Must Focus

My eyes have been bugging me this week. Perhaps I’ve been sitting in front of a computer for too long recently (I know, it seems as if that’s always been the case in my life). This week I’ve had a hard time focusing on my computer screen without wearing my glasses. Getting old is not that much fun.

Timing Is Everything
And for some things I have great timing, for others, well…

My official policy for last night was to stay at home and do nothing. That was until I found out about a cool gathering happening at Zach Arias’ new Used Film Studios in Decatur.

Arias’ name has been all abuzz on the internet recently for the inspirational video he posted on Scott Kelby’s blog on Wednesday. I have wanted to find out more about Arias for some time and decided to change my plans in order to get in on the action.

Prior to heading to the studio I met up with Maigh and Shawn at The Grange Public House. I ordered on of the night’s specials, the chicken pot pie, and was surprised (happily) that it turned out to be more of a chicken pot pie muffin served with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans.

ITP Flickr Pic
Okay so I finally uploaded a new photo. Let me explain this one.

1. I almost always place a photo of a beautiful woman as the background image on my computer, call it “inspiration.” Rarely have I taken the photo (at least not yet).
2. The Post-It Notes that you see attached to the monitor are there to remind me to ground myself prior to touching electronics. This week I feared that I damaged my laptop the other day when I was shocked as I touched it.

Hell’s Kitchen : Sticking It In The Man
I made it home just in time to catch the beginning of Hell’s Kitchen.

It should come as no surprise that I think that Hell’s Kitchen is rigged. Last night’s episode convinced me of this.

The cooks (notice that I don’t even give them enough respect to call these people “cheftestants”) started with a “Name That Steak” contest by matching the cut to the part of the cow from which it is cut. Not surprisingly, many of these cooks were clueless. The men were whisked away to a winery for a day with Gordo, while the women were forced to lug and separate two sides of beef for the night’s service.

For elimination each team commanded Hell’s Kitchen, Steak House Edition. First the ladies played waitresses and sabotaged the men who were cooking for the customers, and then the rolls were reversed. Both teams had problems (surprise!) and in the end the women were declared victorious.

The two guys put up for elimination were mouthy-stalker Seth and body piercing-lover Charlie. To me it appeared that it was Seth’s time to go, but he makes for better television than Charlie, so he was spared.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, although a bit bothered by my eyes
Current Music – listening to Leo Laporte’s “The Tech Guy” podcast
Website Of The Day – Fancy yourself as an animation freak like me? Then you must check out Comic Mint.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 20 (120)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 19
Marta Rides – 0

February Goals
– Complete all necessary work on my bed room
– Lose no fewer than one pound
– Run no fewer than 30 miles
– Completely read Softbox Lighting Techniques for Professional Photographers, and Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas

2009 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
РEarn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalape̱o Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]