My Future Temporary Home?

A Quick Gadget Post

Hello Friends! I've had in the back of my mind that every now and then I would like to toss out a gadget that I use and like, or one that I've seen and would like to buy. It's probably my constant listening to the Daily Giz Wiz that brought about my need to share gadgets. You can also check out Dick DeBartolo's (one of the Giz Wiz hosts) at his website here. Like everything else on this blog, I don't plan on trying to be a professional gadget reviewer or maintain any sort of schedule of postings. I'm just sharing stuff I like. Without further delay, let's take a look at the Streamlight Argo.
On a recent camping trip, a friend who works as a lineman for an electric company wowed us all with the headlamp he was using. It was blinding head on, and it cast a beam further than we thought an LED headlamp should. He began to give us a demo of the Argo and it's features. He also told us how useful it was on the job at night in the bucket truck.
The Streamlight Argo is a single LED headlamp that takes 3 AAA batteries. It has 3 intensity settings and a flash setting. It also has a battery meter with 3 level indications. I'm no expert, but in the high setting it was super bright. However, the low setting was no slouch for reading and close up work. The only downfall of the Argo is its battery life. The low setting offers 6.5 hours while the high setting will only last for an hour. That being said, I think it's a excellent headlamp. It's not super lightweight for say an extreme backpacking adventure, but for home use, short hikes, and around the camp work....it's great. It comes in yellow or black, and I got mine from Amazon.com for about $30. I've also seen it in big chain sporting goods stores.

~MW

Moving Dirt

A little contrary to operate, but 2 stumps, 2 rocks, a tree, and 1 old gas tank later I had the hang of it.

Tweet

I just wanted to let everyone know that you can know follow me on Twitter. As with many of the other forms of social media out there, I'm not sure what all this means or exactly how to use it. Nevertheless, let's give it a try...

-MW

Guns and BBQ

Wow! I have returned from a jam-packed few days in Roanoke, VA. Some may know that I used to live in Roanoke when I worked for Piedmont Airlines. I had a couple of days off, so I decided to go back to visit the one and only Eric Stalker! (now say it with a thunderous reverberation)
I must say that I was a little skeptical as to what we would do in Roanoke if I visited. I've been to the famous Mill Mountain Star, the 2 malls, the 3 Wal-Marts, and past the hospital. I wasn't sure what else there was to see. Thankfully, however, I was wrong. First I should mention that there was some fantastic grilling that took place. BBQ chicken breasts the first night, hamburgers the next, and kebabs the final day were the main menu items.

Needless to say, we ate quite a bit of food, and to top it all off we went to Pit Boss BBQ on the second day for lunch.
Pit Boss is one of my favorite places to eat in Roanoke. I started going there shortly after they opened over a year and a half ago. Now they've gotten so big that they are moving into a bigger building. Their sides are nothing to write home about, but they have some of the best pulled pork out there. Mix a little of their sweet and hot BBQ sauces....MMMM MMMM!! That's some good eatin'!!

We didn't stop there on day 2 though. We went to a shooting range in the Jefferson National Forest and had a splendid time. We shot a GSG rifle and Walther pistol...both .22 caliber. The weather was nice, the range was free, and we had 500 rounds to go through. I had a blast with the GSG which also had a red-dot scope of some sort on it. We also chatted it up with the fellow range-goers. I've never been to a real shooting range before. It was kinda nifty to chat with the others there and see what they were doing and what they were shooting. Of course, there was one guy who wanted to go around and just talk to everyone about his expertise on reloading. I got cornered for a bit, but I eventually eluded him and went back to shooting.
Day 3 ended with a cookout at a friend's house where we fixed the delicious kebabs. I had a fantastic time visiting Roanoke. I saw some friends, ate some BBQ, shot some guns, and ate more BBQ. Oh, I should also mention that we watched several episodes of Flight of the Conchords. That show is hilarious!! The first season was much better, but the second has had some great episodes.
I'm going to wrap this thing up. Until next time...

--MW

Pit Boss Smoker


Stalker


Taking My Shot

That Cardboard Box Is Toast


I eventually eluded him

Greetings friends, visitors, and computer bots scouring the web. I've decided to add the title of blogger to my short (maybe non-existent) list of credentials. I've been reluctant to do so up until now. There's something about blogs that intrigue me. Ideas and thoughts have been rattling around in my head about what a blog is and what mine should be like. I don't know that I've come up with a definitive answer, but I'm going to give it a go anyway.
I guess I intend to use this site as a branch of social media (to use a term I hate to hear used). I'll be the first to tell you that I'm horrible at staying in touch with friends on the phone or via email, but I have found that I enjoy reading blog postings from friends and seeing their pictures to catch up on what's going on in their lives. I have occasionally come across a website, picture, gadget or thought that I would like to share with others, and I figured this could be a good way to do it.
There are a couple of rules that I've put in place for myself. #1 Stay away from talking too much about work and the company I work for. Too many people have gotten themselves in trouble with this on the web, and I work in a highly regulated industry that is just sometimes best left to discussion over wings at BW3's #2 Don't post boring stuff to just post. I understand that everything I say won't be close to interesting to some, but I'll try to stay away from the mundane minute by minute posts (insert overly excited voice) "I went to the grocery store!!"
I look forward to the adventure ahead...
--MW