Weekly Activity Summary
1/22/2025 - 1/28/2025
1/22/2025 - 1/28/2025
running (1) - 4.1 mi
riding (1) - 10.2 mi
walking/hiking (9) - 15.9 mi
snowshoeing (0) - 0 mi
outdoors 7/7 days
DDPY -
DDPY -
JMH
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
NO MORE SFBC? SIGH.
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
I read an article today that reports that the Science Fiction Book Club has apparently closed down as of the start of 2025.
To be honest, I haven't thought about the SFBC for probably decades. But that doesn't change how important it was to my buying and reading books back when I was building my library into the array of overflowing bookshelves (or bookshelves and many, many boxes currently) that it is today.
The SFBC produced hardcover exclusives of books that were published in paperback, book club editions of book published in hardcover, and omnibus editions of series of books. The original focus included science fiction books that today would be considered classics from the 50's and 60's, and as time went on book club editions and omnibuses of then-current books. Prices were typically less than half the cost of the original books (and the omnibuses, in addition to be exclusive to the book club, were often even better deals.) The "Join the Book Club" offers were especially attractive - usually 3, 4, or 5 books for $1 or less (plus shipping.)
Another bonus to my early days with the SFBC was availability. When I was a teenager there was one book store that I was able to visit on a semi-regular basis (usually when my family went shopping at the grocery and department stores in Greenport, on the outskirts of Hudson. Originally my focus there was comic books, but as I started having some disposable income and began buying books, I appreciated BookLand's somewhat limited selection of science fiction and fantasy books. Eventually I discovered Waldenbooks during a visit to Colonie Center but that was much more difficult to get to, even when I finally had my own car. So having a way to have books delivered right to the house was great. (Imagine how happy I was years later when I discovered the NYC based Science Fiction Shop's mail order service!)
I'm not sure why I eventually drifted away from the SFBC, other than having many more options for purchasing books (as Waldenbooks died a slow death, Barnes & Noble and Borders expanded into areas I had access to) and probably increasing lack of interest in the books the SFBC was offering as my reading tastes changed. But eventually I cancelled my membership, and like I said I haven't thought about the SFBC in decades.
One of the hazards of getting older is having to adjust to the world changing around you. Just thinking about my book-buying history illustrates that - many of the stores that I used to frequent (BookLand, Waldenbooks, Borders, Recycled Reading, Caldor, and whatever the small book store next to the Vassar campus was called - the owner was a scifi/fantasy reader, so he almost always stocked a good selection of books I was interested in) are long gone, and these days I get most of my books from Amazon (there's that home delivery again!) It's a lot more convenient, and odds are I wouldn't be visiting any of those stores more than a couple of times a year at most - I can't remember the last time I walked into Barnes & Noble - but I have a lot of happy memories associated with discovering books at those stores, and it does make me a little sad that I can't visit them today and relive those memories more directly.
I'm thankful for all the good books the SFBC made it easier for me to add to my library, and I'm sorry to hear the business model has run its course.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Wednesday, January 08, 2025
Sunday, January 05, 2025
Saturday, January 04, 2025
WE CAN REBUILD HIM 2025 RACE#2
Winter Warrior Quarter Marathon Road Race
Saturday January 4, 2025
Wednesday's cold and rain was pretty miserable weather for the 1st race of 2025, but today's Winter Warrior saw weather that was almost as challenging - colder and windier, with blowing snow for much of the time. Despite wearing two cold-weather shirts, I was chilly at times.
I'm also VERY pleased I made the decision to drop down from the half marathon... I'm really not sure I could have completed that this year.
2025 Event Totals
Run 14.2 mi, 3 hr 19 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 0 mi, 0 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 0 mi, 0 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
STATES: NY
Friday, January 03, 2025
Wednesday, January 01, 2025
DESPITE NASTY WEATHER - A GOOD START!
WE CAN REBUILD HIM 2025 RACE#1
Freezeroo #2 Mendon Resolution Run 7.5mi Road Race
Wednesday January 1, 2025
Temperatures in the 30's & dropping, windy, rain or rain/wet snow mix... pretty unpleasant running weather. But I very much needed to do this, both to start off the new year and to get a baseline for how far my fitness has fallen over the last 6 months or so.
That title should be read while humming the opening tune for the 1970's TV program "The Six Million Dollar Man." While my crash hasn't been nearly as bad as test pilot Col Steve Austin, and I certainly don't have any bionic parts coming my way... I have to focus on rebuilding. (And most of the time I already look like I'm running in slow motion!)
2025 Event Totals
Run 7.5mi, 1 hr 48 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 0 mi, 0 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Bike 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
Snowshoe 0 mi, 0 min
Kayak 0 mi, 0 hr 0 min
STATES: NY
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