Exposé: Footpads in our midst

I purchased a useful accessory for my new favorite piece of camping equipment, my Disc-O-Bed Cam-O-Bunk XL bunk bed cots.

Read more about how the Cam-O-Bunk makes camping comfortable again for a camper with arthritis.

Disc-O-Bed Cam-O-Bunk foot pads - 1

In spite of my familiarity with the product and my thorough knowledge of their intended use, the pedant in me read the label on the box and shouted:

“Oh no! We’ve got footpads in our midst!”

Define footpad 1

Merriam Webster clarifies my little joke, though also proves that clever Disc-O-Bed carefully spelled their product’s name “foot pad” instead of “footpad.”

I’d say the second definition would allow for the former in all correctness.

Define footpad 2

While I’m unlikely to have the opportunity to take my Cam-O-Bunk XL as far afield as outer space, the purpose of its foot pads is precisely that of NASA’s footpads. Neither of which poses too much risk to passing pedestrians.

Red Oxx Big Bull Roll-Up carry on bag keeps family travel organized

I’ve mentioned my Rolo hanging carry-on bag in a few contexts (Amtrak travel, summer camp.) I discovered it—and the Red Oxx Big Bull Roll-Up luggage that I’m reviewing now—during the same internet search for a new piece of kit that would help keep my family organized on a long trip.

Red Oxx Big Bull Roll-up Rolo hanging bag

Red Oxx Big Bull Roll-Up ($285) next to Rolo bag ($50), both empty

My summer road trip proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that this style of bag works really well for my family. DS1 stated that the Rolo made managing his things at summer camp easier. I appreciated the design at every brief overnight hotel stop.

Thus convinced, I bit the bullet and ordered the Red Oxx bag upon returning home. We’re going camping this summer, and I can definitely use a roll-it-out-and-see-it-all bag for each boy.

I got the Rolo bag first because it lists for $50 compared to the Big Bull Roll-Up’s $285 price. I could buy one Rolo bag for each family member (plus 1.7 extra) for the price of one Red Oxx Big Bull. But would I want to? Continue reading

Tally’s Hookers tow service to the rescue: a review I wish I had no cause to write

Sometimes, you need a service that you don’t particularly want. Tow trucks are a great example.

Today I’d like to thank Tally’s Auto of Gloucester, MA for timely, courteous service. A young man named Bart* took good care of my disabled vehicle and delivered her safely to my mechanic.

Tow truck Tally's - 1Our typically stalwart minivan let loose a cry of distress last week: the oil pressure warning light illuminated. My Owner’s Manual told me to stop driving immediately and call for help.

If I’m understanding the engine’s workings correctly, without properly pressurized oil circulating, an engine can be destroyed within minutes. Obviously, we don’t want that.

The good news is, it was a sensor failure, not an engine problem. Electronics are expensive to fix, but I needn’t fear hidden engine damage from the ½ mile I drove looking for a safe place to pull over along the highway.

Whilst looking up the URL for Tally’s, I realized that towing service reviews are often pretty harsh. Many people seem to equate the towing of their illegally parked vehicles with dishonest service providers.

I’m grateful that the service I needed was available when and where I called for it. My bulky van was in a tricky spot on a winding road, and Bart* handled the situation with aplomb.

Hurrah for the unsung heroes of the highway.

 

*His name might’ve been Brad. I was frazzled.

Camping in comfort when you live with chronic pain: begin with the bed

Growing up, my family took more camping vacations than any other kind. We went annually with the same people—friends with kids my age. Even when we moved to a neighboring state, we traveled for hours to camp with them.

These are golden memories for me, and it’s the kind of tradition I’d like to re-create for my own kids.

Camp Coleman Instant Tent 6

Coleman Instant Tent – 6 person model (Retail $180)

Lately, the trick has been figuring out how to travel the way I want to, experiencing the world at large, when my body has developed an autoimmune condition that sporadically surprises me with painful symptoms.

Camping for people of all abilities

Should a person with occasionally debilitating joint pain risk going camping?

Pardon my French, but: Continue reading

Books by my bedside 2017/07/22

I’ve noticed that I often bring up in conversation one or more of the fascinating books I’ve been reading lately, only to fail utterly at recalling titles or authors’ names. I’ll take this opportunity to at least have a handy reference available for anyone who cares to follow up on something I’ve said.

Just check my blog!

books 2017.07.22 - 1

Non-Fiction

History

The Bad-ass Librarians of Timbuktu : and their race to save the world’s most precious manuscripts by Hammer, Joshua

Dinner at Mr. Jefferson’s : three men, five great wines, and the evening that changed America by Cerami, Charles

White Trash : the 400-year untold history of class in America by Isenberg, Nancy

Language

The Little Schemer by Daniel P. Friedman and Matthias Felleisen

Pimsleur German I (audio CD)

Memoir

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind Kamkwanba, William

True Crime

In Cold Blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences by Capote, Truman

Fiction

 

The Fearless Travelers’ Guide to Wicked Places by Begler, Peter

 

Reading Notes:

Do you have a logical mind? Do you enjoy mental puzzles and games? Maybe you do, but you’ve never tried any computer programming? Or you know something about programming, but haven’t read this book?

books 2017.07.22 - 2Consider picking up a copy of The Little Schemer.

Your library might have The Little LISPer instead. It’s the same thing, just an older edition. Consider them equally good reads unless you have a specific need to learn the Scheme dialect of the language, LISP.

Though the first edition of The Little LISPer is as old as I am, I didn’t read it in college, where I majored in Computer Science. I picked it up a year ago for fun.

The Little Schemer is one of the most mind-stretching things I’ve ever read.

You don’t need a special application or even a computer to learn from this book. A pencil and paper or text editor will do. For an intellect that revels in a certain kind of logical thought, it is well worth the effort to give it a whirl.

This isn’t about learning a piece of technological equipment. It’s strength training for your mind.