Today dawned bright and sunny and very, very cold. The temperature was only 17, which is Arctic conditions around here. Of course, The Son had called the day before to say his heat had gone off - again. We arranged to have a repairman come by this morning. That meant I had to hustle down there, my work laptop in tow since it was a work at home day, and wait for his arrival. We had lent The Son a space heater from the last time and it really does a good job at keeping the place tolerable. Anyway, I got my laptop plugged into his Internet gateway and worked away. The repairman showed up around 930 so I didn't have to wait all that long. Turned out his pilot light had gone out (The Son has gas heat). The repairman was there all of about 15 minutes and the heat was on and running and I was $130 poorer or The Son will be when he pays me back. He did show me how to relight the pilot in case it happens again. A good thing to know.
The forecast is calling for snow tomorrow. We're suppose to be on the northern edge of it so we won't get as much as southern Virginia, but we might still get upwards of 4 inches. That forecast should be enough to clean the stores of milk, bread and toilet paper. They keep changing the forecast and expected accumulation amounts. I guess I'll need to watch the weather reports later tonight to get the latest. Sounds like a good weekend to have a fire.
Went to the Dermatologist on Tuesday. No weird looking moles or anything so I guess I'm good for another year. Eyes are also feeling better. I do a follow up on them on Monday. Good part about that is that it's another work at home day. Yea!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
What Weekend?
I just had a three day weekend curtesy of a compressed work schedule, but now looking back to do a recap, I'll be darn if I can remember half of what I did. Well lets see what can dreg back up.
For blog that titles itself: "Ready...Row", there hasn't been much on rowing lately. This is due mostly to the time of year. There isn't much rowing going on in these parts during the winter, at least out on the water. Heck up to this weekend, the Occoquan has been frozen in places. The Park Authority also takes a dim view of rowers out in this cold weather and water. Unfortunately there hasn't been much indoor rowing, or erging as it's called, by yours truly either. It goes this way almost every year. By the time my rowing season ends in November, frankly, I'm a bit burnt out and take a break. Plus going from rowing on the water to rowing on the erg really sucks. So by taking a break, my fitness level goes into the toilet. By the time I realize I need to get with it, my times on the erg suck and I get discouraged and I don't erg as much as I should. This year seems worse then usual. By the time I got back on the infernal machine, my 5,000 meter time was horribly bad. Like beginner bad. Like times I had when I first got the erg back in the mid 90s. I'm sure the fact that I had a bad cold and was hacking up lots about of goo from my lungs didn't help matters any. I've been trying to be a bit more diligent with getting on the erg more frequently. So far, I've take a minute and half off my 5,000 meter time. My time still isn't good though. Its gone from being horribly bad to just bad. Hopefully I can get it to something resembling reasonable over the next few weeks. Come 1 April. I want to be able to hop into a single and be able to do a decent 7 or 8 mile row without gasping for breath and taking a break every half mile or so.
Saturday morning was the initial get together for the Board of Directors/Officers for my rowing club as we try to get things ready for the 201o season. The best I can say for the meeting is that it was held to only 2 hours and we did nail down what coaches we want to approach to come work for us in 2010 and the dates for our "Learn to Row" days. We have a bunch of newcomers on the Board this year, which is a good thing really, but it was obvious it's going to take a meeting or two to get everyone up to speed. While we're at it since this is a pretty informal organization, if we could keep our Roberts Rules or Order at home that would be a big help also.
Other than that, not much went on over the weekend. The usual chores and a lot of football watching on Sunday. Poor Brett. Is it in his DNA that he has to throw an interception late in play-off games with the game on the line?
For blog that titles itself: "Ready...Row", there hasn't been much on rowing lately. This is due mostly to the time of year. There isn't much rowing going on in these parts during the winter, at least out on the water. Heck up to this weekend, the Occoquan has been frozen in places. The Park Authority also takes a dim view of rowers out in this cold weather and water. Unfortunately there hasn't been much indoor rowing, or erging as it's called, by yours truly either. It goes this way almost every year. By the time my rowing season ends in November, frankly, I'm a bit burnt out and take a break. Plus going from rowing on the water to rowing on the erg really sucks. So by taking a break, my fitness level goes into the toilet. By the time I realize I need to get with it, my times on the erg suck and I get discouraged and I don't erg as much as I should. This year seems worse then usual. By the time I got back on the infernal machine, my 5,000 meter time was horribly bad. Like beginner bad. Like times I had when I first got the erg back in the mid 90s. I'm sure the fact that I had a bad cold and was hacking up lots about of goo from my lungs didn't help matters any. I've been trying to be a bit more diligent with getting on the erg more frequently. So far, I've take a minute and half off my 5,000 meter time. My time still isn't good though. Its gone from being horribly bad to just bad. Hopefully I can get it to something resembling reasonable over the next few weeks. Come 1 April. I want to be able to hop into a single and be able to do a decent 7 or 8 mile row without gasping for breath and taking a break every half mile or so.
Saturday morning was the initial get together for the Board of Directors/Officers for my rowing club as we try to get things ready for the 201o season. The best I can say for the meeting is that it was held to only 2 hours and we did nail down what coaches we want to approach to come work for us in 2010 and the dates for our "Learn to Row" days. We have a bunch of newcomers on the Board this year, which is a good thing really, but it was obvious it's going to take a meeting or two to get everyone up to speed. While we're at it since this is a pretty informal organization, if we could keep our Roberts Rules or Order at home that would be a big help also.
Other than that, not much went on over the weekend. The usual chores and a lot of football watching on Sunday. Poor Brett. Is it in his DNA that he has to throw an interception late in play-off games with the game on the line?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A Belated Delurker Day
Yes I know it was last week, but I never find out about these things until it's just about over and then I procrastinate and even more time slips by. Bit better late then never, no? So if you are dropping in, leave a comment. Say hello! Tell me who you are. Where you are from. What brought you here. Whatever you like. If you need a subject - tell me what you enjoy doing for fun.
I should make a note to remember this date for next year.....
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Green Grillin'
For Christmas Daughter#2 and Son-In-Law M#2 gave me some charcoal that the Son In Law had made himself (with a little help and a kiln to do it in). On Saturday it was time to give it a try. What it says on the bag under the words "Natural Hardwood Charcoal" is:
We were going to grill a t-bone steak and since we were on a local kick with the charcoal, what better to go with a steak then some local Virginia wine? In this case a bottle of Hokie Bird Red. The wine is produced by Chateau Morrisette. The winery is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway by Floyd, VA or about 30 miles east of Blacksburg, VA. A portion of the proceeds go to VA Tech's General Scholarship Fund.
Since this was my first time using this charcoal and not using lighter fluid, but a charcoal starter instead, I first put the unlit charcoal in the grill to make sure I had enough. The charcoal felt weird - more like balsa wood then the charcoal briquet's we are all use to. As you can see, the charcoal is of varying shapes and sizes.
Then per the directions on the charcoal starter, I place some crumbled newspaper into the bottom of the starter.
I then moved the charcoal from the grill and into the starter and lit the newspaper from below.+
I was more or less successful. Notice the tongue sticking out. A way you can tell I'm concentrating hard. Or just looking stupid.
Before long, the coals were glowing bright. They actually caught quite easily.
After about 10 minutes I dumped the coals from the starter back into the grill and spread them out.
I threw the steak on and about 7 minute later - the finished product. A triumph!
I loved using the new charcoal and the starter and hope not to have to ever go back to using regular charcoal again. Here's to being green!
- Made locally from Appalachian Hardwoods
- Best flavor for your BBQ
- Lights fast, Ready to grill in 10 minutes
- Promotes sustainable forest management
- Low ash- burns hot and long
- Safe and easy to handle
We were going to grill a t-bone steak and since we were on a local kick with the charcoal, what better to go with a steak then some local Virginia wine? In this case a bottle of Hokie Bird Red. The wine is produced by Chateau Morrisette. The winery is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway by Floyd, VA or about 30 miles east of Blacksburg, VA. A portion of the proceeds go to VA Tech's General Scholarship Fund.
Since this was my first time using this charcoal and not using lighter fluid, but a charcoal starter instead, I first put the unlit charcoal in the grill to make sure I had enough. The charcoal felt weird - more like balsa wood then the charcoal briquet's we are all use to. As you can see, the charcoal is of varying shapes and sizes.
Then per the directions on the charcoal starter, I place some crumbled newspaper into the bottom of the starter.
I then moved the charcoal from the grill and into the starter and lit the newspaper from below.+
I was more or less successful. Notice the tongue sticking out. A way you can tell I'm concentrating hard. Or just looking stupid.
Before long, the coals were glowing bright. They actually caught quite easily.
After about 10 minutes I dumped the coals from the starter back into the grill and spread them out.
I threw the steak on and about 7 minute later - the finished product. A triumph!
I loved using the new charcoal and the starter and hope not to have to ever go back to using regular charcoal again. Here's to being green!Thursday, January 14, 2010
Cold = Money
With the arrival of our electric bill, I can say without reservation that it really has been cold here. We've only reached 40 twice in the past 30 days. It all came home to roost when the bill arrived and the cost of said bill was double what I normally pay. Granted it wasn't all the cold, but its a large part of it. I have an all electric house and for the most part that's fine. For heat and air conditioning we have a heat pump. For our climate (northern Virginia) it's mostly all we need, but when it's cold and cold for a long time, the heat pump loses all its economic advantages. Below 30 degrees, heat pumps don't work that well in heating the house and it will run and run and run some more. If it is really cold, the auxiliary heat will keep kicking in, which equals a lot more money. Actually I can't blame the huge bill solely on the cold. We did have house guests for Christmas (aka: the kids). That means more lights on, the TV is on longer, the dishwasher is run more frequently and more hot showers are taken. It's my understanding that hot waters heaters are the main contributor to electric bills. And last but not least we have my Clark Griswold light display inside and out. It is suppose to warm up this weekend, the kids have gone home and the lights are down ( some of them, but at least no longer turned on) so hopefully, the electric bill will return to normal next month.
As The Son likes to remind us, we get into a rut when it comes to our meals. We tend to eat the same things again and again. Take Wednesdays, that is my night to cook during the week. I'm working from home and Ann is down in southern Maryland for the day so it makes sense. Most Wednesday we have been having pork chops. I've been just preparing them with Shake n Bake. It's easy and Ann and I like it. The Son hates it and has taken to skipping Wednesday dinners as a result. In order to expand on the repertoire a bit, while still having pork chops, I did prepare them a different way last night. I used this recipe to make cider glazed grilled pork chops. They turned out really well and the glaze was sweet and good. A big plus given my limited culinary skills, it was easy to make. Definitely a keeper. The Son still skipped dinner.
As The Son likes to remind us, we get into a rut when it comes to our meals. We tend to eat the same things again and again. Take Wednesdays, that is my night to cook during the week. I'm working from home and Ann is down in southern Maryland for the day so it makes sense. Most Wednesday we have been having pork chops. I've been just preparing them with Shake n Bake. It's easy and Ann and I like it. The Son hates it and has taken to skipping Wednesday dinners as a result. In order to expand on the repertoire a bit, while still having pork chops, I did prepare them a different way last night. I used this recipe to make cider glazed grilled pork chops. They turned out really well and the glaze was sweet and good. A big plus given my limited culinary skills, it was easy to make. Definitely a keeper. The Son still skipped dinner.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Real End of the Christmas Season
Today is traditionally one of the most depressing days of the year for me. The reason being is today is the day we finally took down our tree and the rest of the Christmas decorations. Our tree, which lighted up our living room and our lives is now a barren dead tree waiting on the curb for the garbage men to come by for it in the morning. The house looks plain and boring now after our literal festival of lights. I guess I should mention that the outside lights are still on the bushes, but not turned on. Ann insisted leaving them off after we were the only ones in the neighborhood with them on Saturday night. The outside lights would have come down as well, but it has just been to cold to work long outside. I am delicate after all.
What did drag my outside, if only for about 30 minutes was the delivery of a new 8+ shell to the boathouse. We co-own the boat with Forest Park High School. We originally bought the boat about 3 years ago and frankly the boat was a bit of a disappointment from a workmanship point of view and a durability stand point also. WinTech stepped up after much discussion with the high school booster club and agreed to replace the original boat. The replacement showed up today. I went down to he boathouse to help unload it and put it away. Looks like a great boat and I can't wait to get a chance to row in it. That is also a reminder that I need to get off my butt and onto the erg and weights to get ready for the upcoming season.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The End
Today marks the end of Holidailies. It's the third year I've participated and it's at times extremely fun and other times drudgery. Luckily the fun out weighs the the rush of trying to throw something up at the 11th hour. I didn't make all 31 days (28 in total), but close. I just out and out forgot one day, I was just too tired at the end of the day to post something one time and the other I was on travel on the west coast and catching the red eye back made it impossible to post an entry that day. Holidailes certainly gives my blog more exposure in 31 days then it gets the whole other 11 months of the year combined. I didn't get a "best of" this year like I did last year, but I also think I didn't put as much thought into my entries this year as a whole as I did last year. One of the things I look forward to is finding new blogs to follow and this year is no exception. Its really amazing how many of these things are floating out there amongst the Internet. Thanks to Chip and Jette for putting this all together once again. I certainly look forward to next year. For those who dropped by to take a peek, I hope you will drop by during the year and see what going on here in northern Virginia. Please leave a comment to let me know who you are. I'm always curious on who dropped by and why. With that I head off and who knows what the new year will bring?
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