jen3kids
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Posts posted by jen3kids
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None of the waysides will be open in April, but Skyline Drive that goes from Front Royal to Waynesboro is always open (aside from weather delays). I was hiking there last May and the early spring flowers were beautiful, but it was chilly and even a few snow flurries. That said, a week earlier, it was warm and sunny!
As a PP said, the long views are always spectacular - it is a beautiful area to look out onto from the various overlooks and trails in the park.
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I cannot even do 1 standard pull up, but I recently joined a new gym and the coach suggested thinking of it as pulling my elbows down to my sides rather than my chip up and over the bar - that change of focus has made a huge difference! I mean, I still cannot do one yet, but I can actually feel my lats engaging!
As for standard vs knee push-ups, I think it has a lot to do with core strength, to keep yourself in a plank while going to the floor. You can improve this by working on negatives - slowly lowering yourself to the floor while holding a plank. Then get yourself back up and repeat. Elevated push ups are a great way to get to a standard push-up as well. Have your hands elevated against a wall, or table, chair, etc. The more vertical you are, the easier it is, and then as you gain strength, move closer to horizontal.
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10 minutes ago, Miss Tick said:
You can do as many languages on Duo as you want. On the mobile app, tap the flag in the top left corner and it will let you choose another language.
Thank you.... I'm going to add Spanish and German!
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I wanted to thank you all again for the reviews of DuoLingo. I have been working on it for nearly a week and loving it!
I was offered a 2 week trial of DuoMax (or something like that) so I have unlimited hearts now. But my favourite part is the AI that allows me have an actual conversation and it adjusts to my responses. I like the fact that it gives me time to formulate a response and dig around in the recesses of my brain for long-forgotten words, articulate a response, and once I have recorded it, the AI fixes my answer so it is 'more' correct. It is the only use for AI that I currently have and I really appreciate it!
A few of you have mentioned that you are learning more than one language. Did you have to set up different accounts, or is there a setting to chose a 2nd language to work on as well?
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Thank you everyone! I appreciate all of your insightful answers. I'm going to give DuoLingo French a try since I have more use for that, and a bit more opportunity to speak it.
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A question for DuoLingo users....
How well does it work? How fluent are you in your chosen language of study? And after how much study? I realize that everyone will be different, so just your personal experiences and any caveats. I do know that having someone to converse with would be ideal, but I won't have that option on a regular basis.
I have somewhat passable French (I was able to ask for directions to the train station and understood the answer well enough to get there!), but much less Spanish. I was in Argentina before Christmas and was embarrassed at my limited Spanish. I tried to order a Iced Green Tea at Starbucks and ended up with a latte, even after reading it off the menu 🤪
Are there other language learning apps that you would recommend?
Thanks!
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6 hours ago, zimom said:
I was in Chile last week. One of my Uber drivers was strongly encouraging a trip to Argentina as he said it was so cheap to travel there right now. Chile was inexpensive IMHO. He mentioned a wonderful steak dinner for about $10USD. Really nice accommodations for less than $80USD.
I'm heading to Argentina next week and have been told the same thing!
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If you know what section of the Appalachian Trail she'll be close to for hiking, you can get her maps of that area. There are great maps of PA, MD, and VA from the PTAC https://www.patc.net/PATC/Our_Store/PATC_Maps.aspx The National Geographic ones aren't the best, imo.
Hiking socks are always great - I prefer SmartWool to DarnTough, but it's a personal choice
Battery charger (Anker is a great one)
Headlamp
Small knife
Trekking poles
You can check if there are any orienteering classes/events in her area, either through REI or a local chapter.
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I use oat milk when I make a big batch of steel cut oats in my InstaPot
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3 hours ago, Drama Llama said:
What is TeamsGiving?
A team that gets together for a Thanksgiving type meal, but it doesn't have to a traditional Thanksgiving menu.
2 hours ago, Bambam said:I'd do a taco bar. They can bring shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, maybe flour tortillas or taco shells? All of those are relatively inexpensive and there is no need to cook. I typically do chicken tacos in the instant pot or crock pot and lentil tacos if we have any vegetarians. But I also cheat and just do Mexican bowls/taco salad (throw everything in a bowl!). They could bring pinto or black beans too and possibly rice. We like shredded cabbage on our tacos too. And guacamole!
If you want something fun, our grocery stores have Jarritos sodas fairly inexpensively. A selection of those is fun (caution - they are all pretty sweet though!) https://jarritos.com/That would be easy.
1 hour ago, DawnM said:It won't matter too much, they will just be happy to have a home cooked meal.
They can bring drinks, plates, cups, desserts, salsa, tortillas, all easy to bring if you do tacos.
Or would it be ok with you if they don't bring anything?
True - as most college kids do, they complain about the food in residence!
1 hour ago, freesia said:We did chili with baked potatoes and toppings for the team dinner we did for DD’s soccer team. It was a big hit. You could ask for toppings or drinks or desserts.
That sounds yummy!
1 hour ago, busymama7 said:I was under the impression that these extra thanksgiving meals were just another opportunity to eat traditional thanksgiving food.
If you aren't interested in that they walking tacos is easy to do for a crowd and a huge hit. I use individual bags of Doritos.
I think they often are, but I would not enjoy having 2 Thanksgiving meals 3 days apart.
We used to do Walking Tacos for my daughter's Girl Scout troop.
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I am hosting a group of young women for a TeamsGiving meal on Nov 20 and they'll all be heading home for Thanksgiving a few days after. What can I serve them? Baked potato bar? Taco bar? Lasagne/Pasta?
In the past I have picked up a bunch of roasted chickens and they have brought sides and desserts, but I want to do something different this year. They still want to contribute something, but I'm not sure what to ask for if we do a potatoes or tacos. They are all college students, most are not able to cook due to living in residence, so it has to be something they can pick up at the store.
Thanks!
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I joined an online nutrition coaching company as a client in 2021 and have really gotten a lot from their service. However, last December (2022) they rolled out a new App for their program but still have not finished/released the Android version. While I can use their service through their website it is clunky and very inconvenient. When I asked back in February for an update, they assured me it would be finished by Q2 - nothing. Then it was early May, then end of summer, and now (since August 31) it is supposedly in BETA testing with their staff. I took a break from the program for the summer because I was traveling but wanted to back into it this fall. I gave it a half-hearted attempt in September but gave up on it after a couple of days.
I've been emailing back and forth with their Customer Support person, asking for some sort of compensation, but have been continually stone-walled with more promises and lots of 'I assure you that we care about all of our clients/we're working on it' type of replies. They are trying to tell me that the App is an 'added convenience', yet the first thing they tell you is to download the app.
I paid for a lifetime membership back in 2021 because I really like the program and the coaching I was getting, so I cannot cancel my membership. I want some sort of compensation, but I have no idea how to go about convincing them to offer me something (they do offer a meal service). Am I being unreasonable? I normally don't get upset over stuff like this, but I'm just so annoyed with them!
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9 hours ago, Harriet Vane said:
Possibly Montpelier?
Also curious because it’s near Quebec—is there any French influence in the area?
I don't think so - they don't even pronounce it properly 🤣
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On 9/16/2023 at 9:21 PM, Bootsie said:
Nothing is "totally safe", but field goal kickers and punters, are much less likely to be hit than other football players. I am the biggest football fan in my family; DH does not understand this, repeatedly asking how I can like football so much when I am anti-violence. He finally talked me into going to a professional soccer game--and after they carried the second player off of the soccer field on a stretcher, I asked of he still throught soccer was so much safer.
Professional soccer players are dramatic; they just need a squirt from the magic water bottle that the trainer carries and they're back in the game in no time 🤣
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9 hours ago, prairiewindmomma said:
I have the Braun Silk Expert Pro 5, and I also bought separately the protective sunglasses that Amazon recommends as a bundle.
Thanks!
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Bumping this up and hoping for a recommendation for an at-home IPL device. Currently looking at one of the models by ULike as they're currently on sale at Amazon.
Thank you!
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I like Powerade (not Gatorade) in 1/2 strength but on hiking trips or when I'm exercising a lot, I take either Skratch powder to mix into water or one by a company called Fluid. I don't ever mix as strong as they recommend, but that's my preference.
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3 hours ago, Laura Corin said:
@Ginevra Just a thought - for years, when tackling distances or terrain that were a bit of a stretch for me, I would push on through, only pausing for water or a quick snack. I finally discovered that taking a light sandwich lunch and deliberately planning for a half-hour break midway made an enormous difference to my stamina and enjoyment.
1 hour ago, Ginevra said:This resonates for me. Last weekend, I only had water and nuts, but two companions had an egg wrap sandwich. That looked superior to me. 🙂 This was not as lengthy, though rigorous, and it made me realize that I would likely fare better with a more substantial lunch.
For me, a 30 minute break is too long. I feel much better if I limit my stops to 10-15 minutes; longer than that and I cool down too much and get stiff. But everyone is different and you may have to adapt to what others need as well, if you're going with others.
I have also discovered that I need to eat 'real' food on my hikes (both day hikes and backpacking trips).
For my latest trip (4 days backpacking) I had oatmeal each morning for breakfast with protein powder and powdered milk, lunch was 2 whole wheat tortillas with salami and gruyere or PB&J, and dinner was either a backpacking dehydrated meal or a Knorr's rice and pasta side with a package of chicken or tuna. My snacks for the day were a Kind granola bar or Kind nut bar, an RxBar, dried fruit (apples and cherries are my favourite), beef jerky, and nuts. On the first day I also had boiled eggs and fresh veggies (red pepper and carrots). Occasionally I needed to have a PB&J tortilla wrap right before bed, depending on what time I ate dinner. If I cannot find the dried fruit I like, I will take some 100% fruit leather bars but prefer the dried fruit. If going on a day hike, I definitely take a sandwich or a wrap from home, boiled eggs, fresh fruit/veggies, and nuts; fresh food is so much better than the pre-packaged stuff!
I caution against focusing too much on fast carbs - yes, your body needs the carbs for energy, but make sure you have slow-burning carbs for sustained energy. For me, too many fast carbs results in me running out of steam after 45 minutes or so.
Enjoy your hikes! I've done about 500 miles on the AT and have loved it.
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2 hours ago, Ottakee said:
Why does she hate the cr-v? That is one we were considering
She says it feels too big. She thought she would love the roominess of it, but doesn't actually need/use the cargo space. Her CRV is a 2016 (I think), and I swear they are bigger than the one we had in the 1999/2000. She says it has a bubble butt 🙂 whereas ours was very boxy.
She had a Prius, which cannot be described as zippy, but she just felt more comfortable in it. She wants another one.
My boys both bought sedans - DS1 had a KIA and then bought an F250 for work. DS2 had a 2009 Accord, sold it before he went to university, and now has a 2016 Accord.
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When my youngest was looking for a used car in June we discovered that some of our local Honda dealers have an "Under 10K" section on their website. He was looking a Civic or an Accord. There were 2 Accords that we found, but neither were at our local dealer and were unfortunately sold by the time we called the other dealer. Ultimately, he ended up spending more than 10K for his car, but I was surprised at what they offered for under 10K.
I pushed for all my kids to get a small SUV as their first car, but none listened. My daughter now drives a CR-V and hates it - she is planning to buy another Prius as soon as she saves up enough for a bigger downpayment.
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1 hour ago, Ottakee said:
Slept well. I have a zenbivy light mattress and their pillow that I add my puffy coat to inside the pillow case and that worked super well.
I love my Zenbivy quilt and light sheet. I didn't spring for the pillow, but may have to because my Trekology from Amazon is not comfortable for me. One my last AT hike I ended up using my backpack as a pillow since mine was so uncomfortable.... But maybe I just need to stuff it into a pillow case and add my puffy! Is that what it's like - an inflatable pillow in a case and add clothes?
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Wow! Such a great adventure. This is definitely going on my bucket list (it is getting so long!!!)
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When my youngest was 5 or 6, he was so excited for us to go visit his great uncle at a campsite and insisted we have 'beanie-weinies'. He was disgusted when he realized what it was.
I ate it all the time as a kid, but referred to it as 'beans and weiners'; I guess I never fed it to my kids though 🙂
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Someone who leads backpacking/hiking trips. Not sure what age group, but probably for young adults and older.
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Does anyone live hear Shenandoah National Park?
in The Chat Board
Posted
I'm definitely going there next time in that area!