To be in Wind in the Willows

Merrell Chameleon Arc Wind provides the support and stability I need

2011-02-23T08:41:00.000-08:00

I found a pair of Merrell Chameleon Arc Wind at the local DSW. The fit was very good, even though they are not narrow (Merrell--please make narrow shoes!!). After having found a small fracture or bone spur at the base of my proximal phalange during a recent x-ray, these have been my go-to shoes. The vibram soles make the shoes more rigid (I think that's what does it?) than the Salomon's. They have created a less flexible place for my toes to heal. Good shoes!!

Choosing Trail Running Shoes

2011-01-17T14:53:00.000-08:00

I wanted trail running shoes for Christmas this year, so I ordered several models from Zappos. My feet are flat, narrow and I over-pronate. (Unfortunately, I couldn't find any trail running shoes that come in narrow sizes.) I tried Vasque Aether Tech, Salomon XT Wings 2, Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra GTX. My reviews only reflect my impressions as I walked around my house and did a couple steps in place to mimic a run.

The Vasque Aether Techs felt good and I loved the dial-in Boa lacing system. They were light and nicely cushioned. They would have been a keeper if they had been narrow enough. Sadly, I couldn't tighten the laces enough toward the middle - front part of the shoe. They were overall a bit too roomy.

The Salomon's sizing is quite long, so I ordered a half-size smaller than I usually wear. The Salomon Kevlar unique lacing positions continue almost down to the toe box. This created a better fit and more support for my narrow feet, than the Vasque's.

I was able to tighten the Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra GTX to be comfortable, and I liked the low profile, but the foot bed was a bit too wide--just a bit though. I think I could have made them work, but I found that the Salomon XT Wings 2 seemed to provide the most supportive fit. The XT Wings have a bit narrower profile than the XA Pros. They have a higher profile and nice ankle support/padding. They felt good, again, this is walking around my house. I have no idea how the high profile will feel when actually running trails. Some reviewers found it too high and rubbed their ankles. Although, I had to pull the laces pretty tight in order to get the supportive fit for which I am looking. It seemed like all the trail running shoes were a bit too wide/roomy for my narrow feet, but I was able to tighten the XT Wings 2 to be supportive.

I also tried on Brooks Cascadias. They felt so good. They tightened up nicely and have a super-cushioned sole. I thought they would be ultra comfortable as a light trail running shoe. They didn't provide enough support for my in step, though, and they weren't rigid enough for rough terrain with small obstacles.

I ordered the Salomon XT Wings 2 in the GTX (gortex) (Zappos didn't carry these, so I ordered from Altrec) since I was looking for warmer shoes for winter. I am able to tighten them enough for a comfortable fit (still wish they were more narrow, though), so I decided to keep them. I've run off-road in them twice, almost 3 miles the first day and almost 2 the following day. I loved the feel, warmth and support they provided. I didn't feel any rocks, twigs, nuts, etc. poking my feet. The high profile seemed to have nice padding for my over-pronating ankles. Overall, I was very pleased.

The third day I put them on, I could barely walk out the door! The pain on my talus (ankle bones) was awful. It felt like they were badly bruised, although no bruises appeared. I hope I can get back into them and maybe figure out a way to continue running in them.

Next I need to find a good podiatrist to resolve the pain in my great toe joint.

Tearing down the old shed

2010-05-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

The big tear-down last month was lots of work. Thankfully we have willing and strong helpers. That "shed", as it was known to us, had been standing for a long time. It was there long before we bought the land in 1967 or so. (I need to verify the dates.)

At some point early on (yet another particular I need to clarify), Dad entitled the land "The Wind in the Willows" and emblazoned it on the side of the shed, along with bigger-than-life-size particle board (I think?), full-colored characters from the Wind in the Willows. That sign marked the idyllic life Dad had created for himself, friends, and neighbors for many years. It welcomed us home and watched over us, as we played and grew. Like everything, the letters and characters eventually succumbed to weather and time, and disappeared about 15 (?) or years ago.

It's amazing that the shed didn't collapse in a previous blizzard, given the interesting construction at it's inception. I guess it was time for it to go, kinda like Dad.

Shed Collapse of 2010

2010-03-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Snowzilla claimed more than just our hockey rink, it destroyed our family shed. Now that the snow has finally melted, we are tasked with building a new shed. We have opted to go with a pre-fab-type of construction that looks like wood, but is actually a low-maintenance metal structure. We may go with ABCO Pole Barns, depending on the estimate.

We are planning to move contents under another roof, until the new shed is up. First, we will be demolishing and hauling away, maybe burning wood pieces, most of the old shed.

Snowpocalypse - 1 week later

2010-02-13T07:49:00.000-08:00

Snowmaggedon Haiku:

One week after snow
Piles of it are all I see
In my dream it melts

Prince William Ice Center Roof Collapse in Snowmaggendon 2010

2010-02-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

We are saddened by the news of our home ice rink roof collapsing. Having spent so much time there, it's hard to believe it's gone.

Richmond is donating ice time to our PW House Squirts team this weekend. Thank you Richmond!

Potentially, a new PW rink could be up in six months. Let's hope so. I have two players really missing their ice time.

Here's a video of coverage after the collapse.

(These photos are from http://www.extremeskins.com/showthread.php?p=7281239.)

Cable management

2010-01-18T14:13:00.001-08:00

I tamed my cable mess using 3/4" pipe insulation tubing. Looks a little industrial, so maybe I can cover w/nice fabric (?).

This little fix has stopped my kittens from pulling down our cable modem and other pc devices.

Getting to-do's and notes organized

2009-04-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

My recent obsession with to-do lists and note taking apps, has gifted me with some dandy organizational tools. While I was hoping I only needed one app, I found that they each have their place in my ferver to organize my life. I've used Evernote, Google Tasks and Notebook, Gubb, Printable Checklist and Desktask.

Evernote is fabulous. It's great for noting anything from the 'net--w/a click, it copies a whole web page, or selected text/images. You can use it off-line and sync it w/online app. Probably be good as journal-type thing, too. But I had already started journaling about my kids in Google Notebook prior to trying Evernote. Google Notebook can also clip things right from the 'net, you can print, export and share. But Google Notebook isn't as intuitive or versatile as Evernote. You can scan bills, tag and store them in Evernote, or choose to coordinate w/Shoeboxed.com.

I can't figure out how to email using gmail (it defaults to MS email mail) from my local Evernote--I can email using gmail from the online version, though.

I was using Google tasks for a while. It's right in gmail, so it seemed convenient. And one can have several lists in it. However, since I started using Gubb (gubb.net), I won't go back to Google tasks. Gubb is awesome (!) and perfect for me. I can have multiple lists, expand them, and see them all on one page, if I choose.

I had been using Desktask for my work to-do's. Desktask displays your Outlook calendar and tasks on your desktop, which I really liked, BUT I didn't like using Outlook tasks. It just seemed cumbersome for what I needed. When a to-do came to mind, it seemed time consuming and accessing it, adding & deleting items is well, cumbersome. So I started using Gubb for my work to-dos. It is so quick to add a to-do, then cross it off and either delete it or archive it when it's been done. The one feature that would be nice for Gubb to add, would be the ability to add sub-tasks, under a main task. Gubb has the ability to email, text, print, etc. for each list. Texting the shopping list to a cell phone is a nice, green idea.

Printable Checklist (http://printablechecklist.org/) is excellent for any list that you would like to print, but don't need to save for later. I use it for family meeting agendas, reminder lists that I post for my kids , and shopping lists (before I started using Gubb).

Gubb is great for shopping items, errands, to-dos. Evernote is great for web clipping, journaling, and probably a lot more that I haven't yet explored. All of these apps are free. Evernote charges a fee for premium use, if you would like to upgrade to 500MB/month.

Repurposing

2009-04-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

As I wash out my jars, which would usually go in the recyclables bin, I'm wishing that more product, actually any products, provided re-purpose ideas for them; ideas right on the box, jar, website, etc.

I've re-purposed some produce containers and product trays for drawer organizers and that has worked well (love organization). But in this reuse-crazed world we live in, where tips--clever and not so clever--abound for reusing and re-purposing, why don't the packages have at least one tip for something clever you can do with the thing?

Some people are super clever and whip up all types of creative uses for this stuff. "Dog-biscuit-dispenser-from-egg-carton" type stuff. Very little of this comes easily to most of us, so it would be helpful, and "green" for the companies to add some text and an image of at least one thing you for which can use their container after it's original use.

Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes

2009-04-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is a Martha Stewart recipe. It's really good.

3-4 sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 1.5" rounds
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or ~1 teaspoon dry thyme)
2 small cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
1 teaspoon coarse salt

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium-large bowl, toss the sweet potato rounds w/olive oil, thyme, garlic, red pepper, and salt.

2. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, garnish w/thyme sprigs if you like, and place in oven. Roast until tender and starting to brown, 40-45 minutes.

Cauliflower Soup

2009-04-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

This is a great simple, recipe for Cauliflower Soup.

Here's the link from Simply Recipe's blog fyi:  Simple Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients

Florets from one head of cauliflower (tough core of cauliflower discarded)
1 quart of water
Salt
Unsalted butter
Chives
Olive oil

Method

1 Bring 1 quart of water to a rolling boil in a medium-sized pot. Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the water (if using salted butter in this recipe, use only 1 teaspoon of butter). Add the cauliflower florets, and cook until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove florets to a bowl. Reserve cooking water.

2 Working in batches, fill a blender half-way with cooked cauliflower, add enough cooking water to the blender bowl so that it comes up a quarter of the way. Purée until smooth. You want the consistency to be that of soup, so if you need to add more water, do so. For each blender batch, add salt and butter to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and about a tablespoon or more of butter for each blender batch). Since you are using only lightly salted cooking water for a base, not stock, you will need to salt this more than you would otherwise.

3 Serve immediately into bowls. Drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with chopped chives.

Serves 4.

Love my eye doctor!!

2009-03-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

My eye doctor is the best (hope this doesn't jinx it)! Dr. Gore of Haymarket has excellent customer service and a genuinely nice staff. It didn't take long for them to remember my name and greet me by name each time I have visited. They are all very friendly. I never thought of myself as high-maintenance, but I have been through numerous brands & scripts of contacts, trying to get the right fit. They are very accommodating to my fitting issues, always taking time to work with me. I couldn't be more pleased.

This is a very refreshing experience. My last eye doctor's were take-a-number, wait-a-while, test-mongers. I am so glad not to be wasting my time in a waiting room and not tolerating such a low level of service.

Thank you Dr. Gore & staff!

Missing the dog walks

2009-03-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

Having bronchitis and a potential sinus infection for the last two-three weeks, combined with a willing dog-walking partner, has left me tight in my jeans! I never get on the scale, but my pants, even the ones that used to be my "big pants" are now fitting tight! It's really been about a month of sporadic dog walks, instead of my consistent daily walks, that I've noticed a change. My goal is two miles per day, but anywhere from 1 to 1.5 miles/day is perfect for me.

It amazes me how quickly this reduction in consistent exercise, created such gain. My theory is a little exercise every day is worth more than a lot of exercise sporadically.

Children, Inc.

2009-03-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

We have sponsored a child in Appalachia since 2002. We send quarterly payments for his needs and wants, and send gifts and packages when we can. It has taught our children to know about poverty and how some children live very differently than them. It has taught them about charity and the importance of giving. They enjoy picking out gifts for our sponsoree. We have come to love him. We especially enjoy getting notes from him and knowing he is doing well. I highly recommend Children, Inc. and they work they do. Please visit their website and consider sponsoring a child--it makes a big difference. Here's the url: http://www.childrenincorporated.org/

SNL skit idea

2009-02-19T07:22:00.000-08:00

This may have already been done...skit where main character has food stuck in his/her teeth all the time. Create uncomfortable/funny situations...like board meeting, lunch meeting, coworkers don't want to look at the persons mouth, but they have to discuss business, etc. Many possibilities.

Tan Feet Eliminate Sock Lines Tootsie Tanner

2009-02-12T06:48:00.000-08:00

Tan Feet Eliminate Sock Lines Tootsie Tanner
lol!! $200!!

Pigeon Pants

2009-02-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

From last week's headlines
"An Australian traveller was caught at Melbourne International Airport with two live pigeons and an aubergine down his pants"

lol...why???

Perfect Pullup

2009-01-18T15:56:00.000-08:00

Does it really install w/out destroying the door frame? Does it work well? Input/comments?