The training continues...

A big part of my time for the past few months - and even more over the three months to come - is my effort to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. You can visit my Walk page here.

There are two difficult pieces involved in this: (1) raise at least $1,800 to participate, and (2) walk 40 miles in two days (in October) (in Charlotte NC). Tonight was focusing on the training part: after going on a 3-mile walk with Lisa last night, I went to the gym for "Cardio Boot Camp" class. At least it was air-conditioned: my evening activity once I got home was to mow the lawn. Yay!

I'll hope to keep posting updates over the next few months, and feel free to check my Walk page for updates on my fundraising efforts. And if around the middle of next October I offer to sell you a kidney or a pet rock from my driveway or something like that... just ignore me.

Weekend in the Berkshires

Lisa & I got to visit the Berkshires this weekend, to see Dan & Tobi, Karl & Kelley, and Kevin R. After working Friday, we drove out (Lisa driving through torrential rain and some pretty wicked lightning around Albany). We all stayed up past our bedtimes Friday, then Saturday morning brought some more rain. Not to be deterred, we waited for the clouds to clear, played some horseshoes, then Lisa & Dan & Tobi went swimming (with Kelley getting the photographic goods) while Karl & Kevin & hiked a couple miles of the Appalachian Trail nearby. The trail was kept very nicely, the weather had cleared up for us, and we summited Becket Mountain before we turned around. We all then had some dinner, stayed up past our bedtimes again, then by noon or so yesterday, Lisa & I were on our way back.

We stopped around Albany to visit a friend of Lisa's and his wife, and their cute dog. We then made our way back, where we collapsed after a whirlwind weekend of fun.

The Record Archive is awesome. Simple as that.

Let me just repeat myself off the bat: the Record Archive is awesome. For anyone who doesn't know, it's a record store in Rochester that has tons of vinyl (no I don't own a record player), lots of used CDs, and lots of new stuff as well. Oh yeah and all the weird toys, incense, etc.

I've built a large percentage of my music collection at that great establishment, and yesterday I added a few more $5 finds: Foo Fighters (There is Nothing Left to Lose), Garbage (Bleed Like Me), Gorillaz (Gorillaz), and, speaking of my previous post, Rocco DeLuca & the Burden (I Trust You to Kill Me). Not bad for a day's work.

Rocco Deluca & the Burden

First of all, God bless Pandora. It's a great internet radio service that's introduced me to a number of bands I really like. This weekend, I was listening & it queued up "Colorful" by Rocco DeLuca & the Burden. I really liked the song but didn't think much more of it at the time.

Then, Sunday, don't you know I was in Blockbuster, and I walk past a video and do a double-take: it's "I Trust You to Kill Me," a sort of documentary starring... well, Kiefer Sutherland, actually - but also Rocco DeLuca & the Burden. Whoa. Almost like a coincidence. (Kiefer started a record label with a guy named Jude Cole, and this was the first act they signed.) The film follows the band as they make their first European tour. It's interesting at some points, boring at others - the interesting parts are where they're playing music.

In any case, these guys are pretty good.

Beer review: Saranac High Peaks Series Imperial IPA

Tonight, at the grocery oasis that is Wegmans, I came across and impulse-purchased a beer I'd never before seen from Saranac: their High Peaks Series Imperial IPA.

For those not familiar with Saranac, they're a brewery based in Utica, NY (actually the Matt Brewing Company). To quote from their web site:

The Saranac “High Peak Series” is a series of Special Beers, limited to one single batch. These beers will be much bigger, more complex, and targeted to craft beer aficionados.
This is a beer to be sipped and savored; a “real show and tell . . . blow your head off beer”

No kidding - I'm no newbie & this one blew my head off! The neck label states (perhaps too proudly?) that the beer uses 10 different malts and 10 different hops... it's got 8.5% alc., and 85 IBUs (whatever they are - I didn't bother to look it up).

Long story short, it's just too much malt and too much hops for even me - I made it through half the bottle before I stopped pretending to like it. At best, it's a good sipping beer for a serious connoisseur, but otherwise, steer clear.

Some cartoons for math nerds like me

I saw this link to math cartoons... it's sad that I get so many of these, and yet also sad that I don't get so many of these. Enjoy.

Vacation in the Adirondacks

Lisa and I returned today from a week's vacation at Lapland Lake, in the Adirondacks near Northville, NY. The occasion was a family reunion on Lisa's mom's side, and it was a load of fun.

They took great care of all 50+ of us at Lapland Lake - great cottages, friendly staff, a lake & beach & boats & canoes for our private use, and live reindeer. Yes, reindeer. The resort makes its name as a prime cross-country skiing spot, so they have lots of trails for hiking/biking as well. On the rainy days, we went into the nearby town of Northville. Among other things, we stopped at a neat & quirky store called the Stinky Art Company. Anyplace where you walk in & the first thing you get is a smile and "Let me know if you have any stinky questions!" is a place I like.

Thursday (or was it Wednesday?) brought a brief thunderstorm, featuring one bolt that literally shook the house we were sitting in. Nobody was hurt, but the resort office had some equipment get zapped. Other than that, weather was pretty nice, though the bugs were persistent (which is to say, I lost count of my bug bites after about 200, despite using bug spray religiously).

It feels good to be back home after a week out in the woods... though when Monday rolls around, I'm sure I'll wish I was back there.