Tuesday, November 24, 2015
People, listen to me: it's time for you to get a new hammock.
If you don't already own a hammock, skip the $20 wonder on woot.com and go straight to a real hammock, from Hammeck; if you already have a hammock from somewhere else, I encourage you to go order a Hammeck hammock, and upgrade your leisure. And if you are looking for a gift, these are perfect for anyone who spends time outside, or who ought to be spending more time outside, or who needs to relax a little (in other words, pretty much everyone).
I own a few hammocks, and I thought that I loved them: comfortable, portable, packable. Recently I was offered the chance to try a Hammeck Breezy single-layer hammock, and I found that in every respect it is better than the hammocks I already own.
I am a pretty tall guy -- 6' 1" -- but not too heavy (about 190 lbs.). The Hammeck Breezy is longer than most entry-level hammocks, many of which are only around 100"-110", so I can fit in it more comfortably. In fact, I never got a very good diagonal in the ENO DoubleNest, but I flopped down correctly on the Hammeck Breezy my first time; the Breezy is about eighteen or twenty inches longer than the DoubleNest. And my weight is well within the Breezy's range: I never heard stretching or popping seams or any other sign of trouble like you sometimes get from cheap hammocks. Even better, being a little narrower side-to-side than the DoubleNest, the edges of the Breezy never clamped shut over my head.
For my suspension I chose straps with cinch buckles, and they work really well. Threading the straps into the buckles takes just a second: it's not fiddly at all to hook them up if you're only used to big carabiners on the gathered ends of your hammock. The straps themselves are narrower than some other straps, but they hold up fine. With one end of the straps sewn into a permanent loop, I was able to use them, lashed to an extra Amsteel whoopie sling I made myself, to span almost 30' in my back yard. No stretch, no sag: my ENO Atlas Straps couldn't do this when I tried them!
The fixed ridgeline was new to me: none of my other hammocks have one. I found that, because the ridgeline ensures that the hammock itself will hang just right for a proper lay, I can hook up the Breezy's suspension in lots of places and count on getting the 30-degree lay that we all try for. And I had good hangs all over! I hung from fat trees, little 10" trees, wooden posts, thick brick columns, and lumber set in cement. I hung at home and in the yard and at work, which is a college campus; this attracted the attention of a campus security officer who asked a ton of questions about the hammock, and told his partner how cool hammock camping is.
The material is a strong, lightweight nylon. Hammeck offers several fabrics to choose from, depending on your height, your anticipated load (did I say that politely?), and your budget. they are all laid out in easy-to-read tables on the web site. The big manufacturers just select a material and make all of their hammocks out of the same stuff.
The Breezy hammock comes in a double-ended stuff sack, which is a nice touch. I can leave the sack cinched down on one end of the suspension lines as I hang up the hammock, and I don't have to go groping around to find it when I am packing up.
The manufacturer, Hammeck, offers a bug net, but I didn't try it. (I got this hammock at the end of summer, and here in New England, it was just a low-bug year.) This model, the Breezy, uses a bug net that envelops the whole hammock; their fancier models like the Envy-S include an integrated bug net that can be removed, which is pretty cool.
Is a Hammeck hammock worth the price? Definitely: the construction is very solid, the customer service is very good, there are many more choices than are offered by big manufacturers at this price range, and you can feel good about supporting a small, family business. In fact, I will put it this way: even though summer is over, I love this hammock so much that I drilled holes in my basement joists so I can enjoy the Breezy all winter long, dreaming of next summer.
Hammeck Hammock web site: http://www.hammeck.com/
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Broken Arm
Last week, on the first day of Spring, an unfortunate skateboarding accident caused a double fracture of this boy's right arm (and a looong visit to the ER):
After it was all casted up, he was given a large block of foam -- called "Sponegbob" by the nurses -- to hold his arm upright all day and all night. Using this and being given an awesome new Nintendo DS game necessitated learning to play the DS one-handed -- and the left hand, at that -- which drew on his recent interest in the piano:
One of the few good tings about a cast is that you can have your best friend sign it:
And yes, he really was that happy to have his mom writing up his homework for him:
When we went back to the ER three days later to have the cast split open (so it wouldn't crush his hand), he got another Spongebob. Oh, the fun of a matched set:
After it was all casted up, he was given a large block of foam -- called "Sponegbob" by the nurses -- to hold his arm upright all day and all night. Using this and being given an awesome new Nintendo DS game necessitated learning to play the DS one-handed -- and the left hand, at that -- which drew on his recent interest in the piano:
One of the few good tings about a cast is that you can have your best friend sign it:
And yes, he really was that happy to have his mom writing up his homework for him:
When we went back to the ER three days later to have the cast split open (so it wouldn't crush his hand), he got another Spongebob. Oh, the fun of a matched set:
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Happy Birthday, Aunt Sheilah!
Happy Birthday, Aunt Sheilah!
Here's a message from the kids:
Click the little triangle there on the left to play this short video.
Here's a message from the kids:
Click the little triangle there on the left to play this short video.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Pinewood Derby 2010
On Feb. 13, 2010, Pack 12 had their annual Pinewood Derby. Our Wolf Scout was able to get his brother and sister a chance to race in the Siblings category, so I bought them each a car kit. They spent a lot of weekends and evenings working on their cars, and it paid of.
We used the World's Most Awesome new saw to cut down the blocks, but then the kids got to work with sandpaper. They sanded, and they sanded, and they sanded. There was a workshop put on by the Pack, and the Shark Car started to show its final form:
For a break we smoothed the wheels and the axles. Then they painted and painted.
Making weight was very important: getting as close as possible to exactly five ounces was critical. Puddles the stuffed duck was one of our chief technicians; it took us a couple of tries to get the weight right: I used fishing weights, washers, official Derby weights, and anything else I could find on my workbench.
Last, we added some final touches, like these eyes for the Shark Car:
The last work was done on Thursday night: cutting it close!
Friday night I joined a few of the Pack's stalwarts -- Mr. Jeff, Mr. Ron, and Mr. Bill, as well as young Josh -- to get the track assembled and wired, which Mrs. Kris set up the kitchen. We got the cones arranged around the track and spread out chairs while a few eager races showed up to have their cars weighed in on the official scale in case extra work was required..
On Saturday morning we were there early (7:45!) since I was working the laptop & race software, and I made sure that the results for each heat were projected on the wall for a full fifteen second before we switched to the next set of cars. :7) There was so much graphite on the cars that by the time we weighed them all in my hands were a rich silver color, and I shudder to think what the inside of the laptop looks like now.
Every car ran two races in each of the four lanes, so there were 94 heats in total. Somehow we finished in just over an hour, which amazed the parents, the leaders, and even the photographer.
The fantastic Shark Car won three of its eight heats, came in second three times, and came in third twice. In fact, it was the fastest car for the first dozen or so heats:
Our Girl Scout made this Toothpaste Car; it finished 23rd out of the 47 racers:
Younger brother -- who will probably join the pack next year -- made the Cheese Car. (The holes suggest a Swiss cheese, probably the classic Gruyere. ) He finished 7th overall and second among the siblings:
Our Wolf Scout produced this man-eating Shark Car, accurate right down to the severed LEGO Guy arm in its fierce mouth. It finished 17th out of 47:
Final portraits of the proud "drivers":
We used the World's Most Awesome new saw to cut down the blocks, but then the kids got to work with sandpaper. They sanded, and they sanded, and they sanded. There was a workshop put on by the Pack, and the Shark Car started to show its final form:
For a break we smoothed the wheels and the axles. Then they painted and painted.
Making weight was very important: getting as close as possible to exactly five ounces was critical. Puddles the stuffed duck was one of our chief technicians; it took us a couple of tries to get the weight right: I used fishing weights, washers, official Derby weights, and anything else I could find on my workbench.
Last, we added some final touches, like these eyes for the Shark Car:
The last work was done on Thursday night: cutting it close!
Friday night I joined a few of the Pack's stalwarts -- Mr. Jeff, Mr. Ron, and Mr. Bill, as well as young Josh -- to get the track assembled and wired, which Mrs. Kris set up the kitchen. We got the cones arranged around the track and spread out chairs while a few eager races showed up to have their cars weighed in on the official scale in case extra work was required..
On Saturday morning we were there early (7:45!) since I was working the laptop & race software, and I made sure that the results for each heat were projected on the wall for a full fifteen second before we switched to the next set of cars. :7) There was so much graphite on the cars that by the time we weighed them all in my hands were a rich silver color, and I shudder to think what the inside of the laptop looks like now.
Every car ran two races in each of the four lanes, so there were 94 heats in total. Somehow we finished in just over an hour, which amazed the parents, the leaders, and even the photographer.
The fantastic Shark Car won three of its eight heats, came in second three times, and came in third twice. In fact, it was the fastest car for the first dozen or so heats:
Our Girl Scout made this Toothpaste Car; it finished 23rd out of the 47 racers:
Younger brother -- who will probably join the pack next year -- made the Cheese Car. (The holes suggest a Swiss cheese, probably the classic Gruyere. ) He finished 7th overall and second among the siblings:
Our Wolf Scout produced this man-eating Shark Car, accurate right down to the severed LEGO Guy arm in its fierce mouth. It finished 17th out of 47:
Final portraits of the proud "drivers":
Labels: scouts
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pack 12 at the Higgins Armory Museum
Many of the Cub Scouts of Pack 12 went to Worcester, MA, to visit the Higgins Armory Museum (www.higgins.org) on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.
Click on any image to open a new window with a larger version.
The great, purpose-built steel-and-glass Deco building seems an odd fit for Worcester:
It was built in 1931 to house the collection of John Woodman Higgins along with the offices of his Worcester Pressed Steel Company. It is split into two wings, Ancient and Modern, to hold the two halves of the collection. (More details: http://www.higgins.org/About/founder.shtml.)
Everyone lined up outside before going inside:
We were early or they were late, but no one minded: we went up to the Quest Room to wait and there was a lot to do to pass the time: dress-up, checkers & chess tables, stocks (for taking pictures), a view of what knights saw in battle through their tiny helmet eye-slits, giant-size chess, and helmets for the curious:
Eventually our guide, Kim, entered the room. She got the Scouts' attention with a commanding, "Signs up!" Then she helped get everyone oriented with a short talk.
Kim lead everyone downstairs to the amphitheater where she explained the development of the arms & armor in the museum's collection. Several Scouts took part, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Then we went up to the Great Hall to tour the collection. (The lighting was pretty dim up here.)
The Bear & Weblos Scouts listened attentively while their guide, Dave, explained some of what they were seeing.
Looking up at the Crusader:
Here two knights fight, one in Cub Scout colors:
Click on any image to open a new window with a larger version.
The great, purpose-built steel-and-glass Deco building seems an odd fit for Worcester:
It was built in 1931 to house the collection of John Woodman Higgins along with the offices of his Worcester Pressed Steel Company. It is split into two wings, Ancient and Modern, to hold the two halves of the collection. (More details: http://www.higgins.org/About/founder.shtml.)
Everyone lined up outside before going inside:
We were early or they were late, but no one minded: we went up to the Quest Room to wait and there was a lot to do to pass the time: dress-up, checkers & chess tables, stocks (for taking pictures), a view of what knights saw in battle through their tiny helmet eye-slits, giant-size chess, and helmets for the curious:
Eventually our guide, Kim, entered the room. She got the Scouts' attention with a commanding, "Signs up!" Then she helped get everyone oriented with a short talk.
Kim lead everyone downstairs to the amphitheater where she explained the development of the arms & armor in the museum's collection. Several Scouts took part, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Then we went up to the Great Hall to tour the collection. (The lighting was pretty dim up here.)
The Bear & Weblos Scouts listened attentively while their guide, Dave, explained some of what they were seeing.
Looking up at the Crusader:
Here two knights fight, one in Cub Scout colors:
Labels: scouts
Monday, November 02, 2009
Halloween 2009
We had a cheerful pumpkin (courtesy of our neighbor, the wizard seamstress), a last minute Harry Potter, a knight, and a B.C. cheerleader.
(with her blankie and a sticker from Friday's well visit)
The glasses were a good find at the dollar store. The cape was the result of an evening of frenzied sewing and inside-out-turning. And the wand, which I am proud to say made,looks better in person. It's copper wire-wrapped handle, poplar dowel, stain, wax-rubbed finish, and a "crystal" bead courtesy of a geneerous co-worker (with a truck full of beads):
Fussing over her beloved pumpkins:
Getting her first pigtails:
Hardly any kids at our house (29, I believe), but ours each collected a bulging sack of treats. They came home early and sorted through their candy, and then dumped the rejects into our bowl for redistribution to unsuspecting late trick-or-treaters Mwa-ha-HA!
(with her blankie and a sticker from Friday's well visit)
The glasses were a good find at the dollar store. The cape was the result of an evening of frenzied sewing and inside-out-turning. And the wand, which I am proud to say made,looks better in person. It's copper wire-wrapped handle, poplar dowel, stain, wax-rubbed finish, and a "crystal" bead courtesy of a geneerous co-worker (with a truck full of beads):
Fussing over her beloved pumpkins:
Getting her first pigtails:
Hardly any kids at our house (29, I believe), but ours each collected a bulging sack of treats. They came home early and sorted through their candy, and then dumped the rejects into our bowl for redistribution to unsuspecting late trick-or-treaters Mwa-ha-HA!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Apple-picking
We went apple-picking a couple of times this year. At Jaswell's Farm (www.jaswellsfarm.com) in Smithfield we had good luck -- and even found enough late blueberries for a final batch of jam -- but this apple must have been a little tart:
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Autumn hike in Cumberland
On Columbus Day, we went for a hike in Cumberland.
The leaves were already starting to turn:
We stopped for a snack:
And in the distance, you can see how far ahead of me everyone else is:
The leaves were already starting to turn:
We stopped for a snack:
And in the distance, you can see how far ahead of me everyone else is:
