Sorry to use that overused marketing phrase as today’s title, but it’s what I’m really hoping will come true.
This month will also find me visiting my lawyer, my optometrist, my dentist, my primary care physician, and most likely at least one specialist to start the process of fixing many of the things which ail me (I wish I were visiting more attractive female waitresses/bartenders to ale me instead). There may also be a couple of secret journeys throughout the month (all legal, none involving adult-oriented services).
I plan to make this month a “Month of Stanford University iTunes University iOS Programming Class” viewing (there is a new semester online with updated content). I’m going to try and watch one class a day, kinda like my own version of an advent calendar. If you remember I tried (and unfortunately failed) at this task in September.
November Recap
Work.
Missed the FDR State Park campout, mostly because of work.
Work.
Work.
Thanksgiving.
Work.
Severely frustrated with Work.
Reduced number of trips to Taco Mac.
Not enough exercise.
No weight loss.
RealiTV Update: Top Chef: Texas — Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen
I still don’t have a good feel for the cheftestants on this season of Top Chef. There are a lot of people with a lot of tattoos doing very little to distinguish themselves from one another. Last night they all moved to Dallas, where they cooked from some Stepford families in oversized, garish houses, and someone was eliminated. Though not really eliminated as apparently there is an online component to this season called “Last Chance Kitchen” in which the losers are having a single-elimination tournament (a losers bracket if you will) where the last cheftestant standing will be reintegrated into the pack. I wonder when they’ll inform the winners bracket of this turn of events?
Many thanks to ITP-Reader Betsy who brought over a pot of ropa vieja and some fresh green beans which we roasted (I almost typed “baked” but who bakes beans? Don’t answer that.). I supplied a spinach salad (with feta, home-hulled pecans, and “lite” raspberry vinaigrette dressing), a couple of bottles of red wine (one of which was a lovely, aged Biltmore Estates Syrah from the ITP Estate Wine Cellar), and a boatload of popcorn.
This Space Will Return To Its Former Self On Monday
I’m still pushing hard to get a code release done for a version of the code which will be demoed by someone other than me at CES in January. I plan to return to my longer-form, mundane blogging, complete with photos, witty observations, updates on my life, and ad nauseum statistics on Monday.
Speaking of photos, here is the one I mentioned yesterday.
That was me, about ten years and thirty pounds ago. I’m still trying to figure out why I was smiling since I know that I wasn’t getting laid back then (an unfortunate constant in my life). I did have feet and shoes back then, they just didn’t manage to make an appearance in this photo.
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Dinner sounds lovely.
Mine consisted of a turkey ruben and too many tater tots, washed down by a couple of delicious Blue Moons. My run was only fair, though I haven’t been running lately, only riding my rollers or the road. Can’t complain much.
I hope your December is most productive.
-FP
no Top Chef watching at my house, we watched some episodes of this season’s Dexter. I like to watch 2 or 3 episodes at a time for some reason with that show, maybe beacuse the first few seasons we watched on Netflix (before we got Showtime) so I’m used to doing it that way. I love that show. I’m still not caught up to the current episode, so no spoilers please.
BTW – finally purchased plane tickets to Barcelona for March, we are finally going to visit Allan’s brother. This will be my first trip overseas, there is way too many things to think about that I never consider traveling here in the states (mostly money related, which credit card won’t rip me off with exchange fees, etc.)
You can’t think of any other reason you might smile? I think we maybe on to something here.
Vandy Beth is back in the news, the federal appeals court will be hearing her case today, best of luck to her.
I’ve heard the best credit card for overseas is Capital One…I’m sure a quick google search would tell you why, because I can’t remember.
Capital One – probably the only major VISA/Mastercard I don’t have 😉
Oh there are other reasons to smile, but that’s the best one. Maybe I was smiling because I didn’t have plumbing which leaked back into the house, I could use my washer and drier at home, my house was valued for more than what I paid for it, I didn’t have a gimped up hip, things on my back, and was able to run even though I’d (then) recently been sent to a cardiologist? Or maybe I just farted. 🙂
Barb, since this is your first out-of-country trip (I’ve only been to Canada) you should start your passport process soon — assuming that you and Allan don’t currently possess one.
And speaking of passports..
I get a call from our HR department yesterday.. seems they got audited and one of the things they got pinged for was not using a current I-9 (verification of citizenship) for when I was hired full time in 1995!!!! I now have to produce documentation to prove I’m not an illegal alien.
Only taken 17 years for them to track me down.. guess I’ll make a run for the border.
Hmmmm…. if getting laid = smiles, maybe you SHOULD make one of your secret journeys this month an adult-oriented service? 😀
I always knew there was something fishy about you Steve. The Georgia Government probably tracked you crossing the state line and inquired about your citizenship. 🙂
We both have passports – we got them back in 2004 – you never know when you might want to leave the country 😉 But seriously – I just figured I’d need one at some point & didn’t want to stress about that. I really thought we’d do a trip to some island(s) that I might need one for by now (since all our Parrothead friends that like to do those types of trips).
and, I’ve been to Canada & Mexico, but that was before we needed passports to do that.
Steve – sorry – but that is really funny.
and – totally off topic – we are going to the new Red Hare Brewery for the “tasting” and tour Saturday afternoon. 3:30-5:30pm.
It is up here in Marietta just off Delk Rd & 285.
Should be interesting – and if anyone wants to join us – let me know.
Delk intersects with 285? Huh, I’ve learned something today.
Count me in. I’ve had some Red Hare at Taco Mac and would be interested in the “tour”.
some day I’ll learn to proof read – I-75….. and technically, Delk turns into South Cobb -and that interesects 285 – but that is a long way from that brewery.
the crowd (mostly Parrotheads) plans to go to Wild Wing after the tasting. I know, it isn’t Taco Mac, but the food is pretty interchangable & they have lots of beers on tap. But -we could always skip that part & go to Tasty China if someone twisted our arms. Maybe…..
After I commented I consulted a map and saw what you meant to type. 🙂 Wild Wing would work for me (it’s probably been 15 years since I’ve been to that one — and I was smiling a lot then thanks to a girl name Domnique) though I’m always up for Tasty China as well.
Hopefully by that time on Saturday I’ll have successfully flushed my hot water heater. Although I have to admit that I’ve kinda enjoyed leaving my house earlier than I normally would, missing some traffic, and showering at work.
I was planning a run at kennesaw on saturday and I would so love to go to a tasting followed by a Tasty China run!!! please? please?
well – if Betsy shows up – I can get rid of a dish, a towel & a sweater too!
That’s odd, Betsy never seems to leave anything behind at my house. Maybe she doesn’t want me to see me that often… 😉
Barb, I’ve travelled extensively in Europe, and I can tell you that it really doesn’t matter which credit cards you use. Prices in the Eurozone are exorbitant compared to what we’re used to, so the exchange rate kind of pales. If you’re really worried bring cash, which you’ve exchanged here in the US at a bank. But anyway, you’re in Europe, it’s expensive, and you just deal.
hey Jenka –
thanks-for that info – luckily Allan’s brother lives in Gerona, and we will deposit money in their account here in the US, and they will exchange it for us & give it to us when we get there – so that will help a whole lot.
I just hate paying huge fees for things, that just bugs the shit out of me.
and- my other friend lives in Rota (Spainsh Air force base,she is in the Navy), so hopefully we will have her as an option too to help with money issues.
Oh, well then you’re good to go! We have a British bank account, which helps us, too. My only suggestion, therefore, is: you’re in Spain, let the couple of fees you might incur go, and enjoy yourself! Have some jamon for me. 🙂