Recently, I went to see my favorite band, The Avett brothers at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh. It was an amazing show, and the first time I’ve seen the Avett brothers in a venue with seating (it’s been a few years).

I was given a poster during the show and had my photograph taken with it, while searching for the new poster, I found this site: http://statusserigraph.bigcartel.com/

Putting it here for safe keeping… some of these are beautiful prints.

Hoping to have time to tweet tomorrow (follow emilysquared)… We have had crazy two days. Doing the outspken 4h bike ride, 250 miles in 4 days. Rode 93 yesterday! Today 60, wrecked at mile 28, but doing great. The crew is amazing and our mechanic is superb! How! How! (A 4h expression for joy)

I am excited to announce that tomorrow I hit the road for cabell county WV, to join other WV 4-H’ers, friends of 4-H, and 4-H Alumni as we ride from Huntington, WV to Jackson’s Mill (Weston, WV). For those of you unfamiliar with that area, we’ll be riding 250 miles in 4 days.

I’ve been busy with final training runs and getting things in order at work and home so that I can be away. Here is our route:

Day 1
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wv/kenova/725124503317348051

Day 2
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wv/charleston/725124337126513715

Day3
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wv/wirt-and-gilmer-counties/722124337221020284

Day4
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/wv/-gilmer-and-lewis-counties/812124337313315042

Map my ride is a fantastic site for those interested in biking, full of route suggestions, the content is generated by user’s, and folks can provide feedback about the route (such as road conditions, dangers, dogs, difficulty levels, etc).

Tomorrow will be my last post before I head out!

With the boy working on his masters in Pittsburgh, I have been spending more time exploring the city of Pittsburgh this summer. On a recent visit we journeyed to the South Side Works. We read that parking in the garage had a price of up to three dollars only, which is a fantastic deal for parking (especially compared to rates in Morgantown hourly garages). This night we were going to dinner and a movie (where I saw UP in 3D, see my post), but one of the things I found most interesting was this sign. It’s for parking fuel efficient cars only. I only saw one hybrid parked in the spots, most of it was full of SUVs or other cars that aren’t likely fuel efficient. I imagine though since it was the weekend/evening the rules aren’t enforced (does anyone more local know)?

This sign peeked my curiosity...

It’s an interesting idea/incentive, but maybe not enough? You have to go through the effort of getting the proper permits only to ensure a parking spot that is not even that close to the “lobby” where you pay for your ticket. Perhaps free parking for Green cars would be a greater incentive and worth going through the hoops. I don’t own a hybrid, but my Honda fit is fairly efficient on fuel, but I don’t imagine myself going through the hoops for those particular spots (even if I worked at a firm in the area)? Mostly though the sign peeked my curiosity and I can’t help wonder if the service is effective or what people think of it.

Buttons that surround screen do nothing, instead user is to use the buttons below, which are at waist level, and not in line of sight.

Recently I went to a new gas station in my hometown. I always pay at the pump. After I pulled out my card, the screen proceeded to ask me about my receipt. The words, “Yes and No” appeared on the screen next to two black buttons. I punched the button next to “yes”. Nothing. The button next to “Yes” nothing. So I tried no. I stood there… and stood… studying the screen… finally my passenger who was still sitting in the car yelled out… “below hit yes or no” I couldn’t see it anywhere… I didn’t see any “yes or no”. Finally, I stepped aside (remember, if your parked next to the pump, you can’t bend over, you’ll hit your butt on the car), and bent over, and there was an entirely different keypad. She could see it because she was sitting lower. I suppose I should have seen it when I got out of the car. But it’s not a habit.

It would have been nice if the buttons would have made some kind of buzzing noise to indicate my error… or better yet… a keypad in my line of sight. Happy driving!