Does the Internet mean we have more time to bake bread?

Posted by random olio

We can complain about the Internet and how little privacy we have, and how much it sucks our time each day, but over the weekend I had another view. As I was preparing mentally for the half marathon I ran on Sunday, I did some online searching about what to eat the morning of the race, what to wear, what to expect afterwards, etc.

The thought crossed my mind about how easy it was for me to find information that I needed in a fairly quick timeframe. Now, I do not know how accurate the information is, but I had plenty of it to sift through. What would I have done 15 years ago?

Called many friends or acquaintances and asked about their experience (takes much more time than the Internet)
Gone to the library and taken out a few books or encyclopedia on the subject (even more time)
Consulted a running store, or found a local expert (time depends on how knowledgeable and accessible each are to me)

While we complain about how we spend too much time online, I wonder if we are actually smarter and if there are times when we save time. We do not have to wait long for answers to our questions or leave our homes. We can attain specific information without much effort, allowing us to spend more time making bread or whatever we deem important in life.

What do you think?

Friends, Cribbage, and a Phone #?

Posted by random olio

Last week, I met a friend at a local bar to hang out and play Cribbage. Yes, you heard me right, Cribbage. Do you know the game? My father taught me when I was in elementary school. I wanted to learn so that I could play with him. Knowing how to play his favorite games meant that was more time I could spend with him, which as I remember was not too often. There are a few activities you could do 1:1 with him. Circle word puzzles and cribbage were top on his list. Over the years I would play here and there and after a long stint of not playing I would have to refresh my memory. Somehow it is like riding a bike, it always comes back to me.

handmade cribbage board

Which is why I was happily surprised when two different waiters and a bartender walked by our table outside (thank you Portland heat lamps) and asked about our Cribbage game. They actually knew what we were playing. They even commented on my beautiful Cribbage board (purchased at the Portland Saturday Market). What is it about the game of Cribbage that piques the interest of others? One waiter mentioned watching his grandfather and father playing on the beach. He said he had a very specific image in his head, stated to us with a smile on his face.

I would like to tell you that we finished our game and I kicked my friend’s butt, but we never finished our game. Instead we talked about life, love, and included a few 15, 2 and 15, 4’s in the mix. (Savvy Cribbage players will understand).

Word to the wise, for those of you looking for a date. If you live in Portland, bring along a Cribbage board. The three men that stopped us were not to shabby (don’t worry I told Chris). I think a deck of cards, some pegs, and a nice handmade board might be just the way to get an extra wink and maybe a phone number.

#cribbagelove

Sadness, shock, and absolute love for Beantown

Posted by random olio

Flabbergasted. Shocked. Saddened. I lived in Boston for a few years. I worked just 2 blocks away from the Boston Marathon Finish Line. I watched the race numerous times very close to the Finish Line.

I know there is a lot of media surrounding the events, and that some individuals might say that at the moment only 3 people have died, but one is an eight year old child. Maybe this specific incident affects me because Boston is in my heart, and what is strange is that there was a shooting in a local mall a few months ago, that was in my backyard, and yet this Boston bombing is tougher for me to digest.

Iconic. That is why I am impacted. The Boston Marathon has been around since 1897. Wikipedia stated: “The event attracts 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England’s most widely viewed sporting event.” It is an event that happens each year on Patriot’s Day. For those of you that are not from Boston and do not know about Patriot’s Day, it is holiday that commemorates the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Most of the state shuts down. When I lived in Boston, it was a welcome holiday in the middle of spring, but also it was great because we had an excuse to be out of work and watch the Boston Marathon right in our back yard.

Why does this bombing bother me so much? Fear. These types of events that leave people more fearful is just what the individual(s) want us to feel. I am saddened that the next time a runner prepares for a race they will think: is it safe? I am saddened that next year’s Boston Marathon will be different. I am not sure how they would ever be able to secure the area to make it safe for future races (too many entry points along the Marathon course). Will that mean less will attend? Less will run?

Lastly be sure to read this Washington Post article titled: “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon” by Ezra Klein who starts the article with how his wife has been training for a marathon. He starts out and says:

“There’s no reason for her to do it. There’s no competition or payoff or award. It’s just a quiet, solitary triumph over the idea that she couldn’t do it, and it all happens before I even wake up.

He ends his article with this:

“This won’t be the last time we gather at the finish line to marvel how much more we can take than anyone ever thought possible.”

After running my first half marathon on Sunday, I do know that at the heart of this runners will come together. Regardless of the way the media sensationalizes what happens, Americans will stand strong and our hearts go out to each and everyone impacted yesterday.

#lovemyBeantown

My first half marathon

Posted by random olio

At the 9th mile

Yesterday I ran my first half marathon! I cannot believe I am actually saying this, but I enjoyed it. I was a bit emotional at the start line because my stomach was not agreeing with me. I was worried about that, as I do not usually run so early in the morning, but once I got started I was fine. There was a slight drizzle, and a cold 42 degrees, but as the minutes passed, the rain chilled out. I was definitely grateful for my Nike running jacket, to keep the moisture away and keep me warm.

stopped train…

The strange part about the race? Trains. Yes, trains. About 1/4 of the way through the race, all runners were stopped. We had to wait at least 10 minutes to wait for a cargo train that was STOPPED on the tracks. You know what it is like when you are in a car waiting at the train tracks for a train to move, then when it does it starts going slowly. Except it was freezing, drizzling, and we had just started our race. It was a bit unbelievable.

After passing the Finish Line. #pooped

They have yet to post the times of the race. They said they would fix our times due to the train that stopped the race, so it is taking them longer. The clock said 2:02 when I crossed the Finish Line, so I believe my time was just over 1 hour and 50 minutes with the adjusted train time.

What would I do differently next time? Set up a play list so I would not have to scroll through Spotify on my iPhone while running.

#whatraceisnext?

Human Microcosm: Jury Duty

Posted by random olio

I spent yesterday in Jury Duty. It is such an interesting human experiment to see the different types of individuals that live in your county. You witness a mixture of age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic ranges, not to mention differing degrees of education. Somehow I have been to jury duty at least four times in the last ten years, yet my husband has been once. How is that even possible? They told us yesterday that selection is completely random, and that you can only serve every two years. I feel like they summon me the day after my two-year mark renews.

Jury Duty fascinates me for a few reasons. First, I love to people watch, and am always curious how individuals are going to react in different situations. During college I debated about going to law school, and while that never happened, jury duty is my closest connection to a courtroom. Lastly, I believe that as Americans there are very few things we are asked to do as citizens, and jury duty is one of them. If I was ever in a trial by jury, I would want to know that I was having a fair trial, and so I feel that it is my responsibility to do the same if I was ever selected for a jury panel.

The verdict from my day at jury duty? After many hours of sitting, plus a horrible video about the judicial system in my county, I was selected as the third individual on a panel for a criminal theft case. I was sitting front row, center. Each lawyer asked us quite a few questions, and based on the answers it showed clearly that many of us had a vague understanding of law, probable cause, etc. In the end, I was the third juror to be allowed to go home. We never find out why we are not selected, but my assumption is that my passionate answer to one of their questions threw me out of the running. Many times people try to get out of jury duty, but due to my increased curiosity that was not my intent.

The jury room coordinator was right when she told us that you start the day with the extreme desire to leave and go about your life, but that once you are in a courtroom that desire vanishes and you find that you want to know more. It was bittersweet for me. It was nice to know I would not have to stay late into the evening (they warned us this case would either go late, or resume again today), but once you are engaged in the process there is a craving to know more. In the end, I can only hope they found the right jurors for the case.

I am free of my civic duty for another two years, so if my streak continues I will be back at the courthouse on April 13, 2015.

Do you have any jury duty experiences to share?