Under The Knife

Huey, who has been out of commission for about a month, was waiting for some replacement parts to come in and of course, for the surgery to be accomplished.

Sparing no expense, we brought in a noted natorius stagnum (swimming pool) surgeon, Dr. Ramon Seinfeld, to perform the delicate and time-consuming surgical procedure (the operation took just under two hours). This doesn't take into account the month of waiting for the necessary body parts to be specially couriered down here to Belize.

Anyway, after scheduling the operating theatre,Dr. Seinfeld was gracious enough to allow us to shoot the entire procedure for posterity.

Here's the good doctor (without putting too delicate a description on it) 'opening up' the patient.

Huey's Operation Underway

As you can see Huey's Access Cover (that's the technical term) was relatively easy to open. Although, to be sure, opening the cover had little to do with the surgery at hand. It was done more as an exploratory activity for those students of poolology in the audience.

Removing the Access Cover

As Dr. Seinfeld explained, there's two major systems in Huey - his propulsion system and his turning system. Of course they work 'flipper in fin', so to speak, but they are two completely separate systems.

Below, you can see the major organ of the turning system, the so-called cone gear and associated smaller gears. The hose that connects to the pool skimmer (stagnum espumadera - named after the Spanish surgeon who discovered its purpose) connects to the top of the cone gear.

Cone Gear (Controls Turning)

The cone gear is actually turned by the much smaller inner gears (interius anni - for those following in their textbooks).

Inner Gears (Also For Turning)

Here we see Dr. Seinfeld preparing to clean the intake screen, which, it is thought, allows a constant stream of water to keep the medium turbine (turbina de medio) and associated gears cool and lubricated.

Rear Intake Screen (For Medium Turbine)

The oval piece above  with the two small holes is the housing for the medium turbine, which you can see opened up below.

Medium Turbine (Controls Turning)

With the medium turbine removed, you can see the water inlet port of the housing. This provides the power to complete the turning system. It, in effect, turns Huey' entire body, more or less keeping the hose stationary, thus allowing Huey to turn as he moves effortlessly about the pool.

Medium Turbine Housing Showing Inlet Ports

The propulsion system is what allows Huey to actually move about the pool. The main turbine (you can see it a bit further along in the operation) has two large bearing assemblies, which are shown below. Both were in a sad state. As Dr. Seinfeld removed the main turbine the bearing on the left of the picture completely disintegrated.

Broken Main Turbine Bearings

The main turbine (turbina principalis) sits in and is supported by the so-called 'A-Frame', shown below. The bearings, that I had found in the leaf trap a month ago were the first signs from Huey that surgery was necessary, came from the completely broken bearing you see below. In fact, the other three bearings, Dr. Seinfeld reported were almost in as bad a state. We were able to secure viable replacements for all these parts.

Broken and Worn Out A-Frame Bearings

According to the Board of the Academy Natorius Stagnum Medicorum, the organization certifying Dr. Seinfeld, the lower bumper assembly is obsolete and is seen in fewer cases. However, the good doctor felt that since Huey's assembly was still in good order, he wanted to leave it in place, and felt that Huey would feel more complete with it.

Lower Body and Bumper Assembly

So, the surgery progressed. Finally, at the end, after all the screws and what-nots were reattached, here's all the old and worn out parts. You can see the main turbine (the black thing) so you have an idea of what it is.

Old Parts Replaced By New Kit

Here's Huey in the recovery wing of the hospital. Already he's getting fired up and 'rarin' to go' as they say.

Huey in Recovery

Yesterday afternoon, we took Huey from the hospital to his home in the pool, to see how he fared with the surgery. He took to it 'Like a duck to water', so to speak. The operation was a success in every sense of the word.

We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. Ramon Seinfeld for his expertise and caring, and once again, we express our thanks to him for letting us photograph his excellent surgical techniques in rehabilitating Huey.

PS - As a sort of post-script, when we bought Huey as a re-manufactured item on Amazon, he cost about $250.00 US. Tallying up the parts list, if we were to purchase separately, each part needed to make a complete Huey, it would cost us over $793.00 US - shipping not included.

So, How Are Those Planter Tables?

Just fine, thank you. The first one is now done. It is a slow project, because, remember, Carlos only works on it one day a week. And there are times when we side-track him to work on something else for his workday. Anyway progress is being made.

First Table Is Completed

This first table has a depth of about two feet, so it'll be suited for veggies like carrots and other root crops (we hope). It'll be interesting to see what actually will grow well and what won't.

Second Table Supports Are Completed

Above, you can see the completed supports for the second table. They go one block higher, so the box itself will be one block shorter, making a shallower planting area.

Deeohgee Checking Under The Table

Here you can see the depth of the first planter box. There's also some open area under the table, which we'll try to keep free of weeds and other debris, giving snakes, etc., fewer hiding places in our garden.

Deeohgee Inspecting the Table Support

 Deeohgee is helping me shoot the pictures by pointing out the support detail for the planter box. Notice the texture Carlos applied on the outside - it matches that of the main house downstairs, the guest house and the pool pump house.

Inside of Planter Box

This seems ready made for Halloween. It looks like the interior of Dracula's coffin. Although, once filled with dirt and veggies, it should be far less sinister.

Three of Five Drain Holes

Drainage of the boxes is a concern. I put in five half-inch drain holes in the bottom. I hope it's enough. I had to bail about 5-inches of water before I could start drilling. I'm also going to build a square wood frame on legs to sit in the planter. The box will have half-inch screen on it so we can sieve the black dirt as we put it into the planter, hopefully getting rid of sticks, stones, and other debris as we put the dirt into the planter.

Block Pyramid Waiting To Be Used

 Here's the remaining blocks that will be used for the remaining three planter beds. I hope there's not a lot of blocks left over. They tend to migrate all  over the place and get used as stools and eventually, as they break, just become little debris piles.

Am I Cute or What?

Just the other day, Dianna and I were talking about how fast April (our new kitty) is growing. I had just taken her in to see Dr. Sheila for April's third de-worming and shots visit. She's now four and a half pounds, double what she was three weeks ago.

Anyway, Dianna commented that she was wondering when April would discover the roll of toilet paper in the bathroom. We agreed that it probably wouldn't be too much longer.

April and Her Handiwork

It wasn't. The very next morning I came into the bathroom only to find half the roll all over the floor and April busy shredding that. I reached around the doorjamb and grabbed my camera from the bookshelf in the dining room and the above photo was the result. No time to spend making sure stray camera straps or feet weren't in the photo.

April quickly decided to try to grab the strap, but I was too quick for her - this time. We had forgotten just how rambunctious and how full of energy young cats can be. She goes all day long, with lots of time-outs for naps, of course.

The dogs seem to be adjusting to her antics and to being constantly attacked by her. In fact, they are finally beginning to play with her. Secret had her flat on her back yesterday and was poking her large, wet doggie nose several times into April's tummy - which caused April to flail away with her paws, trying to nail Secret's nose. Good thing we've trimmed April's claws, she's much less deadly as a result.

One good thing, she learned quickly how to snuggle and sleep with us at night, instead of chasing and attacking us throughout the night. We no longer keep the bedroom door closed to keep her out. Much better for air circulation fro us and for a peaceful night's sleep.