I've been working on the logistics of my trip down the Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Canal. Jeff wanted an idea of where I'll be staying along the way, so I just finished a four page spreadsheet detailing overnight stops with alternates. Now I'm into some preliminary meal planning and going through the old gear lists I've acculumated over the years.
New gear --
I recently replaced my Nokia cell phone with a Palm Treo; and my digital camera with a new Nikon D60 DSLR. I just ordered a spare battery for each.
Biking shorts: three new pair to replace three pair purchased in 2004 for Lib's and my first "expedition".
"Killer cotton" T-shirts: yeah, I know... Cotton Kills. I'll take my chances. Besides, I haven't found any bike jerseys I like -- they're too short and don't do anything to flatter my "physique". Something's got to cover those bike shorts. Wicking Ts? I don't find them comfortable. I sweat like a pig in them because they feel hot to me, and they stink. I can't get the body odor out when I wash them.
Decisions, decisions --
I'm thinking about taking a small (very small) cooler with me. August is HOT, and I missed having a cooler last year (and the year before, and the year before that). I'd like to find a way to haul my dulcimer on the BoB... but I'll leave the cello home this time. One year I brought my mandolin, carried it the whole way, and actually played it while Libby fished.
I need to work on a food list, and set up a possible mail drop. I ordered a couple of Mountain House entrees from REI, they should show up on Friday. There are opportunities to get groceries and convenience stores, as well as plenty of fast food opportunities. I won't starve, but I worry about staying within my budget of $20/day. The cheaper I stay, the longer I'm away...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Vacation Request
My summer plans haven’t jelled yet, and we’re already into late-July. My daughter and riding (bicycle) partner, Libby, had to take a summer school course. That forced us to cancel our trip to Fort Ticonderoga’s 250th event, and modify our plans for Fort Niagara. I was hoping to be on the Great Allegheny Passage/C&O Canal by now but as you can see, I’m not.
It’s unusual for me not to take a month or two off to re-group. I like having the summer off with Libby -- she’s a neat young lady. My strategy in the past had been to give ample notice to my employer, quit for the summer, then be rehired in the fall.
Last summer I asked my boss when I should submit my letter of resignation. She asked me why I wanted to quit. I said I really didn’t want to quit, but wanted time off to spend with my family. She said to let her know when. I thought “cool - what a great place to work”. I still think that, by the way.
My favorite time to ride the Passage is in the fall. It’s cooler and less crowded. I usually end up riding my through-trip in July. Yes, it hot and muggy - but at least it‘s usually dry (except for late-afternoon thunderstorms). I tend to avoid August because that’s when storms seem to move up the Atlantic coast from the south and dump rain for days.
This year I dropped the ball and didn’t ask for late July until it was too late. The local youth group’s trip was in late July, and three of our cashiers are part of that group. Things were up in the air anyway - summer school and all. I really need to get away. I typed up the following letter requesting a leave of absence:
There is a fine line between the inmates and staff at the asylum. I’m finding if I don’t escape, I will become one of the patients before long.
I’ve gone through my calendar and found that I could break free with your help -- and generosity. I’d like to ride from Boston, PA to Washington, DC again. I’d also (God willing) like to ride back. At a snail’s pace (old, fat and sassy speed) I’m looking at 3-½ weeks to cover around 725 miles… if my tush, the weather and my funds holds out.
I’d leave August 10th and return -- well, that’s pretty much up to you -- as early as the 25th, or as late as the 6th of September.
FYI - Here’s a rough itinerary:
August
10 - Leave Boston, PA and camp at Cedar Creek 17.5
11 - Cedar Creek to Connellsville 21.5
12 - Connellsville to Ohiopyle 17
13 - Ohiopyle to Rockwood 30
14 - Rockwood to Frostburg, MD 28
15 - Frostburg MD to Bedford, PA 45
16 - Bedford 250th 0
17 - Bedford 250th 0
18 - Bedford to Cumberland 45
19 - Cumberland to PawPaw, WV 28
20 - PawPaw, WV to Hancock, MD 32
21 - Hancock, MD to Williamsport, MD 25
22 - Williamsport to Antietam 30
23 - Antietam to White’s Ferry 35
24 - White’s Ferry to DC 35
25 - DC to Leesburg, VA 35
26 - Leesburg, VA to Harper’s Ferry, WV 30
27 - Harper’s Ferry to Big Slackwater Detour 30
28 - Big Slackwater Detour to Big Pool, MD 31
29 - Big Pool to Little Orleans 28
30 - Little Orleans to Potomac Forks 26
31 - Potomac Forks to Cumberland 22
31 - Cumberland to Frostburg 16
1 - Frostburg to Meyersdale 16
2 - Meyersdale to Confluence 31
3 - Confluence to Connellsville 28
4 - Connellsville to West Newton 25
Yes, I know that I’m taking a long time to cover the distance. I don’t like riding more than 30 miles a day, and prefer to cover only 20 or so. For some, it’s the journey; for others, the destination. In the grand scheme of life, I’m not racing to get to the finish line first.
Yesterday my boss sidled up to me and said, with a chuckle, “I think I can accommodate your request”. [and yes, I did use the word “tush”in my letter]
It’s unusual for me not to take a month or two off to re-group. I like having the summer off with Libby -- she’s a neat young lady. My strategy in the past had been to give ample notice to my employer, quit for the summer, then be rehired in the fall.
Last summer I asked my boss when I should submit my letter of resignation. She asked me why I wanted to quit. I said I really didn’t want to quit, but wanted time off to spend with my family. She said to let her know when. I thought “cool - what a great place to work”. I still think that, by the way.
My favorite time to ride the Passage is in the fall. It’s cooler and less crowded. I usually end up riding my through-trip in July. Yes, it hot and muggy - but at least it‘s usually dry (except for late-afternoon thunderstorms). I tend to avoid August because that’s when storms seem to move up the Atlantic coast from the south and dump rain for days.
This year I dropped the ball and didn’t ask for late July until it was too late. The local youth group’s trip was in late July, and three of our cashiers are part of that group. Things were up in the air anyway - summer school and all. I really need to get away. I typed up the following letter requesting a leave of absence:
There is a fine line between the inmates and staff at the asylum. I’m finding if I don’t escape, I will become one of the patients before long.
I’ve gone through my calendar and found that I could break free with your help -- and generosity. I’d like to ride from Boston, PA to Washington, DC again. I’d also (God willing) like to ride back. At a snail’s pace (old, fat and sassy speed) I’m looking at 3-½ weeks to cover around 725 miles… if my tush, the weather and my funds holds out.
I’d leave August 10th and return -- well, that’s pretty much up to you -- as early as the 25th, or as late as the 6th of September.
FYI - Here’s a rough itinerary:
August
10 - Leave Boston, PA and camp at Cedar Creek 17.5
11 - Cedar Creek to Connellsville 21.5
12 - Connellsville to Ohiopyle 17
13 - Ohiopyle to Rockwood 30
14 - Rockwood to Frostburg, MD 28
15 - Frostburg MD to Bedford, PA 45
16 - Bedford 250th 0
17 - Bedford 250th 0
18 - Bedford to Cumberland 45
19 - Cumberland to PawPaw, WV 28
20 - PawPaw, WV to Hancock, MD 32
21 - Hancock, MD to Williamsport, MD 25
22 - Williamsport to Antietam 30
23 - Antietam to White’s Ferry 35
24 - White’s Ferry to DC 35
25 - DC to Leesburg, VA 35
26 - Leesburg, VA to Harper’s Ferry, WV 30
27 - Harper’s Ferry to Big Slackwater Detour 30
28 - Big Slackwater Detour to Big Pool, MD 31
29 - Big Pool to Little Orleans 28
30 - Little Orleans to Potomac Forks 26
31 - Potomac Forks to Cumberland 22
31 - Cumberland to Frostburg 16
1 - Frostburg to Meyersdale 16
2 - Meyersdale to Confluence 31
3 - Confluence to Connellsville 28
4 - Connellsville to West Newton 25
Yes, I know that I’m taking a long time to cover the distance. I don’t like riding more than 30 miles a day, and prefer to cover only 20 or so. For some, it’s the journey; for others, the destination. In the grand scheme of life, I’m not racing to get to the finish line first.
Yesterday my boss sidled up to me and said, with a chuckle, “I think I can accommodate your request”. [and yes, I did use the word “tush”in my letter]
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
My fellow cashier commented last night that she has been working at Giant Eagle for six years now. She laughed as she said that she “just took the position temporarily” to supplement the income from her day job. I hired on too, “temporarily” for many reasons… to escape the winter doldrums, to help pay for prescriptions (mine), to have a little extra spending money for the summer -- when I would quit and maybe be rehired in the fall. That was nearly two years ago. (Last year I only took a month off, and I didn’t have to quit the job to do it). I’ve had better jobs… and worse ones. Sometimes the better jobs were the worst ones, if you know what I mean.
I don’t subscribe to the WYSIWYG philosophy. A job is just one facet of life that is visible to others. People have many facets, although a few are “diamonds in the rough“ (some of which may or may not develop facets). Unfortunately, some of our customers see “cashier” and equate it with “uneducated, unskilled labor” and treat us as if we don‘t know anything. Take a look around the next time you’re in my store. Most of us are part-timers. A lot are students at the high school and college level, some are learning trades to take care of you at some point in your life. A few of us even have degrees. For some, this is a second job; for others our primary one. Some of us are retirees. (I, for one, have been through the rat race, and the rats won.) This job is not rocket science -- it’s more like landing on the “Free Parking” spot in Monopoly. Put your brain in “park” and ride out your turn.
Where’s this leading to? (OMG - I just entered the realm of western Pennsylvaniadom by ending my sentence in a preposition). Here’s the equation: Egotistical customer (i.e., “pompous ass“)+ overqualified overachiever=a tear in the fabric of our social structure? Um, not really…
Just be aware that not all people are as they seem. I, for one, am particularly intrigued by the “central business as social meeting-place” aspect of small-town life. Someone just may be gathering intelligence to write that tell-all expose about life in small-town USA. You may even end up as blog fodder. Be forewarned that when you act like a jerk and treat a cashier like a BLBBH (brainless little boo-boo head), expect the 6-year veteran to dish out the dirt about you after you leave the store.
Yep, I’m making a list…
I don’t subscribe to the WYSIWYG philosophy. A job is just one facet of life that is visible to others. People have many facets, although a few are “diamonds in the rough“ (some of which may or may not develop facets). Unfortunately, some of our customers see “cashier” and equate it with “uneducated, unskilled labor” and treat us as if we don‘t know anything. Take a look around the next time you’re in my store. Most of us are part-timers. A lot are students at the high school and college level, some are learning trades to take care of you at some point in your life. A few of us even have degrees. For some, this is a second job; for others our primary one. Some of us are retirees. (I, for one, have been through the rat race, and the rats won.) This job is not rocket science -- it’s more like landing on the “Free Parking” spot in Monopoly. Put your brain in “park” and ride out your turn.
Where’s this leading to? (OMG - I just entered the realm of western Pennsylvaniadom by ending my sentence in a preposition). Here’s the equation: Egotistical customer (i.e., “pompous ass“)+ overqualified overachiever=a tear in the fabric of our social structure? Um, not really…
Just be aware that not all people are as they seem. I, for one, am particularly intrigued by the “central business as social meeting-place” aspect of small-town life. Someone just may be gathering intelligence to write that tell-all expose about life in small-town USA. You may even end up as blog fodder. Be forewarned that when you act like a jerk and treat a cashier like a BLBBH (brainless little boo-boo head), expect the 6-year veteran to dish out the dirt about you after you leave the store.
Yep, I’m making a list…
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Valley Forge, June 2008
The weekend of June 20-22, I decided to make my escape from the insanity of home life and join Jeff, my husband for a quiet getaway. He went to the Valley Forge Gun Show, I hoped to do a little riding on the Schuylkill River Trail (http://www.gophila.com/C/Philly_Favorites/380/U/Schuylkill_River_Trail/1874.html).
Instead, I opted to play tourist and ride around the Valley Forge National Historic Park. I had just purchased a digital SLR camera (a Nikon D60) a couple of days before and had just read through the first couple of chapters in my "Nikon D40/D40x for Dummies" book. Armed with just enough knowledge to take "point and shoot" pictures, I ventured out to the park. I still haven't gotten beyond those first chapters...
The park is lovely, in fact I spent both days there. I met lots of folks having picnics, walking, cycling, doing the tourist thing like I was, and I also took lots of pictures. I should have abandoned the bike ride part of the sightseeing trip - I just took so many pictures the bike got in the way. This young lady and her mother were enticed by the wild cherries growing along the path (no silly, that's not her mother... that's her dog. Her mother is off-camera):
The employees inside the Visitor Center even had a sense of humor. One uniformed man started to give me an answer to my question "Where were the Confederate troops?" but quickly realized that I was pulling his leg and laughed. Can't wait to return with Libby.
Sanctuary
I've almost finished renovating my little "sanctuary". I still need to install some trim and stain most of it, but for the most part, the room is done. (I keep vacillating between leaving it natural, staining it white, or painting it. I think this week I've decided to stain it "pickled white".) I moved some old furniture in, most of my instruments and some books and it's starting to become my own space -- even if it is a small space.
"The Wall" -- I've relocated my decoy "collection" from the living room, and made space for some of the instruments on the top shelf. My cello, Oscar, has a nice niche in the corner.
"Work Area" -- When I renovated my kitchen (aka "The Galley"), I left a small work space where I could sit and work. My computer area was there, and it wasn't a big deal when there were only three of us living here. Fast forward a couple of years -- there are now six of us... my "boomerang" son moved back home with his 6 year-old son and girlfriend in tow. We're all on different shifts, and it can get quite crowded in the kitchen. Now the only problem with my new setup is my wireless signal isn't as good. I did relocate the router, but I suspect that once we renovate the living room and move some of the bookcases, everything will be A-OK.
"The Windows" -- This room used to be a screened-in porch. In 1994, the whole thing came crashing down after a severe ice buildup on the roof collapsed it (you'll notice the living room windows behind my shelf unit) . When we "rebuilt" the shell, I decided to install windows just in case we decided to use this area as living space. The stained glass frames hanging up are old windows I salvaged from the dump 20 years ago.
"The Entrance Wall" -- the umbrella stand holds fencing swords, not umbrellas. That's how we resolve family disputes here (just kidding). The door on the right leads to a tiny bedroom (9'x10') my son helped finish. We fought about who got to install the panelling in the bedroom and along "the wall" (he won the coin toss).
Left to do - finish the trim, find art for the walls. I've got enough here - I don't need to buy some, but wall space is tiny. Perhaps frame some photos. Paint, maybe? The white is stark, but it adds light to the northern exposure. Wallpaper border? Curtains? Your suggestions welcome.
Tools I've acquired - a router, new drill, new mitre saw (old one bit the dust), and son Brian contributed a table saw. We both still have all of our digits... I'd call that successful.
New skills - I now know how to use a table saw (and do use it btw), and I've gotten much better at finishing drywall (I seem to be the only person in the household with enough patience to tackle the job). This was a first experience working with insulation... I learned to let someone else work with it (son obliged), and also my first job laying carpet and padding (the trick was to cut the carpet outside in the driveway and trim it once it was in place). I'd like to buy a table for the router and learn more about cabinet making.
Next home-improvement projects:
1. Revisit the kitchen and finish the moulding.
2. Bathroom/hall closet renovation. Gut the bathroom walls to the studs, remove floor to the joists, keeping tub enclosure intact. Insulate exterior wall and repair necessary joists. Replace toilet and sink/vanity, install new cabinets and light fixtures and fan. Modify entrance to the bathroom, install new door. Add an extra outlet or two. Finish by winter (of 2008).
3. Install an alternative heating source. We heat with fuel oil. Need I say more? I'm thinking wood stove/fireplace insert. Oh, and gut the exterior living room wall and add insulation. I can feel the wind blowing in.
"The Wall" -- I've relocated my decoy "collection" from the living room, and made space for some of the instruments on the top shelf. My cello, Oscar, has a nice niche in the corner.
"Work Area" -- When I renovated my kitchen (aka "The Galley"), I left a small work space where I could sit and work. My computer area was there, and it wasn't a big deal when there were only three of us living here. Fast forward a couple of years -- there are now six of us... my "boomerang" son moved back home with his 6 year-old son and girlfriend in tow. We're all on different shifts, and it can get quite crowded in the kitchen. Now the only problem with my new setup is my wireless signal isn't as good. I did relocate the router, but I suspect that once we renovate the living room and move some of the bookcases, everything will be A-OK.
"The Windows" -- This room used to be a screened-in porch. In 1994, the whole thing came crashing down after a severe ice buildup on the roof collapsed it (you'll notice the living room windows behind my shelf unit) . When we "rebuilt" the shell, I decided to install windows just in case we decided to use this area as living space. The stained glass frames hanging up are old windows I salvaged from the dump 20 years ago.
"The Entrance Wall" -- the umbrella stand holds fencing swords, not umbrellas. That's how we resolve family disputes here (just kidding). The door on the right leads to a tiny bedroom (9'x10') my son helped finish. We fought about who got to install the panelling in the bedroom and along "the wall" (he won the coin toss).Left to do - finish the trim, find art for the walls. I've got enough here - I don't need to buy some, but wall space is tiny. Perhaps frame some photos. Paint, maybe? The white is stark, but it adds light to the northern exposure. Wallpaper border? Curtains? Your suggestions welcome.
Tools I've acquired - a router, new drill, new mitre saw (old one bit the dust), and son Brian contributed a table saw. We both still have all of our digits... I'd call that successful.
New skills - I now know how to use a table saw (and do use it btw), and I've gotten much better at finishing drywall (I seem to be the only person in the household with enough patience to tackle the job). This was a first experience working with insulation... I learned to let someone else work with it (son obliged), and also my first job laying carpet and padding (the trick was to cut the carpet outside in the driveway and trim it once it was in place). I'd like to buy a table for the router and learn more about cabinet making.
Next home-improvement projects:
1. Revisit the kitchen and finish the moulding.
2. Bathroom/hall closet renovation. Gut the bathroom walls to the studs, remove floor to the joists, keeping tub enclosure intact. Insulate exterior wall and repair necessary joists. Replace toilet and sink/vanity, install new cabinets and light fixtures and fan. Modify entrance to the bathroom, install new door. Add an extra outlet or two. Finish by winter (of 2008).
3. Install an alternative heating source. We heat with fuel oil. Need I say more? I'm thinking wood stove/fireplace insert. Oh, and gut the exterior living room wall and add insulation. I can feel the wind blowing in.
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