Rinse. Repeat.
Conceptually, Decatur Is Awesome
If you live within walking distance to it. I suppose the same sentiment could be said for my neighborhood of East Atlanta, not that I do any walking to and from the village thanks to the asshats who’ve effectively ruined that aspect of living there.
Last night I drove the Red Rocket home and decided that I wanted to stop for a half-decent bite to eat before heading home to do some work. Even though the bike is locked to the roof rack I didn’t want to stop in a neighborhood in which having my bike exposed would keep me on edge (I’m looking at you EAV, Cabbagetown, Kirkwood) so I decided that I’d try to eat in Decatur, specifically either at The Marlay House or at Farm Burger. It was early (6:00-6:30pm) so I hoped that I could score a parking space for which I could keep my bike in somewhat sight. I was so wrong…
I had the same (lack of) success at The Thinking Man Tavern and then threw my hands up in disgust and headed home to eat a peanut butter sandwich for dinner.
ITP Flickr Pic
I’ll spare you a third day of rafting photos (although be prepared to see another tomorrow). Instead I’ll show you a piece of abstract art on which I’ve been working in order to submit for this month’s Roswell Photographic Society critique.
What says you? Other than completely scrapping it, how would you change this to make it more appealing? And if you real hate it, or find it incredibly boring, go ahead and voice that opinion.
And Then There Was One?
I received news yesterday which makes it appear as if I will be the sole Atlanta representative at this year’s Colorado Invihash. My how things have changed. Four years ago there were at least ten of us out there. Two years ago there were about eight of us out there. This year there may just be one — me.
This turn of events will make this hash very different for me. In past trips I tended to hang out with the Atlanta folk; I gravitate to my comfort zone; it’s what I do in these situations. It’s the same reason I don’t enjoy parties (I’m the guy who stands in the corner observing). It’s the same reason I don’t meet women as well. So, this will either be the worst Colorado Invihash, or it will be a personal breakthrough for me. Only time will tell.
RealiTV Update: Ramsay’s Stock Is At An All-TIme Low
Well, I’ve all but had it with Gordon Ramsay’s television series. Last night was the finale of Hell’s Kitchen as well as my finale for watching Master Chef.
Hell’s Kitchen this year was a complete yawnfest, and this season’s winner Holly (oops, I hope I didn’t spoil the surprise) was clearly the weakest “chef” to win Hell’s Kitchen. Even the show’s ending has gotten weak in the past few seasons. In the first seasons the finalists had to decorate their restaurants as well as work up its menu. You’d think that with the decoration portion of the finale gone that emphasis would be placed on the food (for once), but no, it’s all about the bullshit.
Master Chef is just an absolute train wreck. I gave it three episodes to win me over and like they say in baseball, three strikes and you can kiss my ass. Well, they say something like that…. I’m done.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – I was a fan of the movie “Helvetica.” I was a fan of the movie “Objectified.” I can’t wait until Urbanized is released. Rinse. Repeat.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – cycling, 16.5 miles
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t check
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 67.2 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 3 (6)
Vegetarian Days – 1, Carnivorous Days – 9
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 2
August Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month (I did it once, I can do it again!)
– Not get fired from my job
– Ride my bicycle no fewer than 200 miles
– Get the Sharpened Stone, LLC moving further
– Complete at least one iPhone application (seriously, this needs to happen)
– Completely plan out my August/September Colorado trip
2010 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 185 pounds (starting weight was 198 pounds) [update: On July 1 I’ve sadly gained weight; I’m at 203 pounds]
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
– Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Sharpened Stone.
– 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 Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
I’m assuming the photo is of a curious beam of light/shadow. Because I have no point of reference, it doesn’t do much for me.
I, like you, would be uncomfortable in a social situation where I don’t know many folks. Make it an exercise in getting out of your comfort zone and see what happens.
-FP
You are correct Steve. The photo (which I’ve rotated clockwise 90 degrees) is light hitting the base of the iMac on my desk at work. The orange(ish) color in the corner is the pumped up color of my desk. I have no delusion thinking that this is a great photo, which is why I’m asking for opinions to see if it’s even worth submitting.
Unless something incredibly bad happens along my way to Boulder I will be going to the hash. I will make an effort to break out of my comfort zone, but much like trying to convince myself to go to the edge of the Grand Canyon (with my fear of heights) it may not turn out as well as I hope.
Oh yeah…. I meant to mention my quandary with the price of tickets for shows these days. Tickets for a night with Garrison Keillor go on pre-sale today (password is “MINN”) via Ticketmaster. The “cheapest” ticket is $36 and the the most expensive is $73 (all before Ticketmaster’s enormous fees). Too expensive for my liking nowadays. Doesn’t anyone recall that the economy is still in the shitter?
I don’t get the picture, but that doesn’t mean much, I don’t get most abstract art.
Couldn’t you throw the bike inside the car? I’m going to attempt to ride after work tonight in Roswell, I need to go by the in-laws to get the mail (don’t tell anyone, they are out of town) so I figure I should see if I remember how to ride. Did you bring your bike with you again? You can come join me.
I’m so bummed we aren’t going, I just couldn’t justify the expense of the trip with all the garage stuff going on.
But hey – Shappens will be there, at least you know him fairly well. And – with Boulder being a decent city, you can eat & drink with the hashers when you want, and go hang out elsewhere if you feel the need to get away. At Winter Park last summer for InterAm I didn’t do any trails, so I felt a little removed, but it was a great vacation, I did what I wanted.
I normally don’t “get” much abstract stuff either, Barb.
I know that I’ve carried bikes inside the Jackmobile (pre-roof rack) but the Red Rocket is awfully dirty right now and didn’t want to get grease all over the leather interior. Unfortunately I didn’t bring the bike with me today for two reasons. One, I’m going to try and meet up with some folks to play trivia in midtown tonight. Two, I’m planning on riding to/from work tomorrow and wanted to give my knees a rest day.
I “known” Shappens, but I don’t know him all that well. I’m sure I’ll have a swell time (to use a Mad Men era term). Hell, I have a few friends from the photography seminar I took in Fort Collins a few years ago that I could always look up since I’ll have my car with me. It’s going to be an awesome vacation regardless of how the hashing weekend turns out.
Yep Decatur is great, if you’re walking…parking is such a PITA (feel the same way about Midtown, Buckhead, ViHi, etc…) Pretty much only go there if I need shoes (Yeah Big Peach Running Company) or knives sharpend.
Funny(ish) story…so Jerry has been wanting to go to Brick Store since we met. I always tell him ‘next time’, so the last time we bought shoes (yes, that’s our idea of fun), he asked, I relented…We drive around (felt bad about leaving the car in BPRC parking lot since we were finished), finally find a parking spot, 8 blocks away (we didn’t have any cash on us for the lots), we get to BS, he looks at the menu and wants to leave!!! This is after 18 months of him complaining that we have never went.
I’ve been thinking about borrowing a bike rack so I can take mine with me to IN, with all I have planned I doubt I’ll find the time. It will just end up being one more thing to deal with while I’m there.
I don’t mind parking in VaHi, though I probably wouldn’t (often) do so with the bike on my roof. Midtown and Buckhead (though I have little reason to go there) are a PITA to park in.
That’s a funny story about Brick Store.
Brick Store is another place I’d frequent if not for it being in Decatur. However, it’s probably a lot better for my wallet, waistline, and driving that it is located in Decatur.
I hate trying to find parking in any of those places, especially in Decatur. There never seems to be any open spots, even when you are willing to pay.
But luckily for me, we now have an “in” with some of the City of Atlanta fire houses, and can park there. I don’t think there is too much extra space at the one by George’s, but in Buckhead they have plenty of room.
I really want to do a little pub crawl in Buckhead some afternoon/evening, there are a few interesting spots I’dreally like to check out (before the young hip crowd gets there)
Doesn’t Watershed still do their Tuesday buttermilk fried chicken special? That’s probably the reason why you had no parking luck at Farm Burger.
Martha, re: Brick Store, REALLY? Are you KIDDING me? He wanted to leave after perusing the food menu or the beer menu? This is boggling my mind. You tell Jerry that you guys are coming to Brick Store with David and me sometime and he will LOVE IT. The trick is you have to go around 3 pm on a weekend, otherwise it’s a cluster f.
Jenka, I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’ve never eaten at Watershed.
I’ve only been once since Scott Peacock left. But their Tuesday night fried chicken special is wicked famous, and are usually sold out by 6:30 pm. So when you were trying to go to Farm Burger that was prime time for fried chicken. If you ever want to go, I’m game! It’s close to Emory so I like to go for lunch.
It was mid-afternoon on the weekend, the place was pretty dead. He wasn’t impressed/had a different idea of what the food would be like. We ended up a Raging Burrito, we had ate like 2 hours before so I wasn’t even hungry (of course he was).
Uhh, does that mean that you don’t want to be convinced that Brick Store rules? Because I’d really like an excuse to go there. Hell, that’s a total lie, I would go for any reason. Try again! Preferably with me. 🙂
I know some secret Decatur free parking spots…. but I’m not gonna tell!
Next time try the lot on the Chick-fil-a side of the square … if you are there before 6 you can generally score a spot (too far to be able to see your car but if your bike is locked it wouldn’t be a problem with so many people around). There’s also usually parking in the metered area across from Chick-fil-a. On the weekends there is a free parking deck near the courthouse which most people don’t know about. And, if you don’t mind walking, you can park up towards the high school on McDonough. Scoring parking on the Ponce side is difficult because that’s where the tourists-on-Safari go first but maybe Willy has some secrets 🙂
Paulie??? Wherefore art thou?
Working on it now. You’ll see why…