Well, December is being memorable indeed…
The Third Time Is The Charm?
I went to the Taco Mac for the third night in a row. I got a few stares from the waitstaff as I guess they are not used to seeing people drink as often I as I have this week. Little did I know, it was to be one of the strangest Taco Mac experiences I’ve ever had.
First, we were stuck in the far-back corner (where it is nearly impossible to see the “talent”). But as I sat there waiting on the rest of my party I realized that I knew a girl sitting at the next table. She was Ashley, someone who used to work for me seven, eight, nine years ago. I always liked Ashley and didn’t think she remembered me, so I made no attempt to say hello. (Later as she was leaving she acknowledged remembering me and exchanged pleasantries.) There was even less desire to approach Ashley’s table when I realized that I also knew the girl who had just joined Ashley’s table. Her name was Julie, someone I dated (very briefly before she told me that she didn’t want to see me any longer) eight or nine years ago. I also assumed that she wouldn’t remember me (I’m really not being down on myself here, I have an excellent ability for facial recognition — except when there is a gun pointed at me.), and felt oddly nervous about seeing her again. I’ll say that it appears that marriage has been kind to both Ashley and Julie for they each looked beautiful and happy.
ITP Flickr Pic
I came home to find that my thermostat had finally completely broken. The temperature adjustment buttons had broken and I was unable to increase the temperature in the house above 59º F last night.
After whining on Facebook and Twitter I’ve been assured that this will be a simple fix.
Note that there were batteries inside the unit. I was impressed to see that they hadn’t exploded as I had never thought to open up the unit to see how its backup batteries were doing.
The Cost Of Doing Business
Last night my mailbox was full, but not with Christmas cards. Instead I had about a half-dozen love letters from the Georgia Department of Revenue. Seems that even though I finally filed my monthly sales tax documents for the zero sales I’ve made this year I will be assessed a penalty for being late. I randomly opened the bill from August this morning to find that I owed $20 penance for my tardiness. Given that I filed about six month’s worth of paperwork last month I guess I’m looking about $120 in penalties — assuming that the penalty doesn’t get progressively larger with each month. Ugh.
Oh well, I’ve decide to keep Sharpened Stone afloat, so I’ll chalk this up as a cost of doing business and a learning experience.
Oddly, I’ll Be Doing Less Drinking Tonight
Tonight is a PBR night at a friend’s house. Given the amount of beer I consumed on my three-night bender at Taco Mac you’d think I wouldn’t drink at all tonight. In fact, given that it’s a PBR night I might not.
Besides, I’ll be up and headed to Roswell very early tomorrow morning and would like to do so in a more cheerful manner than I have been these past few days.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fat (and yes I know the drinking is detrimental), and tired
Current Music – silence as I try to get this done before my first meeting
Website Of The Day – Tomorrow I’ll be volunteering for Help Portrait. Help Portrait supplies family portraits for those who don’t have the means for getting them done.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – stairs (11 flights)
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 22 flights
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)
Vegetarian Days – 0
Carnivorous Days – 2
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
December Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Run no fewer than 75 miles
– Prepare Sharpened Stone, LLC for 2011
– Lose two pounds
– Eat vegetarian at least one day a week
– A couple of secret goals which I will not divulge
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, completed
– Ride in no fewer than two 50 mile or 50K bike rides, completed
– Complete my Taco Mac Passport requirement of 125 beers, completed
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’ll be at Jill’s tonight also. I won’t be drinking much either (famous last words). My Aunt is doing much better, they removed her feeding tube and have moved her from ICU to a regular room. So for now, no trip home. If it’s okay, I’ll bring the gifts for the ‘hash family’. We are going car browsing Sunday afternoon, instead of Black Sheeping. One rule for the new car, No Nick’s, lol. I swung by there after some christmas shopping for lunch, my car still smells like gyro.
I just noticed you December goal of running 75 miles. I doubt I’ll make that, unless I can count time spent on the eliptical. I am going to try some short trail running this weekend. I might head out to Sweetwater tomorrow and Chattahoochee NRA with some CF/Bootcamp friends Sunday, if you’re interested.
Cool, it will be good to see you. I will gladly take the gifts to Sani for you.
Good luck with the car browsing. I understand your “No Nick’s” rule but can think of a lot worse smells for your vehicle than gyro.
Yeah, I chose 75 assuming that I’ll be doing very little riding (if any) this month. Now I just need to remember how to put on my running shoes and go out for a run.
I’m going to a Parrothead friends christmas party tonight, that was originally for tomorrow night, but then they realized it conflicted with another Parrothead function. So, I’ll get my fill of those folks over the next couple days. Hash holiday party is also Sat. night at Billy Jack’s, we are going to try to make both parties.
Fun times car browsing, I’ve seen a couple commercials for all the bells & whistles on the new cars today, it makes me want a new car so much more! But, I really need to wait until summer, I think I want a convertible,plus, we need to pay off some of this garage-mahal debt.
We might, I say might, try to ride the bikes saturday &/or sunday, if it doesn’t rain & we come up with something else we need to do.
After Help Portrait tomorrow I’ll be heading home to install the new thermostat I’ll be buying today. Tomorrow night I *may* head to the hash party, but probably not. I will be swinging by the Yact Club to see the Christmas Trailer Park that Betsy, Terri, and Lynnette are constructing tonight.
You can replace the thermostat and have it programmed in about half an hour- nothing special.
Tomorrow will be an early start and a little drive west to the Birmingham office for some network testing and then depending on the weather and chore load on Sunday, I may try to get to Black Sheep- I had a very good time at the last one.
-FP
Steve, it’ll probably take me longer to figure out which thermostat to buy.
Good luck with your B’ham trip.
If you make it to Black Sheep remind me to return your key fob, which should be in the center console of my car.
I see your problem, the blue wire is not connected 🙂
By Jove, I think you are right Bob! 🙂 I may use this opportunity to repair my malfunctioning doorbell as well. Who knows, this may lead to the inspiration necessary to get all of my plumbing repaired!!!
Believe me, way worse smells have lingered in my car (I was hash beermiester for 3 years) but Nick’s is the only one that makes me hungry 😉
We have a party in Decatur tomorrow night, doubt we’ll make it to the other side of town for the hash party.
I had a convertible before I bought the Escape. Wouldn’t do it again unless I had a garage. Plus, it had all black interior…bad choice for an Atlanta summer, burnt my legs more times than I care to remember. I’ve priced out what ‘everything’ would cost … I may have to scale back just a little. I’ve decided to sell off some stocks (I’ve had for years, they haven’t done much) to bump up my down payment.
I was right, deciding which thermostat (and doorbell) to buy took an ridiculously long time.
And I’ve returned to an office which is 80 F.
I’m I odd (don’t go there) that I have no interest in owning a convertable? I don’t even like riding in them. I’m not sure if it’s the noise or the breeze or both.
Am I odd…. (can’t type)
yes, Steve – you are odd 😉
I know I will hate that my hair will be a total mess of knots always, but I think it would be fun to have. I had a RX7 back in 1996 until the engine decided to die in ’98, and have always wanted to get another when I can have an “extra” car. (I got it because I wanted a 2 seater, I always had to drive when I had a 4 door sedan before that, and was tired of always being the driver).
With Allan’s truck, and the CRV that should last “forever”, I think I can have a “fun” car. And yes, Martha, I will have a garage for it!
Paulie – I spent way too much time at lunch at Toys R Us trying to decide on some Crayola markers & paper & that stuff, I don’t know which is worse.
I wish my office was 80 degrees.
Steve, I won’t say that you are *not* odd. 😉 I’ve never desired a convertible as I don’t have good hair for one (and expect some day to lack the necessary hair to protect my head); wearing a hat is not an option now either because then I have “hat hair”.
Barb, 80 is way too warm of an indoor temperature, at least imho.
actually yes, 80 is probably too warm, but to not have my hands frozen for just a few minutes would be nice.
I think if we ever get an ‘extra’ car, it will be a jeep. Apparently it’s a Filipino thing (google jeepney). I think it would be kind of neat as well. I guess I would be the one to take it off road and camping though. I have no idea where we would put a third car??
Yes, for the 4 years I had the Capri, my hair was more of mess than normal. The top down, loses its appeal pretty quickly. Sure those first warm days of spring and last warm days of fall…it’s great. Being stuck on the connector, 95 degrees, with the sun beating down on you (again with the black interior) sucks. Plus they are noisy even with the top up.
I beginning to think I am the only person still in the office…I haven’t heard or seen anyone since lunch. I was going to hit the elliptical after work but I’m so tired I may just go home a nap before heading to Jill’s.
Martha – I was thinking Jeep as well, but most people try to convince me I’d like the converible more. But, since I’m not actually buying anything any time soon, I got lots of time to decide.
I’m just not in the mood to work anymore today, I wish I had the option to just leave……… but I don’t.
tell Jill & Harold & everyone else I say Hi!