Author: Runnergirl

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Regardless of your political leanings, you’ve got to admit that we’re fortunate to live in a place where we can all come together (sometimes anonymously) to discuss (often snarkily) the issues of the day — whether serious or silly, contentious or banal.

There are many societal ills that likely have the Founding Fathers rolling in their collective graves, and many modern Americans have had this mentality for some time, but things could be much worse.

So raise your beverage of choice, light up a safe & sane firecracker, and take at least one moment over this three day weekend to realize that you’re pretty darned lucky.

Fires/Smoke Cancel Local World-Class Athletic Event

The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run was to be held this coming weekend, and it has been cancelled for the first time in its 35 year history.  Some idiots have been calling radio shows saying that if the runners are stupid enough to go 100 miles, then what’s a little smoke?

Finisher's AwardThe bottom line is that hundreds of people have invested countless hours and few thousand dollars (at least, for the locals — even more so for people coming from every corner of the world) to train for this.  I was an entrant in the race in 2006, so I know how much of an emotional, financial, and physical investment this takes.  

Continue reading “Fires/Smoke Cancel Local World-Class Athletic Event”

RunnerGirl’s Quick Tips for Outdoor Adventures, Summer ’08 Edition

With the heat wave ushering in the summer ’08 season, Sam McManis has a timely article on staying hydrated.*

Being an avid ultramarathoner on the trails, I have a lot of experience with two issues that can easily ruin a perfectly awesome day: blisters and poison oak. Here are some of my tips for making your outdoor adventures more comfortable, whether you’re a trail veteran or considering making your debut out on one of our region’s many recreational treasures.

Continue reading “RunnerGirl’s Quick Tips for Outdoor Adventures, Summer ’08 Edition”

RIGHT AWN: Phase I of The Big Fix is complete

Unless you’ve been too busy reading old posts on The Sac Rag, you know that northbound I-5 has been closed for the past nine days to repair drainage issues and to repave.

Caltrans, CC Myers, and a host of subcontractors worked around the clock to meet their initial deadline of 5am today.

Not enough credit is given to Caltrans for projects like this. While Myers is the main man, a lot of the brains and guts behind projects like these goes to Caltrans Director Will Kempton — a take-no-prisoners transportation expert who has laid down the law within an organization that has long been the butt of countless jokes. Kempton is more than the figurehead of the agency (as some would argue that previous directors have been), as he has the experience and clout to make things happen.

Credit, surprisingly, should also go to lawmakers who have allowed public-private partnerships to be able to expedite significant projects like this one.

It was downright impressive seeing hundreds of people and pieces of equipment moving all at once, 24 hours a day. Parts of the project were adjacent to regular traffic, so there were plenty of men and women toiling away with just a cone between them and distracted drivers.

Wondering what’s next? Check it out. (Now with the correct link. Thanks, T Mc!)

Emigh is turning 100!

Everyone’s favorite hardware store is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend.

Being in California, things that are “old” to us are usually strip malls that were built in the ’70s so it’s meaningful when a local business reaches the venerable century mark (especially one in Sacramento proper, as most of our region’s oldest businesses are in the Mother Lode towns like Placerville and Auburn.)

Sac-eats will be pleased to know that The Banjo Ramblers will be part of Saturday’s entertainment, in addition to the jazz bands of local high schools.

I personally will be there for the cotton candy and to get my face painted.

Bel Air makes it easy to forgo the snacks

How’s that?

They stock the snack foods like crackers and packaged cookies directly across the aisle from their baby goods.

What’s that? You don’t like Wheat Thins with baby-fresh scent or the thought of diapers when scoping out the Double-Stuf Oreos?  Eww.  Neither do I.

This must be a thing for me, given previous posts on the whacked out way of organizing grocery stores.

This is at the Arden & Eastern location, so maybe they’ll have items in more appealing places later on following the remodel.

Southwest is fun again

Long known for its cheap fares and no-frills service, Southwest Airlines was once also known — in the pre-9/11 era — for its cheeky flight attendants.

Hubby and I are each frequent flyers, on Southwest and other carriers alike, and we had both noticed that Southwest’s no-nonsense approach had affected the flight attendants too for the past several years.

This past week, however, marked the return of the snark, puns, and levity. Continue reading “Southwest is fun again”

“Parrot” something? Something “Bay” or something?

Help.

What was the name of that bar that was on Fair Oaks Boulevard near Cadillac Drive in the early ’90s?  It got demolished in the late ’90s and became a Smith Barney building, and I believe it’s where Lord Beaverbrooks used to be.

The sign out front had a parrot on it.  I only went there once when I first moved to Sacramento, but it came up in conversation last night, and I’ve been flipping through the rolodex in my brain trying to remember what it was called.