Or wherever city the Jackmobile makes it to tonight. Inconceivably, today is V-Day where the “V” stands for vacation. I’m not sure where I will be when we next chat on this blog, but I’m hoping for damn sure that it’s not Georgia.
But, before I can hit the roadways today I need to complete, copy, and mail my City of Atlanta Business Tax Application. The City will happily bill me $75 for their application fee and then require me to pay sales tax based on my sales. The City’s demands have put me over the top and unless I change my mind while driving, I expect to shut down Sharpened Stone LLC and chalk up the near $200 in expenses I paid out this year as a mildly-expensive, highly-stressful, and annoying learning experience.
ITP Flickr Screenshot
The plan.
Though, depending on the weather forecast for Sioux Falls I might take a different path from Kansas City to Mount Rushmore.
In Case You Didn’t Know How Weird I Am
Last night’s dinner?
– one King of Pops popsicle (Plum Pomegranate because the East Atlanta Farmers Market cart didn’t stock Banana Puddin’. The amazingly beautiful, and (unfortunately) tattooed, girl working the cart sold me on the Plum Pomegranate; it was delicious.
– a half-loaf of asiago bread smeared with artisan hummus which I had purchased at Urban Cannibals and needed to eat before leaving for vacation.
It’s Like Reading With My Ears
I plan to “read” the following books while on vacation:
- Getting Things Done — David Allen
- The Intention Experiment — Lynne McTaggart
- Made By Hand — Mark Frauenfelder
- Medium Raw — Anthony Bourdain
- Star Island — Carl Hiassen
I’ll have plenty of time alone in the car, so I think that I’ll be quite successful in my quest. In the worst case scenario I have many podcasts and much music as a fall back.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – frustrated, but ready to put everything behind me
Current Music – silence
Website Of The Day – ITP-Reader Barb pointed me at this really neat art project called Touching Strangers which was done by photographer Richard Renaldi.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t care
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~4 miles, Wheel Mileage – 167.0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 9 (9)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 25
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 4
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]
I always enjoy Carl Hiasen.. kind of a quirky formula, but always fun. I can relate vacations in Florida as a kid since he books are always set there.
Travel safely.
-FP
I hope everyone can see that “photo.” I’ve marked it “Private” on Flickr and grabbed the html link to put into the blog.
I agree Steve. I’ve (actually) read a couple of Hiassen’s book and have listened to another as an audio book, and since I lived in Florida I also relate to his plots.
HAVE a safe and fun trip!!!
It’s been a long time since I’ve gone on a long driving vacation. I’m only supposed to pick out single, attractive, female hitchhikers, right? 😉
The AJC has finally noticed the King of Pops.
photo – as in the map? I can see it.
I’m thinking if you pick up a hitchhker anywhere past KC, you might be safe – the midwestern girls are always the nicest girls.
that Touching Strangers website is pretty wild – just think how many interesting people that photog met asking people to pose. Hmmmm – maybe you should try something like that on this trip?
Photo as in map.
My camera will be my constant companion. Perhaps this trip will cure my fear of approaching strangers…
Bummer! I just opened up the REI sales flyer that I received in the mail Wednesday and noticed that the $60 bike computer I bought on Tuesday is now on sale for 25% off. I’d return it and purchase it at the cheaper price, but I’ve already installed it, and tossed the packaging and receipt.
I got the REI flyer the other day, I saw long running pants on sale (in a petite no less). I’m pretty sure I have enough cold weather gear, I wish I liked shopping for work clothes as much as I do workout clothes.
I’m not much of a non-fiction reader but I have grabbed a couple Hiassen’s to pass the time. Right now I have a copy of “The Windup Girl”, I love watching Jerry’s eyes roll back in his head as I’m explaining the plot to him.
Midwestern girls rock, truly the best of all the regions. I see you are skipping IN but I know of at least one awesome girl born in IL. 😉
Paulie, you may have to get over the aversion to tattoos, I think they are about as common as pierced ears these days, my 55 year old aunt even has one.
I just find tattoos clutter an otherwise beautiful body. Hell, I have things on my body I’ve considered paying to have removed, I can’t imagine paying someone in order to have something permanently added, with pain involved as well. Oh well, I’m just a weirdo.
“The midwest farmers daughters always make you feel alright… ”
Now the Beach Boys will be running in my head for a few hours…
Have fun Paulie! I’ll be looking forward to the photos – go ahead, be anonymous and ask people to pose – you’ll never see any of them again 🙂
Drive safe!
I assume I’ll be taking a lot of photos at daybreak and sunset, as well as any time I find something that intrigues me. I’m going to try and take photos of people around me as well.
The other “plan” is to write the blog and edit/publish photos at night before turning in for the evening.