Useless Conversation

[rattran]

My drive was no where near that bad, just some washouts from the heavy storms, one stream to cross, a few places where I had to straddle chasms, and 2 sections of rock climbing. I was glad of 4wd and high clearance. The gf was amused at all the critters we scared up, nice to get to see an antelope at less than 20' Only had to backtrack once when the road turned to go over Eagle Rock rather than around it.

[Sky]

As a result of the flying insect brigades this year I declared a truce with the spiders.  The orb weavers can make the biggest webs they want and catch everything they can (and have been).

Acknowledging that spiders are our friends (within reason) is the first step. I've been meaning to get a bat box for a while now....

My drive was no where near that bad, just some washouts from the heavy storms, one stream to cross, a few places where I had to straddle chasms, and 2 sections of rock climbing. I was glad of 4wd and high clearance. The gf was amused at all the critters we scared up, nice to get to see an antelope at less than 20' Only had to backtrack once when the road turned to go over Eagle Rock rather than around it.

Show off. 

[Signe]

I just heard of this thingy:  Movie Tavern!  I don't get it, though.  I can't imagine going to the theater and trying to watch something while people are ordering and being served food.  Sounds awful.

[Samwise]

I just heard of this thingy:  Movie Tavern!  I don't get it, though.  I can't imagine going to the theater and trying to watch something while people are ordering and being served food.  Sounds awful.

It's all about the layout.  Theaters I've been to that serve food have much more spacious seating than standard theaters, with tables in front of the seats and enough room to walk down the rows without making people get up.  You order food/drink outside of the actual auditorium, and then a server quietly brings it to you during the show.

[RhyssaFireheart]

As a result of the flying insect brigades this year I declared a truce with the spiders.  The orb weavers can make the biggest webs they want and catch everything they can (and have been).

Acknowledging that spiders are our friends (within reason) is the first step. I've been meaning to get a bat box for a while now....

This is the only reason why I don't fuss about clearing the webs from around the garage lights or nearby.  Especially not once I see how many bugs are caught in them.  It's like a spider buffet.  Around the doors though - I draw the line.

I just heard of this thingy:  Movie Tavern!  I don't get it, though.  I can't imagine going to the theater and trying to watch something while people are ordering and being served food.  Sounds awful.

It's all about the layout.  Theaters I've been to that serve food have much more spacious seating than standard theaters, with tables in front of the seats and enough room to walk down the rows without making people get up.  You order food/drink outside of the actual auditorium, and then a server quietly brings it to you during the show.

Yep, the one time I was at a theatre that served food, this is how it worked.  It was also the first time I'd been to a theatre with the nice recliners.  It's still a bit distracting but otherwise, kind of nice to be waited on like that.

[Nevermore]

I just heard of this thingy:  Movie Tavern!  I don't get it, though.  I can't imagine going to the theater and trying to watch something while people are ordering and being served food.  Sounds awful.

It's all about the layout.  Theaters I've been to that serve food have much more spacious seating than standard theaters, with tables in front of the seats and enough room to walk down the rows without making people get up.  You order food/drink outside of the actual auditorium, and then a server quietly brings it to you during the show.

Yep, the one time I was at a theatre that served food, this is how it worked.  It was also the first time I'd been to a theatre with the nice recliners.  It's still a bit distracting but otherwise, kind of nice to be waited on like that.

Thirded.  Though in the one I've been to, they also had waitstaff take orders from people in the theatre before the movie started.  I didn't find it as distracting as I thought it would be.

[Signe]

That sounds quite a lot nicer than I thought it would.  Makes dinner and a film more convenient, too.  Of course, if I was sat near a loud eater I would freak out on him and ruin it for everyone.

[Samwise]

We've got an Alamo Drafthouse opening in SF soon, which I've heard very good things about as far as doing the dinner/drinks/movie combo.  The only other thing like that around here for the longest time has been the Parkway in Oakland, which is not convenient for me.  The Alamo's going to be fifteen minutes from my house by subway.  I'm excited.   

[Bunk]

The one we have up here has a nice bar/lounge outside the theater itself where you can eat or have a drink. Then once you go in, you can order from your seat up until the movie starts. Service stops after that, so you don't get interrupted. Loud eaters are probably less of a concern compared to a normal theater - more space between you, and less likely to have people sneaking noisy bags of twizzlers in.
Plus a pint of beer is the same price as a large pop.

It's really the only way I'll see a movie now.

[Abagadro]

Nothing like going to an outdoor event to remind you how much you hate humanity.

[WayAbvPar]

Any gathering of more than about 10 people makes me homicidal, outdoors or not.

[Sky]

Nothing like going to an outdoor event to remind you how much you hate humanity.

We stopped going to free concerts in Syracuse. She can't see (she's a stubby shortling) and I can't enjoy the show because I'm on constant security watch for pickpockets and purse snatchers.

I still have it in me for the occasional paid GA show, getting into the reunion year Anthrax pit was a lot of fun. She haaates it, though. I grew up on GA shows, though.

[Signe]

I'm so sorry she doesn't have fingers, Sky.  I have a replica Freddie Glove if you want it.  Maybe she could use a bottle opener on the other hand?

Anyway, I know what you guys mean.  I used to enjoy going to Penn's Landing sometimes until a couple years ago when some rich looking lady (wearing Christian Louboutin shoes) started walking towards where I was standing and just kept coming because the not rich looking person would certainly know their place and step aside.  She walked right into me and got totally annoyed.  I laughed a LOT.  But it's not worth it mostly.  They very nearly almost all annoy me. 

[Morat20]

Holy shit, Kelsey Seybold is fucking efficient. Did a blood draw this morning and asked when the results would be ready and get told "Tomorrow it'll be online. Given today's Saturday, it MIGHT be Monday morning".

24 hour turnaround is apparently their goal. On non-priority stuff. That's pretty amazing.

[schild]

Houston has some of the best medical care in the world right now between Kelsey Seybold and MD Anderson.

[Chimpy]

The health system I visit has my results posted for me to view online basically as soon as they are entered into my record by the lab. Usually within 4 hours of when the samples are taken.

Which is pretty much as you would expect it having a patient portal that is closely tied into the Electronic Records system they use.

[Morat20]

Houston has some of the best medical care in the world right now between Kelsey Seybold and MD Anderson.

I'd been to a KS clinic, but not in a decade or so. Got an ultrasound Monday, they tried real hard to get it done Friday when I was there for the initial visit. Turns out my thyroid suspicions are probably accurate. I've got a goiter (I can't see it, not even doing the whole self-exam thing. I can't even feel it). Ultrasound Monday should confirm it (there's the off chance it's something else, like thyroid cancer but I'm not particularly worried about that) and then it's just figuring out exactly where my thyroid hormones are off the rails.

Fuck, I'll be thrilled. More energy, more hair, and weight loss. Seriously, the last one has been pissing me off. I went from "jack shit" for exercise to minor (treadmill, 3x a week for about three miles at a brisk walk/light jog) and I've fucking GAINED 5%. I mean yeah, my legs had to put on a bit of muscle, but I haven't altered what I ate and I've been doing this for awhile now. I mean I worked my lazy ass UP to 3 miles in 45 minutes, I didn't just decide to start there. (Yes, I'm a pussy. But I've HAD foot surgery once. Fuck that. Don't wanna have it again. So I started slow and slowly increased).

[Nebu]

Houston has some of the best medical care in the world right now between Kelsey Seybold and MD Anderson.

MD Anderson is an impressive place. I used to deal with their pediatric cancer center.  

Now if I ever get sick where I live, I'm going to ask to be taken to the local Veterinarian rather than risk the local hospital.  

[Morat20]

Houston has some of the best medical care in the world right now between Kelsey Seybold and MD Anderson.

MD Anderson is an impressive place. I used to deal with their pediatric cancer center.  

Now if I ever get sick where I live, I'm going to ask to be taken to the local Veterinarian rather than risk the local hospital.  

Ouch. I've got a friend who works at MD Anderson. She's got nothing but good things to say about the skill level there. (Maybe the occasional not so good thing about a given personality or two!). It's nice to know the armpit of America has some good stuff going for it.

Heck, the Houston Grand Opera put on it's big boy pants and is in the middle of a full performance of the Ring Cycle. (I think this spring is Siegfried. One cycle a year over four years).

[Chimpy]

Heck, the Houston Grand Opera put on it's big boy pants and is in the middle of a full performance of the Ring Cycle. (I think this spring is Siegfried. One cycle a year over four years).

The Houston Grand Opera has been wearing big-boy pants for a long time. I'm fairly sure that they are the biggest Opera company in the US outside of the Met in New York.

I built the scenery for one of their shows in around 2003 and it was probably the largest/most lavish set I ever worked on outside of Ford's 2002 Detroit Auto Show setup.

[Morat20]

Heck, the Houston Grand Opera put on it's big boy pants and is in the middle of a full performance of the Ring Cycle. (I think this spring is Siegfried. One cycle a year over four years).

The Houston Grand Opera has been wearing big-boy pants for a long time. I'm fairly sure that they are the biggest Opera company in the US outside of the Met in New York.

I built the scenery for one of their shows in around 2003 and it was probably the largest/most lavish set I ever worked on outside of Ford's 2002 Detroit Auto Show setup.

I meant more that staging the full Ring Cycle is, as I understand it, pretty much declaring "Yes, we ARE in the big leagues".

We had season tickets this year. We were quiet happy with them. Next season is about 50/50 stuff I'm dying to see and stuff I'm "meh" on.

I really liked their staging of...shit, I'm blanking. The one based on Shakespeare? With Iago? Whatever the fuck it's called.

And their Ring Cycle staging is quite interesting. Minimalist, and they've sorta gone old school by sticking the God's on cranes (so they're raised above the mortals. And by "old school" I'm pretty sure that's how the Greeks did it).

[Chimpy]

That is where the term "Deus ex machina" comes from.

Also, Othello is the "one with Iago".

[Abagadro]

Not sure what to think about this. My 10-year old woke up before us today and made himself breakfast: a bacon and parmesan sandwich on naan. He either has a wildly sophisticated palate or we are really shitty parents.

[schild]

a ten year old found bacon cheese and bread

he's 10

don't read into it

[Abagadro]

No. There were other options equally available.

He is hilarious. He loves the most esoteric cheeses he can find. When we go to sushi places he wants to get the weirdest thing on the menu.  He actively wants to eat things that freak us out. Somewhat disturbing.

[NowhereMan]

Well done on being awesome parents/having an awesome kid? I say that as someone who :uhrr:s over people that refuse to try new food, people who go to China and eat McDonalds and KFC or Chinese people who visit France and bring suitcases full of instant noodles for their trip.

Also he may be doing it mostly because it's fun to freak you out and he'll get a bit more normal about it when he gets older.

Or or he may soon be breaking into your Scotch cabinet to sample the Laphroaig...

[Sky]

Went to the free symphony and fireworks last night. Other than the symphony dipping into modern broadway schmaltzy schlock for a medley, they kicked ass as usual. They go into the 1812 overture, the fort starts torching off their cannons, great stuff. Then they played into the fireworks intro...but stopped and the PA started playing Springsteen. It was bizarre (and most people don't understand the meaning of his 'patriotic' songs like Born in the USA or Glory Days).

But the crowd. The sweaty, smoking, eating morass of fat with hordes of children. There was a difficult to navigate to hill by the fort, next year we sit there. The old lady wanted to sit close to the street so we could get out quickly, but it was also the spot where the fattest and laziest plopped down. I saw things, man. At least her plan had a good outcome: combined with my parking in a spot to take a back way out of the congestion, we got to the 'good' ice cream place before the crowd, got our cones and the two good rocking chairs in the yard.

[Engels]

He actively wants to eat things that freak us out. Somewhat disturbing.

I like the cut of his jib. Keep doing whatever it is you are doing.

[Morat20]

And my kid has misplaced my keys. So he's up (on two hours of sleep with work tonight) looking for them. Because as I told him, replacing smartkey systems runs like 400 bucks.

Also I'd like to be able to drive my car, and my wife's out of town with the other set.

Edited to add: Ha! I Found them. Not until after he'd cleaned a quarter of his room on no sleep looking for it. Bonus. He's quite relieved at getting to go back to sleep before work tonight AND not owing 400 bucks to get a new key. In hindsight, it was not a surprising place for him to have put them half-asleep.

[Morat20]

Hey, we have some joggers/runners on this board....

I do a simple, flat treadmill workout. No inclines, I wear good shoes and custom inserts (I had foot surgery years ago and have no plans to do that again). I've noticed something weird -- I can't tell if I'm simply pushing too hard (I don't feel like I'm particularly pushing my workouts. I know cardio wise, I'm not terribly winded or anything).

I do a quarter mile minimum warm-up before shifting to a light job. I find out that pretty quickly I get tightness and soreness in my lower legs -- it's pretty much on both legs, on the outsides and back. It feels for all the world like tight muscles that aren't relaxing fully -- I can feel it pulling as my foot flexes, right?

So if I stop and stretch, it tends to reduce -- even a little stretching (just like stretching the foot back and forth and leaning a bit) -- and after a mile or so of brisk walking and a little jogging it...goes away.

I'm working under the assumption that it's due to the fact that I run on the outside of my feet (I don't remember what it's called, but the outside edges of my shoes wear away far more quickly than the inside) and weak muscles and that I should just keep going until they adjust, but I'm starting to think maybe I should scale back for a few weeks. Maybe I'm making my legs work worse than they need to.

Or perhaps my shoes are wearing out. They look fine (I can see the outside edge wear already, but it's not too bad yet). Any ideas? Besides "You're too fat to run" :)

[Viin]

Might see a PT.  have them watch you run, more than likely you are overusing a muscle group. The PT can give you exercises to strength the other groups to balance it out. At least, that's been my experience for similar problems. 

[NowhereMan]

Might also be some general tightness? I've found Joe deFranco's Limber Eleven to be a really, really good lower body stretching routine. It got me from tight legs and a sore lower back to being pretty comfortable. Until I got lazy about doing it a few weeks ago and am now back to tight hamstrings and a slightly sensitive lower back. I've started up again and it's already helping.

The Lacrosse ball massaging is an absolute horror the first time you do it but the feeling afterwards is amazing.

[Morat20]

Thanks. I'll look into both. Appreciate it.

[Yegolev]

Being a new Boy Scout dad, and never having been a scout myself, it's an interesting semi-world to enter into.  Especially with the non-standard dads in our troop.  Slept in the woods again this past weekend, which was my hottest sleep since I was a kid with no air conditioning in South Bama.

I'm reading the schedule today and now I see something called Cohutta Death March and I'm starting to wonder what sort of thing I've gotten myself into.

[Merusk]

It's fun, enjoy.

Also, try and get a left-handed smoke shifter. They work better than the right-handed ones which are mass-produced crap.