Autumn Brown

Time to grab a beer!! This one is a new one for me. I live close to Chico, where the Sierra Nevada Brewery is, but have never tried this Autumn Brown Ale (photo credit). I think I would like it, as it looks dark enough for my tastes. Hmmm..

You know the drill. This is the point where we grab a beverage, make yourself comfortable and enjoy a recap of the week (a la Kim's Look What I Did Last Week).

This week was a busy one. I had the day off on Monday, so the (short) work week was more hectic than normal. Plus we are trying to finish up work in the area we are in and will be moving to a new area on Monday. So of course this week has consisted of tying up a bunch of loose ends and finding out at the last minute what the issues with certain projects are. Monday will be the last meeting and then we are out of here!

On top of that, I have been training for the marathon and so have spent most of my evenings running, running, showering, driving to running and....washing running clothes. But...in between all that, here is what else I did this week.

I got more books from the library. My stack is growing.

Beware of the Evil Gost.

The running shorts get funkier and funkier! 

I went to New York. I love New York. Really, not just the I heart kind but REALLY. 

We went to Le Parisien for dinner. Yum.

I couldn't resist. Pluck U too buddy. 

We met a friend at Zabars for some cheese shopping. I love cheese. 

Almost as much as I love New York. 

We went to see the Freedom Tower. Expected to be done in...2021.

And of course, no trip to NYC is complete without a trip to Central Park. 

Goodbye New York. I will miss you.

Or should I say...Until Next Time. 

You can read about some of my other trips to NYC HERE. 

What is your favorite place to visit in the Fall? Do you have a place you keep going back to over and over? Do YOU heart NY? What did you do this week?

I Run New York

50 cent ain't got nothin' on me! So you may have heard the song that he sings? I Run New York? I think he's talking about how long his gun is and how important he is in the City, but I, I actually RUN New York. Yeah. MOVE OVER, 50 (fitty); I will do the running of New York, thank you very much.

Last weekend I spent a marvelous weekend, if you can't guess where, in New York. Knowing I had to do a long run of 15 miles, I got prepared before I went. First I found the local running store and found out that, yippy, they had a group long run on the weekends. I emailed them. I did not get a response. Next, I contacted this runner, who lives in the city, and asked her if she could give me some advice. Hurray for the running community. Not only did she give me advice, she gave me a play by play of where I should run. So I google mapped it to figure out which specific streets I would need to go on to get in enough miles (and not accidentally do too many!)

So, as you can see from above map, I started in Midtown, ran East to the East River and then south along the East River to Battery Park. Here are a few examples of the views I had while running on the East River.  These photos were taken with my phone, which I carried.

I also carried a pack of Black Cherry clif shot bloks and a bottle of water. I still have not purchased a fuel belt, since the only one I have been able to physically try on is the Nathan Speed 2 and the Nathan Trail Mix. I like the feel of both of them, but want to have something to compare them to before making my decision.

FYI, in case you were wondering how my Fuel Experiment was going...the Bloks taste okay. They are a little sweet, but pretty easy to eat. I drank lots of water and only took two bloks over the entire 15 miles (one at mile 6 and one around mile 10). The only thing I did not like is that the aftertaste is a bit like cough syrup; it's a little medicinal.

After running to Battery Park, I headed north along the Hudson, which was a nicer path but in my opinion, the views from the East River were better. By the time I got to this side, I was pretty tired and did not take any photos. Also by this time (around 9 a.m.) there were TONS of other people out jogging and riding bikes and walking dogs. I may suggest getting an earlier start than I did (7:45).

From there I cut across to Central Park at 72nd St and then around the park and back down to my starting point. All in all, although my legs were screaming, the rest of my body, lungs and stomach felt great. To celebrate my longest run ever, we went to Zabars to fight the crowds for the last piece of lox meet up with some friends and have a huge (and I mean HUGE) turkey and pastrami sandwich on rye. Yummy.

Where did you run this weekend? Have you ever been to New York City? What's your favorite place to run and/or eat there? What fuel belt (or bottle) do you use?

Don't forget to link up with Jill for Fitness Friday! And if you have not already done so, go and Enter My Giveaway for Fun Scrapbooking and Photo Software! Ends October 16th! 

6:12 Shooting Indoors

This week for 12 Weeks to Better Photos, we had to focus on shooting indoors, while trying to utilize as much natural light as possible. The problem I had with this one is that it calls for a "subject" and since I don't really have any guinea pigs, I had to use myself. I really don't like putting photos of myself up, but here's to learning how to shoot better photos indoors while also learning how to take self portraits. I don't have a tripod or a remote; I used the remote control for the TV and the window ledge (or chair seat, or bed).

This one is a good one to try, no matter what kind of camera you have. You can join in with Kate HERE. The pdf for this week's assignment is HERE.

The idea this week was to learn how to take better photos inside without using your flash. In this case, you may need to adjust your Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO or Exposure in order to make sure that there is enough light for your subject. Another trick is to get them to stand near a window (make sure the window is not behind them or they will be dark!) while you stand at or near the window to get the maximum amount of light possible. If you have a point and shoot camera, you can still adjust the ISO and exposure pretty easily, and the shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted using the "portrait" mode (and some P&S cameras have more in depth adjustments).

This week's assignment was this: Choose one or all of the following options for taking your photos:

1. Position your subject in direct light and then reposition your subject in indirect, or filtered, light.
2. Capture catchlights - have your subject face the window while you're sitting or standing with your back to the window. **(catchlights are the little light "windows" in the person's eyes)**
3. Position your subject so that he/she/it is parallel to the window, while you are perpendicular to the window.
4. For those with SLRs or digiSLRs: If you can adjust the exposure meter on your camera, try metering on the background light vs. metering on your subject and setting the exposure for your subject. Also note that you could use a wall in the room or the floor to set your exposure meter.

I did not really have any opportunities for direct light, as my window is north facing. So, I tried experimenting with numbers 2 and 3 mostly. Seriously, I am a bit embarrassed when posting photos of myself (especially so close up!) It's like I am saying, "look at me!" Don't look at me; just look from an artistic standpoint. Or an educational one. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

In the first photo, this is an example of having the subject (um, me) stand parallel to the light source, in this case the window, while the photographer (my arm) stands perpendicular to the window. Don't mind the messy hair or the dazed look. Look at the LIGHT!

In this second example, the photographer (the windowsill) has captured the catchlights in the eyes of the subject. This really livens up the subject's face and draws attention to the eyes, where it should be.

Okay, whew. That's enough self portraits for now! Join in next week, when we work on Shooting Photos Outdoors. Hopefully Papa P can be the subject for that one!

Also, Kate also clued me in on this fun 30 day photo challenge from Click it Up a Notch. I may attempt to do some of these in tangent with the 12 Weeks to Better Photos course, just for fun. It's always good to get more practice and to get ideas for what to shoot next! So I guess this week, I am satisfying day 1 or 30 (self portrait) for sure, as well as Day 11 (blue), Day 14 (eyes) and Day 29 (black and white) !!! Sweet.

Do you have problems taking photos indoors? Are you self conscious of self portraits? Do you like photos of yourself?

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Don't forget...speaking of photos, you can win a cool scrapbooking and photo manipulation software where you can put all these photo tips to good use! Ends October 16th! Go HERE to enter!

In My Queue

I recently joined the local library, right after I went to the thrift store and bought about 400 books. Okay, maybe it was more like 10, but still. Now I have a queue of books on "hold" at the library AND I am lugging around 400 books on top of that. It's a disease folks. And I like it. Except when I have to lug around 400 books. Having a spare book (or 400) around makes me feel good. Kind of like going to the grocery store and buying food I know I don't really need makes me feel good. If there is ever a natural disaster and I am out of power for a while, I will be fine. I have food and books. What else does a person need?

On top of already having a large queue and boxes of thrift store books in my possession, I can't stop finding more books that I need to have. My Goodreads "to-read" shelf is overflowing. And every day someone I know tells me that I should read this or that or the other. And I want to! Someday.

Have you ever heard of NoveList? It is like, the coolest thing ever. If you like a book, lets say...John Grisham, it will tell you what you should read next based on whether what you like is the setting (the south), the topic (law) or the author. It's pretty cool. I think it knows me. Or you can describe a book, like "San Francisco, WWII, love" and it will tell you which one you were looking for. Neat, huh!?

So, I guess you are probably wondering, with so many books out there, and in my queue, and in my VERY heavy suitcase, what books will I read next!?

First, here is what I am reading now:
The Scent of Rain and Lightning - Nancy Pickard (blogger book club book) 
Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer (audio book) 
Secrets of an Old Typewriter - Susie Duncan Sexton

What's next?!

Room - Emma Donoghue
The Paris Wife - Paula McLain
On Writing: The Memoir of the Craft: - Stephen King
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

You can go to my Bookshelf to see what I have read this year and where I stand on the Bookmark Break Challenge. So far this year I have read 45 books, but the top reader is at 115!!

I got this idea on Ruby's Reads "In My Mailbox" but then I googled it and original credit may go to The Story Siren. I will link to both of them. 

**If you haven't already entered, don't forget to enter my giveaway, where you can use the scrapbooking software to make buttons, headers, photo albums, calendars, birthday cards, and MORE! Enter HERE!!**

So tell me, have you read any of the above books? What are YOU reading right now? What's in your queue? And...do you know of any books that I MUST read? 

Labor of Loathe

Before I get started, let me preface this post with the fact that I have a lot of carpenters and other laborers as family, friends and coworkers. So I know that electricians are people too and can be nice ones at that. I love old carpenters with their mangled hands and their cocky grins (and their dirty jokes). I love a manly man who can build something with his own two hands. I am used to boots and hard hats and beards and bellies and bad words. But I can't stand rudeness.

I don't like it when I am jolted awake at 5 a.m. every morning to the sound of slamming doors, loud voices and talking, gunning truck engines and backup beepers. I appreciate that laborers have to get up early and go to work, but I do not appreciate it when they feel the need to wake me up as well. The first door slam may have been an accident. The following 37 slams are just plain rude. The standing in the parking lot next to your running (diesel, smelly, loud) trucks, laughing and talking loudly at...5:27 a.m. is NOT acceptable behavior in a public place, especially one where other people are sleeping. Not only are other people sleeping because it's oh, EARLY in the morning, but they are sleeping becuase...you are standing outside a HOTEL!

This is so rude!!

I would like to say this is the only thing they have done, but it's not. The first day I came to Missouri, I checked into my hotel and there were a bunch of contractors standing right outside the entry door, smoking, drinking beer and...making comments about the good looking ladies. Which apparently to them...was me. I not only could HEAR them talking about me, but I had to pass them to get into the hotel. I had to pass through their smoke and their comments to get to my new "home". I felt uncomfortable.

But this morning I just felt mad. I mean, didn't their parents teach them any MANNERS!? Don't they realize that they are being rude?

But they probably don't. Most people who are doing whatever annoying thing they are doing do not realize their faults. Bad drivers...never THINK they are bad drivers. My grandmother drives 60 on the freeway becuase she is being "safe". Loud talkers never realize that they are being loud. I rode the bus once in some country where an American was yapping on and on about himself, loudly, and I though, GEEZ, someone needs to shut him up, he is the only loud person on this bus!

I am not perfect either. I sit quietly and fume about this annoying loud American, these contractors, or the little only lady going 60 on the freeway, but then I too, sometimes do similar things. We are blind to our own faults. Sometimes, we just need someone to (kindly) tell us that we are being rude. I think many of us would be embarrassed to hear it. I would. I think your kind piece of advice would be the best way of getting me to stop doing whatever rude thing I was doing. Rather than an angry accusation.

So I did not do what I wanted to do and stick my head out of the hotel window and yell, "SHUT THE *$%@ UP!" I think they would have just laughed. Nope, I got up and started my workday early. But if I see those guys in the hallway tonight, I am going to (kindly!!$%$#&) give them a piece of my mind.

What do you think I should do? Have you ever had to deal with rudeness? How did you handle it? What's something that you really think is rude? Do you tell your friends when you think they are being rude? 

Don't forget, I am having a giveaway! Go HERE to enter! 

Fun With Photos...and a Giveaway!

I have always kept a scrapbook, ever since I was a little girl. But since the digital age, I have never really used a digital medium for doing scrapbooking. Luckily I recently won a giveaway and so I got a chance to play around a little. It's only been a couple of weeks so I haven't fully found out everything that can be done, but so far I am having fun. 

There are a bunch of scrapbook page layouts, which are really easy to use. 

And then there are tons of fun things that you could use to make a new blog header or buttons or whatever! I will definitely waste a lot of time have a lot of fun with this software! 

And now for the good part. My Memories has offered me one free copy of the My Memories Suite for one of my readers! All you have to do to win is this: 

Mandatory Entries: 

(+1)Be a GFC follower of this blog. Leave a comment letting me know that you are.

(+1)Visit www.MyMemories.com and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then leave a comment telling me which one you like best!

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):
(+1) Like MyMemories on Facebook
(+1) Follow MyMemories on Twitter
(+1) Like Travel Spot on Facebook

(+1) Tweet about this giveaway (make sure you include @travelspot06)

That's 6 ways to win!  

Also, even if you don't win....or if you DO win and you want MORE stuff, you can use THIS LINK and enter this code: STMMMS91971 to get $10 off the software and $10 off any digital scrapbooking products. 

This giveaway ends Sunday, October 16th at 9 pm Pacific Time. The winner will be drawn using Random.org on Monday, October 17th. Please make sure your email is enabled on your profile or if not, please leave it in the comments.

Happy Scrapping!

Spaten, Spaten, Who's Got the Spaten

As you are reading this, hopefully I am at the Heidelberg drinking a Spaten and eating a schweinshaxe. Ah, you are not sure what that is? Here is a photo of one. (photo credits: beer, schweinshaxe) Sorry vegetarians. The schewinshaxe is a pork knuckle, and is usually served with seuerkraut. And beer, naturally. It may sound kind of gross, but it's not. It's yum. It has a nice crispy outer skin and the inside meat is tender and juicy. I think they roast it for hours! So why not grab one for yourself and join in on a Sunday tradition, this week's edition of Look What I Did Last Week (inspired by Kim). PS. If you feel like reading about it IN GERMAN, go HERE.

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I finally read this book. What have I been waiting for? I am cheap and I didn't want to buy it AND sometimes when things are all hyped up I am hesitant to do them for fear of too high expectations letting me down. BUT, I got it from the library (free) and I loved it (hype confirmed).

My spelling is getting worse, not better. I also frequently misspell accommodate (with an "i" or only one "m" or...) and decision (with an "s" - oops).

I've also been getting audio books from the library. Where have these been all my life!? I put it on in the car and even though I don't drive much, it's an extra book every couple of weeks!

I'm still learning how to share. 

I'm literally living out of a suitcase. This time I didn't even unpack. Work has been busy and I knew I was going to travel soon so...why bother! We are still on standby for where our next job will be. And yes, that IS my sports bra right on top. It's clean, I swear.

I got my Road ID! FYI if you ever run over a jogger, check their shoe and wrist for identification! I also ran 30 miles this week, which is the most I've ever run in one week! Phew!

My dad gave me these apples from the farmer's market. Look how ugly they are! They were delicious! Beauty IS only skin deep! 

We went to Elephant Rocks State Park. You can see more pictures HERE.

Fredricktown, MO, as seen from my car window.

And last, but probably one of my favorites. WHO DOES THIS? I was in Walmart in the Athletic Department looking for some leggings and....THIS was on the shelf. I mean, REALLY? No wonder the people of Walmart get such a bad rap. They really are bad. 

OH! If you haven't seen THIS, go and check it out. A bunch of world class athletes, showing their bodies, their muscles and the beauty of being an athlete. In the nude. Don't worry, I promise there are no dangly bits. It's awesome! Pure strength. (ESPN Bodies We Want)

I leave you with a few questions: What's the weirdest/grossest thing you have ever seen in Walmart? Have you ever tried audiobooks? What's a word you commonly misspell? Have you ever had a schewinshaxe?

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Don't forget to come back tomorrow. I have a giveaway planned!

Hal's Schedule: Take II

source

"Do one thing every day that scares you" - Eleanor Roosevelt

So you have probably already heard me say this...a dozen times last week...or on Facebook...on on Twitter. Yes, I have been wondering for the last week or so what the heck I was thinking when I decided to bite the bullet and...

...sign up for my first Marathon! I have been wanting to do it for a while (it's on my Life List) but I have had doubt in myself. And then I talked to a bunch of wonderful runners, who have faith in me, even when I don't have it in myself. They are encouraging and strong and they made me feel like a rockstar. So.... I signed up. Then I immediately began to be scared. Are you happy Eleanor?

It's not like I didn't think about it for a while before doing it. 

It's not like I am not ready for the training. Although running in the dark and the cold, especially for 20 miles, does not sound that fun right now, as I sit in my warm room in my pajamas. However, since I had already run a half marathon a couple of weeks ago and have another one scheduled in three more weeks, I fit right into week 9 of the Hal Higdon Schedule of Hell (which will be even MORE hellish now, I bet!) **you can keep track of my progress HERE**

It's the ice baths that scare me. Like we don't already torture ourselves enough.

No, in all seriousness, I think that I can do it, but the training is a bit daunting. The other thing that I don't know a lot about is fuel. I have never eaten a Gu. I don't like Gatorade. All of those sports drinks are too sweet. So, I went to Walmart and got one each of some of the different types of candy fuel (I also have a Cliff Shot, not pictured). I plan to gag a lot practice with them over the next several weeks. I also need to get a hydration belt. I already bought a Road ID. What am I missing?

So, I need your help. Does anyone know of a fuel source that is not too sweet? Any training tips? All you seasoned veterans out there, what should I do to keep motivated?

Also, I just want to say thanks for ALL the support so far. To the running and blogging community, which Rocks and makes me feel so much more confidant that I normally would alone. To my friends and family, who don't get it but still like me anyway (and have already promised to come and cheer me on!) And for the future, because I know I am going to be bugging people about this for at least the next...8 weeks. Thank you!

Don't forget to link up with Jill for Fitness Friday!

5:12 Compostion

For those of you who voted last week on which photo I should make into a canvas print, thank you! Here are the two winners.

And now, for week 5 of 12 Weeks to Better Photos, our task was to concentrate on Composition, with these six tips in mind:

1. Keep it simple - eliminate distractions
2. Apply the rule of thirds
3. Keep an eye on the horizon
4. Frame your subject
5. Fill the frame
6. Try a new perspective

I took a few photos this weekend, and I had friends take a few photos of me, to give examples of these.

This first one is a great example of rule number 1 (eliminate distractions), 2 (rule of thirds) and 4 (frame your subject). In photo number one, there are people behind me and I am right smack in the center of the photo. Take a look at photo number two. What are you looking at now? Not the people behind me. You are looking at the subject. Also, I am not right in the middle anymore. I am off to the side so you can see both the subject and the other important elements of the photo. 

This next one is a great example of rule number 2 (rule of thirds) and 3 (eye on the horizon). In photo one, the photo is split in half. You are not sure where to direct your eye. Should you look at the road or the sky?  In photo two, it is better proportioned, with the sky taking up roughly one third of the photo instead.

This is a classic example of what NOT to do. In photo number one (bottom right), the pole is obstructing the subject of the photo. Also, again, the subject is right in the middle. This can confuse the eye and the brain when trying to figure out what to focus on / what is important. The other two photos not only clear up the space a lot, but put the subject closer and in more of a pleasing position in the photo. Notice the rule of thirds, not only for the horizon, but for the subject as well.

The next one makes me laugh. Every time I ask someone to take a photo for me, they put me (the subject) right in front of what I am trying to get them to take the photo of me WITH. For example, I've been positioned right in front of the Eifel tower, and had many strange things (poles, signs, church spires) coming out of my head instead of being beside me.

Sometimes the easiest thing to do when composing a photo is to have either the subject or the photographer take ONE STEP to the left or the right. For example, in the photos below. My friend took photo number one first, in which I am not only obstructing the path, but I am right in the middle of the photo again. So he took a step to the left and BAM, now you can see me AND the path and I am off to the side, which satisfies (accidentally in this case) the rule of thirds (now we just need to work on the dappling sun/shade combo.)

Oh...what is the rule of thirds, you ask? You can read more about it here, but basically, you section your photo off into 9 equal sections, like in the photo below. You want your subject to be basically along these lines or their intersections. See that the horizon as well as the girl are placed along these lines? Your camera, even if you have a point and shoot, should have a "display" mode where you can see these lines as you are taking the photo. It makes the photo more pleasing to the eye. Try it and see!

This week, I have an assignment for you. No matter what kind of camera you have, try using the rule of thirds to place your subject in a more pleasing position in the photo. Even if you only have sky and land, try placing your sky either 2/3 up or 1/3 up from the bottom of the photo! Come back and let me know how you did!

Have you ever asked someone to take your photo and ended up blocking the thing you wanted the photo to be with? Have you ever experimented with the rule of thirds or composition in general?

You can link up with Kate this week and/or join us next week, when we learn about Shooting Indoors.

Taum Sauk: High Point 4

My Dad wants to hike as many of the highest points from each state in the US as he can. He has hiked many more than me, but I have been lucky to hike several of them with him. We started with our home state of California. Mt. Whitney is the highest mountain in the continental US. I was 17 and I enjoyed the hike a lot more after I reached the top.

Luckily, and maybe becuase he took me on the most difficult one first, our next stop was Florida. The high point of Florida is the LOWEST high point in the USA. After that, we had "bagged" the highest high point and the lowest high point in the continental US. Since then we have been working on the in between ones.

Last weekend we went to the highest point in Missouri, Taum Sauk Mountain, which is 1,772 ft above sea level. The funny part is that you drive to the top. Afterward, you can then hike around on the Ozark trail, which is what we did. The Ozark Trail is in Southeast Missouri and goes all the way to Arkansas. (info source)

The Ozark Trail. 

 Fall has sprung! Look at those colors already!

 A stick bug. I almost stepped right on him.

We had a great hike and then afterwards went and ate lots of fried foods. Because driving up to 1,700 feet above sea level REALLY makes you hungry. Stay tuned for more photos on Thursday when I am doing the 12 weeks to Better Photos course on Composition!

California Highest Point: Mt. Whitney, CA -- 14,494 FT -- California Elevation Map
Missouri Highest Point: Taum Sauk Mt., MO -- 1,772 FT -- Missouri Elevation Map
Louisiana Highest Point: Driskill Mt., LA – 535 FT-- Louisiana Elevation Map
Florida Highest Point: Britton Hill, FL – 345 FT -- Florida Elevation Map

You can get elevation and location information for ALL of the high points HERE.

Do you have any strange experiences like this that you "collect"? Do you like hiking? Have you ever been to any of the high points?  

*************Also, check out my post about Why I Travel over at WRTR!