Just a quickie today. Even though today marks “the last day to get changes in prior to this week’s trade show” it doesn’t mean that I get to rest. To make my life even more hectic I am dropping the Jackmobile off at Lam’s to get the once-over so I can have some semblance of confidence taking it up to Black Mountain, NC at the end of the week. There shouldn’t be any cause for concern (though I’m starting to wonder about my brake rotors) but this being the Jackmobile, as well as my life, I’ll guess today’s trip is going to cost me around $300 (gee, I hope none of the guys at Lam’s read this…)
Yesterday’s Daily Challenge
Take a one-minute imaginary bike ride.
This exercise spins two kinds of physical activity into your day! The muscles in your abdomen and legs get a workout as you pedal, and the effort you expend makes your heart beat faster. All without the trouble of finding the key to your bicycle lock or worrying about a flat tire.
Screw that, I need to remember how to take a real bike ride.
My Return To RPS
I’d been a few months (three to be exact) since I headed up to Roswell after work to join my buddies at the Roswell Photographic Society. For our pre-meeting meal last night we tried a new burger joint called Stax Burger Bistro. The place, which is tucked in a small shopping center at the corner of Holcomb Bridge and Grimes Bridge, is hard to see from the road.
Stax follows the tried-and-true-and-reinvented formula for burger joints — you buy a highly-priced burger and a moderately-highly-priced side for your meal. I ordered the “blue” burger (I think you can guess what’s on that, right?) and a side order of sweet potato fries. With my beer (which was a Fat Tire, reasonably priced at $3.50 for a pint) my meal came to about $12.50, and once you throw in a tip…. yeah, kinda expensive.
If you are into trying the latest burger joint around head to Stax, but do it quickly. We were earlybirds on a Monday night and had the place to ourselves until a foursome arrived near the end of our meal. With its difficult to find location (and no signage yet on Holcomb Bridge), a product which can be found anywhere, and a price which doesn’t make you go far out of your way to get it, I fear that Stax might not stack up for long.
The meeting itself was the same as it ever was. Last night’s presenter discussed sports photography and covered the basics, most of which I already know.
Do They Know It’s Mother’s Day Time At All?
On my drive home from Roswell last night I tuned into the Braves’ game. Radio broadcasts of baseball, imho, have way too many commercials. With the rising costs of everything each team has bartered hundreds of deals, shoving commercials in between batters and pitchers, having every nuance of the game “sponsored”, whatever. However during the game I heard something remarkable. Last night there was a Home Depot commercial talking about how dad would just love a Home Depot gift card for Father’s Day this Sunday.
What?
I know that I’ve had my head up my corporate ass for the past few months, but really? This is May, correct? And isn’t the parental celebration which occurs in May Mother’s Day? Yeah, I thought so. I guess “mom” can’t appreciate Home Depot, or getting a gift card from Home Depot. But then again what do I know, I’m no Mad Man.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, way fat, need to start portion controls and exercising again
Current Music – the sound of a box fan whirring at high speed as I try to draw in the cool morning air
Website Of The Day – I have probably mentioned Evernote in this space before. Regardless, they may one of the tools that I am using / going to use again to organize my life. They are also a fast-growing company, just acquiring a company called Cocoa Box, makers of the handwriting recognition iOS editor “Penultimate.” Very interesting…
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – tomorrow? Maybe
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 7.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Days – 0
Carnivorous Days – 7
Pancakes Eaten – 0
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2012
- Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me — Mindy Kahling
- Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man’s Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science — Curtis Ebbesmeyer
- God, No! — Penn Jillette
- The Elephant to Hollywood — Michael Caine
May Goals
– Lose at least two pounds (net weight loss)
– Completely recover from my sebaceous cyst surgery
– Exercise for thirty minutes no fewer than twenty days
– Not to get sick for the entire month (may be a moot point as of today)
– Eat vegetarian no fewer than ten days
– Watch all of the classes in the 2011 Winter semester of Stanford’s CS193P (iOS Development) course
2012 Goals [will be a little less fluid than last year]
– Get my weight under 200 pounds, or at least whittle myself back down to where wearing a 36″ pant size is comfortable
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than one one 10K
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store
– Restore the ITP Estate to a condition where it can be put up for sale at any time
– Buy a new iPhone (iPhone 5?), a new iPad (iPad 3?), and MacBook Air [look, not all goals have to be altruistic]
The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient and profitable programmer in Objective-C
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem
– Eat smaller portions
– Start, and continue, to make my own bread using my bread machine as well as using the technique outlined in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking
– Read and discard magazines during the month in which they arrive (even digitally)
– See more live concerts than I did in 2011
– Eat more pancakes
– Drive/Fly somewhere for a real vacation
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Harry just asked me if I went hashing this weekend. He then said “Bob” came to pick up his car wearing a kilt recently. Ha! Too funny.
Does Lam work on Mazda’s? Having no dealer on the Southside, which means driving to Dory-ville anyway, I might as well use the reccomended guy.
Hmm, I don’t know. Barb, what says you?
btw Steve, did you see yesterday’s Giro snafu? Sounds like Cavendish and Phinney are “okay” but are probably going to smart for awhile.
I’m back, didn’t read yesterday’s blog since we haven’t had a chance to watch Amazing Race yet.
Peach Auto Serivce can work on any car I’m pretty sure.
I wonder who Bob was in the kilt….. I know Robin Red Breast goes there (since she lives in walking distance) and not sure who else she has recommended.
Kevin will be bummed if that pink bike got messed up, they were so proud to actually get to use it! I haven’t followed what is going on in the Giro (no Universal Sports on U-Verse), but did see something about that crash.
Camping was a good time, interesting & fairly small campground we’d never been to before. And – they had a trout pond, I caught my first fish. (I’ve never been fishing). We had trout last nigth when we got home……. YUMMY!
Since Mazda shares a lot of technology with Ford, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be able to work on one.
We stopped going to Lam last year, the only reason being it isn’t very convient anymore, since I started the new job. We’ve been using Ride On, which is much closer to home, Chris (I think that’s his name) seems like a real stand up guy and gets lots of great reviews…I would recommend them if you are stuck ITP.
I overslept again today, which means another hot & sticky afternoon workout…blech!
Paulie, when ever you are ready to get back on the bike, just let me know…speaking of I’ve got a two hour ride scheduled for Sunday, if anyone is interested. Not sure how fast I’ll be after Twisted Ankle on Saturday…
Sad news, Maurice Sendak (where the wild things are) died today, I loved that book as a kid.
I’ll be ready to ride soon (like down at the Moreland Day Spa — weather permitting!). I’m taking Thursday off from work (I need the extra day off) to get things ready for LEAF. Time permitting I may tool around then, but more than likely my triumphant return will occur after LEAF.
Another ex-Dish Network customer without Universal Sports. And to think if U-Verse offered Universal Sports you could have used that fancy-pants wireless receiver. 🙂
Sounds like a good time was had Barb. Did you catch up on TAR last night?
Could kilt-wearing “Bob” be “Butt Bob”?
You know, I never read “Where the Wild Things Are” and was disappointed to hear the movie of it was a let down, so I never saw that either.
And finally, my email notifications seem to be broken. So if I am slow(er) to respond, you now know why. OFF TO A MEETING…
I haven’t been a Dish customer in a long time (was Direct before U-verse), I heard the problem with Universal Sports are they are owned by Comcast, so it is very difficult for the other competitors to get that channel.
No, hoping to watch TAR tonight, we had Kat & John (& Sal) over for the trout last night, no TV watching happened.
Allan & I will most likely so a ride Sunday.
And – Steve – Can you re-send me the Event on FB for May 19th? I can’t find it on FB – OR – did I get un-invited?
Yep, front brake rotors are shot (I knew this because of the shuddering I’ve been feeling recently when I brake). Last time was the rear brake rotors, and I was told the front rotors were on their last legs.
Who needs money, right?
In case anyone missed it-
http://www.cyclingfans.com/node/4651
Why that SOB is still in the race is just beyond me. They slapped him with points and time fine and a measely 200 Swiss franc fine. Nothing.
Watch for the guy in green bunny hopping Cavendish.
I’m sure I could learn a thing or two from riding with you and/or Allan. I have the power, just not the skills (though I am getting better).
The strange this is, you can’t get Universal Sports on Comcast…
Paulie, probably still cheaper than a new car.
streaming media is blocked…….. bummer for me.
who caused the crash?
Barb, some guy named Ferrari?
I’m now getting random email notifications….
Still cheaper than a new car indeed, however it still hurts to keep investing money (it’s been a particularly expensive month for me).
Ferrari’s move was dangerous (to say the least) and I am surprised that he wasn’t penalized more.
And to prove that no hard work goes unpunished, we found out today that the product on which a handful of us worked many hours to prepare for this week’s trade show, is not going to be shown. Can you say “demoralizing?” The guy who was to fly out this afternoon was told hours before his flight that his trip was canceled.
Rule #59 Hold your line.
Ride predictably, and don’t make sudden movements. And, under no circumstances, are you to deviate from your line.
Sorry about you’re project, that is a bummer. You’ll get ’em next time!
Sorry to hear about the project- now that the pressure is off, I’m sure all the pieces of the puzzle will finally fall into place.
Martha, are any of your regular riding companions real steady ( I was going to say stable but that rules ALL of uis out). The easiest drill I know is to just follow someone elses’ wheel. It gives you something to focus on, and as you get more comfortable, you ride closer and closer- some of my old teammates I could follow at 6″ and feel completely safe.
And another tip- how far down the road are you looking? The closer to your wheel, the squirellier you’ll be. Look around 15-20 feet and that might help.
Speaking of riding and crashing, Paulie you need to come out to this next week.
http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php