Things NOT to say to someone with Idiopathic Hypersomnia

Things NOT to say to someone with Idiopathic Hypersomnia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO9EbxLl06M
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How to handle a neighbor with archaic gender bias...

So there's this neighbor with apparent severe archaic gender bias issues. He has (I believe) 2 little girls in the home. I *think* they are his granddaughters.

This past week there was a pink convertable Power Wheels thing sitting atop a giant snow mound (we've had a ton of snow here). Then a day or 2 later...the old man decided to make a funny haha for the granddaughters and crafted up a special sign. Now, his efforts in building and design could've been better used by helping his granddaughters learn to build something together with him. They could've spent quality time learning to build and be smart and valued...but no. Sadly, he decided the better thing to do was make a sign indicating said plastic car was at the fault of bad women drivers. Obviously this was HILARIOUS in his world. It isn't in mine.

Luckily, I live in a neighborhood with some awesome people and someone amended the sign to contain some great information regarding crash statistics and gender.

But...the guy removed the information from the sign to bring it back to its original state. Clearly he's set in his ways.

Neighbors discussed reporting it to the city or simply removing the signs themselves, but as we've seen he's stuck in his ways and determined.

So...what do you do?

Well I did want the sign down, but I didn't want to sink to this guy's level by taking it. I also realized...that there's some little girls at stake here.

Commence operation Goldie Blox!

I had shot a video of my niece and her Goldie Blox toys (Goldie Blox requested some additional footage for their playground feature). When we shot it...we were in a hurry and my niece had to go home (an hour and a half away) with her Goldie Blox after we were done. I realized I didn't have a bill of material that I needed and while out Christmas shopping I picked up the very last set at my local Toys R' Us. I ended up not needing it and hadn't opened it. Since it was an "original" style set, I thought maybe it would be fun to keep as a collector's item because I believe so much in what Goldie Blox stands for. Somehow, I think fate intervened tonight and I realized why I had it and why I hadn't needed it but chose to hang onto it.

Here are the results.

Of course I have my staple gun ready to go too. :)

*drops mic*

Awesome Home Gym on a Budget!

I like to run outside.  I used to hate it.  Well, as far as that goes... I used to hate running at all.  Once I started running, I thought maybe I liked treadmills better.  Then, I ran outside for a 5k and that was a lot worse than a 5k on a treadmill with a 0% incline.  Yes, I realize that's common knowledge, but it was worse than I expected...granted it was much colder than it had been in the days/weeks prior to the race and then I signed up for it not anticipating a weather change, not that you can trust a weather report ever in Michigan, let alone a week out from the day of a race.  Anyway, 2 years later, I have figured out some of the ins and outs of what works for running outside.  That being said, there are still days when running indoors is necessary due to weather, schedule and things like that.  It certainly beats no run at all and sometimes you just don't have the time to gear up, get where you want to run, or deal with traffic.  I can run in my neighborhood, but the areas I prefer around there for safety (both traffic and personal safety) limit the route a little as far as long runs go.  I hate dealing with drivers for both safety and timing reasons anyway.  The jogging in place to cross the road isn't my cup of tea.  I'd rather hit the trail north of town where it's wide, nicely paved, and while well-used enough for safety, it provides some bit of solitude and always has beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way.

But sometimes you just can't and for that you're stuck with home or a gym and if we're talking about bad weather....it's an easy excuse to not want to go out at all and battle that to not go to the gym.  I'm also not big into working out around others a whole lot and I get annoyed seeing people showing off or doing things incorrectly (though I am sure I have my host of incorrect techniques on anything too, but the blatent ones just cause me to grumble).

So here's my journey to a home gym.  Last winter an old coworker pointed out a deal on a smartboard projector, like a REALLY good deal.  It was an $800 projector refurbed and then had a deal of the day on top of that to make it $200.  The 2 markers included alone are worth that.  It's a short throw and has a pretty good resolution, though not technically HD and the inputs are somewhat limited.  Primarily you're looking at VGA and the basic RCA connectors.  Still, it was a decent deal and it's not my primary entertainment viewing, so why not.  I had other house projects to do and the summer consumed my time on those.  Fall came and I battled leaves for at least 6 weeks (maybe I'll post one day about that too), and finally the cold weather began to set in.  It got me to thinking I should do something about my running for winter.  I wanted to continue the outdoor runs, but to be more consistent and possibly properly (I've done it improperly once already) for a marathon, that I need to have a way to train very consistently and get my mileage where I need it.  Additionally the Xbox One was coming out and then I managed to snag one, so I could also move the old Xbox upstairs to my guest room.  I played around with layouts on a free app I installed on my Kindle.  In the end, I decided not to cram as much into the room as I thought I might at first, because it would've been too much.  Here's what I ended up with.

I started out calculating what size roughly I'd be working with on the short throw projector.  I realized quickly that that size of markerboard would be ridiculously expensive, so I sought out other options.  I went with some shiny type tile board from Home Depot.  For a 4' x 8' sheet, it was less than $13 and it worked great.  I had them cut it in store to roughly the size I'd need (which was just barely what would fit in my car too.  By barely, I mean I scuffed up the edges and bowed it a bit getting it in the car, but it was pretty salvagable.  Then, I had the issue of how to mount it.  At first I tried raising the back side out with some scrap pieces I cut from the remainder and then using a wall holder thing that sits on a piece you attach to the wall.  Getting that perfect depth to make it even everywhere wasn't working and I knew I'd have bowing with any pressure trying to write on it.  Additionally the scrap piece stacking wasn't working to catch the board without coming through the front side at all.  I want to say it's only 1/16" or so thick.  It's not much to grab and certainly if you do, you're seeing the screw come through.  I ended up deciding screwing through it to the wall was the only way, but that presented the problem of how to put a border on it since I wanted that covered up.  

Here's the projector and tile board installed without any frame/border or cable management:

I found some storm door/window type 2 piece spline type things at Lowe's.  I mounted the screws through the holes on the under piece of those through the whiteboard, and then I used a rubber mallet to snap the top pieces in place.  Worth noting is that originally I was not going to do miter cuts on those and it would've been tacky.  I also would've run into the fact that I couldn't center the pices to cover the screw holes on the side that way.  I decided miter cuts were necessary and I'm much happier with the results.  The only thing that was bad was the materials for this (I needed 4 top and 4 bottom pieces I believe) were more expensive than I would prefer.  It was about $31 for the moulding and screws, which is ridiculous, but not nearly as ridiculous as the cost of "flat tv conduit" etc. that wouldve cost $100-200 probably for the length I'd need since I can't run it behind the whiteboard without causing bowing.

For the cables, I used 1 1/2" pipe support clips as the raceway and it's a bit industrial but better than going through the external wall with blown in insulation to fish the cable and also if I need to upgrade and can utilize other connections later, it's much simpler.  Besides, this is a workout room...NOT my living room!

Then, I found a treadmill on Amazon as an Open Box item.  To be honest, the only thing open box about it was some of the scuffs and scraps in the external box from shipping, but with something that heavy it's no surprise.  Internally, the contents were well protected and packed with foam, so nothing was harmed by shipment.  On top of that, I can not tell that the thing was ever assembled.  There weren't the little scrapes you'd get in metal or plastic where you screwed things down anywhere.  I am certain it was never assembled before.  So getting a treadmill with decent reviews (including that it has enough horse power and quality for actual running and not walking) from Treadmill Doctor, for less than $1000 is a good deal.  Most sub $1000 they don't ever recommend for running.  With this being Open Box, I got it for $860, shipped, from Amazon.

The next hurdle was getting it upstairs after I got it.  I had contacted a Craigslister about helping me haul it, but the price he quoted was EXACTLY the same as he had quoted to move one from someone else's house to mine (dismantling/re-assembling) and upstairs.  This one, already at my house, to haul it upstairs, assemble, and haul away the packaging...he ended up at the same total.  Needless to say, I was a bit not thrilled, but I didn't have anyone to help me, so I was going to cough up the $70.  Then, he became unavailable for an entire week from the time he said he'd be.  I didn't want to wait, so I began to unbox it myself and hauled up the small parts.  The instructions for assembly were simple enough and the way the tall part of the frame and the tread deck would need to remain assembled because of the electrical, meant I wouldn't need anyone holding parts when I screwed things together like I had feared originally.  I posted a call for help on a local neighborhood Facebook group and a neighbor and his 2 sons were willing to come help that night for the $40 I offered ($30 less than the installed full service from the Craigslist guy and I'm someone else offered to help for free and this guy and his sons probably would've too, but I was happy to have their help and knew they had had a rough year with a fire and pet getting hit by a car with some steep medical bills so I was more than happy to pay them the $40).

Once I got it moved upstairs, I got it assembled and was able to run the next day.  I saw that the Virtual Active videos on vafitness.com had a Cyber Monday coupon available and that knocked 15% off the price, so I bought 2 packs of videos.  The treadmills at my work have VA built in and I love it.  The videos I got won't control incline automatically, but I have a much bigger screen and I don't mind the lack of incline anyway since I'd rather up that when I do some walking intervals to drink water or catch my breath a bit.

All in all, it's a great set up:

• Old Xbox: free
• Refurb'd Smartboard projector $199
• 1 1/2" pipe clips  about $5
• Tile Board about $13
• Storm door type moulding and screws about $31
• LifeSpan TR1200i treadmill (open box item) $860
• Virtual Active running videos (2 hd running packs) about $85
• Treadmill mat about $27

Total  $1220  <--- not bad for everything I've got in this set up!

Here it is.  Not too shabby, right?  And yes, I did it all myself...aside from the help getting the tredmill upstairs!  :)

An open letter to fitness watch / device manufacturers

Dear makers of fitness products,

I'm going to lay it out for you; the secret to great success and revenues.  Are you ready?  I'm sure you are, because aside from the "making people's lives healthier and better" etc. etc. let's be honest, the bottom line is quite a motivator, right?

Those of us using your products are a bit frustrated.  I'm not sure if this is some technology immaturity or your lack of understanding as to the needs of your consumers, but I'm going to assume it's the latter, because I believe the technology can be accomplished and there are plenty of people like myself willing to drop the coin on the product that does the job.

So here it is, a laundry list of what you should include, in a single product, to make your fitness device the GO TO for complete amateurs like myself right on up to the most elite of athletes.  It doesn't matter how fast or not we are, because the metrics still matter in the pursuit.

• The watch needs to have the right look and feel  - In my opinion the Nike+GPS has the best design on that.  It needs to have a wristband with 2 columns of holes, because that gives the band stability and it won't break like a single hole style wrist band.  The tail of it should also lock down (no slidey band things that you tuck the tail into...those BREAK. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME).  The TomTom sport watches are a close 2nd, but they seem to have the tail tucking annoyance instead of snapping down.  I realize that Nike had to kind of do that with the USB connector being in the tail end, but regardless of how it syncs or connects, having the snap down end of the tail makes SO MUCH SENSE.

• The watch needs to have an E-Ink based screen -   Again Nike+ is great for an example, but TomTom watches, Pebble, and HotWatch also utilize this, so I'll give them credit too.  Additionally, HotWatch has some swipe based double-layer technology that Nike does not, so I'll include a pic of that here for my reference on this point.

• The watch should track multiple sports, not just running -   This is one of the biggest downsides to the Nike+ watch.  TomTom upped the game with the multisport in that aspect.

• External sensor support - Since you're tracking multiple sports, the ability to add external sensors (especially for indoor equipment like stationary bikes or rowers), is necessary for accuracy and metrics.  If you're questioning whether to go ant+ or bluetooth...the oldies will say ant+ and those without anything invested in old stuff will say they don't care or bluetooth.  I think Bluetooth is good since that means it's then on board for my next point, so go bluetooth, but make it so you can use cadence sensors, foot pods, and what have you to track indoors etc.

• On board GPS - Yes, GPS should be on board and I want (er I mean the world wants) it to have a fast lock on GPS so when I say run...I don't have to wander around for the perfect signal and hold my wrist ever so perfectly for a GPS lock for 10 minutes before I can start a run.  TomTom claims this is a feature on the their new watches vs. their old Nike+ collab ones, but I don't own one and I can't speak to whether that's the case.  Regardless...if you're making a watch, this should be a priority.
  
  
  There are few things in life more frustrating than this:

• Allow phones and apps via their API to utilize your watch to control and interact with them -   Most likely at this point, that means via Bluetooth 4.0 I'd assume.  A good example would be the ability to control music playlists, but also so that the watch can handle the GPS tracking (without the phone using its GPS that drains the battery faster) and yet let the phone handle live run or race tracking so people can utilize apps that let friends and family "cheer them on" while they're running too and things like that.  Pebble is a good example on this front as far as API.

• Altimeter - I don't have a current need for this yet, but many serious sports enthusiasts do and I might someday, so either make it standard or an option for an upgraded model, but consider it in your design.  This is the case with the TomTom Multisport.

• Additional built in sensors - This should work like a Basis B1, though with the emphasis being on constant HRM, which they didn't implement at first with the B1.  So, basically you're looking at a light based HRM (like Basis or Mio) and have it constant and then also a galvanic skin response and skin temp sensor, to more accurately calculate calorie burn.

• 3D accelerometer - This should act as a pedometer and stair tracking device like the Fitbit One.  Since it's wrist worn, technically it would be like a Fitbit Force.  I have yet to see the level of accuracy of a Fitbit One in a wrist based device.  I challenge a manufacturer to figure that out and incorporate it into my dream watch.

• Private calling - ala the HotWatch - I currently have an order almost ready to be fulfilled by HotWatch and the primary reason I chose to purchase it is because of the private calling feature.  It's SLICK and no one else does it.  I also wanted to support them, because they might just be the ones to create this dream watch and I wanted them to succeed on their 1st gen product so that they could move onto that possibility.

• Cross Platform Syncing - I have a LOT of data on different websites.  Primarily my old runs were through RunKeeper.  I've exported via some hackery, most of my Nike+ data to Runkeeper as well, though I have to constantly go back to do it for my new ones and it's never 100% of all my information in one place.  My fitbit account has a lot more of my daily stuff for the past 2 years.  It's really helpful.  Nike+ has the most accurate count of my running since I started really running in the past 2 years.  I have various stuff on other sites (myfitnesspal, Basis, SparkPeople, Withings, and the list goes on).  I want my dream watch to see all of the data everywhere and combine it into one place with meaningful graphs and data.  I want it to pull all that in and compile it into something useful.  I'd like it to record things in a standard GPS format, but still be able to push/sync that info to Nike+ in a way that is compatible with their proprietary format (which I realize..that stinks that they are that way, but it is where I have the most running data and I like the social/competitive nature of the Nike+ interface to compete with friends).  I'm not sure how to get over the hurdle of the proprietary Nike+ footpod sensors other than to say, if you can make a bluetooth based footpod that fits into the Nike+ shoes and footpod holder pouches for non-Nike shoes that it would be highly beneficial.

Is this too much to ask?  I hope not!

Running might kill you!!!!!

So a friend posted a few links to articles on a running message board that a friend of hers provided her as "evidence" that running was the worst thing in the world and that she will surely die of a heart attack any moment.  This friend has had a journey much like my own, learning to love fitness and becoming healthier.  I povided the first section below as a response and overnight decided a little extra sass and sarcasm was necessary as well.  I'll provide the links to the 2 articles as well as my notes and humor.  Enjoy!

http://www.today.com/health/running-farther-faster-longer-can-kill-you-1C7388868

1st article: complete crap

Just as the editorial near the bottom states...it was not a true scientific study. They didn't have a starting point analysis of the heart/cardio system of each "participant" to compare to the end. Also, they're talking about elite runners that push limits that *most* of us never would because of skill/life/time. Essentially running and being elite runners is their job and mine is a network engineer. I work a full time day job and I run for health, which by the way, much to their study's great wisdom...has IMPROVED IMMENSELY since forgoing my former fatty lifestyle.

http://athlete.io/5343/

2nd "article" which is an editorial/rant/blog and not even an article: also complete crap

This is clearly written by some meathead that thinks lifting weights and doing "sprints" is the end all of fitness. Cut the crap? He's right, because I wish he would too! He's saying that the girl on the treadmill continued to get fatter despite running and then that her thyroid was messed up. Well jeez...I have known many people that had thyroid go bad that weren't athletes at all! It's pretty much heredetary on that one and despite the poor girl's effort when she was no doubt wiped out for energy because of her thyroid, she kept pushing to lose the weight and was gaining despite her cardio efforts. I'm pretty sure synthroid (or other synthetic thyroid hormone) is the recommended treatment for low thyroid...not SITTING ON YOUR TUCKUS to get alllllll better! To the point that he sees girls wolf down entire Chinese buffets in 10 seconds and get fatter despite their cardio... uh HELLO you can't lose weight working out if you're taking all that/wrong stuff in! Working out burns very little compared to your intake and the key to losing weight is creating a "calorie" (I say that as a term of measurement because that's what you're burning despite the makeup of the various carbs/fat/protein within it... like kcal/hr)... Anyway, so you take in this much - what you burn off = net gain or loss and you need that defecit to lose. So if you burn off a good 400-500 on a decent run, and your ideal range for intake is 1500-2000 cal a day and you eat like 4000...well then you've overconsumed by a couple thousand and that's going to make you gain weight! Last I checked lifting weights wasn't burning 3000 calories either. Jeebus!

There's a balance to everything. Everything in moderation. Run and do strength training, rest and recoup, eat mostly healthy, but enjoy some tasty stuff now and then (in moderation). If you achieve a balance in all of it, you'll be just fine. This all or nothing stuff makes me want to punch someone like this guy "right in the ovaries...right in the babymaker!!" Yes, I am ready for Anchorman 2.

*steps off soapbox*

Despite my graveyard of Fitbits, I am still in love and here's why!

Ah, I remember my first Fibit (Ultra) fondly.  I can't remember how exactly I found out about them?  I think I was trying to find a pedometer that didn't suck on Amazon and there it was in all its glory.  I was a bit sticker shocked, but I knew I hated every pedometer I tried (for like a day and would abandon).  The reviews were convincing, the technology sophisticated, and the design sleek, sexy, and completely practical.  Being the geek I am, I was tempted.  I was on the conquest to better my health and save on my health insurance at work.  I had started some walking/running over the previous few weeks and wanted to quantify my efforts.  I bit the bullet.  I was so excited when I opened the package.  I got it charging and my account set up.  In the early days, the site was a little buggy, but they quickly remedied it.  With each update, they kept the clean interface and added more features.  I couldn't be more thrilled!

Then, the inevitable happend.  You see...when you clip something so small and weightless to your clothes, there's a good chance of 2 things happening; it could fall off and you'll never know or it will end up in your washing machine.  Well, since I was new to fitness and this was about spring by this point, I was wearing shorts, which the previous summer had fit, but now were a bit baggy with the weight loss. I was rolling down the top waistband to keep them from riding up and it was working, but I was definitely getting some chafing.  TMI?  Never.  I don't believe in it!  Well, I got home eager to see what my fitbit said and then it hit me...it was gone!!!  I had done one of my longest outdoor runs!  I think it was like a 6 or 8 miler at that point.  I had a lake to canvas to find it and I didn't have much time to do so.  I took a partial day off of work and looked...nothing.  I never found it.  I went about a week without it and my motivation instantly fizzed. I didn't have my fitbit to show me where I was in relation to other days.  I didn't have the "chatter" on the screen to "high five" me or tell me to "get moving."  I had none of it and I was devastated.  I wasn't looking to toss another $100 out, but I needed my fitbit, so I bought another.  This time I built a handy little tether system using a baby pacifier clip (don't have kids, so I had to buy one) and a D ring for a keychain type thing.  It worked and saved me from fate many times.  Then, one fall day I was running a race...and there was a fitbit on the ground!  I knew I had mine in my zippered pocket on my tights, so it couldn't be mine!  I double checked and it was secure.  Fitbit down!  Someone else was about to realize they had suffered the same horrible fate as me with my 1st Fitbit!  Luckily, the "chatter" feature says whatever name you put in it.  There it was...a first name!!!  But it was a common one...there could be several people with that in this race (it was a half and full marathon).  I noticed the time was an hour behind mine.  Now, we're talking!!!  Once the race results were posted, I looked for the first name and found someone in a neighboring state listed that would be an hour behind me.  Now I had a full name, but no way to contact. I posted on the marathon's facebook page, but didn't get anything back.  Ahh!!!!  So, I contacted fitbit and they said that I could print out a prepaid postage label and send it to them and they could get it reunited with the owner!  Woohoo!  I made a tether for her fitbit and included it in the package like any Fitbit lover with a lifehack would do and I sent a pic to the customer support person that helped me and let them know it was on its way to them with a cute tether.  They loved that they had a cool person in the Fitbit community that had gone the extra mile (that's about 2000 steps for those of you at home haha) and they hooked me up with a 1 year premium membership as a token of their esteem.  Great success!  Everyone wins and I was just happy knowing there wasn't a sad little lost Fitbit out there like mine had been.

Fast forward a few months and then the inevitable happened again and this time the fate was that of the washing machine.  Fitbit took a bath and it never recovered.  I tried putting it in rice and letting it dry out, but it could not be revived.  Sad panda!  It had been almost a year since I had been using Fitbits and from the first leave of absense, I knew I couldn't stand to be without one.  Luckily, I was just within my 1 year warranty period and they had just launched the Fitbit One's so, they replaced my Ultra with a One as they did not have any Ultras in stock.  Many improvements like making it just a little piece that sits in a silicone holder, so you can replace those (which circumvented the old hinge issue on the Ultra models) and it also stuck much better on clothing etc, so it wouldn't fall off easily like my original one did!  The display was also more clear which I like a lot too.

I used it a couple of months and it died in my sleep.  Did I lay on it too hard?  I have no idea, but it died.  Fitbit's support walked me through a reset procedure, but nothing brought it back to life.  I was now out of warranty period, so I had picked up a new One at a local Best Buy knowing I didn't want to be without one when I heard back from support that they would like to offer me a replacement at a discounted price.  I figured, I may as well have a hot spare in case I had one die after warranty later, so I took them up on it and let that one sit in the package.  This fall, I got my sister a Flex for her birthday and I gave my mom my hot spare to use "until I need it someday when mine dies" but in reality, I know I'll just let her have it.  She's been so motivated and moving more and she has MS so 10,000 steps a day is not realistic, but she's been pushing and getting more steps in and moving more.  Woohoo!  Then, the other week, my Fitbit One again died in my sleep like my 1st one did.  WTF?  Well, at least I had the scanned receipt from the original warranty replacement (I'm good through December basically) and I just used that with my support request on this one.  I went about a week without a Fitbit again (torture!!!) and got my new replacement.


So I have:

• 1 lost Fitbit never to be found
• 1 dead Ultra from a bath in the wash
• 2 dead One's (both died in my sleep)

That's $400 in about 2 years, which is significant and you might think I'd have trash talking to do about Fitbit at this point, but I don't.
My health has improved SO MUCH as a result of the motivation they have provided
$400 is way less than a gym membership
Their support is awesome and they are committed to improving lives and health of people

I really hope they come out with my dream sportwatch someday soon (I'll make another entire post dedicated to my wishlist on that), but until then, they are hands down the best step/stair/sleep tracking device in a tiny design.  I tend to wear mine almost always on my bra because it's grippy and stays put there and it is less likely to take a swim in the wash.  Titbit anyone!?!?

<3 Fitbit and if you've been on the fence about ever getting one, then don't be.  They are amazing and despite my graveyard of Fitbits past, I am still in love with them.

My graveyard of fitbits with my happy (and alive) current One in the front

What's in a name?

So when I decided to make this blog, I contemplated what name to use.  How much should it say about me personally?  What captures everything I want to cover in a single name, yet isn't too long that it would be hard to remember?  Decisions....decisions!

Running Slow but Sleeping!

I'm a runner...well let's be honest, I'm more of a yogger (Anchorman...if you haven't seen it, you're missing out).  So yeah, yogging.  There's your Running Slow!

So what about the "but Sleeping" part of the name?  Well, I thought I'd put a play on words from Dave Matthew's Band's song #41, which if you're not in the know says, "I'm coming slow, but speeding."  So why sleeping?  I love sleep.  It's not just me, it's a serious deal.  I'll get into it more later, but suffice it to say that sleep is a big part of who I am.

So here we are and I'm running slow, but sleeping...yeahhhhhhhhhhh!

Alright, who's with me?  We're going yogging! We're going up through the gymnasium to the quad!  Snoop, Snoop-a-loop!  Bring your green hat!