Triangle Expressway

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You can read more about the Triangle Expressway here. The third phase opened in December, and Donnie and I took the entire Expressway today on the way to a doctor's appointment.  Notice no cars.  With approx. a $5 fee to go from Holly Springs NC 55 Bypass to I40 near 147, folks aren't in a rush to use it.  However, it was probably 10 minutes faster and we were running a bit late today.  Using the Expressway caught us up.

Zip!

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Donnie got each of the boys a Fitbit Zip for Christmas.  What is a Zip you ask?  It's a pedometer that measures steps, distance, and calories burned.  It automatically syncs via your iPhone or computer and hopefully soon your Android phone.  You can compete with friends that have other Fitbit devices.

Pictured is an inverted image of Joey showing off a day this past weekend when he got over 10K steps.  He had a basketball game that day which got him over 5K and motivated him to really push himself up to 10K.  10K is the default goal, but you can change the goal.

Donnie and I each have a Fitbit One.  The One also tracks sleep and stairs climbed.  It is a bit smaller and recharges via a cable  (unfortunately proprietary instead of USB) instead of needing a new battery every six months or so like the Zip.  The One lights up so you can read it in the dark too.  The Zip does not.

Fitbit also announced a Flex wristband today too.

Whichever Fitbit you use, you'll like some of the handy integration and graphs on their website.  For example, here's a graph showing my steps over the last 30 days.

We also have the Aria scale.  The scale connects to the Wi-Fi to report your weight each time you weigh.  After an initial set-up, and with all 4 of us having weights that vary enough, it knows us each day and correctly tracks and graphs all our weights.

Our family would recommend any of these devices.  I keep up with making sure they don't get washed.  The boys are eager to wear them.  Donnie and I really think they help keep us moving.

Roll Tide!

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In a prior lifetime I would have been pulling for Notre Dame, but I know who cooks my bacon, and I love crimson red.  Roll Tide!

A quick cell phone pic.  Did you know the newer cell phone cameras have self timers?  Way cool!  That and a handy flipcase to use as a tripod and you're all set!

Flower in Pink Glow

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A camellia shot that didn't turn out so great.  Played with it.  Needed something to post.

Johnny Friday night and Joey Saturday afternoon had their first basketball games.  Johnny's team lost and Joey's team won not that it matters.  Both boys seemed to enjoy the games.  I took quite a few shots at both games but you know how fluorescent/tungsten lighting, low light, fast movements, etc. all make for yucky shots.  I did what I could in sports mode.  Preserved the memories at least.  I would love to have posted a basketball shot if I couldn't have gotten something noteworthy.  In the one gym to add to frustration there were windows creating sunlight and shadows on parts of the floor...sigh.

Both boys are new to basketball.  Donnie and I both know more about baseball but are trying to do some basic coaching with the boys outside of practice.  Sometimes Joey isn't receptive to coaching if you know what I mean, but today he asked Donnie to go outside with him twice to practice and seemed to have his listening ears on.  They had Joey playing back-up center on his team I assume because of his height.  There is one player on his team much taller than him but otherwise he's about the biggest kid on his team.

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