NATO phonetic alphabet
I’ve long recognized the utility of the nato phonetic alphabet, but it never really stuck while I was in the scouts. There was no requirement to learn it, so I didn’t really. I found the link below, which is very helpful.
http://quizlet.com/868947/nato-phonetic-alphabet-flash-cards/
click learn
Hopefully I’ll have it down after going through the learn part of the flashcards a few times. In my line of work, if you say, “B as in Brian, you instantly lose credibility.” Two tips, they spell x-ray, that way, and for some reason, juliett is julie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet
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Fixing my work truck’s clear coat, watching paint dry, Casa Magna
In about 2010 or 11 I asked my uncle to start looking for a truck for me. I only had a coupe sports car, which wasn’t ideal for hunting, camping, home ownership, or really anything other than spirited driving. My uncle has a bunch of classic cars, and lives in a part of WV that has a much greater selection of trucks than can be found where I live. My dream truck was a gen 3 K1500. I wanted a black one, preferably an ’87, as it was the first year for fuel injection. I don’t think Riggins drove an 87, but essentially, I was looking for something like this (last one is for the ladies/CW):
After about a year of looking, but not being able to find anything in my price range that was in decent shape, I ended up buying my uncle’s old work truck. Its a 97 Chevy 4×4, with a crew cab, which was a custom conversion option done by Centurion. I’ll probably do a full post on it in the future. When I bought it, the clear coat was peeling off the top of the rear driver side pillar. Rain got into it, made the separation bigger, then it froze, got even bigger, etc. Eventually I was left with what you see below. I figured it was time to do something. I waited for the first good span of clear days on the weather report, and got to work.
Its an old truck, with a lot of dings and scrapes, so I really just wanted to arrest the problem, not put lipstick on the pig (though I do like the way she looks, perfectly worn). I took a screwdriver to the peeling parts, then sanded the bare paint. Then I put painters’ tape on the glass and parts I didn’t want to cover in clear coat.
I intended to only do the one pillar, but also found some potential problems on the other side, so I taped up some more. I couldn’t resist the man-work selfie.
Once I had a coat on, it was time to watch some paint dry. It was a mild day after a long winter. I decided to pass the time with a Casa Magna Colorado Torito. Very earthy, and lots of pepper. I bought a few Casa Magnas back when it won cigar of the year. I bought them in the winning size. I found the cigar to be delicious, but it was just too strong for me. This smaller version was enjoyable for me, but still fairly strong. Its strength is about my limit. It wasn’t quite as good as I remember, but I can’t say if that was due to the size difference, or perhaps time, or its popularity causing quality to decrease. In any event, it was a good stick. I didn’t buy more than one, and I don’t think I will buy another anytime soon (see what the experts think about it).
I did literally watch some paint dry. However, what you don’t see if the two days it took me to give it several coats. The finished product doesn’t look too bad. The base coat bubbled up for some reason. When I sanded, the bubbles broke, and left a bunch of silver circles. I don’t mind the look, I just hope the clearcoat sticks. If the paint keeps the clearcoat from being damaged further, I’ll consider this project as a success. I think the paint (link below) was about $30, and I already had the painters’ tape.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043B7UQY/ref=oh_details_o09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Quest Protein Bars
I’ve been enjoying quest protein bars for a while now. I need to eat breakfast every morning in order to not feel nauseous. Some people can skip breakfast and feel fine, but I’m not one of them. A couple eggs is probably my favorite breakfast, but I don’t always have time. No matter what I choose to eat, it seems that protein helps me feel well the best, the longest. I’ve had a few protein bars before, but none I loved. They generally have too many calories, don’t taste good, or have ingredients I don’t like (particularly soy protein). Quest bars taste good. I don’t just mean good for protein bars, they legitimately taste good. On top of that, they’re only about 170 calories per bar (but vary by flavor), despite having 20 grams of protein. Thats enough for me to make it to lunch without feeling ill. Quest makes a big deal about low-carb, no gluten. I’m really just worried about calories, taste, and getting to lunch. Its also nice that they’re on amazon prime. I linked to the sampler, but the chocolate chip cookie dough is by far my favorite.
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Weekend Catch up, Mike’s Deli in Falls Church
I’ve had Mike’s Deli a few times, but mostly for breakfast. I enjoy a large breakfast, and Mike’s usually hits the spot. It was nice outside this weekend, so the wife and I walked over to Mike’s Deli for some lunch. I got the blackened avocado burger. It was really good. Its the kind of burger that tastes like it came off a backyard bbq. Juicy and delicious. I try not to drink too much soda, and generally have diet, so real coke is a rare luxury.
On Sunday, a friend who is having a baby soon wanted to play some golf. Most courses were closed since there was still a fair amount of snow on the ground. Top golf had a three hour wait. We decided to just enjoy some cigars. I got him a box he can hand out when the child is born. We had two extra sticks to taste test the box. We found them quite enjoyable. (I still can’t thank the BOTL that sent me the cigars enough. These will really impress when handed out)
We had some bourbon and ginger, or applejack and ginger with the cigars. Some more friends came by, and then we went out to Ireland’s 4Ps.
I hope to see my buddy again on St. Patrick’s Day, but he may have his baby before then. Either way, I look forward to getting out for that round.
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Bull Run Shooting Center, sporting clays, Browning Maxus, and Stevens 311 16 gauge
It finally warmed up enough to do something outside. While there is definitely a lot of snow in these pictures, it was actually in the 50s and sunny. Not a bad day for some clays at Bull Run Shooting Center. We threw the Browning Maxus and my old Stevens 311 in the truck and headed out.
My dad got to break in his new filson shooting vest that I got him for xmas. I finally found a cheap box of ammo that works in my Stevens 311. Its hard enough to find 16 gauge, but 16 gauge with a soft primer for an old gun is even worse. Fortunately, my local dicks has remington game loads that fed flawlessly in the 311. I went through 4 boxes without a single issue. Rio, Fiocchi, and Federal have primers that are too hard. I did find some winchester that works, but not at a good price point. This Remington gets the job done on the cheap, and I couldn’t be happier.
We enjoyed the mild weather and broke a lot of clays. Great day.
Bull Run Shooting Center has a learn to shoot class that only costs $35. I’ve done this class when a friend, and its definitely geared toward the first time shooter. They have a new class that teaches you the basics, and how to shoot a game. I assume they teach you 5 stand, trap, skeet, etc. They have everything you need to shoot, and its included in the cost of the classes. Don’t forget to tip the instructor. If you know how to shoot, then you don’t need anymore info from me. But if you’re looking for a local shooting instructor, the desk at the shooting center can put you in contact with one. When I wanted to get good enough to hunt, I took lessons with an instructor by the name of Dennis. I’d definitely recommend you ask for him at the front desk. Here is some more info from another blog; looks like BRSC is ADA compliant/accessible. Pretty cool.
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Ledbury, CNU, Trible (P-Trib), and a N’awlins playlist for Fat Tuesday
I got an email today, which proved to constitute some excellent marketing. Ledbury is a clothing company headed up by Paul Trible. I have shirt made by them, which I very much like. Its a Virginia based company, and the shirt I have is the Goshen, which I like to believe is named after the Scout Camp here in VA. Paul is the son of another Paul Trible, the president of CNU, my alma mater. I concur that Ledbury’s button stance is superior to Brooks Brothers, but most of the shirts in my closet are still Brooks Bros. Thats primarily because the majority were purchased before Ledbury was around, but also because I like a button down collar, which is too rarely offered by Ledbury. I know sartorialists will deride my predilection for the button down, but it just looks the best without a tie. I only really wear a tie at events or important meetings, so most days I’m in a button down. I digress. Ledbury sent out an email with a great Mardi Gras playlist, so I thought I’d share it. Its so good, it got me to post this, and think about their shirts. Well played Ledbury.
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The Deli at Nourish Market
We used to go to Kennedy’s natural foods all the time for a sandwich. When they changed ownership, I’m not sure why, but it fell off our radar. I remembered it for some reason the other day, and we got some takeout. Its now called Nourish Market.
Let me first say that I don’t know much about health food. I eat fried food, southern food, mcdonalds, etc. So while sprouted multigrain bread does sound better than normal bread, I’m not sure by how much or even why.
I used to be a big fan of their tuna salad sandwich, so I got that. The wife got a black bean burger (vegetarian). Neither of us are even slightly vegetarian, but we are open to good food. Both sandwiches were very good. I’d get both again. They taste great, and I like to think I’m eating at least slightly healthier and more responsibly/locally than usual.
Now for the fun part. I saw on their website that they have local kombucha on tap, and more options than anywhere around. I’d never had kombucha, but there is not much I’ve not heard of, given the strange predilections of my health conscious friends that are into things like paleo, perching, barefoot running, and other things I’m sure I’ve incorrectly identified and will hear about later. Back to the kombucha. We got an original, and a fruit flavored one. The original was as described on wikipedia: slightly effervescent tea, with a mild vinegar flavor. The fruit one tasted like pure carbonated vinegar. I kept an open mind, and drank a whole one, but I’m not sure I would again. Lets just say it was an experience.
If you like health food, or just want a really good sandwich, check out Nourish Market.
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Rose Gold Everything
I started this post for VDay week, but never finished it. Way back in 2009/10, I decided to go pick out an engagement ring. Since jewelry/jewelry stores were not my forte, I asked my dad and family for help. My dad took me to his guy in DC. He asked me some questions about myself and my potential fiance, and then showed me some options. I like to think of myself as a fairly traditional guy, but I ended up with a fairly modern looking solitaire in platinum. I can’t find an image that looks like what I got, but to get an idea of how modern it is, here is the jeweler, and the collection. Rose gold is not for everybody, and I think my wife’s platinum rings are perfect for her. When it came time to get my ring, I had a decision to make. I knew I wanted something subtle and traditional, but gold or silver tone? My dad has gold, as most men of his generation do. Every single one of my married friends opted for silver tone, be it platinum, silver, white gold, tungsten, or titanium. My jeweler, seeing that I wasn’t completely sold on yellow gold or silver tone, brought me something I’d never heard of before: rose gold. I loved it, and still do. The addition of copper makes a unique color that stands out in a subtle way, and looks great (as long as you keep at least a base tan, assuming you’re caucasian). I couldn’t be happier with my choice, and have since, gotten a few rose gold accessories:
The three watches pictures above are not automatic, and fairly inexpensive. They are not solid rose gold, but have held up very well. If you’re young, on a budget, or not that into watches, these make very good choices. All are Invicta brand. The silver watch on the upper left of the winder is automatic, and also Invicta. They make very good watches at a great value. The silver one, while not rose gold, approximates a bond watch I’ve always been a fan of:
Much more about the bond watch and strap here:
I’m sold on rose gold. The only drawback I’ve experienced is that I’ve not found a set of tuxedo studs in rose gold.
If you have the means and inclination, here are some more rose gold options:
If yellow gold is more your style, enjoy the following (probably NSFW, language) videos:
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Salteñas, Review of Luzmila’s Cuisine in Falls Church City
If you live in Falls Church City and have not been to Luzmila’s Cuisine, you are doing yourself a disservice. The food here is excellence, very affordable, and comes in huge portions. There are lots of interesting options on the menu. When we dine in, we usually try something different. However, when we want some take out on a lazy weekend, we go for the saltenas. The Falls Church News Press has this to say about Luzmila’s saltenas:
“At $2 a piece, the saltenas on the appetizer menu should be the start of every meal at this establishment. Pieces of meat (chicken or beef), vegetables, olives, and hard boiled egg are mixed in gravy and served inside a hard, sweet pastry shell, served up with a small spoon to help hungry patrons fight past the outer shell. Most diners, however, are happy to pick the fist-sized treats and dig in, accepting the inevitable mess as the price to pay for enjoying the delicious turnovers more quickly.”
If you thought about going previously, but the hours of operation didn’t work for you, check again. I don’t recollect how recently it was, but Luzmilas changed their hours so that they’re now open after 5pm pretty often (it used to be more of a lunch and weekend spot). If you dine in, you may get a waiter/waitress doesn’t speak english very well, but they’re always friendly and helpful. There is really no excuse not to stop by and give Luzmila’s a try.
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NASCARs back
If you still have it on the DVR, I won’t ruin it for you. I don’t really have a driver right now, but the manufacturer I wanted to win did cross first. I used to be a Clint Bowyer fan when he was in a Chevy, but I can’t in good conscience root for a ‘yota. I at least need to get behind a team so I can be more into it this season. I’ll leave y’all with a couple of clips to get you in the racing mood.
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