SO LONG 2013
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
RUN 189.1 mi
RIDE 1836.4 mi
SNOWSHOE 91.8 mi
HIKE/WALK 566.3 mi
PADDLE 15.4 mi
XC SKI 12.3 mi
DAYS OUTDOORS 315/365
2013 Event Totals
Run 83.6 mi, 21 hr 2 min
Bike 32.6 mi, 2 hr 26 min
Snowshoe 49.9 mi, 15 hr 15 min
Kayak 4.6 mi, 1 hr 13 min
states visited: HI, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT
11 snowshoe races
9 road/trail races
2 paddle triathlons
Monday, December 30, 2013
BAD NEWS FOR THE HONDA...
Monday, December 30, 2013
Dang, hadn't even considered this possibility - the insurance company gave me the option of totalling the car (in which case they write me a check and take the car) or writing the repair estimate at just barely under the totalling value (in which case they write me a check but leave me the car.) Needless to say I went with the latter option.
So now I can try to find somewhere that will fix the car for what they paid me, or I can drive the car as is for as long as possible and apply the insurance payment toward a new car. Initially I leaned toward the former (since I'm not sure it's legal to dive a car with one of its tail lights held on by duct tape) but as I consider the work that eventually needs to be done (even before the car was hit, there was over $1000 worth of stuff that needs to be fixed) it probably makes much more sense to plan on the latter. Just when I was enjoying not having car payments...
JMH
Monday, December 30, 2013
Dang, hadn't even considered this possibility - the insurance company gave me the option of totalling the car (in which case they write me a check and take the car) or writing the repair estimate at just barely under the totalling value (in which case they write me a check but leave me the car.) Needless to say I went with the latter option.
So now I can try to find somewhere that will fix the car for what they paid me, or I can drive the car as is for as long as possible and apply the insurance payment toward a new car. Initially I leaned toward the former (since I'm not sure it's legal to dive a car with one of its tail lights held on by duct tape) but as I consider the work that eventually needs to be done (even before the car was hit, there was over $1000 worth of stuff that needs to be fixed) it probably makes much more sense to plan on the latter. Just when I was enjoying not having car payments...
JMH
Sunday, December 29, 2013
@$*&$@**!!!
Another Crash Into My Parked Car Means
No Viking Run for the Turtle
Sunday, December 28, 2013
I don't know what it is about my Honda Civic... I parked my Subaru here for seven years without a hitch, but in the time I've had the Civic it's been hit twice (while parked), had a side mirror smashed, had the rear window broken, and had a small side window broken so someone could break into the car. This morning I went out to check the temperature so I could decide how to dress for the Viking Run down in Rosendale - and noticed one of my rear lights sitting on the sidewalk. Went around to the other side of the car and found the rear end smashed in and the driver side mirror smashed. @$*&$@**!!!
Fortunately it's driveable but now I have the hassle and expense of getting it fixed to deal with. 2013 continues to wind down with both bangs and whimpers.
JMH
Another Crash Into My Parked Car Means
No Viking Run for the Turtle
Sunday, December 28, 2013
I don't know what it is about my Honda Civic... I parked my Subaru here for seven years without a hitch, but in the time I've had the Civic it's been hit twice (while parked), had a side mirror smashed, had the rear window broken, and had a small side window broken so someone could break into the car. This morning I went out to check the temperature so I could decide how to dress for the Viking Run down in Rosendale - and noticed one of my rear lights sitting on the sidewalk. Went around to the other side of the car and found the rear end smashed in and the driver side mirror smashed. @$*&$@**!!!
Fortunately it's driveable but now I have the hassle and expense of getting it fixed to deal with. 2013 continues to wind down with both bangs and whimpers.
JMH
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
HURRAY! IT'S THE WINTER SOLSTICE!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
... and so, starting tomorrow, we begin gaining a few minutes of daylight each day, and moving toward a time when I can get outdoors after work in daylight rather than in darkness. Not that I dislike being outdoors at night - far from it! - but I prefer to have it as an option rather than a necessity.
JMH
Saturday, December 21, 2013
... and so, starting tomorrow, we begin gaining a few minutes of daylight each day, and moving toward a time when I can get outdoors after work in daylight rather than in darkness. Not that I dislike being outdoors at night - far from it! - but I prefer to have it as an option rather than a necessity.
JMH
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
WINTER WONDERLAND
1.9 Mile Snowshoe At Thacher Park
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Woke up to a bit under a foot of snow... at least I'd shoveled last night so clearing the walk was easier than it might have been. Didn't have to do much more than brush the car off to get out, though parking is going to be a mess if the city doesn't do something about the snow sooon.
I was really struck by how much I've missed Thacher this year... ordinarily I'd have gone there once a month or so to run, but this year I've only been there a couple of times to walk.
I bypassed Hop Field - too many XC skiers - and headed over to the lots near the park office, figuring I'd walk along the escarpment. No one there at all - a plus in terms of having the trail to myself - but a minus in that I was breaking trail the whole way out. So it was a slow slog.
I had planned to take the trail behind the Haile's Cave picnic area back, but breaking trail slowed me down too much and I didn't want to risk getting locked in. Instead I backtracked - definitely easier going than the way out.
One plus to all that unbroken snow - I wasn't even the slightest bit tempted to try any sort of running, so while today's walk was hard work, it wasn't my usual start to snowshoe season ("Geez, this is so much harder than I remember!") Hopefully the snow will stick around long enough for me to build up a bit more gradually and determine whether running on snowshoes is in the cards this season.
JMH
1.9 Mile Snowshoe At Thacher Park
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Woke up to a bit under a foot of snow... at least I'd shoveled last night so clearing the walk was easier than it might have been. Didn't have to do much more than brush the car off to get out, though parking is going to be a mess if the city doesn't do something about the snow sooon.
I was really struck by how much I've missed Thacher this year... ordinarily I'd have gone there once a month or so to run, but this year I've only been there a couple of times to walk.
I bypassed Hop Field - too many XC skiers - and headed over to the lots near the park office, figuring I'd walk along the escarpment. No one there at all - a plus in terms of having the trail to myself - but a minus in that I was breaking trail the whole way out. So it was a slow slog.
I had planned to take the trail behind the Haile's Cave picnic area back, but breaking trail slowed me down too much and I didn't want to risk getting locked in. Instead I backtracked - definitely easier going than the way out.
One plus to all that unbroken snow - I wasn't even the slightest bit tempted to try any sort of running, so while today's walk was hard work, it wasn't my usual start to snowshoe season ("Geez, this is so much harder than I remember!") Hopefully the snow will stick around long enough for me to build up a bit more gradually and determine whether running on snowshoes is in the cards this season.
JMH
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
WELL, THIS IS DISAPPOINTING...
No Gail's Trail Run for the Turtle
Thursday, December 12, 2013
It's funny, really... I originally started running December's Gail's Trail Run because it was an opportunity to run the Leatherman's Loop course when there weren't 900-1000 other runners crammed onto a little over 6 miles of trail in the beautiful Ward Pound Ridge Reservation down in Westchester.... and was drawn back by the added appeal of running it in December, when sometimes there was snow on the ground and ice on the surface of the stream crossings. When the park managers denied the permit application and forced the RDs to move the race to Collis Huntington State Park in CT, I figured I'd run it once and that would be it. Except... I've been there three times now (the last two Decembers, and a one-shot March running that apparently established the current course) and have found that it's grown on me. I remember thinking during my first run there that it was kind of neat that the race was finally developing its own identity, rather than simply being "the winter Leatherman's." I think I was especially looking forward to doing it this weekend because this year my damn knee (and, in all honesty, my own issues with getting myself out the door) have kept me from many of my usual runs - and it seemed like an especially good way to wind down my year of very little running.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has thrown a monkey wrench into the works, with anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow forecast for the area between Saturday and Sunday. Since much of the parking is done in the field next to the small dirt lot (not a possibility if there's more than a couple of inches of snow) the RD's decided to move the race up a day. Which means I no longer have a room reserved for the night before (a minor problem, I could probably get one) and more importantly the work I have scheduled for the Honda is now in direct conflict with the trip to CT. Factor in my anticipated semi-fried state after work tomorrow (it's been a long week) and the result is - I'm staying local this weekend. No race for me.
Sadly, about par for the course this year.
JMH
No Gail's Trail Run for the Turtle
Thursday, December 12, 2013
It's funny, really... I originally started running December's Gail's Trail Run because it was an opportunity to run the Leatherman's Loop course when there weren't 900-1000 other runners crammed onto a little over 6 miles of trail in the beautiful Ward Pound Ridge Reservation down in Westchester.... and was drawn back by the added appeal of running it in December, when sometimes there was snow on the ground and ice on the surface of the stream crossings. When the park managers denied the permit application and forced the RDs to move the race to Collis Huntington State Park in CT, I figured I'd run it once and that would be it. Except... I've been there three times now (the last two Decembers, and a one-shot March running that apparently established the current course) and have found that it's grown on me. I remember thinking during my first run there that it was kind of neat that the race was finally developing its own identity, rather than simply being "the winter Leatherman's." I think I was especially looking forward to doing it this weekend because this year my damn knee (and, in all honesty, my own issues with getting myself out the door) have kept me from many of my usual runs - and it seemed like an especially good way to wind down my year of very little running.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has thrown a monkey wrench into the works, with anywhere from 6-12 inches of snow forecast for the area between Saturday and Sunday. Since much of the parking is done in the field next to the small dirt lot (not a possibility if there's more than a couple of inches of snow) the RD's decided to move the race up a day. Which means I no longer have a room reserved for the night before (a minor problem, I could probably get one) and more importantly the work I have scheduled for the Honda is now in direct conflict with the trip to CT. Factor in my anticipated semi-fried state after work tomorrow (it's been a long week) and the result is - I'm staying local this weekend. No race for me.
Sadly, about par for the course this year.
JMH
BRRR...
12.6 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Managed to get out of work while there was still daylight, so I bundled up and headed over to the bike path to try and get a little closer to that next century mark. Between snow in the forecast and some really cold temperatures sweeping in - it's not clear at all how many more times I'll get out to ride before the end of the year.
I was worried about the cold and wind so I really layered - two pairs of thermal tights below, a thermal shirt, pullover, fleece-lined jacket, and windbreaker up top, double neck/chin gaiter, and hat/180s under my helmet. I have to say, for the most part I was pretty darn toasty once I got going. Only points of trouble were my feet - even with thermal socks and the toe covers on my shoes, my toes froze - and my pinky fingers. Maybe I'll try doubling the socks next time...
Parts of the bike path were fairly clear, and parts had a light layer of snow - no problems there. No surprise, didn't run into too many other people out there and no one else on a bike.
It was just starting to get dark when I wrapped up - I would have loved to turn on my light and stay out for a few more miles, but my feet were just too darn cold.
Hopefully I can get out a few more times before the end of the year!
JMH
12.6 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Managed to get out of work while there was still daylight, so I bundled up and headed over to the bike path to try and get a little closer to that next century mark. Between snow in the forecast and some really cold temperatures sweeping in - it's not clear at all how many more times I'll get out to ride before the end of the year.
I was worried about the cold and wind so I really layered - two pairs of thermal tights below, a thermal shirt, pullover, fleece-lined jacket, and windbreaker up top, double neck/chin gaiter, and hat/180s under my helmet. I have to say, for the most part I was pretty darn toasty once I got going. Only points of trouble were my feet - even with thermal socks and the toe covers on my shoes, my toes froze - and my pinky fingers. Maybe I'll try doubling the socks next time...
Parts of the bike path were fairly clear, and parts had a light layer of snow - no problems there. No surprise, didn't run into too many other people out there and no one else on a bike.
It was just starting to get dark when I wrapped up - I would have loved to turn on my light and stay out for a few more miles, but my feet were just too darn cold.
Hopefully I can get out a few more times before the end of the year!
JMH
Sunday, December 08, 2013
13.5 Mile Ride on the Erie Canalway Trail (Danube to Mindenville)
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Left Syracuse early enough, and the weather was decent enough, that I was able to get in some riding before dark. I parked at the Herkimer Home State Historic Site - the former home of Revolutionary War hero General Nicholas Herkimer. No surprise, it was basically deserted, though a couple of people showed up while I was getting ready to ride - one to walk his dogs, the others looked like they were checking out the site.
I was hoping to complete the section of the Canalway Trail that runs from Fort Plain to Little Falls - I rode about half of it back in early November. Today I headed east to Mindenville, overlapped a bit of what I'd ridden a month ago, then headed back west part of the way to Lock 17. I turned back before I made it all the way to the end, mostly because it was getting late in the day and I wasn't sure how early the gates at the historic site would be closed.
Riding wasn't too bad, though my mountain bike makes for harder work than my road bikes... but with the snowy sections, patches of soft stone dust, and so on, the wider knobbies were a definite necessity. Along the way I saw lots of evidence of the trail's previous uses as a rail line (lots of old ties buried in the ground along the sides) and remains of some concrete structures - not sure if those were from the railroad or from earlier times when sections of the Erie Canal ran through the area.
On the way to Lock 17 there's a wetlands with an overlook marked as a birdwatching area - I'd definitely like to get back there in warmer weather. For that matter, I'd like to ride the entire trail during a warmer, greener time of the year.
Other than a couple of miles in Fort Plain which are tough to access because of a bridge that washed out during the flooding last June, and the last few miles of this stretch, I've ridden all of the offroad sections of the Canalway Trail between downtown Albany and Rome this year, and a good chunk of the sections between Rome and Rochester. I guess that's one of the pluses to spending a lot of time on my bike this year - and it's also research for an adventure I'm considering for a couple of years from now...
JMH
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Left Syracuse early enough, and the weather was decent enough, that I was able to get in some riding before dark. I parked at the Herkimer Home State Historic Site - the former home of Revolutionary War hero General Nicholas Herkimer. No surprise, it was basically deserted, though a couple of people showed up while I was getting ready to ride - one to walk his dogs, the others looked like they were checking out the site.
I was hoping to complete the section of the Canalway Trail that runs from Fort Plain to Little Falls - I rode about half of it back in early November. Today I headed east to Mindenville, overlapped a bit of what I'd ridden a month ago, then headed back west part of the way to Lock 17. I turned back before I made it all the way to the end, mostly because it was getting late in the day and I wasn't sure how early the gates at the historic site would be closed.
Riding wasn't too bad, though my mountain bike makes for harder work than my road bikes... but with the snowy sections, patches of soft stone dust, and so on, the wider knobbies were a definite necessity. Along the way I saw lots of evidence of the trail's previous uses as a rail line (lots of old ties buried in the ground along the sides) and remains of some concrete structures - not sure if those were from the railroad or from earlier times when sections of the Erie Canal ran through the area.
On the way to Lock 17 there's a wetlands with an overlook marked as a birdwatching area - I'd definitely like to get back there in warmer weather. For that matter, I'd like to ride the entire trail during a warmer, greener time of the year.
Other than a couple of miles in Fort Plain which are tough to access because of a bridge that washed out during the flooding last June, and the last few miles of this stretch, I've ridden all of the offroad sections of the Canalway Trail between downtown Albany and Rome this year, and a good chunk of the sections between Rome and Rochester. I guess that's one of the pluses to spending a lot of time on my bike this year - and it's also research for an adventure I'm considering for a couple of years from now...
JMH
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
Sunday, December 01, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Friday, November 29, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
THE COLDEST DAY OF THE SEASON SO FAR -
AND NO HEAT!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Fortunately, all it took was purchasing and installing a new thermostat - but by the time I'd narrowed it down to that and made the trip to Lowes to get the new one - the time I'd planned to spend outside today was used up and it was time to get back to grading exams.
Still, I have to say I got off easy... it was a problem I could diagnose and fix, rather than something that would have required a visit from the fellow who installed the new furnaces and water heaters a few years ago.
But it would have been nice to get out in the sunshine for a bit, even if it was colder than heck with the windchill.
JMH
AND NO HEAT!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Fortunately, all it took was purchasing and installing a new thermostat - but by the time I'd narrowed it down to that and made the trip to Lowes to get the new one - the time I'd planned to spend outside today was used up and it was time to get back to grading exams.
Still, I have to say I got off easy... it was a problem I could diagnose and fix, rather than something that would have required a visit from the fellow who installed the new furnaces and water heaters a few years ago.
But it would have been nice to get out in the sunshine for a bit, even if it was colder than heck with the windchill.
JMH
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
INTERNET SERVICE FINALLY BACK...
Friday, November 15, 2013
... after the DSL signal being out for the last two days. I spent a little while today trying to submit a repair request through Verizon's website - what a waste of time. The support/repair links shuffled me around in a perpetual circle... I was expecting to have to call the support line and deal with a bunch of frustrating nonsense when the signal came back on its own this evening.
At least it's finally back...
JMH
Friday, November 15, 2013
... after the DSL signal being out for the last two days. I spent a little while today trying to submit a repair request through Verizon's website - what a waste of time. The support/repair links shuffled me around in a perpetual circle... I was expecting to have to call the support line and deal with a bunch of frustrating nonsense when the signal came back on its own this evening.
At least it's finally back...
JMH
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Saturday, November 09, 2013
Friday, November 08, 2013
Wednesday, November 06, 2013
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Saturday, November 02, 2013
Friday, November 01, 2013
LAST EVENING OF DAYLIGHT RIDING FOR A WHILE...
11.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Friday, November 1, 2013
... and even tonight I needed a light for the last 2 1/2 miles or so. But after we switch back to Standard Time early Sunday morning, I can expect about two months of doing all my after-work outdoor activities in the dark. Wahoo...
Today was atypically warm - almost warm enough that I could have ridden without a jacket - and after the storm blew through this morning we had lots of sunshine. Unfortunately by the time I got to the bike path there was only a little over half an hour until sunset, so I did most of tonight's ride in the dusk. Even so, it was pretty darn pleasant to be out on such a nice evening.
On the way back to the car there was a bird calling down in one of the marshy areas along the river... I managed to record it and after a lot of searching finally identified it as an eastern screech owl.
According to the Cornell Ornithology Lab, I recorded a screech owl's descending whinny used to defend territory (perhaps that's why the owl didn't respond when I tried imitating the call - or maybe I just make a lousy screech owl) with a bit of monotonic trilling at about the 50 sec mark.
JMH
11.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Friday, November 1, 2013
... and even tonight I needed a light for the last 2 1/2 miles or so. But after we switch back to Standard Time early Sunday morning, I can expect about two months of doing all my after-work outdoor activities in the dark. Wahoo...
Today was atypically warm - almost warm enough that I could have ridden without a jacket - and after the storm blew through this morning we had lots of sunshine. Unfortunately by the time I got to the bike path there was only a little over half an hour until sunset, so I did most of tonight's ride in the dusk. Even so, it was pretty darn pleasant to be out on such a nice evening.
On the way back to the car there was a bird calling down in one of the marshy areas along the river... I managed to record it and after a lot of searching finally identified it as an eastern screech owl.
According to the Cornell Ornithology Lab, I recorded a screech owl's descending whinny used to defend territory (perhaps that's why the owl didn't respond when I tried imitating the call - or maybe I just make a lousy screech owl) with a bit of monotonic trilling at about the 50 sec mark.
JMH
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Monday, October 21, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Monday, October 07, 2013
RAINBOWS & A SKUNK
2.8 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Monday, October 7, 2013
A monsoon blew through late this afternoon, after a day of tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings. I was fortunate to get out of work and to my car during a lull in the downpour, but really didn't feel terribly motivated to try a short run.
Instead, I dragged myself out the door for a walk around the neighborhood... if nothing else, it gave me a chance to test the Frogg Toggs rain poncho I picked up a little over a month ago. Except... it barely rained while I was out! But the poncho did work well during the couple of spells of light rain... and it kept me warm.
Despite that, I was glad I went walking, though I wish I'd brought a camera... shortly after I left the house, the setting sun broke through the clouds and cast a gorgeous double rainbow over downtown Albany. Some of the most brilliant colors I've seen... absolutely beautiful. And then a while later, when I was on the short wooded path between Main St and W Lawrence, a skunk crossed the path a little ways ahead of me. Like many of the skunks I've seen around here, he had a broad, shaggy white stripe that covered his entire back, and he didn't seem the slightest bit perturbed that I was on the path...
JMH
2.8 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Monday, October 7, 2013
A monsoon blew through late this afternoon, after a day of tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings. I was fortunate to get out of work and to my car during a lull in the downpour, but really didn't feel terribly motivated to try a short run.
Instead, I dragged myself out the door for a walk around the neighborhood... if nothing else, it gave me a chance to test the Frogg Toggs rain poncho I picked up a little over a month ago. Except... it barely rained while I was out! But the poncho did work well during the couple of spells of light rain... and it kept me warm.
Despite that, I was glad I went walking, though I wish I'd brought a camera... shortly after I left the house, the setting sun broke through the clouds and cast a gorgeous double rainbow over downtown Albany. Some of the most brilliant colors I've seen... absolutely beautiful. And then a while later, when I was on the short wooded path between Main St and W Lawrence, a skunk crossed the path a little ways ahead of me. Like many of the skunks I've seen around here, he had a broad, shaggy white stripe that covered his entire back, and he didn't seem the slightest bit perturbed that I was on the path...
JMH
Sunday, October 06, 2013
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
2.6 Mile Walk in the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Today was better than yesterday, but I still needed to rest for quite a while after getting home from work, and had no desire to drive anywhere after that... so I took a roundabout route to and from the store. It was a gorgeous early fall evening, cool and breezy but not cold, and even peaceful when cars and trucks weren't roaring by. At one point I even heard some geese calling faintly from overhead, but there was too much light from the street to make them out against the night sky.
As much as I enjoyed walking tonight, it also reminded me of how much I miss not being able to go for a good run on a night like tonight...
I hacked up enough gunk today that my lungs are a bit less congested... maybe tomorrow I can get back to doing some YRG and some riding again.
JMH
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Today was better than yesterday, but I still needed to rest for quite a while after getting home from work, and had no desire to drive anywhere after that... so I took a roundabout route to and from the store. It was a gorgeous early fall evening, cool and breezy but not cold, and even peaceful when cars and trucks weren't roaring by. At one point I even heard some geese calling faintly from overhead, but there was too much light from the street to make them out against the night sky.
As much as I enjoyed walking tonight, it also reminded me of how much I miss not being able to go for a good run on a night like tonight...
I hacked up enough gunk today that my lungs are a bit less congested... maybe tomorrow I can get back to doing some YRG and some riding again.
JMH
Monday, September 23, 2013
Still Sick...
Monday, September 23, 2013
Had a decent day at work, some coughing but nothing uncontrollable... so I planned to take advantage of the gorgeous sunny afternoon and go for a walk before getting work done this evening. Instead, once I got home I struggled against wanting to crawl into bed (which I probably should have done...) and eventually barely managed a walk over to the store to pick up fruit and orange juice. Looks like I need to relent and take some cold medicine tonight to make sure I get enough sleep. Sigh.
JMH
Monday, September 23, 2013
Had a decent day at work, some coughing but nothing uncontrollable... so I planned to take advantage of the gorgeous sunny afternoon and go for a walk before getting work done this evening. Instead, once I got home I struggled against wanting to crawl into bed (which I probably should have done...) and eventually barely managed a walk over to the store to pick up fruit and orange juice. Looks like I need to relent and take some cold medicine tonight to make sure I get enough sleep. Sigh.
JMH
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
2.5 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Feeling somewhat better today, but I decided to keep things easy and headed over to Buckingham Lake for a walk this evening. Three loops plus a bit extra. Lots of ducks by the parking lot, and I spotted a hawk perched in one of the trees over the portion of the path that runs right along the edge of the water. A fairly pleasant evening's walk overall... not as good a several hours on the bike, but better than sweating out a fever in bed.
JMH
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Feeling somewhat better today, but I decided to keep things easy and headed over to Buckingham Lake for a walk this evening. Three loops plus a bit extra. Lots of ducks by the parking lot, and I spotted a hawk perched in one of the trees over the portion of the path that runs right along the edge of the water. A fairly pleasant evening's walk overall... not as good a several hours on the bike, but better than sweating out a fever in bed.
JMH
Friday, September 20, 2013
Getting Sick Sucks
Friday, September 20, 2013
Woke up this morning with a sore throat and clogged sinuses and things went downhill from there. Very annoying given that it was a really beautiful day and I was looking forward to going to one of the Columbia Land Conservancy's full moon walks this evening (at High Falls Conservation Area - right behind my parents' house and an area where I've spent a lot of time in the woods, long before it was a conservation area.)
Tomorrow is supposed to be warm and sunny too, and I'd been looking forward to spending a few hours on my bike. Stupid viruses...
Most annoying of all, when I went to cancel my motel room for tomorrow night (I'd been planning to go to the Where the Pavement Ends trail race in CT on Sunday morning) I discovered that I'd just missed the deadline to do so. I'd go down anyway and give it a go, except it's supposed to rain during the morning... and spending an hour in the rain isn't likely to do me any good if I'm trying to recover from the bug that's gotten its hooks into me. So I'll also be paying for a room I won't be using.
And since I barely had the energy to crawl into bed when I got home - today also ended my streak of getting outdoors for at least half an hour every day (since June 4.) I knew that once work started back up I'd miss a day sooner or later... but I was hoping it would end up being more on the "later" side.
JMH
Friday, September 20, 2013
Woke up this morning with a sore throat and clogged sinuses and things went downhill from there. Very annoying given that it was a really beautiful day and I was looking forward to going to one of the Columbia Land Conservancy's full moon walks this evening (at High Falls Conservation Area - right behind my parents' house and an area where I've spent a lot of time in the woods, long before it was a conservation area.)
Tomorrow is supposed to be warm and sunny too, and I'd been looking forward to spending a few hours on my bike. Stupid viruses...
Most annoying of all, when I went to cancel my motel room for tomorrow night (I'd been planning to go to the Where the Pavement Ends trail race in CT on Sunday morning) I discovered that I'd just missed the deadline to do so. I'd go down anyway and give it a go, except it's supposed to rain during the morning... and spending an hour in the rain isn't likely to do me any good if I'm trying to recover from the bug that's gotten its hooks into me. So I'll also be paying for a room I won't be using.
And since I barely had the energy to crawl into bed when I got home - today also ended my streak of getting outdoors for at least half an hour every day (since June 4.) I knew that once work started back up I'd miss a day sooner or later... but I was hoping it would end up being more on the "later" side.
JMH
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
4 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Friday, September 13, 2013
The good: I ran 4 miles on trails that are old friends in the Great Dune and Madison Avenue Pinelands sections of the Pine Bush. The rain stopped before I started and it was wonderfully cool fall weather - some of my favorite running weather. And my knee didn't blow up.
The bad: My pace is limited to slow, slower, and slowest... at best around 15 min miles. And because I was focused on my knee not blowing up, I had a lot less time to look around and enjoy the scenery - because a wrong step could have left me hobbling back to the trailhead. And the less said about the 4 mountain bikers who buzzed by me at full speed on a narrow trail (at least the first one warned me he had three buddies and two others let me know they were coming - but they still should have slowed down passing someone on foot.)
The ugly: 5 months ago I was running half marathons, now running 4 miles at a substantially slower pace is a struggle. Sigh.
JMH
Friday, September 13, 2013
The good: I ran 4 miles on trails that are old friends in the Great Dune and Madison Avenue Pinelands sections of the Pine Bush. The rain stopped before I started and it was wonderfully cool fall weather - some of my favorite running weather. And my knee didn't blow up.
The bad: My pace is limited to slow, slower, and slowest... at best around 15 min miles. And because I was focused on my knee not blowing up, I had a lot less time to look around and enjoy the scenery - because a wrong step could have left me hobbling back to the trailhead. And the less said about the 4 mountain bikers who buzzed by me at full speed on a narrow trail (at least the first one warned me he had three buddies and two others let me know they were coming - but they still should have slowed down passing someone on foot.)
The ugly: 5 months ago I was running half marathons, now running 4 miles at a substantially slower pace is a struggle. Sigh.
JMH
Thursday, September 12, 2013
MORE RAIN
2.2 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Three times around Buckingham Lake, which is once again more appropriately referred to as "Duckingham" Lake... after being mostly absent the last few times I was there, tonight the area near the parking lot was covered with ducks, and there were a few in scattered locations elsewhere along the shore as well.
Since it had rained on and off since late afternoon, not too many folks there tonight... a couple of people fishing and an occasional person walking their dog. It's always nice to have the path mostly to myself.
Of course, between the storm clouds and the ever-earlier sunset, it was getting pretty dark by the time I wrapped up my third loop around 7:30... an unwelcome reminder that the dark evenings are coming, and before too much longer I'll be doing most of my weekday walks, rides, and (hopefully) runs in the dark...
JMH
2.2 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Three times around Buckingham Lake, which is once again more appropriately referred to as "Duckingham" Lake... after being mostly absent the last few times I was there, tonight the area near the parking lot was covered with ducks, and there were a few in scattered locations elsewhere along the shore as well.
Since it had rained on and off since late afternoon, not too many folks there tonight... a couple of people fishing and an occasional person walking their dog. It's always nice to have the path mostly to myself.
Of course, between the storm clouds and the ever-earlier sunset, it was getting pretty dark by the time I wrapped up my third loop around 7:30... an unwelcome reminder that the dark evenings are coming, and before too much longer I'll be doing most of my weekday walks, rides, and (hopefully) runs in the dark...
JMH
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT
3 Mile Walk Around the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
And after a positively sweltering day (the heat index was in the low 100's this afternoon) dark and stormy was definitely welcome, as it meant the cold front was finally moving in. Even the splatters of rain that made it past my umbrella felt good. Though it would have been nice to have a better view of the lightning that lit up the sky periodically.
Tomorrow it's supposed to be stormy for much of the day, so probably no riding then either... maybe I'll try a short slow run instead, since I overslept and missed the Barry Hopkins 3.8mi last Sunday at Olana. I'd like to get some sort of clue about where my knee is at before next weekend, so I can decide if I want to try either of the races I've looked at (the Red Apple 10k down in Kinderhook or the Falling Leaves 14k out in Utica.)
JMH
3 Mile Walk Around the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
And after a positively sweltering day (the heat index was in the low 100's this afternoon) dark and stormy was definitely welcome, as it meant the cold front was finally moving in. Even the splatters of rain that made it past my umbrella felt good. Though it would have been nice to have a better view of the lightning that lit up the sky periodically.
Tomorrow it's supposed to be stormy for much of the day, so probably no riding then either... maybe I'll try a short slow run instead, since I overslept and missed the Barry Hopkins 3.8mi last Sunday at Olana. I'd like to get some sort of clue about where my knee is at before next weekend, so I can decide if I want to try either of the races I've looked at (the Red Apple 10k down in Kinderhook or the Falling Leaves 14k out in Utica.)
JMH
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Monday, September 09, 2013
Sunday, September 08, 2013
Saturday, September 07, 2013
Friday, September 06, 2013
Thursday, September 05, 2013
A Disturbing Observation at Barnes & Noble
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Over the past two days I've been to three Barnes & Noble stores looking for several specific books and I've noticed a very disturbing trend.
It's fairly well known that B&N is in financial trouble. Retail sales are down, and they've been losing ground in the e-book market. Borders was in the same boat a few years back - and we know how that turned out.
In my opinion (admittedly uninformed when it comes to financial markets) one of Borders' biggest mistakes was that they lost sight of what their purpose was - selling books and, to a lesser extent, music and movies. I loved B&N when they first opened their stores in Albany and New Haven, because they had a better selection of books than anywhere else I could go. I loved Borders even more, because initially their selection was even better than B&N. Plus Borders had a customer-loyalty card that was free for many years. As things started to fall apart for Borders, the selection of books decreased - and the space started being taken up by toys, puzzles, and all sorts of other non-book products that I rarely gave a second glance. At one time, if you couldn't find a book in the store, you'd likely ask the store to order it for you... but that's no longer necessary. Now you can just order it online, and possibly for less than you'd pay in store. Maybe instead of trying to diversify, Borders should have focused on being the best damn bookstore around.
Over the last year or so, I've noticed that B&N seems to be stocking a much larger selection of toys. Admittedly, many of these are specialty products - I have to admit I've been tempted by a few of the Doctor Who toys they have on the shelves, but talked myself out of spending money on something that would likely sit on a shelf collecting dust (as cool as it might be to have a model TARDIS with sound and flashing lights...) Nevertheless, I've been reminded of the increase in non-book products at Borders and wondered if B&N was trying a similar strategy.
My most recent visits really disturbed me, however, when all three stores I visited didn't have several fairly recent books in stock, and two of the three didn't have a book that was released two days ago anywhere on the shelves (despite their website describing them as having copies in stock.) It also seemed like the sections I shopped in have been reduced in size (which makes sense, if they aren't stocking as many books) and there was more open space on shelves (ditto.) What happens when a bookstore doesn't have books to sell... well, it's not good news for those of us who cherish the process of browsing actual print copies and discovering books and authors we haven't tried yet.
The general opinion seems to be that it's only a matter of time before B&N bites the dust, and what I saw in the stores doesn't reassure me. As much as I would have liked to give them a bit more business, I'll be ordering the books I couldn't find online... which is where I fear I'll be forced to do most of my book shopping in the not-to-distance future. Unless B&N can manage to get their act together and get back to being the best damn bookstore around instead of just about the only bookstore around.
JMH
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Over the past two days I've been to three Barnes & Noble stores looking for several specific books and I've noticed a very disturbing trend.
It's fairly well known that B&N is in financial trouble. Retail sales are down, and they've been losing ground in the e-book market. Borders was in the same boat a few years back - and we know how that turned out.
In my opinion (admittedly uninformed when it comes to financial markets) one of Borders' biggest mistakes was that they lost sight of what their purpose was - selling books and, to a lesser extent, music and movies. I loved B&N when they first opened their stores in Albany and New Haven, because they had a better selection of books than anywhere else I could go. I loved Borders even more, because initially their selection was even better than B&N. Plus Borders had a customer-loyalty card that was free for many years. As things started to fall apart for Borders, the selection of books decreased - and the space started being taken up by toys, puzzles, and all sorts of other non-book products that I rarely gave a second glance. At one time, if you couldn't find a book in the store, you'd likely ask the store to order it for you... but that's no longer necessary. Now you can just order it online, and possibly for less than you'd pay in store. Maybe instead of trying to diversify, Borders should have focused on being the best damn bookstore around.
Over the last year or so, I've noticed that B&N seems to be stocking a much larger selection of toys. Admittedly, many of these are specialty products - I have to admit I've been tempted by a few of the Doctor Who toys they have on the shelves, but talked myself out of spending money on something that would likely sit on a shelf collecting dust (as cool as it might be to have a model TARDIS with sound and flashing lights...) Nevertheless, I've been reminded of the increase in non-book products at Borders and wondered if B&N was trying a similar strategy.
My most recent visits really disturbed me, however, when all three stores I visited didn't have several fairly recent books in stock, and two of the three didn't have a book that was released two days ago anywhere on the shelves (despite their website describing them as having copies in stock.) It also seemed like the sections I shopped in have been reduced in size (which makes sense, if they aren't stocking as many books) and there was more open space on shelves (ditto.) What happens when a bookstore doesn't have books to sell... well, it's not good news for those of us who cherish the process of browsing actual print copies and discovering books and authors we haven't tried yet.
The general opinion seems to be that it's only a matter of time before B&N bites the dust, and what I saw in the stores doesn't reassure me. As much as I would have liked to give them a bit more business, I'll be ordering the books I couldn't find online... which is where I fear I'll be forced to do most of my book shopping in the not-to-distance future. Unless B&N can manage to get their act together and get back to being the best damn bookstore around instead of just about the only bookstore around.
JMH
Wednesday, September 04, 2013
Monday, September 02, 2013
Sunday, September 01, 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
BEGINNING OF THE END...
20.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path & Through Colonie Mohawk River Park
Friday, August 30, 2013
As in - the end of my summer break, since we have our first day of meetings next Tuesday. So it seemed fitting that I ride the section of the bike path that I was probably on most often this summer, from the Niskayuna Lions Park over to Colonie Mohawk River Park and Fonda Rd, then almost to the base of the old landfill before heading back to the car.
It was getting dark when I finished, right around 8 PM... another sign that summer draws to a close. Back at the start of break I could have been out until almost 9:30 before it got dark.
Other than in one or two spots, the bike path was pretty quiet... a few riders and a few walkers. There was almost nobody at the park in Colonie.
All in all, a pretty uneventful ride to begin wrapping up my summer break... but it was still good to be riding, considering that two days ago I was wondering how long my spasming lower back would have me laid up.
JMH
20.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path & Through Colonie Mohawk River Park
Friday, August 30, 2013
As in - the end of my summer break, since we have our first day of meetings next Tuesday. So it seemed fitting that I ride the section of the bike path that I was probably on most often this summer, from the Niskayuna Lions Park over to Colonie Mohawk River Park and Fonda Rd, then almost to the base of the old landfill before heading back to the car.
It was getting dark when I finished, right around 8 PM... another sign that summer draws to a close. Back at the start of break I could have been out until almost 9:30 before it got dark.
Other than in one or two spots, the bike path was pretty quiet... a few riders and a few walkers. There was almost nobody at the park in Colonie.
All in all, a pretty uneventful ride to begin wrapping up my summer break... but it was still good to be riding, considering that two days ago I was wondering how long my spasming lower back would have me laid up.
JMH
Thursday, August 29, 2013
They're Baaaack... And My Back Improves...
Thursday, August 29, 2013
"They" being the college kids, as evidenced by the street once again being packed with cars and the overall noise levels having risen. One of the many things I enjoy about summer is the fact that many of the college kids leave the area, and it's always a bit painful when they return at the end of August. We'll see how noisy the new group of upstairs neighbors are... it could end up being a very long nine months (or it could be delightful... yeah, right, I don't buy that either.)
My back was pretty bad this morning but improved as the day went on... it seems to be connected to some digestive issues I've been having (don't ask!) Hopefully those will continue to improve and my lower back will as well. There were times this evening when it almost seemed back to normal...
JMH
Thursday, August 29, 2013
"They" being the college kids, as evidenced by the street once again being packed with cars and the overall noise levels having risen. One of the many things I enjoy about summer is the fact that many of the college kids leave the area, and it's always a bit painful when they return at the end of August. We'll see how noisy the new group of upstairs neighbors are... it could end up being a very long nine months (or it could be delightful... yeah, right, I don't buy that either.)
My back was pretty bad this morning but improved as the day went on... it seems to be connected to some digestive issues I've been having (don't ask!) Hopefully those will continue to improve and my lower back will as well. There were times this evening when it almost seemed back to normal...
JMH
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
#@$%&**%$!!ING BACK...
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
After lunch today my lower back started bothering me a bit - don't know why, but I hoped our ride would loosen it up. No such luck - by the time we got home it was significantly worse, to the point that after dinner I slathered it with Icy Hot, laid down, and struggled to find a position that wouldn't hurt too much.
And the kicker is - I don't even know what I did to it. It felt fine this morning, and all we did was run some errands and have lunch. Sigh.
Guess I'm not riding on my way home tomorrow... it's not enough that I basically can't run, now I can't ride either? Hopefully it will clear up in time for me to do the Mainiac Duathlon... I'd really rather not have yet another race that I've paid for and have to skip.
Enough whinging, I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that this passes quickly.
JMH
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
After lunch today my lower back started bothering me a bit - don't know why, but I hoped our ride would loosen it up. No such luck - by the time we got home it was significantly worse, to the point that after dinner I slathered it with Icy Hot, laid down, and struggled to find a position that wouldn't hurt too much.
And the kicker is - I don't even know what I did to it. It felt fine this morning, and all we did was run some errands and have lunch. Sigh.
Guess I'm not riding on my way home tomorrow... it's not enough that I basically can't run, now I can't ride either? Hopefully it will clear up in time for me to do the Mainiac Duathlon... I'd really rather not have yet another race that I've paid for and have to skip.
Enough whinging, I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that this passes quickly.
JMH
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
"Cliffhangers... Why Does It Always Have To Be Cliffhangers?"
Friday, August 23, 2013
I don't watch much television when I'm at home, both because I think the vast majority of shows are mind-melting crap and because I don't have cable or a converter box that allows my ancient television to get digital broadcast signals. So any television shows I do watch are on DVD... an advantage in some ways, since it means I tend to watch an entire season over the course of a week or so rather than over 5 1/2 months. This past week, for example, I watched season 1 of Grimm, which was both somewhat entertaining and mildly frustrating (mainly in how certain intelligent characters are conveniently stupid at times in service of the plot.) And when I reached the end of the season this morning, I was once again reminded of how bloody tired I am of shows ending their seasons with cliffhangers.
Apparently we have Dallas, Dynasty, and Star Trek: The Next Generation to blame for this... all three had incredibly successful season-ending cliffhangers and paved the way for them becoming a staple for television writers. I get the attraction - give viewers something to keep their interest up and hopefully they'll tune in to the next season opener. Or if a show is getting weak ratings, hope that the potential for an unresolved cliffhanger will get fans to pressure the Powers That Be to bring it back for another season.
Except, of course, when a show is cancelled on a cliffhanger... I remember Alien Nation ending it's first season on a triple cliffhanger (actually it turned out to be quadruple, since the resolution brought in a additional unresolved plotline from earlier in the season) and then being cancelled. Fortunately it was brought back as a series of TV movies. The fantastic Farscape faced the same issue - the production team expected a 5th season which was cancelled after the 4th season finale had been completed with a viscious cliffhanger - which was again fortunately resolved with a follow-up miniseries. I guess in one sense I've been fortunate that most of the genre shows I watch have had their cliffhangers resolved in one way or another... but I'm still tired of them.
Not that I expect anyone in televsion production to listen but - give us some resolution at the end of each season, with maybe a hint of where you're planning to take things next. And then come up with something exciting to start the new season off, rather than trying to pull us in with the delayed ending to the previous season.
JMH
Friday, August 23, 2013
I don't watch much television when I'm at home, both because I think the vast majority of shows are mind-melting crap and because I don't have cable or a converter box that allows my ancient television to get digital broadcast signals. So any television shows I do watch are on DVD... an advantage in some ways, since it means I tend to watch an entire season over the course of a week or so rather than over 5 1/2 months. This past week, for example, I watched season 1 of Grimm, which was both somewhat entertaining and mildly frustrating (mainly in how certain intelligent characters are conveniently stupid at times in service of the plot.) And when I reached the end of the season this morning, I was once again reminded of how bloody tired I am of shows ending their seasons with cliffhangers.
Apparently we have Dallas, Dynasty, and Star Trek: The Next Generation to blame for this... all three had incredibly successful season-ending cliffhangers and paved the way for them becoming a staple for television writers. I get the attraction - give viewers something to keep their interest up and hopefully they'll tune in to the next season opener. Or if a show is getting weak ratings, hope that the potential for an unresolved cliffhanger will get fans to pressure the Powers That Be to bring it back for another season.
Except, of course, when a show is cancelled on a cliffhanger... I remember Alien Nation ending it's first season on a triple cliffhanger (actually it turned out to be quadruple, since the resolution brought in a additional unresolved plotline from earlier in the season) and then being cancelled. Fortunately it was brought back as a series of TV movies. The fantastic Farscape faced the same issue - the production team expected a 5th season which was cancelled after the 4th season finale had been completed with a viscious cliffhanger - which was again fortunately resolved with a follow-up miniseries. I guess in one sense I've been fortunate that most of the genre shows I watch have had their cliffhangers resolved in one way or another... but I'm still tired of them.
Not that I expect anyone in televsion production to listen but - give us some resolution at the end of each season, with maybe a hint of where you're planning to take things next. And then come up with something exciting to start the new season off, rather than trying to pull us in with the delayed ending to the previous season.
JMH
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
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