The Half Marathon
On saturday I participated in the Foothills B&O Half Marathon and HAD A BLAST. As I’ve mentioned before, I am not a runner. I do no training {because I am a total slacker}. Yet every once in awhile I still sign up for races with a friend or two because hey, why not. How hard can it be right? Roll out of bed, exercise, eat yummy treats afterwards, and then spend the rest of the day moaning in bed watching PBS documentaries.
After the survival experiment last month, and getting food poisoning the week before last, my only goal was not to finish last. There were only 156 runners and I was worried about it being a real possibility. But in the end, I managed to finish 133rd out of 156 runners with a time of 2:35:30. I was shocked. And thrilled.
Somewhere around mile 6 there was a water station. It had GU, and Gatorade and water. But what I really wanted was a donut from the box shoved behind the table that was for the volunteers. Once I saw those, all I could think about was crossing the finish line so I could get a donut somewhere. Oddly enough, there was a bakery across from the finish line. {Saweeeet!} Let me tell you Bob, a custard filled donut with chocolate icing has never tasted so good.
The Foothills B&O Half Marathon was by far, the best course on the planet. Lot’s of trails, mud, bridges, scenery, volunteers you name it, they had it. Only 250 runners are allowed to sign up each year so if you are thinking about doing a half marathon next summer… this is the one to sign up for.
The Hillbillies Sick Chicken
Last week The Girl and I got a call from Mr. Hillbilly. There was something wrong with one of his hens and could we come over right away and diagnose the problem. We all suspected the chicken was egg-bound. So Mr. HB checked with Dr. Google and ended up putting the chicken in a warm water bath and massaging the sweet little bird {named Hanna} for 30 minutes.
The next day the chicken was all better. No egg, but the chicken was no longer showing signs of stress and her vent was no longer pulsating like it was the day before.
The Hillbillies have come to the conclusion Hanna was stressed out from being molested by their rooster. Which of course has traumatized the whole family. Needless to say they are looking for a new home for the roo. Good thing this is suburbia and they can buy more egg layers when they need them. If they were true pioneers, they wouldn’t have this option.
The Coat That Won’t Stop Ripping
2 years ago I purchased a winter coat on clearance from REI. If I remember correctly the original price was something like $199 and I ended up paying $79 for it. Which was a TON of money for me to spend on a coat. But it was so lovely and warm and fit me PERFECTLY that I decided to splurge on it.
The VERY first time I wore my fluffy new coat was to a sporting event for one of the kids. I had been sitting on some bleachers and when I got up I heard it rip at the very bottom and feathers went flying everywhere. I was so ticked I had snagged it on the bottom of my seat.
The next fall I snagged the back of the coat on who knows what and had to make yet another crappy repair {I will never win any awards for my sewing skills}. Then, last winter the seams of the left inside arm busted open {I have no idea how} and made another hole {which I never got around to repairing because I’m lazy and c’mon, nobody’s going to see it right?}.
Then on friday, I was walking Lucy the puggle princess with her leash around my right hand {with my hands in my pockets} when the UPS truck drove by and she lunged at it. Our old UPS driver always gave out cookies to the neighborhood dogs. So any time she see’s a big brown truck and it doesn’t stop to give her a cookie, she freaks out. When she lunged at the truck it made my arm jerk out of my coat pocket and I TORE THE COAT AGAIN.
Goody Gravy people. Has this type of thing ever happened to one of your favorite articles of clothing? I LOVE my coat. I even thought about returning it for a replacement but I don’t think my coat qualifies since it’s been a little over 2 years since I purchased it {and I didn’t keep my receipt}. Also, REI’s guarantee doesn’t cover ordinary wear and tear or damage caused by improper use or accidents.
WHY CAN’T THINGS LAST FOREVER?
I’m not ready to give up my tattered coat just quite yet, but when I do, I’m going to splurge on L.L. Bean’s Ultra Long Winter Coat {in black of course} and my dream boots to complete the look. Sure, I could use my garage sale money and invest in them now {L.L.Bean has a 100% satisfaction guarantee NO MATTER WHAT policy} but I’m just not ready to throw in the towel yet.
~Mavis
Rosaleen says
It is hard to make a valid comment on the coat without seeing it in person and knowing more about everything, but the seams shouldn’t be disintegrating as they appear to be doing in the pics. The manufacturer may have used poor quality thread which is more common than it should be. Seams can be re-stitched, but you are probably better off using repair patches or tape specifically made for nylon fabrics. Sometimes one can find a nearly matching color or just clear repair tape. Check a fabric store, Walmart’s notions, or an outfitter, such as REI.
Mavis says
Great advice. Thanks for chiming in!
Tina B says
I had a Columbia jacket lose the entire inside seam of a sleeve and had to write to the company about it. They replaced it with an entirely new coat! I was pleased.
I stick with tried and true L.L. Bean coats for me now, though. Those last seemingly forever, and when something does go “poof!” it’s usually time to replace it due to looking shabby overall anyway.
I’ve had my boys hand their Lands End jackets down through 4 of them, and still look pretty decent after #4 got through with it. Although that was before they merged with K-Mart and Sears and some of their quality isn’t so great, although they do still stand by their products.
Mavis Butterfield says
Tina I don’t think L.L. Bean has merged with anyone. I believe they are still a privately held company. I know Sears bought out Land’s End in 2002 though. Maybe that is what you are referring too.
Laura says
Definitely take it back and share the story. Shouldn’t be falling apart on first wear!
Allison W says
I live close to the Freeport store for LL Bean and there are outlets around too, I can look for a deal on one for you! My Cousin got that same coat in black at the outlet in NH for only $99!
I love my duck boots from Beans! Paired with my Beans pea coat I’m toasty warm all winter!
Ramona says
I have a “yard” coat that I purchased at Fred Meyer in the late 80’s. I got it for 8.00 dollars because it was missing a snap. It’s just a plain no name nylon type coat that I throw on whenever I am outside working, it just recently got a rip in it.
Mavis Butterfield says
Wowza! Not that was a good purchase.
sheila says
What the, WHAT??? You’re wearing a coat. In July. What crazy temps are you having? As I type this, it’s 101 outside and my ac is out. …I gotta move to pacific northwest….
Mavis Butterfield says
It was like 65-70 the other day. I usually don’t take off my coat unless it’s over 70. I’m weird, I know.
Helen in Meridian says
I think you and the girl need to start hitting all the thrift shops. I saw that coat at the Goodwill in the last 2 weeks. It was NOT BLack and was a Medium, I think. Anyway, this is the time of year when the thrift stores get old coats etc in their donations. What size are you, X Small or Small.\? Perhaps your jacket looked great and fit snuggly but needed to be one size larger for all your active lifestyle. The reason you keep wearing coats is that you need more body fat on that little frame. Because of LL Beans great warranty, perhaps you can exchange one by saying you wanted a different color and size. Hmmmm
Mavis Butterfield says
Size small and I have long monkey arms.
kcb says
Chicken Update…Hanna seemed fine after 2 days in the kennel by herself. We put her in the pen & the rooster immediately attacked her! The HB boy intervened & the roo settled down a bit. The roo has now gone to live with Jim the Coop builder. The girls are happy and chicken drama has ended!!
Frannie says
Patagonia is expensive up front… but they stand behind all their products! I had a windstopper jacket for years before it stopped windstopping. Sent it back and they gave me a gift card for the FULL price of the coat. I got another one. The same warranty stands on all their stuff. They also recycle the items you send back! My hubby is a saltwater fishing guide, and and he says their guarantee and the quality are the best.