Bring It All Back

I had a great day in Sonoma this weekend...and after taking a picture each hour to share with you, my computer decided to delete them from my camera without downloading them. Imagine fall in Sonoma and you'll get the idea.

Here's a video that gave me goosebumps. I can't wait to see the movie so I can relive my life one year ago (when HBO lets us poor people at it).

See Ya, SIGG

Just in case you didn't know (I've been surprised how many people haven't heard...but then again, I didn't hear that all these T-Mobile customers lost their contacts or something like that)...Sigg bottles contain BPA. You have until Oct 31 to deal with this...take them back to where you bought it (not sure if you need a receipt) or send them back to Sigg. If you're lucky like me, you have a store nearby (Sports Basement for me) that will just take the bottles back.

You see...I never was into Siggs. Here's why...an email exchange between SIGG and a a friend of a friend of a...something. These emails are from March 2007.

From Sigg:

I am not aware of any major changes to our liner in the last 2 years as you mention – I’d be interested in seeing the reports you are referring to.While the ingredients of the SIGG liner are proprietary, I can tell you that our bottles are tested frequently in Quality Control as well as in independent laboratories. In all the tests, SIGG bottles show no migration of chemicals, no trace of BPA. SIGGs are safe and I believe are the best reusable water bottles on the market.

From customer:
Thank you - my question was not about migration of BPA, the question was whether BPA is used in the liner. No one seems to respond to that - is there any information you can provide?

From SIGG:
It’s a proprietary formula – I’ve been told best on earth – exclusively manufactured for bottles. It is a competitive advantage for SIGG and therefore the ingredients are kept confidential.
But isn’t the real issue to ensure that what you and your family are drinking is free of any chemicals. I know the issues surrounding polycarbonate #7 (Lexan) have to do with the problems these containers have with migration of the materials, chemicals. On the other hand, numerous research studies show SIGGs are leach-free.

I want to call attention to a few things. One, I am not trying to flame SIGG. They have attempted to make a good product and been successful, most obviously with their branding. For some reasons, I do not wish this to be the complete downfall of the brand, but really? They refused to answer the questions posed by this consumer. That's number two. They are treating this customer as if she has no intelligence. What a shame.

As a result of these emails back in 2007, I had no interest in supporting this company. If they couldn't say they were BPA free, I didn't want one. I do not appreciate things that sound like lawyer-ese anyway in these situations. SIGG could have been the ones to make their reputation. Well, I guess they did this. They now have a reputation of being untrustworthy.

So, I have not been too jazzed about them, but, I got one in an emergency while I was traveling (that is, I didn't have a bottle). I liked that it didn't seem to dent as easily so I got another for school (since the Kleen Kanteen I have got so dented on the job that it wouldn't even stand up straight it was so dented). Then I got a third as a gift.

Then the BPA scandal. I was officially done. I had given them a chance and they failed. So, I took my three bottles to Sports Basement and they told me I could exchange them for three bottles of any brand that I desired. So three more Kleen Kanteens for me! At least Sports Basement knows how to take care of its customers.

Soggy Cobwebs and Heavy Feet

Biblical rain, my friends. And I couldn't be happier. I love the rain. Love, love, love it.

Buuuuutttt....there are some reasons why I Can't Stand The Rain:

1. I can't put my laundry on the line. Thankfully, I didn't this weekend (because I knew the rain was coming) so my laundry is almost dry, rather than being sopping wet.

2. My goal to get back on the bike this week is not looking good.

3. No offense, but I really dislike Halloween decorations beyond a pumpkin...and soggy cobwebs really make me gag. Of course yuppie Silicon Valley is now adorned in very, very soggy cobwebs. One way to stay skinny...

4. Running long distances is fun in the rain because you can feel like a bad a**, but today my shoes became very, very water-logged and as a result, felt very, very heavy for my last mile of eight.

5. Our nice landscaping at school washed away...I guess the landscapers didn't get the drainage right and so there's mulch floating on a small pond of water. Oh and our school's roof leaks!

6. My kids don't know what I'm doing when I sing "Blame It On The Rain." (Does anyone think this is a tragedy...or at least a tragedy that you can't buy the song sung by Milli Vanilli on iTunes?)

But I still love the rain because it makes California a little more real and a little less perfect.

Shout outs:

1. Newark Mayor Cory Booker. He was on my favorite radio program last week (On Point) and on my run today, I was completely hanging on every word he said. He is completely inspiring, even if he is a politician (he does go out with police in the middle of the night to talk to drug dealers). Two sound bites that I'm sure should be attributed to someone else, but seem completely relevant to the job I try to do every day. I am going to watch "Street Fight" about his first run for office. And apparently everyone already knows about him, but I didn't and he could make me move to Newark. JK!

Quotes:

"If you want the results that other people aren't getting, you have to be willing to do the things that other people aren't doing."

"You cannot let your inability to do everything undermine your determination to do something."

2. The NYC PS 22 Chorus...rocking "Run This Town." These kids are in 4th grade?!?!

Run Down

This will be a run down, but since I love post titles that multi-task, it also describes how I'm feeling these days (months?). But, I'm trying to keep my positivity ratio at 3:1. I think I am successful here.

The scoop:

1. Working about 70 hours a week and resenting that.

2. Haven't seen my best friend in weeks.

3. "Ran" 20 miles on Sunday...that is...I did well for about 14 miles and then had Deja Vu of my marathon for the last six. Good thing I had so many podcasts to listen to. I'm feeling okay about this hiccup in the running plan. 20 miles is a long way and I have two months to get ready for Sacto. I need to figure out my fueling plan. The Clif Bloks don't seem to be working with my stomach.

4. Killed a 9 mile threshold workout this morning and felt great! Thank goodness for that.

5. I love the fall! It was overcast all day and I had the day off...my teacher friend came over and we worked until the cows came home. I followed Bec's 45 minutes on - 15 minutes off strategy and it was successful. I work so well when it's overcast, although I'm not the best people person.

6. Reading the LeBron James memoir and I can't wait to pass it along to some students.

7. Booked my Veteran's Day weekend flight to NYC for some time with Chapin girls, Jews, and Blue Jays.

8. Things I would have rather been doing this weekend instead of just trying to get my life back to normal: Been in Boston for the Tufts 10K, been in Chicago for the marathon, been in Tahoe for a hike, or been in Hawai'i because I think that's what I could use right now.

5770 is kicking me in the rear end. What gives?

Miss you all! I'll be back soon.

Shout outs to: Mr. Lee for a new baby, Hess Express and Lopez for helping me Save The Date. And to Jim and Pam for tying the fictional knot. One of the best Office scenes ever. Hopefully this clip will make you smile just a bit.