iPhone Car Fun

About a month ago, I bought a new car and got an iphone.  Trust me when I say I had big plans for using the iPhone to its funnest, fullest capacity in my car.  I wanted to be able to listen to music on Pandora, Sirius and Slacker.  I wanted to have the iphone guide me step by step to my destination hearing that annoying voice tell me to turn left while gazing down at a map wondering where the heck I am.  My new car lacked a thermometer so I wanted to be able to gaze down and see at a glance how hot or cold it is currently outside. 


Today, finally (thanks State of Maine for holding my refund check hostage) my ProClip car mount package arrived in the mail.  It's a kind of a custom made car mount and holder.  On the website ProClip you first select what kind of car you have.  They have mounts specifically designed to fit perfectly in every single car.  Depending on your car you even have several mounting locations.  I chose a center mount on the side which allows me to plug my iPhone into the car to charge while also plugging into the aux outlet...therefore, listening to music, gazing at temperatures and maps, all the while keeping the thing juiced up.  Once you select your car's mount you then select your phone holder.  Unlike many car mounts you can chose one that fits an iphone with a case.  I was a little worried about installing this bad boy but it turned out to be easy, breezy, took only 5 minutes and I didn't even swear once.

If you are as geeky and particular as I am, check out this article which pretty much says everything I just did put from someone who is a bit more articulate than I am :) ProClip Article


Here it is "naked".  The bottom piece looks like it's not in place but there's just a bit of a gap.  It is, in fact, locked in tight.

And here it is with the iphone in and ready to go.  It angles slightly toward the driver and is an easy reach even with my short arms. It gently and easily slides in and out of the holder.

All plugged in for maximun listening enjoyment.

Yes, it really is something like this that makes my life a little bit brighter!

Back in the saddle...make that back on the treadmill

I have said all along that I was taking the winter off from running.  Although I had higher hopes that I could continue all season it was just simply too dark and icy to safely and reasonably be able to run.  Besides, by taking time off running I was able to focus my energy on yoga and doing a new and fun group circuit workout.  I feel very fortunate that Martin's Point has a nice, new, clean, well equipped gym and it is free.  Free gym equipment, free classes, free personal trainer.  Love it.

This is the strength training area of the gym.  There is also a cardio room and an aerobic/personal training room.

The gym is called Nautical Mile and it overlooks the water so on a nice day it is easily one of the nicest views in the city.  If I have to be on a treadmill, it helps that they turn out to overlook a nice view.  However, this was the rainy view today:



So, this week I started training again.  I'm starting fresh as a newbie with week one of my couch to 5k program.  So, that means I'm doing a very easy 5 minute warm up followed by 8 intervals of a 60 second run followed by a 90 second walk recovery and ending with a 5 minute cool down.  In 30 minutes I am running a mere 8 minutes.  But it's a great way to ease back in and not get discouraged. Here is my result for week one.  Truthfully, it's a heck of a lot better than I did week one last time around.  And I have 8 weeks of training to go...

Please Spring...

I'm done with winter.  I've been done since January 1st.  I allowed a couple big storms to get everything all out of its system and then by February 1st I was REALLY done.  Now that it's March I am fearful of what may happen if we get another storm.

This was the view Saturday morning.  I will concede that it was a beautiful, peaceful, calm after the storm type of morning. I actually enjoyed the stroll to pick up my car after the 5th parking ban of the season.  Still, it bothers me that the snow is that high.  I decided I needed to do something to bring some spring into my life.

I bought some daffodils. I love their metaphor for spring.  They start out barren and bleak without any color and it's hard to believe that they will soon turn into something beautiful.  The second picture is 24 hours later and the last picture is 72 hours total.  The temperature may dip into the single digits tonight, there may be ice and snow threatening to trip me when I walk out the door.  But in my kitchen...spring has arrived!