19-Mar-07 – 23-Mar-07, You Are Dead To Me!!!

Let’s just say that my week won’t be featured on “Best Week Ever” anytime soon. Sickness, malaise, miscommunication with friends, no photography, frustration around every corner, missed concerts, you name it, it probably happened to me this week. I’d feel as badly today as I would on the morning following a horrible first date if I could remember what it was like to go out on a date, first or otherwise.

But don’t cry in your latte for me. Tonight I’ll be part of a sold out crowd to see Cold War Kids, and the rest of the weekend will be spent relaxing. Good luck to all you kids who were able to muster the discipline necessary to prepare yourself for Sunday’s inaugural ING Marathon (HAHA, I accidentally typed “mathathon” instead of “marathon” — now there’s an event that I’d have a better chance of competing in on Sunday). Those of you not running, but who are expecting to drive on Sunday morning, remember to check the race route in order to save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

Morrissey Hates Me!
The day after I leave Arizona Morrissey will be in Arizona. When Morrissey finally winds his way to Atlanta, I will be in Canada.

Why does Morrissey hate me?

Selling Stock To Take Stock In Travel (aka “Go West Old Man”)
I have finally realized why I have a couple of nickels to rub together sitting in a bank account; it’s because I never take many vacations. This year I’ve decided to embark on two very long (by my standards), very involved (also by my standards).

The first trip I’ve blabbed about before, it’s my upcoming trip to Arizona. The second trip is still in the early planning stages; this will be a Atlanta -> Seattle -> Edmonton -> Atlanta foray.

I’ve started adding up the cost of airfare, car rental, and hotel rooms and have nearly had a heart attack. My figures don’t even factor in the inevitable high alcohol cost and the fancy food I am trying to make sure I eat while traveling (I ain’t no Rachael Ray here).

Non-traveling Paulie would normally take this money and buy a new computer or camera equipment.

Speaking Of Silly Travel
Perhaps if I was attending a wedding in Macon I’d fly down instead of making the 1.5 hour drive. (Terri, you know I kid because I like you and I am jealous)

Since I’ve decided to be a traveler (in my world there would be a double ‘l’ in that word!) I’ve signed up for all of the “Super Saver / Secret Fare” web deals delivered (now archaically) via email or via a RSS reader. I am struck by the places that I can fly to from Atlanta that are advertised.

My philosophy has always been that if
a) I can drive to my destination in fewer than five hours and
b) I might need a car at my destination
then I don’t even consider flying.

Think about today’s airline travel… You need to get to the airport at least one hour before your flight (more like two hours), there is the new (now five-year-old) hassle of getting through “security”, and unexpected flight delays. It’s going to take three hours just to fly anywhere! Even with the high cost of gas it still seems cheaper to me to drive to a local destination as well.

Soapbox Derby
My Fellow Americans, I Am Not One Of Your Fellow Americans
Why has the American Dream become to own a seven bedroom, eight bathroom monstrosity of a house? Seriously, has anyone checked the cost of energy / gas lately? I know that I am crazy to suggest this, but shouldn’t we be building smaller, not larger, houses?

For full disclosure I will admit that I own a house larger than my needs (1500 sq ft ranch with another 1000 sq “livable space” in the basement). The only reason I purchased the house in which I currently reside was because it was the first one that I saw that was in decent shape and in my limited 1999 price range– that and it had an orange Naugahyde bar in the basement.

Maybe I’ll just move to Canada. Fuck that, it gets way too cold up there.

EFF’ing Great
Yesterday I donated another $25 to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Somebody with clout needs to stand up and fight Big Media in the name of Free Speech and the EFF has chosen to do so. Although I am far from radical (picture me wearing my Trees Atlanta t-shirt at work today) I do believe in the battles that the EFF has chosen to fight.

I have a insight on the nature of things to come thanks to the Big Movie Studios and it ain’t pretty. However I am not at liberty to divulge my knowledge in print. Talk to me after I’ve had a few beers. 😉

Now if only I could find time to add an EFF badge to the right galley…

On The Docket
Look for a return to the old Paulie next week. I should have a stash of new photographs so that I can return to posting a shot a day. I’ll be doing my taxes so I should know how much I owe Uncle Sam for the privilege of supporting the New American Dream. I might even be exercising again… just don’t hold your breath for this one.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – tgif
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing The Shins — “Sleeping Lessons”
Website Of The Day – Tech Tuesday is a fairly clever webcomic about technology put out every Tuesday (see the name makes a lot of sense now). I’m just glad that there is not a new release today because that would mean that it’s only Tuesday.
Exercise (b)Log – nothing, I’m saving myself for Sunday. Oh wait, I’m not running, that must mean I am just lazy

March Goals
1) Lose two pounds. (starting weight ~205 lbs?)
2) Run no fewer than thirty miles.
3) Do twenty push-ups and fifty sit-ups at on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays.
4) Finish February’s book and read at least one more.
5) Take Marta to work at least ten times.
6) File my Income Taxes.
7) Wear “nicer” clothes to work at least one day a week.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]