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Reno Snow and Ice Control

Recently, we got a flyer in our mailbox about Reno Snow and Ice Control. I thought the procedures were particularly enlightened.

Salt Brine

In the winter season of 2011-12, the City of Reno began using a new method to treat streets for snow and ice. Prior to a snow or ice event, City crews apply salt brine to the Priority 1 streets, bridges and inclines. The brine consists of a clear solution of tap water and sodium chloride (road salt), mixed in concentrations of 23 to 26 percent salt, and has a freezing point of -6º F. Salt brine is applied to the roadway to prevent snow from bonding to the streets, making it easier and safer to plow. Brine is up to 20 times more effective than salt and sand and is labor efficient since it is applied during normal operating hours prior to the arrival of the storm. For more information, please read the salt brine FAQs.

I didn’t know when they might get around to little old Sierra Canyon, although from I-80 to our house is all uphill. The next day, I saw this:

For the whole snow and Ice control policy, see the website.

Carol and I haven’t experienced snow and ice since moving to San Francisco in 1992. This makes us feel good about the upcoming winter.

Oh Christmas Tree…

New Home, New Christmas Tree
We went out and chopped down our 2012 Christmas tree and put it up in the living room.

Where do you think one would find such a tree in Reno?

Everybody sells ’em, from the Garden Shop Nursery to Walgreen’s to any supermarket to Whole Foods for the sustainably raised and good tasting.

We got ours… Continue reading “Oh Christmas Tree…” →

Rock out in Reno

Reno has the Rodeo, Hot August Nights, the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off, The Great Reno Balloon Race and now, Petty for Cash.

w_hot-aug-12 — Hot August Nights, Packard on Virginia Street

In celebration of their 22nd Anniversary on the air, KTHX, 100.1 THE X, threw a concert in the John Ascuaga’s NUGGET Celebrity Showroom. Tickets were 20 bucks each and ALL proceeds went to “Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful” and the Washoe County School District Fine Arts and Music Program. Surely a worthy cause but I was hooked by the music concept:

20 Bands play 1 Tom Petty Song each.
How cool is that?

I didn’t waste time before ordering tickets for me and C, Brian and Natasza.
Continue reading “Rock out in Reno” →

A Rainbow

We could see both ends, but it was too close to take a full picture.

From The Archives

My new version of Adobe Premiere now allows me to access the 8mm films we had digitized over ten years ago. The first fruit follows, circa 1976:

Cranberry Maple Pear Pie

My good friend Sophie posted this on Facebook this morning. Sounds great, so in light of Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I would share it.

Cranberry Maple Pear Pie
by Sophie Christine Bratton on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 11:39pm ·

3 C. fresh or frozen cranberries
1 lb. pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1 C. Maple Syrup
4½ tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 TBSP cold water
In a saucepan combine cranberries, syrup and pears; bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes or until the cranberries have popped.
Stir the cornstarch mixture, add it to the cranberry mixture and simmer, stirring, for 1 minute or until it is thickened.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool. This mixture may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled.
Make a recipe of pie dough from your favorite recipe.
Divide the dough into 2 balls, one slightly larger than the other.
Roll out the larger ball of dough 1/8-inch thick on a floured surface, fit into a 9-inch pie place, and trim the edge, leaving a ½-inch overhang.
Chill the shell while cutting the dough for the lattice crust.
Roll out the other ball of dough and cut out ½-inch strips of dough.
Spoon the filling into the shell, spreading it out evenly; arrange the lattice strips on top, twisting each strip corkscrew fashion.
Trim ends and crimp edges.
Bake at 425 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let cool on a rack. Serve warm.

Voting GA GA

I hate to disappoint, but my voting experience was simple and unencumbered. I voted GA Absentee on October 16th. I used this device to cast my ballot.

Masha voted at the same time, using the same method (and in fact, the same pen).

Kelly will be voting tonight at the last minute, because that’s just how she rolls.

Where And How Did You Vote Today?

This is the entryway of the Monroe Town Hall that is converted to our polling place on election days. We use a pencil, tied to a string attached to the wall, to mark a paper ballot that we then deposit into the official (and probably 100+ year old ballot box (on the left, just above the clerk’s head) which has a sliding cover over the slot so it can’t be stuffed when no one is looking.

The Giants Win the Pennant,The Giants Win the Pennant!

In December 2010 I chronicled the SF Giants season, culminating in their first World Series Championship in over 50 years. It was celebrated with a parade on November 2nd, and having nothing I would rather do, I was there.

Now, a scant 2 years later, the Giants went and did it again, defeating the team boasting the first triple-crown winner since Yaz, and Justin Verlander, proclaimed the best pitcher in the world. Well, the Giants swept the vaunted Dee-Troit Tigers in four games. Boom. It was over Sunday night. So the city of San Francisco threw another, bigger parade on Halloween. The world turned black and orange.

I was sorely tempted to make the drive from Reno to SF, but then regained my senses. In 2010 I rode my scooter to the parade route, and as soon as the last float passed, I rode home to watch the ceremonies on TV. No way I could get anywhere near the stage. If I drove down… well, you can imagine the scenario.

And yet… I have pictures. How can this be? It’s magic, as you shall see.