Inside The Perimeter

I somehow felt guilty not posting…

Out By The Crack Of Noon
I had a plan. The plan was to pack my car last night, wake up really early and make up to North Georgia for an early photoshoot. That all fell apart when I got home at 11pm last night.

It also seemed to start coming apart when I noticed that the weather forecast for North Georgia wasn’t the most conducive for photography.

At Least My Plan Was Altered Because Of Fun
I rejoined Meet The Hashers for a night of team trivia at Raging Burrito last night. It was the first time in many months and since I’ve been gone a new trivia company has taken over. And now I brain fart on their name….

We won (of course) and with it we once again possess $40 in house cash at Raging Burrito.

ITP Flickr Pic
This sign is much like my day

Coming apart at the seams…

Survive This!
If you haven’t figured out that this is a spoiler it’s your own damn fault.

So I pick the man who finds the Immunity Idol? Damn me!

I was thrilled when Yau Man threw a fire ball into the “basket” after the Ravu team mocked his weakness. The look of shock shown on their faces afterwards was priceless.

I shan’t be missing Rocky anytime soon, although I did find it amusing when he was giving everyone grief for eating and drinking too much. He was the only “smart” one in the bunch. It’s a pity for me that he becomes the first jury member. That means that I’ll have to see him every week for the remainder of the show.

The rest of my nonsense (including my March scorecard bad and April goals) return with me on Monday

Cheers!
Paulie [eatl/ga]

I’m not here today so you are on your own…

Enjoy, be free, and prosper. I will return Monday.

After spending the entire day with ninety-nine strangers, one of whom was one of the prettiest women I have ever seen, another who had a working dog Golden Retriever at her side, I decided to spend the night home alone.

I had intended on asking the woman with the dog after the session was over if I could take a picture of it, but unfortunately for me they went out at lunch and never returned. I thought about making the same request of the pretty woman but felt that she’d figure out that I was just hitting on her.

What’s In A Name
I nearly chuckled aloud when I heard the pretty woman introduce herself to the instructor because I guessed her first name.

She was about 5′5″, very petite, strikingly pretty with long (to about her shoulder blades) straight brown hair, and her fingernails painted bright red.

The minute I saw her the name “Elizabeth” popped into my mind, and wouldn’t you know that I was right.

I play the name guessing game all of the time, but I am rarely correct. That’s why I nearly chuckled aloud yesterday.

ITP Flickr Pic
Turning lemons into lemonade…

I had intended to drive to my seminar. When I arrived I found out that they wanted $8 for parking. I balked and wound up driving back to a Marta station and taking the train. Because of this I decided to take my camera and was rewarded with this shot of the back side of Georgia’s state capital building during the “good light.”

On The One Hand I Want Rain, On The Other Notsomuch
Rain would certainly wash away much of this pollen, however this weekend I’m headed out to do a bit of camping so I really don’t want it to rain.

I was also hoping to spend a day taking pictures and that might get ruined by rain as well.

Apparently Martha Was There
I must have been in some sort of haze yesterday because when I left the house yesterday I saw “Martha Was Here” inscribed in the pollen on the lid of my Herby Curby (trash can). I had no clue Martha had stopped by and I know that the message was not on the can when I arrived home.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - meh
Current Music - none, listening to a podcast
Website Of The Day - People love their IKEA furniture. Apparently people also love to hack their IKEA furniture, just look at IKEA Hacker.
Exercise (b)Log - none

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Houston We Have A Problem

My body was (and to some extent still is) experiencing weird mechanical problems. These problems read to a delayed take-off (read “getting out of bed”) which means I will have to wait until lunch time to post.

In my youth I spent many days in ballparks attending Spring training baseball games. In fact one day I skipped high school on “Career Day” to see a game. When I returned the next day and confronted by one of my teachers I told them that I went to a baseball game because I wanted to be a professional baseball player. Although my Spring training today occurs right down the road from Turner Field it is much, much different than those days of my youth. I still wouldn’t mind being a professional baseball player however.

The World Is Coming To An End
Gmail has been suffering major difficulties. It was down for many hours yesterday. I now question basing my email life around them…

ITP Flickr Pic
Another truck picture

I should have new stuff by tomorrow. I just need to stop sleeping so much.

Why I’ll Probably Never Be A Photojournalist
We had a little excitement around my office yesterday. It seems somehow a car caught on fire between my office and the shopping center next to us. I saw the car fire start and instead of running to my car and getting my camera I stood inside the office building and watched the fire occur. It was weird to watch a car fire occur from start to finish. I’d post pictures for you if I had any. I don’t, so you’ll just have to take my word.

Away From Keyboard
Today I am sitting in a management training class all day. Please comment amongst yourselves.

Because of this I may make it to George’s to completely coat my lungs with pollen by doing a run. It’s unlikely however because I have so much work to do at home, I will be south of I-20 all day and most likely won’t want to travel to the Highlands, and am trying not to drink beer (even though I had one last night).

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - distant
Current Music - none, I am listening to podcasts
Website Of The Day - Another from the animation/illustration front. This one is called Drawer Geeks! and is impressive. I was turned on to this site by Flickr friend Scott Thigpen, who is one of the illustrators on the site.
Exercise (b)Log - none

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

I am once again clean shaven. I believe the weight loss is negligible.

ITP Flickr Pic
Hmm, bet you thought this would be of my cleanly shaven mug.

Nah, I wouldn’t do that to you…

Once Only Radio Worth Listening To, Now TV Worth Watching As Well
Years ago a certain Atlanta blogger turned me on to the NPR program called “This American Life”. While I enjoyed listening to show the corny non-time-shifting of old-tyme radio caused me to miss more episodes than I heard.

When “This American Life” started releasing podcasts I quickly jumped back onto their bandwagon and haven’t missed an episode since.

Now they’ve really gone big time and gotten themselves a show on the telly. “This American Life” (the tv version) “airs” on Showtime on Thursday nights at 10:30pm Eastern. Their first episode was broadcast last week and had the same feel as the radio show that I have come to love. And better yet? You can stream the entire tv show from Showtime’s website (and probably This American Life’s as well) in case you don’t pay for Showtime’s service.

It’s neat how these internets are starting to change the way people think about media, huh?

CD Pick Of The Week
Not much selection for my ears. About the only thing that looks interesting to me is the new release from Kaiser Chiefs called “Yours Truly, Angry Mob”. I’ve heard a couple of songs, and must admit to not liking “Ruby”. However I do think that this will be a worthy purchase.

If you are more interested in picking up a little recent released ditty, I bought “Neon Bible” from Arcade Fire last week and think that it’s really good. My only gripe was that I was forced to rip the packaging in order to get the CD jewel case from the surrounding sleeve.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - meh
Current Music - Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing The Hold Steady — “Stuck Between Stations” (not me, I paid $562 for car repairs yesterday so I drove it today)
Website Of The Day - Keeping my animation-loving-eight-year-old mind active I present to you MyToons.
Exercise (b)Log - look a shiny object! (none)

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Ouch. This morning I dropped my car off for its 60,000 mile Major Service (they call it Major to let you know that it will be expensive). The early estimate is $440, but I am sure they will manage to find another $200 or so work that needs to be done. I suppose I shouldn’t complain. In June I will have had the car for five years (minus the six stolen weeks) and I have not had any problems.

I Should Be Able To Pee On Your Shoes
I have a habit that I enjoy doing in bars; it’s called drinking. Occasionally I drink at home, but nothing makes me want to drink more than being in a bar. Unfortunately drinking generates a byproduct called urine. Fortunately establishments are required to have a rooms dedicated for the process of relieving oneself of this terrible byproduct. It would be rude if these rooms didn’t exist and I peed on other people’s shoes. Does it seem unreasonable to force establishments to have theses rooms? Afterall they could simply install drains in the floors. People shouldn’t be concerned about my urine because their clothes can easily be laundered when they get home, and my secondary urine has never been shown to cause negative health issues for those whose shoes I’ve moistened. I paint a pretty disgusting picture, don’t I?

Let’s now apply the same logic to smoking.

Like drinking smoking is a habit (whether considered good or bad is personal)
Like drinking smoking creates a byproduct — smoke (and to some extent litter)
Unlike drinking establishment can choose to allow smokers do disperse their byproduct anywhere in their bar.
Because of this I must ingest the secondary some from others (possibly causing me ill health) and leave the establishment reeking of cigarettes.

Before you think that I am calling to outlaw all smoking, think again. I wish that I could regulate smoking within music venues since when bands come to town they generally play only one night, at a single venue. Therefore if I want to see a certain band that’s playing at one of the few smoke-free venues I am forced to suffer from the byproducts of others’ habit. I have no choice other than to not see a show, which is what I have done on some occasions.

Smoke all you want in a bar because at least then I have alternatives; I can go to Decatur bars, or drink at home.

And finally, smoking doesn’t make you look cool. You look as cool as a forty-one year old bearded man standing around in a Trees Atlanta t-shirt.

ITP Flickr Pic
Speaking of bad habits

No, I was not responsible for emptying all of those cans.

I Heard There Was A Little Race Yesterday
Too bad I hadn’t heard about it, I surely would have trained and taken part…

Kudos to all my sick friends who ran their hearts out yesterday. Please feel free to wear your shirts around me and ask me why I don’t wear mine…

Damn You Hoyas!
My dream of keeping my sports betting dynasty in place has ended. Those rat bastards from DC threw my brackets into a tail-spin by beating North Carolina yesterday.

At least my beloved Gators are still alive, and I will be nowhere near the action this weekend when the Final Four comes to Atlanta. As for me I’ll be slumming OTP. But more about that later in the week.

The Amazingly Late Race, Part 2
It happened again last night, I was glad that I had stayed at home to watch. Darn basketball.

I was stunned how the flights to (insert wherever the hell they were trying to get here) were. For the first time since I’ve started watching the Amazing Race teams were forced into massive time separation. Even so, it was strange that Danny and Oswald nearly won the leg.

Damn I still cannot stand Mirna and Charla. They get on my every last nerve!!!

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - pollenated
Current Music - Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Built To Spill — “Big Dipper”
Website Of The Day - What’s that green? Oh, it’s pollen season in Atlanta. What better place than Pollen.com to find out all about Nature’s sperm (which is an incorrect term according to the Almighty Wikipedia).
Exercise (b)Log - a smattering of bike riding yesterday

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Let’s just say that my week won’t be featured on “Best Week Ever” anytime soon. Sickness, malaise, miscommunication with friends, no photography, frustration around every corner, missed concerts, you name it, it probably happened to me this week. I’d feel as badly today as I would on the morning following a horrible first date if I could remember what it was like to go out on a date, first or otherwise.

But don’t cry in your latte for me. Tonight I’ll be part of a sold out crowd to see Cold War Kids, and the rest of the weekend will be spent relaxing. Good luck to all you kids who were able to muster the discipline necessary to prepare yourself for Sunday’s inaugural ING Marathon (HAHA, I accidentally typed “mathathon” instead of “marathon” — now there’s an event that I’d have a better chance of competing in on Sunday). Those of you not running, but who are expecting to drive on Sunday morning, remember to check the race route in order to save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

Morrissey Hates Me!
The day after I leave Arizona Morrissey will be in Arizona. When Morrissey finally winds his way to Atlanta, I will be in Canada.

Why does Morrissey hate me?

Selling Stock To Take Stock In Travel (aka “Go West Old Man”)
I have finally realized why I have a couple of nickels to rub together sitting in a bank account; it’s because I never take many vacations. This year I’ve decided to embark on two very long (by my standards), very involved (also by my standards).

The first trip I’ve blabbed about before, it’s my upcoming trip to Arizona. The second trip is still in the early planning stages; this will be a Atlanta -> Seattle -> Edmonton -> Atlanta foray.

I’ve started adding up the cost of airfare, car rental, and hotel rooms and have nearly had a heart attack. My figures don’t even factor in the inevitable high alcohol cost and the fancy food I am trying to make sure I eat while traveling (I ain’t no Rachael Ray here).

Non-traveling Paulie would normally take this money and buy a new computer or camera equipment.

Speaking Of Silly Travel
Perhaps if I was attending a wedding in Macon I’d fly down instead of making the 1.5 hour drive. (Terri, you know I kid because I like you and I am jealous)

Since I’ve decided to be a traveler (in my world there would be a double ‘l’ in that word!) I’ve signed up for all of the “Super Saver / Secret Fare” web deals delivered (now archaically) via email or via a RSS reader. I am struck by the places that I can fly to from Atlanta that are advertised.

My philosophy has always been that if
a) I can drive to my destination in fewer than five hours and
b) I might need a car at my destination
then I don’t even consider flying.

Think about today’s airline travel… You need to get to the airport at least one hour before your flight (more like two hours), there is the new (now five-year-old) hassle of getting through “security”, and unexpected flight delays. It’s going to take three hours just to fly anywhere! Even with the high cost of gas it still seems cheaper to me to drive to a local destination as well.

Soapbox Derby
My Fellow Americans, I Am Not One Of Your Fellow Americans
Why has the American Dream become to own a seven bedroom, eight bathroom monstrosity of a house? Seriously, has anyone checked the cost of energy / gas lately? I know that I am crazy to suggest this, but shouldn’t we be building smaller, not larger, houses?

For full disclosure I will admit that I own a house larger than my needs (1500 sq ft ranch with another 1000 sq “livable space” in the basement). The only reason I purchased the house in which I currently reside was because it was the first one that I saw that was in decent shape and in my limited 1999 price range– that and it had an orange Naugahyde bar in the basement.

Maybe I’ll just move to Canada. Fuck that, it gets way too cold up there.

EFF’ing Great
Yesterday I donated another $25 to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Somebody with clout needs to stand up and fight Big Media in the name of Free Speech and the EFF has chosen to do so. Although I am far from radical (picture me wearing my Trees Atlanta t-shirt at work today) I do believe in the battles that the EFF has chosen to fight.

I have a insight on the nature of things to come thanks to the Big Movie Studios and it ain’t pretty. However I am not at liberty to divulge my knowledge in print. Talk to me after I’ve had a few beers.

Now if only I could find time to add an EFF badge to the right galley…

On The Docket
Look for a return to the old Paulie next week. I should have a stash of new photographs so that I can return to posting a shot a day. I’ll be doing my taxes so I should know how much I owe Uncle Sam for the privilege of supporting the New American Dream. I might even be exercising again… just don’t hold your breath for this one.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - tgif
Current Music - Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing The Shins — “Sleeping Lessons”
Website Of The Day - Tech Tuesday is a fairly clever webcomic about technology put out every Tuesday (see the name makes a lot of sense now). I’m just glad that there is not a new release today because that would mean that it’s only Tuesday.
Exercise (b)Log - nothing, I’m saving myself for Sunday. Oh wait, I’m not running, that must mean I am just lazy

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

After nearly three full days of feeling miserable I think that I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Last night I was home early and spent nearly the entire night on my bed watching internet video (podcasts mostly, no YouTube)

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Half Marathon
I decided that I can’t run it; so I will not. Instead I will be heading up to Lake Hartwell on Saturday to have dinner at a friend’s lake house and returning on Sunday for a post-race party.

I nearly decided that I was going to strap my bike onto my car tomorrow and head “somewhere” alone after work and stay there for the entire weekend but then I realized that I had a ticket for the Cold War Kids show tomorrow night. I’ve already missed more shows than I care to admit to, and this will be one that I certain want to attend.

Your Weekly Survivor Spoiler (A Day Earlier Than Normal)
I’ll give you a chance to avert your eyes

Once again it has been proven that “nice guys finish last” (or at least get voted off earlier than others). I didn’t exactly care for “Rocky” much to begin with but the way he treated Anthony (at least as it was shown) was despicable. And further, he was rewarded for his behavior by getting Anthony voted out. I am tired of seeing bullies come out the victor. I don’t believe that Rocky will win the million dollars, but I was disappointed to see that he remained in the game.

Speaking of The Game, I think that this will be my last season. I am done with the shenanigans of setting up teams and then mixing up teams before the merger. I know that Survivor thinks that they need to change up the game so that people don’t know what will happen, but it has all gotten old for me.

I will say that I thought the Immunity Challenge was pretty neat last night. I wish that they had run independent courses however. I know that having the teams battle for position creates good television, but I would have like to see how each managed the course independently.

Spam-A-Lot
It looks like www.InsideThePerimeter.com is starting to make a name for itself. My Akismet spam comment filter is picking up more than two hundred cheap-drug-horny-asian-poker-mortgage comments a day (spare me the insult if your site gets considerably more). I used to be able to scan the list looking for wayward entries, but the task has grown to be too difficult. Therefore from now on I will let the filter collect the garbage and auto-delete them after fifteen days. If you leave a comment that doesn’t get published let me know and if time permits I sift through the mire looking for it.

Good-Bye Larry “Bud” Melman
I am old. I remember watching David Letterman when he had a morning show. I remember watching “Late Night with David Letterman” on NBC. And I remember watching “The Late Show with David Letterman” on CBS. All this occurred before I pretty much decided to give up watching most “network” television.

Along the way (at least until 2002 — long after I stopped being a frequent viewer) there was always Larry “Bud” Melman played by Calvert DeForest. DeForest’s character was a somewhat lovable oaf who met his match in the form of a cue card quite regularly.

DeForest passed away Monday, he was 85.

Oh Me? I Don’t Watch TV. I Don’t Even Own A Television…
You know the people who say that in the most indignant of ways to make you think that they are above watching television? Fuck them.

If you are not one of these asshats, and you have been waiting for Apple TV finally hit the streets, then you are in luck. As of yesterday Apple TV has arrived.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - frustrated
Current Music - Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Bloc Party — “Hunting For Witches”
Website Of The Day - I’m doing a lousy of job of providing you with photos, so try Shorpy | The 100-Year-Old Photo Blog until I get back on my feet.
Exercise (b)Log - guess

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Once again I awoke wishing that I hadn’t. Then upon trying to enter my office I spilled black coffee all over my white shirt. Luckily I have a spare shirt or two in the office but this is not how I want to start my day.

I Know When To Go Out, I Know When To Stay In
I had a paid ticket for the Robyn Hitchcock show last night.
I really wanted to go.
But the thought of being miserable with a runny nose and trying to not drink beer was too much for me to handle.
So I stayed home again.

I am not having much fun right now.

Somehow I Don’t They Don’t Think The Meant What They Wrote
Yesterday I was reading an article about food photography when this sentence made me stop, laugh, and then re-read it to make sure I saw what I thought I saw. Play editor for a moment and read the following sentence.

Pay attention not only to the arrangement of the food itself but to the context that you put it in including the plate or bowel and any table settings around it.

Did you see what caught my eye? If not, I think that the author meant “bowl” and not “bowel”, they are after all two very different things…

ITP Flickr Pic
None.

I tried setting up Paulie’s Ghetto Studio last night, but my lack of patience (imagine that being that I am sick and all) led quickly to frustration so I quit.

I Think They Figured Out A Class-Action Lawsuit Might Be Headed Their Way
Remember how I’ve griped about my BlackJack’s battery life? Seems I am not the only one. Yesterday a fellow Blackjack owner told me of a free longer-life battery and battery cover upgrade being offered by Cingular (AT&T). After getting frustrated trying to find this offer on Cingular’s webpage I Googled the terms “blackjack extended battery offer cingular” and found a link to get in on the deal.

I’ve since turned off enough features to make my life with the BlackJack okay, but if Cingular is going to give me this for “free”, then why shouldn’t I take it.

Seven Atlanta(ish) Bands You Should Be Following
(listed in alphabetical order, with MySpace links)

Deer Hunter
Gringo Star
Kill Gordon
Manchester Orchestra
The Selmanaires
Silver Lakes
Snowden

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood - questioning my existence
Current Music - Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Of Montreal — “Wraith Pinned To The Mist”
Website Of The Day - All this pollen will eventually lead to a new crop of edibles. When the time comes and you want to see what your local farmers have produced, check out Seasonal Chef (hopefully updated for Spring soon).
Exercise (b)Log - [this space left blank intentionally]

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]