Date: 2009-03-03
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Miles today: 0.0

Happy Square Root day.Again, it's been a while since I last updated. Lots happening here at the work front.   We are winding down operations. Each week more and more people go out the door.My team is down to 2 people plus myself. We are really busy, but it is slowing down. My termination date has been moved up. My original date was 4/17, but now it is 4/4. I actually suggested it be moved up because once we shut our mainframe off - there is not much for me to do or my team. Losing 2 weeks pay is not fun, but neither is sitting around doing whatever they can come up with. So, I will do without the pay. I will have enough to do at home.My hiking partner (birdsong) and I are going to each sit down and do a maildrop and hiking plan. And, then we will compare. I know that people say just wing it, but I am not the just wing it kind of person. Plus, I will need to get some drops with my contacts and solution.   I found a store that sells the 2oz bottles and have stocked up on them. The 2oz bottles work out pretty well.Both of us did plans for our original hikes - it really is a matter of modifying them slightly to the new timeframe and new mileage. I hope to sit down this week and get started.While hiking I rarely cook in my pot. I do the freezer bag method. I found that it works out pretty good. The only issue at time is that it cools off too quickly. So, I did some research on line and got some instructions on how to make a pot cozy. Well, actually a bag cozy.   I have used my hat for a cozy before, but sometimes it make the hat stink like food and that probably is not a good thing. I will give a shot at making the cozy and doing a test drive.I did some research on new packs. Boy, it sure is hard to decide. They all sound good on paper, but when you actually try them out - well not so good. And, the issue I have is that there really is no selection here in the good old berkshires. I finally went on a road trip to check some packs out. Instead of driving to the Framingham REI - we went down to West Hartford CN. The drive was easier and the store was comparable.   I tried out a lot of packs. They really had a good supply. Not a great supply, but a good supply. And, the store associate was really helpful. I ended up going with another Gregory. Went with the Deva 60. I can really feel the difference in pack weight even with it empty.   I haven't taken the tags off - just in case.   I will load it up this weekend and see how my stuff fits.   I figure it will force me to downsize which has to be a good thing.Didn't find everything on my list, but I did find a few things.   The main two things I was looking for was a new camp jug. I use a nalgene bag that I really like, but it has gotten pretty stained. And, now they make them with the top that is connected. Which is cool, because it never failed I would put it down and then have to be reaching for it and inevitably drop something. So this way it is always connected.The other thing I was looking for was rain pants that have a elastic cuff. The problem I have is that being short - even the petites drag on the ground. I started my hike tying them with a shoe string and then graduated to a velcro strap, but it was one more thing to get filthy or lost.   They didn't have any. Another clerk said they usually don't make them with elastic cuffs because they zip over your boots. I actually ended up getting a pair of rain pants for biking.   They are made of the same material, but did have cuffs and zippers.   They are perfect.   Ended up going back to the clerk and he was happy that we found something and thanked us because now he will be able to suggest it to other people.I was also looking for new hiking pants.   The pair I have are great except I lost weight so I really have to zinch them up which is a pain.   They had plenty of pants, but they were either too long or not "real" enough.   The pair I have is an REI pant. The pockets are deep and work great.   All their new pants have what I call girl pockets.   Basically, pretty useless.   Like they put them on just for show.   So, gotta keep looking.