Garmin Forerunner 305 battery replacement

The battery in my Garmin Forerunner 305 got to the point where it wouldn't hold a charge long enough for a 6 mile run.  A Google search at first didn't result in much, but finally I came across a couple pages that looked promising.  One guy used a phone battery with success, but I don't have any phone batteries lying around.  Another site I came across indicated that a replacement battery for an iPod Mini is the same voltage (3.7V), about twice the capacity (1300mAh instead of 750mAh), and very similar in size.  I bought an iPod Mini battery on eBay for $4.21 including shipping.  A couple days later it arrived and I went to open my Garmin.  I had read that sometimes the watch pops open of its own accord because the battery swelled, but even if it doesn't you should be able to open it by prying with your fingernails.

I went to pry mine open and realized it was already swelled open, so I just opened it the rest of the way with my fingers.

There were no wires to be careful with...the top just came completely off.

I clipped the black and white wires connecting the battery as close to the battery as I could to leave as much wire to work with as possible.

I cut the connector off the end of the new battery's wires, stripped the black and white wires at the ends, twisted the wires together, and soldered them.  I just left the white wire alone.

After wrapping the exposed wires with electrical tape, I put the battery into the watch and pushed the wires out of the way of the button on the left.

I glued it back together with epoxy since that's what I had on hand.  I hope I don't have to open it again!  I pressed on the watch to keep it snug while the epoxy hardened.  The connectors won't make good contact unless the pieces are snugly together.

When I plugged it into the charger, it started charging normally.  An hour or two later it said battery charging was complete.

It got satellite reception and appeared to be working properly.

I went to the menu to see the battery symbol which indicated it is fully charged.










And Kim tried it out on her run this morning.  It's working well!

Color of the Day

More javascript, since that's my new interest.  Drag the slider to choose the blinking speed.  The color of the non-white square should change every day.
UPDATE: Okay, it's not just a firefox problem.  I'm using the new HTML5 slider, and it works best in chrome.  You might see a text box or nothing at all otherwise.

Trinity Lake by Robyn

On Saturday we went hiking at Trinity Lake.

We hiked to Fiddle Lake.

  When we got there we went fishing.   There was a fish following dad's hook but it never bit the hook.














 Before we went back to Trinity Lake we climbed on rocks. They were very tall. 

Javascript

And now, for the coolest thing I've ever done here... Javascript!

Where'd the button go?

More to come!

Watermelon Slice Cookies

This recipe came from p. 92 in the Taste of Home Cookie magazine that was to be displayed until June 11, 2012.  It says it's from Sue Ann Benham from Valpraraiso, Indiana.

It makes about 3 dozen sliced cookies. 

3/4 C butter, softened

3/4 C sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon almond extract (you could probably use vanilla if you don't have almond)

2 C all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

red and green GEL food coloring

1/3 cup raisins

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

1.  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and extract.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Set aside 1 cup of dough.

2. Tint remaining dough red; shape into a 3 1/2 inch long log.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Tint 1/3 cup of the remaining dough green; wrap in plastic wrap.  Wrap the remaining plain dough in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

3. On a lightly floured surface, roll plain dough into a 8 1/2 inch X 3 1/2 inch rectangle.  Place red dough log on the end of a short side of the rectangle; roll up.

4. Roll green dough into a 10 inch X 3 1/2 inch rectangle.  Place red and white log on the end of a short side on green dough; roll up.  Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.

5. Unwrap and cut into 3/16 inch slices (just less that 1/4 inch).  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.  Cut raisins into small pieces.  Lightly press raisin bits and sesame seeds into red dough to resemble watermelon seeds.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until firm.  Immediately cut cookies in half.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  

Remember by Robyn

Here a poem I wrote:

Remember me?

       

I am the girl                              I am the woman

who does what she's asked      who wherever she goes

who tries to be nice                  she will bring joy

whatever the task.                    to all that are low.

Ode to Music by Robyn

Here is my ode that I wrote for cabin writers:

Ode to music that clears the mind

that makes us brave through all time.

Ode to music its soft sweet song

that brings us together as one.

Cabin Writers

Today I went to Cabin Writers at the Cabin in downtown Boise.

  We spent an hour in the Cabin writing character sketches.

  Then we went to the Ann Frank memorial and wrote a poem about ourselves.


 We then went down to the Boise River and wrote some stuff about sensory detail.

  Then we walked down to Julia Davis park and wrote the beginning to our stories.

Sunday Quote

"The companionship of the spirit of the Lord is an antidote for weariness,..... for fear and all those things that sometimes overtake us in life."   George Albert Smith

I needed this quote from our Relief Society lesson today.  When I am feeling weary or fearful, I find that it's usually because I am out of line with the spirit.  Those feelings go away and are replaced by peace when I get my life back in line.  This quote was just the call to repentance I needed today and I will head the call.  Summer is too wonderful for weariness or fear. 

Saving Rabia

This is another story I wrote. Saving Rabia

One warm summer morning, I received a package from my pen-pal Rabia from India. I excitedly opened it. When I looked inside I was disappointed to discover a dusty old rug inside. However when I shook out the dust to have a better look at the rug, I discovered that it was really a purple magic carpet with yellow stripes. There was a message pinned to one edge of the carpet. It proclaimed:

“Help! I'm stuck in a shed on Rickets Farm. Tell the carpet to take you there. Then come find me. Hurry!” Rabia.

As soon as I finished reading it I quickly wrote a note to my parents letting them know I had had to leave suddenly. Then I jumped onto the carpet shouting “Go to Rickets Farm as fast as you can!”

At first the ride was scary and I kept thinking I was going to fall off, but soon I became

accustomed to it. When an airplane came zooming by I almost did fall off! I was very excited.

About an hour later I finally arrived at Rickets farm. I looked around me and saw some grazing cows, a few apple trees, and a little stream, but there was no shed in sight. So I decided to look around some more.

Before long I found an old brown shed that was surrounded by some big trees, and looked like no one had been to it in a long time. I timidly peeked through a window in its side. Inside I saw a 7 foot tall monster that was purple and green! He was torturing Rabia! I had to save her, but how? I thought about it for a few minutes and then I had an idea. I quickly opened the brown leather backpack that I had brought along and searched for my candy stash finally I came upon it. Then I circled the shed until I found the entrance to it and burst inside. As soon as I entered the monster whirled around.

“What do you want?” He bellowed.

“I have come for my friend.” I told him.

“You can't have her. She's mine!” He shouted.

“Oh, then I guess you can't have what I brought to pay you with.” I replied casually.

“What did you bring?” The monster inquired.

“Oh just this.” I said, holding out my hands which were full of candy.

“What are they?” The monster asked.

“Candy.” I replied.

“What do you do with it?” He questioned.

“Eat it.” I replied.

“What does it taste like?” He inquired.

I thought for a moment and then said, “I'll give you one piece to try it and if you like it

you can trade my friend for 50 more pieces.”

“Okay.” He said. “Give me my first piece.”

I gave it to him. Then I inquired, “What do you think? Do you like it?”

“Yes.” He replied, “I do.”

“So will you take my offer?” I inquired.

“I will.” He said, “but I want 60 pieces.”

“Okay.” I replied.

So it was agreed. I gave him 60 pieces of candy and he gave me Rabia.

Rabia and I leaped onto the magic carpet and flew Rabia to her home (where the monster could not get her) and then I zoomed home. As soon as I got there I carefully put the rug in the closet, collapsed on my bed, and fell asleep.

Trapped in the Cellar

This is the dog's side of the story of In the Cellar witch I posted earlier.

Trapped in the Cellar

One warm summer night my folks had a going away party prior to the big move. I'm not too keen on strangers so I headed to the cellar for some peace and quiet. I was investigating the cellar when my left front foot got stuck in a rat trap. I tried vigorously to get it out but that just made it hurt more so I started to bark. But that didn’t work because the party was to noisy for them to hear me. Tenderly I laid down and went to sleep feeling lonely.

The next day in the morning I was awakened by the noise of the moving van pulling away. Scared I started to bark but it was too late. They were gone! My mind was racing. What if no one ever found me? What if I was stuck forever in this dark cellar?!

That afternoon a different moving van pulled up and stopped. The door squeaked open and the new family came in hauling their stuff. I heard them go back out and get more stuff. The noise of boxes being dragged across the floor continued all day. Even if I hadn’t been to scared to bark they wouldn’t have been able to hear me.

That night there was a storm, but the only thing I could hear was the cracking thunder. I was terrified and whimpering and whining. Then I heard creaking floorboards, someone was coming! The creaks got closer and closer, then slowly the door creaked open and a little girl entered. I growled nervously at her but she kept coming toward me. She started talking gently to me and I calmed down.

As she carefully removed my foot from the rat trap, I examined her. She had brown hair and bright blue eyes. When she had succeeded in removing my foot from the rat trap, she soaked it in hot water and brought me up to her room. We slept comfortably in each others company for the rest of the night.

The next morning she excitedly asked her parents if she could keep me. They said she could! So I have lived happily with them ever since.

Bob Books

I read a lot of Bob Books to my mom.  I felt good when I was reading my Bob Books.  7/3/2012

Happy Independence Day!

We love the 4th of July! 

Our favorite way to celebrate is to head on out to Melba, ID. From the early morning fun run to the late night fireworks display, that little town knows how to throw a party.

We usually take a break sometime after the parade and before the fireworks to visit Grandma and Grandpa Reeder for a picnic out at the air strip.

Caden in Grandpa's RV 8 last fall

While we are driving around in the van on the way to all the fun, we like to listen to Janeen Brady's Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By. It's a great introduction to the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, the military, and patriotism.  Janeen Brady is awesome!

We may have to shake things up a bit this year, but that's a typical 4th of July for the Reeder fam.

Have a happy and safe Independence Day! 

Busy day

I did a lot today (7/2/2012). When I first woke up this morning, I decided to learn IPA. IPA stands for International Phonetic Alphabet. It's an alphabet used for displaying pronunciation. Some words in IPA look a lot like the actual words, like the word sʊn (son), while others look less like the actual words, like tʃɑːx (chalk).

Later, I set up Titanium (taɪteɪniːʊm) Studio on the laptop because it somehow didn't work on the mac. Titanium is a framework for javascript (dʒɑːvɑːsxrɪpt) used to make phone apps. I'm mainly planning to deploy to android though. I verified that I could test my apps on the android emulator and begun working on an app. I might talk more about the app when it's finished. It is far from that at the current state.

Just now, I replaced the battery in my keyboard (xiːbɒrd) and wrote this post.

The Speed of Trust

I am listening to Stephen M. R. Covey's book, The Speed of Trust. Two CDs into it, I am hooked. It's good stuff! The basic idea is that trust is something you can measure and a skill that can be learned and that when trust goes up, speed also goes up while costs go down. It's been fun to recognize this truth in many areas of my life. I am excited to keep listening to the rest of the book!