I’m So Nervous I Could Shiiiiiiiiiiii

Today I am embarking on a journey that has been planned in part for two years, and in part since the beginning of this year. I cannot believe that the time has arrived. All of those planning chores I “put off until closer to the day” have now been put into the “I guess I won’t get around to it in time” category. Stay closely tuned to this channel for (hopefully) daily updates; I will make all efforts to make sure you are not disappointed if you do.

Read Along With Me
Today’s passage from Notes To Myself.

Love unites the part with the whole. Love unites me with the world and with myself. My life work could well be love. Love is the universe complete. Detachment is the universe divided. Detachment divides me from myself and from others. Love is the vision that can see all as one ans one as all: “I and my father are one.” Is there but one reality and one truth? Love shows me where all minds and essences unite.

To all who have helped me — Thanks.

So What’s It All About Alfie?
A year ago I decided that one of my vacations was going to be based around a photography workshop. I’ve been listening to the Tips From The Top Floor podcast for some time and took great interest to the announcement of 2008’s workshops. It just so happened that one of the workshops was to be held in Fort Collins, Colorado (home of New Belgium Brewing — makers of Fat Tire) during a perfect time for me this year. I could have opted to go to Nashville two weeks ago, but with Fort Collins working out so perfectly I chose it instead.

Those who know me well in real-life also know what else will be going in while in Colorado, but I won’t mention it now as to not ruin the suspense for those who casually follow along with my life. (btw- It’s nothing as exciting as meeting a mail-order bride, or picking up an adopted child, or even interviewing for a job. Keep reading and you’ll find out.)

In the meanwhile I have loaded up the iPod with entertainment in preparation for ignoring television for the short term. I’ve purchased a few new discs to spin, a couple of audiobooks, and have a backlog of podcasts to listen to as well.

These Boots Were Made For Hiking, Not Flying
Due to the physical constraints of my luggage I have chosen to wear my hiking boots instead of trying to cram them into my suitcase. At first the decision seemed clever and innocuous until I realized that I am going to have to take them off when going through the TSA security line later.

Can we just stop with this nonsense already? I want my freedoms back! I want to wear my shoes the entire time I am in the airport. I want to be able to bring liquids on to the plane. I do not want to have to take my laptop out of its case so that it can be scanned separately. Flying should be stress-free and enjoyable, not harder to accomplish than taking a Greyhound bus.

Perhaps on my flight home I’ll wear my flip-flops. I’ll still have to take them off to get through security, but at least they will be a lot easier to take off and put back on.

ITP Flickr Pic
This was taken on my trip to Fort Mountain State Park a few weeks ago.
Clouds And Haze
In a few days I plan to be on mountains which dwarf our east coast mountain range.

Jalapeno Beach — Now With Bigger Photos
Last night I upgraded the (five) photos which are posted in the current incarnation of Jalapeรƒยฑo Beach. The photos posted there are larger and still a high enough resolution to be enjoyed (read “copied” but isn’t everything on the internet?).

For the tech savvy amongst you, I have tested the RSS feed for the photoblog and it seems to work (at least with Bloglines). If you want to be notified every time I put up a new photo then add the RSS feed to your aggregator — and please let me know if it doesn’t work in your feed reader.

For those that enjoy visiting the site, keep your eyes peeled for a template change some time in the next month.

Where Oh Where Have My Moo Cards Gone?
It seems like an eternity to me since I ordered my business cards from Moo. It didn’t help matters when I watched an older “Lab With Leo” in which they praised Moo “…and two days later they arrive at your house.”

I did receive notification on August 12th that my cards were “dispatched” and that I should expect them within five-to-seven business days. However, there is no tracking number provided for Moo shipments even though you think one would be supplied since I paid $7 for shipping.

It Should Go Without Saying, But I Won’t Be At George’s Tonight
Have a beer for me tonight at George’s. By the time you are lifting pints I should be nearing my destination. Run well and drink responsibly.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – anxious
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Wolf Parade — “Language City”
Website Of The Day – Today is a little different. Today I’ll point you at a Consumerist article on a phenomenon they are calling “Grocery Shrink Ray” in which companies are playing games with consumers. I suggest you take a minute to read it.
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Monthly Foot Mileage – 5 miles
Monthly Wheel Mileage – 50 miles
Mode Of Transportation To Work – My car
Monthly Marta Rides – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 27 (110)
Books To Read To Earn Kindle – 4

August Goals
1) Run/Walk no fewer than 75 miles
2) Ride no fewer than 150 road miles
3) Ride Marta no fewer than ten times (five round-trips)
4) Read at least two books
5) Make my bed every day

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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19 Responses to I’m So Nervous I Could Shiiiiiiiiiiii

  1. Bob says:

    I’m jealous! Have fun in Colorado! Can you grab a La Folie for me and add it to the Grove beer truck? I know I won’t see it for 3 weeks but it will give me something to look forward to.

    I’m also looking forward to your photos from out there. Are you going to post daily?

  2. Sal says:

    Have fun Paulie!
    Sorry I won’t be sharing a pig growler with you this year! ๐Ÿ™
    Tell Bill and Sue I said hi and I miss them alot.

  3. I’ll grab a La Folie for you. It’s up to year to haggle with the Groves in order to get it once it enters Georgia soil.

    The “plan” is to keep the current ITP schedule. Keep in mind that I will be waking early (perhaps hungover from CO beer) to capture sunrise and that I will be two hours behind the east coast. Therefore, the posts will most likely be later than when I am ITP.

    My photos will also be a little more rough than usual beacuse I won’t have the same editing power that I do in the home office.

  4. If I see Bill and Sue I will give them your best regards. Currently I only plan on being in Fort Collins for the workshop. Perhaps I’ll stalk Bill at the REI, I can always use another pair of wool socks. ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Barb says:

    you gotta at least go to happy hour with Eunuch – he knows all the good places with $2 pints of New Belgium.
    If you make it to Leadville, go to the Melanzana store. (it is on the main drag) We love the clothes/fleece we bought from there.

    See ya on Friday 8/29 – I’m sure I can charge Bob a hefty shipping fee for that La Folie.

  6. Maigh says:

    Congratulations!! So proud of you and happy for you for chasing the things/places/experiences you want… it’s going to be a fabulous trip! Can’t wait to read and see and hear all about it.

    Safe travels, bubba!

  7. I’m not sure what the social aspect of the workshop will be. If I am with a bunch of non-drinkers (somewhat unlikely since I know the instructor is visiting from Germany) then I’ll certainly break free. Imagine me not drinking while in Colorado? I think the character from “The Princess Bride” said it best — INCONCEIVABLE!

  8. Stacy says:

    ร‚ยกVaya con dios, mi amigo! May your trip be safe, fun and fruitful! I’m already looking foward to stories and photos.

    Oh and if all else fails, consider shipping your boots back to yourself, especially if they make your suitcase overweight and charge you more.

  9. I nearly mailed some stuff out there; had I been able to guarantee delivery to the hotel in which I will be staying I would have. I just might wind up mailing back my boots. ๐Ÿ™‚

  10. Have I mentioned that I fully expect to be detained by the TSA since my carry-on baggage contains so much electronics?

  11. Steve says:

    I hope the trip is even more wonderful than you expect. Enjoy some for me!! And give Bill and Sue my regards as well. I second Sally, they are missed…

    -FP

  12. debbie says:

    Slip a tube of mascara in with your electronics and make ’em go crazy. I make my traveling shoe choices based on ease of taking them on and off, too. I think the most apt punishment for the guy that took the shoe bomb onto a plane would be to turn him loose among a bunch of frequent flyers who are pissed off about the indignities of walking barefoot through security — I’d love to take a pop at him!

  13. Perhaps for the rest of his life the guy should be forced to spray people’s shoes with Lysol as they pass through security.

  14. Can you tell that I am being uber-productive on get-away day? ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Barb says:

    if we are bring beer back for you, we could maybe let the boots be their traveling companion…… well, after they are sprayed with lysol of course ๐Ÿ˜‰

  16. I wouldn’t want my boots to take up valuable space that could otherwise be occupied by beer. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  17. AWESOME!!!!

    My Florida Gators hoodie just arrived — perfect timing for shoving into my suitcase for today’s trip! Yippee!!!

  18. Steve says:

    Oh great.. now the TSA really has something to complain about- a UF hoodie!!

    -FP

  19. Littlewilly says:

    Paulie, Have fun in Colorado….this is the perfect time of year to be there. In addition to Melanzana”s in Leadville ..check out the Mineral Belt trail… lots of old mining stuff great views. The two highest points in Co are just to the west. Scott Steph”s Columbine Cafe has a great breakfast. Looking foward to the photos…..

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