Yesterday the new “fly-over” bridge which goes over I285 and connects Lake Hearn Drive to Perimeter Center Parkway was christened. What got to me was the audacity of the press release telling us that the project was “Completed As Promised.” Um hello, the bridge was supposed to open in March of this year, and as I see it there is still no traffic being allowed on it. Completed as promised my ass!
When No News Really Is Good News
After receiving the bill for the physical I took three weeks ago I decided it was time they also told me the results. The fact that their lab lost my first blood sample combined with their delay in refusal to contact me has eroded much of the confidence that I put in this doctor’s office. That being said, the (all too limited) information delivered to me was positive. The doctor told me that I passed all tests and that his only slight concern was that my “bad cholesterol” was at 104 and that doctors recommend that it be under 100. I guess that I am as healthy as a horse.
Oh Marta, Why? Why? Why?
Has anyone ever ridden Marta for a week without difficulties? Given my limited ridership and the simplicity of Marta’s rail system I should rarely see a hiccup.
Yesterday I jumped on the train with enough time to make it down to George’s to meet up with the 6pm running group. One stop after getting onto a southbound train we were informed that our train was going out of service and that everyone would have to get off and wait for the next train. Fuggit! After a five-to-ten minute wait the next train arrived. Is it any wonder that people still use their car daily?
My commute was further munged by a semi-truck who, after turning left in front of an oncoming fire truck, either parked or broke down on Oakdale thus completely halting my lane of traffic.
To my credit I soldiered on to George’s and started my trek a good fifteen minutes after my companions. I managed a near-five-mile loop struggling with traffic, my iPod Shuffle (hate it — I need a screen), and oncoming runners. I am going to put this in print because it’s something that many of you have never heard me say.
“Even though I struggled and had to walk more than I would have liked to, I actually enjoyed running last night.”
To celebrate my journey I consumed a corned-beef sandwich with some french fries, all washed down with water.
ITP Flickr Pic
Rather than cook for this year’s pre-Thanksgiving pot-luck luncheon at the office I decided to construct a seven-layer bean dip.
It looks pretty fucking tasty if I do say so myself.
This American “Kitchen Nightmares” Is Boring Me
I fell asleep watching last night’s Kitchen Nightmares. I thing that they should rename this version of the show “Gordon Ramsay Visits Kitchens With Delusional Chefs And Gives Restaurant Makeovers.”
The only good part of last night’s show was when Ramsay found a copy of one his books in the kitchen.
And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – good
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing The Apples In Stereo — “Tidal Wave” (can’t believe I blew two opportunities to see them in concert this year)
Website Of The Day – Even though that Windows-loving Kim Komando over at USA Today beat me to picking this I am still going to recommend that you look at Refund Please.
Exercise (b)Log – running/walking, ~5 miles
Monthly Foot Mileage – 31.5 miles
Monthly Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Mode Of Transportation To Work – My car
Beers Consumed Since 11/03 – 0
November Goals
1) Run no fewer than 25 miles
2) Not worry about running the Atlanta Half-Marathon
3) Read at least one book
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Back when I was a regular MARTA rider, there were weeks that went incident free… but rarely. I’m always amazed when there is a problem with a train- most likely caused by a door that won’t close- that people do nothing to check the doors in the car they are in… that annoying noise that even I can hear (deaf as I am) is an indication the “door is ajar”. I think train operators would do well to just come on the PA and people to check the doors.
You were moving along quite smartly last night… excellent work!
-FP
Oooh! Lots to comment on today!
First) I would like the recipe of the dip if you’d please! I need to make/bake/bring something to my office thing next week and that just looks darn tasty. This SlimFast sure ain’t gonna cut it anymore!
Two) The fly-over bridge – you made me laugh, but them journalists actually have a valid point. Literally? They did complete it as promised. They didn’t say completed ON TIME as promised, or at budget as promised; just completed as promised. “Hey, we WILL complete that bridge.” And so they did.
Three) I really really want to see a big ass end quote too. 🙂 (yup, I’m that anal)
and Four) I’d call “my horse” but, really, it’s yours.
@Steve: Thanks. It was the best I’ve run in many, many months.
@Stacy:
One)
Here is the recipe for the Seven-Layer Dip (as stolen from the internet). It made one 9.5″ x 13.5″ x 2″ casserole dish’s worth)
1 sm. can refried beans
1 can Fritos bean dip
1 container Dean’s guacamole dip
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 pkg. taco seasoning
shredded Jack and cheddar cheese
1 can sliced black olives
3 sm. chopped tomatoes
2 bunches chopped green onion
Mix refried beans and Fritos bean dip; spread in bottom of small rectangular baking dish. Next, spread guacamole dip. Mix sour cream, mayonnaise, and taco seasoning; spread. Sprinkle cheese or cheeses to cover the third layer. Sprinkle olives, tomatoes, and green onion in that order. DONE!This recipe I made for the first time on Christmas Eve 2005. It was a smash!!
Submitted by: A. Blue
Two)
You are correct, they were factually accurate.
Three)
I’d like a closing quote as well. I need to check the CSS code to see if I can fix it.
Four)
My horse indeed.
So now that you know you can enjoy running again, maybe you should try enjoying it TWICE a week now???? 😉
Finally got my fr*ckin’ asthma meds, so as soon as they kick in, I am going to try and get out there again myself!
I bet if you just cut out Sunday Morning Run bacon you would be just fine!
Look, I’m having a hard enough time doing without alcohol. If I give up bacon as well someone is likely to get hurt.
Yes, I do suppose life wouldn’t be worth living with out pork and booze.
I’m really proud/happy to see you out and running again. I have to figure out what I need to do for the next week before the half…I don’t see another 12 mile run this weekend.
It’s probably best that you don’t do anything longer than ten miles this close to the half. This is “tapering time”, and I mean that in all seriousness.
Thanks, I was thinking about a 6-7 mile run today and/or Saturday morning and then just short jogs until race day.
I think the key to running is to be so hung over you don’t realize that you are running that distance…it seemed to work for me on Saturday.
While I can’t speak about running hung over, I do think your idea of one more longer run and then just shorter stuff sounds just right.
And just so you hear it loud and clear Paulie, we’re all very proud of you.
-FP
Paulie .Easy on the construction guys ..O.K.?
I ride MARTA pretty much every day when I’m in town. There are many weeks when it’s incident-free, but then again, I ride the east-west line, and maybe it has fewer problems than the North-South. I do notice that when the weather turns cold, the door problems get a lot worse.
There was a door problem this morning as a matter of fact.