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On-Board Diagnostics - I was feeling a bit sleepless around midnight last night so I decided to do more research on the whole "Check Engine" light that went off on my Accord last Friday. I found a few useful web resources. First was this page which nicely summarized that you can read your computer diagnostic code with a mere paper clip or short piece of wire. How MacGyver'ish! It turns out that the computer is setup so that if you intentionally short circuit its readout terminals, it will display the error codes via your dashboard lights in a pseudo-morse code.

I seem to recall that when AutoZone read out the code Friday night the error was number 41, which means the Primary Oxygen Sensor Heater is out. I can double check this with the MacGyver paper clip method. While researching this I found out that there is a OxygenSensors.com where you can order replacement oxygen sensors for just about any make and model. Scary! Back during the internet boom years I used to joke that just about every market niche had a ".com" - toys.com, pets.com, etc. But OxygenSensors.com?! Unreal! Depending on where it's located, this sensor isn't that hard to replace. I'll look into it more tonight.

Claire's First "Real" Book - Yesterday Claire finished reading "Charlotte's Web". She feels quite accomplished because this was her first serious book -- something that can't be read in under an hour. She's decided that she's now going to try to read an abridged version of "PollyAnna". At least she'll know what it means when someone says "I'm not trying to be a PollyAnna about this, but..."

NordicTrack Elliptical Trainer - I've had a few incidents this past week where I had intended to take a step class and then something interfered. At Michelle's recommendation I tried using the elliptical machine we bought early this year. Overall I like it. It helps that the television is nearby so that I don't get too bored. Music might also help.

In a step aerobics class the intensity of your workout is dominated by the beat of the music (fast vs slow), the number of "risers" under your step, and the energy intensity with which you do the moves. Overall, though, there isn't a lot in the way of resistance. It's more like walking and running in that respect.

With the elliptical there are a few means of varying the intensity. You can adjust the incline of the machine from 10 to 30 degrees. It makes you feel like you are climbing uphill. You can vary the resistance of the rear wheel so that it's harder to turn. This resistance is all electro-magnetic, so it's very smooth. It feels like changing the gear ratio on a bicycle. Lastly you can "pedal" (for lack of a better term) at a faster rate. So unlike a typical step class, your muscles get a good deal more resistance. If you're not careful with your initial settings your muscles might fatigue without you hitting your target aerobic heart rate. On the plus side, at the end of the workout I'm reasonably winded and have a gentle ache in the major muscle groups.

I worked out this morning shortly after I got up but before going to work. I guess you could say it's my second favorite way to add some spring in my step before heading out to work. *grin*