I’m Doing It Wrong?

Recently I’ve had to correct some of my knowledge. I know that this comes as a surprise to most of you because you believe that I could not possibly be wrong about anything.

Today’s Personal Project
Target. Target. Target. That, and empty out my trunk tonight. Maybe get one of those growlers currently in my trunk filled?

Today’s Daily Challenge
List two locations where you can take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator next time.

Everyone knows that climbing stairs is good for you (it’s one of the easiest ways to get extra aerobic exercise into your day – at no cost!), but many of us instinctively head for the elevator or escalator instead. Thinking about it in advance puts stairs front and center in your mind – so you’ll be more likely to seek them out and get all the health benefits that a stair-climbing has to offer.

Take the stairs? In-con-CEIVE-able!

“Dream?” Really? Not “Drink?”
Last weekend I was listening to a Coverville podcast and Brian played a cover of the Electric Prunes’ only hit song. After the song was over he talked about playing I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)” and I thought “Ha! That’s funny, he mispronounced the name of “I Had Too Much To Drink (Last Night)” (which is the way I’ve been singing that song since I first heard it probably forty years ago. I smugly went to Google and was embarrassed to see that I’ve been singing the wrong lyrics to that song for my entire life…

Hand Over Heart? Really?
Another misconception of mine is even more embarrassing, however. For years I’ve known that it was proper protocol to place one’s hand on one’s heart when saying the United States Pledge of Allegiance.

However, I was always under the impression that when on sings our National Anthem you were not supposed to place your hand on your heart, but instead stand at attention.

Wrong again.

Here is the law, United States Codes, Title 36 › Subtitle I › Part A › Chapter 3 › § 301 for those of you playing along at home:

(a) Designation.— The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.— During a rendition of the national anthem—
(1) when the flag is displayed—
(A) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note;
(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform; and
(C) all other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and
(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

I promise to do this correctly from here on out, lest I be thought of as non-patriotic.

Huge Weekend Ahead
And this has nothing to do with my weight, per se.

Tomorrow will be a big day, weather permitting, as I start to prepare for my journey next week. I know that I’ll be heading out to Phidippides looking for a good, and hopefully reasonably-priced, pair of running shoes. After that I’ll be getting a haircut. And after that I’ll be heading back into the ‘hood to watch/photograph the East Atlanta Twilight Criterium, weather permitting. I really don’t have too much else planned for tomorrow (code writing?).

I’m hoping that Sunday’s weather is nice as I have to get out and mow back the weeds. I really don’t want to have to do this next week (especially since Monday and Tuesday already have scheduled events).

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, but behind schedule
Current Music – listening to one of this week’s “Coverville” podcasts
Website Of The Day – There will only be one or two ITP-Readers who actually watch Open University’s “The Science of Bicycles” podcasts (you know who you are), but those who are interested probably will enjoy these.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – walking, ~4.7 miles
Morning Weigh-In – Monday that scale will be in my office

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~32.5 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights

Days Of Bed-Making – 0

Vegetarian Meals – 24
Carnivorous Meals – 17
Pancakes Eaten – 2

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]