a Friday five

• Because of Memorial Day Monday, I only worked two days this week. I normally have Wednesdays and Fridays off and there is no tutoring happening until next week. Not complaining as I got caught up on a few housekeepery things and enjoyed some nice weather time.

• In the meantime, [PEO]'s keeping me pretty busy. State convention is coming up. I'm not a delegate but got talked into helping out on one of the days since convention is nearby.

• We ended up taking our pooch Merlin to the vet as his symptoms from last week weren't really improving. Vet "gave" him (sold us) some special food that has helped and ran some tests. His bloodwork came back, and Vet says, "this could likely be from an infection or a type of cancer".

Sheesh, talk about two ends of a spectrum. For now, we're treating it as an infection and will watch and wait. Merlin seems like his old self, and hopefully that holds.

• I don't like wearing sunscreen, yet I live in a place with lots of sun and lots of cases of melanoma. As such, I often wear these moisture wicking long-sleeved tops when I'm outdoors on hot days. 

I got a couple from yamazon that include these thumbholes. 

Made for short-armed people, I suppose. Thumbholes miles away from my thumbs. Oh well, I don't usually use thumbholes anyway.

• I kind of want to see [Furiosa] in the theater. The movie  didn't do so well in the box office for opening weekend, however. We saw the last Mad Max movie, [Fury Road], in the theater. 

I went in expecting some macho testosterone shoot-em-up, but I found it surprisingly good - wonderfully artistic, with an epic soundtrack, not to mention... Tom Hardy.

a star

I typically have a couple of books I'm working through at any given time.  And I'm not one that "must" finish a book if it's just not doing it for me.  It's been a long time since I've read one that's left a lasting impression.

In fact, I had to go to my goodreads shelf to see what I've read recently. Most all have been mediocre at 3 stars out of 5. The most memorable recent read, I didn't even add to my goodreads shelf because it was SO ridiculous. 

The ridiculousness is what made it so memorable. Here are a few tidbits:

• The main character takes a job as a nurse practitioner in a corrections facility and is advised not to give out any personal information to the inmates she treats. She immediately divulges personal sh*t to just about everyone she meets on the first day.
• The main character does all sorts of other stupid/ditzy/weak things, too many to mention. How did she graduate nursing school let alone become a NP?
• A ten-year-old boy gets off the school bus after school, walks to his house. The people inside know he's home when he RINGS THE DOORBELL. To go into his own house. 
• Main character wants to find two people who walked into the forest from a house after a fresh snowfall. But she has no idea which way they went... WALKING AFTER A FRESH SNOWFALL.  Gosh, if only they'd left some sort of clue.
• The 10-year-old boy, who is small for his age, manages to shake a tree hard enough to have big ass icicles fall from the tree. A tree large and sturdy enough to have 3-inch diameter icicles form on it would be very hard to budge. Then the small boy manages to kill a healthy grown man with one of those big icicles. He's apparently a good baseball player.

I mean, c'mon! Is proofreading not a thing?? Editing??

I'll admit that the kid ringing his own doorbell bothered me for longer than it should have. 

I'm not even going to say the name of the book or the author because it was just SO so bad. But I'll include this blurb:

#1 Amazon bestselling author [blankity blank] is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

She's apparently published 22 books, which is 22 more than I've ever published. This one has an average rating of 4.19 stars. 

Maybe I have a brain injury.

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Linking up with Mama Kat for the prompt

4. Book review!

escapism

When we were in Steamboat Springs, I realized I'd forgotten my Kindle. I've been meaning to read more, and I love how I can carry "shelves" of books on one small device. But there I was... bookless. 

I do have the Libby app, which I'd forgotten about 🙄. I don't like reading books on my phone, but it would've done in a pinch. And as I mentioned earlier, I chucked instagram from my phone - so nice to not have that time waster anymore!

While we were browsing Steamboat's downtown, we came across a local bookstore selling used and new.  Nothing really spoke to me, though, so I remained bookless. The things we take for granted.

So this week, I was glad to get back to my reading. I finished Stoner, which is actually not about a pothead. Honestly, if it was about a pothead, I might have found it more engrossing?

It's a story of a young farm boy who goes off to college to learn about farming, but ends up loving and making a career as an English Lit professor instead. Written in 1965, it spans his life from around 1900 to the 1950s.

It's touted as a "classic", but I don't think I'm the right reader for this one. I gave it three stars out of five⭐⭐⭐✖✖  mainly because I appreciated the introspection, and it felt wrong to be any harsher on a "classic".

But at the same time, geesh, the man was SO passive, and it's really a 2 or 2.5 for me. This cover illustration really gets the mood of the whole book. 

"Oh, there's a war? Welp, I'm just gonna go to classes. My wife's a basket case? I'll just hang out at my office.  ho hum...

I found the story, the narration, and certainly Stoner himself to be so very flat and passive. At about the halfway point, he seems to rise up a bit, but then quickly returns to his rather lifeless life. Again, I think I just wasn't the right reader for this book. I mean, so much seemed to be about him being an English professor. I get it... he's an English professor. 

While I didn't purchase anything from that little bookstore, I perused one from a prominent shelf display and thought it might be worthwhile. 

With Teeth is about a woman struggling with her son and his issues - whatever those might be - from his toddler days into the teen years. I downloaded a sample to my kindle, and I couldn't even get through that. I can't properly review a sample, but it was just really bad IMO.

From the few pages I was able to get through, it seems to be about a woman who neither wants to be a mother nor has any business being responsible for the upbringing of a child.  Then she whines about it. A lot.

Funny thing, I read some reviews - they ranged from awful to great - and many said similar things 

"She's an awful mother, not one likeable character - five stars!"

To each their own.

I also checked out a copy of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. I've been doing a lot of decluttering and organizing lately, so thought I'd see if this book had much to offer.

It's a cute book and probably insightful for those who live among lots of clutter, but didn't have much to offer otherwise. Basics: get your crap pared down and in order so someone doesn't have to do it for you later. Certainly a good message... thinking of my oldest brother having to go through my parents' house.

Lastly, in other fictional escapism, we've been watching Outsiders on Hulu. It's about an Appalachian Mountain clan in Kentucky having it out with a coal company that wants to kick them off and mine their mountain down to nuthin'. 

There's only two seasons, and we're about at the last episode. I think it's well cast and well written. I'll miss these hillbillies when it's over.

getting organized

This old bag got a new bag.  Recall I was contemplating getting a new bicycling bag after a stronger, faster commuter went by me, flashing big leg muscles and a pretty bag. I researched and contemplated getting that damn bag for myself.

Thank you to those who chimed in, saying I should get the damn bag.  I did (minus the cat) and have been happily using it for a week.  We are getting along famously.

The bag actually comes in three sizes:  Mini Metro/ Citizen/ Metropolis... aka S/M/L.

Because of my petite torso, I got the Mini Metro, figuring anything bigger would be too much for me.  I figured correctly.  The "Mini" is plenty big, and I have no desire to carry any more than this holds.

I've always used backpacks and waistpacks in the past, never seeing the advantage to the over-the-shoulder messenger bags, but by George, it's better!

Since it sits lower and weight is distributed differently, it's very comfortable wearing this bag while on a bicycle.  On the flip side, I wouldn't want to use it for hiking.

It easily holds everything I schlep around, even on these moody fall days with big temperature swings when I want to swap the hefty morning outwear for lightweight afternoon garb.

Yesterday I needed to make an amazon return - too-big shoes in their box - and set out for Whole Foods.  My other go-to bag can't handle a shoe box, but Mini handled it with aplomb plus ample space for  the other crap I needed to carry - lock, phone, wallet, etc.

The errand to Whole Foods was all really just a ruse to get out for a joyride in the lovely fall weather we've been having.

Stopped for a selfie in this nice tunnel of elms on the university campus.  Pretty soon, I'll be whining about the snow and ice and cold, but at least I'll have a weatherproof bag 😊.  

Mini is "guaranteed for life", so guess I'm gonna stick around a good long while more to get my full benefit.

foster feet

Later today, I'm off to the dentist to sheepishly get fitted for another fake tooth.  Please tell me I'm not the only one whose dog ate their original.

This morning, I went to the gym, which is about a mile away.  I felt like walking to/from instead of riding my bike, so that's what I did.  As I was returning home, I saw a guy out for a run on the other side of the street.  He was sort of prancing/running, like he was working on his form or something.

Then I noticed his bright shoes and figured he was breaking in a new pair by overemphasizing things, getting a good feel.  Kinda high-steppin' it.

Back at home, I opened my instagram and saw that a local running store had some shoes for demo.  Get a pair, put them through your paces, bring them back and report.  Free.  On closer inspection, I was pretty sure they were the shoes prancing guy was wearing this morning - conducting research for his demo survey for the store, most likely.

So of course I had to join the fun and bring home a pair for myself.  It's like being a foster mom.  For shoes?

What will they tell me?

I checked online and learned they retail for $130.  Buyers can pay in 4 easy payments of $32.50.  And now I'm wondering, WHO makes shoe payments??  I won't even do car payments.

Anyway, I'm caring for them until Sunday when I will report back on their disposition and what kind of home would suit them.

Until then, I must keep the dogs from eating them.  Pretty sure I can't use HSA money for foster shoes.

want some?

I was 20 years old and had recently moved from my small town to the big city. I worked the front desk of a luxury hotel in downtown Denver and was about to start my morning shift.  Walking to the hotel restaurant to fill my coffee mug, I took in the elegant surroundings - a far cry from my "sheriff" days in the corral.

As I filled my mug with hot steaming caffeinated goodness, I chatted with one of the waitstaff, all dapper in his uniform - black pants and vest, crisp white shirt and tie.  He asked if I wanted anything from the kitchen.

"Nah, thanks", I replied, "just need this coffee, heh"

"Want some spid?", he then asked as he brought his thumb and forefinger to the lapel pocket of his vest.

"What?", I asked, thinking I didn't hear correctly.  Spid?

"Some spid?", he said again with his bit of Spanish accent.

Oh... SPEED.  He was offering me drugs.

"Ah, yeah, no thanks... just the coffee" *smile*

I thought of another coworker from my previous sheriff hotel.  He worked graveyard maintenance shift and told me how he'd do speed before coming in, get all his work done in about an hour, then have the rest of the time for whatever.  Yeah, okay.

I never had the urge, although I did my fair share of underage drinking and dabbled a bit in weed before it was legal.  But it was really more of wanting to see what the hype was about.  Okay, been there and done it.  A coworker at another hotel I worked at suggested she get us some cocaine to do after our shift sometime.  Never happened due to lack of enthusiasm.

(Now I'm wondering if hotel staffs are rampant with drugs, or was it just where I happened to be working when I was of drug-introduction age?)

I've read that genetics factor strongly in a person's vulnerability to addiction.  With that in mind, I'd say I have little to no genetic disposition, although, yeah, I confess to being addicted to caffeine.  Still. 😏

I recently read the book, "Reborn on the Run" by Catra Corbett.  It was suggested from the local running club I joined before COVID, to get discounts on race entries and other events, meet some locals, volunteer, etc.  Yeah, all that stuff's pretty much cancelled, but hey, they have a newsletter!  And they read stuff!


Anyway, Catra's book is a memoir of her becoming an ultrarunner to overcome her addiction to meth, or spid.

It was an engaging enough story as she's, literally and figuratively, quite a colorful character - full of tattoos and piercings, likes to wear loud colors.  In her previous drug life, she'd been a big time goth.

I have no interest in ultrarunning and no need for overcoming addiction(s), but was interested to hear one person's point of view.  She claims to not be addicted to running, but I wonder after reading.  She also mentions that there are a lot of reformed addicts in the ultrarunning world.  As I read, I felt that she is predisposed to addiction.  If it wasn't drugs then ultrarunning, it would be something else.


It's commonly advised  that, to effectively quit a bad habit or addiction, replace it with something else.  Getting to a point of tripping on meth almost constantly required an obsessive replacement.  She does admit to being "obsessed" with running.

The book is neither steps to overcoming addiction nor a guide to becoming an ultrarunner.  It's Catra's story, and I give it 3 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐★★ because it's a story deserving of a book.  But I had to gripe a bit about the writing.  Awkward sentence structures, poor wording, and full on grammar errors show up throughout.   I don't know what her co-author contributed and honestly wondered if maybe the wrong draft got sent to the publisher.

What are you reading?  Addicted to anything?

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Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:
2. Write about the last book you read.

it's shop o'clock somewhere

Today is sort of an unofficial official back-to-the-grind.  Magnum had a full two weeks off from work due to holidays and accrued vacation.  This was one of the reasons we decided it was puppy time.

College boy Meego gets a whole month off due to life of a college kid.  It's not really enough time to get a job unless he had something lined up (he didn't), but almost seems too long (he's not complaining).

As for me, I've actually had a nice trickle of tutees in the days since Christmas, but not enough to usurp the slug time.  Working for oneself makes it easy to go with the flow, whatever that flow may be.

So Christmas is not even full two weeks past, and I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting "special deals!" offers in my email.  I don't really like to shop as it is, let alone after the national over-consumption holiday.

From the suggested offers, I'm thinking there's a new year's resolution theme going on.  Deals include reduced gym memberships as well as fitness related gear.  They tryna tell me something?

One offer I got suggested a running belt.  I don't have a running belt and haven't felt a need for one.  I don't like to carry stuff  - including my phone - with me when I go running, but I could see a thing being handy for short hikes and walks.  I've tried the armband phone cases and have determined that they are best suited for people with decent sized arms... which I do not have.

I was half-heartedly perusing running belts and their associated reviews when I came across this top rated review and got a kick out of it.

SOURCE

Cute review.  But I'm still not buying it.  The emails can feel free to stop.

Honey I'm still free Take a chance on me

I've been doing a bit of decluttering.  No, it's not a new year's resolution, it's just something I'm COMPELLED to do and do often within limitations - those limitations being that I live among other people's stuff that is not mine to chuck.



Many are familiar with Marie Kondo's Book.  I got it (checked out from the library of course) thinking that she wouldn't have much to tell me = card carrying clutterphobe.

But I really enjoyed the book, it gave me a different perspective.  The nonbelievers make fun of the whole "spark joy" thing, but I totally get it!

I looked at my "stuff" with fresh eyes and...

I will not, however, be watching Marie Kondo's new Netflix series.  I saw the trailer and nearly hyperventilated looking at the joyless piles of non-sparkle Marie was having to wade through.

But this is all not to say that I don't acquire stuff.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that we'd gotten  a Ring®️ doorbell.  So far, we really like it.  We have actually had a couple of questionable characters approach the porch, seemingly notice the Ring, and abruptly leave.  What's that about?



About the same time we got the doorbell, I learned that amazon has secure lockers in various locations, and shoppers can forgo the packages being delivered to an unsecure porch.  I thought, "Ooh, Ima try!".  I did and here is my...

Well, actually, my review is not very deep, because the process is very simple.  When selecting an address for delivery, there is an option to select an amazon locker.  I found one about a mile from my house at Whole  Foods, but there are many other locations - mostly at 7-11s.  I saved the Whole Foods lockers to my account so I can easily select it again.

As soon as my package was delivered, I got a notification that included an - I think - 6-digit code.  Magnum and I did a March-of-the-Penguins-esque walk to Whole Foods on New Years Eve afternoon when it was like Antarctica outside.  I felt we needed an adventure.

It was all very simple, we walked up to the bank of pumpkin-colored lockers, I punched in the code, and *sproing*, one of the compartments opened up revealing my package.  Done and done.

Except we had to trudge back home through Antarctica.  I think I might be able to keep all of my toes.

Bottom line:  yes, I would recommend amazon lockers to a friend or colleague.

Just try not to go crazy and --> clutter plus bankruptcy.

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Oh, and I'm linking up with Mama Kat this week for the prompt:

1. Take a line from a song you love and turn it into the title of your next blog post. Let the content follow.

trash and fur

Here I sit, looking at trash.

No, I'm not watching porn, my trash is sitting at the end of the driveway.  That's where I put it last Thursday night.  Almost everyone on my street has their trash sitting at the end of their driveways.  Trash truck avoided us on Friday trashday.  Not the first time this has happened.

I called.  Some neighbors also probably called.  "Relief Driver" is coming tomorrow.  I'll believe it when I see it. 

I don't like to post negative reviews online.  I think, in general, people give feedback when they're either extremely satisfied or extremely dissatisfied.  I don't read much, "Uh... yeah, it was okay I guess".  Except for books and movies.  I've seen plenty of 3-stars for books and movies, and I'll give bad or mediocre book reviews, always with the disclaimer that it "just wasn't for me".  But for products and services, I'll sometimes give 5-star reviews or keep  my  mouth shut. 

So I won't go online and trash the trash service.  Relief Driver's coming tomorrow.  Right?

Anyway, ready for some pet pics?  The cat was probably not too happy with me after last week, but he seems better now.  He can't stay mad at me.  But he had pretty good reason. 

First, I stuffed him into his cat carrier (not without a fight) and hauled him to the vet's for his annual checkup and shots.  He's not a fan.

On Saturday, Chaco's pooch, Ella came for a sleepover while Chaco was out of town.  Ella and Napolion are still quite wary of each other, so we do a bit of pet juggling when Ella is around. I'm seeing progress, though.

We took Ella for some good walks.  I'm convinced she would walk for days and ask for more.  Wouldn't stop moving in order to get a nice photo with the ducks. 

I put her in the dog run while I was working in the yard, partly to give the cat some couch potato time and partly for her to keep me company.  She is perpetually smiling.

The Inktober 2018 challenge is about to come to an end.  I managed a few more submissions, but it looks like my Inktober is going to spill into Inkvember. 

Do YOU give online reviews for products and services?  

Are you professionally subjected to client reviews?  

Pros and cons?

drama in the desert

Four men and four women spend two years in an enclosed environment. They're isolated from the earth, but they can have visitors at a visitor window.  And since it's all a bit of a media spectacle as well as a science experiment, tourists can come gawk at the inhabitants at all hours.

The crew has to grow all their own food, take care of all medical needs, process their waste - if y'know what I'm sayin' - survive, not go crazy, and not kill each other.  Among other things.

I recently read T. C. Boyle's "The Terranauts".  It's a novel based on the real-life Biosphere 2 experiment from back in the early 90's.  Remember?

The book is described as "an intimate and epic story of science, society, sex, and survival..."  and I think that about sums it up.

It's rare for me to like a novel of which I don't particularly like any of the characters.  This one turned out to be one of those.  The chapters bounce around from the point of views of three of the main characters:  a female crew member, a male crew member, and a female on the outside who was passed over for this mission, but is destined to be part of the next crew.

As expected, it does get a bit soap opera-y.  In such a situation, there's gonna be drama.  But I didn't think it got too overly dramatic, although maybe it didn't need to be quite so long.  It seemed like some of the drama dragged on, but maybe that was to make us appreciate that they were stuck in there for a whole two years.

So you get

• one guy who has a tough time keeping it in his pants and
• the woman who clings then hates him for it
• another woman who thinks her boyfriend on the outside will wait for her
• a guy who's probably autistic and misreads a woman's intentions
• a medical doctor who must track everyone's vitals
• starvation
• oxygen depletion
• cooling system malfunction
• faction forming
• the rich people on the outside funding the whole thing and not wanting to look bad

Oh and I might mention

• four crew members who become two exclusive couples
• one female crew member who decides against the mandated birth control because it isn't "natural"

...  and so on.

So, yeah, I liked it well enough.  If nothing else, I found the science of the Biosphere 2 quite interesting, even though the real-life experiment exposed its shortcomings.  The facility still stands just outside of Tucson, AZ and is owned by the University of Arizona, which uses it for ongoing research.

Maybe I'll go check it out.  I've got these airline miles...

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Linking up again with Mama Kat for the prompt:
3. Book review!

it could be worse

I returned to the gym this week, figuring that most of the resolutionists that were going to stay have somewhat acclimated to their new lifestyles, and the rest have hung up their gear.  It was noticeably more crowded on Monday, but that was a holiday for many people.  The other days have featured mostly the familiar faces.

I usually go in the middle of the day, because I can, during  off-peak hours.  Most of the patrons are older retired men, women around my age, young moms with kids in the childcare and/or elementary school, and early 20's types who probably work in the evenings.

Prior to this, I hadn't belonged to a gym in several years.  Recall that Wolfgang talked us into joining his gym, thus upgrading from single to family membership, which drastically reduced his fees.  Now, a few months in, I'm glad we decided to join - especially now in what's become the "season of foot appreciation".

It's a large facility, with plenty to do.  When we were checking it out, I read the reviews online, which were mostly favorable.

The unfavorable ones mentioned dings against the childcare, complaining that "the kids are allowed to sit and watch TV".

And I'm thinking, "do these people want a safe place for their kids or a free kids' camp?"  But I really can't comment, I don't use the childcare.

Then there are those who complain about the food and prices in the cafe.  I can't comment, I don't go to a gym to eat.

One review states,"It is not a comfortable place for women. Men have made extremely sexist, derogatory remarks to me and made me extremely uncomfortable to even be there."  Personally, I haven't experienced that at all, nor have I seen such offenses against any of the other women while I've been there.  In general, the men seem to just ignore me...

Then there were critical reviews complaining about the parking lot.  I mentioned, it's a big facility, so the parking lot is large to accommodate members during peak hours.  Apparently, some exercisers don't like having to walk across a parking lot?

Oh well.  Live and let live.  Maybe I should get this workout top.

Pinterest

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Linking up with Mama Kat for the prompt:

4. Write a blog post inspired by the word: workout.

driving miss hazey

First of all, I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the good dads out there!

I know it's really another Hallmark holiday, but it is nice to take a moment to appreciate our dads.  I had a wonderful dad and can't imagine growing up without him, but I know that's not the case for everyone.

And my years spent working in a hotel restaurant demonstrated the contrast between Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Mother's Day brunch was a huge affair while  Father's Day consisted of our manager saying "Happy Father's Day!" over the PA system, then handing out cigars to the guys quietly drinking coffee.  So a shout out to good dads!

On another note, y'all know I've been teaching Meego to drive, and we got a gently used manual transmission civic for that purpose a couple of months ago.  He's been doing well, and yesterday, he completed the Master Drive skills course.

This is really a great program, and I recommend it or something like it to anyone who has a new driver in the family.  Chaco and Wolfgang also completed it, and I immediately noticed improvements in their skills and confidence behind the wheel.

The skills course teaches how to deal with unexpected conditions -  obstacles, accidents, bad road conditions, etc.  They learn responsive techniques for steering, braking, and getting out of slides.  They experience what it feels like to lose control of the car during hydroplaning or sliding on ice, and what it feels like when the ABS engages, all under the watchful eyes of knowledgeable, friendly coaches.








The class lasts all day - most of it spent behind the wheel - and culminates in an afternoon "graduation".  Just prior to receiving their certificates, the new drivers take parents for a demo drive.





I made a short video to summarize our ride with Meego.  You can't really see them in the video, but there are lights along the course that flash suddenly and randomly to simulate some sort of unexpected situation, and the drivers are to respond accordingly.  As a passenger, it feels a lot like a carnival ride.

On a side note, Wolfgang and Meego commented that my video editing resembles "an elementary school video project".  Well, I reminded them that I didn't have video projects in elementary school, so I'm making up for lost time.

All aboard!






 .

Silver Liningness Sunday

I was at the post office on Friday.  We have a P.O. box there, so I check it about once a week.  Migosh, the lines.  I couldn't tell where one ended and another started.  Merry Christmas!

It reminded me of years ago, not long after Magnum and I got married and were living in upstate New York, far away from family - which was rather plentiful considering the divorces and remarriages and all the step-branches in Magnum's family tree.  We'd buy things, and box them up, then go stand in long lines at the post office with all those packages.  Eventually, that practice thankfully ended.  With everyone getting hitched and then with babies popping out, we all collectively agreed to halt the mass gift exchange.  I sure don't miss it, so this week at the post office, I gladly bypassed the lines to the quiet of the P.O. boxes.

On that note, I'd say my shopping is done.  And thinking back to those olden days, I'm thankful for the internet and online shopping!  I went to the mall just once this week, and that was only to get a gift for the P.E.O. gift swap.  That was enough, and I couldn't remember the last time I was at a mall, even though there is one about a mile from our house.

That mall also houses a cinema, so with the opening of Star Wars coupled with the Christmas season, it's a good place to avoid if you're not big into traffic.

I am still feeling a bit of the stir crazies.  This week's snow storm was the messiest one yet, and it's still very sloppy out.  I'm already feeling sick of winter, and it's not even officially winter yet!  On top of that, I found that my normally trusty friendly running shoes that are such nice companions in the warm months turned total wimps once it got cold/wet/snowy/icy out.  They felt stiff, uncomfortable, and cumbersome, which left me feeling similarly.

I went to the local running store last weekend with my tale of woe.  And after a very helpful session, I came home with these wonderful Altra Lone Peak 2.5's

I'd heard good things about Altras - the zero-drop platform and the roomy toe box.  Now, I think I've found me a new brand of shooz!  These are SO comfy, and they did quite nicely at dealing with the winter slop.  I can't yet speak to their durability, but so far so good!

And remember that radio guy that said socks were disappointing Christmas gifts??  Well, he obviously hasn't heard of the Netflix Socks that pause your show if you fall asleep!  We all know THAT hardship, right??

I could use a pair of these

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  Merry Yule! Come on Spring!

Prometheus

Magnum and I watched Prometheus last night.

Let me just say that I really liked the original Alien movie.  Thought it was extremely well done and deserves to be the classic that it is. And I say that, although I first watched it when I was, what?  Like fourteen years old? But I've also seen it as an adult and stand with my impression.


Prometheus, the prequel, is directed by Ridley Scott who also directed Alien as well as some other great films.  Should be good, right?

I dunno, maybe my expectations were too high.  I will say that it was not boring.  It's just that so much of it made so little sense.  Once I suspended all logic, I was able to enjoy it well enough.  But, a few nagging thoughts remain, so I will spew a bit.  In bullets (some spoilers):

• This team of hotshot, handpicked scientists assemble for an epic mission to the outer reaches of space, yet... most of them don't even know what the mission is until AFTER they've done all that travelling and hypersleeping?  
• Almost instantly upon their arrival to their destination, the lead scientist looks out the window to the planet - apparently approximately the same size as earth, since things seem to weigh about the same there - and conveniently spots the ONE creature-built structure!  "There!  Land over there!"
• The team predictably goes out exploring the structure with seemingly no plan or specifically designated responsibilities for individual team members.  
• The geologist who maps the structure promptly gets lost.
• The biologist wants no part of studying the alien corpses.
• The biologist takes no precautions when encountering an alien snakelike thing and is predictably killed by said alien snakelike thing.
• It's the year 2093, and the high-falutin' medical pod thing doesn't "do" gynecology?

And one other thing that bothers me, but has to do with production and casting, not plot, is

• There's this old guy in the movie.  He's played by a young actor (Guy Pierce) who is poorly made-up to look like an old guy.  Yet, the character remains an old guy.  Why didn't they just cast an actual old guy in the role rather than cast a young guy and make him into a poorly made-up old guy?  WHY?!

Charlize Theron seemed unnecessary (and should have been coached on proper push-up form), but did okay with what she was given, which wasn't much.  Idris Elba was good in his role, but I wish his role had also been bigger.

There were a few other bothersome things, but that's enough.  The CGI is good, there are action and suspense (once you suspend all logic).  I never felt like sleeping or reaching for my tablet to check facebook...

And I will say that I found the DIY, alien baby C-section scene extremely entertaining!  By that point in the movie, I was already watching with a smirked face, and that scene nearly - pun intended - had me busting a gut!  Seriously!  I kinda don't think that was the intended reaction, but that scene made the movie for me, if only for its ridiculous amusement factor.

Have you seen Prometheus?  Whadja think?

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fad or friend?

It's moving day for Chaco and Wolfgang.  When I went to bed last night, the house was in a bit of a shambles.  This morning, it's surprisingly better.  Not great, but it's all relative.

Although they're both moving into the same building, even the seemingly bottomless pitted Ellie Mae the Element can't fit all of their crap essential dorm things in one haul, so they're going in waves.  Most of Wolfgang's things are loaded, tetris style, while Chaco's are mainly in boxes around the house.

Despite the cramped space, I wanted to show you guys my new calf sleeves, so:

I've been seeing these compression sleeves here and there for the last couple of years or so, and their population seems to be growing.  I would say that more people than not were wearing them for the half on the fourth.  I was one of the nots.  

So I was a bit curious, but not too.  Is it just a fad?  Then a couple of weeks ago, I got a special e-mail offer. I'm not usually a soft sell, but I jumped right on my special e-mail offer... because it made me feel special?

Soon I received my goods from Pro Compression, and I've gotta say I felt a noticeable difference, and more than just a friendly leg hug.  The product information states:

"PRO Compression works against gravity by helping your vascular system increase blood flow which relieves discomfort and assists in recovery.

Heh, at my age, they had me at "works against gravity".

Since I prefer to run sockless, I really like the sleeve design.  I've run with them twice  now, and I'll give them 5 stars.  I just got a second set, on sale from a different brand as it's too soon to stimulate brand loyalty, to rotate.  I use mine for running, but I can certainly see how they would be helpful for any activity that requires a lot of time on one's feet.

Anyone else added these to their unmentionables drawer?  

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