Seriously?

Coughing persisted last night as I fell asleep some time before 9pm (and missed my Jets on National television). This morning I awoke with one eye plastered shut and now it’s a bit on the red side from all of the rubbing I’ve done to it. Seriously? How long is it going to take before I regain health? I really want to be healthy again…

Seriously?
Last night I wanted to use another one of my expiring Groupon coupons so after work I drove down to The Original El Taco in Virginia-Amsterdam (I may have just made that up) for dinner. I had been to The Original El Taco once before, for a Tweetup in January of 2009, back when I thought that I may have been making inroads toward getting at least one of two very attractive young ladies to go out with me — a month later both had boyfriends, and one is already married and the other might as well be.

It’s not that I’ve held a grudge toward The Original El Taco, it’s that I have many taco options at my disposal so I’ve yet to make it back. However with a $20 coupon in hand (for which I paid $10) I thought I could get my money’s worth.

I was handed a wooden nickel with the number 36 written on it and was told by the cute young waitress Sarah that the Wheel of Taco would be spun at the top of the hour and that if it matched my number I’d win a prize. Yeah right, there were probably forty numbers on it, what were my odds? (Huh, one-in-forty I guess.) I ordered three tacos, a side or corn, and a Sweetwater 420 all of which arrived at my table quickly. While eating the wheel was spun, and what do you know, it came up 36! I won a rain check for an order of queso fundido the next time I dine at The Original El Taco.

After ordering one more beer as my dessert Sarah brought my bill and told me about the Fifth Group’s “Rewards Program” which for some reason I decided I’d join (it’s free to join). A few minutes after returning the bill and the registration card Sarah returned to my table. “I don’t mean to be a creeper or anything, but I noticed that your email address is “Inside Design”?” to which I politely corrected her (I’d signed up using one of my many InsideThePerimeter accounts). Perhaps a little embarrassed she left and never returned. Seriously, I play the ladies more like Donald Duck than Don Draper. Same as it ever was…

Maybe I should hold a grudge against The Original El Taco, though I do have a free queso fundido coming to me…

ITP Flickr Pic
Here is a photo of the winning chip.

Oh, it’s another blurry photo taken by me using my iPhone in a dark setting. If I weren’t such a pussy I’d use the flash that Apple has built into the iPhone.

Seriously?
I get some pretty ridiculous SPAM / phishing emails. This is undoubtedly one of the lamest efforts that I have ever seen.

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Paul, it’s Sarah here, it was such a long time we didn’t contact each other, how is it going with you there ? I heard that you got a new job, didn’t you? Is everything ok there ? Hey, can you believe it! I got married to Timothy ! Yes I did. I tried to call but you did not answer. You have changed your number, haven’t you? Just give me your current telephone number if you read this mail. It’s really a pity that we did not see you in our wedding. I wanted to invite you so much. Well, here I’m sending you a few pics taken in our wedding :

[undoubtedly phishing URL removed for everybody’s benefit]

Let’s keep in touch then.

Love,
Sarah & Timothy

Let’s break this down.
– Sure I’ve known Sarahs in the past, but this Sarah’s grammar “it was such a long time we didn’t contact each other” clearly means it’s a Sarah with whom I have not had contact.
– “I heard that you got a new job, didn’t you?” Sure did, FOURTEEN YEARS ago! It was a such a long time we didn’t contact each other, I guess.
– I can’t believe Sarah got married to Timothy because I have known perhaps three guys name Timothy in my life and have not called any of them “Timothy.”
– Sorry Sarah, I rarely answer my phone, and you didn’t leave me a voice mail?
– Were you calling to invite me to your wedding? Because I know of no “Sarah” and “Timothy” who have ever gotten engaged.

I’m sorry I didn’t check out those wedding photos, Sarah. I’m sure that you looked ravishing and that you and Timothy looked as if you belonged on top of a wedding cake. Yes, let’s keep in touch. Call me sometime.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – seriously tired of being ill
Current Music – listening to a KEXP “Music That Matters” podcast
Website Of The Day – I seriously love Seattle’s KEXP. They are one of the few “radio” stations to which I will listen and as you can see from my Current Music they also offer up great podcasts.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
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 – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)
Vegetarian Days – 5, Carnivorous Days – 6
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0

October Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Ride my bicycle no fewer than 200 miles
– Determine the fate of Sharpened Stone, LLC
– Complete at least one iPhone application (seriously, this needs to happen)
– lose 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]