Gone Interviewin’
I’ll be spending most of my day interviewing prospective coworkers at Clemson University today. I was hoping to skip town early and go on a free-standing hearth hunt, but alas my day is fairly full.
Barb, How Ya Doin’?
I’m leaving my health speculations in the shadows for a little while, at least until I can consult with medical professionals.
I Love College Towns
As college towns go Clemson is tiny, which is good since I failed to bring well-fitting, comfortable shoes (I can mentally picture the ones I’d planned to bring along sitting in front of the closet waiting to be picked up) so walking was not much of an option for me last night.
My colleague and I headed out for a pizza dinner, and to my pleasure it was $1 slice night at the local pizzeria. As you can imaging the place was jammed many a cash-strapped college student. Big Spender Paulie got two cheese slices and a $3 Yeungling, even though the popular beer of the night was the Miller High Life at $1 a bottle. I would have thought my care-free “Splenda Daddy” ways would have had the college lasses flocking to me, but alas they seemed happy to remain at their original tables.
From the pizza joint I hobbled over to a coffee and ice cream shop where I had a wonderful mint-chocolate ice cream and a cup of mediocre joe. While there I saw one of the most oddly-photogenic young ladies I’ve see in some time. Given that she was:
- young enough to be my daughter
- with a group of people
- female
I only could sit and glance her way a few times wondering what it would be like to have the inter-personal skills necessary to get people like her to pose for photographs — only the tasteful type, what do you think I am??? Ah, the life of the dreamer…..
ITP Flickr Pic
Table 1280 is the swank restaurant which is sandwiched by the Woodruff Arts Center and the High Museum
I love the painterly effect that I was able to milk from my photo.
iBuying
I’m in. Is the iPad everything I’ve ever wanted from a table device? No, but I understand the iPad’s limitations and I don’t care. My only decision is whether to pony up the $130, plus $14.99-$29.99 monthly cost for the AT&T 3G cell plan for it. Am I an Apple fanboy? You betcha! And don’t forget that I’m also still an Apple stockholder. Do I have too much disposable income? Perhaps (six years of dateless-ness provides such monetary freedom).
Oh, and please no iPad name jokes here. I’ve seen and heard far too many, none of which have been funny or original. Thanks.
I May Have Given Up on Social Media
After being inundated with lousy “iPad” jokes and many personal opinions on last night’s State of the Union address I’ve made a decision to banish Twitter and Facebook from my iPhone. This is the first step in breaking my habit of using these sites since they seem to provide more time wasting than informative data. We’ll see how long this lasts. Feel free to make your own guesses in the comments. 
In Case You Missed It
Last night I fired off a brief rant about a partially-self-inflicted data-loss that occurred the other night.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood –
Current Music – none at the moment
Website Of The Day – iPad.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – 198 pounds
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 48
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 9 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 30, Situps – 75
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 9** (12*)
Vegetarian Days – 4, Carnivorous Days – 23
Marta Rides – 0
* – because I stripped the bed instead of making the bed
** – and holding since I’m not at home
January Goals
- Not get fired from my job
2010 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 185 pounds (starting weight was 198 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
- Enter no fewer than three photographic competitions / gallery showings
- Get the Black Sheep stats out of Excel and online
- Ride in no fewer than two 50 mile or 50K bike rides
The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in PHP and CSS
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Okay – I’ll comment so everyone doesn’t worry about me. I’m fine, I’ve had/have a cold & my back is bothering me, but I get another “injection” into my spine (to be specific the facet joint) next tuesday, so hopefully that will help for a short while. I really need to start discussing surgery with the doc, I just don’t want to – the whole being laid up recovery period just doesn’t thrill me.
Paulie – you should have bought some of those young things a champagne of beer…….. just to do it. Then they would have maybe come over to say thanks. Who cares if they are too young, it would be practice for talking to a girl you might really want to talk to.
We ignored the Speech last night – I’ll get the important stuff from somewhere else, I just can’t take the clapping after every statement. That is ridiculous.
I didn’t get a chance to respond yesterday…the thing is you can rarely ‘feel’ heart disease, hence the silent killer moniker…the good news is whatever it is, got you to go to see the doctor. Ten years is too long in between visits.
I don’t have great “genetics” either, my father died of a heart attack at 57, my maternal grandfather was only 50…not to mention all the other heart disease, respiratory issues and diabetes running rampant through my family. I’m determined to not go down that road, say what you will about me but I’ve seen my future if I don’t take care of myself and I don’t like it one bit.
Ugh, Bard surgery…I know the day will come when I need to get my knee fixed but like you said its the recovery that will kill me.
The speach was on too late for me, 9:00 is my bed time these days, 5 am come far too early.
Having FB up while the speech was going on was pretty funny…
If you had your camera handy, what higher compliment would there have been to ask if you could take the young ladies picture? Give her a business card, so she knows you aren’t a complete nutjob (OK, so she THINKS you’re not a nutjob). At least it could have been practice.
I’m not a devotee of the Kindle, but it seems as if the iPad is not enough of some and too much needless stuff.
-FP
hey – here’s a new way to die – death by mac n cheese.
check out the Delilah Winder’s recipe down in this article.
http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-restaurants-food/a-knack-for-mac-284611.html?cxtype=ynews_rss&imw=Y
I agree that ten years is too long, thankfully it’s only been about eighteen months since my last visit.
The truth will start to be known next week. I can’t wait until I can start whining just about my knees again. 
Steve I’ve been trying to settle on the “right” business card to add legitimacy to my photographic endeavors.
Barb, love the mac-n-cheese article. Now I’m hungry for some.
Oh, and the iPad will be an awesome way to show off my photography portfolio as well.
Paulie – I have to admit that I want the iPad too. I know many folks were underwhelmed at the announcement yesterday, but it has all of the features I’ve been wanting with a screen size that is just right for me. I don’t have or really need a smartphone — I don’t text that often — and I’m sure I’ll be using my Razr til it dies.
I agree with Barb: you should have gone over and talked to her! Too bad that Barb, Laura or myself weren’t there…..you know we would’ve pushed you right into it….and vouched that you weren’t a nut job.
Barb – sorry to hear you’ve been feeling poorly. I’ve been fighting a cold myself for the past two weeks, but nothing that keeps me home from work. I don’t envy the back pain you are having at all. Maybe we can schedule our respective surgeries at the same time and be ‘rehab buddies’! ; )
Just a reminder that tonight is team trivia down at Oz Pizza in East Point (hosted by Aron/Yassir). Easy and I will be there and we need help regaining our #1 position and the $50 house cash that goes with it. We’ve been coming in 3rd for too many weeks in a row now……
Paulie – I’m trying to figure out where to go get some mac n cheese for lunch as well. Hopefully the doc will tell you that all is well & all this fretting was for nothing.
Michelle – if it wasn’t so far, I’d love to go to trivia. Maybe Ill get a wild hair…….. or more realistically, some Thursday when Allan isn’t working we will have to make the roadtrip.
That is an excellent idea – we can rehab together…….. I’m actually thinking maybe in the fall. We want to go to Spain next year to visit Allan’s brother & family & I’d like my back to feel better, I’m sure there will be plenty of walking going on. I need to figure out the short term disability stuff, so I can not have to worry about work.
I wonder if they would let me get some lipo at the same time I get my knee fixed, I mean I wont be able to work out so this way I can still stay sort of ‘in shape’??
I’ll be spending a few Thursday nights in East Point come spring…but I’ll be a the Velodrome, maybe (if it isn’t too late, see post above) I can swing by to say hello!!
Hey I spoke with Sharon M. last night about maybe doing the Fly Pig Marathon in May…anyone interested in a road trip?
Also has anyone took the plunge on a pair of Five Fingers? I’m thinking about a pair to use mostly for CrossFit and track running, I really can’t see myself doing an actual race in a pair. Though I did see a girl last Saturday in Charlotte sporting a pair for the trail run.
Michelle – I’ll have to join y’all some night. What time does trivia start?
What are Five Fingers?? Flyin’ Pig?? Hmmm.. Cincy is really hilly, but the Skyline would be FRESH!
I figure Ciny isn’t any worse than Atlanta. I’m thinking about skipping the ING Full (maybe just do the half) and then trying a couple of out of town races.
Five Fingers
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/
not real sure about those 5 finger shoes……..
Five Fingers? Pass.
I notice the marathon doesn’t give a profile… you stay pretty close to the river.
Yeah, I would guess Five Fingers aren’t for everyone but then again I’m not like everyone
This is the profile from 2009, doesn’t look bad once you get past mile 8.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/oh/cincinnati/494124906534822128
I know the Cheese sisters did the half way back in the olden days…….
Glad I don’t need to be around to keep things lively here. I’m on a quick lunch break and headed back for more interviews.
Oh, and I won’t be making it to East Point tonight especially since I’m meeting up with MC and Vandy Beth for trivia at Taging Burrito in Decatur tonight (I think at 8pm)
@Debbie: Trivia begins at 7:30p at Oz