SO LONG 2012...
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012 Activity Totals
RUN 648.2
RIDE 1013.8 mi
SNOWSHOE 37.7 mi
HIKE/WALK 522.5 mi
PADDLE 19.7 mi
XC SKI 3.1 mi
DAYS OUTDOORS 295/365
2012 Event Totals
38 races/events -
4 snowshoe races
20 trail races
7 road races
4 duathlons
2 paddle triathlons
1 fundraising ride
Run 289.9 mi, 71 hr 20 min
Bike 147.1 mi, 13 hr 34 min
Snowshoe 17.3 mi, 4 hr 24 min
Kayak 4.5 mi, 1 hr 23 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
WHAT NEXT?!!!!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Actually, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that question, because the incident that prompted it is pretty horrible.
Apparently very early this morning volunteer firefighters in Webster (just east of Rochester) responded to a house fire and found themselves being shot at. Two are dead, two more are in the hospital, and seven houses were destroyed in the blaze that resulted while the scene was being secured by police.
Current information is that the man who lived in the house set an ambush for the first responders to the fire, traded gunfire with the police when they arrived, and finally shot himself. He had a pretty serious criminal record (17 years in prison for murdering his grandmother back in 1980) but had apparently stayed out of trouble after being released in 1998.
First teachers and elementary school children, now firefighters who had gotten out of bed early in the morning to (they thought) help someone in their community. Ann is a volunteer firefighter and EMT - she could be the one being shot by some whackjob like this bastard.
I understand that the people who do stuff like this have serious mental problems, but do they have to share their pain and misery with others when they decide to end their lives?
JMH
Monday, December 24, 2012
Actually, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that question, because the incident that prompted it is pretty horrible.
Apparently very early this morning volunteer firefighters in Webster (just east of Rochester) responded to a house fire and found themselves being shot at. Two are dead, two more are in the hospital, and seven houses were destroyed in the blaze that resulted while the scene was being secured by police.
Current information is that the man who lived in the house set an ambush for the first responders to the fire, traded gunfire with the police when they arrived, and finally shot himself. He had a pretty serious criminal record (17 years in prison for murdering his grandmother back in 1980) but had apparently stayed out of trouble after being released in 1998.
First teachers and elementary school children, now firefighters who had gotten out of bed early in the morning to (they thought) help someone in their community. Ann is a volunteer firefighter and EMT - she could be the one being shot by some whackjob like this bastard.
I understand that the people who do stuff like this have serious mental problems, but do they have to share their pain and misery with others when they decide to end their lives?
JMH
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
WELCOME WINTER SOLSTICE 2012!
Friday, December 21, 2012
No great surprise, the world didn't end this morning, despite the histrionics of fools mixing a misunderstanding of ancient Mayan calendar cycles with what one expert interviewed referred to as a need to periodically find something to freak out about. And since the world is still here we get one of my favorite days of the year, the winter solstice.
Astronomically, it's the day the Earth is closest to the Sun and, due to the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis, the day in the northern hemisphere which has the least number of hours of daylight. Historically it has been a day which is celebrated for a variety of reasons.
Me, I just like the fact that from here on out for the next six months we'll gain a couple minutes of daylight each day, so that in a month or two I'll actually be able to go outside after work and walk, run, snowshoe, ski, or ride using natural light rather than the light of a headlamp (or no light at all.)
Bring on the daylight!
JMH
Friday, December 21, 2012
No great surprise, the world didn't end this morning, despite the histrionics of fools mixing a misunderstanding of ancient Mayan calendar cycles with what one expert interviewed referred to as a need to periodically find something to freak out about. And since the world is still here we get one of my favorite days of the year, the winter solstice.
Astronomically, it's the day the Earth is closest to the Sun and, due to the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis, the day in the northern hemisphere which has the least number of hours of daylight. Historically it has been a day which is celebrated for a variety of reasons.
Me, I just like the fact that from here on out for the next six months we'll gain a couple minutes of daylight each day, so that in a month or two I'll actually be able to go outside after work and walk, run, snowshoe, ski, or ride using natural light rather than the light of a headlamp (or no light at all.)
Bring on the daylight!
JMH
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Dougie MacLean Concert!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Apparently Dougie MacLean is doing another short tour of gigs on the east coast in May, 2013. His performance this past May was an absolute joy - so I definitely have something to look forward to in mid-May!
JMH
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Apparently Dougie MacLean is doing another short tour of gigs on the east coast in May, 2013. His performance this past May was an absolute joy - so I definitely have something to look forward to in mid-May!
JMH
Friday, December 14, 2012
There Are No Words...
Friday, December 14, 2012
... that can adequately express my thoughts and feelings about the tragedy that occurred in CT today.
Twenty children dead, just because they happened to go to school where his mother worked and were in the classrooms that sick bastard decided to make a killing ground.
Six teachers and staff dead, just because they happened to work there, very likely because they loved working with kids.
There are no words.
Hold your loved ones and appreciate the time you have with them. Because it only takes a fraction of a second for them to be gone without warning.
JMH
Friday, December 14, 2012
... that can adequately express my thoughts and feelings about the tragedy that occurred in CT today.
Twenty children dead, just because they happened to go to school where his mother worked and were in the classrooms that sick bastard decided to make a killing ground.
Six teachers and staff dead, just because they happened to work there, very likely because they loved working with kids.
There are no words.
Hold your loved ones and appreciate the time you have with them. Because it only takes a fraction of a second for them to be gone without warning.
JMH
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
BSOD Problem Solved?
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Installed the new (smaller) RAM tonight... everything running smoothly so far, and the memory diagnostic no longer shows the hardware problem it detected previously. Here's hoping the BSOD is now a thing of the past... time will (most certainly) tell.
Anybody want to buy a barely used pair of Corsair DDR3 1333Mhz 8 GB RAM DIMMs? Perhaps it's time to revive my selling account on Ebay again...
JMH
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Installed the new (smaller) RAM tonight... everything running smoothly so far, and the memory diagnostic no longer shows the hardware problem it detected previously. Here's hoping the BSOD is now a thing of the past... time will (most certainly) tell.
Anybody want to buy a barely used pair of Corsair DDR3 1333Mhz 8 GB RAM DIMMs? Perhaps it's time to revive my selling account on Ebay again...
JMH
Monday, December 10, 2012
BSOD Problem Diagnosed?
Monday, December 10, 2012
At irregular intervals pretty much ever since I got the new PC up and running, it's been hit with BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) crashes... and I've somewhat half-heartedly tried to diagnose the problem and fix it, without much success (I say half-heartedly, because whole-heartedly would mean digging into the log files it stores when a crash occurs - and I don't have much enthusiasm for that prospect, though I might have to do it anyway if this doesn't solve the problem.)
A lot of what I've read online suggests the problem is either a driver conflict (quite possible, since I'm running plenty of stuff designed for earlier versions of Windows on Windows 7) or a memory issue. Late last week I ran a diagnostic which informed me that my RAM/memory has hardware problems (!) and that I should contact HP for assistance. A little more research revealed that I didn't read the "fine print" as well as I'd thought when I chose this particular PC - it came with 8 GB of RAM that I assumed could be upgraded to whatever I want/can afford in the future, and in fact I installed an extra 16 GB when I set up the computer (only to discover that Windows 7 Home Edition only supports a total of 16 GB, requiring me to shell out another $70 for a key code to unlock my access to Windows 7 Professional Edition... thanks, Microsoft.) Now I've found out that the maximum RAM the motherboard is supposed to support is 16 GB (4x4 GB) rather than the 24 GB I've got installed.
Oddly enough, much of what I've read suggests that if the extra RAM is a problem the PC won't boot... or else the PC will only recognize the maximum amount. Mine boots fine (for the most part... it freezes occasionally after an update or crash) and claims it's seeing all 24 GB. At the same time, several sources are adamant that this critter will only support 16 GB, so I've ordered a pair of relatively inexpensive 4 GB chips to see if that solves the problem...
JMH
Ironically, a couple of hours after I posted this... another BSOD crash. Sigh...
Monday, December 10, 2012
At irregular intervals pretty much ever since I got the new PC up and running, it's been hit with BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) crashes... and I've somewhat half-heartedly tried to diagnose the problem and fix it, without much success (I say half-heartedly, because whole-heartedly would mean digging into the log files it stores when a crash occurs - and I don't have much enthusiasm for that prospect, though I might have to do it anyway if this doesn't solve the problem.)
A lot of what I've read online suggests the problem is either a driver conflict (quite possible, since I'm running plenty of stuff designed for earlier versions of Windows on Windows 7) or a memory issue. Late last week I ran a diagnostic which informed me that my RAM/memory has hardware problems (!) and that I should contact HP for assistance. A little more research revealed that I didn't read the "fine print" as well as I'd thought when I chose this particular PC - it came with 8 GB of RAM that I assumed could be upgraded to whatever I want/can afford in the future, and in fact I installed an extra 16 GB when I set up the computer (only to discover that Windows 7 Home Edition only supports a total of 16 GB, requiring me to shell out another $70 for a key code to unlock my access to Windows 7 Professional Edition... thanks, Microsoft.) Now I've found out that the maximum RAM the motherboard is supposed to support is 16 GB (4x4 GB) rather than the 24 GB I've got installed.
Oddly enough, much of what I've read suggests that if the extra RAM is a problem the PC won't boot... or else the PC will only recognize the maximum amount. Mine boots fine (for the most part... it freezes occasionally after an update or crash) and claims it's seeing all 24 GB. At the same time, several sources are adamant that this critter will only support 16 GB, so I've ordered a pair of relatively inexpensive 4 GB chips to see if that solves the problem...
JMH
Ironically, a couple of hours after I posted this... another BSOD crash. Sigh...
Sunday, December 09, 2012
GEESE DESCENDING IN THE DARKNESS...
1 Mile Walk at Ooms Conservation Area
Sunday, December 9, 2012
So, with Sachuest Point NWR closed - what to do, what to do... had the TomTom map the route home, then tried to find an Audubon sanctuary that was listed as being near that route, but didn't have enough address info to pull it up. Considered heading back southwest along the coast and stopping at either Ninigret, Barn Island, or Bluff Point - but that route would have added another 30-40 minutes just to the drive. In the end I decided to try visiting Quabbin Park (a park at the southern end of the immense Quabbin Reservoir in central MA) but then was tired enough during the drive that I decided to pass on the extra 30-40 minutes of driving that would require and maybe just do a quick side trip to Ooms on the way home.
Arrived just after sunset, still enough light to see by. Not many geese on the pond. The beavers have been busy - some new trees chomped since my last visit during daylight. And the recent rain has some of the paths pretty squishy.
I started up the hill to the gazebo as it got a bit darker, then heard some geese approaching from the air - a small group, maybe a dozen, but it was funny the racket they made once they landed and the various groups started honking to each other (perhaps establishing some form of "my side/your side"?) As it got darker several much larger groups flew in an landed - couldn't see them land, but I could hear the splash and the sudden increase in honks. By the time I headed back to the car I'd guess there were a couple of hundred geese on the pond.
I have to wonder... were the geese who flew in after dark off getting food in one of the fields nearby, or were they groups that are in the midst of migrating who flew as many miles as they could before dark and then stopped at the pond for the night?
JMH
1 Mile Walk at Ooms Conservation Area
Sunday, December 9, 2012
So, with Sachuest Point NWR closed - what to do, what to do... had the TomTom map the route home, then tried to find an Audubon sanctuary that was listed as being near that route, but didn't have enough address info to pull it up. Considered heading back southwest along the coast and stopping at either Ninigret, Barn Island, or Bluff Point - but that route would have added another 30-40 minutes just to the drive. In the end I decided to try visiting Quabbin Park (a park at the southern end of the immense Quabbin Reservoir in central MA) but then was tired enough during the drive that I decided to pass on the extra 30-40 minutes of driving that would require and maybe just do a quick side trip to Ooms on the way home.
Arrived just after sunset, still enough light to see by. Not many geese on the pond. The beavers have been busy - some new trees chomped since my last visit during daylight. And the recent rain has some of the paths pretty squishy.
I started up the hill to the gazebo as it got a bit darker, then heard some geese approaching from the air - a small group, maybe a dozen, but it was funny the racket they made once they landed and the various groups started honking to each other (perhaps establishing some form of "my side/your side"?) As it got darker several much larger groups flew in an landed - couldn't see them land, but I could hear the splash and the sudden increase in honks. By the time I headed back to the car I'd guess there were a couple of hundred geese on the pond.
I have to wonder... were the geese who flew in after dark off getting food in one of the fields nearby, or were they groups that are in the midst of migrating who flew as many miles as they could before dark and then stopped at the pond for the night?
JMH
Saturday, December 08, 2012
WHERE'S THE WATER?
2.8 Mile Walk at Trustom Pond NWR
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Ended up passing on leaving early for Rome Point - the weather forecasts all called for rain, which meant I wouldn't want to bring along my good camera... and if I'm going to see the seals, I want that extra zoom.
By the time I got going, I only had enough daylight left to stop at one park, so I decided Trustom Pond was my best bet - all three times I've been there it's always been a treat. I was a little bit concerned by the on-and-off showers on the drive down, but once I crossed into Rhode Island the sun started peeking through the clouds. When I got to Trustom Pond the one other person there was leaving - a whole National Wildlife Refuge all to myself, how cool is that?
After watching the birds at the feeders for a little bit, I started out by heading to Otter Point. Spent a few minutes watching a few ducks and a pair of muskrats in the small farm pond along the way. Not as many birds in the trees along the path as during the summer, but that's to be expected in December.
What I wasn't expecting was the condition of the huge coastal pond.
The shallows to the west of Otter Point were mostly open to the air - a big mud flat with a few trickles of water running through it. The other parts of the pond had very, very low water levels. The last time I was here in the fall, the pond was alive with ducks, gulls, swans, coots, cormorants, and scaups... waterfowl everywhere. Today I saw a few small groups of mallards.
From there I headed back through the woods over to Osprey Point, where of course things were just as bad. I did spot a few more birds far out in the pond - a group of cormorants and a blue heron, and across the pond a few geese and a flock of gulls. Given the comparable sizes, I suspect they were Black-backed Gulls.
By then the sun was starting to go down, so I headed back through the woods and along the field to the parking lot. Spotted a couple of rabbits along the path just before I got back to the visitors center.
As I drove to Newport to crash for the night, I couldn't help wondering what had happened. As far as I knew, the pond wasn't tidal, and even if it was - I was there near high tide. I could hear the ocean breakers crashing on the far side of the barrier beach. A little research after dinner gave me the explanation...
Hurricane Sandy.
Apparently one of the effects of the storm was a breach on the barrier beach, as shown in this set of photos from the National Fish and Wildlife Service. Saltwater poured into the freshwater pond, then much of the water poured back out when the storm surge receded. Along the way many of the freshwater fish in the pond died from the newly brackish water. While it's certainly possible that the lack of waterfowl is because it's almost a month later than the last time I was here in the late fall (perhaps they've migrated further south by now) it seems likely that the changes to the pond have also had a major impact, from loss of food and habitat to the higher salinity of the water.
I guess only time will tell if this wonderful and somewhat unique habitat (it was the only coastal freshwater pond in RI with an undeveloped shoreline) will bounce back - tough to imagine, given that there are no significant streams that drain into the pond - or if it will become a new ecosystem quite different from what it was pre-Sandy. All I know for sure is that I'm very grateful I got to visit it several times before this happened.
JMH
2.8 Mile Walk at Trustom Pond NWR
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Ended up passing on leaving early for Rome Point - the weather forecasts all called for rain, which meant I wouldn't want to bring along my good camera... and if I'm going to see the seals, I want that extra zoom.
By the time I got going, I only had enough daylight left to stop at one park, so I decided Trustom Pond was my best bet - all three times I've been there it's always been a treat. I was a little bit concerned by the on-and-off showers on the drive down, but once I crossed into Rhode Island the sun started peeking through the clouds. When I got to Trustom Pond the one other person there was leaving - a whole National Wildlife Refuge all to myself, how cool is that?
After watching the birds at the feeders for a little bit, I started out by heading to Otter Point. Spent a few minutes watching a few ducks and a pair of muskrats in the small farm pond along the way. Not as many birds in the trees along the path as during the summer, but that's to be expected in December.
What I wasn't expecting was the condition of the huge coastal pond.
The shallows to the west of Otter Point were mostly open to the air - a big mud flat with a few trickles of water running through it. The other parts of the pond had very, very low water levels. The last time I was here in the fall, the pond was alive with ducks, gulls, swans, coots, cormorants, and scaups... waterfowl everywhere. Today I saw a few small groups of mallards.
From there I headed back through the woods over to Osprey Point, where of course things were just as bad. I did spot a few more birds far out in the pond - a group of cormorants and a blue heron, and across the pond a few geese and a flock of gulls. Given the comparable sizes, I suspect they were Black-backed Gulls.
By then the sun was starting to go down, so I headed back through the woods and along the field to the parking lot. Spotted a couple of rabbits along the path just before I got back to the visitors center.
As I drove to Newport to crash for the night, I couldn't help wondering what had happened. As far as I knew, the pond wasn't tidal, and even if it was - I was there near high tide. I could hear the ocean breakers crashing on the far side of the barrier beach. A little research after dinner gave me the explanation...
Hurricane Sandy.
Apparently one of the effects of the storm was a breach on the barrier beach, as shown in this set of photos from the National Fish and Wildlife Service. Saltwater poured into the freshwater pond, then much of the water poured back out when the storm surge receded. Along the way many of the freshwater fish in the pond died from the newly brackish water. While it's certainly possible that the lack of waterfowl is because it's almost a month later than the last time I was here in the late fall (perhaps they've migrated further south by now) it seems likely that the changes to the pond have also had a major impact, from loss of food and habitat to the higher salinity of the water.
I guess only time will tell if this wonderful and somewhat unique habitat (it was the only coastal freshwater pond in RI with an undeveloped shoreline) will bounce back - tough to imagine, given that there are no significant streams that drain into the pond - or if it will become a new ecosystem quite different from what it was pre-Sandy. All I know for sure is that I'm very grateful I got to visit it several times before this happened.
JMH
Friday, December 07, 2012
LIGHTLY RAINING...
1.4 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Friday, December 7, 2012
By the time I got home from work my walking options were very limited, at least if I wanted to be done before it got too dark. Plus the original plan was to head down to southeastern CT tonight, before heading to RI early tomorrow morning for a potential sighting of the Rome Point seals. And I haven't been to Buckingham Lake in a while...
I circled the pond in each direction, enjoying the emptiness of the path, the lights shining in the dim evening, and the sound of the very light rain. I was almost tempted to do a third loop - it felt good to be outdoors after being in the classroom all day - but decided to head home instead, so I wouldn't get on the road too awfully late.
1.4 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Friday, December 7, 2012
By the time I got home from work my walking options were very limited, at least if I wanted to be done before it got too dark. Plus the original plan was to head down to southeastern CT tonight, before heading to RI early tomorrow morning for a potential sighting of the Rome Point seals. And I haven't been to Buckingham Lake in a while...
After all the people who hang out there in the summer, it always amuses me to show up on an afternoon like today (chilly, dim, and rainy) and see almost nobody. Sometimes it definitely makes for a more pleasant walk!
There was a very light layer of ice on the water - you could hear it chiming as the rain hit it - and a decent-sized group of ducks either standing precariously on the ice or paddling in places where they'd broken through. They were a lot jumpier than usual, possibly because the ice makes it hard for them to get away without flying.
I circled the pond in each direction, enjoying the emptiness of the path, the lights shining in the dim evening, and the sound of the very light rain. I was almost tempted to do a third loop - it felt good to be outdoors after being in the classroom all day - but decided to head home instead, so I wouldn't get on the road too awfully late.
Except that over the course of dinner and wrapping things up so I could go, I found myself dozing off in a variety of locations... checked the weather forecast for Rome Point (rain all morning)... and ultimately decided to eat the loss of my Choice Rewards points (it was too late to cancel tonight's room) in favor of getting a bit more sleep. Don't know yet if I'll leave super-early and try to see the seals, or at a slightly more reasonable time and try to get to southern RI after the rain has let up... morning will tell...
JMH
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Saturday, December 01, 2012
On the Road to - Danbury!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Lots of memories stirred up driving down the TSP (Taconic State Parkway) and on I84 to Danbury this evening. A couple of years into grad school in CT, I decided I wanted to get to karate class at least once a week (I had started training during my senior year of high school, then only got to classes during breaks and the summer while I was in college, and once every month or so when I went off to grad school.) I spent a lot of time driving back and forth on the Taconic... a little less on I84, because after a while I started taking side roads for part of the trip just to provide some variety and help me stay awake.
Tomorrow I run for the first time in three weeks. Sounds like either a great idea or one of the dumbest things I've done in a while... guess I'll have a better idea which after 6 miles on the trails tomorrow, when I find out how much grief my foot is going to give me afterwards.
JMH
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Lots of memories stirred up driving down the TSP (Taconic State Parkway) and on I84 to Danbury this evening. A couple of years into grad school in CT, I decided I wanted to get to karate class at least once a week (I had started training during my senior year of high school, then only got to classes during breaks and the summer while I was in college, and once every month or so when I went off to grad school.) I spent a lot of time driving back and forth on the Taconic... a little less on I84, because after a while I started taking side roads for part of the trip just to provide some variety and help me stay awake.
Tomorrow I run for the first time in three weeks. Sounds like either a great idea or one of the dumbest things I've done in a while... guess I'll have a better idea which after 6 miles on the trails tomorrow, when I find out how much grief my foot is going to give me afterwards.
JMH
OOMS AFTER DARK...
1.3 Mile Walk at Ooms Conservation Area
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Meant to go for a short run this week and see how the foot responded... didn't happen. Meant to go for a walk las night... didn't happen. Busy week, work-wise, plus it doesn't help that two nights I came home and ended up falling asleep for a while in the evening - not sleeping soundly at night is definitely taking a toll. Then last night I had what is becoming an annoyingly common experience - took the car in for a half hour procedure (swap on the winter tires) and walked out almost 2 1/2 hours later (4 wheel allignment, with the machine apparently acting cranky.)
Today, on the other hand, seemed pretty safe. Spend a big chunk of the morning doing laundry, then pack a couple bags and head for CT, with stops for walking along the way. Except sorting the dang laundry took longer than I anticipated (probably because I don't usually sort it, but today there was just too much and it needed to be sorted for me to get it all back home.) And then the computer started acting up in a new way (the card reader has vanished from the system. Worked fine last night when I transferred an album to the card in my player for the car, but today - nothing.) And a dozen other little things popped up, culminating in a request from the guys upstairs to check their water heater and my discovering that it had died much like my own did a little over a year ago, which meant conversations with the landlord, etc, etc.
Enough griping. I almost gave up on going for a walk today, but then decided that I could stop at Ooms on the way south, and that's what I did. Walked up to the gazebo and back. Would have been nice if the night sky had been clear, since it's just past the full moon, but instead it was cloudy - which led to a bit of an unfortunate surprise. I always remember cloudy nights being pitch black out in the fields - can't see your hand in front of your face. But in the areas around Ooms there's an incredible amount of light pollution, and not just over by Albany/Rensselaer like you'd expect. Even without the moon I had no trouble seeing the path (of course, the half inch of snow helped.) Geese were noisy out on the pond, and every once in a while I could see their dark shapes against the silvery reflection of the sky on the water.
Walking at Ooms tonight definitely improved my mood... with luck it will still be light enough for me to stop there on the way home tomorrow as well, and maybe actually see where I'm walking a little more clearly.
JMH
1.3 Mile Walk at Ooms Conservation Area
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Meant to go for a short run this week and see how the foot responded... didn't happen. Meant to go for a walk las night... didn't happen. Busy week, work-wise, plus it doesn't help that two nights I came home and ended up falling asleep for a while in the evening - not sleeping soundly at night is definitely taking a toll. Then last night I had what is becoming an annoyingly common experience - took the car in for a half hour procedure (swap on the winter tires) and walked out almost 2 1/2 hours later (4 wheel allignment, with the machine apparently acting cranky.)
Today, on the other hand, seemed pretty safe. Spend a big chunk of the morning doing laundry, then pack a couple bags and head for CT, with stops for walking along the way. Except sorting the dang laundry took longer than I anticipated (probably because I don't usually sort it, but today there was just too much and it needed to be sorted for me to get it all back home.) And then the computer started acting up in a new way (the card reader has vanished from the system. Worked fine last night when I transferred an album to the card in my player for the car, but today - nothing.) And a dozen other little things popped up, culminating in a request from the guys upstairs to check their water heater and my discovering that it had died much like my own did a little over a year ago, which meant conversations with the landlord, etc, etc.
Enough griping. I almost gave up on going for a walk today, but then decided that I could stop at Ooms on the way south, and that's what I did. Walked up to the gazebo and back. Would have been nice if the night sky had been clear, since it's just past the full moon, but instead it was cloudy - which led to a bit of an unfortunate surprise. I always remember cloudy nights being pitch black out in the fields - can't see your hand in front of your face. But in the areas around Ooms there's an incredible amount of light pollution, and not just over by Albany/Rensselaer like you'd expect. Even without the moon I had no trouble seeing the path (of course, the half inch of snow helped.) Geese were noisy out on the pond, and every once in a while I could see their dark shapes against the silvery reflection of the sky on the water.
Walking at Ooms tonight definitely improved my mood... with luck it will still be light enough for me to stop there on the way home tomorrow as well, and maybe actually see where I'm walking a little more clearly.
JMH
Monday, November 26, 2012
AND LEST I FORGET...
Monday, November 26, 2012
BUY! BUY! BUY!
ONLY 3 HRS 17 MIN LEFT UNTIL THE END OF THE BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY/WHATEVER-THE-HECK TUESDAY DEALS!!!!!
(Unless of course they decide to extend them so that you can BUY! BUY! BUY!)
I've gotten between 75 and 100 e-mails today - and at least 1/3 of them have been advertisements of some sort pushing this or that "BIG SALE."
Give me a break.
Somehow I can't help thinking about the John Carpenter movie "They Live", which stars "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as a drifter who accidentally discovers that aliens have taken over and are controlling the world through subliminal messages like "OBEY" and "CONSUME" - money even has "THIS IS YOUR GOD" printed on it - basically all geared to keep people moving along as mindless sheep supporting the status quo.
Kind of like the next month or so of mindless massive consumerism.
Somehow I think the various corporations and businesses looking tor rake in profits over the next month would love to get their hands on a little of the alien action. I understand that the retail sector counts on the holiday season to turn a profit, but in my opinion it's gotten ridiculous. Thank heavens I don't get broadcast or cable TV - it's bad enough getting bombarded by the BUY! BUY! BUY! message through e-mail and online.
JMH
Monday, November 26, 2012
BUY! BUY! BUY!
ONLY 3 HRS 17 MIN LEFT UNTIL THE END OF THE BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY/WHATEVER-THE-HECK TUESDAY DEALS!!!!!
(Unless of course they decide to extend them so that you can BUY! BUY! BUY!)
I've gotten between 75 and 100 e-mails today - and at least 1/3 of them have been advertisements of some sort pushing this or that "BIG SALE."
Give me a break.
Somehow I can't help thinking about the John Carpenter movie "They Live", which stars "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as a drifter who accidentally discovers that aliens have taken over and are controlling the world through subliminal messages like "OBEY" and "CONSUME" - money even has "THIS IS YOUR GOD" printed on it - basically all geared to keep people moving along as mindless sheep supporting the status quo.
Kind of like the next month or so of mindless massive consumerism.
Somehow I think the various corporations and businesses looking tor rake in profits over the next month would love to get their hands on a little of the alien action. I understand that the retail sector counts on the holiday season to turn a profit, but in my opinion it's gotten ridiculous. Thank heavens I don't get broadcast or cable TV - it's bad enough getting bombarded by the BUY! BUY! BUY! message through e-mail and online.
JMH
MIRROR REPLACED
Monday, November 26, 2012
Ordered two new mirrors from Amazon last week, they arrived today. Twenty minutes of work and hey presto, I once again have a passenger side mirror on the Honda Civic. The unpainted black finish doesn't even look too bad - I imagine it will almost look like it was intended to be that way, once I replace the driver's side mirror (not today - it's getting cold, dark, and damp out there...)
JMH
Monday, November 26, 2012
Ordered two new mirrors from Amazon last week, they arrived today. Twenty minutes of work and hey presto, I once again have a passenger side mirror on the Honda Civic. The unpainted black finish doesn't even look too bad - I imagine it will almost look like it was intended to be that way, once I replace the driver's side mirror (not today - it's getting cold, dark, and damp out there...)
JMH
Sunday, November 25, 2012
CYBER MONDAY DISCOUNT ON 2013 EMPIRE PASSPORTS
Sunday, November 25, 2012
I've purchased an Empire Passport for the last couple of years, in part to make it easier to go to NY State Parks in-season (many parks don't charge an entrance fee during fall, winter, and spring) and in part to support our state park system, which has been struggling due to years of budget cutbacks and ever-rising maintenance costs. And I was planning to get a new one next spring when my current one expires.
So I was very happy to hear that the Dept of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation is offering a discount tomorrow on the 2013 Empire Passports - $40 instead of $65, but they can only be purchased on-line. This is a great deal - you only need to make 6-7 visits in the summer for it to pay for itself - and I strongly encourage anyone who is a supporter of our wonderful NYS Parks to pick one up at the discounted price. In addition to the reasons I gave above, I also suspect it's s subtle vote for the importance of our state parks - the more people who buy them, the harder it is for the folks in Albany to claim that parks just aren't a priority to NYS residents.
The press release is included below:
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites is getting into the holiday spirit early, discounting the cost of the $65 Empire Passport to $40 for a special Cyber Monday online promotion.
"One cannot put a value on all the benefits of spending time outdoors," said State Park Commissioner Rose Harvey. "Whether you are purchasing the discounted Empire Passport for loved ones or for yourself, I am pleased that we are able to offer the affordable, yet indispensable gift, of health and fun this holiday season."
The discount will strictly apply only to online orders placed between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 26. Purchases will be accepted online at www.nysparks.com during this time, but will not be accepted in person or by phone. Each customer will be able to purchase up to three passes at the reduced price.
The Empire Passport offers unlimited vehicle access to New York State Parks for all four seasons. The 2013 Passport will be valid now through March 31, 2014, at upwards of 250 state-operated parks, recreation areas, boat launch sites, arboretums and forest preserve sites.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 179 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 58 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
I've purchased an Empire Passport for the last couple of years, in part to make it easier to go to NY State Parks in-season (many parks don't charge an entrance fee during fall, winter, and spring) and in part to support our state park system, which has been struggling due to years of budget cutbacks and ever-rising maintenance costs. And I was planning to get a new one next spring when my current one expires.
So I was very happy to hear that the Dept of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation is offering a discount tomorrow on the 2013 Empire Passports - $40 instead of $65, but they can only be purchased on-line. This is a great deal - you only need to make 6-7 visits in the summer for it to pay for itself - and I strongly encourage anyone who is a supporter of our wonderful NYS Parks to pick one up at the discounted price. In addition to the reasons I gave above, I also suspect it's s subtle vote for the importance of our state parks - the more people who buy them, the harder it is for the folks in Albany to claim that parks just aren't a priority to NYS residents.
The press release is included below:
Cyber Monday Deal Offers Discounted 2013 Season Pass for Online Sales
State Parks to offer invaluable gift of outdoors at specially reduced price
"One cannot put a value on all the benefits of spending time outdoors," said State Park Commissioner Rose Harvey. "Whether you are purchasing the discounted Empire Passport for loved ones or for yourself, I am pleased that we are able to offer the affordable, yet indispensable gift, of health and fun this holiday season."
The discount will strictly apply only to online orders placed between 12 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 26. Purchases will be accepted online at www.nysparks.com during this time, but will not be accepted in person or by phone. Each customer will be able to purchase up to three passes at the reduced price.
The Empire Passport offers unlimited vehicle access to New York State Parks for all four seasons. The 2013 Passport will be valid now through March 31, 2014, at upwards of 250 state-operated parks, recreation areas, boat launch sites, arboretums and forest preserve sites.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 179 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 58 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, or follow on Twitter.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
NO RT TURKEY RUN FOR THE TURTLE...
Saturday, November 24, 2012
I'd been looking forward to taking a shot at the RT Turkey Run at Mendon Ponds Park all week... both to see how my foot would react and to finally have a chance to run again! But as I thought about it yesterday I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to have my first run in two weeks be a race, where I'd be more likely to overdo it (and less likely to stop if partway through it wasn't going well.) So I reluctantly bailed on yet another enjoyable run this month... but at least it leaves me more time to spend with Ann today...
JMH
Saturday, November 24, 2012
I'd been looking forward to taking a shot at the RT Turkey Run at Mendon Ponds Park all week... both to see how my foot would react and to finally have a chance to run again! But as I thought about it yesterday I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to have my first run in two weeks be a race, where I'd be more likely to overdo it (and less likely to stop if partway through it wasn't going well.) So I reluctantly bailed on yet another enjoyable run this month... but at least it leaves me more time to spend with Ann today...
JMH
Friday, November 23, 2012
CAN TURTLES FIX BIKES?
Friday, November 23, 2012
I suppose it depends on the turtle and on what needs fixing on the bike...
In this case, two of Ann's bikes were down for the count, and since that's her primary means to getting back and forth to work (because parking costs an outrageous amount) it's important to have them rolling again.
I tackled the backup, her mountain bike, first. Two broken links on the chain. So I sized a new chain and installed it... then had to take it apart again because I hadn't threaded it through the front derailleur, and the screw holding the derailleur closed was stripping when I tried to take it apart. Idiot! But the nice thing about replacing chains is it's not too difficult, as long as you're slow and careful so you don't push the rivet all the way out. But it is definitely a grungy job.
Then I went after her primary ride, an ancient steel 12 speed. The initial problem there was a flat, aggravated by the fact that after she replaced the dead tube, the next morning she found the tire flat again. Replaced both tires and tubes, the latter with ones that have some flat-sealing gunk in them - in general I don't like that stuff (it's clogged too many of my air valves) but she rides through enough nasty pointy stuff that's it's a worthwhile extra precaution. Also tightened the front axle a bit and cleaned/lubed the chain, plus I removed a few items she isn't using (bike computer, pump bracket, etc.)
Unfortunately with the cold weather returning I don't have much hope I'll get her to test the bikes out on the street tomorrow... hopefully they will hold up for her trips to and from work for the foreseeable future.
JMH
Friday, November 23, 2012
I suppose it depends on the turtle and on what needs fixing on the bike...
In this case, two of Ann's bikes were down for the count, and since that's her primary means to getting back and forth to work (because parking costs an outrageous amount) it's important to have them rolling again.
I tackled the backup, her mountain bike, first. Two broken links on the chain. So I sized a new chain and installed it... then had to take it apart again because I hadn't threaded it through the front derailleur, and the screw holding the derailleur closed was stripping when I tried to take it apart. Idiot! But the nice thing about replacing chains is it's not too difficult, as long as you're slow and careful so you don't push the rivet all the way out. But it is definitely a grungy job.
Then I went after her primary ride, an ancient steel 12 speed. The initial problem there was a flat, aggravated by the fact that after she replaced the dead tube, the next morning she found the tire flat again. Replaced both tires and tubes, the latter with ones that have some flat-sealing gunk in them - in general I don't like that stuff (it's clogged too many of my air valves) but she rides through enough nasty pointy stuff that's it's a worthwhile extra precaution. Also tightened the front axle a bit and cleaned/lubed the chain, plus I removed a few items she isn't using (bike computer, pump bracket, etc.)
Unfortunately with the cold weather returning I don't have much hope I'll get her to test the bikes out on the street tomorrow... hopefully they will hold up for her trips to and from work for the foreseeable future.
JMH
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
MIGHT AS WELL FACE IT...
No Seashore Nature Trail 50k for the Turtle
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I haven't run for almost two weeks, and my foot hasn't bounced back to normal... more like a slow crawl punctuated by occasionally being dragged backwards every once in a while when I do something stupid. I suspect this is going to be a slow-healing injury that I'm going to have to manage carefully so that I can be ready for the Big Island Marathon in March and Rock the Ridge in May - and attempting a 50k after little or no running for 6 weeks doesn't qualify as careful management. In any case, the 50k was going to be a struggle after spending November training for it - as things stand now, it's questionable if I'd even be able to finish in 8 1/2 hours, regardless of the state it would leave my foot in afterwards.
So I'm doing the smart, mature thing and pulling myself out of the 50k, growling and snarling all the way, damn it.
Hopefully taking it easy for the next month or so will leave me in a better place going into snowshoe season and next year's running season. And in the meantime I'll try to do some thinking and see if I can figure out how to have my running in 2013 not suck nearly as much as I did in 2012.
Can we have some cheese to go with all this whine? Sigh.
JMH
No Seashore Nature Trail 50k for the Turtle
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I haven't run for almost two weeks, and my foot hasn't bounced back to normal... more like a slow crawl punctuated by occasionally being dragged backwards every once in a while when I do something stupid. I suspect this is going to be a slow-healing injury that I'm going to have to manage carefully so that I can be ready for the Big Island Marathon in March and Rock the Ridge in May - and attempting a 50k after little or no running for 6 weeks doesn't qualify as careful management. In any case, the 50k was going to be a struggle after spending November training for it - as things stand now, it's questionable if I'd even be able to finish in 8 1/2 hours, regardless of the state it would leave my foot in afterwards.
So I'm doing the smart, mature thing and pulling myself out of the 50k, growling and snarling all the way, damn it.
Hopefully taking it easy for the next month or so will leave me in a better place going into snowshoe season and next year's running season. And in the meantime I'll try to do some thinking and see if I can figure out how to have my running in 2013 not suck nearly as much as I did in 2012.
Can we have some cheese to go with all this whine? Sigh.
JMH
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
"LOOK! AN EAGLE!"
11.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for a ride today... didn't help that I was slightly under-dressed so my upper body was a little chilly the whole time, and I generally find the hats/neck gaiters/earbands I wear somewhat uncomfortable under my bike helmet (the straps are a little short, so even a thin hat underneath is a tight fit.) For a while I wondered if I might have been better off going for a walk instead.
But then I saw an eagle perched in one of the trees below the Lock 7 dam - that was cool, for a while I saw eagles almost every time I went to the bike path, but the last two years they've been mostly absent. And on the way back I spotted a female bufflehead near the Niska Isle bridge. That convinced me to tough it out a little longer - but only a little.
This colder weather's going to take some getting used to... at least until we get snow and ice and riding becomes too risky.
JMH
11.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for a ride today... didn't help that I was slightly under-dressed so my upper body was a little chilly the whole time, and I generally find the hats/neck gaiters/earbands I wear somewhat uncomfortable under my bike helmet (the straps are a little short, so even a thin hat underneath is a tight fit.) For a while I wondered if I might have been better off going for a walk instead.
But then I saw an eagle perched in one of the trees below the Lock 7 dam - that was cool, for a while I saw eagles almost every time I went to the bike path, but the last two years they've been mostly absent. And on the way back I spotted a female bufflehead near the Niska Isle bridge. That convinced me to tough it out a little longer - but only a little.
This colder weather's going to take some getting used to... at least until we get snow and ice and riding becomes too risky.
JMH
CITY LIVING STRIKES AGAIN...
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Stepped out on the porch to check the temperature this afternoon and noticed the mailman and a neighbor looking at my car - so I figured I'd better go see what was up. Once I got out there it was very clear - some @$$&#*%$$!!! decided to smash my passenger-side mirror last night. According to the mailman they hit several cars along the street, apparently I happened to be one of the folks who picked an unlucky number.
I'll never understand the compulsion to destroy other folks stuff for no reason - but then again there are enough immature jackass morons around here with way too much time on their hands that it's not that surprising.
I've got an e-mail to a friend who owns a body shop to get an estimate on having the mirror replaced professionally... and based on a little research I did online, I could probably even do it myself for about $50 in parts.
JMH
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Stepped out on the porch to check the temperature this afternoon and noticed the mailman and a neighbor looking at my car - so I figured I'd better go see what was up. Once I got out there it was very clear - some @$$&#*%$$!!! decided to smash my passenger-side mirror last night. According to the mailman they hit several cars along the street, apparently I happened to be one of the folks who picked an unlucky number.
I'll never understand the compulsion to destroy other folks stuff for no reason - but then again there are enough immature jackass morons around here with way too much time on their hands that it's not that surprising.
I've got an e-mail to a friend who owns a body shop to get an estimate on having the mirror replaced professionally... and based on a little research I did online, I could probably even do it myself for about $50 in parts.
JMH
Friday, November 16, 2012
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST...
Friday, November 16, 2012
I've been clinging stubbornly to my intention to run the Lil Rhody Runaround this Sunday, for a bunch of reasons - I enjoy the race a lot, it's one of my few remaining chances to run a race in RI this year, and I was also looking forward to visiting Trustom Pond NWR to check out the flocks of migrating waterfowl and Rome Point to hopefully check out the seals.
But - it's been a very long week at work, leaving me less than enthused about spending 8 hours driving this weekend. And while my foot has been slowly feeling better - I suspect it hasn't improved much beyond where it was last Saturday, when a short easy run left me limping around for a couple of days afterward. And at this point - if I'm going to have any chance of running the Seashore Nature Trail 50k, I don't know that I can afford more setbacks.
So at much as it aggravates me to do so - no Lil Rhody for me this weekend.
Sigh. Being injured really sucks.
JMH
Friday, November 16, 2012
I've been clinging stubbornly to my intention to run the Lil Rhody Runaround this Sunday, for a bunch of reasons - I enjoy the race a lot, it's one of my few remaining chances to run a race in RI this year, and I was also looking forward to visiting Trustom Pond NWR to check out the flocks of migrating waterfowl and Rome Point to hopefully check out the seals.
But - it's been a very long week at work, leaving me less than enthused about spending 8 hours driving this weekend. And while my foot has been slowly feeling better - I suspect it hasn't improved much beyond where it was last Saturday, when a short easy run left me limping around for a couple of days afterward. And at this point - if I'm going to have any chance of running the Seashore Nature Trail 50k, I don't know that I can afford more setbacks.
So at much as it aggravates me to do so - no Lil Rhody for me this weekend.
Sigh. Being injured really sucks.
JMH
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
0.7 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Ducked out of work briefly this afternoon, just enough time to go over to Buckingham Lake and walk around it once. One nice thing about the chilly weather - no crowds! Just a couple of people near the parking lot and a mom & kids at the playground.
The minus, of course, is a lot less wildlife - the usual mob of ducks hoping for a handout, plus a kingfisher I spotted from a distance.
Regardless - it was a real pleasure to spend half an hour or so outside, in daylight, after a long day at work (even if I had to go back to work afterwards.)
JMH
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Ducked out of work briefly this afternoon, just enough time to go over to Buckingham Lake and walk around it once. One nice thing about the chilly weather - no crowds! Just a couple of people near the parking lot and a mom & kids at the playground.
The minus, of course, is a lot less wildlife - the usual mob of ducks hoping for a handout, plus a kingfisher I spotted from a distance.
Regardless - it was a real pleasure to spend half an hour or so outside, in daylight, after a long day at work (even if I had to go back to work afterwards.)
JMH
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Sigh... A Missed Opportunity...
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I'm currently in the process of converting my music collection to digital (stage 1 - ripping CDs) and have also been expanding/updating a bit as I do so... which also has me thinking about which groups or performers I'd like to hear more of and then searching ebay and half.com for good deals. What can I say, I'm old-fashioned - I like having a CD to fall back to if something happens to one of those new-fangled digital file thingies all my students seem to think is the natural state for sharing music.
One of the groups I've enjoyed pretty consistently since college has been Battlefield Band. Their lineup has gone through tremendous changes over the decades (to the point where there are no longer any of the founding members still performing with the group) but they've maintained a consistently energetic and eclectic sound (if that makes any sense) incorporating a variety of instruments but always including bagpipes, fiddle, piano/keyboard, and guitars. Some groups I like because of their consistent sound (the Tannahill Weavers come to mind - they've found what works for them and kept at it for around 20 years with only minor changes) and some I like because of their variety - Battlefield Band is one of the latter, a band that understands and loves its traditional roots but also isn't afraid to try new things, as the "old surfing song from the Outer Hebrides" below demonstrates:
(OK... the visuals with that one are downright eerie, given the recent storm devastation in the NYC/NJ area)
Anyway, one drawback to my only occasional attention to music is I sometimes go looking for current info on an artist or group and discover that they recently performed in the area. A couple of years ago it was Dougie MacLean over in Pittsfield - thankfully I was able to attend his concert in Schenectady back in May - and this time around it turns out to be Battlefield Band, who were down in Hudson of all places, a mere three weeks ago.
Perhaps I need to do a better job of regularly checking for upcoming gigs, especially for artists and groups that don't come to the U.S. all that often. Might be another positive use for that infernal "social media" site that rhymes with "ace crook", much as I loathe spending any more time in its sinister clutches than I absolutely have to... more evidence of what an old-fashioned curmudgeon I am.
JMH
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I'm currently in the process of converting my music collection to digital (stage 1 - ripping CDs) and have also been expanding/updating a bit as I do so... which also has me thinking about which groups or performers I'd like to hear more of and then searching ebay and half.com for good deals. What can I say, I'm old-fashioned - I like having a CD to fall back to if something happens to one of those new-fangled digital file thingies all my students seem to think is the natural state for sharing music.
One of the groups I've enjoyed pretty consistently since college has been Battlefield Band. Their lineup has gone through tremendous changes over the decades (to the point where there are no longer any of the founding members still performing with the group) but they've maintained a consistently energetic and eclectic sound (if that makes any sense) incorporating a variety of instruments but always including bagpipes, fiddle, piano/keyboard, and guitars. Some groups I like because of their consistent sound (the Tannahill Weavers come to mind - they've found what works for them and kept at it for around 20 years with only minor changes) and some I like because of their variety - Battlefield Band is one of the latter, a band that understands and loves its traditional roots but also isn't afraid to try new things, as the "old surfing song from the Outer Hebrides" below demonstrates:
(OK... the visuals with that one are downright eerie, given the recent storm devastation in the NYC/NJ area)
Anyway, one drawback to my only occasional attention to music is I sometimes go looking for current info on an artist or group and discover that they recently performed in the area. A couple of years ago it was Dougie MacLean over in Pittsfield - thankfully I was able to attend his concert in Schenectady back in May - and this time around it turns out to be Battlefield Band, who were down in Hudson of all places, a mere three weeks ago.
Perhaps I need to do a better job of regularly checking for upcoming gigs, especially for artists and groups that don't come to the U.S. all that often. Might be another positive use for that infernal "social media" site that rhymes with "ace crook", much as I loathe spending any more time in its sinister clutches than I absolutely have to... more evidence of what an old-fashioned curmudgeon I am.
JMH
Monday, November 12, 2012
MORNING CRITTERS
2.5 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Monday, November 12, 2012
After yesterday's aborted trip to Five Rivers, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and a day off from work to make a rare early morning visit, reasoning that (1) there wouldn't be too many people around, and (2) the critters would probably be more active than they are mid-day. And happily I was right on both accounts - enough so that it made up for having to get up early on a day off.
I heard lots of woodpeckers today and spotted a few too - a couple of small downy's, and also a couple of pilated woodpeckers, including one which I had a fairly good view of for a while. Lots of small birds as well, especially chickadees (they seemed to be everywhere.) I even shot some slightly blurry video of a what I think was a wren singing very loudly.
The Beaver Pond hosted a heron which I startled initially but then seemed pretty cool about my hanging back on the trees taking pictures. The water was the highest I've seen it in some time, I would imagine in part due to the rain we've had recently but also because I think the beavers have raised the height of their dam along the edge of the spillway. The Heron Pond was also looking good, and the very itchy duck mob was hanging out on the fallen tree - some snoozing, most itching. I used to think they were so itchy because of feathers growing on but after months now - I wonder if they have mites or some other sort of parasite?
Wandered over to the smaller ponds past the old orchard and spent a while watching and photographing a red-tailed hawk that perched in several trees along the access road. Not much else going on in those ponds at the moment.
It was tough to tear myself away but I did want to get out on my bike and maybe walk at one or two other places today... and perhaps it was just as well, since more people were starting to arrive, complete with noisy children...
JMH
2.5 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Monday, November 12, 2012
After yesterday's aborted trip to Five Rivers, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and a day off from work to make a rare early morning visit, reasoning that (1) there wouldn't be too many people around, and (2) the critters would probably be more active than they are mid-day. And happily I was right on both accounts - enough so that it made up for having to get up early on a day off.
I heard lots of woodpeckers today and spotted a few too - a couple of small downy's, and also a couple of pilated woodpeckers, including one which I had a fairly good view of for a while. Lots of small birds as well, especially chickadees (they seemed to be everywhere.) I even shot some slightly blurry video of a what I think was a wren singing very loudly.
The Beaver Pond hosted a heron which I startled initially but then seemed pretty cool about my hanging back on the trees taking pictures. The water was the highest I've seen it in some time, I would imagine in part due to the rain we've had recently but also because I think the beavers have raised the height of their dam along the edge of the spillway. The Heron Pond was also looking good, and the very itchy duck mob was hanging out on the fallen tree - some snoozing, most itching. I used to think they were so itchy because of feathers growing on but after months now - I wonder if they have mites or some other sort of parasite?
Wandered over to the smaller ponds past the old orchard and spent a while watching and photographing a red-tailed hawk that perched in several trees along the access road. Not much else going on in those ponds at the moment.
It was tough to tear myself away but I did want to get out on my bike and maybe walk at one or two other places today... and perhaps it was just as well, since more people were starting to arrive, complete with noisy children...
JMH
Sunday, November 11, 2012
17.1 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Sunday, November 11, 2012
I had thought I would go for a walk at Five Rivers first, but when I got there the parking lot was packed and overflowing... and the thought of having to put up with that many people just did not appeal. So I headed over to the Lions Park in Niskayuna (which was also packed - guess folks appreciate a warm Sunday afternoon in November) and got on the bike an hour earlier than I planned.
Rode all the way to partway up GE's hill - then stopped to take pictures of a flock of geese grazing on the lawn, decided I'd had enough of hills, and headed back. Stopped just past the Niska Isle bridge on the way back to watch a heron hunting and some ducks dabbling. Just before the small parking area east of the Lions Park, I spotted a small raptor in the trees near the river. Stopped to take a picture and of course it flew off, followed a short while later by a red-tailed hawk that shrieked at me before heading for a different perch. Watching jumpy birds while wearing flourescent yellow just isn't a good plan.
Went all the way to the top of the hill past the water treatment plant - there was a deer crossing the grass as I pulled up, and on the way back I spotted a bat fluttering around and later on what I think might have been an owl - the brief glimpse I had as it flew across the path suggested a very rounded head. I considered doing a few more miles but decided to call it an evening - I'll have plenty of chances to ride in the dark over the coming weeks.
Foot ached on and off, but nothing too bad. My left knee hollered at me a couple of times - not sure what that was about, unless it's trying to warn me that favoring my right foot is stressing out my left side.
JMH
Sunday, November 11, 2012
I had thought I would go for a walk at Five Rivers first, but when I got there the parking lot was packed and overflowing... and the thought of having to put up with that many people just did not appeal. So I headed over to the Lions Park in Niskayuna (which was also packed - guess folks appreciate a warm Sunday afternoon in November) and got on the bike an hour earlier than I planned.
Rode all the way to partway up GE's hill - then stopped to take pictures of a flock of geese grazing on the lawn, decided I'd had enough of hills, and headed back. Stopped just past the Niska Isle bridge on the way back to watch a heron hunting and some ducks dabbling. Just before the small parking area east of the Lions Park, I spotted a small raptor in the trees near the river. Stopped to take a picture and of course it flew off, followed a short while later by a red-tailed hawk that shrieked at me before heading for a different perch. Watching jumpy birds while wearing flourescent yellow just isn't a good plan.
Went all the way to the top of the hill past the water treatment plant - there was a deer crossing the grass as I pulled up, and on the way back I spotted a bat fluttering around and later on what I think might have been an owl - the brief glimpse I had as it flew across the path suggested a very rounded head. I considered doing a few more miles but decided to call it an evening - I'll have plenty of chances to ride in the dark over the coming weeks.
Foot ached on and off, but nothing too bad. My left knee hollered at me a couple of times - not sure what that was about, unless it's trying to warn me that favoring my right foot is stressing out my left side.
JMH
So Much For After the Leaves...
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Yesterday's very easy run made it clear - any running in the near future is going to have painful consequences. And since I really want to be able to run the Lil Rhody Runaround next Sunday, that means the best plan is to skip After the Leaves Have Fallen today. Needless to say I am very unhappy about this - both the loss of today's run (though I might go to Minnewaska tomorrow and ride) and the fact that it throws in question my ability to run the Seashore Nature Trail 50k in mid- December.
Sigh. Injuries suck big time.
JMH
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Yesterday's very easy run made it clear - any running in the near future is going to have painful consequences. And since I really want to be able to run the Lil Rhody Runaround next Sunday, that means the best plan is to skip After the Leaves Have Fallen today. Needless to say I am very unhappy about this - both the loss of today's run (though I might go to Minnewaska tomorrow and ride) and the fact that it throws in question my ability to run the Seashore Nature Trail 50k in mid- December.
Sigh. Injuries suck big time.
JMH
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Friday, November 09, 2012
QUIET NIGHT...
2 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Friday, November 9, 2012
I had hoped to try going for a run tonight to see how my foot would react, but by the time I left work I was sufficiently tired and hungry that it just wasn't happening... actually, it took some doing for me to eventually convince myself to get off my lazy backside and make an extended walk to the store. I was surprised by how quiet it was... maybe it's early enough that the college kids haven't started partying yet, or maybe people are taking advantage of the long weekend to go away...
One of the reasons I like wandering around outdoors is all the things I end up thinking about and all the things I notice around me - something I think is a lost art, given that most people are endlessly distracted by their music, text messages, phone calls, and so on when they're out and about. As I walk around the Albany neighborhoods one of the things that stands out is how the houses are mostly up on hills, well above street level. And I wonder how that happened - it seems far too regular to be just a coincidence of geography. Were the streets dug down to run below the level of the houses, or was the land under the houses built up higher than the streets? And why? Drainage? Perhaps one of these days I'll do a bit of research about the architectural background of Albany and it's streets and find the answers... for now I just continue to ponder the questions while I'm out walking around.
JMH
2 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Friday, November 9, 2012
I had hoped to try going for a run tonight to see how my foot would react, but by the time I left work I was sufficiently tired and hungry that it just wasn't happening... actually, it took some doing for me to eventually convince myself to get off my lazy backside and make an extended walk to the store. I was surprised by how quiet it was... maybe it's early enough that the college kids haven't started partying yet, or maybe people are taking advantage of the long weekend to go away...
One of the reasons I like wandering around outdoors is all the things I end up thinking about and all the things I notice around me - something I think is a lost art, given that most people are endlessly distracted by their music, text messages, phone calls, and so on when they're out and about. As I walk around the Albany neighborhoods one of the things that stands out is how the houses are mostly up on hills, well above street level. And I wonder how that happened - it seems far too regular to be just a coincidence of geography. Were the streets dug down to run below the level of the houses, or was the land under the houses built up higher than the streets? And why? Drainage? Perhaps one of these days I'll do a bit of research about the architectural background of Albany and it's streets and find the answers... for now I just continue to ponder the questions while I'm out walking around.
JMH
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Feels More Like December...
1.2 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
No run tonight, thanks to my blasted foot... but I did manage to walk to the store and back to pick up some food. The "nor'easter" is supposed to come through later tonight, with the possibility of a bit of snow (a couple of inches, tops) and possibly some rain. Tonight was cold and damp, with spatters of very fine, very wet snow coming down... brrr. The last few days have felt much more like mid-December than early November.
And it doesn't even have the distinction of "first snow of the season" since it barely qualified as snow, plus I drove and ran in snow flurries Saturday morning...
JMH
1.2 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
No run tonight, thanks to my blasted foot... but I did manage to walk to the store and back to pick up some food. The "nor'easter" is supposed to come through later tonight, with the possibility of a bit of snow (a couple of inches, tops) and possibly some rain. Tonight was cold and damp, with spatters of very fine, very wet snow coming down... brrr. The last few days have felt much more like mid-December than early November.
And it doesn't even have the distinction of "first snow of the season" since it barely qualified as snow, plus I drove and ran in snow flurries Saturday morning...
JMH
@#$*&#%#!!!! Foot...
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Partway through my walk at Vischer Ferry yesterday the inner arch of my right foot began grumbling... and gradually progressed to hollering. I figured it was a cramp due to the fit/flex of the shoes I was wearing, changed shoes, and walked a little over 2 miles more yesterday with it still griping but not quite as much. And it kept hurting all evening.
Today I'm not nearly as confident about the cramp diagnosis - it's still pretty painful. So much for running tonight and possibly for the near future... right when the double whammy of the loss of daylight savings time and unseasonably cold weather makes riding after work difficult. Not to mention needing to train for a running a 50k in 5 weeks...
Seems like it's going to be one of THOSE weeks...
JMH
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Partway through my walk at Vischer Ferry yesterday the inner arch of my right foot began grumbling... and gradually progressed to hollering. I figured it was a cramp due to the fit/flex of the shoes I was wearing, changed shoes, and walked a little over 2 miles more yesterday with it still griping but not quite as much. And it kept hurting all evening.
Today I'm not nearly as confident about the cramp diagnosis - it's still pretty painful. So much for running tonight and possibly for the near future... right when the double whammy of the loss of daylight savings time and unseasonably cold weather makes riding after work difficult. Not to mention needing to train for a running a 50k in 5 weeks...
Seems like it's going to be one of THOSE weeks...
JMH
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Saturday, November 03, 2012
Friday, November 02, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
HUGE News Regarding Lucasfilm and Star Wars
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
JMH
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Word has come down that Disney is going to buy Lucasfilm (along with all it's various subsidiary companies) for a little over $4 billion. George Lucas is retiring - he's named Kathleen Kennedy as the new president of Lucasfilm and brand manager of the Star Wars franchise, and he'll remain on board as a creative consultant.
Along with this news, Disney and Lucasfilm have also announced that they are planning to make the oft-rumored Episodes VII - IX of Star Wars, with Ep. VII being readied for a 2015 release and then a new Star Wars movie following every 2-3 years.
All of this could be excellent news. Disney has shown that it knows how to let movie creators do their thing successfully in the Marvel and Pixar lines of films - so they may very well be equally ready to let Lucasfilm make movie magic with new Star Wars films. And getting George Lucas out of the driver's seat should have been done three or four movies ago - he's an great idea guy, but at best a mediocre script writer and director. Most critics and fans agree that it's no coincidence that the best movie in the Star Wars series, The Empire Strikes Back, was written by an actual writers (Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan) from Lucas' story treatment, and then directed by award-winning Irvin Kershner. So this is a move that could possibly breath new life into the movie franchise, in much the same way that Timothy Zahn and some of the better authors in the Star Wars novels Expanded Universe have kept that part of the franchise alive and kicking (despite the horrendous and often poorly-planned multi-book series that have done their best to sink the novel range over the last decade or so.)
Or we could get the Star Wars version of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Making more Star Wars movies could very well be an unashamed cash grab on the part of Disney and Lucas (who will surely be getting some sort of royalties - after all, this is the guy who negotiated to retain all merchandising rights in his contract for the first Star Wars film, and then went on to develop a profit-generating empire based on that merchandising - a fairly novel idea for the late 1970's, and one which made him enough money that he was able to finance the subsequent movies himself, only relying on Fox to provide distribution to theaters.) Because after all, the first few movies will turn a massive profit even if they suck - Episode I: The Phantom Menace is reviled by most hardcore fans but still generated over $1 billion in ticket sales worldwide.
Only time will tell if Star Wars will regain its former theatrical glory - or whimper off into the shadows of the Land of Pre/Sequels that never should have been made...
Counting Blessings
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I said it last night, and I'll say it again - we're awfully darn lucky around here. Woke up this morning to no rain, a little wind, and later in the morning - sunshine. Meanwhile it's been raining out in Rochester for the last four days, and with very good reason the NYC/NJ area has been declared a major disaster zone.
Locally I've heard reports of isolated power outages but nothing like what everyone was concerned could happen. In fact I'm looking forward to taking advantage of our day off from school and going for what should be a very pleasant run this afternoon. Yes indeed, ample blessings to be counted in this neck of the woods.
JMH
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I said it last night, and I'll say it again - we're awfully darn lucky around here. Woke up this morning to no rain, a little wind, and later in the morning - sunshine. Meanwhile it's been raining out in Rochester for the last four days, and with very good reason the NYC/NJ area has been declared a major disaster zone.
Locally I've heard reports of isolated power outages but nothing like what everyone was concerned could happen. In fact I'm looking forward to taking advantage of our day off from school and going for what should be a very pleasant run this afternoon. Yes indeed, ample blessings to be counted in this neck of the woods.
JMH
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Rain Has Arrived...
Monday, October 29, 2012
... though so far not in the apocalyptic amounts people have feared, just a good soaking rain. I've cracked my bedroom window open so I can enjoy listening to it before I fall asleep.
And I'm grateful I can enjoy it... we've certainly got it much easier around here than the folks down in the NYC/NJ area, from what the news reports are saying.
JMH
Monday, October 29, 2012
... though so far not in the apocalyptic amounts people have feared, just a good soaking rain. I've cracked my bedroom window open so I can enjoy listening to it before I fall asleep.
And I'm grateful I can enjoy it... we've certainly got it much easier around here than the folks down in the NYC/NJ area, from what the news reports are saying.
JMH
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
1.5 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Monday, October 22, 2012
Had to be back at work this evening, plus my legs are still pretty tired from yesterday... so I settled for a short walk, two loops around Buckingham Pond. Not many people around, which was a nice change from all the folks who are often there on summer evenings. I should try to get back soon when there's some sunshine - I suspect some of the trees will look great, but I don't know how much longer they'll be holding onto those leaves...
Monday, October 22, 2012
Had to be back at work this evening, plus my legs are still pretty tired from yesterday... so I settled for a short walk, two loops around Buckingham Pond. Not many people around, which was a nice change from all the folks who are often there on summer evenings. I should try to get back soon when there's some sunshine - I suspect some of the trees will look great, but I don't know how much longer they'll be holding onto those leaves...
As I started my 2nd loop, the flocks of local crows began their flight to wherever they were roosting for the night... I know they can be pests, but seeing hundreds of crows streaming across the sky always gives me a thrill. While I was watching them I also spotted not one but two bats fluttering around, very good to see!
JMH
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