I’m Not Dead Yet

The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I’m slowly returning to the ranks of the living.

Today’s Personal Project
Pay my auto insurance, because I still have yet to do this…
[Update @ 10:02 EDT — DONE!]

Today’s Daily Challenge
Express your gratitude to one person who does something that you often take for granted.

The most consistent things in our lives are the ones that we tend to take for granted. And even if things like clean laundry or well-bagged groceries aren’t glamorous, we can all agree that they make everyday life a lot more pleasant! Taking a moment to express your gratitude helps you focus on the good things in life and gives a great boost to the person you’re thanking.

Would it be cheating if I thanked you, the ITP-Reader? While I may continue writing this blog long after the last person reading it gives up, you guys make it a lot more worthwhile for me.

This Apple Fanboy’s Opinion Of Yesterday’s Announcement Is — “Meh”
I have no need for an iPad Mini and for a starting price of $329 I have no intention of buying one.

The iPad (4th generation) announcement frustrates me some as an iPad 3 owner, but I see no real reason to replace one with the other.

I am considering getting a Macbook Pro 13″ with Retina Display, but with a $2000 price tag (before tacking on sales tax!) I’ll have to wait until I can stand it no more (Christmas?).

Eventually I’ll probably replace my now three-year-old Mac Mini, but there is no pressing need to do so immediately.

So there you have it. Apple has produced more cool products, but I’m in no position to buy any of them today.

It’s Better Than Nothing
Ten days ago I would have guaranteed that I’d eclipse my foot mileage goal for October. Today I am far less confident.

Last night, which was gorgeous btw, I joined a couple of coworkers for a jaunt around the Perimeter Mall area. I didn’t bring my Garmin Forerunner but if I had to guess I’d say we walked about 3.5 miles.

(pssst, I walked again today! Tomorrow I’ll have to guess at the distance because my Garmin Forerunner failed to acquire satellites prior to me starting my walk).

After walking we drove over to Taco Mac for a couple of beverages and food. I should have used my $50 credit to pay my tab, but I forgot.

ITP Flickr Pic
I have photos in my camera and on my phone. For my next trick I should import them into Lightroom and see if any of them are blog-worthy.

Giving Up On Rechargeable Batteries
I know that I have mentioned this before, but this weekend I convinced myself that rechargeable batteries aren’t worth the hassle. Last week I charged all of the batteries which go into my Nikon D300 DSLR. When I took the camera out to use it on Saturday (after removing the cobwebs and dust which littered it) I saw that the rechargeable batteries were at about 30% charge, and they quickly discharged after that. MEH!

No more! As my current inventory of rechargeables die I will add them to the cadre of one which have died in the past and I will recycle the who lot. Upon the death of my last battery I will add the myriad of chargers I own to a Goodwill box and donate them to someone who still has faith in the rechargeable battery universe.

Any one know where one can recycle non-rechargeable alkaline batteries?

Half-New
I’m wearing new (purchased awhile ago, yet to be worn, and oddly did not have $80 shoved inside of one shoe) shoes, new socks, and new jeans today. The rest of me is old.

If I could just shed some weight and bulk up a little muscle-wise I’d look half-decent for an old man.

What’s On Tap Tonight?
I’m contemplating celebrating Atlanta Beer Week somewhere, or doing something crazy like returning to The Shed for Slider Night.

I really have no idea where I will wind up. Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – getting better
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – I partook in a bit of Atlanta Beer Week fun and frivolity last night, and hope to do so again tonight. But where???
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – walking, ~3.5 miles
Morning Weigh-In – 205.2 pounds; I knew Monday’s weigh-in was an anomaly.

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~55.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights

Days Of Bed-Making – 18 (I suppose had I made my sleeping bag and blanket in Black Mountain I could have claimed credit)

Vegetarian Meals – 43
Carnivorous Meals – 14
Pancakes Eaten – 4

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

October Goals
– Wear “nice” clothes to work at least twice a week, if for no other reason than to have people wonder why I am dressing up. New!
– Eat no fewer than forty-five vegetarian meals
– Take at least one load of stuff from my house to Goodwill
– Take unused electronics to recycling center
– Post at least ten new photos during the month
– Lose at least two pounds (net weight loss)
– Finish two books (audio or otherwise, comic books do not qualify)
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Exercise for thirty minutes no fewer than twenty days
– Ride no fewer than 100 miles
– Walk (or run) no fewer than 100 miles
– Do no fewer than 750 sit-ups
– Do no fewer than 300 push-ups
– Read a non-techincal book
– Find someone else to go out on a date with

2012 Goals [will be a little less fluid than last year]
– Get my weight under 200 pounds, or at least whittle myself back down to where wearing a 36″ pant size is comfortable
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than one one 10K
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store
– Restore the ITP Estate to a condition where it can be put up for sale at any time
– Buy a new iPhone (iPhone 5), a new iPad (iPad 3?), and MacBook Air [look, not all goals have to be altruistic]

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient and profitable programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
– Start, and continue, to make my own bread using my bread machine as well as using the technique outlined in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
– Read and discard magazines during the month in which they arrive (even digitally)
– See more live concerts than I did in 2011