My last live-in girlfriend moved out more than six years ago. There are, make that were, still traces of her existence. When she moved out she left behind a vacuum cleaner. I assumed it worked, though I never used it because I had one that I had bought years ago. Since no Electronics Recycling Days accepts vacuum cleaners I’ve tried to figure out how to get rid of the vacuum cleaner for six years; why donating it to Goodwill never crossed my mind I’ll never know. As a part of my cleaning on Saturday I decided to kick it to curb and by the time I returned home from dinner it was someone else’s vacuum cleaner.
Out In The Yard, Up In The Attic
On Saturday I decided to use the perfect weather as an excuse to force myself to do yard cleanup. Many sticks and branches were cleared from my back yard as well as my brick pad/patio, future home of a firepit / bbq grill. In addition to that yard cleaning I used the power of my leaf blower to clean out the carport and rustle up some leaves into piles. (The person who figured out how to “rake” a yard with a leaf blower was a genius!) By the time I had blown leaves from the flower bed, and made two large piles from those as well as everything that was in the driveway and in part of the front yard I was worn out and needed a break.
After about an hour’s break I headed to Grady High School where I turned in a small box of old computer parts and cables. On Saturday evening I joined a group of friends for a birthday celebration at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina in Grant Park.
I arose early on Sunday morning and decided to get out before the rain arrived to bag some of the leaves I piled. After six bags’ worth of leaves the rain started and I decided it was time to head indoors for my next task.
When Jeannie moved out I passed the time immediately after our breakup replacing the rat/squirrel turd infested blown-in insulation which has probably been in my attic since its construction in 1957. For multiple weekends in the winter of 2003 I bagged old insulation, cleaned the remaining debris section by section, and filled the vacancy with pink insulation batting. Unfortunately, I never completed the job. For years this has loomed over my head (literally).
Since Jeannie’s departure I’ve lived alone, with the exception of rodents which have joined me on occasion by inhabiting my attic.
It didn’t take finding a dessicated rat in the attic to remind me why I hated going up there and procrastinated finishing the insulation task. Yesterday I finally convinced myself that it was time to return, and yes, I did find a dessicated rat which had shat all over the pink insulation and noshed on the poison I put up in the attic some years ago. After four hours my body had enough, the combination of the muscle soreness resulting from the yard work with the contortions I’d been performing in the attic had gotten the best of me. If I had to guess I’d say that I’m about 90% through with the insulation replacement. I’ll finish that 10% this winter.
ITP Flickr Pic
Want to see what I look like after working in my attic for three hours and then get completely frustrated that I can’t take a self-portrait with my DSLR? I took this using my point-and-shoot which chose use the flash.
Looks like I have another task to add to my “to do” list — “Learn how to use my fucking DSLR!”
Going OTP
It’s not the third Monday of the month, but last week the church in which the Roswell Photographic Society holds its meetings was unavailable. So, the monthly critique meeting is tonight instead. This month’s theme is “Abandoned or Discarded.” I’ve entered a shot I took a couple of years ago in Colorado and have no idea how well the critic will like it.
As an aside I realized yesterday that my photographic organization is not as buttoned-up as I previously believed. For my submission this month I was originally searching for a shot that I took late last year, but couldn’t find. After last year’s burglary it took me some time to re-institute a plan of action at home for my photography (you may remember how I often used this as an excuse for not having a photo for this blog). Well, it turns out that I never transferred the photos I took from the time I was burgled to the time I finally got a computer on which I could edit photos at home to my centralized data storage drive. Dangen! Luckily I back up my data on each computer so transferring them shouldn’t be too painful, but in the end I was forced to submit a different photo for tonight.
RealiTV Update: The Amazing Race — You Can’t Always Trust The Locals
SPOILERS ENCLOSED
You know, just once this season I’d like to pick the team that finishes last instead of the team that finishes next-to-last! As you may have already determined, I chose Team Model Citizens based on the previews shown last week. (btw- I don’t like “Caite” as a name pronounced “Katie” and I don’t think those two have a great relationship) In an unprecedented move ITP-Readers Stacy and Terri both picked Team Big Brother, and unfortunately for me, were correct. We’ve never specifically stated that redundant picks were, or were not, allowed. I guess that I’ll be buying two songs this week. Dangen!
All teams embarked on a whirlwind tour of the champagne region of France in their fancy-pants Mercedes Benz. Team Who’s Your Daddy (Steve and Allie) encountered this season’s first “Oh Fuck!” moment when Steve drove the car into something and destroyed the passenger-side from end. Luckily for him his wife packed some duct tape (hmm, no condoms?) and he was able to jerry-rig the bumper into place.
Team Noun seems to be getting a little big-headed; that must be what’s keeping their cowboy hats on so tight. The cowboys double faulted on driving directions, but luckily for them they were able to complete the Roadblock and Detour without too much trouble.
Speaking of the Detour, stack champagne glasses and pour a magnum of champagne into them? WTF? I was impressed that Team One Team Gay One was able to accomplish the task and was not surprised when Team Model Citizens nor Team Big Brother failed.
It seemed like the hardest challenge of the night was finding a local who knew that the vineyard they were supposed to located was not the same thing as the boutique in Reims which sells the champagne.
I contend the the best line of the night was uttered by Team Model Citizen’s Brent: “Who’s that the cowboys?” Hey Einstein, are you to tell me that you can’t recognize those two similarly-tall guys wearing cowboy hats as Team Noun? Good thing Jeebus made you pretty, my friend.
Surprisingly in the end it was Team Clousteau finishing first (must be that whole French Connection) and Team Big Brother finishing last, only this time it they were eliminated.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – sore, more physically than emotionally
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – DailyMile is a social network for those who exercise. Unfortunately, I found no one who was into “attic cleaning” as an exercise.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – 203 pounds
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 52
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~4 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 20
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 1 (19)
Vegetarian Days – 3, Carnivorous Days – 18
Marta Rides – 0
March Goals
– Not get fired from my job
– Ride my bicycle no fewer than 100 miles
– Get the new LLC moving…
2010 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 185 pounds (starting weight was 198 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
– Enter no fewer than three photographic competitions / gallery showings
– Get the Black Sheep stats out of Excel and online
– Ride in no fewer than two 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Complete my Taco Mac Passport requirement of 125 beers
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in PHP and CSS
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Allan did all that insulation replacement in our house I think a year or more ago, he said it was no fun either.
SPOILER ALERT
After just being in wine country (in CA, I can only wish France), I can actually see how half the group got sent to the wrong place. Some wineries have tasting rooms in the towns, and if you ask someone that doesn’t really know, I can totally see it happening. If this challenge had taken place in the summer when the vines were growing, it would have been a tougher choice, but with them not growing, why anyone would mess with those champagne glasses is beyond me.
I agree with you on that Detour, Barb. What I didn’t understand was the few times the camera panned to what looked like an Amazing Race flag/banner at the end of a row. Did that indicate that one of the marked bunches was in a particular row? Perhaps I’ll look at my recording later.
I think those flags were to tell them what part of the vineyard to look in – but I could be wrong.
I think Barb is right, they had a certain part of the vineyard…
The host said they were supposed to stack 680 glasses to form a pyramid… the math bothered me- sum of the squares to 12 is 650, so I’m not sure what 680 is. That anyone was able to do it is still a pretty good trick.
I rode Friday and found that my running shape and riding shape are not equal. More miles needed going round and round….
-FP
Riding was one of the things which lost out this weekend. I really wanted to ride on Saturday but felt those two hours were “better” spent doing yardwork.
Also losing out this weekend was pulling cables to revamp my phone and satellite distribution systems.
Someday this week a gutter cleaner is *supposed* to come out and clean out my gutters (I hope they don’t scare the robin which has build a nest on one of my downspouts). I wish that they had come out before yesterday’s gully washer.
Michelle, Drew & I rode 31 at Silver Comet Saturday morning, such a beautiful day, but tougher than I had hoped it would be. Wheels of Fire on Saturday is gonna be tough. We plan to ride somewhere Wed. & Thurs. after work, probably to & up Kennesaw Mtn one day, & the other over in Roswell.
There is another opportunity to ride tomorrow 🙂
http://www.georgiaridestothecapitol.org/
There will be frosty beverages consumed post ride.
I’m trying to catch up on Amazing Race, I like that they have to drive more this time and figure out where they are going. The couple that came in second to last really needs to not be there. Looks like next week may be the end for them too.
And I wish I could do that Bob, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. Every year I say that I’ll do it next year.
I’ll do it next year.
Really, after all this time you didn’t think about just putting it on the curb? There are very few things I’ve sat out there, over the last 8 years that some on hasn’t taken.
I ran this weekend, or I should say I tried to run…it was ugly. I think Fly Pig is going to be a disaster. I may have to change to the half, I’ll hate myself either way. I just can’t seem to get into a grove 🙁
I got lots of work in the back yard done, cleaned the pond, the patio and my planting beds!! I’ll be ready for a cook-out soon enough. Now the attic is another story. I started an insulation project a couple of years ago, I will never finish it on my own…I will be paying someone at some point.
The gutter folks will be there this week (weather permitting)…I’ve found them to be very reliable.
The firepit/grill is going to be a huge addition to my backyard. Who knows, I may even throw a party or two this year. 🙂
The gutter folks are still within their promise to be done in “12 business days.” I was just hoping that they would get it done sooner rather than later because I also am holding off on getting my deck washed/stained until the gutters are cleaned.
In my ignorance, I picked the same team as Stacy. I thought “Big Brother” meant Team Gay One and the Other One. I concede to Stacy.
Whoopsy!
Terri, you picked correctly so I will gladly buy a song of your choosing as well.