To say today won’t go as I imagined it would on last Friday is an understatement. Today I’ll be revisiting my primary care physician and, with any luck the Dekalb Police Deparment’s Records Bureau (my police report has been filed) and Atlanta Medical Center (to give them a copy of the report). Fun!
I am getting better with the crutches, and even better I am finally starting to put some pressure on my right leg as I move along with the crutches. I am not walking yet, but I am trying to remind the muscles in my right hip and leg that they need to be starting to repair themselves for the future. My back muscles near where my back took a hit and my right ankle have decided to get some skin in the game (so to speak) the past few days too; I am guessing this is a result of the swelling starting to subside.
Big thanks again to ITP-Readers Martha and Betsy. Last night Martha stopped by with the Red Rocket and it was the first time I saw it since Sunday — it was a bit emotional for me. Martha has also agreed to be the Paulie shuttle today (to at least the doctor). As she has done all week Betsy brought dinner over last night. Last night’s feast was rotisserie chicken with fresh spinach and Uncle Ben’s rice, and it was quite tasty.
I also want to thank my friends, pardon the hashnames — Little Willie, Jackass, and Wil You Suck — for stopping by to say hello yesterday afternoon.
Celebrating Five Years Of (Recorded) Drinking — With Sobriety?
I’ve not drank a sip of alcohol since last Saturday. I think anyone who reads this blog understands why.
Today was supposed to be my Day of Celebration at Taco Mac Perimeter. On March 4th, 2006 ITP-Reader Stacy (aka “Cheese Nips”) and I laid a hash which started at Total Wine (then CompUSA) and ended at my office building. After pre-laying that trail Stacy and I meandered over to the (then new) Taco Mac Perimeter and had a couple of beverages at the bar. On that day Stacy and I decided to sign up for the Taco Mac Passport Club (now Brewniversity). Today marks the fifth anniversary of that hash.
My plan was to go to Taco Mac for happy hour tonight, to celebrate my five years of Passport Membership (truth be told this is my second stint in the Taco Mac club, I signed up the first time in 1995 shortly after moving to Atlanta — but that’s another story). The plan was to drink beer out of twenty-ounce mugs, raising them in celebration, surrounded by my favorite waitresses.
Tonight I’ll be raising glasses of water celebrating the generosity of my friends instead. Hell, I may go crazy and drink some Gatorade, or Coke if any falls into my lap (figuratively) tonight.
ITP Flickr Pic
No one should want to see the shots I took yesterday. It was a monumental struggle to get the setup necessary to shoot shots of my bruises. Being unable to walk under my own power didn’t help.
A Taxing Weekend Ahead
How could things get more taxing you ask? Well, I have an appointment with my tax preparer on the morning of March 9th, so I need to have all of my paperwork in order prior to then. I also have to make sure that I am able to drive by then so that I can make the appointment and deliver my paperwork. My taxes will be further complicated this year with the addition of my LLC to my tax universe. Fun!
Dad Would Have Been 88 Today
As you can well imagine this has been somewhat of an emotional week for me. In the dust of the whole bike wreck fiasco I failed to mention that last Monday would have been my parent’s 63rd wedding anniversary if my father were (was?) still alive. Today would have been his 88th birthday.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – emotional, look away
Current Music – listening to a CBC Radio 3 podcast
Website Of The Day – Well poop, all of my plans seem to be falling through today. The website I planned to feature in this space is currently offline, probably because they’ve experienced too much traffic this week. I “found” it on ITP-Reader Stacy’s Facebook stream earlier this week, and apparently shouldn’t have waited until today to use it. Plan “B” is to pick Heritage Radio Network which offers a slew of podcasts on food, gardening, farming and such.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – still can’t go to work, though I’m hoping that changes Monday even if all I do is drive to a Marta station and crutch-walk to work from the train.
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – don’t really care right now
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 0 (0)
Vegetarian Days – 0
Carnivorous Days – 3
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
March Goals
– Recover from the bike crash
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Run
– Lose two pounds
– Go out on a date with someone else
– Read an entire book, specifically Chef’s Story
2011 Goals [will be a little more fluid than in past years]
– Reduce my weight by 25 pounds based on the my weight as measured on February 1st
– Completely read the book Daily Negations which I received as a Christmas gift.
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business — one which does not get penalized.
– 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
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than two half-marathons
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
The shed guy is here and starting work. Yeah!! It looks like he’s working alone, so I have no idea how long this will take. I’ll give you a ring later.
Also if anyone has sent me a text in the last two weeks, sorry I didn’t respond, I realized yesterday that I haven’t been getting my messages for at least that long. The problem has been resolved.
Jerry managed to show some self control last night and stuck to cooking a steak on the BGE. He already has the chicken ready for tonight.
did Dean give you any good advice on how to deal with all of this from his previous experiences?
hey Laura – he’s cooking dinner!!!!
Hopefully the novelty will not wear off & he will keep cooking dinner.
and – I hope the shed gets done quick enough before the rain so you can move some things into it.
We are going to attempt a pork butt Saturday, supposed to cook for 8-10 hours. Its about 5 lbs, I guess I’ll have to invite some people over to help us eat it.
Sounds great Martha. I’ve showered and will be ready to go at any time today. You know where to find me. 🙂
Steak and chicken. Nice. Pardon my ignorance, but how does one heat a BGE? Coal? Gas? Wood?
Dean and Wil just stopped by to say hello on their way to get a few drinks, Coca-colas I believe. 😉
Happy Friday, all! Hope the rain doesn’t impair your commute. And I wish that was what I was concerned with today as well. Cheers!
I still need to shower, I had to take Jerry to MARTA and the shed guy pulled up right when I got back.
Barb, just to be clear, he’s cooking the meat, not dinner…I still have to take care of the rest of the meal. And do all the shopping.
Paulie, it uses charcoal…I think he threw some wood chips on there last night also.
No worries, Martha. I mentioned being showered so that you know that I’ll be ready any time your schedule permits later. As I said last night, my schedule is your schedule today.
yes – the BGE (or, black ninja egg in our case) it takes charcoal & wood chips for the smoking part – my over acheiver eagle scout husband has at least 2 different types of wood chips bought – just in case.
Laura – I figured that 😉
We are having Shepherd’s Pie tonight, I got it all made last night, just needs to be stuck in the oven.
Martha, when you come over today remind me about the bag of cedar chunks I have in my basement. If you think Jerry would want them for the BGE I’ll be happy to give them to you.
When you go to the Dr. Today, be sure and ask for a temporary handicap mirror hanger thingy. You have certainly earned it.
Tomorrow night, Debbie and I will be in York, SC for a concert. Amazing Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser and cellist Natalie Haas. Once upon a time, they played the “Games” circuit, but now they can just live on concert dates around the world. Well worth the trip…
(before you ask, go up 85 past the big peach butt in Gafney and hang a right for half an hour)
Continued recovery…
-FP
I thought about asking for one of those handicap mirror hangers. I feared people being mad at me for parking in handicap parking, but if I’m still using crutches there should be no issue.
Have fun at the concert. Hopefully it’s an an indoor venue as I believe it’s supposed to rain most of the weekend.
And thanks…
The expected rain is screwing up my ‘exciting’ weekend of running, painting and yard work. I got started yesterday, there is a big pile of brush in the front yard, just missed the yard waste guys by about 2 hours. 300 flower bulbs will be arriving next week…
The dude already has the 4 walls up, just the doors and roof to go!!
Pictures Martha?
People have handicap stickers all the time that don’t look handicapped – that would be the least of my worries – especially if you are on crutches or hobbling……
My ex-boss’s husband had bad knees (mainly because of being overweight) and he had one, she used it all the time to park when she had to run errands. I told her it was wrong, but hey, if you’ve got it – use it.
It’s not just wrong, its illegal, the tag/sticker is for the person not the car. There are few things in this world that bug me more than people taking handicap parking spaces. It happens all the time at Kroger. Some Florida cities have senior volunteers that check and write tickets. I’d so LOVE to have that job. The other thing? People that park in the fire lane. Oh I could go on… but Paulie, if you are on crutches I don’t think anyone will have a problem.
Steve, check facebook. I feel weird taking pictures of the guy while he’s working so I snap photos when he heads to his truck.
Five years? That was FIVE YEARS ago?! Ohmysweetgod, I had no idea it was that long ago. Okay…when’s the “make-up celebration” going to be? Next Friday? I’m IN if so!
And, damn, Paulie, I really wish I lived closer to you. 🙁 I feel so bad for not being able to help you out with anything and am so happy to hear all your wonderful friends being able to.
Yeah, if my math is right: 2011 – 2006 = 5. Yep, five years. 🙂
I thought about making a visit to Taco Mac with the crutches to see if I could sway the opinions of one or two of the young waitresses. Ha, who am I kidding.
I’m thinking of doing a Do-Over celebration on the 18th because I have a concert ticket for the 11th.
Shed building dude is working on the shingles, so he should be done soon. I should be at your place by noon, if that works for you.
Noon or anytime thereafter works. I’ll start gathering my things.