For the next three days I’ll be focusing on improving my life. Sure, I should be doing this every day but I can’t say that I do.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Ask someone to name a song that’s meaningful in his or her life, and why.
Studies show that being connected to people makes us happier! The positive effects of remembering something as powerful as a song and sharing in a happy memory last beyond the moment you connected with them. Furthermore, happiness is contagious. If your friends’ friends are happy, you’ll actually benefit from this and be happier, too. Everyone wins.
You may not know this about me, and if you don’t shame on you, but I am a romantic. For this reason I love the song “Bus Stop” by The Hollies:
Bus stop, wet day, she’s there, I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrellaAll that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine
That umbrella, we employed it
By August, she was mineEvery mornin’ I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she’d shopped and she would show me what she bought
All the people stared as if we were both quite insane
Someday my name and hers are going to be the sameThat’s the way the whole thing started
Silly but it’s true
Thinkin’ of a sweet romance
Beginning in a queueCame the sun the ice was melting
No more sheltering now
Nice to think that that umbrella
Led me to a vowEvery mornin’ I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she’d shopped and she would show me what she bought
All the people stared as if we were both quite insane
Someday my name and hers are going to be the sameBus stop, wet day, she’s there, I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrellaAll that summer we enjoyed it
Wind and rain and shine
That umbrella, we employed it
By August, she was mine
It gets me every time.
As a pop song I think “Bus Stop” cannot be improved.
Not Much Going On
I stayed at work until about 7:30:pm last night, eating the leftover spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Yesterday wasn’t a particularly productive day for my during the 9-5 so I attempted to get things done after hours — I wasn’t very successful.
By the time I arrived home, settled in, and performed some necessary computer maintenance it was nearly 9:00pm. I watched two episodes of “The Office” on Netflix, finally got in touch with my mother (whose weather wasn’t bad so she had been out playing Bingo) and then fell asleep myself.
Speaking of Netflix, I hear that John Hodgman is going to have a new special on June 20th called “Ragnarok” on Netflix as a “Netflix Original” (read “only viewable via Netflix”). I’m excited.
Health Improvement
I’m trying hard to do as the doctor says, though I can’t find a convenient time to ice my foot as well as deal with the inconvenience.
This weekend I plan to make a return to LA Fitness (if for no other reason than to start getting my money’s worth for my membership). I think that I’ll take a crack at doing an elliptical machine and see how well I fare.
Wealth Improvement
It’s been mentioned in these virtual pages before but I need to spend some time creating a budget and planning out my financial future (as best as I can, anyway). Over a month ago I spoke with a financial planner at Wells Fargo and have done nothing since. Though I piss away a lot of money (based on my income) my finances are one of the better things in my life — and I’d like to keep it that way.
Self Improvement
The other day I started reading a Mac Cocoa (programming) book. My progress has been interrupted the last two nights, I plan to jump back onto that bandwagon. I’m hoping this book also inspires me to do more coding for both professional and personal benefit.
I’d also like to spend time reading for fun this weekend, though I am not sure whether that will be in the form of book, magazine, or comic book.
Home Improvement
If the weather holds out I plan to run the mower over the weeds that I call my lawns. Also, I need to return to pulling weeds, pruning bushes and trees, etc, etc, etc.
If the weather doesn’t hold up there are a hundred or so indoor tasks that can be performed this weekend. One of the indoor tasks I might perform tonight is gathering up dead / useless electronics to take to tomorrow’s Atlanta Community Recycling Day.
Today’s Personal Project
Improve myself.
Make a reservation for dinner at Gunshow for sometime next week. I’m thinking Wednesday/Thursday, interested?
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – foot is marginally better, the rest stays the same
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – I encounter the term Workshifting in a book I’ve been reading and have become intrigued.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – I tried walking yesterday, I think I made it about 0.25 mile.
Morning Weigh-In – not checking
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 0 (0 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 6
Carnivorous Meals – 10
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
June Goals
– get my foot to stop hurting
– return ITP-Reader Martha’s coffee percolator to her

- return ITP-Terri’s crutches to her

- not get sick

- finish at least two of the books I am reading

- take at least one box of things to Goodwill

- post at least ten photos in the blog

- drink a lot less alcohol

- prepare a house repair plan and budget
2013 Goals: Measurable
– Get my weight down to 190 pounds so that I can wear a 36″ waist pants comfortably
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Dissolve Sharpened Stone
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Completely run at least one 10k
– Fix all (or at least most) of the things which are wrong with the ITP Estate
2013 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Simplify, simplify, simplify
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– 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)
– Take two real vacations, perhaps one abroad
– Take a more proactive approach to meeting women (read “stop being such a pussy”)
Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2013
- Pages 1.7 for iPad (Timestompers Guide) — by Sean Wells
- 60 Mountain Lion Tips — by David Sparks and Brett Terpstra
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business — by Charles Duhigg
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy — by Douglas Adams
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
There is always music running in my head, mostly good things, occasionally commercial jingles (sad and annoying). Wonder how my life would be better if those parts of my brain held useful stuff?
After Wednesday’s washout on riding, I had hoped to make up for it yesterday. Watching the weather, it seemed that it was getting closer, and was already in the neighborhood (Senoia). Turns out the radar was lying and I should have gotten a ride in. Oh well.
Sunday morning, we’re planning on going to the Botanical Gardens… Debbie has a friend who has an art installation there (I think that’s the story). Anyone interested in joining us?
-FP
I called off work today, it’s been a crazy few months (actually about 6). I just spent 90 minutes pulling weeds in the front yard. At least the ground is still wet so it isn’t too bad. We hadn’t planned on doing much this year, we thought we would be well into the renovation by now. Now that we have the financing under way, our contractor has gone MIA…haven’t heard from him in a week.
I’m riding both Saturday (SCT) and Sunday (maybe Sosebee)? If you want to get out for a bit.
Steve, at what time will you be at the Botanical Gardens? I may join you and Debbie.
Martha, my foot has me holding off on bike riding. I’m concerned that I’ll get a good distance out and put myself in great pain. I plan to use the elliptical and stationary bike at the gym as test beds for long-distance exercising.
When I used to be in really good shape, working out and doing aerobics six days a week I feared injury — this is why.
Steve! I will keep an eye out for you. A friend and I already have plans to go to the Botanical Gardens on Sunday; the new exhibit is supposed to be gorgeous! After church and brunch though we probably won’t make it around there until noon or so though.
Love the lyrics to that song. I’m going to have to look it up now to hear the melody.
I must’ve been writing my post when you were, Paulie. I will keep an eye out for YOU too!
Seriously, guys, let me know when y’all are around — it’d be nice to meet up with you if we’re there at the same time. Maybe a nice refreshing lemonade break?
hey Paulie – why can’t you ice your foot at your desk? When one of my arches was really bothering me, I would do it right here at my desk, was really easy.
no SCT trail for me Saturday, we may be going up to Lake Allatoona to a friends boat. Allan is working Sunday, haven’t come up with any sort of plan at all, a bike ride might not be a bad idea. The closest Sosabee route is 47 miles.
We were aiming for the morning… don’t know how early they open.
I suppose that I could ice my foot at my desk but I seem to get interrupted quite often or have to go to meetings a lot these days making things less convenient.
Steve, here are the hours for the Botanical Gardens:
May – October
Tuesday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m
Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m
Wear a slip on shoe (or sandal) & get a ice pack (or bag of ice).
Even if you get up down a lot, just have it sitting under your desk. Unless you need to wrap your whole foot up, but then use those crutches you still have (- return ITP-Terri’s crutches to her) & get some simpathy from teh co-workers.
I bet we could be there by 10.
You should only be icing 10-15 minutes at a time. Just do it, Jerry was complaining about his wrist for days, finally sat done and made him ice 10 min 3x a day, it’s all better now.
I suppose I could find 15 minutes to ice it.,,
yes Paulie – you CAN find time……. we have faith in you