Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Warm Mix Asphalt in Memphis…

WMA TrialI am currently at the NAPA convention in Phoenix, Az and even after a weekend of the flu have had a very successful trip. However, the week before we came here Lehman-Roberts Co. had the opportunity to perform a brief but interesting trial of Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA). We have been reading about this new technology in our industry for several years now but this was our first chance to see it in person and to get to test its properties and potential. We partnered with Terex Roadbuilding using their new foaming technique to accomplish the reduced temperatures.

Even after only 300 tons of the mix, we are very excited about the potential that this new technology might bring to the market place. With lower fuel costs, reduced emissions, and longer compaction times their does not seem to be a downside to the product. We even ran some of the plant run mix through our APA and were able to see improvements in strength. We laid the mix on a 34 deg day in Jan and were able to get fair compaction on a less than desirable sub-base and we were able to work the mix well past the time when we normally would have been able to.

We are looking forward to another trial later in the spring. The plant is currently down for winter maintenance, however we are currently planning and longer and more definitive trial in March once the plant is back online.

Photos from the trial can be seen here.

[tags]Warm Mix Asphalt, WMA, NAPA, Lehman-Roberts Co.[/tags]

Metro Volleyball Starts Today…

MJVA TournamentThe girls 13 Elite Metro Team dominated today in the MJVA tournament in Millington. This was our first tournament together as a team. I thought the girls looked pretty strong, but then I am a total moron when it comes to volleyball.

Some of the girls pictures have been uploaded. I was pretty frustrated taking pictures today. I just don’t have the glass that I need to be able to take good pictures in that sort of lighting. My trusted telephoto’s highest aperture is f3.5 which just won’t cut it. On the way back from Millington though I called around to some shops to see if I couldn’t find an inexpensive high speed fixed focal length glass (yeah right). Of course no one carries anything like that, but one of them recommended that I email Lens Rentals. I had no idea that there was such a service much less that they were located in Germantown. A quick email exchange confirmed that I could rent just what I was looking for. They even offered to let me come by and pick it up on Sunday. Pretty cool. The pics will be better tomorrow!

[tags]Metro Volleyball, Memphis Volleyball, Nikon[/tags]

Cookie-mom launches…

New Year's CookiesThe long awaited cookie-mom site launched tonight. Catherine began her cookie business in the Fall with booming success during the Christmas season. She will make cookies for most any occasion you can think of. Upcoming events could include Super Bowl, Valentines Day, Birthdays, Basketball Parties (go Memphis), and even just a sweet treat for the Chubby Hubby. Her cookies are amazing I have to admit though I am not allowed to touch them. So please buy some and invite me to have one! We thank all of the friends that are supporting Catherine through word or mouth and grass-roots marketing. She is not quite ready for the Google ads so spread the word. Enjoy!

[tags]Cookies, Cookie Mom, Cookie-mom[/tags]