Wow, I could have had a better weekend, but it would have been very hard to do so…
I’ve Joined The ‘Big Boy/Girl’ Club
It took me nearly five years to do so, but I’ve managed to finally eclipse beer #125 at Taco Mac. On Friday I joined some co-workers at the Taco Mac just ITP in The Prado (nee Frankie’s for those of you who’ve lived in Atlanta awhile). We chose this Taco Mac over our customary local(er) Taco Mac because it has a big covered patio and we figured that this might be the last Friday on which one would want to sit outside. Our plan worked well for about an hour until Taco Mac decided to turn on there overhead patio heaters / broilers. The heat was intense and the fans installed to blow and distribute the heat generated by the glowing red broilers did little. Our table complained / pleaded with no fewer than three Taco Mac employees / managers explaining to them that we chose to sit outside because we figured the weather was fine and that anyone complaining to be cold could easily move indoors. Our pleas fell on mostly deaf ears. Occasionally the heating system would be turned off for a few minutes only to return with reckless abandon. The group wound up leaving much earlier than planned because we couldn’t take the heat.
A few of the heavy drinkers in the group, myself included, headed to The Fred — situated directly below Taco Mac — to add a few high gravity beverages to our Taco Mac Passport/Brewniversity lists. Of the three of us my 125 beers was the fewest.
ITP Flickr Pics
This was the first beer I had at Taco Mac on Friday.
I admit it, the can made me laugh out loud.
This was beer #125.
In this mug was a Jailhouse Brewery Mugshot IPA.
Not A Hurtin’ Albertan, But I Was A Hurtin’ Atlantan
After the Taco Mac / The Fred outing I drove down to the Peachtree Tavern in Buckhead. I hadn’t realized until I got there that I’d been to the bar before, many many years ago when it was The Chameleon Club — see also one of the greatest Dayroom shows I ever saw, complete with a girl named Domnique; but that’s another story…
I arrived a little before the announced 10pm starting time and grabbed a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and waited for the show to start. I was standing about five feet from the stage and except for perhaps Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans’ final three songs I had an unencumbered view of the stage (in fact, I should have brought my camera).
The show, at least for me, was phenomenal. Once the band was done I went to chat with Lund, shook his hand — he’s a country singer so I had no concern for injuring him — and had a very brief chat before others joined in. I later chatted with the band’s bass player and even purchased him a beer — no, I don’t really know why, who seemed nice enough but perhaps a little freaked out that someone was chatting with him. I will certainly try to see Lund and his band perform again sometime in the future.
To my surprise the place was nearly completely full when Jason Boland’s band took the stage. I stayed around for a handful of songs, all of which were good, before deciding that it was time for me to head home.
Far From The Same
Most of Buckhead has changed since the days I used to drink at the bars and work out at Jeanne’s Body Tech. I’ve gotten used to seeing the change in the party scene but was floored to see how small Jeanne’s has become since I let my membership lapse almost ten years ago. And then I walked past the bank, which was once the room in which I used to do aerobics, and for lack of a better term, became verklempt.
Camping With The Hash
As with the case for many things, it’s not quantity, it’s quality. When I arrived in Pine Mountain on Saturday I was shocked to see so few in attendance. At our peak there were twelve hashers in camp. That count was about half of the people whose names I saw on the “committed” list. Their loss.
The weather (and color) could have been no better this weekend. Since I was staying just one night I transformed the Jackmobile into a tent and spent a surprisingly comfortable night in it sleeping — though I re-remembered some of the previous tricks I had learned too late.
The five mile trail laid by Supersuck and High Dicker was great. I actually did a wee bit of “running” on trail, though I credit most of that to declines. After the hash I was nominated a GM of the Fall Campout and ran circle — not bad for my first time. Given our intimate size I made sure that each hasher got to do a down-down.
The food of chicken for lunch and pulled pork for dinner, along with a full breakfast spread on Sunday was delicious. I’m surprised that my weight was not higher given the quantities of food and beer I consumed this weekend.
Prank’d
I couldn’t help be feel as if I were being pranked this morning. I searched high and low for the carrying case for my iPad. I tore apart the bedding, I looked in the clothing hamper, I even looked in the trash — to no avail. I searched the den completely; I searched the kitchen completely; I searched the living room completely; three rooms in which I knew that I had spent time yesterday — to no avail. And the finally, while just about to give up I remembered the five minutes I spent in the guest bedroom — and there it was.
It reminds me of another account from Friday night. While sitting outside, and before the broilers were turned on, two women at the table behind me bumped into me as they passed. Each woman apologized, and I told each that it was okay. Then, the second woman, a rather attractive blond asked “Do you ever feel like you are on camera, you know, like on Candid Camera?” I was so stunned by her question that I really had no good answer, muttered a few things, and watched her walk away. And that my friends is how you can stay single your entire life!
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – a little run down
Current Music – silence as I upgrade iTunes
Website Of The Day – If you’ve used an iPhone you’ve no doubt experienced one opportunity to say Damn You, Auto-Correct.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – Saturday: hashing, 5 miles
Morning Weigh-In – 205 pounds
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~9 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0, Situps – 25
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)
Vegetarian Days – 0, Carnivorous Days – 14
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
November Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Ride my bicycle no fewer than 100 miles
– Run no fewer than 50 miles
– Determine the fate of Sharpened Stone, LLC
– 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, completed
– Ride in no fewer than two 50 mile or 50K bike rides, completed
– Complete my Taco Mac Passport requirement of 125 beers, completed
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 can’t believe you couldn’t come up with a comment to repond back to the Candid Camera comment…….. what will we do with you.
I wish we could have gone camping, but had way too much going on this weekend. It was gorgeous weather.
We fried some turkeys for a party Saturday evening, so we have lots of turkey left over at the house. I’m thinking about making some white turkey chili tomorrow night – so no trivia now for us after all. I’m wondering if I put it in the crockpot all day if that will destroy the beans, I’ve never done it that way. (I’m using canned beans)
Barb, what can I say? I have a talent for having no talent when it comes to talking to women.
I’m not sure if the beans will survive since they are already cooked in the cans.
Thanks for letting me know you won’t be heading to trivia. That’s probably really good for me because I have so much to do around the house, including cooking, this week.
btw- I’m catching up with The Amazing Race right now.
let me know what you think of Amazing Race – again, I really wanted a real time clock again this week….
We really considered dropping by after the race but it was about 2:30 when we left Columbus. We figured you all would be out and to be honest, we were both pretty beat.
Shake off the misstep with the ladies on Friday night, now you have a line to try out next time someone catches your eye 😉
We were out on trail until about 4:30pm, the start / end were nowhere near camp.
Sadly I really don’t think the girl/woman was trying to hit on me. I have a feeling she had been consuming alcohol, which would make sense since she was at Taco Mac. 😉
Congrats on the marathon Martha!
And a belated Happy Birthday to ITP-Reader Little Willy.
Oh, and today’s Groupon deal is for where I ate lunch on Friday. The food at Chef Rob’s Cafe was very tasty (and I was the only Caucasian dining there for lunch), but a bit overpriced. Therefore, I’ll be happy to eat there again using a Groupon ($15 gets you $35) which I’ll be sharing with some coworkers.
Yeah your probably right about her not hitting on you, because no one flirts when they are drinking?
Paulie, if you ever decide to run again, I would recomend the Soldier Marathon, it was a beautiful course and very well orgainzed. Even though it didn’t go quite to plan I will be back (and I feel good enough that I’ve signed up for RTR).
Barb, I think the beans should be okay.
Let’s say then that I didn’t feel her tone to be flirtatious. It also didn’t help that the conversation was taking place in front of five of my co-workers — nothing like a little added pressure.
Funny you mention running, I think I am going to try and start again. I’m not sure that either of my interior cruciate ligaments will appreciate this decision, but I might try anyway. This does not mean that I’ll ever run a marathon again, but a half maybe in my (non-immediate) future.
I need to figure out what is up with my left foot. I don’t have any problems, except during the marathon. The last 6 miles felt like my foot was broken, it’s still tender today. Not having to walk/run that last bit will really help my time 🙁
RTR just opened today and I’m going to do the Publix Georgia Half Marathon with a GF from CF. I’ve got a packed schedule for the first six months of 2011, so many races, so little time. I want to do at least 1 full and 1 ultra in 2011. Let me know if you want to get some short runs in this winter.
Also has anyone done Weight Watchers? What did you think? They are starting a 12 week program at the office, I’m hoping it might make me accoutable. I’m stuck and Jerry is no help when it comes to eating.
Laura, it sounds as though you might have a stress fracture in your foot- it doesn’t sound like much of a reach considering the 19 miles beforehand.
I’d like to do another marathon, but I don’t know if I’ll have time to train if I’m learning to ride my horse!!
-FP
Steve, I don’t think you are allowed to ride a horse in a marathon.
Martha, I’ve only heard positive things about Weight Watchers, it’s very supportive and also teaches people how to eat (moderation, portion control, etc). You don’t really need help with the good and bad foods, but I bet you would benefit from the support group aspect.
My gym is doing a Weigh 4 the Holidays challenge where you sign up in teams of 4, and whichever team loses the most weight over the holidays wins a cash prize. The idea is that if you’re accountable to your team you will be more likely to stick with it during the hellacious holiday eating season. I would do it, but that would put a major crimp in my plans to sit on my ass and eat mince pies for 2 weeks straight.
Barb, I thought that this was one of the strangest Amazing Race episodes I’ve ever seen.
**SPOILERS**
First, to oversleep your start time by nearly two hours, then propose marriage, and then finish first?!?! (Granted, they only finished first because ND Boy & SuperPretty Hairstylist were penalized.)
I missed a subtle mention that the Doctors and Daddy & Daddy’s Girl made horrendous driving decisions. I bet you that the editors were thrilled that both teams finished after dark so that they could make it that look very close.
I still want Team Pierced and Tattooed to go. I really dislike them, and it’s not because I’m not a fan of tattooes.
**MORE SPOILERS**
when little miss kentucky said 9 hours….. both Allan & I looked at each other & said – WHAT? I mean, especially since they were in a country that people spoke some english – why wouldn’t you stop before hours & hours of driving?
I agree on team tattoo – they are the most annoying team left. The hyper internet girls are growing on me, they always try to act like they are having fun. I think the 2 boy/girl couple teams are interchangeable, if the one girl just got some blond hair extensions, I wouldn’t know which one was which.
I don’t really think it’s broken, I was able to run an easy mile this morning, but something is up. It’s not the same problem that I had at Chicago, but it’s close. The arch of my foot is really tight and it feels like there is a big blister on the ball of my foot (but there isn’t). Part of the problem may be that I have a high arch on my right foot and a normal on my left…but I think my shoes are more for someone with higher arches so there isn’t enough support for my left foot. Or I broke it…hell I don’t know, I guess that’s why normal people would go see a doctor.
Instead I’m buying a pair of Five Fingers tonight and seeing if I can do some real damage!!
Thanks Jenka, that is sort of what I’m thinking. Trying to talk to Jerry about controling what I eat is like trying to explain colors to a blind person.