Atomic Time Addiction

New Spot Gen3 Review

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 11:51:00 +0000

The New Spot Gen3
Not too "water friendly"

Introduction

I was excited to hear that Spot released a new updated version of their famous Satellite GPS Messenger series. Dubbed the Gen3, the new device has some great features but also a fatal flaw. Here's my review.

Putting hands on the new Spot Gen3 was difficult. I already researched all the information about the device online and discovered the Gen3 touted improved performance, a motion activation feature, better battery life, more settings for the track function, and the ability to power the unit from an outside power source.

Inspection

After calling around, I discovered my local BassPro Shop had one of new units in stock. So, I drove down to check it out.

I was immediately disappointed.

Why? Because the new Spot Gen3 now has an external USB port connector on the back of the unit. It was added to allow the unit to be powered by a cable from an external power source and a way to accommodate firmware updates.

The flaw in this design is that the external USB connector port is covered by a flimsy rubber cap that can pop off while handling allowing a potential source for water leaks into the unit. That's a bad thing.

The rubber cover on the unit I inspected kept coming off. It simply wasn't a good fit. You should note the Gen3 Users Guide clearly states the Spot is NOT waterproof when using line power. Yikes!

I'm not sure why the designers decided on this poor design feature. The last thing I want to risk in the field is my Spot GPS Messenger failing due to a water leak.

You should consider this if you plan on using the Spot Gen3 near water or wet environments. Especially saltwater which is extremely corrosive on electrical connectors.

I suspect the only folks who will get any value out of the Spot Gen3 are pilots. Risking a water leak through the external USB port makes this a deal breaker for outdoor enthusiasts or kayakers.

Past Spot Problems

The previous Spot model had its own share of problems. The company issued a recall notice after discovering some units didn't meet their battery performance and messaging standards.

Now the poor design of the Spot Gen3. Hmmm.....

Conclusion

I would not recommend the Spot Gen3 because of the potential for water leaking into the unit from the rubber cover on the external USB connector.

Easy Kayak Storage System- Under $60 for Two!

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:59:00 +0000

Hi,
Our Perception Essence 165 touring kayaks arrived in January and ever since I've been searching for an easy, affordable kayak storage system. You know, the kind that won't break the bank account?

Well, thanks to my friend Jim, all it took was a trip to my local Lowe's Home Improvement Center. I ended up spending under $60 to hang two kayaks! Man, does it look great too!

Parts List:

2- 20" Heavy Duty Shelving Brackets ($10 ea.)
2- 15 " Heavy Duty Shelving Brackets ($9 ea.)
2- 6' Section of 1" Thick Rubber Pipe Insulation ($7 ea)
16- Plastic Zip Ties (Already had)
12- 2" Dry Wall Screws (Already had)

Total- $52

Other items you'll need:
A pair of scissors, a stud finder, pencil, and an electric screwdriver or drill with a Phillips head driver bit.

The wall I used to hang the yaks had an electric panel on it. So in order to maintain unimpeded access I decided to place one boat high and the other low.

I found some white heavy duty shelving brackets at Lowe's in the section that sells wire shelving. You may have to ask for them. These are very sturdy. I purchased a pair of 20" brackets for the top boat and 15" brackets for the bottom boat. This was because the 15" bracket allowed me the amount of space needed to clear the electric panel.

Here's what they look like and a shot of the box the 20" brackets came in.

Found them at Lowe's!

Here's what the box looked like

Determine Support Points:

Consult your kayak manufacturers owners manual to see what support points they suggest for your particular model. Mine basically called for one support behind the forward hatch cover and the other in front of the aft hatch. I was lucky. The wall studs were located in just the right positions!

Hang the Brackets:

Locate the wall studs using a stud finder and decide what height you need to place each bracket then secure them using dry wall screws. I used 2" screws and placed some washers over the heads just to match the mounting holes better. You could use longer screws if you want.

Install Hull Protection:

I used 1" thick rubber pipe insulation to protect against scratching the hull and form a nice non-skid surface. Don't buy the cheaper closed cell foam pipe insulation- it doesn't work as well.

Place the pipe insulation over the top bracket support and cut enough to extend past the tip by about 2 inches. Wrap the end around and use zip ties to keep the insulation in place. Because of the double wrapped end, I had to use two zip ties for extra length.

Here's what the insulation looks like:

Get the "rubber" kind not the cheap closed cell foam!

Cut it long enough to wrap around

Use two together if needed

Don't forget to zip tie the end near the wall

Repeat the process for the remaining brackets. Always double check your measurements to insure the brackets are level so your kayaks will hang straight across.

Here's the finished storage system:

Nice and level!

The 15" brackets would have worked fine up top

Added bonus: Use the remaining pipe insulation on the down supports of the 20" brackets and hang your paddle across too!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Cheers!

2012 Red Rock Canyon Marathon Race Report

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Introduction

I'll admit I wasn't too excited about doing another run after experiencing the problem filled Inaugural Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Savannah, Ga on November 5, 2011.

Then Kim mentioned the Red Rock Canyon Marathon in Nevada on March 10, 2012 put on by Calico Racing. The event gets rave reviews from past participants and the lure of bagging another state was motivation enough. This would be my 17th marathon and Kim's 12th.

Yeehaw! Let's sign-up!

Our running group this trip would include a friend, Shawn, who signed up for the half marathon and her husband Rick who would handle logistic support and be the lead photographer.

We're excited.

Flight and Accommodations

Booking airfare from Charlotte to Las Vegas was crazy. Kim and I ended up saving about $400 by flying out Thursday instead of Friday and grabbing a one night stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas-Red Rock/Summerlin

The Hampton Inn is a great place and super convenient. I highly recommend this location. We transferred over to the official marathon hotel- The Red Rock Casino Resort Spa on Friday afternoon. Wow, what an impressive place!

Of course, before check-in we couldn't pass up a drive down the famous Las Vegas Strip. Fabulous!

Vegas Baby!

The Red Rock Casino Resort Spa was nothing short of stunning. Our room sported a spacious main bedroom area and a large bathroom complete with a marble tile shower and the deepest bathtub I've ever seen. It would prove valuable for the post-marathon soak.

Red Rock Casino Resort Spa


Checking In

Nice Room!

Deepest Bathtub I've Ever Seen

Shawn and Rick made the Hampton Inn their base of operation and would stay over into the next week visiting their son Kent who is a performer in Mystere, a Cirque du Soleil production at the Treasure Island Casino.

Packet Pick-up

(L-R) Kim, Kent, Shawn, and Rick

Packet pick-up was at the Ridges Banquet Room in the main hotel between 5:00-9:00pm on Friday. It was no-frills, organized, and uncrowded. There weren't any vendors here, just one small table on the other side of the room where you could purchase left over items from past races, mainly tech shirts.

Packet Pick-Up

We found out there were about 900 people signed up for both the half and full marathons. This was good number of runners since the course is in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management and protected as a National Conservation Area.

The area is home to the Desert Tortoise, an endangered and protected species. All runners had to sign a “Desert Tortoise Acknowledgment Waiver” form in order to be allowed to run.

Pasta Dinner

Time to Carb Up!

Yum

Carbing up before the race couldn't have been easier. There was an Olive Garden Restaurant directly across the street! Kim and I both had soup, a hearty serving of plain buttered pasta, and those famous bread sticks. You just can't beat an Olive Garden meal before a marathon.

It's early to bed since we have a 6:00am start and all runners would be bused to the start location.

The Course

The race organizers really planned out the transportation system well. There were two locations where runners could get on buses for travel to the half and full start line. One at the main hotel and the other on The Strip next to the Bally's Hotel and Casino. Buses began running at 4:30am at both locations.

Ready to go!

The only small glitch Kim and I had was that the front desk clerk told us our buses would pick-up in front of the main lobby. This was incorrect. They actually picked up on the other side of the hotel at the Red Rock Casino entrance near the surface parking lots. No problem once figured it out.

Our bus attendant and driver were so nice! They went out of there way to engage us in conversation and even quizzed everyone on the bus to find out where we were all from. Fun!

On the 5:00am bus

Now I have to explain a little bit about the course and how it was organized. The run would take place along the 13 mile scenic drive roadway inside the park. This is a one way road that begins at the Visitors Center and loops around before exiting the park at a different location.

Marathon Start Location

Our View at the Start

Marathoners began at 6:00am at the exit location, run to the Visitors Center, turn around, and run back. Extra mileage was built in along the way to achieve 26.2 miles.

Half marathoners on the other hand, started at 7:00am from the Visitor Center and ran to the exit point. Both groups crossed paths along the way. I wasn't sure how this would go but I can tell you it was rejuvenating since mostly everyone you passed exchanged words of encouragement. Shouts of “Looking good!”, “Good job!”, and “Way to go!” could be heard continuously. It just made you feel good listening to that sort of stuff from other runners.

This was a challenging course but some of the pain was taken away by the absolute spectacular scenery! It was definitely worth the entry fee.

Here We Go!

Along the Course

Great Views!

Trying to Tell Me Something?

Time for the Happy Dance!

Aid stations were spaced out about every 1-2 miles with “Ultra” stations about every 4-6 miles that included a full spread of water, Hammer Heed, Hammer Endurolyte tablets, bananas, oranges, Hammer Gel, salty & sweet snacks, basic first aid, and a portable toilet.

The volunteers at every station were remarkable! I tell you, out of all my marathons, the aid stations and volunteers here get my vote as the very best.

The Run

Kim and I planned on maintaining our normal slow and steady pace. It proved to be the right decision. At mile 17 my right calf muscle began to cramp so I slowed down even more and adjusted my gait to try minimizing the pain. It worked pretty well.

The downhills on this course did a number on our quads but we managed to run through the pain. Then just before mile 24 I had some major cramping issues that finally subsided by mile 25. I'm thankful for Kim being there to offer words of encouragement. She's a good leaning post!

The Warm-Ups Over. 6 miles to Go

On the Back Side Now

Kim Poses with 2 "Elvinas"

We finished the run at 5:35 and were awarded an awesome medal- a big piece of hardware. Post race food was fabulous at the finish line. There was an assortment of sweet and salty treats, yogurt cups, muffins, fruit, and an assortment of fluids. Way to go guys!

Nice Medal!

Big Hardware!

After resting a bit, we jumped on another bus for the 10 minute ride back to the hotel. Yeah!

Post Race

I'm a big fan of drinking a couple bottles of Hammer Recoverite after each long run. I'm convince it helps speed muscle recovery. That and a big dose of ibuprofen. But I also had to look forward to soaking in that deep giant of a bathtub back in our room. It felt so good. There was even a TV mounted above the tub. I felt like a big roller no doubt about it.

Saturday Evening

Time for some fun! Shawn and Rick made reservations at The Barrymore Restaurant on The Strip inside the Royal Resort. It's a cozy little joint that specializes in American cuisine. The atmosphere reminded me of a place that the Rat Pack would have dined at in the early 1960's. Our table was a half moon shaped booth upholstered in crushed blue suede velvet. The ceiling tiles in the dimly lit room were old gold colored film reels. The side wall was completely mirrored.

Our waiter was knowledgeable and snappy in his service delivery. He sent over the sommelier who offered a blended wine selection that was to die for. Shawn decided to try the cobia fish special while everyone else ordered the beef special that included two different types of steak medallions served with root vegetables and a beef reduction. Superb! No one had room for dessert. Drats!

Next, off to see the 9:30pm performance of Mystere at Treasure Island. The show was breathtaking. Shawn and Ricks son, Kent, is a gymnast in the show and does one of the Chinese Pole acts. Kent was amazing. I still don't understand how he does some of the intricate moves. He actually defies gravity!

After the show Kent gave us a backstage tour and described some of the things that go on behind the scenes to make the show possible. Thanks Kent for your great hospitality.

Kent in his make-up, Kim, and I

Stage view from high above

Backstage!

Sunday Tourist Stuff

Hoover Dam

Memorial Bridge

Conclusion

I can't say enough good things about the whole Red Rock Canyon Marathon experience. This event was so well organized, set in one of the best scenic locations, led by an amazing Race Director, and crewed by a remarkable group of volunteers. Kudos to all.

Don't be fooled, the course is tough but doable given the 7 hour time limit. Definitely put this race on your short list and be sure to check out all the other Calico Racing events. You will not be disappointed.

Las Vegas is fun in its own sort of way. The city offers something for everyone from gaming, to fine dining, to fabulous entertainment venues. Go, enjoy!

Special congratulations to Shawn for completing her second half marathon in 2:35. You did good!

Thanks to Rick for taking all those fantastic pictures and finding Kim and I along the way.

Shawn, Kim, Marc Victory Pose

Goodbye Red Rocks

Thanks for Showing Us a Good Time

I hope you enjoyed this race report. Until next time....

Cheers!

Marc

2011 Square Foot Garden Update 5

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:18:00 +0000

The garden literally exploded over the last several weeks. Abundant sunshine and rain were the contributing factors. Plenty of tasty salads have been eaten.

WOW!

The next round of crops have been purchased and planted. I simply cant wait to see how these do. I decided to do something a little different this year as far as tomato plants go. I've put both an heirloom and hybrid variety in. The heirlooms have much more flavor and are popular picks at our local farmers market. They are a little more disease prone than the hybrids but the extra taste outweighs that risk. I simply can't wait to compare them in a tomato sandwich test! With extra mayo, salt, and pepper of course....

Check out the pics:

The Burpless Cucumbers are looking Great!

These are the Tomato Plants- Parks Whooper Hybrid on the Left and German Johnson Heirloom on the Right

Bush Beans are Coming Along Nicely Too

More updates later.

2011 Square Foot Garden Update 4

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:58:00 +0000

Wow! It's amazing how much stuff grows in just a couple weeks in good soil! I staggered planting our first two crops a week apart. Both beds have sprouted. Here's what they look like so far.

The radishes (below) are coming in really nice. There's a different type in each square.

The spinach seeds are the slowest ones to sprout. The rest should break through later this week.

I'm headed out of town but when I get back I'll try and post a short video update.

Cheers!

2011 Square Foot Garden- Update 3

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:11:00 +0000

YEEHAW! The first seeds are in the ground! I planned to sow seeds this past weekend but heavy rain was forecast for Saturday and Sunday. Didn't want to risk a washout so I got started on Monday.

Here's a breakdown of what went in the ground:

4 Squares of Renfro Lettuce Mix
2 Squares of Renfro Spinach Mix
2 Squares of Buttercrunch Lettuce
2 Squares of Early Scarlet Globe Radish
2 Squares of White Tipped Scarlet Radish
2 Squares All Season Cabbage

I'll plant a second round in about a week or two so to extend the harvest.

Cheers!

Simple Square Foot Garden Dividers- Update 2

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:57:00 +0000

Lots of people who do square foot gardening struggle finding the right dividers to mark off their beds. Mel Bartholomew originally suggested tack nailing flat wooden strips (like trellis slats) to the side of the beds. That's expensive. I've read of others who have tried using string, pvc pipe, and even mini-blind slats.

I struggled finding the best divider for my square foot garden too. Then it hit me! I discovered the best material is 1 1/4" vinyl corner bead. You'll find it at your local home improvement store in the section where they sell drywall supplies. It comes in 8 foot sections. Mine cost under $2.00 each.

It looks like this:

Since the corner bead is "V" shaped all you need to do is cut off both sides. You'll need a strong pair of cutters to do this- regular scissors won't cut it. I use a pair of garden scissors. Just trim along the line of holes on both sides.

Here's what you'll end up with.

Now just lay out the strips in your bed.

You can secure the strips a number of ways. Last year I interwove them (like a basket weave). That kept them in place pretty good. This year I'm trying wire stakes make out of this stuff.

I just cut the wire into about 10" lengths then bent them in a "U" shape and pushed them through the holes at the intersections. See below:

I'll let you know how the wire stakes hold up this year.

Cheers!

Square Foot Gardening 2011 Edition- Update 1

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Last years square foot garden was a huge success! Kim and I learned a lot and we plan on taking the lessons learned and carrying them over to this seasons garden. What amazed us was how little work it took to maintain this type of garden and how much fun we had harvesting all our crops!

By far the two most helpful resources were the Mel Bartholomew's "All New Square Foot Gardening" book and the Square Foot Gardening Foundation website.

The book is a must have in my opinion. It outline's the soil mix and gives you planting layouts for your garden. I built 4'X6' beds instead of the recommended 4'X4' beds simply because I had the space for them. You choose what's right for you. Whatever you do however, don't cut corners on your soil mix ingredients!

Getting Ready for 2011

Winter was pretty harsh here as well as the rest of the country so the garden went dormant. The soil had settled a couple of inches in spots below the top of the frames so.......

Here's what I added to top them off:

1 bag of Black Kow brand cow manure

1 bag Black Hen brand chicken manure (rocket fuel!!)

1 bag mushroom compost

Sphagnum peat moss- some leftover I had laying around

Agricultural vermiculite- about 2.5 gallons

I poured all the bags into the beds and mixed them together by hand. It worked better doing it this way since the soil is so loose and rich.

Here's what it looked like when I got done. Mmmmm, pretty!

Rabbit Protection

The biggest threat to our garden last year was rabbits! They're everywhere and they like to eat stuff in gardens! So, in order to protect the crop, a barrier is mandatory. I researched putting up 1/2" galvanized hardware cloth but it was just way too expensive. I decided on using plastic hardware cloth instead. It's durable and only costs about $8.00 for a 25 foot roll. Plus it comes in a 36 inch width so I just cut it in half giving me 18" tall sections- plenty high enough to keep the rabbits out.

Here's the finished fence. Those are plastic garden stakes weaved through the cloth on all four corners. Bamboo stakes on the mid sections give extra stability and eliminates the fence flopping around. It works great!

Buying Seeds

Our favorite place to buy seeds and get local growing advice is from Renfro's Hardware Store. Having a local resource like this is invaluable.

So far we've picked up some Renfro Lettuce Mix, Renfro Spiniach Mix, Butercrunch Lettuce, Scarlet Globe Radish, Early Scarlet White Tipped Radish, and Derby Bush Beans.

We also plan on adding a couple varieties of tomato plants, burp-less cucumbers, and pepper plants.

I'm not sure why but last year our pepper plants did not take. I was really bummed about that. My plan is to get a couple more varieties of peppers and plant them in the other bed. Sunlight issues maybe?

Stay tuned for more updates.

Cheers!

FaceTime Won't Activate on New Verizon iPhone4 Solution

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:06:00 +0000

Well, my saga continues. I am one of the existing Verizon customers who got first shot at getting the new iPhone4 on the Verizon network. The pre-order process went well and the device shipped really quickly. Then the quirks began after I started exploring the phones functionality.

First off was the problem with the VZ Navigator. It wasn't available even though the feature was offered as a billable option during pre-order. Come to find out the application wasn't made ready for distribution at roll out time. Verizon quickly took the charges off my plan after informing me the feature wouldn't really be available until February 10th. Nice try, I'll think I'll pass on this one.

OK, a small bump in the road.

Next came the problem with the FaceTime feature not being able to "activate". I spent most of the day researching the Verizon and Apple support forums and discovered the problem is apparently impacting mostly former Alltel customers like me. So I began calling tech support.

First off-Verizon. They tried really hard but in the end transferred me to Apple tech support. There I spoke to a nice guy in Las Cruces, NM. We tried nearly everything- a hard start, soft start, recovery mode, pushing every button on the damn phone- nothing!

Then I got sent over to talk with an Apple Senior Adviser. He was nice but really only was able to make me an appointment at my local Apple Store Genius Bar.

At the Apple Store- I spoke to a young kid Genius named Pedro who quickly informed me he had already seen a couple of similar cases. Pedro said the problem stemmed from the fact that former Alltel customers (now absorbed by Verizon) cellular plans did not allow the device to attach to the existing cell towers correctly and I would need to contact Verizon to have them switch me to an official Verizon Wireless plan to resolve the issue. Pedro offered to walk with me to the Verizon store in the mall but it had moved across the street. Drats, I have to go on my own.

At the Verizon Store- I explained my problem to a fellow there who gave me that "deer in the headlights" look and was no help at all. I was not happy and left.

Back at home- I decided to call Verizon Tech Support from home and ended up speaking with a wonderful girl who actually listened to and understood my dilemma. She researched the problem on her end and confirmed the issue was due to my former Alltel status in their system. She offered me an array of options regarding similar cellular plans and took the time to help me make the best choice on a swap.

Once the switch was made the FaceTime activation problem was solved!

If you're in a similar situation you'll notice only "3G" appears on the device title bar next to the signal bar icon in the upper left corner of the screen. It actually should say "Verizon".

You may need to sync your device through iTunes and even perform a *228 then press number 1 to program your phone in order for the changes to take place.

Remember you must be on a wi-fi network for FaceTime to work.

Cheers!

VZ Navigator App Missing on New Verizon iPhone4?

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:42:00 +0000

That's right. There's a big problem with the new Verizon iPhone4 when it comes to maps. If you checked that you wanted the VZ Navigator feature on your phone during the pre-order event for existing Verizon customers don't expect it to be pre-installed on your iPhone4 when you get it- it's not. The app isn't even available on iTunes or the Verizon webpage for that matter. Why?

Well, it appears the mis-step is because the app isn't ready for the new Apple device. In fact, when I tried to download the app tonight off the Verizon web page I got an error message saying it wasn't available for my phone(?). Oops!

A quick call to Verizon customer service revealed VZ Navigator should be available on February 10th when the entire rest of the know universe will be able to order the phone from Verizon.

Sure this is a minor bump in the road for a roll out that has gone exceedingly well by any standard. I just wish Verizon hadn't dangled the carrot in front of me. Guess I'll just wait to see if February 1oth is the date this kink gets worked out.

Oh, the customer service rep took the feature off my plan so I wouldn't get charged for it. Good move.

Cheers!

Six Sentences Submission Fiasco

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:20:00 +0000

I've been following the Six Sentences blogspot for a while now and have always enjoyed it. However, I thought I'd let the uninitiated in on a a little secret regarding written submissions to the site- Don't expect a whole lot.

Read the instructions on the "Writers Guidelines" page and you'll see where Six Sentences guru Robert McEvily claims that "All submissions will receive a response within six days". Yeah right, don't hold your breath.

I can tell you that I submitted a story twice (with modifications) before the 2010 Christmas holiday season and have yet to hear back from Mr. McEvily. So much for the six day email response claim.

Screw Robert McEvily.............

Junior Brown- My Wife Thinks You're Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 02:15:00 +0000

Go see him if you ever get the chance.........

Six Sentences: What Can You Say in Six Sentences?

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:31:00 +0000

UPDATE: Read about the Six Sentences Submission Fiasco HERE.

I've been following a writing blog called Six Sentences for a while now. It's a pretty simple premise- write down whatever you want in six sentences or less, submit it, and see if they publish your work. I like to read what people write and find it a refreshing break during the day.

Want to see a sample?

Here's one from Donald Jett titled: "Lot" . (click)

BP Oil Spill Sleight-of-Hand?

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 17:11:00 +0000

Is it me or has any one else noticed the flurry of news stories lately about the miraculous vanishing BP Gulf Oil spill? Seems like plenty of scientists have come out and announced the majority of the oil spilled in the Gulf by BP is mysteriously gone! That's right disappeared.

According to a Bloomberg article posted on August 4, a US Government report says 74 percent of the oil is no longer in the water. Amazing, considering an estimated 4.9 million barrels of the gooey substance leaked into the water. What's even more remarkable is the speed of the study. Heck, the government couldn't even tell us how much oil was being released during the disaster but they sure are quick to point out how much of it is gone literally days after the well was capped.

Hmmm...... I know bullshit when I see it.

Square Foot Garden Update 4

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:53:00 +0000

YEEHAW!!! The square foot garden went vertical this week. That's right, I built a trellis to support the sugar snap peas and bush beans that were planted last week and are really taking off.

I worried the wire cages wouldn't be high enough for them so I constructed a 5 1/2 foot tall trellis out of:

2- 10 foot sections of 1/2 inch electrical conduit
2- 4 foot sections rebar
2- 1/2 inch PVC plumbing T connectors
1- Nylon vegetable netting (5' x 8')

It turned out great!

The trellis (back) made from electrical conduit

I used 1/2" PVC "T" connectors to attach the upright

4 foot sections of rebar hold the posts up

Bush beans and sugar snap peas next to the nylon netting. Looking good!

I transplanted several cantaloupe seedlings around the raised beds this week

Squash!!

Corn!

More stir fry with fresh bok choy and edamame

Well that's it for this update. Thanks for following along!

Square Foot Garden Update 3

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:06:00 +0000

Well, it's been another couple weeks of low stress square foot gardening! I'm loving this stuff. The major activity this weekend was thinning radishes and leaf lettuce which have really thickened up due to all the great weather we've had lately. Very therapeutic....

Since the last update, I went to the local home improvement store and bought 3 tomato cages. I'll use the heavier/taller cages made out of the wire cloth material on the cucumber, beans, and sugar snap peas. I figure the taller cages will provide those climbing plants more space to spread out and grow.

I also managed to plant bush beans, sugar snap peas, and cantaloupe seeds in a plastic container tray. The seedlings have sprouted and should be ready for transplanting soon. YIIPPEE!

Seedlings are looking nice!

My gardening buddy- Tucker

Look! A tiny squash!

Corn stalks are coming along nicely

Thinning the leaf lettuce. I gotta bowl full!

Bok Choy!!!!

Kim and I decided to try a stir fry with the some of the fresh bok choy leaves from the garden. Hey, it turned out pretty darn good. Take a look.

Kim and Marc's Totally Improvised Wilted Bok Choy with Shrimp Stir Fry Recipe:

- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 or 2 cloves garlic minced
- Dash of fresh ginger grated
- 2 carrots sliced
- 1 small red pepper diced
- 4-5 mushrooms sliced
- 1 bunch bok choy, sliced crosswise into half inch thick slices
- 1/2 lb (+) peeled fresh shrimp
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Splash of water
- 1/4 cup (+) cashew pieces as topping

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger, saute 1 minute. Add carrots and red pepper, saute 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and bok choy and cook until until bok choy stalks are tender-crisp and leaves are wilted.

Push all ingredients to side of pan and add shrimp to middle (add a splash of water or soy sauce if pan is too dry). Cook shrimp until pink then stir all ingredients well to combine.

Arrange over steamed rice on plates and top with cashews just before serving.

Wine pairing suggestions:
Fume/Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay

Beer pairing suggestions:
Pilsner, Light Lager, or your favorite Hefeweizen
_____________________________

Stuff made from your own garden always tastes better..........

Enjoy your week.

Square Foot Garden Update 2

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:40:00 +0000

The weather was perfect this past weekend to play in the garden! What amazes me about the whole "Square Foot Garden thing" is actually how little time is spent tending to it and that's good news for the urban gardener.

Kim and I stopped by Roundtree Plantation Greenhouses on Saturday and picked up more plants. Kim got a variety of flowers and herbs for the yard while I focused on more vegetables. We were happy with our haul.

Building more cages for the tomatoes and cucumbers

Tucker (upper) had a friend over to visit. Meet Fritzy the collie!

New Big Beef Tomatoe, Burpless Cucumber, Yellow Squash, and Eggplants added (right)

Two Sweet Pepper Plants (The Pak Choi next to the Marigold is exploding!)

The Radishes are Growing Great!

Things to do:

** Repair leaky hose

** Seed bush beans, cantelope, and sugar snap peas for transplanting later

Square Foot Garden Update 1

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:55:00 +0000

Well, it's been a week since initiating the Square Foot Garden and things are looking great! The radish, broccoli, and lettuce mix seeds have all sprouted! The pak choi is looking good too. How exciting is that? Still no signs of spinach or cauliflower yet. I hope those come up soon. The tomato plants are surviving.

Check Out the Radish Sprouts!

Lot'sa Lettuce

The Pak Choi is Looking Good!

The weekend has been busy. I went by the local home improvement store and picked up some fencing material to keep rabbits out and grabbed a couple varieties of African marigolds they had on sale. The yellow and orange kind looked nice so I got two containers for each box. I sowed more spinach, lettuce mix, beets, and cauliflower seeds just as it began to rain.

I'm toying with the idea of planting some containers of sugar snap peas, cucumbers, zucchini, and eggplant for transplanting later but not sure if it's way too early for that. What's confusing is I'm finding conflicting information about planting dates for my area. So, this will have to be my research project for the week.

Fencing to Keep the Critters Out!

Funny story about the rabbit fencing. I called Kim this week and asked her how the garden was looking. I've been paranoid because the rabbits around her house are so prolific. Well, she said she went out one evening and caught a 40 lb rabbit in the garden! I almost blew a gasket when I heard that and then realized something was up when she started laughing hysterically. Seems like Tucker (a 40 lb sheltie) managed to climb into the raised beds to take a look around. He didn't dig or anything, just stood there. Too funny!

Tucker (AKA- The 40 lb. Rabbit!)

Well I bought a roll of plastic fencing similar in design to metal hardware cloth and cut it about 1.5 foot high then formed it around each raised bed. Not sure how long it will last but it should keep rabbits and sheltie's out of the garden this season.

Note: We had a very bad line of thunder storms roll through this evening which produced high winds, a couple tornado's, and quarter+ size hail. We got over an inch of rain in a short period of time. There was no damage to the garden thank goodness!

That's it for this update...........

Square Foot Gardening Adventures!

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:13:00 +0000

Becoming a New Age Urban Farmer

I had a garden years ago. You know, the old row type. It was fun but took a lot of work, not to mention all the time spent tilling the soil to get it right. Even so, the results were outstanding. There's nothing like the taste of homegrown vegetables. So earthy and full of flavor. They beat store bought stuff hands down.

So is there an easier way to grow an urban garden? Perhaps. My research led me to what's known as Square Foot Gardening. Developed by Mel Bartholowmew in 1976, the method essentially uses raised beds measured out in 1 foot square sections and filled with a special soil mixture. Proponents say square foot gardens are easier to maintain, never require fertilizer, and are capable of producing more plant yields due to the maximized space. Sounds good!

I mentioned the idea to Kim and she was immediately interested. Kim has a green thumb anyway, growing flowers and a variety of herbs, so her skills would come in handy. The first thing we had to decide was location. The best place ended up being a natural area next to the garage. It had three large holly bushes that Kim was wanting removed anyway so it made sense to place the garden there. We spent one Saturday digging them out- no small task! Now on to building the raised bed frames!

Getting Started

I ordered a copy of Mr. Bartholomew's book "All New Square Foot Gardening" to have as a reference. It's full of great information and walks you through every step. The book suggests building 4 x 4 foot square frames out of 1 x 6 lumber but I decided on building two 4 x 6 foot frames with 2 x 6 lumber. This size box would fit in the space a little better and the extra thickness of the wood would provide a little extra sturdiness. Besides the 2 x 6 foot lumber was on sale!

Making the frame was easy. 3 1/2" deck screws secured the frames. I stained all sides except the inside to help protect the wood from the elements and placed a weed barrier fabric on the ground inside the boxes.

Two 4 x 6 Foot Frames Make Up Our Square Foot Garden

Bob Helping Cut Up Old Holly Bushes. Thanks!

The "Special" Soil

The most critical component in a Square Foot Garden is the soil- a blend of:

** 1/3 Peat Moss

** 1/3 Course Grade Vermiculite

** 1/3 Compost

You can't buy this stuff, you have to mix it up yourself. I discovered the hardest component to find in my area was the course grade vermiculite. None of the big box home improvement stores carried it. I finally found some at a local garden center(Young's in Fort Mill, SC). Yep, it was expensive.

For the compost component, Mel suggests using at least five different types to get the most nutrient value. I ended up with four- mushroom, worm castings, cow manure, and "Black Hen" brand chicken manure.

All the Right Ingredients!

Using a Tarp to Mix Up the Soil

My Secret Weapon- Compost Rocket Fuel!

Tucker Making Sure I'm Doing It Right!

Leveling Out the Boxes

First Plantings

We got our seeds and plants from Renfrow's Hardware in Matthews, NC. This old time hardware store sells seed in individual packets or by the ounce. The folks there know the in's and out's of the local gardening scene and helped me with all my questions. That means a lot!

Final Result

Note: I used vinyl corner beading split in half for the dividers in the boxes. The book suggests thin wood lattice boards but they're expensive and have a tendency to rot quickly. We'll see how the vinyl works.

Also, seeds are being planted over time to take advantage of a continuous harvest.

Pak Choi, Beets, and Lettuce Mix So Far in This Box

Cauliflower, Spinach, Broccoli, Radishes, and Tomato Plants in This Box

Helpful Gardening Links:

NC Planting Guides:
North Carolina Vegetable Planting Guide

Know your Plant Hardiness Zone:
USDA Plant Hardiness Map

Good Weather Stuff:
Weather Channel Lawn and Garden

Plant By the Phases of the Moon:
The Old Farmer's Almanac

Stay tuned for an update!

2010 Gasparilla Marathon Report

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:41:00 +0000

Avast Me Hearties! It Be Ye Final Voyage for the Gasparilla

Introduction

The "Final Voyage" of the Gasparilla Distance Classic Marathon, sponsored by Publix and Sports Authority, took place on February 28, 2010 in Tampa, Florida and Kim and I were there to experience it all! After 10 years, race organizers decided to stop supporting the venue due to escalating costs and static growth. Sad, considering all Tampa has to offer runners. The other events like the 5K, 15K, and half-marathon races will still take place. Thank goodness.

Our journey to the Gasparilla began several months ago. Kim discovered the demise of the event and announced she wanted to get one of the last coveted pirate finisher medals. What could I say? Sign me up too!!

Now you have to understand, the last marathon I ran was two years ago. Since then I did a self-supported bicycle ride across the country from Jamestown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon in 2008 and in 2009 completed a thru-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail. You'd figure I'd be in shape huh? Wrong. I resorted to my old standby marathon training program developed by Hal Higdon and hit the ground running. Kim joined in to but her work schedule allowed her to only complete about 80% of the entire training routine. So, we decided our goal should be a slow, steady 10 minute pace. True penguins! This is gonna be fun. Yuk, yuk, yuk.......

Getting There

The flight out of Charlotte was uneventful but the weather was down right cold. Tampa was much warmer even though the locals reported a much cooler year overall. Chalk one up for El Nino. Cab rides from Tampa International Airport to the downtown are a fixed $25.00 rate. We're headed for the Embassy Suites Downtown Convention Center Hotel.

Luckily, our room was ready when we arrived so we dumped our luggage and headed to the Convention Center for packet pick-up.

Official Greeter

The Convention Center was right next door so we literally walked a half block to get there. Sweet! Packet Pick-Up went like a charm. The race organizers planned this very well. Grabbing your race bib, goody bag, and t-shirt was a smooth and pleasant experience. There were plenty of volunteers around to help with answering questions and lot's of giveaways (I mean overflowing goody bag stuff!). The vendors were spaced out with plenty of room for attendees to mingle without feeling like pack of herded cows. Little things like that mean a lot.

Happy Packet Pick-up

Some of Our Loot

Wall of Names

Seen on T-Shirt. An Omen Perhaps?

Kim with one of the Race Organizers

Time to do some exploring. Kim and I walked along the River Walk (next to the Convention Center) and asked a local if there were any deli's nearby. We were told the Publix Super Market had a great deli and was only a couple of blocks away. Great! This is where the Start/Finish line will be on Sunday. After a leisurely lunch we picked up some water, Smart Water, and snacks and headed back to the hotel to chill out. We have plans to meet Kim's friend, Alicia, later.

Along the River Walk

The Jose Gaspirrilla

Ahhh, Sun!

Look at All this Booty Loot We Got!

Alicia lives in Tampa and invited us over to her house on Friday and Saturday night. She fixed pasta dinners both nights so we got plenty of carbs. Alicia went out of her way to make our stay enjoyable. It's good to have friends like that.

On Saturday a fast moving cold front moved through Tampa bringing wind, rain, and dropping temperatures making it a nice day to lay around and watch the Olympics on TV. Alicia came by and picked us up again. This time it's an early dinner. The race starts at 0600 hrs tomorrow so it's early to bed for these two runners.

At the Hotel

Race Day

I'm up at 0300 hrs to sort through my running gear and perform the traditional Chi Ceremony (don't ask, long story). Kim gets to sleep in a little longer. Before you know it it's time to head out. We take the short walk and arrive at the Start line by 0545 hrs. The weather is a perfect 45 degrees under clear skies with a beautiful full moon to illuminate the way. Nothing like a dark start. We stand there, huddle, and silently absorb all the surrounding sounds- muffled voices, blaring music, the screech of the announcers microphone. Standing at attention for the National Anthem, I can feel my heart pounding and revel in the excitement that comes every marathon start-

We're off!

At the Start

Full Moon Illuminating the Start Line

The announcer did a nice thing after the official start gun sounded. He counted off every second as runners made their way over the line. By doing so each runner knew how far off the gun time was off from their chip time. For us it was right at 1 minute. Kim and I really liked hearing the seconds counted off. Again, one more little things that make such a big difference.

The course is a modified figure eight, out and back route that seemed to encompass four distinct areas:

1- the Downtown area(miles 0-1, 6-7, and finish)
2- the Davis Island area (miles 1-6)
3- the University of Tampa area (miles 7-12)
4- the Bayshore Blvd area (miles 12-25)

There was plenty to see along the way with a good mix of residential and commercial sights. I was amazed at the number of people out clapping and supporting all the runners and was happy to hear lots of good live music being played by a variety of local bands. An assortment of jugglers, mimes, stilt-walkers, and other eccentrics peppered the route as well keeping our minds off the running.

Couldn't Get Her to Say a Thing

Along the Way

Kim and I were happy with our initial pace which started out as sub-10 minute miles. We were able to maintain that even after taking several breaks. We were happy to know that every aid station had Porta-Potties elevating the fear most runners have of what to do in case the "urge" hits. One more worry abated.

One of Many Aid Stations

In this marathon, I tried to do a better job managing my hydration needs. I have a tendency to over-hydrate on long runs so I ended up sipping half cups of water or Gatorade about every other aid station and took a Hammer Gel every 50 minutes. My energy level remained constant throughout the marathon following this strategy. Kim did something similar except she uses Clif Shot Bloks as her preferred energy supplement. We commented several times about how good we felt.

Trouble in Paradise

Then came mile 17. Kim began complaining about pain and swelling in her right knee. She tried several things to ease the discomfort but her knee had had it. We began to walk/run (.5 mile walk/ 1.5 mile run) and hobbled toward the finish. This happened to her once before at the Brookings, South Dakota Marathon several years ago but back then her knee went out at mile 20 and seemed a lot worse than now.

Save the Knee!

Dude, nice hat!

The finish line was now in sight and we crossed underneath with a 4:57 time. Not too shabby considering the circumstances. The finish area was the typical corral but was large enough to avoid over-crowding. I've been at way too many races where you had to fight and claw your way out but not here! Local kids distributed space blankets and finisher medals to all the weary runners. Everyone was so upbeat!

YIIPPPEEE!!!!!

Arrrggghhh!

Yep, It's Real!

The highlight however was all the post race activities in the "1905 Runner Revive Area". The Columbia Restaurant , based in Tampa's Ybor City, provided all Gasparilla Marathon & Half Marathon Finishers a yummy variety of their signature '1905' Salad, black beans, rice, paella, and Cuban Bread. Additionally, Publix Super Markets supplied Coca-Cola, Zephyrhills Spring Water, Gatorade, Bagels, Dole Fruit Bowls and other food items!

Finish Area

Delicious!

After eating our fill of the delicious Columbia Restaurant food Kim and I walked back toward the Convention Center along the River Walk and landed in the runners entertainment area. We got a complimentary cup of Michelob Ultra beer, watched the awards being handed out, and marveled at the finishing times of all the elite runners before heading back to our hotel. This has been a marvelous day. A shower and a nap are in order!

Chillin'

ChronoTrack Timing Tag

Stretching the Legs

A Tampa Trolley stop just outside our hotel provided a nice way for Kim and I to see a little more of the city. These replica In-Town Trolleys are built to resemble the double-truck Birney Safety streetcars used on Tampa’s streets between 1920 and 1946. Each one is 46 feet long, weighs 48,000 lbs., and can seat 84 passengers!

We bought an all day ticket and jumped on the Red Line trolley which travels between the Channel District and Ybor City. A perfect way to spend an afternoon. We even got off at several stops and strolled along checking out the shops in the Channel District. What a great way to keep our legs stretched out!

On Board the Tampa Trolley

Florida Aquarium

No More Pasta!

Our after race dinner was at Tampa's legendary Bern's Steakhouse. We invited Alicia along to help us celebrate and were treated to premium dry-aged steaks along with a fantastic dessert. As part of our evening we were given a tour of the kitchen and the wine cellar-the largest wine cellar in the world. It holds over 90,000 bottles which represents only 15-20% of Bern's entire wine stock. Most of the inventory is held off site. Remarkable!

Dessert at Berns Steakhouse- Yum!

Rent a Car, Take a Day Trip

On Monday we picked up a Hertz rental car from their satellite location in the Marriott Hotel just across the street (so convenient!) and drove to Orlando, FL to visit our friends Patsy and Dave. Patsy cooked a wonderful meal and we even had time to play three grueling rounds of cards (Spite and Malice). Dave and I beat the girls in a sudden death playoff! Wow!

Thanks Patsy and Dave for a Fun Time!

Back Home on Tuesday!

Recovery Phase

I've always liked using Hal Higdon's Post-Marathon Training Guide to maximize recovery (see HERE). It's chalk full of useful tips to help sore muscles recuperate the best way possible.

Post Race Thoughts

The 2010 Gasparilla Marathon was a great experience! From packet pick-up to the finish line this race was well organized and more importantly fun! You could not have asked for better weather. The aid stations were placed at just the right intervals, well stocked, and all had Porta-Potties. The crowds were plentiful and supportive. While it's sad this was the final voyage, Kim and I are happy to have experienced running in Tampa.

Kudos to:
* the people of Tampa
* all the local bands
* street performers
* police officers
* EMT's

You guys did a fantastic job keeping us motivated and safe!

.........and oh, thanks for the very cool pirate medals!

Some Dreams Really Do Turn into Gold...

New Apple iPad- Not So Fast!

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:39:00 +0000

I was really excited seeing Apple's release of the new iPad but after researching the devices features in more detail there are some serious deal killers for me. The top three are no Flash support, no USB port, and no camera/webcam. I just don't see wasting money on a mobile device that lacks these basic items.

What was Apple thinking? That's a good question. Apparently the zeal behind development was to create just a bigger iPhone platform. Mission accomplished.

I'll wait and spend my mobile computing money elsewhere.

Wonder what the new Asus Eee PC's look like?

Rocket Launch!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I took my brother and brother-in-law this past weekend to watch a rocket launch put on by Rocketry Carolina in Midland, NC. It was a perfect day with cool temps and mild winds. This was the first "officially sanctioned" rocket launch I had ever been to. Oh, I had built and launched small rockets before but this event took things to a whole new level for me.

It's really amazing to see how the hobby has progressed. I'll admit I'm hooked......

A Physics Professor with one of his students happy after a successful flight of a scratch built rocket.

Assortment of re-loadable rocket motor casings

Some big boys! The orange rocket is the one in the video below. Amazing!

Yep, it's a V2 rocket

Close-up of the ignition system

These fellows tried several times to get this complex multiple engine rocket off the ground. No go. Maybe next time?

Leonid Meteors from top of Black Balsam Knob

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:59:00 +0000

Went to Pisgah National Forest and camped on top of Black Balsam Knob to watch the Leonid Meteor showers. I was not disappointed! This is the perfect location to stargaze with a 360 degree view at 6200 feet of elevation. Saw a dozen long tail meteors and whole bunch of smaller ones. It was chilly with a constant wind but felt good to be back inside a tent!

Make Me Stop!!!!!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 20:52:00 +0000

I've really been getting into ukulele music lately. Here's some of the best girls on YouTube playing the uke. Check 'em out.

Danielle Ate the Sandwich (my number one pick)

Ukulelezo comes in number 2

Julia Nunes has a really promising future too!

What's in a Word?

noreply@blogger.com (Marc) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Been playing around with keyword search engine metrics. Check out Google Insights for Search(beta) for a fascinating look into the subject.

Let's see what kind of traffic I can generate with some of the more popular words.......

coffee shop, coffee maker, coffee cup, coffee table, starbucks coffee, starbucks coffe, coffee house, coffee break, hot coffee, prince keurig, keurig coffee, iced coffee, calories in coffee, coffee calories, costa coffee,Papua, New Guinea, Ethiopia, United States, Australia, Rwanda, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Singapore, New Zealand,Philippines, Canada, a h1n1, symptoms h1n1, virus h1n1, h1n1 flu, flu, gripe, h1n1 influenza, h1n1, influenza grippe, h1n1 symptoms, h1n1 swine flu, h1n1 swine flu influenza, a h1n1 vaccine, h1n1 sintomas, grippe h1n1, flu vaccine,seasonal flu, vaccine h1n1, seasonal flu,h1n1 flu seasonal, flu shot, seasonal flu symptoms, seasonal influenza, seasonal flu deaths, flu deaths, 2009 seasonal flu,helium balloon,ballon a helium, helium ballons,helium gas ballon, helium gas,gas ballon, helium pour ballon, helium balloons,ballonnen,ballon helium tank,half marathon, marathon training, london marathon, boston marathon, marathon new york, chicago marathon, marathon paris, berlin marathon,la marathon, half marathon training,sushi games,sushi game,planet sushi,ra sushi,sushi shop,sushi west,sushi ya,sushi town,sushi menu,sushi king,youtube ukelele,ukelele weeps, ukelele gently weeps,ukelele tuner, jake ukelele,ukelele player,jake shimabukuro, ukelele online tuner,ukelele mac,ukelele orchestra, youtube taylor swift, vma taylor swift, taylor swift video,taylor swift songs,taylor swift music, taylor swift lyrics,kanye west,kanye taylor swift,kanye, fearless taylor swift,rachel ray show, rachael ray sucks, rachael ray oprah, rachael ray divorce, rachael ray diet, rachael ray cookware, everyday rachael ray, rachael ray show, rachael ray recipes, rachael ray recipe,bbq grill,bbq chicken,bbq sauce,bbq recipes, bbq ribs, how to bbq, bbq pork, gas bbq,barbeque, weber, bbq grillware, hawaiian bbq,famous daves bbq, famous daves,baked bbq chicken,korean bbq,bbq pizza, bbq bbq menu,the bachelor, shawn johnson,julianne hough, edyta sliwinska,derek hough, cheryl burke, abc.com,julianne hough, cheryl burke, shawn johnson,the bachelor, the biggest loser, edyta sliwinska, dwts, derek hough, brooke burke,Survivor Samoa