Seven Traits

Tammy Runs WV tagged me to list seven traits about me.  Ok, here goes...

1.  I don't like eggs.  Can't stand them really.  Scrambled, poached, fried, hardboiled, etc.  The consistency seriously makes we gag.  I will eat eggs with additional flavoring added, like in an omelet or with salsa.  I love Migas.  But a big plate of scrambled eggs -- just the smell-- will make me wretch.

2.  I don't look like a runner.  I am big (6'2"or so) and carried extra weight around for a while.  But even at my heaviest, most out of shape, I could still run 9:00 minute miles or so.  I am the person that, in a race, someone says, I can't believe I got beat or passed by that guy.

3. On the other hand... I have fast friends.  My two best running friends are both really, really fast.  One runs sub 3:00 marathons over age of 40, and another runs around 3:10. Whenever I want a slice of humble pie, I think of them.

4.  I love running in Central Park, most of the time.  With traffic from cars, not so much, but I rarely run with cars int he Park, so I just love it.

5.  I don't really like "running" books.  I like books about training, etc., but the average book about the joys of running just don't get to me.  The joy derived from running is intensely personal, and it is hard to read about someone else trying to express it.  I have a hard time explaining it to others, but wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone was a runner?

6.  I love New York street food.  I haven't eaten at most of New York's fancy restaurants and I love them.  but recently (last several years) I have eaten more and more off street carts (I don't mean hot dog guys; I mean lunch time street carts).  Once I overcame my germ fears, and actually tasted the food, you can get a really tasty, unique, quality meal in just an amazing package.  I challenge anyone to eat food from Kwik Meal cart at 46th and 6th and not be blown away.

7.  My favorite sport is college football.  Love to watch it, and most fall Saturdays are devoted to it.  Michigan and the SEC are the Best.  I probably know more about the SEC than most people (even kids) in the city.  On a Saturday, count on me watching football.

New Gadget

I love gadgets, and will usually lust after the newest and latest gizmo. But I am always a little hesitant to jump, so I end up buying something a week or two after it is out. Not today.

I just got the new Blackberry Tour for Verizon. It is wonderful.


First, a blackberry will never be an iPhone. I have an iPod Touch, which is basically an iPhone without phone, although it does have WiFi, so I can surf net, send email, etc. My wife has an iPhone. An iPhone is great, its cool and a truly wonderful device. But it really not a good device if you type and send a lot of email or lengthy ones. And our IT folks at work won't support an iPhone, so I can't get one for work even if I wanted to.

I have had a Blackberry Curve (the 8330 for the bb cognescenti), and have been waiting for the Tour (a/k/a the Niagara) for some time. I want a Blackberry Bold, but that is only available on AT&T, and that won't work for me. So I saw an ad for the Tour yesterday and literally went right then to the store and got it.

What do you get? A bigger keyboard than the Curve, but not as big as the Bold. A size inbetween the two. A glorious screen, updated software. A much better web browser. Faster processor. Is it a huge upgrade? Hmmmm. I did not like the small keyboard on the Curve, so for me yes. If you love the Curve, I would not rush out and get a Tour -- it won't be that much different or that much of an upgrade. And the new Tour has a micro USB port (as opposed to a mini USB on the Curve and every other old blackberry), so all my cables and chargers (including the one I just bought in Colorado) won't work for the Tour.

And my first battery was bad. I had to go back to Verizon store and get a second one (which was an easy swap out, without much hassle.)

But so far..loving the new phone...