Duluth Trading Company - Buy or Boycott?

Duluth Trading Company - a few reflections on whether to buy or boycott. 

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Outdoor Idiosyncrasies - Contemplating High-Performance Gear

A story inspired by a hiking trip in the High Tatras of Slovakia and Poland. It was useful for me to step outside the Northern Rockies mountain town "bubble" I've lived in for so long and take a closer look at my gear buying habits.

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2020-2021 Snow Stats

It's been years eight of measuring snow stats. Although I'm primarily a backcountry skier, I refer to the ski areas to take a look at snow depths and see how the winter looks compared to others. I also remind everyone of the musings of Jim Steenburgh, a professor of atmospheric science at University of Utah (Jump to the bottom of the post to read more or click on the links throughout.) discusses sun-angle and how it influences the snowpack.

Nothing to Strava About

A ski story from a few years ago. A shorter version appeared in Outside Bozeman last winter (https://outsidebozeman.com/activities/skiing/backcountry-skiing/tootle-loo) and the original draft appeared on this blog. 

Moving Stones

A meditation on stones. Dan Snow's book Listening to Stone provided the inspiration for this essay.

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The Great American Train Story Continues

Memories of a train trip from a long time ago. I first wrote about it several years ago on this blog and updated the piece for a writing class over a year ago. The piece continues to be refined. Here is the latest. 

Do you have a train story to share? Leave it in the comments section of this post.

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Bending Beyond: Developing Persistence & Patience with Hot Yoga

The new year finds me making good on my goal to finish pieces I've been working on and put them "out there" for all to enjoy and critique. I posted a short write-up as I began a yoga fitness challenge a few years back but never posted a follow up.  The full story is below. 

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The A-List Eats: Allamuchy General Store

The first time I entered the Allamuchy General Store I found myself in a cliched moment. 

"I've discovered a 'gem' in a place I least expected to" is the tired and overdone thought that crossed my mind.  

After my meal, I did a web search to find out more and was surprised that other than Google and Yelp reviews not much is written about the Allamuchy General Store. With great food and a captivating vintage atmosphere, it wouldn't have surprised me if I had come across a New York Times article about it or a story about a visit from Anthony Bourdain - it is that good and that unique of a place. But nothing, not even a local newspaper review.

(Interestingly, I did find out that the Allamuchy General Store was remodeled in 2017 after a tractor trailer barreled through the front door.  Click here to read the story.) 

Below is my first-hand account of breakfast at the Allamuchy General Store.

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Musical Maturity

A few stories from this blog worked into one piece. (My guilty pleasure, Hip Hop Hooray: http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2016/08/hip-hop-hooray.html) and (Reflections on a Jean Pierre Rampal concert: https://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2016/11/music-appreciation-lesson-one.html). 

We all have one or two constants in our life. For me, it has always been music. I have loved it since before I knew what it meant to be “into” something. As my education reached milestones, moves were made, relationships came, went, and stuck, and my career path diverged, my passion for music remained constant. When I think of how I matured over the years, I realize my relationship with music was an important part of the journey. It is this enduring passion, as much as anything else, that helped make me who I am today.

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An Ode to Time

Like a start gun going off at the end of work each Friday, I’m out the door and cling to the 63 hours I have before I head back to work. I have a lot to do, and I know there won’t be enough time to fit it all in.

The Working Me

I usually keep my work life off of the this blog but I received a lot of positive feedback from some recent social media so I thought I'd share it.