Inside The Perimeter

Will we ever see dry weather again in Atlanta? This morning was another one of those mornings where the humidity about knocked me out.

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Laugh
• Don’t let your entire life hinge on one element
• Share of yourself
• Busy is better than bored
• Satisfaction is relative

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

Meatless Monday Never Stood A Chance
With the fresh(ish) loaf of bread I brought to work I knew that there would be a sandwich in my lunch future. I’ve had a pack of salami just waiting for a decent loaf of bread, and when combined with some Baconnaise a fine sandwich it was. Hello salami sandwich. Good-bye Meatless Monday.

Another Successful Laundry And Lee’s Bakery Night
After work I drove down Buford Highway for another night of suds and sandwiches, except last night it was suds and half-sandwich and small pho. Sure last night’s splurge for a $6.50 dinner doubled my normal meal budget but I was definitely okay with this.

The meal was far more than a person desiring to lose weight should consume, but daaaaamn it was good. The Bahn Mi I purchased was a bbq chicken, and the pho was beef.

ITP Flickr Pic
It wasn’t only because that this van was poorly parked.

It was because this van labeled “Property Solution Specialist” was poorly parked. This is definitely a property solution with which I cannot agree.

Has This Blog “Jumped The Shark?”
I started writing this space five years ago never intending for many people to read it. Over the years my readership had grown to about 110 or so readers a day, with many lively conversations in the comments. Over the past month or so the readership is down and the commenting has dwindled as well.

I know that I’ve been busy (as I am today) thus the content has not exactly been stellar. But, I’m also cognizant of the fact that blogging has faded in popularity thanks to outlets like Twitter and people are busier than ever, which may explain the drop.

Even if the readership returns to zero I plan to keep airing my grievances (it is Festivus season after all), but I’m genuinely curious if there is something that I do in order to keep this space entertaining.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – busy, busy, busy
Current Music – listening to the “Get-It-Done Guy” podcast
Website Of The Day – Given the photo I uploaded yesterday I should have used Bread.com as yesterday’s WotD but didn’t think of it. So I’ll use it today.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 2 (10)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 13
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Today’s title has nothing to do with the weight I constantly desire to lose, or the exercise I need to get, though both are valid.

I am a creature of habits, habits which I plan to change up a wee little bit this year…

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• If you can’t reach your goals, your goals will hurt you
• Exercise
• Little things have big meanings
• It’s not what happened, it’s how you think about what happened
• Develop some common interests with loved ones

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

Over The River And Through The Woods (And Under The Mall?) We Go
For the most part Saturday’s Pinelike (or as I like to call it Pine Lake) hash went off without a hitch. Well, there were a few hitches all related to the security at my office building.

Knowing the area well I decided to take the “easy” route and lay the trail in the Perimeter Mall area and end at the office parking deck as a protection against the predicted rain. What I hadn’t planned were people “reporting” that a guy was spreading white powder (luckily I had been seen entering the building earlier in the morning by the guard to whom this was “reported”), or the multiple interactions with two other security guards as we set up the on-in. I was even chastised for not clearing the gathering with building management. This was not the first hash I ended here, and the last time I never even saw security on Saturday.

The trail was attended by nearly twenty hardy souls who braved cold temperatures and gray skies to come run my trail. I was fairly pleased with my trail although it wasn’t quite everything I had imagined. I took the pack from the Publix on Hammond Drive near Peachtree-Dunwoody Road down under I-285, into the woods, back over I-285 on the overpass the pack went under earlier, through some more woods, around Ravina, and then to a “Turkey/Eagle” split. For the “Turkey” I simply took the pack to the end via the road. For the “Eagle” I entered a tall tunnel, down a spillway, into another tunnel, and the out to the end. My initial plan was to use another tunnel as well, but my feet were cold and wet and at that point my trail had taken me nearly two-and-a-half hours to walk to I shortened it a bit.

Of course the lack of food combined with the beer I consumed at the end did me in for the rest of the night.

ITP Flickr Pic
I am now a bread maker.

Well, my new bread machine is a bread maker. I’ll be satisfied with my position as a bread eater.

Over The Interstates And Through The Woods To Mom’s House I Will Go
For the past two (three?) years I’ve spent Christmas partying at ITP-Reader Betsy’s house. Each of these Christmas gatherings have been much fun.

With Christmas falling on a Friday this year the stars will align to allow me the time to head home to spend Christmas with my mother this year. It’s been many Christmases since I’ve done so, and thinking that I need to shake things up a bit, I’m deciding to travel for Christmas. The amount of fun I’ve had on Christmas recently made the decision to skip this in order to go home to visit my mother a little harder, but I think that I’m making the right decision this year.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair, but quite busy still. looking forward to a little R&R around Christmas
Current Music – listening to last week’s Survivor since it didn’t record at my house last Thursday.
Website Of The Day – Wolfgang’s Vault is all about the classic music — listen to it, buy it, buy t-shirts about it, whatever….
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 1 (10)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 12
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

That would be my status if I were a computer server. But I’m not, and while I have a lot going on — both good and bad — I have no time today to elaborate.

Talk amongst yourselves and have a great weekend.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

I’ve backed myself into a time corner so I have little-to-no time for the blog today.

I’m way behind schedule at work. I’m liking the work I’m doing, I just need to get it done on schedule.

Tonight I’ll be attending the performance of “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me!” at Cobb Energy Centre

Saturday afternoon I’ll be laying the Pine Lake Hash and I fear that some of the area that I’ve chosen has been changed. Looks like I’ll need to perform a little last-minute reccying, but when? Oh, and the weather forecast is calling for cold and rain on Saturday. Niiiiiiice.

Last night I left the office “early” 6:00pm because I was tired and hungry. I went to Fox Bros BBQ, started to watch “The Year Without A Santa Claus,” fell asleep for about an hour waking at 10:20pm, watched Top Chef, and then could not get back to sleep until around 2:00am. Of course getting to sleep at that hour has made me later than usual this morning. Oh bother…

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Root for the home team
• Don’t confuse stuff with success
• Every relationship is different
• Don’t think “What if?”
• Volunteer

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

ITP Flickr Pic
This was part of a series of shots that I took for a panorama in Old Fourth Ward.

I think I like this individual frame more than the panorama.

RealiTV Update: Top Chef — Atlanta Loses Again
Like Richard Blais before him Kevin Gillespie made it to the finals for Top Chef and came in third place.

Pity.

I don’t think it’ll hurt his career too much as he was picked as the fans’ favorite and I’ve heard that Woodfire Grill is booked through mid-January.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – completely overwhelmed
Current Music – silence
Website Of The Day – They say that Vevo will be the “Next Big Thing” in the music video world. Only time will tell, I’m sure.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 10 (10)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 8
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Holy crap. I walked out of my chilly house wearing a sweater this morning and was nearly bowled over by the wall of humidity that I struck. Because I park in a carport that also acts as a wind tunnel it’s rare that my car is moist, or has frost, but this morning it was covered in morning dew like I could not believe. First task of the day? Return to the house and change my clothes.

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Don’t be overprotective
• Pay Attention: You may have what you want
• Don’t let your religious beliefs fade
• Do what you say you are going to do
• Don’t be aggressive with your friends and family

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

You’re Damn Right You Made A Mistake, Part 1
The other day I received an email from my mortgage holder

Thank you for your recent payment of ($ USD) 37,968.12.

it concluded.
WHAT THE FUCK? Even if I had ($USD) 37,968.12 in my bank account I wouldn’t be giving that much to them!

Upon calling their Customer Service I received a pre-recorded message informing me that they had already been informed that they sent out erroneous payment notifications, and later in the day I received and email stating the same.

My heart rate has returned to normal, but my britches may never be the same.

You’re Damn Right You Made A Mistake, Parts 2 & 3
My first mistake yesterday afternoon was walking over to The Container Store and Barnes & Noble (ooh, I played with a nook but didn’t like it because I thought it was slow) because by the time I was ready to return to work it was raining cats and dogs, well not literally, but you know what I mean.

The second mistake I made yesterday afternoon was not paying attention to the price of the containers I purchase at The Container Store (what else would one buy there?) as they rang up $1 more than they should have (their “old” price and not their “new” price), and since I purchased three containers I was overcharged $3 (plus tax). If I can find the time in the upcoming days I shall march back over there and get them to correct this. And if not, I will chalk it up to being a valuable lesson for my future — this $3 (plus tax) loss may save me a lot of money in the future as I plan to check each receipt from here on.

ITP Flickr Pic
They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

On this I’d have to disagree…

Dear Mr McCullum, If You Want Your Junk Mail Just Let Me Know
It seems as if someone’s mail directory has gotten its wires crossed. Over the past few weeks I’ve received a handful of mail for “Paul McCullum” at my address. You may correctly assume that my last name is not McCullum, therefore I am receiving this mail in error. Oh well, more fodder for my ReCART bin.

The Dentist I See Today Is Not Hermey
Today is my semi-annual dental cleaning and checkup. I’m always a bit concerned when I have these as I’m never sure when bad news will be delivered. Recently all has been well with my mouth, but my habits aren’t nearly as precise as they once were (something about this lack of exercise, hair growing, overall malaise about life thing…).

Conveniently my dentist’s office is near the Cobb Energy Centre so I can scout out where I want to eat tomorrow night before going there to see Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. If you have recommendations for that area, please let me know.

Happy Birthday Greetings : Always ‘y’ And Sometimes ‘e’
When I met her she was Stacey, but now she goes by Stacy; I guess everyone’s had to cut back in this tough economy. Stacy is a good friend I don’t see nearly enough (she fell into the “Parent Trap” and like the majority of people in this world has entered a league in which I do not play).

I doubt that she is “ITP-Reader Stac(e)y,” but in case that she sees this, Happy Birthday Yo!

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – meh, gave some good news last night that will mean a change in my Christmas routine — more details next week
Current Music – currently nothing
Website Of The Day – I’m not listening to anything at the moment. Perhaps I should be tuning in to Stereomood – Emotional Internet Radio; Music for My Mood and Activities.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 9 (9)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 7
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

It wasn’t very easy, but I did it. Breakfast (a power bar) and lunch (a vegetarian burrito from Willy’s Mexicana Grill) were easy; dinner was difficult. I wound up leaving the office around 7:30pm and stopped at Kroger on my way home. Unlike at lunch time when I ate just before going into Publix, I was really hungry entering Kroger — mistake… I fought hard not to buy everything in the store, and nothing vegetarian was looking appetizing when compared to their meaty counterparts. Dinner wound up consisting of apple cider, bread, and butter — not exactly “nutritious,” but exactly “vegetarian.”

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Believe in yourself
• Don’t believe in yourself too much
• Don’t face your problems alone
• Age is not to be feared
• Develop a household routine

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

It’s An Expensive Toy, But Man Do I Love My iPhone!
I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to figure this out, but the iPhone is an incredible streaming media device. Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Christmas music via Pandora as well as streaming some music from one of my favorite radio stations KEXP in Seattle.

I’m not just listening to these when I have WiFi access, but have also started listening to them using AT&T‘s 3G network while traveling in my car.

ITP Flickr Pic
This morning I uploaded a few more shots from the photostroll I took two weekends ago.

This was a pretty flower growing in the remnants of a knocked down house.

It’s More Than A Bank, It’s A Post Office Of Sorts Too!
Yesterday I was supposed to buy stamps. I knew that I was headed to Publix at lunch so I assumed that I would pick some up there since that’s one of the services that Publix offers. But I completely forgot.

My next stop was to swing by Wachovia to extract some of the millions in cash I keep there, when what did I see on the ATM screen? The ability to buy stamps! I had also forgotten that Wachovia (and I assume other banks) have started offering stamps at some of their ATMs. Of course I could have always stopped into the Post Office at Sage Hill when I stopped at that Kroger last night too — but that wouldn’t have been nearly as cool.

It’s Hard To Explain Buying Twenty-Five Pounds Of Flour
With a new bread machine and a scheduled haring on Saturday (oh, have I yet to mention that I’m laying the Pine Lake hash this Saturday?) I purchased twenty-five pounds of flour at Publix yesterday.

While not all of bags were All-Purpose flour it was a little hard to answer the cashier when she asked “What’cha making?” Since I was in no mood to explain that at least ten of those pounds were to be used marking a trail for people to follow so that they may drink beer, I replied “It’s bread making season.” and gave her a wry smile (See what I did there?!?! Rye is a type bread, so I gave her a “wry” smile…). She then stumped me momentarily when she followed up with “Oh, what type of bread are you making?” I had no idea of course, so I lied. “I’m going to make some country white. The whole wheat flour is there in case I get inspired and want to make more.” Sounds plausible, no?

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, harried, confused
Current Music – listening to the “Daily Giz Wiz” podcast
Website Of The Day – For a person who works in the satellite tv field I sure give you a lot of alternatives to television — like Snag Films, which allows you to watch some interesting documentaries for free online.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 8 (8)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 6
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

The Alabama Crimson Tide?
The Philadelphia Eagles?

C’mon, who wanted those two low-life, cheating, football clubs to be victorious?

I’ll have to give credit where credit is due, however. From the get-go Alabama owned my beloved Gators. Fortunately for me I could not watch the entire game. It’s a sad ending to the season for this Gator fan. Since I cannot bring myself to root for Bama all I have left to say on the matter is “Hook’em Horns!”

(as a side note: I desired to attend the University of Texas when I was a high school lad, and if I had landed a job in Austin prior to Atlanta I would have moved there instead of here in 1995).

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Friendship beats money
• Have realistic expectations
• Be open to new ideas
• Share with others how important they are to you
• If you’re not sure, guess positively

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

White Elephant Surprises
On Saturday night I attended a “White Elephant” gift exchange. I had no idea what gift I would bring until I spied “it” while wandering on Saturday. What was “it?” A Snuggie

That’s right! I brought last year’ “Big Thing to Mock!” And you know what? It was a hit! My Snuggie was stolen three times, thus allowing the last person to steal it to keep it. Woo Hoo!

As for me? I wound up with some sort of bizarre blending device whose manual I’ll have to read in order to figure out what it really does. The “best” part of my gift (for me anyway) was what was also included in the box. When I opened my gift yesterday I saw that it contained a “gift receipt” for exchange. This gift receipt was from The Bay in Calgary, Alberta Canada! You may remember me talking about going to The Bay when I visited Winnipeg earlier this year. How cool is that?!?!

ITP Flickr Pic
While far from the best photo I’ve ever posted in this space this one evokes thought for me.

It’s a bridge placard in Old Fourth Ward. I wonder what that area was like in 1941? Oh, and I absolutely love the font they used for the placard.

Besides, what better photo to display on Pearl Harbor Day — December 7, 1941?

Speaking Of Exchanges
As part of my Economy-Stimulation Saturday I visited Total Wine & More, where I managed to spend “only” $97 which included five different Christmas beers (expect to see photos and reviews in the near future), as well as Bed, Bath, and Beyond — where I managed to (finally) join the “Bread Maker Generation.” However I really didn’t get to join this “Bread Maker Generation” until Sunday…

After getting home from the White Elephant party I opened up my “new” bread maker in order to read the manual and to see what sort of ingredients I’d need to buy for bread making. Only there was no manual inside; and the power cord had been unraveled, dammit, this bread maker had already been opened by someone else! I went as far as checking for food particles (and found none) before coming to the conclusion that I was going to exchange the one I bought Saturday for a really new one. So on Sunday morning, as part of a Edgewood Retail District Sunday (where I shopped at Lowe’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and ate at Five Guys Burgers and easily could have dropped money in Target, Best Buy, Barnes & Nobel, and Kroger).

RealiTV Update: The Amazing Race — It’s Great When Ugly People Overcome
(alternate title “Team Aryan Über Alles!”)

Last night I went over to ITP-Readers Terri’s and Pat’s house to view the dramatic conclusion of this season’s The Amazing Race. There we were joined by ITP-Reader Stacy, and we all ate pizza created by Terri and ITP-Reader Tony (the pizza was deeeelicious!).

Of course you know by now that I correctly predicted the order in which the teams finish. But by the luck of the draw I was rooting for Team Zebra to win it all.

As would be expected all teams boarded the same flight to Las Vegas thus wiping out any advantages gained along the way. Once in Vegas they interrupted a couple getting married by an Elvis impersonator, walked face-down on the side of The Mirage (to which I laugh when I think of the way Phil pronounces it), do some silly bouncing as part of a Beatles “Love” Cirque du Soleil advertisement, find Wayne Newton, and then attempt to get to the most popular casino in Monaco (you say “Candle-a-bra,” I say “Mon-AHH-co”) for some chip counting before running past all of their competitors, well almost all — the couple who were ousted on the very first show seemed to be missing, and hugging Phil.

With the exception of a Wayne Newton sighting (who has had terrible work done) the finale was a bit of a disappointment. Gone was the final challenge which forced the teams to remember intimate details about their journey, instead teams had to count out a million dollars in poker chips (without concern for exchange rates, or the price of gold, or anything!)

Except for the fact that I’ll be forced to buy two more songs at the pleasure of Terri, I’m not upset that Meghan won The Amazing Race (Cheyne? Who’s that?). Hell, those two will need what’s left of their million dollar prize after taxes to pay the taxes on all of the other shit that they’ve won during this season. From the get-go they were the team to beat and they prevailed. Now if only I could say the same about my beloved Florida Gators….

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – harried
Current Music – nothing currently
Website Of The Day – If the fact that the website is called Camel Camel Camel doesn’t get you hooked, perhaps the fact that they are trying to help you save money will.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 7 (7)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 6
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

I seriously need to spend more time preparing this blog.

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Cultivate friendships
• Turn off the TV
• Accept yourself — unconditionally
• Remember where you came from
• Limit yourself to thinking about one subject as you lie down to sleep

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

I Made The Only Misstep For “The 39 Steps”
I met up at ITP-Reader Barb’s (and Allan’s) house for a delicious dinner prior to the three of us heading to the Cobb Energy Centre for “The 39 Steps.”

Barb had gone to the box office yesterday and purchased some sweet tickets. I had purchased my own ticket online months ago, also thinking that I had a sweet ticket. When we entered the theater I realized that I had made a huge misstep. I purchased a fourth-row end seat thinking that having only one person next to me would be more pleasant. What I didn’t expect was that the theater seating would be so curved that I nearly had an obstructed view! Luckily for me the play was far from sold out (a pity too) so just before the action started I moved into an empty seat next to Barb and Allan and never had to move.

“The 39 Steps” was more loosely based on the Hitchcock story than I expected it to be. The storyline was based on the same premise but also included some incredibly funny and well-executed slapstick comedy. I’d suggest that you go see it, but its short run in Atlanta ends on Sunday, so you probably won’t have time.

ITP Flickr Pic
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Unless of course some asshat comes along and ruins this mural by painting shitty graffiti over it.

During This Political Season, Why Not See The Whigs?
Of course the Whigs of which I speak is Atlanta’s “The Whigs” who are performing Variety Playhouse. I’m looking forward to the show, but not having to fight the traffic to get down to Little Five Points tonight.

And Of Course, GO GATORS!!!
Tomorrow is the SEC Championship Game and I’m hoping that my beloved Florida Gators can come through yet again.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, but severely crushed on time
Current Music – listening/watching to last night’s Survivor.
Website Of The Day – I’m sure that I don’t need anything sold by Great Big Stuff. I’m also certain that they sell many things that I want however.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check, but wish that I had

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 4 (4)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 3
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Usually I think of something clever for a title. This is as clever as I’ve gotten today.

Five Of The One Hundred Simple Secrets Of Happy People
Today I am starting a feature that will run for the next twenty blogging days.

I am currently, and deliberately slowly, reading a super-easy read called The 100 Simple Secrets Of Happy People. Each morning I read three of these “secrets.” (Remember when I mentioned exercising my mind?)

Here are five “secrets” on which you can ponder

• Your life has purpose and meaning
• Use a strategy for happiness
• You don’t have to win every time
• Your goals should be aligned with one another
• Choose your comparisons wisely

You may find this hard to believe, but I’m trying to live my life under the concept that it’s the only one I’ll ever have so I better enjoy it.

ITP Flickr Pic
Of all the people I know I should be the least aghast that at least one house in Cabbagetown has not been repaired since the tornado ripped through there in March of 2008.

After all I am the guy who has lived without preparing food or doing laundry in his house for the last year. I am also the guy who has yet to fix the gutter damage created by his neighbor’s tree back in 2008.

RealiTV Update: Top Chef – Someone’s Gotten Banged
Last night the Final Four cheftestants returned to Top Chef, but not in Sin City as we’ve seen before, but rather now in Napa Valley.

As the four, slightly-different appearing cheftestants give greetings to one another the Sonoma Wine Train arrives. And as to be expecting, I mean expected, a more-than-slightly-different appearing Padma exits the train; she’s got bangs, and the bebe bump resulting from another form of banging is showing; and she’s with Top Chef Masters contestant Michael Chiarello!

The appearance of the train can only mean one thing…. Quickfire Challenge, and given that we are in wine country the featured ingredient shall be grapes. I am quickly reminded why I think Top Chef is a much better show than Hell’s Kitchen when all four cheftestants produce food that I would love to eat. In the end cocky, younger-brother Michael Voltaggio won a new car (insert obligatory product placement here).

All four cheftestants now realize that the next challenge will be the Elimination Challenge which determines who will be a part of the Final Three. For this Elimination Challenge the cheftestants are required to produce two dishes, one vegetarian, one meaty, with only locally-procured ingredients. This challenge seems made for Atlanta’s Kevin Gillespie which much mean that he’ll get eliminated. Not only that, Kevin admits that he is once again going to produce something that is deemed “simple food” which I figure will bite him in the ass one day..

For the meats:

• Jennifer is going to produce a duck dish
• Cocky little-Voltaggio is going to produce a fois gras dish
• Big-Voltaggio is going to produce a short-rib dish
• Kevin is going to produce a beef brisket dish

For the vegetarians:
vegetables

It seems as if each chef has one dish loved by the judges and one that seems to fall short of the mark. It’s not until Uncle Tom Collicio mentions Jennifer’s inability to keep the grill hot enough to produce the grilled duck that she’d promised him that I realize her head is on the proverbial chopping block. Bryan Voltaggio wins his first challenge of the competition (I was somewhat surprised to hear this) and moves onto the finale.

With nervous times ahead Jennifer, Michael, and Kevin await to find out who will continue to vie for the title of “Top Chef” and who will be a sous-chef for that determination. And as it turned out Jennifer will be next week’s sous-chef.

Look At Me, I’m All Classy And Shit
Tonight I’m headed to the theater. Unlike most theatrical productions I attend, this one will be in Cobb County, specifically at the new(ish) Cobb Energy Arts Centre. This will be my first trip to the Cobb Energy Center and I already know that my next trip will be exactly one week from today.

Tonight I’ll be watching the performance of Albert Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps.”

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay but not great
Current Music – listening to the “net @ night” podcast
Website Of The Day – You like to watch movies online. You might even like to do so legally. If so, use Indie Movies Online to satisfy your craving.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 3 (3)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 2
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

Well children, it’s that time of year again. Time for Old Saint Paulie to open up his bank accounts and spread his wealth throughout the land, buying himself lavish toys, and in the rare instance giving moneys to charities. If you’d like to help me with the latter then I’d love to hear about your favorite 501(c)3 charities. I don’t have much to spread this year (perhaps $500 just to keep one of my year’s goals), but I’m certain that there are charities who’d receive my money with thanks regardless of the donation size.

It’s Also Time For Rankin/Bass Specials!
Christmas is the time for many a tv special made in the olden days (read “when I was a wee little lad”). Sure Charles Shultz managed some good ones with his Peanuts cartoon, but when it comes to Christmas there were no better than those put out by Rankin/Bass.

You bet your sweet ass that I have all my favorites ripped to my hard drive and loaded up into iTunes just waiting to be viewed!

ITP Flickr Pic
It’s odd that when I take many pictures on a weekend that I have sufficient stock to fill this space.

Anyone want to take a guess as to where this was shot?

RIP: Max & Erma’s
For as long as I’ve lived in Atlanta (and it’s surrounding suburbs) there has been a Max & Erma’s near Perimeter Mall. It wasn’t until I started listening to internet radio in 1999/2000, specifically a station located in Dayton, Ohio, that I understood that Max & Erma’s was a folksy restaurant.

When my office relocated to its current god-forsaken location across from Perimeter Mall I decided that the time should finally come for me to eat at Max & Erma’s. Well I’ve missed my chance (not that I didn’t have four years to do it!) because the other morning I noticed that the one and only Max & Erma’s in Georgia has closed.

Ohio road trip anyone? I promise to stop in Skyline Chili as well.

You Can Call Me “Part Of The Problem”
I did not vote for the election of the next Mayor of the City of Atlanta. There, I said it.

I think that I’ve become like most Americans who don’t feel that his/her vote matters. What’s that you say? “This election was separated by hundreds of votes? This is why my vote counts?”

What if I were to say that I don’t like either of the candidates who were running for office?

What if I were to say that I hope to move from the City of Atlanta before the end of the next Mayoral term?

What if I were to say that holding elections on Tuesdays in an age where I commute thirty-to-ninety minutes to work, a full nine-hour workday at that, and that having a single place — located near my house — where I am allowed to cast my vote, is a fucked up way to perform what most people deem to be so damn important?

My forefathers fought to the right to vote.
They also fought for the right to express my opinion freely.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay I guess
Current Music – listening to a CBC Radio3 podcast. I love Canadian music so much that I just may move there. Does it snow in Canada?
Website Of The Day – If you’ve uploaded shots to the internet and fear that someone is using them without your permission then try to see if Tin Eye can help you find the culprits. As for me I could only dream of taking shots worthy of theft.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 4 (10)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 1
Marta Rides – 0

December Goals
- Not get fired from my job

2009 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
- Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
- Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
- Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]