“Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves great.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, First Series: Prudence, 1841
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Pool is Closed for 2012
Yesterday, Dennis closed the pool. We had a very nice pool season this year, just wish it lasted longer. We are thinking about adding a heat-pump next year to keep the water warm a few extra weeks and extend the season until the leaves start to fall.
Fall starts this weekend, so that means we are now working to move firewood under the deck and other preparations for cooler weather. Already the temperatures at night are quite cool. Lynne had to run the heater a few days ago to take the chill off the house after leaving windows open all night. Soon, leaves will begin to fall and that means weekly cleanup using Johnny to vacuum them up. It also means mushroom season—maybe we’ll find some. Nice slow tours of Green Turtle Pond in the canoe. And comfort food made with fall vegetables. Yum.
Posted under: New Jersey • Stuff You Gotta Know! • by Rick on 09/20/2012 at 05:14 AM
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Sunday, August 05, 2012
Two Day Driving Class
I recently attended a two day driving school at the Skip Barber facility at Limerock, Connecticut. Over the two days we drove three different Mazda models, including an MX5 (Miata). My goal was to become a better street drive, learn to treat Mia better in terms of shifting and braking, and to get a chance to drive fast!
Here I am in the Mazda RX-7 on the skid pad practicing getting out of spins. In this case, I was successful.
Here is a less successful attempt.
We used the MX-3 for braking maneuvers which included short braking from various speeds, braking while also turning (and maintaining control) and “lane toss”, which is swerving to miss something in your path then stopping.
We also drove the MX-3’s on the autocross track the first day, but the second day we got to switch to the rear-wheel drive (and much more fun RX-7 and MX-5 or Miata.
Here I am getting instruction from the pro racing instructor.
It was great to have someone in the passenger seat saying “go faster, go faster” instead of “go slower, go slower.”
A fun time. And, I learned a lot. I thought I was a pretty good driver, but learned what “bad habits” I’ve accumulated over 40 years of driving. Most don’t matter much in normal driving, but overcoming them will make me a better driver in an emergency situation.
Here is a Youtube video of the pros showing off a bit after our final afternoon of time trials on the autocross. I doubt all the screeching is really necessary, and probably does not lead to the fastest lap, but sounds impressive. These guys are driving on the edge of “control.”
Posted under: Stuff You Gotta Know! • by Rick on 08/05/2012 at 01:47 PM
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hooray for Today!
Today is the best day I’ve had in the past 5 years. I am, today, relieved of a huge burden and I feel free. I have a wonderful life, a beautiful wife, and a future that is mine to make.
I came home early from work. We opened the Veuve Clicquot we had in the fridge in anticipation of this day. I bought some pate and saucisson to eat with toast.
We had a toast of champagne with some condiments on toast on the back porch in the toasting sun. (It was 93 degrees today!) Later, spaghetti and meatballs and after, a swim in the pool. The first cicadas are singing. Bats were hunting.
Overall, a wonderful day!
Posted under: Stuff You Gotta Know! • by Rick on 07/17/2012 at 07:37 PM
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Smoke from High Park Fire
This afternoon, Lynne took this photo looking south-east of the huge smoke plume from the fire. Even though it is probably 25 miles away (as the crow flies), it is very scary and unsettling to see. I just can’t imagine what it is like to be one of the people evacuated and much closer to the fire.
It may be hard to tell the smoke from the clouds, but the stuff you see right on the horizon in the right third of the photo is smoke, as is the gray smoke just off the horizon blowing to the left.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Posted under: Stuff You Gotta Know! • by Rick on 06/13/2012 at 04:43 PM
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Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Picnic at Snowy Range
Last Sunday, we took a picnic lunch and the dogs and headed over to the Snow Range area. We took the back roads to Woods Landing and from there over the hill to Centennial. It was a nice day with some clouds but we got some nice photos and the dogs got a walk along an alpine lake. Bella went for a swim in the freezing water. I got some waterfall footage with the Miro.
Here is a panorama of the top of the range.
I will post the waterfall footage soon.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Posted under: Stuff You Gotta Know! • by Rick on 06/05/2012 at 02:03 PM
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