I Need To Pack!

I am heading OTP after work today, and not a single item is packed and ready to go. Procrastinate much? I have a bike and all the clothing needed for riding to pack (unless I decide that I won’t actually go out on any rides over the next few days). I have clothes to pack. I have camera gear to pack. So much to pack…

Today’s Personal Project
Relax while driving OTP.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Write the serving size on the front of the box or bag of your favorite snack.

Nutrition labels are very helpful – if we pay attention to them to begin with and then remember what they say. When information from that label isn’t top of mind, it’s easy to double or triple the serving size without realizing how much we’re eating. You’re more likely to be mindful about what you’re eating and keep snack portions in check if the serving size is written front and center on the box, bag, or container.

I’m trying not to snack, so this shouldn’t be one of the challenges I should complete.

TSPLOST Lost?
Of course, “LOST” was part its name!

At first I was a supporter of TSPLOST. Ease transportation woes? Sure, I live in Atlanta, I want that.

And then I started to read about the projects this additional 1% sales tax would be supporting.

Projects to be completed in 2020-2022? Huh? When was the last time you trusted politicians to have a ten year plan? Will I still be here in ten years? Maybe, but maybe not.

The promise of “more jobs?” Where I have heard this empty claim before? Oh yeah, every time someone wants more money. The “more jobs” promise is as deliverable as the “free beer” claim that all Student Body President campaigners would promise in college.

My support waned.

Don’t blame me for the defeat however, because I never made it to the polls.

A Success, In Fact Two!
After doing laundry last night I headed down to Lee’s Bakery to pick up some sandwiches to take over to ITP-Reader Betsy’s house. The plan was to watch Top Chef Masters while noshing on sandwiches. I knew that there would be a couple of other people at the house so I picked up some extra sandwiches to share. Given that the Banh Mi sandwiches are so damn cheap the decision to be generous was not a hard one. I think the meal was a success as the four of us devoured sandwiches.

After eating the night’s biggest “experiment” took place. I had also brought my iPad, an HDMI cable, and the new connector that I bought at the Apple Store Monday night, in order to hook to Betsy’s TV and watch Top Chef Masters with her. The experiment worked brilliantly! (note: I know that I didn’t conceive of this setup, but this was the first time I used it in practice.) Possibilities are beginning to reveal themselves…

One Door Opens, One Door Closes
One of my other tasks today is to swing by the office of the attorney who handled my bicycle accident case. After today, case closed. I can only hope that my continually popping hip doesn’t bother me much later in life.

Caution: Changes Ahead
While most of August’s “Stats & Goals” seem familiar, I’ve added some more concrete exercise goals. Additionally, I am going to attempt to count vegetarian/carnivore meals instead of days because I found myself getting disappointed that I constantly missed my day counts.

A challenge for you: In September I’d like to add a goal set by your ITP-Readers. So start thinking of something I should add as a September goal. You can either post ideas in the comments, or email them to me (my preferred email address is shown in the right-hand galley).

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – not bad, looking forward to my journey
Current Music – listening to this week’s “Back To Work” podcast
Website Of The Day – While I’m not caught up in the Olympics hoopla someone pointed me at Medal Count which seems interesting for those of you who are.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – walking, ~5.4 miles (but that was July)
Morning Weigh-In –

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights

Days Of Bed-Making – 0

Vegetarian Meals – 0
Carnivorous Meals – 0
Pancakes Eaten – 0

Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0

August Goals
– Eat no fewer than forty-five vegetarian meals
– Take at least one load of stuff from my house to Goodwill
– Take unused electronics to recycling center
– Post at least ten new photos during the month (let’s try this again)
– Lose at least two pounds (net weight loss)
– Finish two books (audio or otherwise, comic books do not qualify)
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Exercise for thirty minutes no fewer than twenty days
– Ride no fewer than 150 miles (might be hard given the amount of travel scheduled this month)
– Walk (or run) no fewer than 75 miles
– Do no fewer than 750 sit-ups
– Do no fewer than 300 push-ups

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

Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2012

1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me — Mindy Kahling
2. Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man’s Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science — Curtis Ebbesmeyer
3. God, No! — Penn Jillette
4. The Elephant to Hollywood — Michael Caine
5. Here Comes Trouble — Michael Moore
6. How We Decide — Jonah Lehrer
7. Steve Jobs — Walter Isaacson
8. Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays) — Arthur Miller
9. Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]