In addition to my normal twice-a-week physical therapy session (this week at strange hours due to limited availability of my physical therapist) and an increasingly-pressure-filled work schedule, this week also sees a birthday party happy hour tonight, as well as jury duty selection and a Manchester Orchestra concert at The Tabernacle (twice in two weeks?) on Wednesday, on its agenda. All this ignores that this Friday is the Friday prior to Memorial Day (which I am hoping to be able to celebrate without working) which means traffic will most likely be a horror so I’ll probably hang in the Perimeter Mall area (perhaps at Taco Mac?) 😉 after work.
Speaking of Memorial Day weekend, I miss the days when “Memorial Day Weekend” was synonymous with “Camp Hedon.” It’s at this point I’ll apologize to the non-hashers in the ITP-Readership as there is no way that I can adequately describe Hedon weekend in text, nor would I want to disgust you with photos from those days. Admittedly my first trip to Camp Hedon (2001?, 2002?) might have been the last of the wildly-great Hedons, but I managed to attend twice more before deciding that it was a mere shell of what it had been and was no longer worth the effort. I’ve fallen so far out of the Atlanta hashing scene that I don’t even know if an effort was made to resurrect Hedon for what was supposedly going to be its final year (or was that last year?).
Competitive Much?
Last Friday afternoon I participated in a company-sponsored “Minute To Win It” team-building competition. I’m not sure how much team building occurred but I know that I finished tied for first in each of the two events in which I participated.
In the first half of the competition I competed in an event known as “Hang Nails.” You had a minute to hang up to ten nails by their heads on an approximately four-foot-long string. I was fourth of nine to go and watched my previous three competitors struggle. The first two tried a traditional method, managing to hang two nails, only to inadvertently knock them off in attempts to hang more. The third guy attempted to construct an inverted ark (a parlor trick) but the speed of the competition and his nerves got the better of him. I stepped up and hung two, and with fifteen seconds to go successfully braved an attempt at hanging a third. My score of three was tied by two other teams.
In the second half of the competition I competed in an event known as “Whipper Snapper Golf.” You had a minute to launch golf balls into a bucket using only a towel which was affixed to a board. I thought this would be no problem and predicted that I’d score six, but in the end I managed only to get one ball into the bucket while hitting the rim on two other attempts. I was not alone in futility however as only two other teams managed to get a single ball into the bucket, one of those had a ball luckily bounce into the bucket instead of having it land inside the bucket.
Even with my strong (ha!) efforts my team finished in the middle of the pack. All in all it was a fun time outdoors.
A Weekend Of Meatlessness
Forgetting my desire to go Friday/Saturday/Sunday eating vegetarian food I ordered “boneless wings” at Taco Mac on Friday night. I’ll blame the beer.
I made no such mistake on Saturday’s lunch visit to Taco Mac (I had work to do this weekend so I slept at the office on Friday night. Actually, that’s the truth.) when I ordered “Fiesta Chicken Nachos with no chicken please.” from the lovely young waitress named Morgan whom I’ve seen a million times but have never previously had the pleasure of being waited on by. Undaunted by my seemingly nonsensical request she produced a huge platter of nachos covered in a litany of non-meaty-goodies which I ate to near completion. The meal was so filling that it served as Saturday’s lunch and dinner.
Yesterday’s plethora of odd meatless concoctions consisted of matzo and peanut butter for breakfast (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!), some absolutely pathetic homemade Southern biscuits for lunch (I’ve had a craving but what I produced was more like a scone than a biscuit), and a garam masala mixed-vegetable bake for dinner (with two of the remaining biscuit/scones). It seemed odd that I’d use the oven twice on such a hot day, but I used my trusty (if not too small so I’m contemplating a replacements) Black and Decker toaster oven instead of heating up the large oven for my small(ish) portions.
I have three more days of vegetarian consumption before the month ends next week. I think that I’m going to push hard to get there, even though I’m scheduling a Crock Pot Thursday on which I am making a corned beef.
Hot Hot Heat
I’m sure that if I went back into the ITP archives I’d find that I say this every year — “Holy shit we’re having some extreme weather this year.” There have been some ever-so-short periods of perfect weather, but by and large it feels as if this year has either been too cold or too hot. (See also: “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”). While I’m fortunate to be able to escape to a basement which is partially cave-like (and is also the cause of my plumbing woes because if I had a house which was completely above-ground the plumbing problem would be less intrusive) I was still forced to employ the air conditioner this morning because the main floor of the house was uncomfortably warm (which since I am a single, stubborn, and frugal man without pets means that the temperature crested 81º F). I fear it’s going to be a long, expensive Summer, that is when Summer finally arrives next month.
I Hear There Was A Beer Festival This Past Weekend
Saturday saw the annual East Atlanta Beer Festival come and go. Even with the festivities three blocks from the ITP-Estate beer festivals and I are no longer compatible. Sadly, I’ve even given up on volunteering for them. It seems as if I’m spiraling ever-inward, doing less and less each year.
Hey, do you want to hear about software bugs I killed this weekend? **pushes glasses back up bridge of nose**
I understand ITP-Reader Betsy volunteered for the event. If so, I wouldn’t mind hearing a report from her. Did any of the ITP-Readership attend? What says you?
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay I guess
Current Music – silence
Website Of The Day – I love beer. I love food. I like Atlanta. I’m surprised that it’s taken me so long to find out about Food and Beer Atlanta magazine.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – didn’t bother to check
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 – 2
Carnivorous Days – 20
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
May Goals
– “Completely” recover from the bike crash
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Not get fired from my job
– Run at least once
– Eat vegetarian no fewer than five days
– Lose three pounds
– Go out on a date with someone else
– Read an entire book, specifically The Laws Of Simplicity
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]
I LOVE Minute to Win It, rarely actually watch it on TV, but if I had more time I would. I think almost all the games could be turned into drinking games.
We rode the Beautiful Backroads (start at the Bud plant in Cartersville) route on Saturday, great ride, but I guess I’m not acclimated to the heat yet, or maybe it was the slightly faster pace thanks to Allan & Sal, but damn, I was beat after the ride. Luckily our long ago hashing friends Arbitrary & Ball Handler have a indoor pool & hot tub, great thing to do after the ride.
Also rode thru some of the tornado damage areas, it makes me think about all the stuff I have & what I would do without it.
I suppose I’m glad to be back at work to get some rest! Friday night was the Coweta County Rodeo, Saturday, a quick ride, grass cutting in East Point and a funeral/celebration of life, complete with very good whisky. Sunday was a long hot day spent at a horse event in Chatt. Hills.
It was so warm yesterday I actually got in the pool- note to self, only the top 12″ of water are actually warm… the rest is still pretty chilly.
-FP
I too have fond memories of Camp Hedon… meeting my husband, glow sticks thru belly button rings… you having to carry me thru a leach filled pond. Those were the days!
Oh yeah, it doesn’t surprise me that you were tied for first at your company Minute to Win It. I have experienced your competitive nature first hand! Can’t believe that you still have a job!!
Aw man, a rodeo? I still want to return to a small rodeo for photography. I had a great time shooting that one in Arizona (now) many years ago.
I’d never seen Minute to Win It, and when I was told it was hosted by Guy Fieri I understood why.
I still have a job because I came in this weekend. Who fires a guy who gives up his free time for The Man? 😉
I like that Beautiful Backroads course. Riding through tornado-damaged areas would be rather impactful (wait, that’s not a real word?).
The beerfest was actually a blast. I was doubtful–each year it seems to get more crowded and hot that i wasn’t sure i wanted to volunteer again. Glad I did. It seems to better organized each year–the layout is really smooth and they had good food and bands. I helped set up and poured first shift for a fantastic beer. And thank God my booth was in the shade. The rep was there and she was really cool. The beer is Innes &Gunn from Scotland and it was so good, I want to go work for this company. Try it out–it’s expensive but worth it. no more betsy budweiser!
I skipped the EABF this year, I’ve volunteered 5 or 6 years in a row, I think I needed a break. We went to a pool party/wedding shower instead. It was fun but man it was hot. I didn’t drink but I was totally wiped out, feeling like I had been knocking them back all after noon.
I attended Headon only once (I think) and that was enough.
We saw what we assumed was storm damage when we went zip lining. It does make you think and realize how luck you are…
Speaking of…a friend of mine’s father died this weekend cycling at Stone Mountain, I don’t know any details, as you can imagine the whole family is overwhelmed and taking it very hard. Has anyone heard anything?
We went to the Grant Park Farmer’s Market yesterday, it was as crazy as it was the week before. We ended up buying some fresh sweet potato ravioli, it was really, really good, at $15 a pound it better have been.
Well off to ’embellish’ my cv…ugh, I hate this sort of stuff.
Betsy, I’ve had some Innis & Gunn before (I’m sure it’s on that incredibly long list over there —->) and enjoyed it. Huh, it appears that I have not! Glad to hear that EABF was a good time.
The tornado had just passed through North Georgia / East Tennessee prior to my ziplining trip. The devastation was bad.
Wow, sad to hear about your friend’s father. If you find out more details I’d like to know.
I didn’t know that Grant Park had a Farmer’s Market (though I’m not the least bit surprised). I’ll have to head over there some day.
Also (I’m somewhat) glad to hear that the shooting of six people which was initially reported as occurring in Grant Park was elsewhere — in a park at the old Capitol Homes area — though that doesn’t make the situation a whole lot better. I am glad that no one was fatally shot.
They may not fire those who give up their free time (i.e. take their laptop on family vacations), but they sure don’t seem to mind laying them off…
Definitely miss the old days of Hedon – and glad to see that Lisa Cheese listed meeting her husband first in her list of Hedon memories. She could have easily listed deep-fried veggie burgers or Apple Pie shots first 🙂
If your carnivorous ways get the best of you this week, we still have room at Camp Beebe for Memorial Day weekend – three days in which eating vegetarian is easy to accomplish. Plus, I’m sure we’ll be reminiscing about ATL for at least part of the weekend – Big Shirl is coming to visit (I believe she and Lisa met while playing flag football in Atlanta).
OK, back to job hunting and resume-embellishing before my wife starts to think I spend all day on ITP 😉
The Grant Park Farmer’s Market is Sunday 10-2 at the The Miledge Fountain (west side of the park). I’ve been told it is pretty much the same vendors as East Atlanta. It’s really has the feel of a party, we always see several folks we know.
I saw the news report about the shooting…no one seemed very surprised or upset, sort of like it was to be expected…very sad.
Hedon has finally died, I am shocked, but not really. I think I went for maybe 10 years, it was fun, made lots of really good out of town friends, but I dont’ miss it all that much either. I do miss the people.
Very true, Randy. And with an open invitation you never know, I might just make the trip… 🙂
All the same vendors is fine by me, Thurdsay nights can be a difficult time for me to get to the East Atlanta Farmer’s Market.
This particular rodeo would have been pretty easy to shoot, but I’m sorry to say the talent wasn’t very good. There were a few exciting moments when a very large bull decided he wanted out of his 6′ tall enclosure and was well on the way out!!
Never having attended Hedon, I’ll not comment except to say I think it had a good run.
No beer fests for me anymore, either. And looking at the pictures, I’m pretty sure I will never go again: it’s SO crowded! And hot! Blergh.
I haven’t had a chance to make it to either the EAV or GP farmer’s markets yet, and I keep meaning to go.
I think it’s safe to say several “hash traditions” are on their last leg. Only 38 people made it to Prom from Hell. I’ve never seen a crowd so thin…
Wow, 38? There hasn’t been a large injection of young blood in the hash for a while (at least that I could tell). Perhaps hashing in Atlanta is on the decline?
We have a pretty sizeable group of new folks at Pinelake. They all said they were going to go, but didn’t. I don’t think hashing is on the decline; I think some events have run their course for sure.
We get around 30-40 on any given Saturday…