Running Journal, Monday, 2010-11-29
Resting heart rate: 60 bpm (60 second test, 75 minutes after exercise)
Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.966 (kilograms/(meters^2))
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): 1,852 calories
Weather: clear chill
Temp: 4 C (39 F)
Time: 7:00-8:45 p.m.
Terrain: flat
Comments: Midnight blue skies overhead this evening, with a few stars shining through the luminous umbrella of city light. I can still smell smoke on my clothing from (presumably) wood burning stoves, even after coming indoors. My shoes felt damp from Saturday's rain-soaked run. This morning I met the first frost of the season; even in Sacramento an ice-scraper is occasionally necessary to clear the minimal frost from a vehicle. The cold continued into this evening. I think this is the coldest I have felt running outside, to date. In Gibbons Park a woman exited a vehicle by the north entrance and leap-frogged an anti-traffic barrier post. At the south end of the park, three youths sat at a picnic table, one of them attempting to convince the other, "No one can make you say anything you do not want to." Near Engle Road, an orange truck with a faux-California State Seal reading "Department of Redundancy Department" sat passively outside a home. I passed by Mira Loma High School, where a swimming coach (water acrobatics?) used amplification to boost her voice and the musical score for their current number, a sort of jazzy number. "Push your butt in the air on the third beat," I heard from across the football fields at the end of my run. Tonight I ran a bit faster than normal, and felt pretty good. My body seems recovered and stronger from Saturday's run, ready for more.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): ~4.0 miles (~6.44 km)
Weight: 78.6 kg (173.28 lbs), ?% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None
Foods eaten today: oatmeal + raisins, green tea (two cups), egg salad sandwich on potato bread, blueberries, raspberries, can of V-8, spinach salad with cherry tomatoes + feta cheese + shredded carrots + champagne-pear vinaigrette + croutons, milk, blackberries, smoothie, hard-boiled egg
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Potty Training Cats
I think every cat owner, upon hearing of the idea, at least momentarily considers the idea of toilet-training their pet:
- Time saved cleaning litter boxes
- Time saved sweeping tracked litter
- Money saved purchasing litter
However, horror stories abound. Reading through the one- and two-star reviews of products like Citi Kitty and Litter Kwitter remind owners real life often thwarts the best laid plans.
Still deciding for myself how to approach this issue, if at all.
Notes
- Moving litter box too quickly can cause cats to hold in their waste, leading to urinary tract infection and accidents (for example, bathroom floor, bathtub, and/or other rooms).
- Some cats may use it most of the time but not all the time (random #2 next to the toilet)
- Training multiple cats at a time represents a different challenge than a single cat, as each may have a different learning curve
- Some people recommend purchasing big turkey roasting pans and cutting holes in them as your cat progresses, ala The Toilet Trained Cat: "The premise of The Toilet Trained Cat is that you use an aluminum foil roasting pan within the toilet, and put a small hole in it. Unlike Litter Kwitter, you put the hole in the corner, not the center. Gradually, you increase the hole size until the cat needs to balance on the toilet while going in the litter/water. Further, the idea of this system is that the cat will eventually "miss", which means they will go in the toilet. Litter Kwitter assumes that a cat is immediately willing to go in the water and not the litter." (link)
- Removal of the last one or two rings seems to be the hardest stage
- Cats "falling in" to the toilet will set back the process...obviously
Commercial kits:
Litter Kwitter
Citi Kitty
Cat Seat
Links:
Make article on toilet training a cat: http://www.make-digital.com/make/vol20/?pg=146&pm=2&u1=friend#pg146
Toxoplasma Gondii and Sea Otter Deaths
Jotting down a few notes....
After reading up on the sad case of sea otter deaths linked to feline-transmitted parasite toxoplasma gondii:
- Not a problem for domestic indoor-only cats
- Feral and indoor/outdoor cats represent highest risk because of exposure to birds/rats/other animals carrying the parasite
- Even these cats seem to become immune to passing on the parasite more than once
California passed a law in 2006 requiring litter bags to warn users about flushing litter down the drain. Presumably, the intent was to prevent transmission of T. gondii. However, it seems to miss several points:
- Follow-up studies seem to have detected concentrations of T. gondii in storm water runoff, streams, and so forth, but not in sewage treatment plant runoff
- This seems to imply feral and indoor/outdoor cats account for the majority of the transmission, not domestic cats
- Litter bagged and shipped to landfills is eventually broken down and made available to carriers of the parasite
Links:
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Running Journal, Saturday, 2010-11-27: Post-Thanksgiving Recovery
Running Journal, Saturday, 2010-11-27
Resting heart rate: 70 bpm (60 second test, 45 minutes after exercise)
Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.91 (kilograms/(meters^2))
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): 1,852 calories
Weather: rain
Temp: 8 C (47 F)
Time: ~12:30-2:00 p.m.
Terrain: flat
Comments: Wet afternoon for running; bundled up in leggings, Under Armour core, Patagonia lightweight windbreaker and shorts. Brought with me, out of habit, a pen and paper with directions for today's run, lip balm, and identification. The rain pelted me and felt cold running from my head down my neck. I find running in rain both exhilarating and challenging: smells and sounds of the rain competes with avoidance of pooled water and (after a while) wet shoes. I saw a large white crane resting in a school's soccer field, presumably waiting for lunch to emerge from the water-clogged earth. Water gurgled and rushed into storm drains, an otherwise relaxing noise amidst the cool wind and rain. I prefer quiet streets and safe paths when possible; today's new route was a mix. The safety of smooth surfaces and low traffic allows me time to think rather than constantly focus my attention on traffic, pooled water, and uneven surfaces. Felt strong when I arrived at the end of the run; I chose six miles today as a starting point. Given the weather, I welcomed the end, even though I had another mile or two in me.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): 6.0 miles (~9.7 km)
Weight: 78.4 kg (172.8 lbs), ?% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None
Foods eaten today: oatmeal + raisins + banana, smoothie
Resting heart rate: 70 bpm (60 second test, 45 minutes after exercise)
Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.91 (kilograms/(meters^2))
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR): 1,852 calories
Weather: rain
Temp: 8 C (47 F)
Time: ~12:30-2:00 p.m.
Terrain: flat
Comments: Wet afternoon for running; bundled up in leggings, Under Armour core, Patagonia lightweight windbreaker and shorts. Brought with me, out of habit, a pen and paper with directions for today's run, lip balm, and identification. The rain pelted me and felt cold running from my head down my neck. I find running in rain both exhilarating and challenging: smells and sounds of the rain competes with avoidance of pooled water and (after a while) wet shoes. I saw a large white crane resting in a school's soccer field, presumably waiting for lunch to emerge from the water-clogged earth. Water gurgled and rushed into storm drains, an otherwise relaxing noise amidst the cool wind and rain. I prefer quiet streets and safe paths when possible; today's new route was a mix. The safety of smooth surfaces and low traffic allows me time to think rather than constantly focus my attention on traffic, pooled water, and uneven surfaces. Felt strong when I arrived at the end of the run; I chose six miles today as a starting point. Given the weather, I welcomed the end, even though I had another mile or two in me.
Goal Time: n/a
Distance (running): 6.0 miles (~9.7 km)
Weight: 78.4 kg (172.8 lbs), ?% body fat
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: None
Foods eaten today: oatmeal + raisins + banana, smoothie
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Random notes from past weeks
The time to live is now
Feral cats at Marconi Arcade light rail station
Curiosity + intelligence
August 2nd was Ice Cream Sandwich Day
Inverse world map
Has anyone given a credit card to a homeless person to track what they spend on?
How have people found their "voice"?
60-beat per minute music (ala http://www.musicintheclassroom.com/index.htm)
Chair for desk
Fixes for car: re-staple upholstery; fix cruise control
Hand lotion for car
Halloween Party 2011
Due to Lanna's illness, did not have time to do this; recording as a possibility for next year:
Minestrone soup
Entree: chicken/veal/sole/lamb/rabbit
antipasto or salad or veggie
dessert (torta di ricotta)
Possibly decorate pumpkins
Tung Oil
Another house-keeping blog post, this time the schedule to apply tung-oil to our kitchen island:
Once/week for 1-2 months
Once/month for six months, after
Once/year, after
Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Costs
Reviewing costs associated with our Aug 6-16 2010 trip to Ashland, Oregon to see the Oregon Shakespeare Company's plays:
Total: ~$1,171
Fuel: $140
Shopping: $60 (sweater) + $10 (book) + $12.00 (Crater Lake)
Food: $9 (coffee shops) + $260 (Ashland Co-Op Grocery) + $216 (Restaurant)
Lodging: $95 (Glenyan campground)
Tickets: $370 ($60 two-year membership + seven plays @ 2 * $20/play, + three pre-play orientations @ 2 * $5/each)
Radio Songs
Heard over the past few weeks:
Doylestown, Pennsylvania-born Pink's "Raise Your Glass" from her 2010 album "Greatest Hits...So Far!!!" on the LaFace label. Video. "Wrong in all the right ways...."
Derry, Northern Ireland-born Phil Coulter's "An Cail N Fionn (Natasha)" from his 1997 collaboration with James Galway on their album "Legends" on the RCA Victor label. Audio.
Hamburg, Germany-born Felix Mendelssohn's "Hebrides Overture in B minor Opus 26" performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, Claudio Abbado conducting, on the Deutsche Grammophon label (#423104). Audio.
Michael Kamen's "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves: Main Title", performed by the Cincinnati Pops orchestra, Erich Kunzel conducting, on the TelArc label (#80342). Audio.
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy-born Giacomo Puccini's "Gianni Schicci: O Mio Babbino Caro", performed by the Cincinnati Pops orchestra, Erich Kunzel conducting, on the TelArc label (#80260). Audio.
Brittany, France-born Guillaume Yann Tiersen's "La valse d'Amélie (Original version)" from his 2001 soundtrack album "Amélie" on the EMI label (#62514). Audio.
Żelazowa Wola, Poland-born Frédéric Chopin's "Piano Concerto #1 In e minor, Op. 11", performed by the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, with primary soloist Garrick Ohlsson, Kazimierz Kord conducting, on the Arabesque label (#6702). Video.
Paris, France-born Alexandre Desplat's "The Meadow'' from the soundtrack to the 2009 movie "Twilight: New Moon" on the BSX Records label. Audio.
Glendale, California-born Paul Cantelon's "Finale" from the 2008 album "The Other Boleyn Girl: Original Soundtrack", performed by the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Paul Cantelon conducting, on the Varese Sarabande label. Audio.
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy-born Giacomo Puccini's "Gianni Schicci: O Mio Babbino Caro", performed by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with primary soloist Joshua Bell, Michael Stern conducting, on the Sony label (#87894). Audio.
Los Angeles, California-born Thomas Newman's "Route" from the soundtrack to the 2008 film "Revolutionary Road" from on the NoneSuch label (#517387). Audio.
Halle, Brandenburg-Prussia-born George Frederick Handel's "Water Music: Dances" performed by the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan conducting, on the HARMONIA MUNDI label (#907010). Audio.
Arcachon, France-born Carlos Salzedo's "Rumba" from his 1943 "Suite of Eight Dances". Video.
Saint Petersburg, Russia-born Dmitri Shostakovich's "Jazz Suite #2", performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly conducting, on the Decca label (#470 933). Audio.
Vienna, Austria-born Fritz Kreisler's "Tambourin Chinois", performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, with primary soloist Robert McDuffie, Erich Kurzel conducting, on the TelArc label (#80402). Video (w/Joshua Bell).
Venice, Republic of Venice-born Tomasso Albinoni's "Adagio in g minor", featuring a bluesy-take by Chris Botti, trumpet / Dave Grusin, keyboards / Lee Ritenour, guitar, on the Decca label (#001100502). Audio (not the one I heard on KDFC).
Bronx, New York-born Jay Ungar's "Ashokan Farewell" featuring James Galway on flute, on the RCA label (#742201). Audio.
Vienna, Austria-born Franz Schubert's "Piano Quintet in A, D.667 "Trout"", with soloists Braley/Capucon/Capucon/Causse/Posch, on the Virgin label (#45563). Audio (not the version heard on KDFC).
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy-born Giacomo Puccini's "La Boheme: Sono andati?" featuring John Bayless, piano, on the Angel label (#79214). Audio.
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", performed by the Time for Three orchestra, on the Koch label (#2035). Audio.
Craig Armstrong's and AR Rahman's "Opening", featuring Catherine Bott (Soprano), Clio Gould (Violin), from the soundtrack to the 2007 film "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" on the Decca label (#B0009829). Audio. Not sure if this was the specific song heard....
Ħamrun, Malta-born Charles Camilleri's "Concertino #1 for Clarinet and Strings" performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, featuring David Campbell on clarinet, Julian Clayton conducting, on the ASV label (#426392). Audio.
Hamburg, Germany-born Felix Mendelssohn's "Octet in E-Flat, Op.20" performed by the Emerson String Quartet, on the DG label (#B0003888). Audio.
Kitchen Organization
Via our neighbor Lanna, based on IKEA zones of the kitchen:
- "Marketing"
- Prep
- Cooking
- Washing
- Dining
- Comfort Zone