Results, Poll #62, #63 and #64, the mash up.

Now that the polls have closed, we can have a big poll results party.
I hope you've brought an appropriate gift for the party's host...


#62, Cell Carriers:
Verizon - 4 (28%)
AT&T - 7 (50%)
Sprint - 2 (14%)
T-Mobile - 1 (7%)
Pay-as-I-go - 0
Other - 0
Uhh, cell carrier? - 0


Interesting, perhaps the iPhone has had an effect. I think they for sure have the most expensive monthly contracts. I, for one, am getting a little tired of it, even though I do find the iPhone helpful, at times, aggravating at others... mostly when I'm paying my monthly bill or when I have to delete and reload all the apps I use (this has happened at least 4 times).


#63, Economy help with Holiday Shopping:
Yes, I did all my shopping beforehand - 3 (23%)
Somewhat, I did some shopping - 4 (30%)
Somewhat +, I did some beforehand and lots for myself at aftersales - 4 (30%)
Bah humbug! - 2 (15%)


Wow, hope I'm not on the Bah Humbug's lists! And I have to say, there maybe nothing better than getting a deal/steal. Something about increasing the perceived value of an item simply by paying less. Forget the fact if you need it or not, right?


#64, NYE:
1, Just my house - 7 (63%)
2-4, I had some fun - 4 (36%)
5-7, I had too much fun - 0
???, Still don't know how I woke up where I did - 0


Double wow, the t.c readership seems to be downright adult-like. Didn't anyone light their hair on fire or makeout and wake up with a "#1"? Seems like an opportunity missed, no? Perhaps more like a bullet dodged. And I also don't feel so bad for being part of the first choice. Of course, no one was there with me, but still, I feel better.


Thanks for all the responses. I'm working on more polls... One up now!!!

[repost] Lindt Excellence, Dark w/ Sea Salt

Since it is St. Valentime's Day (yes, with an 'm'), I thought I would repost this one. It was originally sent to my blog from my email, but all the text was cut off. Boooo, Blogger.

But now, I can wax poetic about this delicious and deliciously cheap chocolate bar. For one, it's dark chocolate. There's tons of stories about this being the healthy chocolate choice, and I for one feel much healthier after chowing an entire bar of the stuff. Second, it's from Walgreens. Who doesn't have a Walgreens (or similar 'highend' store) near them?. Thirdly, it's about $3. Now if you don't have $3 for that special someone, you should quit while you're ahead. And finally, this tastes great! It was a wonderfully rich dark chocolate flavor, with a hint of salt that hits as the flavor finishes on your palette. Who doesn't like the one-two punch of salty-sweet?

Fancy Easy Saturday Lunch

I don't know if it's all the PBS cooking shows on Saturday or the fact that I have lots of time, but once in a while I'll make a little fancier lunch. This is a good one I've come up with - TJs whole wheat naan (great for 'open face'), TJs crunchy peanut butter, soy cream cheese (oh please, just try it!), honey from the little bear, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Together it all works very well. And the apple helps cut the stickiness/sweetness, as needed. Try it. Make it for the kids. Heck, have the kids make it for you.

Myers-Briggs Personality Test.

Have you heard of this test before? Have you taken it before? Well take it again and put your four letter code in a comment on this post. It'll be fun. Do it. Then see if the results match what you think/know about yourself. You might be surprised.

Goto here.

Randamsterdam.

Look out!!! Coming at you!!!


Can you see the legs hanging off the back of my bike? Wait for it....


Some random, yet maybe not so random shots of the trip to Amsterdam.

Don't show the kids this one. No helmet, only one working headlight, friend's life on the back rack, 3am, beer-fueled, and freezing my heinie off... which only makes you go faster. And this is a common occurrence in this city (and I suspect many others in Europe). Not to mention, the pic is taken from another bike, with another boy & girl, who also have been "enjoying the nightlife of A'dam". Good times.


You may want to stock up for the flight home. You know you're going to be crying on the plane. The chocolate will make you feel better, just like in Harry Potter... and maybe it'll be playing on the plane's movies too.


This is a 2 meter sculpture in Schiphol airport that changes colors. They have about 6 of them in one of the terminals, all with different faces and all with changing lights. Kind of cool, and a bit scary to see when getting out of a "can" after 8 hours in the air.

This isn't the last one... waiting on some more pics.

Mud = Cyclocross.

One of the main draws for traveling to the Netherlands, besides seeing old friends and meeting new ones, was to attend a cyclocross race in a southern Dutch town called Hoogerheide. (here's a quick video on cyclocross). I can sort of pronounce this city name in Dutch, but only if I'm half in the bag... yes yes, which is most of the time.


We awoke to some snow in the town I was now staying in, Nijkerk (pronounced "Knee-kirk", just like Kirk Cameron). I also found out, for the Dutch, this is alot of snow. It's merely a dusting for a Minnesotan, but for a drive to the southern part of the country, we needed to be prepared for the racing action.


No snow to speak of down south, so it was time to break out the Wellies. I was lucky enough to borrow some thick socks and these perfectly suitable green badboys. (I only packed one bag, no room for Wellies).


Next, keep your hands warm with the Dutch hand warmer. Yes, Doris, that is mayo on the fries (or as they say, "frites"). No before you complain about mayo on the fries, try it first. This mayo has a hint of lemon and is not the consistency of American mayo. It was delicious, warm, and my lunch.


Finally, toss in an Umpah band, a large mobile TV screen, a few thousand Dutch and Belgians (only 4km from Belgium) and you have the makings of a race. Where's the bikes!?!

Ah-ha!








As I said, this was my first UCI World Cup Cyclocross event. It was awesome. The crowd was great (not too big, not too small... and not too drunk), the racing was superb, and the day couldn't have gone much better.

The 1.5 hour drive back (a real roadtrip in Europe) was spent talking about the warming of extremities, what we could snack on, and how much cold body parts hurt near the end of the day. I think it was perfect.

A View of Amsterdam.

Don't let the pot-rep fool you, this place is sweet!

So, for those not in the know, I took a short trip to the Netherlands last weekend (I had miles, I didn't pay for hotels, it was a VERY cheap trip - I won't even tell you how cheap). This is also why everyone that I met looked at me funny for staying only 3 days. They were like, "Wha???!!!", but then I told them why it was so short.

Anyways, the first day and a half was spent in Amsterdam. I though it might be nice to toss up some quick pics of a very cute city.

First, get a lay of the land from the place your staying. Due to a wonderful friend and host, I lucked into a 4th and 5th floor condo on the first night's stay. I did have to help pumping up an air mattress by hand, drink my share of beer, and ride a young lady around the city on the back of a bike... but hey, it's a small price to pay and I was glad to oblige.

Westerly


Easterly

Then, a trip through the city to the "Jordaan" through one of their bigger parks, called the "Vondelpark"


They have a large park with large houses all along the outer ring. It was something to see alright


Hurry, the light's fading fast (at about 4:30-5pm)


Catch this canal shot before the sun sets


And one more for good measure. The city has many many many canals b/c they used them to move goods from the harbor into the warehouses that stored/owned the goods. It makes alot of sense to me


So this is a shot from the bar we stopped in about when we arrived. Not to full... just wait.


Fuel up with some raw "ox" sausage and some good ole liverwurst. This is not the kind Oscar Mayer makes, a bit of a step up. We also had some Pringles (limited selection in this little nook), but they tasted great with the meat selection.


Wash down the vittles with some local brew, which in Amsterdam happens to be Heineken. And is that a ghost in the picture? Woooo-ooooohhhh!!!!


Here's our guy again... lots more people, and still only one bartender, handling it all like nothing's doin'


And finally, a shot of the swans hanging out in the RedLight district. Now whatever you've heard about the RedLight is probably true. I've not ever seen anything like it... but it's also kind of like an outdoor strip club. Makes you feel a little dirty and, at least for me, I just want to get out.

As a sidenote, the pot thing has never seemed to influence much about the city for me. I think of the city as very normal, hardworking, and just the right amount of design and Euro-flair. I like the place a lot.