An Exhausting Weekend (And A Disappointing Start To My Week)

What a weekend.

On Friday night I went to Horizon Theatre to see “Sex With Strangers”. The play was entertaining, not exactly “high brow” and I was glad that I saw it. The added bonus for this viewing was that I got in for free because I’ve been a donor to Horizon Theater for some time. Score!

Saturday started with breakfast at The Original Pancake House, followed by a trip to Kroger for the non-pantry items required for another shot at a Mississippi (Crock) Pot Roast. As I mentioned the last time I made this dish I cut the butter added in half, and was correct that there would be no loss in flavor. In addition to the ingredients described in the recipe I added an onion, some new potatoes, carrots, and parsnips. I started the crockpot at 10am in anticipation for a 6:30pm dinner.

While the pot roast cooked I did some learning of Swift, and then a few hours of yard work. I picked up sticks and branches, pulled some English ivy (much more of this needs to happen), then ran the mower over the grass, dead leaves, and weeds. Once I finished all of this I pulled out the leaf blower and completely tidied up the carport, path to my front door, and driveway. It doesn’t look great, but it all looks a lot better than when I started.

After a shower and some relaxation I dug into the Mississippi Pot Roast. It was, a remains, delicious. I ate it for dinner Saturday, dinner last night, and plan to eat more for lunch today.

At 9:30pm I was pestered by the “9-5” and worked for two hours on Saturday night. Thankfully I knew that I would be out of communication on Sunday.

On Sunday I was a traveling hasher. The Black Sheep Hash started in a faraway town known as “Ackworth”. After doing laundry, eating an unhealthy IHOP breakfast of country fried steak, and gathering my hashing gear, I drove up to this wacky place to “run” the hash. The hash nearly killed me, and I was exhausted when I finished the trail. I drank a lot of water, two full beers, and my down-down beer before returning home.

After eating dinner I “rested my head” around 7:00pm. When I awoke it was 11:00pm! I moseyed from the den into the bedroom and quickly went to sleep for the rest of the night.

Maybe It’s Just Not In My Cards?
Oh, RAGBRAI, you haunt me to no end! We all know last year’s unfortunate series of events leading up to my not traveling to Iowa last year. Let me now tell you about this year’s potential fail.

You didn’t know that I was going to RAGBRAI? It’s because except for one ITP Reader who was in my presence when I sent the deposit, I never mentioned it.

This morning I received a call from Franklin, who told me that he just received my deposit, which I put into the East Atlanta post office’s mail box on March 19th. Why did I trust the East Atlanta post office with something important? Anyway, this morning Franklin told me that, while there is a possibility for me to ride up to Iowa with the BRAG team, he cannot register me for RAGBRAI. He has sent the director of the ride a message and is requesting that I try to register. I will give it a shot today.

Perhaps this ride is my Great White Whale? It seems as if I am destined never to ride this ride.

This turn of events may make for a very melancholy training ride this afternoon.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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11 Responses to An Exhausting Weekend (And A Disappointing Start To My Week)

  1. Well, I may have just registered for RAGBRAI. Let’s see how this goes…

  2. Stacy says:

    I’m not sure who Franklin is (I’m assuming an organizer as opposed to an organization)…but it also seems pretty weird to me that big enough events like this don’t have online registration and payment to avoid this mess to begin with. Ugh. Hope it all somehow works out for you.

    This weekend was fun! Road tripped down to Andersonville prison with Yassir, had a little lunch in town there, and went even further to Plains, which is Jimmy Carter’s hometown. Did kitschy, touristy stuff and got a picture with the big Jimmy Carter Peanut, something (don’t laugh!) I’ve actually always wanted to do. 🙂 Came back home and fellow-trivia-player Alan saw us check in drinking margaritas at Zocolo so came and joined us for a nightcap.

    I also decided late on Friday that I was going to inform my landlords about what happened with the neighbor. When I didn’t hear from him all day it really hit me how victim mentality works: why the hell was I protecting him when he threatened me? Nothing else has happened and sure as heck, I got home Saturday night to find a bottle of wine outside my door with a note just saying his name. Like, I dunno: a “I’m sorry” gift? But this isn’t going to go away with a bottle of wine, which is still sitting outside my door, btw.

  3. Barb says:

    If you don’t have a wristband – you should be fine at RAGBRAI. I’ve never had 1. But – I don’t know what facilities Franklin is using, you may need one if you camp in the official areas. The southern route that it is this year is much flatter than our route last year – so that will be good. There may be ways to buy a wristband from someone else that can’t go – check their message boards. I would think the director of the ride could find one for an out of stater.
    We will probably go back in 2 years – when it goes thru the middle of the state again.

    Hash was fun yesterday, even if I didn’t do the trail. Blue Ball’s allergies are worse than mine, so we did our own walking trail to the end. We still did close to 4 miles. We ended up at The Wing after with some hashers – they had a PBR & shot special going on – sooooooo – we did not partake, but many did. It was entertaining.

    Shed is coming along, I helped pull wires – I htink its almost ready for hte next electrical inspection.

  4. Sounds like a good time down south, Stacy. I’ve driven through Plains and saw all of the kitschy things to do, but didn’t have time to stop.

    Barb, regardless of the outcome this year — which may be looking better than worse since RAGBRAI sent me a message saying they’ve charged my credit card — I want to ride RAGBRAI with you and Allan.

    There was a part of me that wanted to go to an on-after yesterday, but every time I think about drinking more I repeat “$1900” in my head and drive home; it’s for the best…

  5. Barb says:

    Stacy – RAGBRAI is such a big event with more people wanting to go than the organizers think they can handle – its a lottery for registration. But – if you go with a team, you can get “usually” get a wristband without the lottery. If you do it as a “bandit” as we do, we can’t use any of the “official” facilities (as in campgrounds, showers, toilets). But – there are so many other places you can find those things – as we did – people’s yards to camp, churches & other businesses that will let you come shower & use the facilities. The concerts at night are usually free, but sometimes you have to have a wristband. We have heard many a show from outside the fence.

  6. Stacy says:

    Ah! Thanks for the info, Barb. That makes sense, a lottery system.

    Oh I forgot to mention that your pot roast sounds divine, Paulie, and now you have me wanting to make one. Thank you for the recipe: I might try my hand at one this weekend.

    Speaking of weekend: if anyone makes it down to the Dogwood Festival, let me know! It’s hard to believe it’s that time again, but here we are.

  7. Oh yeah, and because Oklahoma lost on Saturday night my chance of winning my NCAA Tournament bracket also went into the crapper. Poop!

  8. Barb says:

    and- I remembered 1 of the reasons I don’t like The Wing – wings, a salad & beers end up being $50 with tip. There is a reason we don’t go out for dinner all the time- its just so much more money that eating dinner at home.

    and Stacy – I’m glad you are telling the landlord – just another way to “cover your ass” if anything ever happens again (whether or not it involves you).

  9. Steve says:

    It was a good weekend of racing in Anniston. The crit went well. When the fencing blew from one side of the road to the other (!!) no riders were coming and the crowd quickly put it back in place. When the wind then pushed the truss and finish camera about 3 feet, we weren’t having a finish, so pretty much a normal day!!

    The road race was fun. The climbs were almost as hard as any in the SE, and the racing was good. The descent from the finish line was a screamer with only a couple places you had to brake hard. No team cars for the women and only 6 for the men made for an easier day. TJ behaved himself driving the Mavic car, and I managed to get my passenger back to the airport in time last night.

    Glad to be at work to rest up.

    -FP

  10. Barb says:

    wow – TJ was driving? I’ll have to ask him about that.

  11. Steve says:

    He did really well. I have to say I’d rather have him driving than be the jumper!!

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