12/28/12 09:43 - ID#57066

First snow

Y'all remember Dianne from the Halloween party, right? She's from Houston and despite spending a good chunk of last winter in Chicago, she didn't actually get to experience a real snow. Can you imagine? Snow is just such a part of my life that I never realized all the little details that come with it. Like... how do you explain the messes at intersections that snowplows make to someone who has never seen a snowplow in action? Or which kind of snow is right for snowballs? Or kicking the doorstep as you enter to knock the snow off your boots? Or silicone spray for waterproofing? Why hiking boots aren't real good in the snow?

She got a full snow experience Wednesday and Thursday...
I rolled into town just before the snow hit. Dianne was coming from work out on Transit right when it started snowing and was still talking on the phone! Handsfree but the data indicates that is just not a substantial improvement over using the handset:

Drivers engaged in cell phone conversations look out the windshield but fail to see up to 50 percent of the driving environment, missing important driving clues critical to safety, such as red lights, stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles.

Why donâ€™t hands-free devices offer any safety benefit while driving?
Hands-free devices do not eliminate cognitive distraction. Hands-free devices are often seen as a solution to the risks of driver distraction because they help eliminate two obvious risksâ€”visual and manual. Most people can recognize when they are visually or mechanically distracted and seek to disengage from these activities as quickly as possible. However, people typically do not realize when they are cognitively distracted; therefore, the risk lasts much, much longer.

We went for a walk in the snow, had dinner at Cantina Loco, made snow angels, discussed the right kind of snow for good snowballs, and checked out Days Park. These are her pix (obvs, i took the ones of her making snow angels).

Snow with flash

Thursday was mostly a snow day. We both worked a little bit, walked to Cafe Taza then to the office. By the time we headed back to my house, Nisha was all tuckered out. Worked some more, then I took a nap. As I woke up, I realized she was out clearing our vehicles for Thursday street side shift. So I went out and helped her and we moved both in time for the 6pm shift. She needed stuff from Walgreens and I wanted more beer, so she got to try driving in it. Again, all the random stuff that you grew up knowing about snow... can you articulate it in a way that's comprehensible?

Brena & Nisha @ Taza

Digging out the briefcase

Nisha @ office today. She didn't like it. First, it was too warm, then there were all these people i wouldn't let her go talk to.

Permalink: First_snow.html
Words: 502
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/28/12 10:01

Category: weather

12/25/12 08:47 - ID#57055

Snowflakes

"Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our handâ€”and melting like a snowflake..." Francis Bacon

Gorgeous photos of snowflakes

A whole site devoted to the science of snowflakes. Even taxonomies of snowflakes!

Permalink: Snowflakes.html
Words: 61
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/25/12 08:49

Category: holiday

12/25/12 12:30 - ID#57045

Music in my truck

Santa installed a new stereo in my truck last night. I've been without one for over 6 months.

Permalink: Music_in_my_truck.html
Words: 18
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/25/12 12:30

Category: holiday

12/24/12 06:51 - ID#57043

Presents!

Wrapping presents is fun :-)

Permalink: Presents_.html
Words: 6
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/24/12 06:51

Category: holiday

12/24/12 05:50 - ID#57042

Cheese, beer & present wrapping

We're on the second case of flower power :-)

Permalink: Cheese_beer_present_wrapping.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/24/12 05:50

Category: holiday

12/24/12 12:10 - ID#57037

Crappy vid of lights synched with music

I took some crappy video of the lights synchronized with music. The music is really faint.

Permalink: Crappy_vid_of_lights_synched_with_music.html
Words: 23
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/24/12 12:10

Category: holiday

12/23/12 08:53 - ID#57036

Light Up the Holidays!

Jill, Kelly & I judged the annual Christmas lights contest last night. I've asked some photog friends to help out with the official set of pix but here's my set:

Most Christmas Spirit - this year, Jill C. & Rich H. won - talk about maximizing available resources! They rent the first floor of this house and decorated to the max. Excellent details.

Victorian category winner, the Larsens. Again, awesome details.

Whimsical category had a tie - Nicole & Derek - Jill C. & Nicole are sisters and lived together with their mom, Jill's ex-husband and a ton of kids until about two years ago, their house won a couple times.

and Amy & Robb:

Ryan & Melanie at Bloss Holiday Market won best business display even though there are no lights on the decorations. I've made a request to the board of the nonprofit that owns the building to fix the canopy (I'm on the board).

Dave & April won in the Green Christmas category but I need to go shoot video of it. They timed the lights to music - it's rough execution but good concept.

A top contender for the Victorian category

I like this one.

Also not a winner but we liked its log cabin feel.

Nate & Kelly tried really hard but it doesn't top the others.

Another nice one - Lindquists

Chad & Erica are ineligible because they don't live in the borough but I really like how the lights highlight the lines of the house.

Permalink: Light_Up_the_Holidays_.html
Words: 277
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/23/12 08:53

Category: food

12/23/12 02:26 - ID#57033

Thinking of cookies!

(e:tinypliny), A and I are making cookies today and thought of you! Teleport here and help! :-)

Permalink: Thinking_of_cookies_.html
Words: 18
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 12/23/12 02:26

Category: home

12/22/12 07:03 - ID#57027

Loot!

Just rolled into town and already have loot! Four movie passes for the historic victoria theatre and a bunch of snacks for our christmas lights judging tour :-)