"Thank You Ocean" Campaign

Dawn and I saw a billboard advertising the "Thank You Ocean" campaign on Saturday on Fulton near Auburn. From the About section of the web site:

ThankYouOcean.Org is the website for the California Public Ocean Awareness Campaign, “Thank You Ocean”, a statewide campaign organized by NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program and the State of California Resources Agency and implemented by the California Ocean Communicators Alliance. The campaign was made possible in part by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, NOAA, the California Ocean Protection Council and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Contributors to the “Thank You Ocean Campaign” include the Hive Advertising Agency, The Ocean Channel, Uncle Productions, Jim Toomey and the Blue Frontier Campaign, and many others who have volunteered their time, expertise and passion.

The “Thank You Ocean” campaign was designed to instill in Californians a sense of personal connection and responsibility to our ocean and coast. ThankYouOcean.Org provides access to everything ocean in California including how to learn about and where to experience the ocean, the impacts of daily decisions on ocean life, ocean conservation issues, and what to do to help the ocean.

Jim Toomey pens the syndicated comic strip Sherman's Lagoon.

What is the difference between Family Practice and Internal Medicine?

Dawn and I wondered about this the other day. Apparently definitions vary geographically and historically; family practice deals with all ages of patients while internal medicine focuses on ages 13 and up. Link.

American River Parkway PASSPORT

A way to support the American River Parkway. Planning to pick up ours the next time we visit REI.

Flushed Away

Dawn and I noticed this 2006 movie by David Bowers and Sam Fell. Recording so I don't forget.

UPDATE: Watched it last week at the Sunrise Theatre and we both enjoyed it. The character Sid (fun-loving, loves soccer, slightly larger than average) reminded me of Kurt, a friend from HP.

KYDS Songs

Heard these over the past few days:

Huntington Beach-based The Aquabats!' "Chemical Bomb!" from their 1999 album "The Aquabats! vs. the Floating Eye of Death!" on the Goldenvoice Recordings/Time Bomb label.

Anahiem-based No Doubt's "Just A Girl" from their 1995 album "Tragic Kingdom" on the Interscope label. Video.

Henderson, North Carolina-native Ben E. King's (with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) "Stand By Me" released as a 1961 single on the Atco Records label. Video. I thought of Dawn when I heard this on Sunday. ^__^

I'd Rather Be Sailing My Swan 48

Saw this license plate frame text mentioning the Finnish-based Nautor's sailing boat on Sunday. My experiences with sailing are limited to helping my friend Jared Heuschele one day on a lake back in 2000.

Yosemite Vacation

Dawn and I vacationed at Yosemite National Park Mon-Fri, Dec 11-15.

Monday

Left Sacramento around 08:30 after nabbing six liters of water and six bagels from Safeway. We anticipated using the water on hikes but ended up leaving the water in the car. After sitting in traffic for about 45 minutes on south-bound Sunrise Avenue, we escaped across US 50 and headed east on Hwy 16 toward Jackson. We passed Sloughhouse and the Davis Ranch Produce Stand, leaving Sacramento County behind for Amador County and ascending slowly into the foothills. Turning south-east onto Hwy 49 we began driving through former mining camps: Drytown, Amador City, Sutter Creek, and Jackson. One of the historical markers we viewed mentioned the tong wars, battles between various Chinese-American tongs for control of profits, territory, and women. As we passed Mokelumne Hill, we entered Calaveras County, home to Mark Twain's famous yarn. We passed the towns of San Andreas and Angels Camp, where signs swinging from Victorian-style buildings welcome visitors into local businesses. Continuing southeast we entered Tuolumne County, crossing the artificial New Melones Lake via the Stevenot Stanislaus River Bridge. Passing Jamestown we turned east onto Hwy 120/49 before reaching Chinese Camp and the bridge over the artificial Lake Don Pedro. Leaving Hwy 49 at Moccasin, we continued east on Hwy 120. Dawn and I noticed the Moccasin Creek Trout Hatchery. From this point we also became aware of the Hetch Hetchy Resevoir's aqueduct draining water down the hill. Seeing the size of the aqueduct, I felt appreciation for the engineering required to transport the water 167 miles to San Francisco. Between Moccasin and Priest Station, Hwy 120 climbs ~2,000 feet via six miles of switchbacks. Continuing our ascent the towns of Big Oak Flat and Groveland welcomed us. I noticed a sign or two during the trip reading I.O.O.F, which turned out to be a fraternal organization called the International Order of Odd Fellows. Fun. Between Groveland and Yosemite National Park we continued to ascend to about 6,000 feet. It was during this point that we encountered our first sight of snow from the previous weekend's snowstorm. Melting snow fell from tree branches, striking our car's windshield with loud cracking noises, startling us three times. We reached the Park entrance around 13:00, presented our National Parks Pass, and entered. The entrance attendant cautioned us to drive 25 mph due to snow and ice on the road. We traveled this way without use of tire chains until we reached Northside Drive in Yosemite Valley. We stopped for a bathroom break and then proceeded to navigate the construction to the Village Store parking lot, which doubled as a day-use parking lot. Finally, we had arrived!

Melting snow and ice covered the lot. The temperature I guessed was about 10 C (50 F). Dawn and I walked into the Village Store looking for a patch. We noticed YakTrax for sale as well as vinyl rain panchos. Dawn fell in love with a plush bear, found a cute purple hat in the kids' section, and found a Bear Crossing patch for her canvas shoulderbag. Exiting the store we visited the Sport Shop, then walked north on Tecoya Road to Degnan's Deli. I had a "Tuolumne Meadow" veggie sandwich and Dawn had a turkey sandwich. The woman we met shared with us her country-of-origin was South Africa, and she loved African-American actors, especially Cuba Gooding Jr., Denzel Washington, and Lawrence Fishburn. She recommended I watch the South African films Mama Jack and There's a Zulu on My Stoep (aka Yankee Zulu in the USA).

Lodge hot tub
Dinner mac & cheese in room

Tuesday

Ate breakfast at Yosemite View Lodge Restaurant
Purchased ponchos
Mirror Lake
Warm feet by fire
Feeding Deer
Lower Yosemite Falls
Decorated Charlie the snowman
Yosemite Lodge at the Falls Cafeteria
Attempted to register for classes but Degnan's closed at 17:00
Room hot tub

Wednesday

New Yosemite Today newsletter
Purchased patch from Visitor Center store
Computer game playing in Visitor Center store
Questions of Visitor Center staff
trode
Ranger tour Geology
Skywalk boots
Georgia granite for bridge
Moonbow
49 Sequoia trees in the Valley
wind knocked down pine trees
Indian Museum
Mountain Room Restaurant x_x
Registered for classes

Thursday

Ahwahnee breakfast
Mailed postcards
Vernal Falls footbridge
Concert rehearsal
American Dipper birds
Yosemite Cafeteria supper
Concert
Leanna from Andrea Fulton Productions
Stars


Friday

Bridalveil Falls
Wawona
Rainy
Mount Sugar Pine Railroad
Modesto -- search for Peach Tree Diner x_x
Cheesecake Factory

KYDS Songs

Heard this song today:

UK-based Frou Frou's "Let Go" from their 2002 album "Details" on the MCA/Island Records label. Video. 'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown....

KYDS Songs

Heard this song yesterday:

Essex, England-based Gorillaz' "All Alone" from the album "Demon Days" on the Parlophone/EMI/Virgin label. Video.

The Tofurky Song

To the tune of "Deck the Halls":

In the ov-en's a To-fur-ky
In-gre-dients are somewhat murky
Stuf-fing's lo-ca-ted inside it
It's all fake so why not hide it?

Yes, tonight Dawn and I are cooking our first Tofurky from Trader Joes. I vowed to never buy fake meat but it looked so good why not try it once? And Dawn (a non-vegetarian) wanted to try it. We both felt very hungry.

UPDATE: We both enjoyed it. We used the soy-sauce and olive oil baste. It struck me as an upscale TV dinner.

Countries

Create your own list at http://www.travbuddy.com/widget_map.php

Five Pennies

The eponymous song from the 1959 movie The Five Pennies, we heard a snippet of it while watching a short film about women in Hollywood while at the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts. I thought it sounded nice enough to pass on. Imagine Danny Kaye singing this song to his daughter who has contracted polio:

This little penny is to wish on
And make your wishes come true
This little penny is to dream on
Dream of all you can do
This little penny is a dancing penny
See how it glitters and it glows
Bright as a whistle
Light as a thistle
Quick, quick as a wink
Up on it's twinkling toes
This little penny is to laugh on
To see that tears never fall
This this little penny
Is the last little penny
And the most important of all
For this penny is to love on
And where love is, heaven is there
So with just five pennies, if they're these five pennies
You'll be a millionaire
For this penny is to love on
And where love is, heaven is there
So with just five pennies, if they're these five pennies
You'll be a millionaire

Here's a happier part later in the movie: http://youtube.com/watch?v=j_r-Q1u6PDk

Julia Morgan

Also while at the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts, I learned about one of the first female architects, Julia Morgan. They had several tiles on display (including the rabbit, above) that she created for the Hearst Castle down by San Luis Obispo. The Deer Creek Pottery company out of Grass Valley, CA created the replicas. I'm not sure where I want them but I thought someday they might look nice in a future home.

Chez Panisse

While at the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts today I read about Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse, the "first California cuisine restaurant, a style credited to restaurant founder Alice Waters." Yum yum. I want to visit now.

Link: http://www.chezpanisse.com/

David Lance Goines creates the fantastic poster artwork.

Eliza Farnham on San Francisco (1850)

"San Francisco, I believe, has the most disagreeable climate and locality of any city on the globe. If the winter be not unusually wet, there is some delightful weather to be enjoyed. If it be, you are flooded, and the rainy season closes to give place to what is miscalled summer—-a season so cold that you require more clothing than you did in January; so damp with fogs and mists that you are penetrated to the very marrow; so windy that if you are abroad in the afternoon it is a continual struggle. Your eyes are blinded, your teeth set on edge, and your whole person made so uncomfortable by the sand that has insinuated itself through your clothing, that you could not conceive it possible to feel a sensation of comfort short of a warm bath and shower. . . . What sort of end the unfortunates, who spend their lives there, can expect under such circumstances, one does not easily foresee."

Noticed Wikipedia lacked Eliza Farnham's entry so I created it (my first). Created her Wikiquote article as well. I've installed MediaWiki (the software running Wikipedia) and created some home brew documentation for clients in the past so this article creation went relatively smoothly.

Dawn and I visited the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts this afternoon, where I found this quotation. An excellent museum and I want to visit it again to read more about the Japanese internment.

Running Journal, Wednesday, 2006-11-22

Running Journal, Wednesday, 2006-11-22
Resting heart rate: forgot (60 second test)
Weather: overcast, calm
Temp: 15 C (59 F)
Time: 13:45-16:30
Terrain: flat
Comments: Dawn and I spent the afternoon at the California Museum of History, Women and the Arts after eating at the Fox and Goose Public House.
Time: 165 minutes (2:45)
Goal Time: n/a
Distance n/a
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None
Foods eaten today: vegetarian pasty, crumpet with marmalade, espresso cheesecake, mushroom risotto, tostadas, fig newtons, cottage cheese, bread

KYDS Songs

Haven't done one of these in a while:

Omaha, Nebraska-based The Faint's "Southern Belles in London Sing," from their 2004 album "Wet From Birth" on the Saddle Creek label. Audio (homemade video).

New York City-based TV On the Radio's "Hours," from their 2006 album "Return to Cookie Mountain" on the 4AD/Interscope label. No video; here are other videos from this band.

Things my girlfriend says to me

"I'm so glad you haven't turned into a building." ^_^

I love her!



UPDATE, 2020-02-17: this was from a dream in which I turned into a building, which is "just silly".

Running Journal, Tuesday, 2006-11-21

Running Journal, Tuesday, 2006-11-21
Resting heart rate: forgot (60 second test)
Weather: overcast, 3 m/s wind
Temp: 15 C (59 F)
Time: 12:50-13:35
Terrain: mostly flat, some hills
Comments: I didn't write-up a running journal for Monday because I felt horrible. I woke up around 09:00 and felt inebriated. I haven't felt so bad in years. I attribute it to not resting properly for two consecutive nights (Sat & Sun) plus the exertion of the long run plus not hydrating myself properly the evening after the run. I gorged myself on Punjabi Indian food, felt fine when I went to bed, but woke up completely physically exhausted. I crashed for three additional hours before I felt better. Dawn and I ended up walking around Ancil C. Hoffman Park late in the afternoon. Today, I felt 100%. Dawn and I started our run from Ambassador Drive on the American River Parkway, running west past the sandstone bluffs toward Rossmoor Drive and Hagan Community Park. We saw two deer today about seven meters away, an eight-point buck and a doe. We sang improvisational songs to each other as we ran. My song rhymed words with Dawn's surname. On the return we stopped and watched a duck diving for food and listened to the gulls calling to each other.
Time: 45 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 4.8 km (3.0 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=553868
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.6 kg (177.7 lbs), 25% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Left top of foot near ankle a bit sore, left big toe black and blue
Foods eaten today: blueberry bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar, banana, cereal

More Books I'll Never Have Time to Read

The Spy's Guide: Office Espionage

Cube Chic: Take Your Office Space from Drab to Fab!

Running Journal, Sunday, 2006-11-19

Running Journal, Sunday, 2006-11-19
Resting heart rate: n/a (60 second test)
Weather: sunny and hazy, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 15 C (59 F)
Time: 12:08-14:43
Terrain: mostly flat, some hills
Comments: Freaking awesome 13-mile run today. Weather seemed perfect — sunny but haze gave a white color to the light; temperature pleasant with a mild, cool breeze to keep me cool. Lots of people enjoying the Parkway this afternoon. As I walked across the pedestrian bridge, I watched a flotilla of eight two-person canoes clump together near Sunrise bridge. Gulls floated on the low river hoping to find a meal of fish. I wore sunglasses today and they felt comfortable the entire way, blocking the UV rays from my eyes. Something to consider when outdoors a lot I guess. On Saturday I cleaned out my goody bag from the NYC marathon and found a sheet of tips for running form. The tips included striking with heel first then push off with toe, swinging with the elbows and hands forward and backward instead of side to side, keeping hips straight and head up. It also suggested drinking one cup of water (eight ounces) every 20 minutes. I began doing this after running about three miles and kept it up until I finished. I hydrated myself on Saturday evening which helped and running in the afternoon allowed my body to digest the breakfast properly I think. As I ran over the pedestrian bridge connecting C.M. Goethe Park with William B. Pond Park, I noticed how the sunlight shone to the bottom of the low river. I watched for Chinook salmon but failed to see any. On the other side of the bridge I noticed for the first time a plaque memorializing the bridge as the Harold M. Richey Memorial Bridge. The date on the plaque read 1987. On the return trip across the Bridge the shadow of the bridge darkened the water to the point where I failed to see anything in the water. Around mile seven-eight I heard a snippet of conversation from two passing bikers: "Are you concerned you're underinsured?" Curious. At mile eight-nine a biker turned the corner with his tongue hanging out much like a dog might. Weird. For several miles I ran about one-half mile every five minutes. Around mile 10 I began slowing down. At mile 11 a 40 year-old woman stopped as I said hello and asked me if I had any PowerGels. I gave her as much of the Powerbar I carried as she wanted and she shared she had run out of gas on her 21-mile run. I asked if she planned to run the California International Marathon on Dec 3 and she said yes. At mile 11 I met an older gentlemen with a beard I saw quite often earlier in the year but have not seen so much in recent months. I greeted him and he gave me a warm smile and asked how I was doing. I said "Almost done," and he laughed. He's looking ripped, I don't have to ask him if he's doing the CIM. He used to wear his marathon tee shirt but today he had on something else. Around mile 11-12 I switched the hand I held the water bottle with because I felt so tired. For some reason the restroom at mile 19 remained locked today. I finished with a time of 2:35 which I feel happy about since I usually do 10 miles in 2:15. I felt strong but tired afterward, feeling like time for a nap. The view of the river to the west as I walked back across the pedestrian bridge to my car caught my breath. Time for great Indian food with friends at 17:00 at Sher-E-Punjab. ^_^
Time: 155 minutes (2:35), ~12 minutes/mile or 5:12 marathon pace
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 13 miles
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.8 kg (178.2 lbs), 26% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Left top of foot near ankle a bit sore, left big toe black and blue, inside muscles of legs tired
Foods eaten today: blueberry bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar, yogurt, banana

Yosemite Winter Vacation 2006

(picture credit)

Dawn and I plan to vacation in Yosemite Dec 11-15. Itinerary so far:

Dec 11, Monday

• Check-in to Yosemite View Lodge after 15:00
• 14:00-15:30 — Ranger Walk: "A Changing Yosemite," front of Valley Visitor Center
• 17:00 — Dinner: Yosemite Lodge Food Court, (open until 19:30)
  
• 19:30-21:30 — Evening program: check local postings for venue and topic
  

Dec 12, Tuesday

• 07:00-08:00 — Breakfast: Ahwahnee Dining Room (open 07:00-10:30)
• 12:00-13:00 — Yosemite Forum: "Forest Ecology and Climate Change in the Sierras," Visiter Center Auditorium
• 13:15 — Lunch: Yosemite Lodge Food Court, (open until 19:30)
• 14:00-15:30 — Ranger Walk: "Bears," Curry Village Amphitheatre
• ~17:00 — Dinner: Yosemite Lodge Food Court, (open until 19:30)
• 19:30-21:30 — Evening program: check local postings for venue and topic

Dec 13, Wawona Wednesday

• 07:00 — Breakfast: bagels, local restaurant
  
• 11:30 — Lunch: Degnan's Delicatessan, (open 09:00-17:00)
• 14:00-15:30 — Ranger Walk: TBD
• 17:00 — Dinner: Yosemite Lodge Food Court, (open until 19:30)
• 17:00-21:30 — Guest lounge at Wawona (Tom Bopp)
  
• 19:30-21:30 — Evening program: check local postings for venue and topic

Dec 14, Thursday

• 07:00 — Breakfast: bagels, local restaurant
• 11:30 — Lunch: Yosemite Lodge Food Court, (open until 19:30)
• 14:00-15:30 — Ranger Walk: TBD
• 17:30-20:30 — Dinner: Mountain Room Restaurant, Yosemite Lodge, casual dress. Reservations only for parties of eight or more. Get there early.
  
• 19:30-21:30 — Evening program: check local postings for venue and topic

Dec 15, Friday

• 07:00 — Breakfast: bagels, local restaurant
• Check-out time 11:00

Possible additions to itinerary:

• Ansel Adams Gallery, next to Valley Visitor Center, 09:00-17:00; 209-372-0200
• Sightseeing: Crane Flat, snowshoe to Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Falls, Royal Arches, Cathedral Rocks, Three Brothers, or El Capitan, Merced Grove
  
• Valley Visitor Center and Bookstore, 09:00-17:00 (shuttle stops #5 and #9). Exhibit hall closed until May 2007.
• Yosemite Cemetary, across the street just west of Yosemite Museum. Guide available at the Visitor Center.
• Indian Village of Ahwahnee, behind the Yosemite Museum. Open during daylight hours.
• Yosemite Museum, next to Valley Visitor Center. Features:
  
• Museum Gallery, 09:00-17:00 (closed for lunch)
  
• "America's Best Idea-A Photographic Journey Through Our National Parks" (through Jan 28, 2007)
  
• Indian Cultural Exhibit 09:00-17:00 (closed for lunch)
  
• Yosemite Museum store, 09:00-16:30
• Pioneer Yosemite History Center, always open, near Wawona
• Ice skating (Curry Village) — open days and evenings mid-Nov to mid-March. $6.50/ea
• Yosemite Association offers seminars every month of the year. 2006 season ends Dec 9.
• Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service, Curry Village, 209-372-8344
  

Links:

• Yosemite Fun, celebrating years of non-profit service to Park visitors.
  
• Yosemite Winter Activities & Programs via American Park Network.
  
• Yosemite Today, a publication of the National Park Service containing "a calendar of guided programs and park activities, as well as hours of operation for visitor centers and museums."

To-do:

• 
  

To-pack:

• Food: Bagels, chocolate, Clif bars, vegetables, fruit (fresh/dried); food for hiking and/or breakfast. Pack into paper grocery bag and store in hotel room or backpack.
• Clothes: gloves or mittens, knit cap, warm coat, sweater, or parka, and rain gear (such as a raincoat or even an umbrella). Comfortable, broken-in boots are a good idea, but, depending on the conditions, you might also be able to wear comfortable walking shoes (bring extra socks). Link.
• 
  

Running Journal, Saturday, 2006-11-18

Running Journal, Saturday, 2006-11-18
Resting heart rate: 66 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: sunny, calm
Temp: 19 C (66.2 F)
Time: n/a
Terrain: flat
Comments: Day off today. Plan to run about 13 miles on Sunday.
Time: n/a
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: n/a
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): n/a
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None
Foods eaten today: cereal with soy milk, orange juice, buckwheat-blueberry toaster waffles, yogurt, banana

Running Journal, Friday, 2006-11-17

Running Journal, Friday, 2006-11-17
Resting heart rate: 74 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: overcast, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 17.7 C (70 F)
Time: 18:15-19:10
Terrain: flat
Comments: Ran at ARC this evening. It took 22 minutes to run around the perimeter of the campus this evening and I ran the rest on the stadium track. I hate running around the stadium track. The nice thing about it is it's soft, cushy surface. It's boring to run in circles in the dark though. Tonight the ARC track and field team was out there and I ran past them and their coach several times. I ran at a moderately strenuous pace. I'm not sure exactly how far I ran. The perimeter of the campus is approximately 2.75 miles and I was running around the lap once every 2-3 minutes.
Time: 45 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: About 4 miles
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 81.0 kg (178.6 lbs), 25% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?:
Foods eaten today: cereal with soy milk, orange juice, bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar, yogurt, vegetable lasagna, bread

Guide to Staying at the Wawona Hotel

(picture credit)

Dawn and I want to stay at the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park. Compiling list of facts and opinions:

Wawona facts:

• Rooms — Large rooms: Main Building: Room 213 and Room 220; Annex: Room 137; Hotel labels Room 87 (Moore Cottage) the "Honeymoon Suite"; upstairs of Main Building contains dormitory space for employees; Little White used for manager's residence. Tom Bopp writes, "Not true any more – in 1987 the Little White and upstairs Main Building were restored as guest rooms."
• Attractions — 45 minute+ drive to Yosemite Valley or Glacier Point; Mariposa Grove Road is typically open April-November. Glacier Point Road is typically open June-October. Access to Tuolumne Meadows is generally free of snow June-October.
  
• Renovations — Ongoing. 48 rooms renovated in 2002. Undergoing major renovations in 2005: new porches, new stairs, increasing access for disabled, and fixing the foundation. Assistant Manager Robin says complete restoration to take 15 years.
  
• Entertainment — Tom Bopp plays a restored 1906 Knabe Parlor-Grand Piano (Tom commutes from Oakhurst). He sings Tuesday-Saturday, 17:30-21:30 and also presents slide-lectures on Wawona/Yosemite History (upon request). Tom writes, "just drop by the piano early in the evening and ask me for details; 8:30 is when I usually do them." Also golf, tennis, historic pool, and so forth.
  
• Food and Drink — Dining Room open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner served from 17:00-21:00. Hostess begins refusing people as early as 20:10 if kitchen cannot complete meal by 21:00. Sloping floor near dining room windows. Hotel provides breakfast of hot/cold buffet or a-la-carte; included with selected room packages. Hotel provides coffee in lobby in early morning. Muffins and coffee available at the Golf Shop. General store on-site closes at 20:00. Check
  
• Open year-round but weekends only certain periods of the year. See Tom Bopp's schedule for complete details.
  
• Showers and Bathrooms
• Communal showers — Main Building: 2nd floor veranda; Annex: lower level plus rented portables on first floor veranda; Cottages: claw-foot tubs or shower stall.
  
• Private bathrooms — Rooms with private bath have shower or claw-foot tub. Annex floor plan shows one bathroom between every two rooms; each room contains a door to the shared bathroom but Hotel locks one door to provide exclusive access to the other.
• Communal toilets — Main Building: restrooms upstairs and in adjoining building to the rear; Annex: one toilet per floor, additional restrooms in basement;
  
• Heating & Cooling — Electric heat in upstairs of Main Building, Moore Cottage, and Little White; radiator heat in other buildings turned on from 19:00-22:00; perhaps again in morning. No air conditioning other than small circulatory fans. Rooms in front of main building get very warm in afternoon and evening in summertime. Portable heaters available from Front Desk upon request.
  
• History — Clark Cottage named in honor of hotel founder Galen Clark, who called the Hotel Clark's Station. Moore Cottage named in honor of Galen Clark's partner, Edward Moore. Washburn Cottage named in honor of Henry Washburn, who bought out Clark and Moore and ran the Hotel with brothers John and Ed. Long White, (now Clark Cottage) constructed in 1876, represented the only building to survive the fire of 1878. Main Building constructed in 1879. Little White, constructed after the fire in 1884. Little Brown, (now Moore Cottage) constructed in 1894. Long Brown, (now Washburn Cottage) constructed c. 1899. Annex, long two story wooden structure that houses the majority of the rooms at the Wawona, constructed in 1918.
  

Wawona opinions, tips, suggestions, via TripAdvisor reviews:

• Showers and Baths — Shower curtain in private shower clings. Plenty of hot water and pressure. Use communal showers at night. Arrangement for 50% of rooms w/o baths far from satisfactory. Moore Cottage includes spacious room and bath.
• Food and Drink — Arrive early for dinner if busy (15-30 minute wait typical). Restaurant does a wonderful breakfast. Dress up for dinner (not jeans, anyway). Bring food in with coolers and store in room. Buy breakfast of coffee and muffins from Golf Shop.
• Rooms — Favorite building is Clark Cottage. You may find the lack of soundproofing in some rooms a drawback. DO NOT get a room in the main building, just too much people traffic. Instead get a room in the Annex (either room 129 or room 130). It's an end unit with no foot traffic in front of your bedroom window and away from the main road.
• Always stay at less busy times of the year (i.e. Fall, Winter & Spring) -- Summer is the busiest time
• "Think of it as very expensive camping." ^_^
• Alternatives outside the park —"We WAWON'TA be going back." x_x Tenaya Lodge (four miles outside the southern entrance), Yosemite View Lodge (two miles outside the western entrance).
  

Links:

• Map of the Wawona Hotel
• Dining Room Menus
• Images of the Wawona Hotel
• Unofficial Wawona Hotel Page
• Bio of Tom Bopp, Hotel pianist
• Architectural history of the Hotel, c. 1985
• Wawona claw-foot tub
• Wawona stage-coach driver
• Tom's piano

Check-in Checklist:

• Bath robes provided
  

Please feel free to use these notes as a starting point for your own research. Many thanks to Tom Bopp for contributing to the accuracy of this article.

Running Journal, Thursday, 2006-11-16

Running Journal, Thursday, 2006-11-16
Resting heart rate: 63 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: overcast, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 17.7 C (70 F)
Time: 13:00-17:00
Terrain: flat
Comments: Dawn and I visited the California State Railroad Museum today. We learned what the slang term gandy dancer means; that two Golden Spikes were created for use at Promontory, Utah (the Museum displays the "Lost" one, which was inscribed after May 10, 1869); and that the Central Pacific Railroad company constructed over 37 miles of snow sheds to minimize snow on the tracks in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The construction of the first Transcontinental Railroad represents a major human accomplishment of the 19th century. Prior to watching the Museum's movie "Evidence of a Dream," we viewed Thomas Hill's dramatized oil painting, "Driving the Last Spike." Dawn and I saw the Southern Pacific No. 1, "C.P. Huntington," (their first train), the Central Pacific Railroad No. 1, "Governor Stanford" (their first train), and the million pound cab-forward Central Pacific No. 4294. A docent showed us the various controls to operate No. 4294, including the fireman's lever to control the amount of water injected into the boiler, the engineer's acceleration lever, whistle lever, brakes, and reverse lever. We also visited some of the passenger cars. The Museum's Canadian National Railways Sleeping Car No. 1683, the St. Hyacinthe, rocks gently back and forth while a "soundtrack simulates the typical night sounds of a fast-traveling heavyweight passenger train: the rhythmic clicking of the wheels, the distant whistle of the locomotive, and the descending Doppler effect of passing crossing bells." I've traveled on trains across America, Eastern Europe, and Russia, and the combined effect of blackened windows, soundtrack, and rocking motion is convincingly real. The docent inside shared with us that he hailed from Chicago. The next car we visited was the silver AT&SF Railway's Dining Car No. 1474, the Cochiti. This car exhibited many of the china ware collections that the Museum sells. I enjoyed the California Poppy the best. Dawn enjoyed the Mimbreño. Very expensive. Last but not least we both climbed inside the Great Northern Railway's Post Office Car No. 42. We chatted inside with the docent for 15 minutes as he showed us how to operate the hook to capture mailbags from station mail cranes. He explained that the mail operators stood on their feet in cramped, rocking conditions for eight hours at a time. We both felt overwhelmed at the amount of information available and didn't get a chance to read everything. After quickly looking through the Museum store and satisfying our desire to see Chessie the Kitten, we exited the Museum and walked to Steamers Cafe for coffee and a pumpkin muffin. I had water. We explored Evangeline's, where Dawn found a very cute purple dragon.
Time: 240 minutes (4:00)
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: n/a
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run):
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None. Left toe hurt a bit.
Foods eaten today: cereal with soy milk, bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar, peppers with stuffing, pumpkin ale

Running Journal, Wednesday, 2006-11-15

Running Journal, Wednesday, 2006-11-15
Resting heart rate: 54 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: mostly sunny, calm
Temp: 13 C (55.4 F)
Time: 11:05-11:50
Terrain: flat
Comments: Dawn and I drove to the Nimbus Fish Hatchery because we figured the Bridge Street path was closed due to construction. We decided to try out the river trail north of the Hatchery. Four yellow school buses waited while groups of children and chaperons gave them food to throw to the baby Steelhead Trout in the raceway ponds. When we walked past the raceway ponds the fish notice us and jump excitedly, expecting fish food. Running along the river trail for the first time we discovered that it ended shortly downstream, at which point it turned into an unmaintained trail with occasional slippery rocks, large stones, and taller grasses. We cut back to the bike trail on a rocky incline and stayed on the bike trail for the remainder of the run. Took it slowly today as Dawn experienced some discomfort on our Monday run. On the return we stopped and watched about a dozen Chinook Salmon in the American River. We decided that some of them were female, thrashing about to create a stony bed for their eggs. The others seemed male, chasing each other to determine the strongest mate for the female. A large number of seagulls and brown cranes waited in the shallow waters. One or two of them attempted to land on a salmon and was treated to a rude shock. We thought the birds might wait for the Chinook to die after spawning. Overhead a number of Turkey Vultures also circled looking for meals. On the opposite side of the river, school children walked down to the shore to watch the salmon. Dawn and I continued, noticing the tub of cat food was full near the 22.5 mile marker. Overall a perfect day for running; lots of sunshine, perfect temperature, lots of people enjoying the Parkway, and lots of wildlife.
Time: 45 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 4.9 km (3.0 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=544633
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.4 kg (177.28 lbs), 25% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None. Toe black and blue.
Foods eaten today: cereal with soy milk, bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar

Running Journal, Tuesday, 2006-11-14

Running Journal, Tuesday, 2006-11-14
Resting heart rate: 71 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: overcast, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 13 C (55.4 F)
Time: 11:45-15:10
Terrain: flat
Comments: Dawn and I visited the California Aerospace Museum today for our walk. Dawn enjoyed learning about the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF 'Fresco E', the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F 'Fishbed', and the Douglas C-53D 'Skytrooper' which earned the nickname "Gooney Bird." I enjoyed seeing the Fairchild-Republic A-10A 'Thunderbolt II' (Warthog). The McClellan Office Park (formerly McClellan Air Force Base) fails to indicate the proper entrance to the museum from Watt Avenue southbound, so we spent a number of minutes wandering around the buildings, hangers, and construction attempting to find the spot. After asking directions and parking, a docent greeted us at the entrance. He indicated his favorite plane was the Grumman HU-16B 'Albatross' because it landed on land, water, snow, and ice with the appropriate gear. He also showed us a 500-pound, Vietnam-era bomb that the museum displays. At the exit, a new docent, Gene King greeted us and we talked for about 20 minutes. He invited me to join his choral group, the Folsom Harmony Express. We visited the gift shop and met a docent (name started with a 'D') who hailed from Wisconsin (La Crosse). He recommended also visiting Castle Air Museum near the town of Atwater on Highway 99. That museum houses a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. We left feeling thirsty since we forgot to bring water. x_x
Time: 205 minutes (3:25)
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: n/a
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.8 kg, 25% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None. Toe black and blue.
Foods eaten today: cereal with soy milk, bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar

Is there an East or West Pole?

Answer: No east or west poles exist (unless you're the Easter bunny, in which case you live at the East Pole, ha ha). Geographic Poles exist where the earth's axis of rotation intersects with the earth's surface.

In answering this question tonight Dawn and I learned about the differences between geographic poles, magnetic poles, geomagnetic poles, eccentric poles, celestial poles, the Pole of Inaccessibility, and the Gallup Poll (ha ha).

Geomagnetic poles gave us the most difficulty. These poles reflect the calculated axes of the magnetosphere. Scientists calculate the position of the geomagnetic poles using the IGRF, a series of mathematical models which reflect magnetic field data collected from around the world.

Magnetic poles reflect the observable spots on the earth's surface where magnetic fields point downwards (the "dip" is 90°).

I still feel some confusion about why the calculated geomagnetic poles do not coincide with the observable magnetic poles. Is it because the equations only produce rough approximations, or is it because the equations assume a perfect dipole model, or something else? How is the magnetosphere different from the earth's magnetic field? Or are they the same?

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_pole
http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/nmp/what_nmp2_e.php

Running Journal, Monday, 2006-11-13

Running Journal, Monday, 2006-11-13
Resting heart rate: 59 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: overcast, rainy, 5 m/s wind
Temp: 16 C (60.8 F)
Time: 12:30-13:15
Terrain: flat
Comments: Construction efforts blocked Dawn and I from running at Bridge Street. We parked at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and ran the trail on the south side of the river. Quite a number of children and parents watched the Canadian Geese along the picnic area. On the way back Dawn and I got caught in a cloudburst. The weather was windy yet relatively warm. We wondered during our walk about California snakes. Apparently only one venomous snake dangerous to humans exists in California, the rattlesnake. And apparently the number one place rattlesnakes bite humans is on the hand. x_x
Time: 45 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 5.37 km (3.33 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=541254
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.8 kg, 25% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None. Toe black and blue.
Foods eaten today: cereal, bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar, orange juice, southwestern salad, tomato soup, grilled cheese, soy milk

Running Journal, Saturday, 2006-11-11

Running Journal, Saturday, 2006-11-11
Resting heart rate: 61 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: drizzling, 3 m/s wind
Temp: 14.4 C (58 F)
Time: 10:23-12:31
Terrain: flat
Comments: Light drizzle turned into a heavy drizzle after four miles. Wore leggings and shorts with my NYC Marathon finisher long-sleeve shirt. At mile 1.5 I watched with others as a Bald Eagle circled on the opposite bank of the river. The white markings on the tail were unmistakable. As I passed the Hagan Community Park at mile four I saw a flock of Canadian Geese feeding. I ran tall today, looking ahead and rehearsing the mental image of the terrain ahead. I imagined each mile marker in my head and felt a small measure of satisfaction as I passed by. At mile six I saw two Turkey Vultures sitting in the heavy drizzle at the top of a tree. Along the descent of the small hill on mile eight I heard several frogs croaking. At the park surrounding the mile 18 marker, I watched a young, two-point, fuzzy-antlered Black-Tailed Deer walk parallel with me. I ran this way with the deer for one-quarter of a mile before losing sight of it. Near the 18.5 mile marker we crossed paths again before it disappeared into the underbrush. I chose to run mile nine at a strong pace, finishing it in eight minutes. The last 4.5 miles I ran with walk breaks every mile instead of every four minutes and did not feel too much discomfort. The drizzle soaked me completely. It felt comforting to warm up with the car heater on the ride home. Lots of people on the trail today for the first hour. One group of women noticed I wore my NYC Marathon shirt and after congratulating me asked me if I had seen Lance. I replied yes and mentioned the Lancecam. They laughed and continued running. One woman wore a Cowtown Marathon tee shirt.
Time: 128 minutes (2:08)
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 16.13 km (10.0 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=537578
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.0 kg, 25% body fat.
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None. Toe black and blue.
Foods eaten today: Belgian toaster waffles, yogurt, orange juice

NYC Marathon Results

City flag of New York

Place

Gender Place

Age Place

Runner No.

First Name

Last Name

Age

Team

State/ Country

Official Time

5K Time

10K Time

15K Time

20K Time

1/2 Mar. Time

25K Time

30K Time

35K Time

40K Time

Pace/ Mile

35019

24220

2803

45593

Kevin

Schultz

29M

CA

USA

5:43:46

0:36:38

1:13:08

1:51:09

2:31:23

2:40:07

3:16:03

3:58:02

4:43:02

5:26:09

13:07

The "Kevin *heart* NYC" shirt rocked all five boroughs. Coming down the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge I encountered the first group of spectators. "Hey Kevin, NYC loves you" came the encouragement from the sidelines. Imagine this personalized encouragement multiplied by 1,000 times over the next 26.2 miles. Spectators loved getting my attention and I happily cheered them on — clapping, thanking them for coming out, raising my arms, giving the thumbs-up, smiling widely and often.

I took various public transportation systems to the start — PATH, Staten Island Ferry, and the marathon shuttle bus. I left the hotel around 04:00 Sunday morning and met a number of inebriated yet fun-loving young men and women on their way home. I walked from the WTC memorial to the Staten Island Ferry and took the 5:00. Upon arrival a ferry employee directed me to the shuttle buses. I had not purchased a ticket but the driver waved me on through. The bus dropped me off at Fort Wadsworth around 06:00.

The four-hour wait proved cold and energy-draining as I walked about to stay warm. Others brought traditional blankets, space blankets, cardboard to sit upon, and other cold-weather gear. I sat and shivered for a while and then walked around to pass the time. By the time the 10:10 start arrived I felt slightly tired both from the walking and not being able to sleep (two hours sleep). I waited in line for about 25 minutes to use a portable toilet. Desperate males (and one female with the help of two friends with towels) relieved themselves along a fence nearby. A Wadsworth Park official looked on without action.

Due to my expected time I started in the orange corral. I heard the cannon boom and a cheer erupt from ahead of me. I heard and then saw a large four-prop aircraft pass 150-feet above us. It took about five to ten minutes before we reached the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge start. During that time people ditched any clothing they had worn to the side. This sort of worked. I ended up stepping over large amounts of clothing. Some people liked a discarded piece and picked it up for themselves.

Running up the Verazanno-Narrows Bridge provides a breathtaking view of the Upper New York Bay. Below, municipal fire-fighting boats saluted runners by propelling water through all of their cannons. More males stopped to pee on the side of the bridge in front of everyone. Lovely.

Leaving Staten Island behind I came down off the Verazanno-Narrows Bridge and heard my first "New York loves you, Kevin!" cheer from the crowd. At that moment I realized this was going to be no ordinary race. The entire day I received 100% encouragement and support from the sidelines.

Running the first miles through Brooklyn didn't leave a big impression on me. Apparently I passed Fort Hamilton at mile two but I must have missed it. I do remember noticing the great diversity of ethnicities as I ran miles three to seven. This straight stretch also shows the Manhattan skyline looming ahead. At mile six I passed the Al-Noor Day School.

At mile eight the course turns and the crowd roars. Running through mile nine the crowd turned predominantly African-American.

Running through mile ten I encountered my first Hasidic Judaic neighborhood. The people were conservatively dressed and quiet. I received no cheers and the streets seemed mostly empty.

Around mile 10 I realized I felt tired. In reaction to that I felt anxious. To come all this way and not finish under six hours? I knew based on my pace and the course that my time might be in the six hour range. I met Dawn just past mile 11 and we hugged and kissed. It was like coming in for a pit stop to get refreshed. We made plans to see each other again at mile 17.

Nothing else captured my imagination until the halfway point. This was the course's second major climb; the Pulaski Bridge leading out of Brooklyn into Queens. I remember climbing this bridge because I passed so many walkers.

At mile 15 I ran across the Queensboro Bridge. This represented the second largest incline of the race. It seemed to go on forever. I remember someone carrying the flag of Puerto Rico and wearing a uniform with epaulettes.

After the isolation from the crowds going over the Queensboro Bridge I felt overwhelmed at the wall of people and the cheers as I entered Manhattan's First Avenue. Incredible energy.

The energy continued for two miles as the packed crowds cheered on both sides of the wide streets. I realized as I reached mile 17 that Dawn and I had miscalculated in our naivety and not planned for which side to meet each other on. Dawn later reported she saw me only after I had passed and that she stood on the opposite side of the five-lane street. At mile 18 I remember stepping on a number of Spongebob Squarepants sponges with the phrase "Best Day Ever" on them. Cute.

During mile 19 I remember giving up the three-minutes running and one-minute walking routine. I think I overextended myself during the energy rush of running down First Avenue. I realized the downside of wearing a "Kevin *heart* NYC" shirt is that everyone wants to cheer you on and says, "Don't stop now Kevin." Runners guilt, hee hee. I'd be running along and my watch would beep indicating time to take a break, and people would switch from cheering to encouragement. The nice thing about leaving the 3-1 running/walking ratio is that I run faster during the minute I run and I enjoy the race more. The downside is that I slow down considerably.

At mile 20 which is when we crossed the Willis Avenue Bridge out of Manhattan into the Bronx. The rest during mile 19 allowed me to power over this bridge in my one-minute bursts relatively easily. I ran past a number of people walking their way up the bridge. I loved meeting the Bronx spectators. A number of DJ's with portable amplifiers welcomed us. Other locals cheered us on. The Bronx only has one mile of the marathon but they cheered us on more than in Queens and Staten Island.

Mile 21 meant crossing back into Manhattan via the Madison Avenue Bridge. I remember running down it and feeling good. Downhill good.

The next several miles ran through the eastern parts of Harlem and I enjoyed the local sights. Dawn and I had visited Harlem earlier in our trip to find the only IHOP in Manhattan.

Mile 23 meant finally getting into Central Park and the end of the race. I was really tired by this point but kept on going as long as I felt comfortable. I tried one or two different running combinations but ended up sticking with the three-minutes walking one-minute running combination.

At mile 25 we hit the end of Central Park and turned west. I remember running pretty solidly during this point, stopping maybe every half-mile. The number of people and energy of the crowd running through the final two miles is incredible. I felt overwhelmed at the number of people yelling "Hey Kevin" and other such things. Running through the corral to the finish line with skyscrapers towering above and people on both sides was something I'll never forget.

At the finish line I remember crossing and seeing my time and feeling relief. I received my finishers medal and heat shield, removed the chip from my shoe, and began walking toward my checked baggage van. My feelings of excitement quickly turned to disgust as I realized that my truck, #79, was literally 79 UPS trucks away. x_x The air was cold and I felt confused about which way to go. Do I meet Dawn first? Do I get my baggage first? Where's the bathroom? I felt disappointment with how the marathon handles the meeting area. After about a mile walk to the baggage truck, the two helpful baggage handlers loaded bottles of water and juice and food into my goody bag. The bag was so heavy I had to stop and dump all the liquids so I felt comfortable carrying it. I stumbled out to Central Park West and noticed that the my surname letter was about another three blocks south.

And there I met Dawn, tired, hungry, exhausted, disappointed, from holding the sign we made all day long. We sat on a bench and held each other for a number of minutes, happy to be together once again. I took two of the Tylenol 8-Hour pills and then we made our way to a subway station and back to the hotel.

Isms: Understanding Architecture

Another book I want but might never find time to read: Isms: Understanding Architecture, by Jeremy Melvin, ISBN 0789313804. I saw this in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store in the Houston Airport on Monday.

Pasta Recipes

Mmm: http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/schedule/barillarecipes.php

Want to try when I get home.

7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards

Arriving at the NW corner of 31st and 7th to wait for a shuttle bus Dawn and I encountered a crowd overflowing the curb waiting for the 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards (Wikipedia) at Madison Square Garden. The police had shut down 31st between 7th and 8th to allow access to arriving talent. A girl handing out flyers promised a chance to win a trip to Puerto Rico if people attended the event, mentioning Shakira by name. I dared Dawn to ask the girl, "Who's Shakira?" :)

We watched opaque-windowed vehicles push through the expectant crowd before giving up and walking the four (long) blocks to the expo.

Food Me More and Ing Ing

Dawn wanted food this morning so she kneaded my shoulder and said, "Food, food." As I lay there half-asleep I replied, "That feels good; food me more."

Another one I came up with this evening at the ING NYC Marathon Expo was "ING ING" — the noise a bike bell makes. Fun.

NYC Marathon Trivia — Schultz Surname

This year 23 people with the Schultz surname entered the NYC Marathon lottery. The lottery picked 10 of us to run and rejected 13. Five canceled. Two come from Germany — Tuttlingen and Oberursel. Surprisingly (to me) a John Schultz from Sacramento canceled.

Link: http://www.nycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/entrantdb.php

Seems they scrubbed the names of those the lottery did not pick sometime earlier today.

Running Journal, Tuesday, 2006-10-31

Running Journal, Tuesday, 2006-10-31
Resting heart rate: n/a (forgot)
Weather: sunny, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 17 C (62.6 F)
Time: 15:00-15:45
Terrain: mild hills
Comments: Penultimate maintenance run before the NYC marathon. Witches walked up and down Mariposa Avenue today. Noticed a didgeridoo advertisement on a license-plate frame reading, "Didgeridoo: drumsum.com." As I walked back to my home a chocolate-colored dog barked at me though a fence. Anticipating where I intended to walk, the dog circled the house and poked it's face over the fence with additional barks. Fun. Another unleashed, heavy-set white dog with brown spots barked loudly and ran across a fenceless front lawn toward me. It stopped at the street. I encountered a stream of children leaving the Skycrest Elementary School today. The multitude of cars, people, and buses forced me to stay extra alert. Weather is beautiful. Forgot my sunblock again. x_x Ugh. I'm going to turn into a raisin if I keep this up.
Time: 45 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=521107
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 81.0 kg, 26% body fat.
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None. Toe black and blue but no discomfort.
Foods eaten today: pancakes and maple syrup, home fries

Getting to the NYC Marathon Start

I am tentatively choosing to take public transportation to the marathon start. Dawn and I plan to take a trial-run of this system the day before the race:

1. Walk 0.5 mi to PATH Pavonia/Newport Station (15 minutes)
2. Journal Square-33rd Street line (yellow line) to Christopher Street PATH Station (14 minutes) Every 30 minutes from 2:50-6:45 (2:50, 3:20, 3:50, and so forth)
3. Walk two blocks to IRT Christopher Street-Sheridan Square Station (10 minutes?)
4. 1-2-3 (#1 red train) to South Ferry Station (~15 minutes) Every 20 minutes until 10:00 (approximately 4:08, 4:28, 5:08, and so forth)
5. Walk to South Ferry Terminal (5 minutes?)
6. NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry to St. George Ferry Terminal (25 minutes) Every 60 minutes (5:30, 6:30, and so forth)
   
7. MTA bus S51 to South Beach stop (17 minutes) Every 30 minutes after 5:00 (5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and so forth)
8. Walk two blocks to marathon staging area (5 minutes)

Approximate time: 106 minutes (1:46), so roughly 2-2:30 hours I'm guessing depending on business, lateness, waiting, and so forth. Used the Sunday timetables for calculations.

Official MTA marathon viewing PDF.

I *heart* efficient public transportation.

UPDATE: MTA Service advisories due to marathon? due to ongoing construction. x_x What we'll probably do instead is take PATH to the 23rd Street PATH station and walk 0.4 mi from Avenue of the Americas to the 23rd Street Station at Park Avenue South. From there we take the 4-5-6 (#4 green train) to Bowling Green and walk to the South Ferry Terminal.

UPDATE #2: The PDF of the subway map shows how PATH trains intersect with the subways. So instead I think we'll take PATH to the 14th Street PATH Station, hop on the B-D-F-V (F orange line) to the Broadway-Lafayette Street Station, then transfer to the 4-5-6 (#4 green train) to Bowling Green and walk to the South Ferry Terminal.

UPDATE #3: This seems easier: PATH Pavonia-Newport to PATH World Trade Center Station. Walk 0.3 mi to Rector Street Station and take shuttle buses to South Ferry Station.

1. Walk 0.5 mi to PATH Pavonia/Newport Station (15 minutes)
2. Journal Square-33rd Street line (yellow line) to PATH Grove Station (3 minutes; runs every 30 minutes until 07:12; 01:01, 01:31, 02:01, and so forth)
   
3. Newark-World Trade Center (red line) to World Trade Center Station ( 7 minutes; runs every 30 minutes until 07:00; 03:15, 03:45, 04:15, and so forth)
4. Walk 0.3 mi to Rector Street Station (15 minutes)
   
5. Shuttle buses to South Ferry Station (30 minutes?)
   
6. Walk to South Ferry Terminal (5 minutes?)
7. NYCDOT Staten Island Ferry to St. George Ferry Terminal (25 minutes) Begins boarding at 5:00 a.m. and every half hour between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.
   
8. MTA bus S51 to South Beach stop (17 minutes) Every 30 minutes after 5:00 (5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and so forth)
9. Walk two blocks to marathon staging area (5 minutes)

Based on a quick check it appears about a four to five hour trip to the start from Jersey City given the early Sunday service frequency. Dawn and I will test this on Saturday.

I *heart* redundant public transportation.

Kevin *heart* NYC

Feel the love:

Thanks Paul, Mynga, and Jennifer for sharing the idea and Dawny for stenciling, the heart, and sharing the fumes.

Running With Lance

Lance Armstrong chose to run the NYC Marathon this year for the first time. They're setting up a special LanceCam.

NYC — A Running Itinerary

Guggenheim
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island
Central Park
Empire State Building
Natural History Museum
Top of The Rock -- 70th floor of the Rockefeller building -- completely clear view
Broadway show -- get rush tickets (cash only) at a TCKTS booth in Times Square
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Junior's Cafe -- cheesecake
Teany — Moby's tea house and vegan restaurant. Note: cash-only establishment run by his wife Kelly.

New Jersey and NYC — Lodging

We chose to stay just outside Manhattan. The Holland Motor Lodge seems to offer what we want — reasonable rates (~$91 before AAA discount), clean rooms, easy access to public transportation, quiet, and most important, consistent, glowing praise. They also have nice bonus amenities like free wifi and breakfast. ^_^

Searching for lodging within Manhattan represented a learning experience for me. TripAdvisor provided helpful insights, letting me know which hotels' rooms were not much bigger than the bed (literally), which ones had reliable hot showers, which ones had cockroaches, and which ones doubled as college overflow housing. It seems to me a general rule is that less than $100 in Manhattan means one will encounter some form of discomfort. A few exceptions do seem to exist. None had rooms available for all the nights we wanted due to the crush of people arriving for the marathon.

New Jersey -- Getting From Point A to Point B

Drafting our trip itinerary this evening for the NYC Marathon trip. First step — getting from Newark Liberty International Airport to the Holland Motor Lodge in Jersey City.

Holland Motor Lodge attendant Quentin told me the way to get to the lodge using public transportation was to take the #62 New Jersey Transit bus from EWR to Newark Penn Station ($1.25/ea), then take the PATH red-line train to Grove Street ($1.50/ea), then either 1) a cab to the lodge for $5, or 2) the PATH yellow-line train to Pavonia/Newport and hoof it the last half-mile. Total cost: $5.50-$11.50 (latter includes $1 tip). The confusion on our part is that the New Jersey Transit Bus #62 schedule prohibits luggage greater than 22"x16"x8". x_x Not sure if driver's enforce this restriction since the bus routinely stops at Newark Liberty Airport.

Taking a train to Newark Penn Station represents a way around the luggage restriction. Newark Liberty Airport's terminal-to-terminal AirTrain ends at the Newark Liberty Airport Train Station. From there the New Jersey Transit Train's blue-line or red-line ($9.50/ea) represents a six-minute trip to Newark Penn Station. Total cost: $22-$28 (latter includes $1 tip).

After some thought we've tentatively chosen an airport taxi. The $42 fare (includes 20% tip of $7) from airport to hotel is fixed-rate and sounds to us like money well-spent. Especially considering our 04:00 PST start time, 7.5 hours on a plane, and the prospect of lugging baggage through unfamiliar public transportation systems at night.

Other ground transportation options exist but the taxi comes out on top financially.

I'm curious to test New Jersey public transportation. Perhaps on the return trip from the lodge to the airport we might try it out.

Running Journal, Sunday, 2006-10-29

Running Journal, Sunday, 2006-10-29
Resting heart rate: 52 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: sunny, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 18 C (64.4 F)
Time: 08:20-10:20
Terrain: flat
Comments: Volunteered with the Cal-Trans Adopt-A-Highway program this morning. Tons of trash. I filled up six large bags. Looking much better!
Time: 120 minutes (2:00)
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: n/a
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.6 kg, 24% body fat.
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None
Foods eaten today: Multi-berry yogurt, orange juice, raisin-bran cereal

Leatherby's Discount Code

So I remember: PR35ST28

Four Bridges Half Marathon at Lake Natoma

Saw signs on my run today reading "Bike trail closed from Hazel Ave. to Folsom on Oct. 29 for special event." They don't list what the special event is though.

Internet sleuthing reveals it to be the Four Bridges Half Marathon 2006. Fun.

Running Journal, Saturday, 2006-10-28

Running Journal, Saturday, 2006-10-28
Resting heart rate: 56 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: sunny, 1 m/s wind
Temp: 25 C (77 F)
Time: 14:24-16:47
Terrain: mild hills
Comments: Probably will not use the cheap sunglasses I purchased during the NYC marathon itself because they left marks. I want a pair of nice sunglasses designed for athletic use but the prices of the Oakleys and others put me off. x_x Weather was beautiful for running — calm, balmy, and bright. Passed about 100 fishers attempting to catch the king salmon as they swim upriver to spawn and mate. Lots of people out on the trail today walking dogs, biking with their children, or enjoying the fall foliage. Dawn ran with me for 22 minutes then turned back while I continued. This represents my last long run before next Sundays marathon. Can't wait.
Time: 143 (2:23)
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 16.13 km (10 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=516280
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.8 kg, 26% body fat. Not understanding the increase in body fat. Hmm.
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Left big toe black and blue but not hurting. Concerned how this might affect the marathon next Sunday. The muscles behind my right knee felt a bit sore on the return run. I think I might attribute this to running on the uneven, rocky surface in locations to the west of the Nimbus Dam and Lake Natoma (Pioneer Express Trail). The cheap sunglasses I purchased bobbed up and down on my nose occassionally, leaving marks.
Foods eaten today: Multi-berry yogurt, orange juice, whole-wheat bagels with Smart Balance and cinnamon-sugar, raisin-bran cereal

Running Journal, Friday, 2006-10-27

Running Journal, Friday, 2006-10-27
Resting heart rate: bpm (60 second test)
Weather: sunny, 2 m/s wind
Temp: 23 C (73.4 F)
Time: 14:25
Terrain: n/a
Comments: Resting day today. New York City Marathon only eight and one-half days away. ^____^ Will run 10-12 miles tomorrow for my maintenance long run.
Time: n/a
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: n/a
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 80.8 kg, 27% body fat. Not understanding the increase in body fat. Hmm.
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Muscles mildly stiff but otherwise great.
Foods eaten today: Eggo multi-grain toaster waffles, maple syrup, multi-berry yogurt

The Monty Hall Problem

Fun:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_hall_problem

Simulation: http://mozy.com/blog/2006/09/11/probability-is-fun

The Prayer Cycle

For Dawny:

The Prayer Cycle

Running Journal, Thursday, 2006-10-26

Running Journal, Thursday, 2006-10-26
Resting heart rate: 71 bpm (60 second test)
Weather: sunny, 2 m/s wind (quite blustery)
Temp: 19 C (66.2 F)
Time: 15:00-16:15
Terrain: flat
Comments: Dawn and I walked at the American River Parkway, passing five wild turkeys before taking an access road to the power substation and then across a meadow to another wooded trail. I showed her the bees and where the hawk likes to perch. Everything was still again today, the reflection of the trees on the river quite pretty. After taking a trail north of the bike path, we happened along a family of California quail, a black cat, and a black-tailed deer. Walking back along the trail an Acorn Woodpecker greeted us on a branch just over our heads, dropping a twig with dark berries before flying to a higher perch. A late-afternoon walking day — calm, peaceful, the piles of fallen leaves and low river giving hints of the colder times ahead.
Time: 75 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 3.87 km (2.4 mi) http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=513727
Total Distance For Year: stopped counting after first marathon
Weight (after run): 82.8 kg, 27% body fat. This was after eating. Burp.
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: Muscles stiff
Foods eaten today: orange juice, bagel with cinnamon sugar and Smart Balance, soy milk and raisin-bran cereal, burritos, chips and Desert Pepper's Corn, Black Bean, and Roasted Red Pepper Salsa, and brownie.