I’m going to be honest. I’ve been so bummed by the way this trip has turned out that I briefly considered killing the blog. But then I remembered how much of a self-centered attention whore that I am and started typing.
Step One, Get Out Of Boulder
Because I work for a company based in Denver, Colorado I’ll be able to to work today and tomorrow (as you read this). In order to get closer to the office I rented a car (more money spent) from Hertz which for a while I wasn’t sure would be open on Labor Day), packed up all of my crap, and bugged out of the InviHash early. In Denver (or more accurately one of Denver’s southern suburbs) I purchased some clothes and shoes for work (because I’ve not been spending enough money on this trip), and then settled down for a night of relaxation before tackling another day.
When the Jackmobile is healed I’ll pack up all of my crap and return to Boulder for the briefest of time possible and head on my way home driving as fast and long as I’m capable of doing.
I Had A Horrible Thought
Yesterday the Boulder area had wild fires in the mountains. What if this somehow delays the repair of the Jackmobile? As is stands right now I’m not going to be able to get out of Colorado until Thursday.
ITP Flickr Pic
On the last day that my vacation was fun…
This was taken with my iPhone while traveling (alone at this point) in Wyoming, or perhaps southern South Dakota. I can only imagine, and only hope that I’ll only ever have to imaging, breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
$2 Well Spent
I’ve been spending so much money, why not spend another $2 so I could watch Sunday’s episode of Mad Men?
I originally hoped that I could stream the episode using my Dish Network 922 DVR at my desk in Atlanta, but alas something seemed to be set up incorrectly so I couldn’t.
Sunday’s episode was outstanding!
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – uncertain
Current Music – listening to a
Website Of The Day – Next time I consider taking a long car trip I’ll reconsider and look in to doing a Beer Trip instead.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my rental car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – couldn’t check
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 6
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
September Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Ride my bicycle no fewer than 250 miles
– Determine the fate of Sharpened Stone, LLC
– Complete at least one iPhone application (seriously, this needs to happen)
– lost five pounds
– eat vegetarian at least one day a week
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]
You’re taking this whole thing pretty well, considering. I thought yesterdays picture of the broken chopstick was too funny. Of all the things to go wrong…
And are you sure one of the hashers didn’t start the wildfire?
-FP
Was there suppoosed to a sacrasm tag there Steve? 😉
I don’t think I’m handling it very well at all. I think the two things that have helped is that this won’t send me into financial ruin (at least I hope not) and I’m able to work out here and move my vacation days until I can travel.
Once the breakfast I just ate settles and the temperature rises a bit I’m going for a flat bike ride to clear my mind before work.
The only way I can believe the invihash didn’t start the wild fire is that I doubt that trail never left the hotel yesterday.
I wasn’t being sarcastic!! I never expected you to sing and dance about having a transmission repaired, but I was hoping you didn’t lock yourself in your hotel room and get in a fetal position!! (maybe you did) But you got out and tried to soldier on. Good for you!
No fetal position but I did decide to slow things down and stay in my hotel room last night.
Btw- I normally stay at Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, Quality Inn, etc) but this Staybridge Inn (a Hilton hotel) is nice.
hey – I’m just catching up on everything after taking the weekend off from the internets.
I’ve got a couple friends in Highlands Ranch (southern Denver suburb) – I’m sure James would take you out on a road ride if you want him to.
I’m sure you can wear the new clothes again……. 😉
What kind of vehicle did you get? A mini-van? We had a minivan out in Utah, and I gotta say, it is the most practical car we ever had for a vacation when we had bikes with us.
I’m currently in Lone Tree, quite near Highlands Ranch. However because today is now a work day I’m just going to jump out and do an out-and-back (so I can’t miss a turn) along C-470.
I actually needed new shoes, so I’m sure they’ll come in handy — like next week when I’ll be in Clemson for college recruiting. The shirt is nice, so I’ll wear that again too. I definitely didn’t need more dress socks, and I’m hoping to shrink and make the pants unwearable in the near future. 😉
I had reserved a “full-sized” car to maximize trunk space. However, I wound up getting a 2010 Nissan Altima instead. The Red Rocket fits into the trunk when I take the front wheel off of the bike and drop the car’s rear seats. The Altima is one of those new-fangled cars where you need the key in the car to start/stop the car’s engine using a button on the dashboard.
Well, scratch the bike ride. I don’t know if it’s the altitude, dry air, or stress, but I’m not feeling so grand now and don’t think I should risk it.
Today is a work day for me, and my boss is currently flying out to Denver so I think I’ll be a good little worker bee and get cracking with some code until his arrival.
With all of my upcoming bills it’s smarter for me to make my “Not get fired from my job” goal over my bike mileage goal. 😉
Paulie, I’m sorry your vacation hasn’t been all that you expected.
We got back from a long weekend in Cincinnati last night. I’m beat…we left right after work on Thursday and drove through the night. I can’t do that anymore, it took two days for me to feel normal again. After all the junk we ate and the lack of exercise I was pleasantly surprised to see the numbers on the scale this morning. Still time to get back to the gym. If nothing else the weather was just perfect in OH…I’m really ready for some cooler temps.
That’s a pretty good picture from an iPhone…I don’t think my point and shoot would do as well.
iPhone while traveling at 60mph. 😉
Thanks and sorry that you needed to make an emergency trip up to Cincy. I don’t know when I’ll step on a scale again.
While a bit bummed that I decided not to do a ride this morning I just found out that my boss lands in Denver at 9:30am. I wonder if I’ll have to tag around the office with him today too. I certainly hope not. I’d rather stay in my hotel and write code today.
Good news (haven’t said that much since Friday)! Looks like the transmission will be ready and I’ll be eastbound on Thursday.
Feeling much better mentally but only a little bit better physically. I wish I could have gone for a ride today, but my boss’ flight has landed and I’m sure he’ll be dropping by at any time now. 😉
Back to work…
I agree with Steve, you have been pretty positive about this whole situation (at least on line you have been). Being stuck in Denver is not all that bad, why not enjoy it. Go drink some really good micro brew, or see a baseball game or something 🙂
Good to hear your car will be ready when they said though, I’m sure you are itchin to head East.
I should have gone to the Rockies game yesterday. I did manage to eat a decent lunch with a delicious micro brew yesterday, though. 🙂
Looks like I’ll be really working and not much playing the next couple of days. I’m off to “do (non-alcohol) lunch” with my boss and a few Denverites.
If all goes to Plan
BCDE, I’ll be doing marathon driving days on Thursday and Friday in an effort to be in town on Saturday.OKAY UNIVERSE, I FUCKING GIVE UP! Some motherfucker keyed my rental car.
WTF! Someone keyed your rental car?
Either keyed or scratched some time this morning. There was no scratch when I drove to the Post Office this morning and there is an unmissable one there now.
I posted a photo on my Flickr page.
that totally does suck – it isn’t like you wouldn’t have noticed it before.
(but – I do like your reflection in the picture, that is kind of cool)
I guess now you have to call Hertz to see what the procedure is?
Who keys cars just for the hell of it anyway?
Looks like a keying, my have been scratched by the beater parked next tonic. 🙁
I’ll be calling AmEx tonight to see what happens next.
This situation is unbelievable even by my standards. I park in the right-hand spot whenever possible to reduce the chance assholes hitting the car I’m driving with their doors.
Just got off the phone with AmEx and they’ll pay up to my deductible, but then I have to decide whether I file a claim with my insurance or pay out of pocket.
I officially now hate Colorado.