I’m not actually in Seattle today, but the weather we’ve had the past few days is what I expect to see if I were.
Today’s Personal Project
Really take care of Sharpened Stone today (it’s due by Friday)
Today’s Daily Challenge
Replace a sugary snack with fruit.
Sugary treats may taste sweet, but when it comes to your health, fruit can’t be beat. Sweets give you an energy spike but then you crash and burn, because your body absorbs the refined sugar so quickly. Although fruit has natural sugar, the fiber slows down its absorption so your blood sugar level stays steady. Fiber helps keep you fuller longer, too. Finally, fruit is loaded with natural vitamins and minerals, a claim that cellophane-wrapped snacks can’t make.
I don’t eat many sugary snacks, but since I do happen to have an apple at hand today I will attempt to eat it instead of anything else today.
Fighting Failure
On my drive home I stopped into the Kroger on Briarcliff/Clifton to pick up some pork and veg(etables) to make as a “I don’t love you, but will feed you regardless” Valentine’s Day lunch for my coworkers tomorrow. While there I picked up a few other niceties to add to my dinner concept for last night — roasted chicken and winter vegetables.
I struggled mightily roasting the chicken and vegetables for dinner. I relied upon a thermometer shoved into one of the chicken’s breasts to let me know when supper was on, but I think that, even with a turn about mid-way, the uneven cooking of my 1950s gas oven caused me grief. I swear one side of the chicken was perfectly cooked while the other would sent Gordon Ramsey into rage.
Because of the weather, my need to take care of some household chores, my failure preparing dinner in a timely fashion, and my desire to be a homebody last night I decided to skip the Old 97s show last night.
ITP Flickr Pic
One final shot from Sunday’s Chinese New Year celebration.
I looked at the other “roll” I took with my Nikon D300 and hated each shot.
I’ve Been Accused Of Being Simpleminded
And now I have the app to back it up.
For a long time I have been trying to introduce mind mapping into my workflow. I’ve relied on iOS apps MindNode (which ironically got an update today — the day after I decided to use another product), and iThoughts HD to get the job done.
Yesterday I discovered SimpleMind from Simple Apps. Simple Apps has done something that none of the other mind mapping apps have accomplished — delivering a compatible version of their product on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. I possess products that run three of those platforms, and look forward to being able to work on my mind maps regardless of the platform I have in my hands at that time.
Beer, It’s What’s For Dinner
Well, maybe it will be what’s consumed with dinner tonight. After work I’ll be joining some coworkers for beverages before ITP-Coworker Chrissy ditches us to go play team trivia with other people. I assume that we’ll be haunting Taco Mac, but you know what happens whey one assumes…
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair, ready for the sun to reappear.
Current Music – listening to this week’s “Sound Opinions” podcast
Website Of The Day – If you think that you will miss the pitter-patter of rain when it goes away soon you can always swing over to Rainy Mood to get today’s feelings back.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – checking again Friday
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~2.5 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 4
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 14
Carnivorous Meals – 17
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
February Goals
– lose five pounds
– walk/run no fewer that 100 miles
– read at least one book
– dissolve Sharpened Stone, LLC
– take at least one box of things to Goodwill
– post at least ten photos in the blog
– drink a lot less alcohol
2013 Goals: Measurable
– Get my weight down to 190 pounds so that I can wear a 36″ waist pants comfortably
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Dissolve Sharpened Stone
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Completely run at least one 10k
– Fix all (or at least most) of the things which are wrong with the ITP Estate
2013 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Simplify, simplify, simplify
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– 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)
– Take two real vacations, perhaps one abroad
– Take a more proactive approach to meeting women (read “stop being such a pussy”)
Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2013
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Seattle- funny, we were checked out at the Kroger last night by a young man who asked us if we were enjoying the weather- he was from Seattle and it made him feel at home.
Passed on the SOTU to watch Westminister… some seriously cute dogs- we tried to get Farley interested, especially when the GD came on, but he would have none of it.
-FP
I saw you turn into Kroger last night, I was hoping you wouldn’t mention it so when I did it would be sort of creepy 🙂
Working from home today and Jerry has set up an appointment with a contractor to meet with us and discuss some ideas for the new addition. I fear if we don’t start on this soon, it may never happen.
I ran again in the rain last night, thankfully today is a rest day. Both pairs of running shoes are still soaked.
Valentine’s Day – manufactured holiday by Hallmark – right?
I want to go to yoga, but it is at 7:30pm, so I talked to the instructor & asked if I could have Allan come with me & use of my package classes (so I don’t have to pay extra). He thought that was great idea, I think he’s afraid no one will be at class. Now I just have to convince Allan it will be fun.
New car is too high tech for me, but I’ll figure it out someday. The back up camera is interesting (trying to parallel park was “fun”, I should just use the windows & look back like I know how to do), and I really need to read the manual about how to use the Bluetooth, I thought I was paying attention at the dealership, but I can’t figure out the speed dial that I have programmed in.
Steve, I love the Westminister show, but always forget to watch it. I have little excuse (see also: I have a DVR) since it always occurs around the birthday of my first girlfriend (to whom I still speak, btw).
Too funny, Martha. Good luck with the addition. If you love your contractor I’d like to know since I (SWEAR) that I’ll have work done on the ITP Estate this year.
Barb, you have conquered the Chrome Book, certainly you can handle this car. 🙂 And speaking of “it should be fun” I will be making a return to aerobics and Spinning classes sometime soon.
Manufactured or not, I love me some Valentine’s Day! And, yes, I am THAT girl who will be wearing red tomorrow too!
However, I am so over this rain. Looks like I will NEVER visit Seattle if this is what everyone is comparing it to.
Paulie, have you considered perhaps purchasing an electric convention oven? When I moved into my place, I got a really nice one for only a couple hundred dollars and you can do ANYTHING with it. I’ve done casseroles, pot pies, pizzas, etc. Anything your oven can do, this thing can do (they come in various sizes too). I bought it because I wanted to save on utilities and not hook up my gas, but it’s also got the benefit of being portable. If you ever need an extra oven (think: cooking a big holiday meal or something), it’s perfect. But in the meantime, you can do your healthy cooking at home in it without the worry of having to fix or replace your old oven just yet.
Does this have the “autopark” feature? I had a Caddy with that once (a rental) but never had a chance to play with it.
Stacy, I’m planning on wearing a red shirt tomorrow. Unfortunately I’ve not gotten around to buying an anti-Valentine’s Day t-shirt to wear underneath.
I’ve considered getting one of those ovens, but I’m not sure if the ITP Estate’s electrical hodgepodge can handle one. One of the “way out” ideas I am considering this year is a kitchen renovation to coincide with the plumbing overhaul.
Stacy, that is a great idea. I miss my toaster oven (last one caught on fire), it’s really nice when you are cooking something small and don’t want to heat up the hole house with the oven.
I still don’t have the Sync totally figured out…if someday you see a red head in a blue Escape, screaming like a mad women…that will be me trying to find out what the traffic to home is like…
Steve – no, no autopark. I’d never trust that.
and – I have not conquered that Chromebook, my mom asks me crazy questions everyday, and without it being able to see what the hell she did, I am baffled. But – she is better at sending an email – FINALLY. Not good at it yet – but she is better.
Well I just got a case of sticker shock but I’m even more excited about adding on (and redoing the kitchen)…now it’s all about the $$$.
I can’t ask because if I find out I will never renovate. 😉
construction sucks – but it is worth it – JUST DO IT!
We’re looking at doubling the mortgage…but we will have an almost brand new house (new HVAC, plumbing, electric, roof, kitchen) lots of new space. It was suggested we also move out for 60 days? Anyone want house guests? This should make redoing a kitchen seem like a piece of cake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efri_kouyDM (I couldn’t resist!)
Owl City
Playing at Philips Arena, Atlanta on Mar 27, 2013
Will you be in attendance Jenka? 🙂
No way in hell. Can you imagine the crowd who would attend such an event? *shudder*