Big Fat Baby Steps

At least I did something last night…

Today’s Personal Project
I’ve already dropped off my shirts for dry cleaning (something that’s been on the To Do list for days), so now I have to make sure to get some exercise this afternoon.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Eat one stress-busting food with omega-3 fatty acids, like tuna, salmon, walnuts, or spinach.

Research studies have shown that omega-3s help to lessen levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in the blood and can provide relief from stress and anxiety. Getting more omega-3s in your diet isn’t only tasty, but may help you better deal with daily tensions and stresses, too.

I really should eat better, doing so would help me on many levels.

I’m Walking In Moonlight
Last night I changed into some workout clothes and headed out of the office building. At first I couldn’t decide whether a walk or “run” would be in order, but in the end I chose the latter former. It was a simple choice, really, as I’ve done nothing for weeks and didn’t want to risk injury or being so dejected with my body that I’d not keep up exercising.

I covered about 5.4 miles in an ungodly long amount of time. But at least I did something positive.

It Was As If I Donated $5
The other night I attempted to buy a download of This American Life‘s recent video release. Though I heard the show “on the radio” (read “via podcast”) I wanted to relive the show with the visuals, and besides, they are only charging $5.

I went through the process of making the purchase using Amazon Payments, and then an error occurred. I received the email from Amazon Payments confirming my $5 purchase, but never received the email containing the download link. I waited. And waited. And waited. After awhile I shrugged my shoulders and considered my $5 more of a charitable donation than money remitted for a product.

Yesterday I received an email telling me that there was an issue with Amazon Payments which has been resolved and that I should attempt my purchase again. However, there was no mention of a $5 credit to my account so I am reticent to make another $5 commitment.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, won’t get fooled again…

No Third Wednesday For Me
With the Raleigh Royalty in town (I’m baiting ITP-Readers Lisa and Randy to see if either reads this space today) I’ll be headed over to Sanitary’s house to hang out with the “family” tonight. Unfortunately Thanksgiving falls on the third Thursday of November this year, which means that I will be skipping Third Wednesday at George’s Bar.

Have fun y’all.

If You Are Around
I am definitely taking a vacation from blogging tomorrow, but I may crank something out Friday morning in time for reading while resting your tootsies after doing some Black Friday shopping.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair, concerned
Current Music – listening to a recent Coverville podcast
Website Of The Day – Did you know that this year marks the 86th year of the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – walking, ~5.4 miles
Morning Weigh-In – not checking still

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~17.1 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 6 flights

Days Of Bed-Making – 11*

Vegetarian Meals – 28
Carnivorous Meals – 30
Pancakes Eaten – 2

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

November Goals
– none

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
– 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
10. White Jacket Required — Jenna Weber

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]