‘Twas An Odd Weekend
As weekends go, this one was routinely unusual. Though it consisted of many of my normal routines — drinking at Taco Mac; failed attempts at bike riding, house cleaning, and organizing; hashing with the Black Sheep Hash — this weekend felt different to me.
Two Steps Closer
On Friday your humble author took two steps closer to claiming his 125th beer at Taco Mac. Our happy hour ended earlier than it usually does, otherwise it would have been a three-beer evening.
What’s so special about #125 you ask? Well, once you eclipse your 125th “different” beer as part of Taco Mac’s Brewniversity (formerly Passport Club) you get to consume 20-ounce draft beers for 16-ounce prices for the rest of you die, or until Taco Mac goes out of business, whichever comes first. I’ve already informed ITP-Reader Stacy that I would like for her to be present when I get my 125th because she and I signed up the same day, March 4th 2006, after laying a hash together.
ITP Flickr Pic
Here is some of the beauty we hashed by yesterday.
Kidding!
This was actually taken up near Highlands, NC on the FlickRPS group outing to the Nantahala two weekends ago.
This is my first attempt at an High Dynamic Range (HDR) image in which I, well Photoshop, combined five photos of varying exposure to produce this one.
Yesterday’s Hash Was A Blast And I’m Not Lyon
Yesterday was the nteenth running of the Lyons for the Black Sheep Hash. The hash started south of Atlanta off Exit 61 near Fairburn — aka near BFE. The area is prime for Black Sheep and Southern Comfort because it contains many creeks, swamps, shiggy, and critters which sting or bite. This area also contains a man with a stick shoved so far up his ass that he can’t see straight any longer, but I’ll get to him in a minute.
Check out this cool image I found in Google Maps when searching for the start of the hash. (Click the + button inside the image and watch what happens to that plane.)
View Larger Map
What appeared as if it would be an overcast day turned into a sunny, humid affair as a good number of hounds (forty perhaps) marched off in an attempt to catch Sanitary Not!, Bagless’ wheelchair which was being driven away by Foreign Lesion, and Soggy Biscuit. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I shouldn’t be wearing a cotton shirt, especially once I went chest-deep into water attempting to get into a tunnel. I ran as fast as my now-cycling-only-legs could go in order to stay with the pack
The trail was phenomenal, with the slight exception of some short patches of pavement. Unfortunately I ran into one of Nature’s unfriendlier creations which either stung, or bit, my left forearm. I felt a sting and a burn, and even today it’s a bit swollen and uncomfortable.
The trail ended with a bit of confusion as I missed the Turkey/Eagle split and wound up running the Turkey trail which took me down a sewer-line easement to the unmarked (?) end. With 98% percent of the hashers in the GM decided to start circle. We successfully got through trail trial and were about to welcome our virgins to the Black Sheep Hash by making them park their butts on a block of ice when Mr. StickUpMyAss arrived. “I need to speak to whoever is in charge.” he bellowed. Which, by the way is the wrong thing to say around the hash because no one is really “in charge.” This man then went on to inform us that we needed to pick up all of our litter and get out and that he’d already called the police. Thanks, Captain Buzz Kill!
Here is where we ended:
View Larger Map
We cleaned up and were mostly done when the police arrived. The police, to whom our hares had already previously spoken, were nice enough and told us that this guy is just a nuisance with whom they must deal.
All and all the day was a success.
It’s RPS Critique Night
Tonight I’ll be attending the monthly critique night at Roswell Photographic Society. Tonight’s theme is “abstract”, and yes I’ve submitted a photo, and no it wasn’t the one I posted on this blog last week. If my abstract creation gains any critical acclaim I will post it as tomorrow’s ITP Flickr Pic.
Also tonight I’ll be trying a Mexican restaurant for the first time. The last time the FlickRPS gang met up for dinner at El Zorrito I was unable to make the meeting.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, all things considered
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – I’m thinking of participating in Meatless Monday even though I’m not a big fan of alliteration.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – hashing, ~4 miles of humid run/walk
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~4 miles, Wheel Mileage – 102.2 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 8 (8)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 14
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 3
August Goals
- Not to get sick for the entire month (I did it once, I can do it again!)
- Not get fired from my job
- Ride my bicycle no fewer than 200 miles
- Get the Sharpened Stone, LLC moving further
- Complete at least one iPhone application (seriously, this needs to happen)
- Completely plan out my August/September Colorado trip
2010 Goals
- Reduce my weight to 185 pounds (starting weight was 198 pounds) [update: On July 1 I've sadly gained weight; I'm at 203 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 Sharpened Stone.
- 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
- Complete my Taco Mac Passport requirement of 125 beers
The Unmeasurable
- Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
- Become a proficient programmer in PHP and CSS Objective-C
- Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Allan would say get the Seafood Burrito at El Zorrito – he thinks it is quite tasty. And – it comes with crappy steamed veggies (guessing straight from a bag in the freezer), so you should have them substitute rice & beans.
so – no bike riding at all? I actually rode both days, I’m quite impressed with myself. Saturday I rode over to the in-laws instead of driving, was a 21 mile round trip. Sunday, met up with Sarah & Sharon down at Silk Sheets, Sarah wanted to do 50 , Sharon & I were fine with the 35 mile loop, compromised by riding various intersecting roads, and ended up with about 44. Never got rained on the whole weekend.
No riding.
I have no one to blame but myself as I was too lazy to get out of bed on Saturday and to content with just doing the hash yesterday.
I most definitely want to be with you for your 125th. Are you going to do it at the same place we did #1? Because that seems like the right place! You just give me enough time ahead of time and I’ll for sure be there!
LOVED clicking on the ” ” — how wicked cool is that!!!
Yeah, I really did love trail too. People seem to think that if you don’t quite make it to the end (and we were *soooo close*) it means you didn’t like it. I found it to be fabulous (when I could find marks). The thing I do not like and will forever not like and will probably reduce me back to bimbo status forever is the starting trail when not everyone is in philosophy. To me, that’s bullsh*t. At least send someone back after the hounds still missing when you start. Most likely, they’re really close. Or at the start — at least check that. Especially if they’re hounds that stay on trail and aren’t known for boxing or making their own trails up!
Okay…all of that being said? I LAUGHED at your photo today! Seriously was all: WHAAAAAAA??? How did I miss that on trail?? Hahahahaha. Niice.
I did, on the otherhand, come across a wicked cool jawbone on trail, complete with teeth in tact. As I had no way to carry it, it did not come in with me. I was also a bit creeped out because the teeth looked awfully molar like, ie, human. But it was still wicked cool.
that was supposed to say “love clicking on — the plus sign — ” but apparently a plus sign doesn’t show up in quotes.
I was just going to go fix that sign for you, but you beat me to it.
I think having #125 at the Perimeter Taco Mac would be ideal. I’ll give you plenty of advanced notice so that you can be present.
That photo caption was targeted at you, Stacy. I wanted to see if you’d fall for my rouse.
Oooh, a jaw? I wish I had seen that. In fact, I think I need to get a camera that I can take on the hash with me just for oddities like that. Sure, stopping to take photos will guarantee DFL status for me, but I’ll suffer for my art.
Oh no. You’d suffer for your art, but you’re probably still guarenteed NOT to be DFL….that’d be me!
so- no one went to look for the housnds that weren’t in? I agree with Stacy on that – someone should at least make an attempt to look for them before starting the trail trial. (unless it is the usually “boxers”).
Nope. It was me and Yassir, Barb. And no one looked; no one even checked back at the start for us. That really frickin’ sucks too because, especially after some accidents in the past (Dribbles much??), you never know what can happen on trail.
It’s why I stopped hashing a lot. I love the people, love the community, etc. etc. all that. And I love to do trails. I do! I’m just SLOW. I can’t help it; I can always go the distance, just not quickly. And I just think it royally sucks when people are more interested in doing a circle than finding out if everyone is OK first.
No, no one had gone back out to. The same thing happened at my hash, and in hindsight should not have.
In other news, though (off soap box)…. I do so love the Rainbow Airplane!
Had that been me DFL, I would have come in, asked for a refund and gotten the hell out of there. I’d have been really pissed.
The picture had me thinking you hashed behind Sani’s where there is a nice waterfall (not that nice, though) and I almost bought it.
Cool having the plane in the map picture…
And what was the guy pissed about? Were you on his property, or did you just cross his property?
-FP
Neither Steve. It’ CSX’s property, he’s a self-appointed lawman kicking people off of it because his is the last house on that street.
Midday update:
- Forearm still swollen. Current theory is that it’s a spider bite.
- Meatless Monday is a failure today. I went to a communal lunch at a Chinese restaurant and couldn’t resist the lure of meat.
actually – if you are on CSX land, you actually could get arrested for being there, but as long as you aren’t near a RR ramp, they don’t really care that much. (little things I learn while working with the RRs all day).
and Stacy – I’d probably hash even slower than you these days….. but I understand, wait for the slow people, or give them a trail short cut, something. It isn’t fair if the fast people want to get done & get out of there.
Paulie – what have you taken for the swollen arm?
I’ve heard of CSX’s position on trespassing, though thankfully I’ve not been arrested. There were no signs at all stating that it was CSX’s land, we got that information from either the dude or the police.
I took two Benadryl last night (hoping it would knock me out — it didn’t) and a 24-hour Alavert this morning.
I’ll ask allan what he knows about spider bites
and – cement is finally being poured at my house – I”m guessing Wednesday they will start framing! I may have a garage by Labor Day!
Woo Hoo!! I love the smell of fresh concrete in the morning.. er, mid-afternoon!
Exciting!
Are we going to have a Garage-Warming Party? Cause I think we should!
If there will be a Garage Mahal party I’ll bring a special 6-pack back from Colorado for Barb/Allan, just tell me what to buy.
the official Garage Mahal party will probably be next July around my birthday. We are putting a full bathroom in it as well – and Allan isn’t paying the contractor for that (unless I can talk him into it)
And building a big deck onto the back of the garage & the house, and a paver stone patio down below……. yes, I will be broke for quite a while with this project.
Paulie – something seasonal from New Belgium (something not sold here in GA – if not the seasonal – Blue Paddle is an excellent choice – did I tell you Allan’s moom brought black Blue Moon the last roadtrip? We laughed & laughed at that one). Or – the La Folie – in the champagne bottle – that you can only buy at the brewery is another excellent choice.