Matt Matteson

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Two new blocks. New cleat. New paddle. The 19′ Montego is almost happy again! Installing the new blocks were, fun. Not really fun; more of effortful. The nuts for the bolts they attach with are on the ‘other’ side of the fiberglass, INSIDE the boat, not like “lets reach around one arm” side of the fiberglass. They were, let’s test out matt’s long arms, super flexibility all while not getting claustrophobic. Also, I think with all the rain some mosquitoes breaded in the pool of water in the hull of the boat. They didn’t quite enjoy me crawling all through there home, and were REALLY out for blood. Almost as effortful as installing the hardware was finding ones that will fit your old boat who’s manufacture hasn’t been around for who knows how long.

Dad and I have also purchased all the parts for the Explorer to tow the boat. 6″ drop hitch, ball, wiring adapter, wiring extension, new longer chains. Also- fixed two lights on the trailer… Just need to get this beast some water!

Dad mentioned maybe renaming the boat as we should get new stickers for the name. Any ideas?

(for people googling last night like I did to solve the problem)
Fixing picture quality with comcast:

If you have a comcast HD STB, with the digital signal, and an HD Display, hooked up with component video cables and your getting a bad picture quality try this;

Turn off the set top box with the comcast remote, then hit the “setup” button, followed by the “menu” button. On this setup page you can change the component output resolution.

I found this issue with my dad’s TV. The picture was amazing with I plugged in my MacBook to the VGA jack, but EVERYTHING looked just OK from comcast. The quality of the digital signal was quite an upgrade over analog, and that I think was mistaken by my dad for the HD upgrade.

A neat thing I did learn while trying to solve this problem is the firewire port on the STB lets you plug it right into a computer and use basic software to record HD straight to your computer. Brilliant! A way for me to build my own TiVo in HD at really no cost (everyone has one old computer sitting around!)

Neat. The cabin is coming together quick; walls are painted, no flooring yet… I just got a connection with my cell phone for this internet. Sitting on the top floor enjoying the view. It’s raining, and quite nice!

Meet Maggie for lunch today. It was great, I love how we can just sit and talk about whatever.

Parents went and picked up grandma today, so they got back around dinner time. Dinner with the fam, Tim and Cora came over. Played a few rounds of set after dinner. I’m pretty sure I dominated.

Rode a bike over to Steve’s where Steve, Will, Nick, and Kevin were hanging. Nick had to leave around 10, but the rest of us burned some time until the midnight showing of the 1st of the sequels to Pirates of the Caribbean. Movie was good, sure wasn’t the original, it was entertaining though.

Really enjoyed my 2:40 AM bike ride home. Honestly! Saw two shooting starts. I think one human saw me on the way back.

I told mom I’d update something before tomorrow, which means I just finished doing it now. Which puts me to almost 4 in the morning, the latest I have been up in a while. Amazing how awake I still am, (bike ride might have helped.) Well I’m off to concur the AM of tomorrow with my swift skills of unconsciousness. Good night!