This has been a stressful week which can’t end soon enough for me. Some of my grief is self-inflicted, some has been provided by external sources.
Today’s Personal Project
Get my shit done. TODAY!
Today’s Daily Challenge
Write down a personal mantra or motto and put it in a visible spot.
Whether you’re looking for motivation, trying to cope with a tough situation at home or work, or just want to feel good about yourself, words can be powerful tools. Motivational sayings are commonly used in sports and business as visualization tools. Single words or phrases (mantras) are also used in meditation to transport you to a quieter, more peaceful place. Experts believe that when you repeat your mantra, your mind goes to deeper levels of awareness, which can create a sense of calm, enhance feelings of well-being, increase energy, and boost creativity.
See today’s photo.
I Do This To Myself
Who among us does not know that procrastination is bad. I spent 2012 putting off shuttering Sharpened Stone, LLC. Stupid. Amid all of the madness that was my attempt to get the app released I filed away the business license paperwork sent to me by the City of Atlanta. More stupidity.
In past years I renewed the business license online with little difficulty. I assumed that this would be the case again this year.
Last night I attempted to renew and when I finally found the proper links on the City’s website, I found out that this year I had to upload copies of paperwork which must be signed and notarized.
All of this has to be completed by tomorrow, else I face receiving a $500 fine from the City. Have I mentioned that there appears to be some incorrect information on the City’s form which doesn’t appear to be changeable online (SURPRISE!)
Dammit. I hate myself at the moment. I need to start following my resurrected mantra.
ITP Flickr Pic
This was a mantra I had a few years ago.
It’s time for me to start using it again.
It Felt Like Old Times
Last night I joined some coworkers for beers and food at Taco Mac. It’s been some time since I’ve darkened Taco Mac’s doors. The evening was fun, I consumed two beers (my total is now 475!), chips and salsa, and some chicken wings.
I seriously felt as if I could sit there and drink beer all night, which is why I got my check and left at the end of completing my second.
Happy My Bloody Valentine’s Day
In case you hadn’t heard the news, My Bloody Valentine released their first new album in nearly twenty-one years.
To celebrate this I will spend this Valentine’s Day submitting paperwork to the City of Atlanta, getting a haircut, and returning to the ITP Estate so that I don’t have to be around couples giving each other lovey-dovey eyes.
If your plans involve spending today with you significant other then I wish you well.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – flustered
Current Music – listening to a recent “Judge John Hodgman” podcast
Website Of The Day – Until today I never knew of the American Institute of Stress.
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 – 5
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 15
Carnivorous Meals – 19
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]
so, why can’t you just tell the City that Sharpened Stone is closed & no longer in business?
That’s what I’m talking about… 2 in the hat and it’s done.
I called Debbie a moment ago, which is our daily custom, and she advised me the cable guy was coming between 8 and 10 and she was still in the bed. “He has to call to get through the gate” was her safety system. I advised her the gate crapped out at mid swing this morning and is now standing wide open- so much for her early warning system.
I’ve never been much for Valentines Day, as I tell my wife I love her every day. But YOU good people don’t here that from me very often. I cherish our friendship and enjoy our somewhat daily interactions via the ether. I hope your day is special in some way that surprises and amuses you.
-FP
I think that I have to officially dissolve the LLC with the State first, which as I understand it, requires filing a form and can take up to two weeks. At this point I just want to renew and give myself the necessary amount of time to perform the dissolving. Of course had I done this as I planned in 2012 this wouldn’t be an issue today.
In happier news I have a crockpot full of pulled pork which is looking delicious. I can’t wait for lunch!
We had Allan’s parents over for dinner last night (they are leaving for Spain today, Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone, if you do they will get robbed per Mary paranoia), so that was I guess sort of our Valentine’s Day nicer dinner.
Made an excellent flank steak flattened out & rolled up with boursin cheese & spinach. Very yummy.
I think I have talked Allan into going to yoga tonight, I’m still not sure if he will really go. Since the class is at 7:30pm, no idea what we will do for dinner.
Jerry and I had our third date, 4 years ago…I remember running at George’s that Wednesday with High Dicker and Boner, totally freaked out at the thought of us having a date on Vday. We aren’t doing anything special, dinner at EA Thai & Sushi…I’m taking him out because he got me a present and I didn’t get him anything. More importantly he got me something I wanted, not something he thought I should have (for the record, I am now the owner of a 50th Anniversary Doctor Who Monopoly game).
Heard back from the contactor yesterday, looks like he can do the job for less than he initially thought. Waiting for the details but I’m getting pretty excited. Of course as soon as we start talking about ‘cutting back’ on spending, my Garmin decides it’s going to keep shutting off during workouts…
Barb, speaking of men at yoga, I took Jerry with me once…the instructor mentioned that he had a very ‘intense’ expression on his face, he took it as a compliment. Of course he would always ask me, when I came home if I ‘won’?? How do you win at yoga???
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Yeah, yeah, I’m THAT kind of annoying girl who gets into days like this (I’ll wear green on St. Patty’s and the colors on the 4th too). And FP – backatcha!
I get the not wanting to be around lovey-dovey couples when you’re not a part of one, but for one who has gone years at a time (and more than once) without being part of a couple, I’ve found the best way to think about this is to enjoy what a single life DOES bring. I think we get too wrapped up sometimes in wanting to have someone in our lives that we forget that there can be benefits to singledom. The spur-of-the-moment trips and purchases we want to make. The ability to go out when we want to be social but come home and hide away when we don’t. The possibility of staying overnight at the office working on an app if you have to….though I prefer a late unexpected night out with friends instead. 😉 Do they take the place of a partner? Heck no. But if there is none at the current time, might as well make the best of it!
I know I should know this, but what exactly kind of business was Sharpened Stone anyway? Was it your photography? Something more?
that’s funny – winning at yoga.
I’ve been telling Allan that the yin class is really helping my back & flexibility, so he should try it. He doesn’t want to spend the money, but since I can use 1 of my classes from the package I bought, it really doesn’t cost anything, the money is already spent. I also told him at elast 2 other guys will be there tonight that I know of for sure.
Allan said my present is my new car. And the new hitch he bought for the bike rack that needs to get installed. And our little vacation to FL last weekend. In other words, we don’t do presents anymore.
Sharpened Stone was initially created to sell my photography as well as write off the associated costs of doing so. That never panned out. I kept it going with visions of my own apps in the app store. That never panned out. So instead I’ve had a hobby which has cost me a few thousand dollars and more than its fair share of headaches (thanks to the City of Atlanta).
We’re off to a great start to VD, between telling me the gate was open and waxing poetic about the gluten-filled donut he had enjoyed this morning, I’m feeling less than warmly toward my husband. 😉
Still no sign of the cable guy who is to be here between 8-10, he’s not high on my Valentine list either.
Bah humbug.
At least the sun is out, maybe I can take my cranky pants off for awhile. Maybe.
In other news, I have two potential homes for Lola, the foster great dane. She’s super sweet, but I won’t miss her 4 a.m. wake up barks or the fact that she is a chewing machine. I’m cured of puppy lust for at least a month or two.
When do they out grow the 4 am wake up barks? I’m still waiting for Nibbles to do just that (she’s like 5??) Something has really had her worked up, she’s been barking at ‘something’ all night long for 3 nights now…anyone interested in adopting a cute little dog?? Oh and the chewing?? Last week I found Logan chewing up the lid to my new blender (and he’s almost 7)….wait, is anyone interested in adopting both Pinky and the Brain?
Debbie, if you are looking for a gluten free cracker, try Nut-Thins (Blue Dimond, I think) they are pretty good, especially the pepper jack, if you like things a little spicy.
Lola is a puppy, so everything is in-bounds, including my hands when I pet her. Farley is a bit of a case- he is so attached to Debbie that when we leave him alone and un-caged, the remote control and any shoes are in danger. No one else has the chewing issue.
Looks like the cable guy’s bringing you a $25 Valentine, Debbie! Don’t they still give you that credit if they don’t make their window?
Thanks Martha, I’ll check those out. I think gluten-free(ish) may be here to stay. I haven’t had a migraine in a week and I’ve lost 6 lbs. I’m sure that is water weight, but I don’t care, it’s a happy side effect. On the other hand, I’m cranky as hell – probably from being hungry.
Some don’t ever stop, so how lucky are you?!? Farley still gets me up most nights to go out – he’ll be 3 in May. Both Farley and Izzie will chew things up if they are left home alone. Satchmo barks at random crap and cranks up the rest. Good thing we love ’em, eh.
Stacy, I don’t know, but I’ll ask! That would be nice, and yes he totally missed his window, still no sign of them.
When I called the second time for the same problem, I got our cable service upgraded at no charge, unlimited 411 calls and a new high-speed modem. $25 would be icing on the cake!
Found it! Apparently it’s $20 or a premium channel. (See #3!) 🙂
http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Customers/CustomerGuarantee.html?SCRedirect=true
Errr…assuming you have Comcast, of course. Otherwise you could play the card of: Well…COMCAST does this for THEIR customers….
Switching gears again…
Curious, Paulie: what was in the envelope in the photograph? Do you remember?
Unlimited 411 calls? Whoah! Ever since the interwebs and the Google I cannot remember the last time I called 411. 🙂
I am a huge procrastinator but when I do start something I like to finish it, and not cut corners either. I had a high school shop teacher tell me a million years ago that if you don’t have time to do something right then where the hell will you find the time to do it again? That has stuck with me all these years.
I also find it a load of crap that you can’t just not renew the business license and let it expire without incurring fines, freaking Atlanta government BS right there.
Just also learned that our McKesson Israel office is having some problems and I may have to fly there for a week, I really hope we can get it straightened out. Going to Israel would probably be pretty cool if I was not trapped in an office for a week.
Where in Israel Bob? I went there, what seem like a lifetime ago…interesting to say the least. I was also able to pop over to Jordan for a couple of days.
I’m going to spend Valentine’s evening with my favorite bartender Mandy, since she’s leaving momentarily for Denver. It’ll be SO romantic!
I’m totally going to check out Nut-Thins, Martha. Also: *I* totally win at yoga. I do.
Martha, our office is in Tel Aviv. I’m sure if I go it will be so packed with work that I will not be able to get out. Although the dude I would be going with is from there so at least I would have a translator and some local knowledge.
Stacy, Debbie already put the screws to the customer service folks- Charter is now sending up a faster modem and giving us Cinemax for free.
The tech tested the line from the street to the box in the yard and saw a lot of dropout. If they have to rerun that line, they will be doing a whole lot of crying- a quarter mile of underground cable!!!
Canucklehead just went to I think it was Israel. And – just think of the frequesnt flier miles you’d rack up.
So, our lovely President just arrived at Dobbins not too long ago – all the roads around here are fucked, and I’d say this is the perfect time to commit a crime away from the “parade” route – all the cops are lining the streets – blocking traffic, etc. Allan is taking Mary & TJ to the airport – they are having to go 285 aroud on the east side, since he is going down 75, into town & then 20 across.
Good thing Mary & TJ always plan to get there way too early.
I only spent a night in Tel Aviv all the ‘fun’ stuff is futher south and/or west. I was there for a over a week, never really had a language problem, many folks speak English well enough, most of the signs are in English, heck most places even took American dollars. The strangest part was people that would walk up, say a few words, ask if I was jewish…then just turn around and walk away when I said no. Oh and all the fully armed soliders everywhere…
Stacy, it was a virgin envelop that I wrote on this morning. I figured it would make for an interesting photo with the light shining on it.
Cable? What’s that???
Jenka, your evening does sound fun to me. I’m a tad envious.
Got nothing on Israel. I wonder how the bagels are there?
Paperwork is signed, notarized, and scanned to PDFs. Now I just need to find the time to log on to the City’s website and cross my fingers.
I can’t say I have any great desire to travel anywhere in the Middle East. Africa, the Far East, Oz and NZ, you bet!
Well, fingers crossed, I *think* that I just completed (minus getting billed, of course) the renewal process with the City.
I’d love to travel this year, and just may regardless of how much money I dump into the house. Hell, if I’m going to live the single life I might as well live it up!
Hope your submission worked – I hope you have paper copies with time stamps just in case, I know the City and all of their issues all too well. Always save documents.
I’ll keep the paper copies and I printed out the confirmation showing the time stamp when I submitted.
I say if you get a chance to go to the Middle East, take it, who knows how much longer it will be there and not just a giant hole in the ground.
“Hell, if I’m going to live the single life I might as well live it up!”
Now THAT’s what I’m talkin’ about! 🙂