shellylh

Congrat Jeff. Also, you are looking great!

I think Dinny has a D600.

Looks fun Al! Happy birthday to DaddyDOTU!

I have a Gator in olive and it is fantastic. I wish I would have got the Sun Chaser in olive instead of "midnight" (navy) (which is a bit boring). If I get a Mini Ruck it would definitely be in olive.

^Awesome!

^WANT!

I use this combination for my gym bag and it is ok for light loads and short distances. A TB backpack is going to be much better in terms of comfort though (at least for me). Congrat!

I need new rolly luggage to check. This will get banged around and so I don't want to pay too much but would like something that is not totally going to fall apart and doesn't have really shitty zippers. Also, lighter would be better. Any suggestions?

Definitely want!

Tom Bihn Smart Alec. It is really light but holds a ton. It is my daily backpack. I have also taken it on many trips. It may hold more than the Synapse 25 because of it's form factor (mostly a very large opening but with some useful pockets and o-rings). Also it is a very good size for short people. I think the Synapse 19 would be too small. I can check that it will hold everything you want if I get time today. I'll be borrowing the RO Mini Ruck from Gene and can take pictures of the two when I get it and tell you which is more comfortable, etc. I am guessing that I will stick with the Smart Alec though. http://www.tombihn.com/PROD/TB0103.html Also, I realized that it will hold a 13" MBP with 2 water bottles - I don't know what I was thinking.

I bought one but sent it back before opening it. I read complaints of the pen calibration being off (even after calibrating the pen) and when I tried it at Best Buy, it was way off (but probably not calibrated). i have a couple of friends who have one and like it. I am just sticking to my ancient Motion Computing LE 1700 (which is not a touch screen but I don't really need that feature as much as the pen).

Mike, didn't realize you had the new Synapse already. I don't suppose those side pockets will hold a 1L water bottle !( they look pretty small). My Smart Alec pockets on the side will but can only hold a 11" MBA when I do if - I also want to hold other papers/folders.

Thanks Gene! Don't know if I'll be able to return it in person but we'll see.

I forgot all about the Red Oxx Ruck. For those who have one, should I get a C-Ruck or a Mini Ruck for my size (if I get one) and how uncomfortable are the straps (those rings looks terribly uncomfortable). I would like a serious answer... not just Red Oxx is cool and manly and manly men can handle pain. Can I fit a one 1L Nalgene bottle inside each of the side pockets without taking up space in the middle? For example could I still fit several folders and a 13" MBP (in a slip case) with two Nalgene water bottles on the side?

This*2!

I may pick it up as I need a new easy reading book.

I have some time this summer and would finally like to get around to learning how to post-process my photos when needed. At some point I bought Lightroom 3 but never really learned how to use it (so I just keep my photos organized in iphoto for now). My question is whether I should get and learn Aperture instead since Adobe has started this subscription based software crap. I don't want to really go through the hassle of learning Lightroom and then switching to another program and having to relearn it. I assume that both are pretty good products.

Exactly my thought. While I like shallots, I am just not sure they really go in guac.

I want the Ayre QB-9 DSD

I am still undecided.

Nice! I'm just having homemade guac (although with shallots, cilantro, and tomatoes this time).

Nate: So so so sorry. Tim had a kidney stone a few years ago (the day before our vacation to San Francisco) and it did not look fun. I remember very vividly taking him to the ER, his blood pressure around 185/? and throwing up from the pain. Did you get any Flomax? Hope it passes quickly and as painless as possible. Love Mike's facial expression in the first pic. Tim and I did some work on the house (installed a new light fixture on our porch... seems easy enough but these rarely are). Then went for a walk in the park nearby.

Thanks to those who have fallen for our freedom!

Stop on by!

Yeah, I'm not such a fan of freezer burn bread.