped in on the spur of the moment to sing the National Anthem and did a beautiful job.

Colleen sings the National Anthem.

My good friend Jerry Woods is a Mulberry city commissioner and the chairman of the Mulberry Relay for Life. Jerry and his daughter Brandy lost their wife and mother, Judy, to breast cancer in 2006.

Commissioner Woods reads Congressman Putnam's letter.

Presentation of the colors.

The relay officially begins.

Mulberry High School JROTC in the lead.

Purple-shirted cancer survivors take the first lap.

Five faithful community supporters and courageous fighters carried the Relay for Life banner. Luminarias memorializing victims and honoring survivors were placed at intervals around the track. Although there were dozens of luminarias remembering people I did not know, I located the luminarias for Judy Woods and Megan Carpenter, a young lady who attended sixth grade at Tomlin Middle School where I teach.

Luminarias encircle the track.

Judy Woods' luminaria

Megan Carpenter's luminaria

The survivors tent.

Jerry's parents are both cancer survivors.

While raising funds to fight cancer, Relay for Life maintains a fine balance between memory, honor, entertainment, and fun. Each relay team has a tent and campsite where they host games and prizes, sell food and other items, and stay the night. Continuous entertainment is provided and contests are held at the main stage throughout the event. Jerry's team, the Couch Potatoes, sold sloppy joes and drinks for their fundraiser.

Brandy and Jerry try out the Couch Potatoes' couch.

Perry puts his costume together.

Jerry's younger brother Perry, who is stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, was down visiting the family during Relay. He is a man of many talents, including magic illusions and comedy. Before the night was over he would steal the show.

My turn on the couch.

Cloggers

Sikes Elementary Chorus

Mulberry PD and "Sylva" give a demonstration.

Volleyball bumpers
(I have never seen so many orbs in one picture before.)

The 2008 Couch Potatoes

The field right before the Luminaria ceremony.

HOPE became . . .

. . . a CURE!

Jerry hosts the 2008 Miss Relay Pageant. Creepy!
(Note: Jerry was the 2007 first runner-up.)

Next up was the best mullet contest. Perry took the stage sporting sunglasses, a cut-off shirt, and the coolest mullet you've ever seen. Hilarious!

Perry struts his stuff!

The Pose-Down

As if that wasn't enough, Perry challenged "Tina Turner" to a booty dancing pose-down. But it was all over when she snatched him bald-headed. Literally!

Tony's masterpiece

One of the highlights of the evening was when Tony Trotti painted a canvas to the tune of Every Time I Breathe by Big Daddy Weave. When the song ended, he flipped the canvas over to reveal that he had done a painting of Jesus upside-down. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Tony donated the painting, and later there was a drawing to raise money for ACS. I bet you would love to see it live, and now you can!



It's not too late to contribute. If you would like to make a donation and read Jerry's story, click here. To read more about my family's involvement with Relay for Life, click here. Congratulations to Mulberry Relay Committee and the people of Mulberry! Your hard work and dedication have paid off. Here's to finding the cure in the not too distant future . . . .

Sunday Dinner

It was a big eating weekend! Layna's birthday Friday, Kelsey's birthday on Saturday, and on Sunday Mama cooked dinner to thank Jerry for painting her wheel covers and to thank John for the many times he has helped them with their car. Jerry made it, but John had to work, so April willingly took his place. The menu included tater-baked chicken, chicken & dumplings, potato salad, Fordhook limas, sweet potato casserole, and Mama's delicious oil & vinegar salad. For dessert Mama tried out Holli's layered chocolate caramel ice cream sandwich recipe.

Thanks, Mama!

Mama & Daddy's Wheel Covers

A "Before" picture for April and Rhoda.

April said I needed to write a new post, but nothing that eventful has happened lately. I've been busy with my National Boards, and I really have nothing good to say about that ongoing experience. The only thing I have any pictures of are Mama & Daddy's wheel covers. A few weeks ago Mama told me the paint on her wheel covers was flaking off, and when she showed them to me I had to agree that they didn't look that good. I told her Jerry might be willing to spray paint them like he did the panels on my car. Being the nice guy he is, Jerry said sure, so I went by Advance Auto Parts and got a can of wheel cover spray paint. Daddy took the wheel covers off the car, and I carried them to my house. Jerry came over, and we spent a Sunday afternoon sanding and spraying. Well, Jerry did most of the work. I sanded, then he re-sanded my wheel covers because the edges weren't "feathered" smooth enough, and of course he is THE Spraymaster. We delivered the wheel covers later that afternoon, and Daddy put them back on the car the next day. Jerry and I are looking forward to the meal Mama promised.

Jerry acting like Jerry.

Jerry re-sanding my work.

Sanding all done.

My chain-link fence was the perfect wheel cover holder.

Good as new, or should I say the "After" picture.

Note: Check out the orbs in Mama & Daddy's garage.

2008 Relay for Life

The American Cancer Society's 2008 Relay for Life is just around the corner. This team event to fight cancer is a worthy cause that touches all of our lives. Tomlin Middle School, where I teach, is very involved and donates thousands of dollars every year. In 2002, my whole family attended the Relay for Life at Plant City High School. My mother, Evelyn Blount, who is a survivor of breast cancer, participated when the survivors walked the first lap.

Mama with Jackie Waller Rollyson and Louise Crowley Sullivan, three survivors from the Turkey Creek High School Class of 1954

Mama and other survivors take the first lap.

My sister Carla joins Mama for the caregivers' lap.

Our whole family was there . . .

. . . including baby Nathan.

My good friend Jerry Woods and his daughter Brandy lost their wife and mother, Judy, to breast cancer on November 8, 2006. Jerry is the director of Relay for Life for the City of Mulberry, Florida. Jerry's 2008 relay team, the Couch Potatoes, are sponsored by his employer Florida Air Tool.

Jerry, Brandy, Judy

One of the easiest ways to get involved in the Relay for Life is to make a donation online. I encourage all of my readers to join me in this fight against cancer. You can visit Jerry's Relay web page, read his family's story, and make an online donation by clicking HERE. Together we can stamp out cancer!