2010: The Good

Well friends, with this I end the 2010 blogging year. Unless I wake up tomorrow and am so bored that I decide to write a “Looking Forward” post. So here are the things which made 2010, an overall shitty year for me, bearable.

I Saw Mount Rushmore
I believe it was last year when I put together my first “Bucket” list. On that list of potentially-achievable accomplishments was “Visit Mount Rushmore.”

I can honestly say that my vacation, up until the point where the Jackmobile’s transmission died, was the greatest solo vacation I have ever taken.

• I drove to my heart’s content — and sometimes a little more
• I visited the St Louis arch and got some amazing photos (wish I had gone to the top)
• I ate “burnt ends” bbq sandwiches in Kansas City twice
• I did two fifty-mile bike rides, including the one in South Dakota which was not supposed to be any longer than twenty-five miles
• I was generously allowed to shower in a private park for only $5
• I lucked into buying a ticket for the sold out Alejandro Escovedo concert in Kansas City
• I drove across South Dakota
• If memory serves me right the first “half” of the trip took me through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado (unfortunately, the second half only added Kansas because I had to reroute based on the time lost in Colorado)
• I visited the Corn Palace
• I drove through the Badlands (and purchased an $80 “America the Beautiful” park pass which I found out can be used locally)
• I saw Deadwood (not the show, but the actual city)
• I saw Mount Rushmore and took an postcard-worthy photo
• I rode and drove past the Crazy Horse monument (which, had it opened a little earlier in the morning I would have visited up close and personally)
• I saw a man walking across America (missed opportunity, I should have stopped and had my picture taken with him)

All in about a week’s time! (Which, if ever given the opportunity again I’ll take much longer because I still missed so much.)

Merry Drinksmas
When I bought the domain www.drinksmas.com in 2008 (after one of ITP-Reader Betsy’s Tweety Bird WaffleFests) I had no idea some of my other friends would throw a Drinksmas party.

Last night I attended a Drinksmas party. A fire was started, and when enough alcohol had been consumed, a dried-out Christmas tree was produced and quickly burned.

Luckily for all we are not in the midst of a drought, and the house was no more than two blocks from the local fire station.

I Started Riding My Bike To Work Again
It saddens me that I can remember my last bike ride, and know that it occurred on August 31. However, it pleases me to know that for the first time in nearly six years I started riding my bike to work again. Hooray for (some) exercise. I expect to resume my riding some time in the warmer months of 2011.

I (Almost) Started Running Again
Well, I worked until 7pm last night and didn’t feel like going out for a short run. I packed a running bag, do I get partial credit?

I Surpassed Beer #125 At Taco Mac
I signed up for the Taco Mac (then) Passport with ITP-Reader Stacy on March 4th, 2006 — a date which easily sticks in my head because March 4th was my father’s birthday. Stacy (aka “Cheese Nips” and I had just finished laying a hash trail and decided to celebrate by going over to the newly-opened Taco Mac near Perimeter Mall.

It took me longer to reach #125 than I would have expected, but then again it’s going to take me some time to work off the fat created from drinking 125 (now 150) beers at Taco Mac.

I Took Some Decent Photos In 2010
I don’t have a montage for you to see here, but feel free to peruse my Flickr account if you want to see the shots I’ve taken this year (actually, all of the shots I’ve posted to Flickr are there too).

I’m Writing iOS Code
Though it’s not for Sharpened Stone, my work has given me the opportunity to write software for an iPhone and iPad. Sweeeeet. 🙂

Not To Get Too Sappy, But I Have Some Great Friends
I stopped checking blog stats for this space some time ago. Let’s be honest, I’m not writing Pulitzer Prize prose here, I’m mostly whining or boasting about my life. I thank you all for being part of my wild ride.

I Have Hope For 2011
I’ll touch more on this tomorrow (you know that I’ll be writing a blog entry), but there are some things in the works that make me have hope for next year. None of these are “in the bag” but, the mere fact that some of them are potential give me hope.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fat, but all things considered, pretty good
Current Music – silence for no other reason that I haven’t selected anything
Website Of The Day – I have to admit that I chose The Good‘s website only because it fits today’s theme. However, it looks pretty good and I’ll return when I have some free time this weekend.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – stairs (12 flights)
Morning Weigh-In – bah humbug
Pages Of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die Read – 77

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~10 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 73 flights

Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)

Vegetarian Days – 2
Carnivorous Days – 27

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]