Ouch. This morning I dropped my car off for its 60,000 mile Major Service (they call it Major to let you know that it will be expensive). The early estimate is $440, but I am sure they will manage to find another $200 or so work that needs to be done. I suppose I shouldn’t complain. In June I will have had the car for five years (minus the six stolen weeks) and I have not had any problems.
I Should Be Able To Pee On Your Shoes
I have a habit that I enjoy doing in bars; it’s called drinking. Occasionally I drink at home, but nothing makes me want to drink more than being in a bar. Unfortunately drinking generates a byproduct called urine. Fortunately establishments are required to have a rooms dedicated for the process of relieving oneself of this terrible byproduct. It would be rude if these rooms didn’t exist and I peed on other people’s shoes. Does it seem unreasonable to force establishments to have theses rooms? Afterall they could simply install drains in the floors. People shouldn’t be concerned about my urine because their clothes can easily be laundered when they get home, and my secondary urine has never been shown to cause negative health issues for those whose shoes I’ve moistened. I paint a pretty disgusting picture, don’t I?
Let’s now apply the same logic to smoking.
Like drinking smoking is a habit (whether considered good or bad is personal)
Like drinking smoking creates a byproduct — smoke (and to some extent litter)
Unlike drinking establishment can choose to allow smokers do disperse their byproduct anywhere in their bar.
Because of this I must ingest the secondary some from others (possibly causing me ill health) and leave the establishment reeking of cigarettes.
Before you think that I am calling to outlaw all smoking, think again. I wish that I could regulate smoking within music venues since when bands come to town they generally play only one night, at a single venue. Therefore if I want to see a certain band that’s playing at one of the few smoke-free venues I am forced to suffer from the byproducts of others’ habit. I have no choice other than to not see a show, which is what I have done on some occasions.
Smoke all you want in a bar because at least then I have alternatives; I can go to Decatur bars, or drink at home.
And finally, smoking doesn’t make you look cool. You look as cool as a forty-one year old bearded man standing around in a Trees Atlanta t-shirt.
ITP Flickr Pic
Speaking of bad habits
No, I was not responsible for emptying all of those cans.
I Heard There Was A Little Race Yesterday
Too bad I hadn’t heard about it, I surely would have trained and taken part…
Kudos to all my sick friends who ran their hearts out yesterday. Please feel free to wear your shirts around me and ask me why I don’t wear mine… 🙂
Damn You Hoyas!
My dream of keeping my sports betting dynasty in place has ended. Those rat bastards from DC threw my brackets into a tail-spin by beating North Carolina yesterday.
At least my beloved Gators are still alive, and I will be nowhere near the action this weekend when the Final Four comes to Atlanta. As for me I’ll be slumming OTP. But more about that later in the week.
The Amazingly Late Race, Part 2
It happened again last night, I was glad that I had stayed at home to watch. Darn basketball.
I was stunned how the flights to (insert wherever the hell they were trying to get here) were. For the first time since I’ve started watching the Amazing Race teams were forced into massive time separation. Even so, it was strange that Danny and Oswald nearly won the leg.
Damn I still cannot stand Mirna and Charla. They get on my every last nerve!!!
And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – pollenated
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Built To Spill — “Big Dipper”
Website Of The Day – What’s that green? Oh, it’s pollen season in Atlanta. What better place than Pollen.com to find out all about Nature’s sperm (which is an incorrect term according to the Almighty Wikipedia).
Exercise (b)Log – a smattering of bike riding yesterday
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]
– remember, $440 still beats the hell out of a monthly car payment.
– Despite the fact that ING has sponsored events all over creation, this was a definite first year event. General confusion, disorganized water stops and running out of supplies. The course was nice and the fan support was great, but other than that, meh. You would think that the organizers would have actually looked at the weather forecast and figured they need more supplies on a record hot day, but maybe that’s just me.
Just under 1:55 for the half…
-Steve
I’ve gotta say, I had somewhat mixed feelings about the Florida/Butler game on Friday. Naturally, I wore orange, but I work with a lot of people who went to Butler, so I had to be careful how much smack I talked, *just in case* 🙂 Also, a teeny part of me wanted to root for “the last Indiana team still standing”, especially with the season Butler had this year, but in the end I just couldn’t do it. Go Gators!!
Also, I planned a trip to Atlanta for next week, not even knowing about the Final Four, but I’m going to choose to look at it as funny. Not going anywhere near downtown til after Monday, though!
And your post reminds me that I need to get my brakes checked before an 8-hour roadtrip in 6 days 🙂
I heard of the difficulties and was frankly surprised by them. Perhaps all of the money I’ve started letting ING handle has shifted their priorities. 🙂
Congratulations on your run.
Well, I was close to being correct. I just heard from the shop and I need another $140 of work. Oh well, as Steve said it is still cheaper than having a car note.
Are you getting the timing belt replaced today? My mechanic did that at my 60,000 (and 120,000) service, saying that it wouldn’t last until 90,000, and while he had the engine all apart, it would be cheaper labor wise to do it then. I may be a sucker, but I’ve got 150,000+ miles now, and nothing but regular maintenance has ever been done, so I think it was a good decision.
I didn’t specifically ask about the timing belt. I did hear that everything looked good (except for the rear brakes).
I don’t think anyone really smokes these days to “look cool” anymore. That was a marketing technique that lasted one too many generations (the only acceptable time being before it was known to be such a health problem – what was that, though? 1950s? 60s?). I think folks that do smoke either are addicted or simply like to have a cigarette (cigar, cloves, etc). I haven’t heard anyone do it to “look cool” in a while, which is a very encouraging thing, I’d say.
The kids these days however? They’re drinking the Nyquil to look cool.
Hope all is well with your car — and, hey, now I’m really glad we took mine this weekend! 😉 (It does surprise me that there was no mention of our escapades though!)
While I am not a big fan of smoking myself, it bothers me to all heck that some people are so against the option of proprietors to allow smoking (or are for regulation). The fact is, if rent is paid in these areas, then what difference does it make what is done inside them as long as all participants are willing and of a consenting age, and it is within the bounds of the rental agreement/does not infringe on publicly maintained space? Perhaps the bands you are going to see prefer smoking establishment, or the majority of other band supporters smoke. If not, start your own alternative and I’m sure you would then have much success in a smokeless venue. If the venture is not supported, then really wouldn’t it show smoking an essential part of the experience?
I think that teenagers still think it’s a “cool” thing to do because their friends or someone the admire do it. Why else would they start?
My car will be fine, it’s just going to cost me more than I had expected. I knew that this maintenance was coming so I wasn’t too shocked. I wanted to get it done prior to heading up to Black Rock this weekend.
The day trip just didn’t make the cut today. I figured I should keep my entry shorter than “War and Peace.” Your blog covered the trip Hartwell nicely, much better than I would have. 🙂
@Anonymous Coward:
I completely respect your views.
If anything can go inside a venue why not let knife fighting or flame throwing occur too? Sure some innocent bystanders may get injured, but that’s of little concern to the proprietor as long as money is coming in.
Bathrooms are an expensive maintenance cost in bars as well. Should we allow bars to open which have no plumbing? I am sure you’d find at least one bar owner who wouldn’t mind cutting that cost out of his or her monthly budget.
I don’t like the smoke because short of leaving the building it is completely unavoidable. I have chosen not to smoke, but because others do I must also suffer the consequences.
If I had the financial means and economic background than perhaps I would open my own club, but since I have neither I shan’t. If every place was like the Variety Playhouse then I’d have no issues whatsoever.
In the end I will stop going to shows at venues I can no longer feel comfortable in. I will lose some of my passion. The bars will lose some revenue. And the bands will lose one person’s support.
In the grand scheme of things nothing will change.
Thanks for your comment. I seriously mean it.
Oh, and while I am thinking about it…
There was a day when smoking was allowed on airlines. I am not sure who forced the change but I am certainly glad that they did.
Regarding teens taking up smoking: I really don’t think it’s a “cool” thing anymore so much as it’s a “easy to get and would really annoy my parents” kind of thing. No proof of that, of course…just my theory. 🙂