I sorta walked away from YouTube years ago and recently decided to look into putting more of my content on that site.
Here is the first ChrisCast that I posted to YouTube
Playing around with the tagging and various other aspects to posting on YouTube.
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On one of our bike trips we discovered Jacob’s Well Nature Area… now we delve further into the woods.
Maddi, Dawn and I climbed Old Badly this afternoon after a quick meal at Mima’s. It was a lot of fun and the weather combined with the view from the top made it well worth the climb.
We got some family photos taken shortly before Christmas and I just realized that I haven’t shared them on here. An excellent photographer and good friend, Beth Rasmussen, took the shots for us and Dawn organized the outfits etc. I think they turned out great. This first one was one of the toughest to get because someone was always blinking or turning away etc.
These next two are just gorgeous - look at those beautiful kids! The closer one does a great job of showing off those shiny eyes and bright smiles, the further out shows off what a beautiful location we chose for the session. (Gruene, Texas)
I can’t even begin to describe how blessed I feel to have all the changes that have taken place in my life recently. What a great Christmas season!
It looks like it is going to drop down to around 27 degrees the next night or two - that combined with precipitation means we could actually get some snow. That would be cool! Don’t worry - if that happens, there will be video and photos. 
I have to say that it has been an amazing weekend in terms of weather - beautiful crisp, cool mornings, followed by spectacularly sunny afternoon skies and not an ounce of humidity to be found! Dawn and I went for a walk Saturday morning to kick things off and it was a great way to launch the weekend.
As Sunday winds to a close, the skies are still sunny and the coolness is still in the air - this IS the good stuff!! If you live in Texas and haven’t been able to get out and enjoy this great weather, I feel for you. If you have, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
It makes you appreciate the important things in life. It also gets you fired up for another action-packed week!
At the conclusion of this ride, there are only 875 miles remaining until I crack 20,000 total ridden.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has come out with a amazing new report. Apparently, when a larger vehicle crashes into a smaller one, the smaller takes more damage. I am so glad I have the lapdog for the auto industry to teach me about the basics of physics.
Yes, the IIHS took the current trendy microcars - Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Smart ForTwo and crashed them into larger midsize sedans. Their findings were not at all surprising, but the report was written as if it was a shocking revelation. It read like something out of Fox News teaser - “Are you driving a coffin? Find out at 10!”
The IIHS went further and blamed lower fuel consumption, saying this is why manufacturers are making smaller (more dangerous) cars. They suggest that the plan by the Obama administration making fuel economy vehicle-type-specific instead of fleet-wide will take away the incentive for manufacturers to make smaller, more fuel efficient cars. (And they are probably right)
So what’s my take? Look, I don’t care what kind of car you buy. If you need (or want) a truck - then by all means - do it. If you want fuel economy to save some bucks - more power to you. This is America. What gets me steamed is when these entities spread propaganda under the guise of public safety or information. What’s wrong with telling the truth? Why all the damn spin? Oh yeah - we’re stupid and need you, obviously more intelligent people, to help us make up our minds.
Chris heads to the wild area that connects Prospect Park and Lower Purgatory to cure his EDD (Environmental Deficit Disorder)
Michael Jackson may have his hyperbaric chamber (well, that and a few other strange habits) but I have found my fountain of youth - a humidifier (the one on the left - although Lou keeps me young too.)
Okay, it may not actually slow the aging process, but it sure has worked wonders for me.
I moved to San Marcos right at a year ago and one of the first things I noticed was how much drier it is here than most of previous homesteads. In Houston, where I have lived for the past 18 years, 85% humidity is considered a drought period. It is typical to have humidity levels in the mid 90s. While, it was tough to wear the traditional suit-and-tie without walking around drenched constantly, it sure was easy on my skin.
Taking an overnight trip Dallas, let alone a week in Vegas, would turn my skin to dust. I am not exaggerating! Rubbing my hands on my parched face would result in a shower of skin dander. Oil of Olay for Sensitive Skin stock must surely have jumped when I took long trips.
Just as it was Mom who clued me in on the Oil of Olay, she was also the one that gave me the idea of getting a humidifier. When I was a child and would ask her how she knew so much, she would always respond, “Because Mom’s know everything” with a smile. That is yet to be disproven in my eyes.
Overnight (literally) my constantly dry and cracked skin turned to the covering of someone twenty years my junior. I am loving it!
And, if you are still in search of a New Year’s resolution - go have a chat with your mom, I bet she can help you with that too!
