Hmmm, I’m awake early with the anxiety of a long, hectic day ahead of me. I’ll get through it, but I’ll be a little more relaxed tomorrow.
Last Night’s Show Was A No Go
No money lost however, as I’d not prepurchased a ticket.
I got home from helping ITP-Reader Betsy set up a wireless router in her house and eating dinner while watching a couple of episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, and promptly plopped onto my bed. I looked at the clock, it was about 9:30pm and remembered about The Rural Alberta Adventure show at The EARL. It didn’t take long for me to realize that there was no way I was going out again. I think I’m officially old.
Getting The Gift Of Nothing
As part of my efforts to organize my life I’ve been going through folders and taking care of business. For years I’ve had a $25 Gift Card issued by Wachovia, and recently I noticed that it was due to expire in September of this year.
With concern that Wachovia is now Wells Fargo and that the gift card would now be invalidated I decided to call the bank yesterday in order to attempt to activate the card so that I could spend the $25 and no longer have to deal with it. Imagine my surprise and frustration when I was told that the card had a $0 balance. “That’s impossible!” I told the woman at the other end of the phone, “I’ve just now taken the card off the paper on which it was delivered, so I’ve never used it.” The woman went on to tell me that there was a monthly maintenance fee which started twelve months after the card’s issuance, and this maintenance fee has consumed the entire $25. When I explained that I understood such fees were illegal (at least in the state of Georgia), she told me that the card was issued prior to that law and therefore was exempt. Extremely frustrated, I hung up.
ITP Flickr Pic
I eat out a lot. I eat out alone a lot.
Most times these days it’s just me and my trusty iPad.
The Price Of Offal Was Awful
I’m making a crockpot stew for tonight’s Top Chef dinner with Betsy. It’s not the experimental stew I had initially planned to make, however. The initial plan was to buy ox tail and make an ox tail stew. However, the price of ox tail was insanely high for such a cut of meat (at least in my opinion). Considering that a good portion of the weight of ox tail is the bone, charging $4.50/pound is crazy. So instead I went for a slightly less-expensive product — big hunks of beef short ribs at $3.50/pound.
I’m not exactly sure how my crockpot concoction will taste tonight (Betsy, if it sucks we can always make pasta), but I’m hoping for the best.
Syncing Must Be The Toughest Task In The World
I supposedly sync my TextExpander snippets to my shared Dropbox folder so that all of my computers use the same set of snippets. Obviously this task is incredibly difficult because this morning none of the additions and changes that I made to my TextExpander Snippets at work are available to me as I write this at home. Really? WTF.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair
Current Music – listening to this week’s “Musicheads” podcast
Website Of The Day – Had I recalled that there was a TEDx Atlanta event yesterday I would have chosen it then. Apparently you can see the event online on the website still.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – not checking
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 – 15
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 one half-marathon
– 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]
You wonder why ox tail is so expensive? Have you seen any oxen recently? I rest my case.
Please alert the media.. there will be a special appearance at Jorges tonight. Both myself and the mizzus will be in attendance!! Woot!!
-FP
As for the $25 gift card, I’m always afraid that will happen to me, so I use the full amount at one time almost as soon as I get one, usually at the grocery store. I found using them at restaurants is tough, as they have something built in for the tip, so when they try to swipe the full amount, it rejects. I called the 800# & they tried to explain it, but I just decided Kroger or Target or a reatil establishment was easier.
wow Steve – almost makes me want to come to George’s……… but almost is the key work.
We are leaving for Raleigh in the morning, plus hopefully some landscapers will show up to discuss estimates on the back yard project that is next.
Yeah, I’m wearing real shoes today. I haven’t worked out in three days…I was going to try the elliptical today but my running shoes, which I thought were in the car, weren’t.
It seems like they send out those stupid GC for rebates now, I always seem to have a hard time using them…always lose some money, a check would be so much easier.
9:30, you stayed up until 9:30…wow! I’ve been in bed by 9 every night this week.
I ended up making ‘potato soup’ last night. Well I used the smokey chicken broth, sautéed some onions and bacon, then tossed in a bit of leftover mashed potatoes and some gnocchi that’s been in the fridge for awhile…not bad I guess. Jerry wouldn’t eat it until I assured him there was meat (the bacon) in the soup.
Yeah, late night me! 🙂
It’s been a busy, but highly productive morning. I’m now treating myself to lunch. Woo Hoo!
I love eating alone! When David and I were dating long distance (before I made the plunge to move South), I ate out by myself at least twice, sometimes 3 or 4 times, per week. I miss it a lot! Whenever he goes out of town I always do it. Of course, lately the Glenwood non-smoking side has been my go-to eat alone location, can’t do that anymore.
So, what inspired the AbFab viewing? I haven’t seen those two inebriated Brits in a long time.
Betsy does not have satellite/cable, so our viewing options were limited. We decided to watch AbFab because Betsy loves it and it would be a long commitment.