Quick Update: 2009 So Far…
Happy 2009! – hiking in CRSP
From a photo by CC/Joe
I felt the need to spew out a quick status report, so here goes.
I’m still contracting at ShoreTel. My latest-of-many contract extensions runs through the end of March.
I’ve had some good hikes in the past three weeks… Although all were on the short side, in the 4-7 mile range. I hiked a loop in Almaden Quicksilver with Joe and Fizzy soon after we returned from Oregon, then Allison and I did about a 4-miler through foggy Santa Teresa park with about 20 geocachers. Then there was a cool hike through Castle Rock State Park with Joe, Antony, Laurent, Calipidder and Drunken Marmot. It had been a while since I’d hiked that park and it’s always been a favorite of mine.
Allison on Rocky Ridge trail in STP
The GBA had the Venona final Activity event last weekend and we probably had around a hundred people show up, and as always much fun was had by all. More than one person told me that they thought that this year’s ACTIVITIES were the best ever. Geocachers from outside the area always say how envious they are that we have an annual set of challenges like this. This year those who had contributed to the solving of the challenges received a special geocoin to commemorate their efforts.
In December, our old TV died after about 13 years, which I suppose isn’t bad for something that only cost about $400. I was able to identify a stellar deal on a medium-size Samsung plasma HDTV, so we bit the bullet and bought it as the big family Christmas present to ourselves. (We only got Allison a few other small gifts, and Carrie and I didn’t get anything else for each other.)
One side effect of finally joining the 21st century television-wise is that I’ve watched more movies (in HD of course) in the last month than I probably have in the last two years. Some I’d seen before but others were new. I’ve seen The Mummy Returns (again), part of one of those Bourne movies, Star Trek: Nemesis, The Illusionist, Hellboy II, and I think another one or two I am forgetting.
Getting the correct setup of the TV, DVD recorder, Cable box/DVR, Xbox, etc. was a pain in the rear. So much so that I still haven’t hooked up the all-region PAL/NTSC DVD player into the mix again. It also required some research into the mysteries of HDMI, 720p/1080i, Blu-Ray, upconversion, and other matters A/V. This stuff is way more complicated than it should be, although I seemed to have derived some sort of unnatural satisfaction from reaearching it all. It’s probably a Guy Thing.
Naturally, after I decided that a reasonably-priced, upconverting, all-region Blu-Ray DVD recorder was just what I needed to simplify matters, I discovered that such a thing does not in fact exist. And if it did, it would cost more than a solid gold Ferrari. So I plan to replace my existing (and generally-despised) Samsung DVD/VHS recorder with a new Toshiba upconverting DVD recorder. When I can afford it, anyway.
Sunday the weather here was so nice (in the 70s… in January!) that we took a nice family drive to Pescadero. It was a beautiful day. We returned with a couple of loaves of Arcangeli’s famous garlic artichoke bread, still warm from the oven as always, although one got somewhat eaten on the way home. I also bought an artsy ceramic light switch plate from one of the funky gallery/stores I like.
A gorgeous January day in Pescadero
I’m scheduled for another hike this weekend, but may have to bail out in the face of other stuff that needs doing. We’ll see…. It would get me away from the TV!
That’s about all I can remember right now. If I forgot anything good I’ll add it later. I do have two or three other posts planned, so we’ll see when I can get those done.