Remind me I was going to talk about socks ...

One problems with a blog by two people one of whom (me) may have some kind of adult ADD is I get distracted easily. One inspiration for this site was the news of Toyota closing a local manufacturing plant. This caused the loss of thousands of jobs, local of course but also suppliers, small plants near and far who made the parts, tools, even cafe's and "roach coaches" where workers got lunch.

While committees formed to ponder what to do with the plant: turn it into a stadium, tear up the pavement and build a park, a roller rink ... seems Toyota had another idea and maybe all along.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/05/21/MNGP1DI8OL.DTL

I'll leave it to you gentle reader to debate; is an electric car that may run on coal power greener than dino-fuel? Will the jobs that come back be union? Does it matter or not to you?

I'm sure ex-NUMI workers and new hires will be glad.

Finding the missing socks

If you ride a bike you know the angst of bike fit; endless search for the magic shorts/seat/seatpost setback combination. Ok, maybe you don't. I thought I know a lot about bike fit and K knows much more. She's a pro, part of what she does is fit people to their ride.

But shoes? I wear a size 7.5 sensible shoe and whichever socks I can find a matching pair of. That's it.

Fleetfeet, Santa Rosa matched me, my gait, my funky gimpy knees, posture to a great pair of (imported) runners for my first half-marathon. They showed me how to lace them. Who knew that would modify shoes for my broken toe? Ok, everyone knew.

I moved my insoles (imported) from bike shoes to the runners, they suggested socks (lovely, comfortable and imported).

Shoes, insoles and socks onboard or on foot I increased my miles and hours walked, and walked, and walked more .... everything felt fine. On the day of the race about mile 9 blisters developed. By mile 13.1 they were the size of a half dollar. Ouch.

Women glow, we don't sweat. Yeah right. I sweat. Once warmed up I'm quickly drenched. In the dojo I don't throw people, they slide off me. This made each athletic endeavor a search for wicking fabrics and in the right layering combos. I know what works for me on a short ride to work or a long distance bike ride. Sweaty feet had never been a problem.

Now I had a problem.

I will now wax poetic about socks.

Body by chocolate.

I'm a local'varian where possible and favor Fair Trade products. K has slipped me the Folger's coffee and it's fine but I prefer Fair Trade and swear I can taste the difference. There are fair trade organics I eat with the sense of "I will eat this Fair Trade Organic product that others may live".

And there's this chocolate:

https://www.theochocolate.com

Theo repurposed a factory in the quirky Fremont district of Seattle. You don't need the address, go to Seattle, head for our funky Fremont district, then follow your nose. 

At Theo's you find a cozy store full of dark wood, comfy chairs and chocolate. On cold rainy days the fireplace is going and you may be served hot chocolate. On any day a well informed staff answers questions and hands you samples till your head spins and your wallet opens for more.

There are single origin chocolates from Ghana to Madagascar, dark chocolates to milk chocolate. Some of my favorites are the spicy ones like chili chocolate. This is no Mars bar. Theo's is chocolate you will pair with the right wine, ale, local cheeses and fresh fruit or slowly savor alone. There are imaginative seasonal concoctions like cherry and pink peppercorn for Valentines day. That one was heavenly. We watch for that each year. 

This blog is going to the dogs .... and cats.

On her last checkup the vet wondered why Mae had lost weight. Well she always was a bit on the chubby side to that's a good thing. She also was my half-marathon training partner as each walk got a little longer, a little brisker. All that work deserves a reward.

Here's a small company on the east coast with a great selection of kritter gear. Mae is very strong. She walks very well on her loose leash but if she sees a squirrel it's off to the races. I need a strong collar with a reliable snap. She's also deceptively hard to "fit" as evidenced a shelf of spare collars that are a little tight, a little too big .... what on earth do I think I'll do with those? Maybe knit another dog out of the spare fur she sheds.

Bean is the gentle soul of a dog but he does pull a bit on his leash. So both need a strong yet comfortable collar.

After the practical side it's all beauty. It was very hard to pick a pattern and tempting to splurge on holiday themed collars, one for each day. Finally I picked a pattern that compliments the fur, the order was prompt and so fur so good.

http://www.crittergear.com/retail.htm

And we're walking ...

We recently completed a half marathon. When I say completed it was more like survived. And when I say we K did just fine, singing to me and volunteers, kidding that we were leading the runners when really we were the very last of the walkers.

The walkers passed us, the gals doing the half marathon while hula hooping passed us, then briefly we were alone till the first runners passed. Dang, the lead runners are fast. We cheered the first woman racer who had breath enough to say "thanks" as she hung with the front of the pack of guys.

Then the middle of the pack runners, followed by the slower but still doing it runners, the back of that pack and finally us .... or I should say me with K keeping me company. We arrived at the end to see the finish line being deflated and carted away. I handed my chip to a volunteer who said he'd turn it in. I hope he did or they may still be looking for that lost participant.

I'm very proud we did the event, my first "foot event". Now I know more how to train and equip. Our plan is a few shorter events and revisit the long distance later on.

Equipment: if you train it may seem you sign some pact to buy imports. Good gear made here in the good ol' USA is hard to find. Our goal will be to point out some good stuff. And if there's something we've missed please let us know.

Diamond Gusset Jeans

www.gussetclothing.com Made in the USA.

Allow me to wax rhapsodic...
Remember your first pair of Gramicci pants? (yeah, the black ones 20 years ago that you wore until they fell to bits) Remember how you could get on your bike and ride PAIN FREE for hours?

Now, imagine a pair of *good* jeans like that!

Diamond Gusset did it long ago, and apparently they've been beloved by motorcycle folks for years. There are even Diamond Gusset jeans with kevlar reinforcement for motorcyclists.

I've had experience with 3 different cuts of these jeans so far, and I have nothing but good stuff to say.

First off: their customer service is superb. I ordered my first batch and received them within a few days. Had to return a pair (I misjudged my size) and received the exchange WITHIN THE SAME WEEK!!! Very fast, and no errors, and another new return slip in case the replacement didn't fit right either. That is cool, very cool.

Sizing and Inseams: Diamond Gusset has a crazy-huge array of sizes and a tremendous range of inseams available within each size. If you need something special, say a 33 1/2 inch inseam rather than the proffered 33 or 34 inch inseams, all you have to do is specify it on your order and they will get it for you. Our son is a tall skinny teenager who likes the slightly baggy look but doesn't want his pants falling off or his ankles sticking out. Diamond Gusset had skinny-waist long-inseam options galore. He is happy with his jeans. (29W 34L and baggy enough for his fashion sense, and no binding in the sensitive zones)

Cuts: Our son wears the men's regular fit pre-washed. He likes the dark denim and the fact that he can wear them without a belt. They don't bind on him, which is a big deal for guys. (not being a guy myself, I wouldn't know, but I'll take his word for it.) I wear the women's regular fit. At first I ordered the relaxed fit, but the rise was way too high for me. (how often does that happen for tall-long-torsoed-high-waisted me? Never. How exciting is that?!?) Now I have the regular fit. They are delightful! The waistband sits perfectly below my belly button. No issues with the waist gapping in the back. The rear pockets cup my heinie, giving that firm perky-buns look. (contrasted with the pockets way too high that just make my butt look huge, or the pockets way too low that make it look like I'm wearing maternity pants)

Fit: For a cyclist with cyclist buns and thighs, these jeans are a godsend. (and for a slightly chubby cyclist who gained 20 lbs since the last triathlon, they are still a godsend.) The gusset gives you room right where regular jeans will cut into you. The "look at these wrinkles in the folds of my groin and the wad of fabric in my crotch" thing just doesn't happen here. (I know this one first hand. Ewww.) These jeans are true to size. No size inflation ego-pampering here. If you are a 14, suck it up and order a damm 14. You will love them! (I want to think I am a 12. No, sugar, that aforementioned 20 lbs puts me squarely in a 14. 14 is good. Order the size Diamond gusset! That evil "seams meeting each other" lump? Non-existent with the Diamond Gusset jeans.

My next pair of jeans (after I lose these nasty 20 lbs) will be another pair of Diamond Gussets.

I think I'll buy my wife a pair, too.

Your dog's job can be creating jobs.

We know that your dog's a genius, now unleash that canine creativity with a Kong. Squeeky toys are great, our dogs have a major squeeky toy jones. Both love Kongs and we love what Kongs do for dogs giving them mental exercise as well as exercising chewing which all dogs need. Mae puts her classic shaped Kong on a raised planter or her bed just to watch it drop off and bounce and wobble unpredictably. Endless fun! Bean loves his spaceship shaped Kong especially with its "portholes" filled with cheese or tasty snacks. Kongs can be filled with a variety of treats, from healthy dog snacks to even frozen treats like beef stock (I have not tried that).

http://www.kongcompany.com

Reign Vermont Mini Messenger Bag

Gorgeous. Sexy. Sophisticated. Fun. Functional.

Ok, enough about me, let's talk about the bag! This is definitely a mini sized messenger. Perfect for those in-between "messenger bag" and "big Mommy-purse" needs. It will easily hold 2 sketchbooks, 3 file folders, 1 emergency kit, cell phone, ipod, 2 packs of microwave popcorn, bandana, wool hat, engagement calendar, several pens and pencils, work ID, address book, set of travel chopsticks, and checkbook wallet.

I decided not to put the bike tire pump and tire irons in at this time, but they would have fit with no problem. So would a sandwich sized tupperware container and a can of V-8.

The pockets are well thought out: zippered pockets where you need them and slip-pockets where you need them. They are all padded, so no worries that the ipod will be brutalized by the engagement calendar (revenge of the out-moded organizational items!) during your commute. There is a cleverly pleated and tiny elastic cinch top pocket on one edge of the bag that is advertised as a cell phone pocket, but it would also work quite well as a pocket for a mini umbrella. Thanks to the pleats, it lies smoothly when empty.

The stitching, seam taping, and edge taping are impeccable. Even the anchored end of the key clip is tucked neatly into a seam tape. Sleek and elegant!

Self expression is awaiting your wildest whim, with an insanely amazing selection of upholstery quality fabrics to choose from. (The embroidered ultrasuede is luscious.) Among the fabric selections are some that are quite feminine without looking juvenile. And there are some that are wonderfully wild, some that are sedately serene, and some that just make me melt.

If you are a petite chick, you will like the way this mini messenger holds everything you need yet doesn't make you look like an awkward British schoolboy lugging his humungous satchel around the village.

www.reignvermont.com