At Least Look Like You’re Trying, TIA

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Bridget

For a Travel & Politics blog I haven’t posted very much about either yet.  Getting at least two photo albums posted a night is about all I can do consistently right now.

Since #SOPA hasn't passed yet...

I went to a meeting last night and heard a presentation by the Maglev President/CEO Tony Morris.  Maglev is a mass transit system except it’s owned and managed by the private sector, not the taxpayers.  FunFact: they have a test track set up in Powder Springs for anyone to visit.

It’s certainly not that I advocate this solution, but it is an option that isn’t being offered to the taxpayers as an alternate to TSPLOST.  I recorded the presentation because it was a lot to absorb in a short amount of time.  Tony went through proposed locations of transit stations, budgetary numbers, and the high-level project schedule, etc.

Again, if this isn’t the final solution – fine by me.  I just want to make sure that Georgia legislators are looking at all options and picking something that will really work (both monetarily and culture-wise) instead of saying “traffic is stopped; let’s look like we’re fixing it.”

Read more »

Categories: Politics | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Guess It’s Time to Hit the Road

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Bridget

Well, it’s official.  It’s time to add cycling to my skill set.  I’ve been talked into doing a sprint triathlon this summer called Tri the Mountains.  It’s a 600 yard swim, 18 mile out and back bike ride and 3.2 mile run.  I have a smidge of fear about being able to complete it, but … I’ve felt that way before doing most of the really cool things in my life.

Bridget's Cycling Gear

I dropped by the bike shop this afternoon and bought ‘the necessities’ as instructed.

+  Tire Change Kit
+  Seat Kit
+  Bike Pump with Pressure Gauge
+  Bike Tool
+  Spare Tube
+  Compressed Air

I also picked up an IO computer (since I’m a data girl), leg warmers, skinny cap (with a hole for ponytails? – awe.some) and bike shorts.  The bike shorts were my favorite.  I thought I would be stuck with tight spandexy shorts and was NOT looking forward to being in public with them.  These are loose-ish, cute, and plaid (score!) with built-in padded shorts underneath.

Sidenote: The triathlon was obviously invented by a man.  And while women now compete, the passive-aggressiveness remains.  Tight spandexy shorts look wrong on just about every body type except models yet men don’t have to deal with the self-consciousness.  As for the swimming portion, my wet suit is the ORCA brand…because every women wants to hit the water in a shiny black suit labeled as a whale.  Excellent marketing choice, guys.

Read more »

Categories: Beauty and Fitness | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

What I’m Learning While Designing This Blog

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Bridget
  • For better SEO, I’m renaming all photos from “Image37″ to “Machu_Picchu_Peru”.  It takes a while, but I might as well do it now and help the search engines find me.
  • I then have to resize all photos that I have saved on my computer to a smaller size; otherwise I get an upload error.
  • The Photo Album plugin in WordPress only allows you to upload 20 pics at a time, and the combined size has to be under 2MB.
  • “Free Picture Resize Starter” is an easy program to use and allows batch resizing.
  • If you resize the pics to 800×600 pixels, it’s a nice viewing size.  About 10 pics can be zipped and stay right under 2MB.
Summary: the Photo page of the blog is time-consuming, but I think it’ll be the best part.  Each pic is a wonderful memory for me.
Categories: Geek | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

2012 Adventure Race Training Schedule

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Bridget

Windsor Oaks Multi-sport (a neighborhood training group) has allowed me into their fold.  If you’re in the Cobb GOP, Candice Sherman’s husband Todd is a pretty entertaining ring leader.

Their group is infectious and has grown from 5 to 40 in a smidge over a year.  From talking to everyone at the meeting, there’s every level of athlete – novice, intermediate, and insane.  The list below was the consensus of what the group will participate in this year.  I have no intentions of doing all of them, but it sounds like the non-participants go to most of the races to cheer the others on…muy beuno.

Read more »

Categories: Beauty and Fitness | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Save The Date for Mass Precincts

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Bridget

I know plenty of you who lean Republican but are not active in local politics.  My hope is that by taking some of the questions out of the process, you’ll participate this year.  I’ll be the first to admit – I didn’t get active for a long time because I didn’t understand how local politics worked, didn’t think I could make an actual difference, and didn’t think I had the time to be active.

It’s easier and less time-consuming than I thought.  I’ll preface this and any future note about grassroots politics with one of my favorite quotes: “People teach what they most need to know.” …I might have to bounce your questions up, but we’ll figure it out.

As you know, ‘this is an important election year’.  Fun Fact #723: people in politics always say this is the MOST important election EVER!  Take it with a grain of salt knowing that the next one will be too….so why delay your involvement?

Read more »

Categories: Politics | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Really, gentlemen? Let’s get it together.

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Bridget

This blog post by Jim Galloway on the War Over PSC Stationary is a prime example of how ridiculous politics can be.  To paraphrase – Commissioner 1: I want my name EVERYwhere.  Commissioner: Well, I want my name everywhere except next to YOURS.

Just ridiculous.

Utility lobbyists are quite familiar with the hostilities between Tim Echols, the new chairman of the Public Service Commission, and commission member Laurence “Bubba” McDonald, who has spear-headed an attempt to put a stop to the PSC’s tradition of rotating the position.

Read more »

Categories: Politics | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Here We Go!

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Bridget

There’s a good chance this site will look different every time you click back over the next few days.  I’ve blogged before but never really set up my own site.  Buying this domain was a whim, but I feel…inspired.

I’m trying to figure out how to even organize my thoughts on a completely blank canvas.  Let’s get put on some coffee and see what we can break…

Loves, Bridg

Categories: For Fun | Leave a comment