Game Over

Realistically I shouldn’t be sad about the Jets loss. But I am, very sad indeed. If not for the fact that I’ll be staying with great friends who also happen to be Packers fans I’d probably vow not to watch the Super Bowl this year.

Party Like A Rock Star
After a successful Taco Mac happy hour and a quick power nap back at the ITP Estate I headed up to The EARL for the Grant Hart show. I’ve seen Hart perform before, back about eiught years ago — the night he thought he was playing Athens and showed up in Atlanta a wee little bit later than scheduled. Time has not been the kindest to Hart, but he still can rock out and pleased the (admittedly small) crowd — including a pair of beautiful young lasses who were probably in diapers back in the 1980’s — with many of his most popular Nova Mob and Hüsker Dü songs.

If not for the fact that I was scheduled to meet friends at at Waffle House on Wade Green Road at 08:30 Saturday morning I would have wished the night to go one much longer than it did. As it was I didn’t fall asleep until nearly 01:30.

You Know, I Might Have To Stop Making Fun Of Cartersville
So ITP goes waaay OTP to Cartersville (for the record I’ve been there at least three times previously) and what does he find? A really, I mean really, great museum called Booth Western Art Museum. How great? Let’s just say that I will return, and that if it weren’t located in Cartersville I would have become a member on Saturday. Is that high enough praise coming from me?

The Ansel Adams exhibit was great. The western art in the museum was phenomenal! And, I didn’t even get to see the room of presidential memorabilia.

I also want to make my next trip with a smaller group (there were five of us on Saturday) so that I can wedge my way into the counter at the Ross’ Diner in “downtown” Cartersville.

And Cartervillians, what’s the deal with that oversized overpass which looks completely out of place as it dominates part of the town square?

ITP Flickr Pic
Here is shot of but one impressive piece housed at the Booth Museum.

(should really be viewed on black)

This work (very large btw) was done by a Georgia painter named Steve Penley. I may have mentioned Penley’s work in the past after seeing some hanging down at Mercer University in Macon, GA.

Even Running Downhill Is An Uphill Battle
After returning home from Cartersville on Saturday I knew that I still had a four-mile run ahead of me. With chilly temperatures and a cold wind blowing it took all of my determination to suit up for my “run.” I started slowly (and honestly didn’t get much faster as the day wore on), altered my route to get maximum downhill coverage, and when the Garmin Forerunner 305 said 4.01 miles of running/walking I abruptly came to a halt. Of course I was still a half mile from my house, so I considered that walk a convenient cool down.

My belly is jiggly. My running is slow. So far my limbs have not revolted. I will continue. I will conquer. I will lose 25 pounds this year. Unlike the Jets’s fate these are completely under my control, so I can make them happen.

What’s One Half Of A Sufferfest?
All I could do. I will have to try harder next time. Unfortunately, my knee started to hurt a bit so I pulled up the reins.

I love the concept — I nearly tipped over leaning into a turn with the Red Rocket locked into its trainer. I love the music — it pumped me up to ride. I could do with a little more variety in the video — it was kind of like running track, the first time is great, the second time less so, and so on and so on…

Cat On A Newly-Cleaned Jackmobile
When I exited the lavanderia yesterday I was disgusted with the appearance of the Jackmobile. Two weeks’ worth of driving in post-Snowpocalypse dirt/dust made the car look horrendous. And, with the fear that there was also salt mixed in with the dust I decided that I would give the Jackmobile a bath. And I did. And it was good. And there was much rejoicing, for the Jackmobile looked pretty decent (as good as an eight-year old car can). Until this morning.

As soon as I exited the house I remembered that my clean car joy would most likely be short-lived as I was certain that one of the neighborhood cats would return to sleep on the Jackmobile as he/she has done many times in the past. Of course my hunch was right as the hood was littered with paw prints. Dangen!

(fwiw – I don’t mind the neighborhood felines sleeping on my car if they can manage to keep the local squirrel/mouse/rat population at bay.)

My anger was partially diminished as I drove through a haze of dust on my way to work, though that didn’t stop me from attempting to rid the Jackmobile of kitty prints as soon as I reached the office today.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – sad, for more reasons than my beloved J-E-T-S’ loss
Current Music – silence
Website Of The Day – I’ve been considering volunteering again (that is if I can find the time to do so). If I do I might use Volunteer Match to see what options are at my disposal.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – Saturday: run/walk (4.5 miles); Sunday: cycling trainer (~20-25 minutes)
Morning Weigh-In – Feb 1

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~20.8 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 6 flights

Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 4 (9)

Vegetarian Days – 0
Carnivorous Days – 23

Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0

January 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 so that I get no more penalties
– Lose two pounds
– Eat vegetarian at least one day a week
– A couple of goals which I will not divulge
– Eat lunch out no more than twice a week
– Limit myself to eating dinner out on laundry nights, meeting nights, and dates

2011 Goals [will be a little more fluid than in past years]
– Reduce my weight by 25 pounds based on the my weight as measured on February 1st
– Completely read the book Daily Negations which I received as a Christmas gift.
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business — one which does not get penalized.
– 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
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than two half-marathons
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]