Slow Mow

The first cut of the season is usually my worst cut of the season; the yard is filled with leaves and Sweetgum balls (because I hate raking — jeez, there really isn’t a part of home ownership that I enjoy) and though I thought I’d buy a new blade (or get the one currently on it sharpened) I never did so it was like mowing with a baseball bat.

But I did it, two hours’ worth, and all of the grass is weeds are currently at the same height. Yay me!

Today’s Daily Challenge
March in place for two minutes, lifting your knees as high as you can.

Stronger muscles help maintain balance, and this challenge tests your balance while exercising both thighs and glutes. Working these muscles can make you feel less wobbly during your daily activities or other exercise. If you start to fall, strong legs help you regain your balance.

Why don’t I throw a two-minute temper tantrum instead? A temper tantrum seems as if it would burn more calories.

Maybe I’ll do this at the lavanderia tonight and further solidify my “gringo loco” status.

No Matter What Time In The Afternoon I Leave Work There Is Traffic
Holy Jeebus! I decided to skip out of work early yesterday (3:30pm) because I am salaried and I needed to get home to mow. When I looked at Google Maps at 3:15pm the downtown connector was already fucked thanks to a southbound wreck. So, I took the Eastern Arc.

Taking I-285 East/South to I-20 West is far from ideal, but when traffic is already red from GA400 into downtown and this route is still green it seems like the best plan — except real-time traffic is far from real-time. While I never came to a stop on my way home, it was close at times, it did take me over forty-five minutes to make the circuitous route. And with gas prices being what they are I’d like to take as many direct routes as possible.

As you have read I managed to make it home with plenty of time to get my lawn chores done (well, in a sort-of half-assed manner).

Here’s Something Unusual, I Couldn’t Finish A Beer!
Naturally you are thinking this must be the nth, where n is some large number, beer of the night but you’d be wrong because in this equation n = 1. That one beer I tried to drink last night was a 10% ABV IPA that I purchased in Florida. I just didn’t enjoy the taste, and after making multiple attempts to not “waste” the beer I finally gave up and poured it down the drain (yes, that still-broken drain).

Today’s Personal Project
Oh yes it’s laundry night, oh whatta night.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – proud that I did my lawn maintenance even though I know there is much more ahead of me still.
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – After once again using a cheap (and probably dull razor) I am finally considering looking into joining Harry’s.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – pushing a lawn mower around for two hours
Morning Weigh-In – Arg, I keep failing to jump on the scale

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 3 (3 cardio)

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

April Goals
– have European trip plans in place, if not carved in stone
– clean my basement to the point where I could have people over
– hire a plumber to fix all of the sinks at the ITP Estate
– walk no fewer than 75 miles

2014 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
– 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
– Sell the ITP Estate (tentative)

2014 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Continue to 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)

Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2014

  1. “Johnny Carson” by Henry Bushkin
  2. “Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative” by Austin Kleon
  3. “Chaos: Making a New Science” by James Gleick
  4. “What’s So Funny?: My Hilarious Life” by Tim Conway

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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16 Responses to Slow Mow

  1. bob says:

    Last season I took my lawnmower blade to the local shop to get sharpened. Apparently nobody does that, they just bring the whole lawnmower for a blade sharpening, so they sharpened my blade for free. All it took was one bolt.

  2. martha says:

    Jerry joined the Dollar Shave Club, I don’t think it is actually a dollar but so far he’s happy. I mean, you’ve seen him, you can only imagine the *volume* of razors he goes through each month 😉

    Surprise, I’m at home suffering through Comcast customer service. We have internet (as you may have guessed) but can’t seem to log on to some specific sites and the VOIP isn’t working (there is a ring tone and you can dial but the call wont connect).

    With more rain expected today, we’ll be mowing, at least the back yard, this weekend. The sod in the front still looks okay.

    I didn’t leave work until after 6:30, so traffic going south wasn’t bad but it looked like a huge cluster northbound (I85).

  3. Yeah, I’ve replaced the blade once or twice, but never know where to take one to get sharpened.

  4. bob says:

    There is a shop at the corner of Old Alabama and Nesbit Ferry (about a mile from my house), I’m sure there is a small engine repair shop somewhere near you. Or somebody you know may have a bench grinder (I’m looking at you Barb :-))

  5. If I were handy I probably could clamp the blade to my work bench and use my Dremel tool to sharpen it.

    You probably didn’t know:
    – I had a work bench
    – I had a clamp on said work bench
    – I owned a Dremel tool.

    Of course, this would mean I would have to take the Dremel tool out if its box — in which it has been since I bought it at least two years ago.

  6. Barb says:

    I do NOT have a bench grinder, but someone I live with does.
    I bet if you asked nice & brought him a beer, he’d hook you up.

    For anyone wondering – the city of Atlanta Fire Dept actually finally had the bid yesterday, so Allan very soon will not have to work with his asshole capt. anymore! He is staying at the same station, just now is on A shift (not B shift). The funny (not really) part of the bid is one of Allan’s good friends is now taking his spot on B shift, not really by choice. Allan is so happy.

    Bike maintenance night tonight @ Mango’s – I made potato salad to go with John’s bbq pork. Even if you don’t need bike work, you could come socialize.

  7. Wish I could attend bike maintenance night tonight, but laundry calls…

  8. Steve says:

    I don’t have a bench grinder but a portable one which I use on the tractors mower. I greased up all the points I know to grease and the MF still squeaks! Grrrr..

    I ran for a half hour last night with lots of walk breaks- this getting back into shape is going to kill me.

    I spoke to our neighbor with the paint sprayer and it looks to be a go for this weekend. I think the weather will cooperate.

    -FP

  9. bob says:

    I’m going to make maintenance night but not sure what time, I have a tour de Cure team ride after work (if it does not rain) and will head down right after the ride. I should be there around 7:30, hope that is not too late. I’ll talk to Allan about some bench grinder time in trade for beer.

    I’ll bet Allan is happy with the bid, I’m happy he survived with the captain he did not like.

  10. Barb says:

    Bob – we are usually there until about 10pm, sometimes there are still bikes being worked on that late, sometimes its just drinking……

    Steve – I’m busy this weekend (lol)

  11. Martha says:

    So I guess I’m the only one that just puts up the $20 and buys a new blade? In my defense, my yard is so full of junk my blade gets pretty beat up after a season or two.

    Good news, COA arborist approved removing our cherry tree…bad news, he said we should think about getting rid of the pecan tree as well. It’s not urgent, we’re going to trim it back first but he did say to keep an eye on it.

    Ugh, I had planned on going to bike night but I got such a slow start to the day, I’m not sure if I’ll make it or not.

  12. Steve says:

    Barb, I wasn’t looking for volunteers!!

    Martha, the big pecan that shades most of the backyard?? Oh no.

    I have tried to get the blades off the finish mower that rides behind the tractor, but I haven’t got enough wrench/muscle/torque/brains something!

  13. Barb says:

    Steve – I know, I was just joking around, I’m not a fan of painting, especially with a sprayer (I think I’d end up painting everything but the fence).

    and- because of this discussion that I told Allan about, he is now sharpening our mower blade this afternoon.

  14. What an overachiever! 🙂

  15. Barb says:

    he’s also cleaning/vacuuming the house. I love that guy!

  16. Martha says:

    No worries about the tree, 1) it doesn’t really produce any pecans these days & 2) there will still be plenty of shade in my back yard.

    Tell Allan congrats, I know it’s been a long time coming.

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