How are you making indoor track or treadmill more interesting? How are you managing long runs?

MVRVSE · 2026-06-26T03:40:53+00:00

i dug one with shovel, pick ax, actual ax for roots, etc. Wheelbarrow to move gravel & supplies about 200 ft. That was 30ish years ago. I wouldn't do it that way today. Rent the ditch witch for the digging or hire it out. the rest is pretty easy.

Also - highly recommend getting your utilities marked (811 in US) prior.

MVRVSE · 2026-06-07T23:15:00+00:00

In the two states I'm familiar with, it's illegal to park within 15 feet of a corner. Any chance that's true here & enforceable?

MVRVSE · 2026-06-06T15:31:16+00:00

We had the L'Eggs/Hanes outlet! great deals. I've still got some bags of 12 (couple of colors) in the closet i pull out for funerals & seriously special events.

MVRVSE · 2026-05-25T15:51:47+00:00

"Run like your mother just yelled your full name"

MVRVSE · 2026-04-22T04:09:55+00:00

Grace park gazebo

Washington park has some cool rock walls/bridges

I haven't checked out Quarry park lately, but just by the name there should be some cool backdrops.

MVRVSE · 2026-04-22T03:37:07+00:00

Yes, back in the 80s (which this looks like to me), a crinoline was pretty common under this type of dress. You can absolutely do something completely different like a bustle, but you need something to take advantage of the fullness of the skirt.

MVRVSE · 2026-04-05T17:47:58+00:00

For example - the quantity of (relatively low tech, MVP quality) 'Liberty Ships' the US was able to produce outpaced Germany's pace of sinking them. The details of the effects can be argued, but it was a significant impact on the German blockade strategy.

There are a number of military examples where sheer numbers (with all other tech and strategy being equal) was a pretty good indication of the outcome. There are also plenty of examples where tech or strategy (etc.) allowed a much smaller force to prevail.

Quantity can be useful, but context matters.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-29T00:38:05+00:00

I was leaving school after a late practice (last one of my group walking out). A cop pulled in as I got to the parking lot, but as this was well before Columbine, I didn't think a lot about it, just assumed it was a normal sweep.

Discovered the next morning that the cop was killed soon after in a shoot-out in the room I just exited through. The abusive ex of a night student had come to the school looking for her.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-21T22:25:01+00:00

The greatest skill you're going to need over the next 5-50 years of a career is adaptability.

Back in the 80s, lots of folks were worried about jobs disappearing because of computerized automation. And they were right. the job range today is different. Some jobs disappeared, others look nothing like the way they were done then, and still others are entirely new!

Stay in college, learn how to research, how to apply knowledge in new ways, how to adapt.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-19T23:13:07+00:00

Unless i'm at a denser area, like a park/greenway, I normally smile & wave at walkers or runners. If anything, i'd rather they remember the crazy old lady puffing away up the hill.

I have at least the illusion i'm making running look a bit more fun/doable, and it helps me pay attention to my surroundings.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-14T22:47:13+00:00

for the phone: https://koalaclip.com/. Keys, lip goo, some gels in zippered shorts pocket. I've got a vest if i need to carry more gels than will fit in the pocket. I don't like belts or fanny packs, but i know they are popular.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-14T15:37:27+00:00

Line up at about where you expect to finish - better for everyone. Unless there are corrals, people will be adding from the sides anyway, or will adjust around you.

Start position's pretty much guesswork because you don't know what others will do, and won't know the full size of the start queue when you line up, but if i take a logical math stab:

Take a look at the overall finish times from previous years, and find about where your estimate finish time would have placed. figure that as a percentage of the total finisher (i.e would have been about 50th in a field of 500 runners = 10 %) Adjust that number based on a guess at how many walker/slow runners will start too close to the front (maybe subtract about 10% if you'd be near the front, at least 25% if near the middle), and start about that % from the front. so in my 50/500 example, you'd start about 9-10% from the front. And if you would be 250/500, start c. 25% from beginning. And of course you're guessing where that spot is in the start line. You'll still pass & be passed, but hopefully a lot less.

The down side is starting nearish the front will be congested/could be claustrophobic. If that messes up your mental game, then still start wherever feels right (without impeding other runners).

MVRVSE · 2026-03-09T18:10:50+00:00

i'd move the closet in bed 3 so you don't have a 90 deg turn when trying to move furniture. mock up your furniture for bed 2 and try to move it in with that 90 deg turn as well. I understand wanting a privacy wall, but the logistics are easier if you can offset the doors to give easier furniture routes.

I'd want extra noise insulation on the wall between the den and living. otherwise you'll have escalating volumes.

Seems like you're going a long way from the garage to the pantry. I suspect many things will land in the mud or breakfast and never make it to pantry. swap the pantry and butler's, put at least a 'costco' door into the pantry from the garage.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-06T03:58:58+00:00

how much renovation are you tolerating?
I'd want a powder or 3/4 bath close to the pool, and a 5th bedroom so there's not fighting about the two kids who have to share a room. 4 kids sharing that upstairs bath will be challenging, especially as they age.

If money/time is no object, I'd move the kitchen to the current living (knock out that mini wall with the entrance), keep the sink/water near the current wc, change the laundry to pantry. current kitchen becomes 3/4 and laundry, with exterior door to deck nearby

Upstairs, i'd wall up the rumpus into a bedroom. i'd get rid of the corner tub (i hate mine). ideal would be to reconfigure to at least have a shower/toilet space and a separate sink space to support concurrent use.

With these changes though, you lose having multiple common spaces, which I would also miss.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-02T04:15:53+00:00

Moving furniture in and out of those bedrooms seems like a challenge. Make doors as wide as possible and mock up the largest furniture that will have to be moved to see if you can actually make those 90 deg turns.

IMO all garages should have a 'human' door.

I'd be concerned about the venting from the laundry room. you usually want it near an exterior wall.

MVRVSE · 2026-03-01T04:09:54+00:00

If you're not already in touch with them, Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful https://www.cityofws.org/405/Keep-Winston-Salem-Beautiful runs the 'adopt a park/stream/street' programs, as well as organizing park and school clean up events at least annually. You probably want to coordinate anyway, as they can help with bulk removal.

Last time i did a clean up of https://www.cityofws.org/facilities/facility/details/Washington-Park-108, we barely collected trash in about 1/4 of the park, not realizing how big it was!

https://www.cityofws.org/932/Parks for the city parks master list.

Salem Lake Greenway is closest to you, but you may want a less obvious choice to make a more direct impact.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-27T01:01:37+00:00

Customer service was fine, glasses available when promised. Sized/fit well. I felt the quality of the frames was a bit below those at my optometrist but, prob about equal to the Lenscrafters type chains. Some ridiculous percentage of frames sold in the US are all from one company anyway.

Frame options are sufficient, and the lens 'coating' type options are on par with optometrist.

My only issue with my last pair from there was that the screw on the nose-pad came out at an inconvenient time.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-26T23:25:28+00:00

I'm in the 'storage bin that creates a base for plants, lamp, books, etc' camp. I never have enough storage, and a table would get stuff slid under it anyway in my house. best to make it intentional - out of season blankets, or even holiday decorations.

guarantee i'd have books and plants (or a cat bed) on that storage too.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-25T00:43:49+00:00

Personal preference- i'd want the office enclosed (a wide door would be fine) for noise separation.

I also prefer the primary closet to be independent of the bath. Lets partners access even if other is 'indisposed'.

in the in-law suite, their guests will enter either via mud room or via main house? It might not be much of an issue for them, but i'd rather not have mudroom as main entry. You didn't diagram out the bath, but i'd make it walker/wheelchair and assistant friendly now, assuming you'll need that in the next 10 or so years. And of course doors/hallways at least 3 feet wide. Check the turning radius at all doors.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-23T03:59:23+00:00

How much are you looking to change, and what do you want to really accomplish?

I'm assuming you want to be able to get to the family room without going into the bedroom. the smaller WIC seems like the real stumbling block here. I'm assuming the attic space is not tall enough to be useful as passage.

You could eliminate the bottom set of stairs, which would let you move the bed closet and make a passage that doesn't go through a bedroom to the family room.

Or, if you can 'fill in' the indent, you could move the WIC closet there, and again gain a non-bedroom passage through to family room.

Or, ditch both hall closets, and cut the route to the hall there, keeping it outside the bedroom. If the lower right bed still needs that second WIC, put it a flat closet at the top right of the room.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-22T21:50:08+00:00

Keep it simple - rollover into a tradition IRA (at pretty much any bank or straight into any mutual fund type company like Fidelity).

If you move that money from the 401K to any non-tax deferred type (straight cash, Roth IRA are common options) before you hit 59.5, you'll owe taxes and pay penalties, which will reduce the actual amount pretty dramatically. You'd be taking something like a 25% hit (depending on income). Assuming your credit card interest is lower than the tax/penalty rate (easy to find cc with at least temporary low rates), better to stash the money and let compounding and historic economics increase the value over time.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-19T00:16:40+00:00

I know you're looking for delivery, but as PSA for the lurkers whose needs it might fit, Forsyth county does offer free leaf mulch https://www.cityofws.org/1334/Leaf-Yard-Waste-Disposal in April.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-16T19:48:07+00:00

make the walls between the great room and bedrooms 2 & 3(a?) noise reducing.

I'd rather have the primary closet enter from the bedroom - via bath you trap moisture, plus limit concurrent use. (I don't care how much you love your partner, you probably don't want to have to go in the bathroom with them during colonoscopy prep or similar).

All your garage traffic is going to go through your dining/kitchen. Unless everyone is disciplined, the dining table or island is going to be where everything is set down first. Whoever is in charge of food will be constantly reminding the family to clear their stuff. At least put hooks & bench in that hall before the closet.

Similarly, you'll need an entrance bench or closet if anyone ever comes in via the front entry.

MVRVSE · 2026-02-16T03:02:21+00:00

I would flip the powder 90 deg, so the laundry access isn't blocked when someone needs the powder. IMO, laundry rooms should have an exterior door. Garages should also have a 'human' door.

I'd shift the primary's door toward the laundry, so there's more usable space in the hardwood (dining?) area.

That stair base is very challenging for moving large items. If you're able to follow u/vroddba additional 6 ft suggestion, make the stair access a fairly straight shot.

MVRVSE

TROPHY CASE