Jackson's Ramblings ...

Best Remote Control * EVER * (Part II)

2008-05-18T23:05:00.006-04:00

As a BzzAgent, I frequently get to try out products in order to spread the word about them. I've had the opportunity to experience and buzz Nutella, Take5 candy bars, Chapstick (R) Naturals, dropps (TM) laundry detergent, Scrubbing Bubbles (R) Automatic Shower Cleaner, and many more.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to try the Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote Control. As an owner of the Logitech Harmony 880, I was curious about the changes and updates. So, of course, I accepted the invitation. (The offer of a free Harmony One was also hard to resist).

According to the Harmony comparison, the only feature difference is that the One offers a touch-screen. The 880 does not. The One has all the same features that I love about the 880 - it is easy to configure, it handles all my devices, and, most importantly, it's very pretty.

Here are my thoughts on some of the differences:
1. Buttons - The buttons on the 880 are flat and do not have space between them. This makes it easy to hit the wrong button. The buttons on the One are raised, and have plenty of space between them.

2. Response - My devices seem to respond a bit faster to the One than to the 880. Broochay tried it out, and agreed.

3. Look and Feel - As I mentioned, it's pretty. More detail? The One is sleek and black. The 880 is very similar to a TiVo remote in shape and color. The touch screen on the One is sharp, clear, and easy to read. The detail is definitely crisper than on the 880. The One is also a bit more comfortable in the hand. Broochay mentioned something about the weight distribution. The 880 is "bottom-heavy." The one has a more consistent weight distribution.

4. Activity Buttons - The 880 is a bit deceiving in that it looks like it should have a touch screen. The Activity Buttons are labeled on the screen, but the buttons are small, and to the outside of the label. This was not very intuitive. The screen on the One is actually a touch screen, so, yay. Not so deceiving. I do occasionally hit the wrong button and start up the DVD player, but that is easy to correct.

Overall, if I had to pay full price for either of these remotes, I would easily go with the One. It rocks!

Boston Marathon Recap - Better Late Than Never!

2007-05-18T11:51:00.000-04:00

Woo Hoo!

Despite the nasty weather forecast, I finished the Boston Marathon in just over 6 hours! Thanks to all the volunteers who stood out in the rain giving water, Gatorade and other necessities to the runners!

AND, A HUGE THANK YOU to my "personal" volunteers - Mom, Dad, Joanne, Nonni, CJ, Scottie, Bruce, Andrea and the Natick Animal Clinic, coach John Furey, and Heather, who dragged me home after the race. We had a nice stop at UBurger for dinner. YUMMY!

I did have thoughts of giving up, but, remembering all of the people I was running for (my grandfathers, grandmother and great-grandfather, Venus's parents, Tim's Dad, Linc's Dad, Dan's Mom, Donna P., Michele's grandmother, Mary's mother, Maureen J. and so many others ....) really helped keep me going! THANK YOU!!!

Want to see me cross the finish line?
You will see me about 1 minute into the video. I am wearing dark pants, a blue shirt with white sleeves, and a blue cap.
http://www.youtube.com/v/AnZH8U4-qbg

More importantly...
Tedy's Team raised over $218,000 for the American Stroke Association! Go, us! You all contributed over $4,400 to that effort. And as soon as the Gillette matches show up, we will be well over the $5,400 goal. So, Yay, us! Thank you so much for all of your support!

And the winner is...
All of us, for raising stroke awareness! The winner of the pair of Patriots tickets is Terri Dagosta (Her husband is a Jets fan, so, I\'m not sure how that\'s going to work out ....). Congrats, Terri!

But wait, there's more!
For those of you that wanted to donate, but never got around to it, I've signed up for the Falmouth Road Race with Tedy's Team, so, I will be doing another fundraiser over the summer. This one will be a little different. For every $5 you donate, you will be entered into a raffle for (yes, another!) pair of Patriots tickets to a 2007 regular season game. I also hope to have some gift cards and other Patriots items in the raffle. I will keep you updated!

The link for the Falmouth Road Race fundraiser is here:
http://tedysteam2007.kintera.org/falmouth/avery

Have a great day!

Best Remote Control * EVER *

2007-03-12T10:09:00.000-04:00

I bought the Logitech Harmony 880 over the weekend. It is truly easy to configure, and simple to use.

Not only that, but the customization options are great. For example, my TV has approximately a 5-second delay when it turns on. So, when the input needs to be changed (for TiVo or the cable box), this could be a problem. Right? WRONG! I can program in the delay!
Seriously, I have already put all my other remotes behind the TV. I need only this remote to control ALL of my entertainment components! I am so happy, I might cry.

Marathon Training Update!

2007-02-27T11:42:00.000-05:00

As always, a big THANK YOU! to all of you that have taken the time to donate to the cause. I am overwhelmed and greatly appreciative of your support. So far, we have raised over $3,000 for Tedy's Team and the American Stroke Association! My goal is to reach $ 5,400 by Patriots' Day (Monday, April 16).

*** As an additional incentive for you all, anyone that donates $25 or more by April 16 will be entered into a drawing for two tickets to a 2007 Patriots home game. Yes, I am going to give up a game to one of you! Does that tell you how important this is to me? ***

Training Update

18.3 miles down, 7.9 to go! The run over this past weekend was the longest yet! The 8 and 10 miles runs now seem "short." When did you think you would ever hear anyone refer to a 10-mile-run as a "short run"? Before race day, we will have completed a 21-mile run (this will take place sometime in March). The other weekend runs will be anywhere between 8 and 16 miles.

So far, I am INJURY FREE (knock on wood). I had a little ITB tightness early on, but that seems to now be resolved (still knocking on wood). I hope I feel this good come race day!

Businesses and people that are helpful along the Marathon Route

1. Dunkin Donuts, 1008 Beacon Street, Brookline

During our 10.5-mile run on February 17, Elaine and I missed one of the water stops! It was very sad! (It turns out the person manning the water stop had to take an injured runner back to Fitcorp). So, Elaine and I stopped and Dunkin Donuts with no money, pretty much begging for water. The gentlemen behind the counter were kind enough to give us two full cups of water. Between the two of us, Elaine and I probably had about a dollar in change, which we left as a tip. THANK YOU, DUNKIN DONUTS PEOPLE!!!

2. Dominick!

During the 18.3-mile run on February 24, I ran into (not literally) a very kind man named Dominnick. He offered encouragement and beverages, both of which I really needed at the time!! He also helped me NOT get hit by a car at the Comm Ave / Centre Street intersection. THANKS, DOMINICK! The world needs more people like you!

Businesses and people that are not at all helpful along the Marathon Route (and in my humble opinion, should be boycotted!)

1. Total Look Clothing & Shoes, 636 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton

During a 14-mile run on February 10, Megan and I stopped at a Dunkin Donuts in Newton Center and bought some Gatorade. By the time we go to the Comm Ave/Centre St intersection, Megan was ready to ditch the bottle. Not seeing a trash receptacle in the immediate area, Megan went into the Total Look clothing store. She came out about a minute later, still holding the bottle! She told me the person in the store told her they didn't have any wastebaskets at all. I'm wondering where they were going to put the Dunkin Donuts coffee cups (which were in plain sight on the counter) once they had finished their coffee. It seems to me they told Megan a big, fat, lie, which wasn't at all very nice. It's not as if the person said there was a wastebasket for customers only. Megan said he told her flat out that there was no wastebasket anywhere in the store. I wonder if I was a shopping customer, would there be a wastebasket available? I have half a mind to go in there and pull a "Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman."

2. The Crazy Lady in Brookline

I ran into (again, not literally) two young women at an intersection in Brookline. We had all stopped at the same red light, and I started chatting with them. I had asked what charity they were running for, and they mentioned that they were not running for any charity. OUT OF THE BLUE, this 40-ish woman started yelling at us, "Share the road! Why don't you run for share-the-road! You should be sharing the road." Well, we kept running, but the yelling went on for at least 1 to 2 minutes behind us. Clearly, *someone* got up on the wrong side of bed that morning. Now, I know we're supposed to be running two-across or in single-file on the sidewalks, but I was just having a quick chat with someone at an intersection! I'm sorry, lady! Maybe she just needs to meet more nice people like me! Maybe that will get her day started off on a better foot!

Call for Volunteers!

I'd like to have a few "stations" setup on Marathon Day where I can count on finding a friend, a bottle of Gatorade, and/or some energy gel! Please let me know if you'd like to be on the route somewhere for me on race day. I will provide you with (almost) everything you need - Gatorade, energy gel, and an estimated time of my arrival. You just need to get there, pass me some stuff, and push me along!

I'm looking for people to hang out between miles 6 (Framingham) and the finish line. Please let me know if you can help out!

Five Things You Don't Know About Me

2007-01-12T11:29:00.001-05:00

My friend Rob posted this last month, and I thought it was kind of fun. Here's the problem: my life is pretty much an open book. I don't think there are 5 things about me that nobody else knows. As Broochay said, "For people not to know things about you would require that you have thoughts which you don't immediately voice."

So, here are 5 things you may or may not know about me.

1. I can't see *anything*
My eyesight is baaaaaaaaaaaad. It's 20/600. Yes, 20/600. I can't see clearly more than 6 or 7 inches in front of my face. My glasses (I probably wear them once a month, if that) give me a headache. I've been wearing contact lenses since I was 14 years old! (no, not the same pair!)

2. My 15 minutes of fame
I was Miss Teen Ashland in 1988. The selection was based on application, not at all on looks or presentation. Not only that, I think only 3 people applied. I have no further comment on this at this time.

3. Being lonely...
I was horribly picked on as a child, teenager, and yes, even college student. I had very few friends, and spent a lot of time alone (watching TV, reading, or sleeping). Apparently, people found me "weird." I guess they still do, but they're not so mean about it! The few friends I had (and still have!) are some of the highest quality people I know! My best friends are some of the best people in the world, and I'm lucky to have them in my life. (getting teary-eyed)

4. And this didn't help the "lonely" situation
I used to play the clarinet. I stopped in high school, and used my half-thumb as an excuse. I would say that the half-thumb wasn't able to hit the key in the back of the instrument. I think the truth is actually that I wasn't very good at it, and didn't want to play anymore. :-(

5. I don't like seafood, either.
I have an irrational fear of crabs. No, not the STD. Actual crustaceans. They scare me. If I'm going into rocky water, I wear sandals. Not for the comfort, but because I think it protects my feet from crabs. I won't touch the ground in the water with my feet until I've cleared the immediate area. I freak out near seaweed because that's where the crabs hide. Even hermit crabs frighten me. The ones that are smaller than a quarter can be cute, as long as they don't move too fast. You'll have to ask Kathy about the "fiddler crab" incident, or Veronica about the "land crab" incident in Miami. I blame it all on my sisters.

There. Your turn!

Disney Recap and Training Update

2007-01-11T15:58:00.001-05:00

The team started training together on December 9. We meet on Saturday mornings at FitCorp in Boston to do long runs together. So far, I've done 8, 10, 12, 13.1, and 14 mile runs.

The 13.1 was not with the team, though. It was at Disney Marathon Weekend in Florida on January 6! To see my results, click here! The race was a really good time - there were Disney characters and bands along the route. The weather was a bit warm, but, still nicer than the (usually) cold weather in Boston! I finished the race in just over 2 hours and 32 minutes. I need to pick up the pace just a little bit to reach my marathon goal of 5 hours. There were photographers just outside of the Princess's castle in the Magic Kingdom. They took runners' photos as we ran through the castle. I am hoping for a nice photo!

The 14-mile run on January 27 was probably my worst run *every* . I was in bed for the next two days recovering. That can't be a good thing.

In better news, my knees feel good, and, hey, I can run 14 miles. GO, ME!

I'm going to Disneyworld!!!

2007-01-02T11:49:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Installment One of Jackie's 2007 Boston Marathon Update.

Two long runs down, thirteen to go!
But who's counting? Oh, wait, I am. The first was an 8-mile run on December 16. (For me, it was probably closer to 9 as I missed a few turns. Oops!). Over this past weekend, I ran 10-miles. Go, me! The best part? Jelly Belly Sport Beans at mile 5. UNBELIEVABLE sugar rush!!! After I had a handful (not the entire package), I felt like I was just warming up. I'm going to have to order some of these.

Disney Marathon Weekend
Bethany and I are off to sunny Florida to run the 2007 Disney 1/2 Marathon on Saturday. On Sunday, we'll be hitting the parks! (Who would have thought I would *ever* miss a Patriots game, let alone a playoff game?)

In other news ...

Somehow, I gained 3 pounds over the holidays.
Comcast is not at all strong in the "customer service" department. I put the phrase in quotes, because, well, what I've been dealing with couldn't in any way, shape or form be categorized as customer service. Maybe customer disservice, but not customer service. If not for Melissa and Kevin working over there, I would have cancelled my service. Twice, if that's possible.
I just can't say enough about the Jelly Belly Sport beans ...

Gas Prices

2006-11-17T10:57:00.000-05:00

So, I'm sure you all noticed that gas prices have been falling for a while (or at least until Election Day). CNN Money has a great financial and economic explanation (as opposed to a Republican conspiracy theory) for the fall in prices. You can find that here:

http://tinyurl.com/yb4367

The prices at the gas station near my home have risen 5 cents per gallon since Election Day. Coincidence? Maybe. Am I surprised? Absolutely not.

Discuss.

At least we're not 'technical' people ...

2006-08-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

So, Broochay comes over to my apartment to help setup my new pretty TV. It might not be the latest technology, but it's is certainly an improvement over this ...

So, before the new addition to my entertainment family arrived, I disassembled all of my components. Once pretty got here, I set some of them back up for basic viewing.

Broochay is trying to calibrate the sound. BIG PROBLEM! There's not actually any sound. We're checking to make sure the TV and receiver are not set to mute ... we're checking the audio cable connections between the receiver and the TV ...

Turns out, you actually need to hook up the speakers before getting sound out of them.

Again, at least we're not people that have technical jobs ...

Review - Holliston Lions' Triathlon

2006-07-10T15:13:00.000-04:00

I've stopped trying to come up with cute titles. Too much effort. Not only am I a lazy triathlete, I am a lazy writer.

First off, a big CONGRATULATIONS to Diane S. from the Danskin group for placing 3rd in her age category. Go, Diane! YAY, you! I heard Christina C. has been placing all over the place, too! WOO HOO!! You ladies ROCK!
Also in attendance from the Danskin group was Maggie G. Great Job, Maggie!

The Swim I thought I had remembered that this pond was not too weedy. Seems my memory is not so good. I finished 50 seconds faster in 2006 than in 2004. Yay, me!

The Bike So, so hilly. Parts of the road were newly paved, so that was nice. It was wonderful to see Bruce and Grace cheering me on, too! Because of them, and maybe Regina had something to do with that, too, I finished more than 4 minutes faster than in 2004. YAY, me again!

The Run Guess who needs to do more speed work and hills? Yes, me. I think a very wise friend tells me that a lot. This year, I took 90 seconds longer to finish the run. Booooo!

And what did I learn *this* time?
1) Someone suggested keeping the bib number strap in my bike pack. Great idea! The only time I use it is when I'm in a triathlon. And guess what I always bring to a triathlon? MY BIKE! And guess what is always on my bike? You guessed it! MY BIKE PACK! Woo hoo! Now, if I can only remember to actually do that before Danskin...

2) Making friends is nice. A woman named Janet thought I had gone to high school with her. This was especially nice as she was 26 years old. How nice that she thought I could have been in my mid-twenties! Also, I met a nice woman named Stacey that helped me keep pace during the run.

3) Taking a dip in the water is *really nice* on a hot day after a race.

4) I am not a fan of Hammer Gel - Vanilla flavor. I'll stick with Gu, thank you.

5) I must get new goggles. Perhaps smaller ones that actually fit my face!

See you in Webster on the 30th for Danskin!

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchaugagoggchaubunagungamaug

2006-06-29T16:47:00.000-04:00

No, I'm not kidding. That is the actual name of a lake in Webster, MA. For short, people just refer to it as "Lake Webster." The name above is an Indian name, and is translated as, "You fish on your side, I fish on my side, and nobody fish in the middle." (Or something to that effect)

So, this was where the Lake Webster triathlon was held on June 25. This was my second tri of the season, (go, Me!) and I've yet to find a reason not to finish (you know, helping a fellow triathlete, ruining my own bike ... I need to find more excuses!!)

The Approach No Bethany this time, so it was just me and Regina, my bike (Her full name is Regina Phalange. Extra points if you can tell me where that name came from!!!). It was rainy, and not very warm. I'm sensing a pattern here.

The Swim There was more plant life in the lake than I remember from the Danskin races in 2003 and 2004. I saw lots of big, weedy type things that I really didn't want to be close to. Luckily, I had my wetsuit on for protection. The swim was actually the strongest part of the race this time. *VERY* odd

The Bike and THAT HILL The hill, again, worse than I remember. The road on downside on the opposite side of the hill is terrible for biking. For all you ladies doing the Danskin this year, please be very careful! Aside from that, uneventful.

The Run and my New Friend Joe! This is the most boring post ever. The run was uneventful. I did meet a very nice man by the name of Joe. I told him I wouldn't let him stop running (I'm very nice and encouraging that way). I eased up on him a little after he told me he had bronchitis. Oopsie! I felt like I was going at a good pace but once I checked my actual times, turns out not so much! Next time. I think the run was actually longer than the Danskin course. Fishy! (not weedy, like the water)

The Recovery It was nice to see some familiar faces at the race: Christina, Mary, John. I was hoping to see more of the Danskin folks getting ready for July! The AIM team ladies that I met were very nice as well. No IHOP breakfast this time, but I did have some trail mix. YUMMY! (almonds, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried pineapple, no salt).

Things to Think About It is not a good idea ... I REPEAT ... it is NOT a good idea to have two glasses of wine the night before a race, and then go to bed late. I felt fine during the race, but once I was home, the couch just called to me for the rest of the day. I'm guessing the fondue for dessert on Saturday night didn't help the cause, either. Nor did the beers and apps Friday night. I really fell apart this weekend!!!

1) I did learn that I should *always* *always* *always* keep some plastic bags in the car to cover my transition area.

2) Also, if you're one to save the environment and tuck the GU (or other energy gel) packets into your shorts to throw out later, you should probably remember to remove said package from said storage area *BEFORE* starting the run. OUCHIE!

3) Never use an umbrella to cover your transition area; it just gets in the way.

4) Putting on a wetsuit is just as challenging when your body is already wet.

5) Lightly-tinted sunglasses ROCK when it's raining out. I could actually see while I was riding the bike, so, that was nice.

That's all for now. Next race is July 9 - Holliston Lions Triathlon.
http://linktrim.com/HollistonTri2006

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Congress won't do it, but you can! Yay, you!

2006-06-09T11:26:00.000-04:00

Impeach for Peace!

http://impeachforpeace.org/ImpeachNow.html

Triathlon Season begins ...

2006-06-05T09:53:00.000-04:00

So, I didn't forget to bring anything major this time. Yay, me!

However, I did forget to actually, you know, get in the water a few times before a race to dust off the cobwebs. AND! It's a really good idea to try on a wetsuit *before* racing in it. Turns out that thing is a little tighter than it used to be!! Hee hee.

The Approach Bethany and I left Framingham at the ungodly hour of 6:00 AM to get to Ludlow, MA. It was cold and rainy. I, of course, was hoping she would suggest we bag the triathlon and just get breakfast. Sadly, she did not at all suggest that. More importantly, we went to TWO Starbucks and both of them were closed. Starbucks, please open your stores at 6:00 AM on Sundays. Please. I had to drink Dunkin' Donuts coffee! It's just not the same. It's not terrible. It's just not the same.

The Swim That out-and-back swim looked much longer than 1/2 mile. The water was surprisingly warm. Which was nice, since we were in the water for such a freakin' long time. I kept holding my breath under the water instead of exhaling. That wasn't helpful. Neither was the ultratight wetsuit that wouldn't actually allow me to take a full, deep breath. Luckily, Bethany and I were swimming together to keep each other company.

The Bike Nice. A couple of hills. No major incidents. My feet and upper arms did get quite chilly, though. A long-sleeve shirt, for me, might have been too much. But a short-sleeve was not enough. Go figure. AND! We successfully had our energy-gel packets without littering. I kept them in my shirt pocket until the end of the race. Score one for the environment. Yay, us!

The Run Nice. Parts of it reminded me of running through downtown Wellesley. There was one guy, who we referred to as "Blue Short Guy," that was stopping to walk. Every time Bethany and I passed him, he would run again until he passed us, and then walk again. Methinks he should have tried the slow-and-steady thing. But, hey, whatever works, right? He suggested a bakery in Ludlow that has the best custard tarts ever (in his opinion). Sadly, we didn't go there after the race (see The Recovery). Bethany kept me going at a good pace for me. Verrrrry slow for her. Thanks, buddy!

The Transitions Oooh, these were fun. I think almost five minutes is acceptable if you're not racing. Ellen (our first triathlon coach), would have been sooooooo disappointed. I'm not in it to win it, so, I'm OK with the five minutes (for now). I did not bring an extra bottle of water to rinse the sand off my feet after the swim. Oh well. Very minor detail. I didn't even notice the sand on the bike and run.

The Recovery Post-race breakfast at IHOP in Shrewsbury. The country omelette is great! The grain and nut pancakes are pretty good, too, especially with strawberry topping! Bethany favors the Vegetarian Black Bean chili omelette.

Things to Think About Getting caught up in the adrenaline rush at the beginning of a race is a bad thing. I used to wear myself out at the beginning of a race trying to keep up with the crowd. I’m in these things to have fun, not to win; I am *far* from being an elite athlete. I don’t care if I’m in the back of the pack; I just want to finish.

Tuck it in and put it to bed already!

2006-05-31T15:21:00.000-04:00

I am so sick and tired of hearing about the freakin' Tuck Rule. Actually, I'm OK with hearing about the rule. I am *not* OK hearing about how "the call gave the Patriots the game." It didn't, really.

1. Not only did the Patriots have to score to tie the game, they had to score *again* to win. And these weren't easy scores. These were field goals in a blizzard. I'm pretty sure the Raiders had a few chances in there, and clearly blew them.

2. Let's talk about the Raiders coach. He called a time-out before the Pats' field goal attempt in overtime, presumably to "ice the kicker." Unfortunately for Coach Gruden (one of People's Magainze's Most Beautiful People several years ago. I don't disagree with the choice), this timeout also gave the Patriots players some time to clear the snow from the kicking area. I don't know if this at all contributed to the success of the kick, but we should think about that.

3. On the play in question, many have said that a defensive player slapped Tom Brady in the back of the head during the play, before the ball came out. I'm going to have to go home and verify this, and perhaps post a photo of said incident. If it's true, then a flag should have been thrown anyway, the play negated, and well, the Patriots would have still had possession. Check back later for more information ...

4. IT WAS A GOOD CALL! Maybe the rule is iffy ... maybe it doesn't make sense to some of us. BUT, the official interpreted the rule correctly and applied it correctly. The referee needs to see irrefutable proof to overturn a call. He saw it. It's over with. Let's freakin' move on already.

Please please please please please someone make this whining stop. Even mine. Please.

Running and Biking and Running again ...

2006-05-30T15:44:00.000-04:00

After not having participated in any multi-sport events since 2004, I felt pretty rusty this weekend at the USCG Air Station Duathlon. I finished, and I wasn't last, so I met all of my goals for this race. (By the way, those are my two rules for every race.)

What did I learn?

I should always make a checklist of stuff to bring, since I forgot my heart rate monitor AND watch. I also need to remember to put all the correct parts back on my back after removing the bike from the indoor trainer. (What is that thing called that keeps the tire on? A spike?) Either way, I left on the junk one that comes with the trainer. There were no obvious consequences, but I'm sure I biked slower! :-P
I *must* put sunscreen on the list of things, not only to bring with me, but to actually *use." My shoulders are a little crispy today.

I must be getting old ... My knees were not at all happy after the race. I iced for several hours. They feel fine now (but the shoulders are still crispy).

I'm not sure if there will be any events this weekend. I'm waiting to find out if Bethany can swim. I might still go it alone, though. I'm not sure. It might depend on the weather.

Welcome, me!

2006-05-26T13:24:00.000-04:00

I think I'm officially a "geek" now that I have joined the world of blogging. Let's see how this works out.

My favorite blog site is www.captainoblivious.com. You should check it out.

The author at that site has also turned me on to this one: http://www.felbers.net/fa/
It's fantastic.

And, from the world of entertainment, I check Lost theories on the USA Today website. Look in the "Life" section for Pop Candy. The author generally posts a comment, and then hundreds of theories follow. It's something that might help me make it until the new season starts.