Category: Best and Worst

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Chain Love.com

I don’t think I will forgive my coworker for introducing me to a “Woot” for the cyclist driven by Backcountryoutlet.com.  For those not familiar with “Woot” sites like this, the main idea is to take a seriously overstocked item which has likely become discontinued and discount it drastically.  “Woot” is cool in that the cost for shipping for 1-3 of the current deal is just $5.  Chainlove.com typically sells cycling products more than 50% off retail price and for a new cyclist like myself, has really brought the bargain hunter out in me!  I have placed 7 orders at this point and the first 2 arrived from Salt Lake today.  My Shimano cleats disguised as trail running shoes and my winter nickers!  Not sure I like the whole unitard or suspender look, but thankfully you cover it up with a jersey 🙂

So if you like good deals and are into cycling, check out Chainlove.com.  Be forewarned, you may get sucked in and have to remortgage your house!  LOL

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Review: Mario Cart for Wii

I must begin by telling you all that I am NOT a video game person.  As a kid my brother and I played with an Atari, original Nintendo Gameboy, original Sega Genesis and tray loading Sega CD.  Recently I purchased a Sony PS2 and Nintendo Wii.

My brother definitely was more into the Gameboy and Sega than I for the most part.  I do recall enjoying “Night Trap” for Sega CD.  I had the version that was recalled due to the violent nature of sucking blood from the victims when you failed to trap the intruders.  I typed up a list on our IBM portable “Sewing Machine” personal computer with the keyboard screen cover and dual 5.25″ floppy drives and printed it out on our dot matrix tractor paper Epson printer. WOW…that was a long time ago!  

I purchased the Play Station 2 just to play Dance Dance Revolution.  I don’t recall ever using the controllers and used the full size dance pads and the eye toy camera.  I could never get the camera to work with the DDR, but the Anti Grav game was really cool with the camera. It identified your face and hands and was the way you controlled your floating hover board.  As you can see, I was more into the games that did not use the standard thumb numbing controllers.  So..when the Wii came out, it is no wonder that I picked one up as soon as I was able to.

The initial games were great.  I remember getting sweaty with the boxing game and really enjoying bowling.  I moved to a new apartment in Sept of 2007 and until 2 days ago, did not pick up the Wii.  Mario Cart is the number one selling game for the Nintendo Game Cube which is why I considered buying it.  The fact that it came with a steering wheel and actually felt like driving as opposed to arrow keys on a standard controller, sold me.  So on Monday I headed to Costco to get a few things and stopped at Best Buy to see if they had the game in stock as most online retailers were sold out and was fortunate enough to get a copy.  So I turn on my HD projector, lower my 80″ screen and race the mythical worlds of Nintendo!  

Next….Indiana Jones, the lego version.  I am going to rent this one before I take the $50 plunge.  Until next time, have a great summer!

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WABA (Washington Area Bicyclists Association)

Henry from WABA

So on my commute via Giant TCR C2 down P Street NW, I am stopped at a light with another cyclist.  He looks familiar and then it hit me….he was Henry from WABA.  We chatted a bit as we traveled between stop lights and 4 way stops in Georgetown.  I let him know that if it weren’t for my volunteering at the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Bike Valet that WABA organized, I would probably not have considered getting a bike when the GUTS Dupont bus route changed.

My last bike

My last bike I left in Rochester was a Huffy 18 speed mountain bike.  It was yellow, produced in the early 1990’s before 1994, and built like a tank.  I remember 1994 as that was the hear I took my bike on a road trip through Camp Casowasco, a church camp in the Fingerlakes region of NY State.  Let’s just say that you should not take a mountain bike on a road trip!  I was always last and had so much resistance that I needed to petal down the hills!

My current bike

My current bike is a Giant TCR C2.  I talked about this in an earlier post.  This is a racing inspired road bike and I have been able to hit 30 pretty easily and upper 20s on the flat stretches.  I did get my first flat however due to road glass this past Wed on my way to Job #2.

Thanks!

So, I just wanted to thank Henry and everyone else at WABA or who is a WABA member as I am, for organizing Bike to Work Day and for advocating for cyclists in the greater DC area!  You have inspired me to become a lifetime cyclist and as long as my knees hold up, plan to ride often to offset the rising gas prices and public trans fees which can add up.

I also want to thank Hudson Trail Outfitters and City Bikes who transformed my initial bike wish being a hybrid with disk brakes and internal gear hub to a road bike with caliper brakes and standard 20 speed drive train!  I know It was tough to get me to rethink my requirements, but when weight came into play, the lighter components won out and I am very happy with my road bike!

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Failed Customer Service: Outback Steakhouse Arlington, VA

I added a note to my iPhone, but failed to blog about it.  This happened on May 15, my 30th Birthday.

 

Outback Steakhouse Arlington VA

Menus are now on tables to give to yourself – Sinking to a fast food level…soon they will be on a computer screen above you head.  LOL.

Waiter acknowledged us and came back later.  He took drinks apps and entree at once.  I forgot to mention a drink and he did not catch that until coming back with the others drinks and bread.

Our apps and salads that were ordered as sides came followed 2 Min later by dinner!

I mentioned we had not touched apps or salads yet and was offered to have my steak held under a heat lamp in the kitchen.  I declined as others were already served.

As dishes were emptied we put them on the booth ledge to make room.  They were not picked up 🙁  I then put them on the recently vacated neighboring table which had yet to be cleared.

While we were eating our entrees we were given refils even though we had not seen the waiter to check if we needed them or if the steaks 3 of us ordered were cooked correctly.

I was finishing up my cold steak as I had my salad and app first while the others broke into the blooming onion which had become their dessert when the check was delivered. Ugh!  I was a little shocked he did not ask the table of plate cleaned guys if they wanted dessert!

I forgot to mention that we asked for ketchup to the kitchen runner who brought out the plates and it never was brought.  I had offered my ketchup since I don’t eat it.

I was not paying but I think the tip would have been small.  The only other pet peeve of mine is clearing dinner plates while others are eating.  This was not done because no plates were cleared!

To end on a positive note we did not run out of beverages!

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