I expect to learn a lot on the Trail to Philmont. In February, I learned that if you run a lot … you need to periodically buy new running shoes. I bought my Hokas when I started running again after breaking my ankle. With thick soles and excellent support, they were like running on pillows … Read more
The Trail to Philmont started in January with three-times-a-week workouts at our local college. We exercised in a variety of temperatures, from a low in the 20s (maybe high teens) to a high in the low 40s. We ran the quad, we ran the track around the football field, and we ran the utility loop … Read more
My son and I are headed to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico in six months. Once there we will spend 12 days backpacking with other scouts from NeutronLad’s troop. In total, three adults and six scouts are going. We’ll be backpacking approximately 60-80 miles while at Philmont. The variability comes from the … Read more
The last Ornament-a-Day entry is dedicated to the only geeky ornament left on the family tree: 2012’s Darth Vader Peekbuster. Given that the family tree is where the wrapped family presents go and since this Vader is designed to detect and scold would-be present peekers, it’s entirely appropriate. This battery-powered, Christmas-themed Vader wears his traditional black armor … Read more
For years, the ornament I wanted most for the Geek Tree was the U.S.S. Reliant (NCC-1864), the U.S.S. Enterprise’s opponent in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. While I had plenty of variant Enterprises from all of Star Trek’s eras and any number of opposing ships like the Klingon Bird of Prey and Romulan Warbird, Hallmark steadfastly avoided releasing Khan’s improvised flagship. That changed in 2010 when the … Read more
Hallmark released two new Star Wars Storyteller ornaments in 2019: The Imperial Star Destroyer and the Y-Wing. Like the other Storyteller ornaments, they feature LED illuminated regions (the cargo bay on the Star Destroyer, the cockpit on the Y-Wing) that slowly rotate through different colors. Powered and connected by Hallmark’s proprietary Keepsake power cord, the two new ships join … Read more
Star Trek Beyond is one of my favorite Trek movies. Unlike the derivative and uninspired Star Trek Into Darkness that preceded it, Beyond is an original story focused on exploration as well as the optimistic future that Trek embraces. Unfortunately, it didn’t do great in the box office, leading to a lull in new cinematic Star Trek offerings but that didn’t stop Hallmark from releasing the … Read more
Geeky tree toppers are hard to find. Sure, there are tons of angels, stars, and other toppers out there, but there are very few that fit in with the Geek Tree. For a long time, it was only Santa Yoda that fit that role. And then I found the Weeping Angel. Inspired by the now-classic … Read more
Two of the newest editions to the Geek Tree are Rey and Kylo Ren, as they appeared in Star Wars – Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. The pair, which were sold together in one box, are wielding their personal lightsabers: Kylo has his signature red, surging Sith blade while Rey has the inherited blue blade … Read more
The oldest ornament on the Geek Tree – and the ornament without which there would be no Ornament-a-Day – is the Shuttlecraft Galileo. Released in 1992, the Galileo is a string-powered ornament. The ornament’s lighting is simplistic – just the cockpit lights up – but what truly makes it special is the voice of Leonard Nimoy. Triggered by a button, it features … Read more