I’m hoping that my “December To Remember” is full of joy. I’m hoping to end this horrible year on a high note which will launch 2011 correctly.
Calling A Dinner Audible
Last night I was going to drive into the northern part of Virginia-Highland to use my Groupon (soon to be a Google property) for DBA Barbecue, mmmmmm ribs. However, if you live in the Atlanta area you understand that yesterday’s torrential weather made driving conditions a little less that ideal. So instead, I decided to call a dinner audible and head to Taco Mac at Perimeter. My idea sounded so good that five of my coworkers joined me for what turned into a later-than-expected drinkingfest which wound up at the nearby Outback Steakhouse (don’t judge). Needless to say traffic was much lighter when I hit the road a little later than 10pm.
Today my body is reminding me why beer and chips with queso and salsa, do not constitute “dinner.”
ITP Flickr Pic
Another from my Black Friday outing
All Star Game
Tonight starts Top Chef: All Stars. To my delight ITP-Reader Betsy is coming over, with food — woot!, as well as her two dogs. I had heard rumor that Reese was getting a play-partner and I’ll get to meet him/her tonight. I’m really looking forward to this All-Star season, something I’d rarely say, because many of my favorite non-winning contestants are returning.
Zappos To It
I have finally made a sneaker purchase from Zappos. It’s taken me years, and I know that Zappos is now owned by Amazon, but I decided to make the leap last night. Zappos has been lauded for its shoe selection, competitive prices, and liberal return policy for which they will pay return shipping.
What did I get? I purchased a low-cut pair of Converse All-Stars, originally to be in royal blue but since they didn’t have that color in my size I went for maroon.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, though my body is in a funk
Current Music – listening to the “MacBreak Weekly” podcast
Website Of The Day – I like documentary films, which is why I was so excited to find out about Top Documentary Films.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – flights of stairs (22) [that’s eleven floors’ worth of stairs]
Morning Weigh-In – should’ve checked, but didn’t
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
Stairs – 0 flights
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)
Vegetarian Days – 0
Carnivorous Days – 0
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
December Goals
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Run no fewer than 75 miles
– Prepare Sharpened Stone, LLC for 2011
– Lose two pounds
– Eat vegetarian at least one day a week
– A couple of secret goals which I will not divulge
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]
is everyone as busy as me today?
why do you apologize for going to Outback?
Guess so, Barb. Either that or today’s post is just boring.
The apology for Outback is a joke about me going to chain restaurants.
and – you spend way too much time at Taco Mac – also a chain……… 😉
I met a nice guy from the UK that was training there @ Outback when I was at Cheeseburger the last time….. interesting conversation, just had never thought about Outback being in the UK.
I just realized it is about lunch time, and I don’t know why, but a waffle from Waffle House is sounding good.
I had a Waffle House waffle for dinner last night – quite tasty.
Paulie – I hope we’ll see a picture of Betsy’s new family member tomorrow.
God it was gross last night. If we have another winter as wet as the last two, I’ll want to give the Day Spa to some deserving soul and move to a condo. Slopping through the mud getting soaked to take care of the horses is NO fun.
But Debbie failed to mention my new pony was a STAR last night. I wasn’t home yet and she wanted to get the boys into the barn. Not having 3 hands, she took the likely 2 troublemakers by the lead and let Mack follow along. What a good boy!
I have to say it was a miserable night to be out.
-FP
Speaking of weather, we had snow here in the UK!
I was surprised how everything came to a grinding halt. It took one co-worker of mine **8 hours** to get home yesterday, and no one went into the Godalming office today. Apparently the M25 (equivalent of 285) was a literal parking lot.
Paulie, I can best you i the ‘chain restaurant’ category. I was so tired when I got back to the hotel last night, I walked to the nearest food outlet, McDonalds, and made a dinner of a large order of fries. I can’t remember the last time I was in a MickeyD’s….probably 4 years ago.
I was so miserable going to Kroger Monday night but even more happy that I didn’t have to go last night. I285 wasn’t too bad, slow but moving, it was when I got on I20 that it got scary. Since there wasn’t a lot of traffic people were going (in my option) too fast, following too close and the like…I was going 60 mph and getting blown away.
During road trips there is little choice but to stop at chains…we usually hit Subway for a sandwhich but like to hit DD or McD for coffee. Tonight might be a Little Azio night if I don’t figure out something for dinner.
I don’t have a farm but I still have to slog out into the rain to make sure Nibbles takes her potty break. If she would just GO instead of staring up at me, pleading to go inside.
Lastly, my neighbors are moving to the ‘burbs, if anyone wants to live next door to me (and really, who wouldn’t?) their 3/2 is for rent 😉
The weather was still nasty, but the traffic much better at 10pm
True, Taco Mac is a chain, but it’s a fairly local chain (yes, I know there are some in Tennessee). And the reason I spend so much time there is two-fold 1) I had a mission to increase my Passport count and 2) they hire some really cute waitresses (and there were a handful of attractive patrons as well last night).
Road trips are tough, but it nearly takes a court order for me to eat at a McD or Burger King.
MickeyD’s is a staple of mine for breakfast on the go, but little else, except a fish sandwich. BK should be getting a makeover from the new owners- and it’s badly needed.
Martha, it is Wednesday… there’s always Georges! A nice, breezy run followed by a delicious beverage.
While in Columbus for the marathon, CBT and I ended up at Olive Garden, we just didn’t have the time or energy to find a ‘local’ establishment. The food was just what I remember, not good. In addition to bad food, there was some sort of cheer competition in town, so the place was overrun with teen & tween girls and lots of sparkles, ugh.
Wednesday is yoga night! I haven’t been in two weeks, I’m a little sore today so it should feel pretty good. I might hit the elliptical before I head home, I think I bruised my heel yesterday. Hope it feels better by the weekend.
Last time I was really hung over, I had to have a greasy breakfast sandwich from BK. Otherwise, I pretty much avoid the place.
Done with my new post-lunch climb all of the building’s stairs routine. Sure, it’s only five minutes of stair climbing but at least it’s something.
Steve, do you plan on being at George’s next Wednesday (the 8th)? If so I’ll at least stop by to give you your spare car key back.
That would be my plan.. hopefully, my run tonight will be more encouraging that recent runs- heel pains and calf cramps are not helping my fitness.
okay – a Waffle House waffle doesn’t look that big on the plate, but I couldn’t finish it. Probably because I had to have a side of grits too.
Michelle – I didn’t realize you had to go back to the UK again so soon.
You guys are so good to not eat @ fast food places, some times a burger is just needed. But I do have to say Hardee’s has the best ff burger in my opinion.
I get soup & salad if I go to Olive Garden, they haven’t been able to mess that up. My mom likes to send us gift cards from there, it is easy for them because they are in Iowa & we have them down here.
Thankfully our dogs are very cooperative when it’s raining. They do their thing and rush back in like they might melt if they get wet. … well except for Farley, he doesn’t seem to mind getting wet. Shall I have Izzie talk with Nibbles?
I’ve been having waaaayyyy too much fast food recently. Must start cooking again soon.
Michelle – Wow, I can’t believe you are gone again so soon. Feeling for you to be away so much even in someplace as cool as the UK.
Martha, re: dinner, post-yoga sliders! ‘Nuff said.
Paulie: I too am super excited about Top Chef All-stars! But I don’t get to watch the episodes until the weekend due to spousal veto.
Spousal veto Jenka? Boo! Hiss! In the future if we (the Top Chef watchers) have meetups I’ll invite you. This way you won’t have to wait for the weekend. 🙂
Jenka, I know all about that spousal veto……… I totally understand. (but I don’t watch Top Chef, but we have plenty of other shows we disagree about)
Barb, YES, the DVR saved our marriage! Now the only problem is finding time to watch my shows.