Traffic appeared to be completely miserable last night. Guess what I did…
Today’s Personal Project
Do my chores, stay on schedule.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Use a watering can or bucket to collect water from the faucet as you wait for it to warm up.
Many of us send our money figuratively swirling down the drain each day as we wait for the water to heat up for taking showers, doing dishes, washing our faces, and the like. By saving water that can easily be used for other things, you can cut hundreds of dollars from your water bill each year. Not only that, preserving water is good for the environment.
A good idea except for the fact that I have nothing on which I could use the collected water. This reminds me, I have a shitload of plumbing in the house to get fixed
Oh, Hello LA Fitness
Since joining LA Fitness at the very end of 2012 I have been a “morning user.” Because I couldn’t get my ass out of bed yesterday I missed my desired return to working out.
Because the shitty traffic I stayed at work until about 6pm. At that time my boss entered my cube and told me that he was heading over to LA Fitness, which was all the impetus I needed to head there myself.
Traffic from Perimeter Mall to LA Fitness (about a half mile) was insanely screwed. Had it not been pouring down rain I would have parked my car and walked to LA Fitness, instead I played the “zig-zag get me there” driving game and navigated the half mile in about fifteen minutes.
The place was packed, like “nearly every machine in use packed.” I am assuming this phenomenon was precipitated more by the rain rather than it being evening. I was in no mood to lift weights so I found one of the few open treadmills and logged a slow three miles using the Galloway Method. After my thirty-five minutes on the treadmill I exited and found a stationary bike and rode that for thirty-five minutes. Today my legs are already starting to feel the two weeks away.
While cycling I looked into the aerobics room a few times and decided that I want to (and should) return to doing aerobics workouts in the near future.
Not Much Time For Much Else
By the time I arrived home it was past 9:00pm. With no real food to cook nor much desire to start cooking anything so late I sat in front of the television with a jar of almond butter and a large glass of milk.
With “dinner” in hand I sat and watched last week’s The Amazing Race. I’m not sure if you have caught up, but all I have to say is “Wow! No really, wow!” I never would have predicted that team to be ousted so early in the race.
ITP Flickr Pic
Less of a photo, more of a promo.
While doing the Photoshop tutorials we took a break. The break room at my friend’s office has a completely stocked refrigerated case and all items are free. As I perused the case I saw your usual suspects and then spotted this Blue Sky Cherry Vanilla soda.
According to Blue Sky’s website their product is only available in two Georgia stores (one in Dunwoody, fairly near my office). I also found that Amazon sells many Blue Sky flavors, with Prime shipping(!), if I really want to buy in.
Sure, I’m not supposed to be drinking soda, but when I occasionally want one I should treat myself to something I really like. No?
Looking At My Calendar, Tonight Better Be Lavanderia Night
One of the things I failed to realize this past weekend when I chose not to go to a lavanderia was that my week is fairly booked. In an attempt to get my laundry done tonight prior to heading over to ITP-Reader Betsy’s to watch the finales of Top Chef as well as The Taste, I have arrived at work early enough to get out at a reasonable time, beat some traffic into Chamblee, and do laundry prior to heading back to East Atlanta.
Wish me luck.
Did I mention that we are supposed to ship an update to Apple today?
Again, wish me luck.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – fair
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – It’s a pity that Used to be a Pizza Hut hasn’t been updated since 2008 (oh, hello default Blogger theme!), much like my apparently-dormant “Home Was Where The Hearth Is” photo journey this seems like a fun idea. If it is so out of date why am I choosing it today? Because I just found out about this site the other day.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – sadly, 213.6 pounds
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 1 (1 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 17
Carnivorous Meals – 16
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
March Goals
– not get sick
– lose two pounds
– walk/run no fewer that 50 miles
– lift weights at the gym no fewer than eight times
– finish at least two of the books I am reading
– take at least one box of things to Goodwill
– post at least ten photos in the blog
– drink a lot less alcohol
– prepare a house repair plan and budget
– return ITP-Reader Martha’s coffee percolator to her
– return ITP-Terri’s crutches to her
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
- Pages 1.7 for iPad (Timestompers Guide) – by Sean Wells
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Traffic was FUBAR this morning, looks like I20 was pretty much shut down just past Hill St…took me an extra 20 minutes to get to work.
Thankfully, I wasn’t late for my conference call. Apparently, manager and sr. mangers showed the lowest job satisfaction on the company’s latest employee engagement survey. This call is to talk about what is wrong and what is right…unfortunately, my biggest problem is also on the call 🙁
I didn’t run last night, it was pouring down rain so I switched it up and did today’s bike workout. However, I did blow off bootcamp this morning.
And yes…if you are going to treat yourself to it right. I’ve found that when I try to satisfy a craving, with a ‘healthy’ option, I end up eating more and still not satisfied…
I’m glad that TAR team is gone, that dude seemed like a total douche. How about the father son team? Killing it while on crutches or in a wheelchair. I don’t see them lasting much longer but I am impressed with what they are doing.
I’m glad the weather is finally coming around, looking forward to more riding.
And if you don’t get enough riding on Saturday I’m laying (more like re-laying) the wheelhopper in Alpharetta on Sunday. It’s a really fun trail.
McKesson went through the employee sat rodeo a few years ago too. If you outsource your help desk, field tech support, DBA, etc., employees tend to not be very happy and they received the lowest employee sat ratings ever. Since then they have been focusing on “employee engagement” and basically kissing our asses and asking us to be nice to them in the next survey since the CEO gets the reports. Kind of funny to watch but a pain in the butt.
I was “fortunate” to leave the house when I did this morning because I passed “only” two wrecks along the connector — an accident already on the left shoulder by 5th Street and someone still in the center lane around 10th Street. Had I left the house much later I would have been completely screwed.
05:05 came really, REALLY early this morning. So far, I have cleaned out all the junk email I got last week, put out some fires, and am trying to remember the passwords I changed the last week of Feb.
Yesterday, Debbie’s brother Andy and I (mostly he) almost completed the one door- it’s all trimmed out and only need the top flashing and some caulk. And now that we have the process down, the door by the den needs the same treatment.
A good half hour on the trainer, followed by planting my tired butt on the sofa for the balance of the evening pretty much rounded out the day.
Still checking on my availability for TdPike Saturday, but we do have available accomodations at JEFDSDR for Friday evening.
-FP
I agree, that dude was an IDIOT on Amazing Race, you have an express pass & don’t use it? I think the girlfiend dumped him right after that……
I started watching Celebrity Apprentice again, I love that awful show. I did nothing last night, should have done our taxes, but got sucked into the previously mentioned show on the DVR.
I also made a meatloaf last night, it is in the crockpot today, so we have dinner tonight. The firehouse has some sort of plumbing problem in the kitchen, so they can’t cook, so Allan needs leftovers to take to work. I wonder if it will take the City of Atlanta as long as it takes Paulie to fix plumbing issues? (sorry Paulie, I just couldn’t resist.)
It is looking like NICE weather Saturday for Tour de Pike……. we could bring food & have “dinner” after the ride at JEFDSDR, Steve (& Debbie)- have you figured out if you are free?
Dinner AFTER? Or Friday night?
I was reminded that we are currently under a change freeze, so no weekend work. TdPike is a GO!
The City will win, they have an unlimited resource of cash — all they have to do is raise (my) taxes again.
I shouldn’t ride Saturday (i have sooo much crap to do) but I am still contemplating it if everyone else does.
I considered Tour de Pike but I think I’ll stay closer to home, probably ride the SCT. With any luck I’ll be ready to ride in public by BRAG STU.
I think I need to get a new Cadance Sensor to put on the Felt, I’m finding the old bike on the trainer is just painful anymore.
And what TdP distance are people considering, 66M? Mins you, I have yet co commit to doing this…
I was thinking 66. The 30 is just too short and also on roads I ride when I go see the in-laws, so I’m looking for new territory.
That was the other reason, 30 seemed a little short, 66 just way to long right now.
I’d (we’d) like to do the 66, but we will see……. I was also wondering if there is any way to do any extra on that 33 route (or short cut the 66) – or maybe go back out after getting to the end? I haven’t even looked at the maps.
Dinner could be both nights, but mind you, we wouldn’t be there until 7pm ish friday night…… I know they have food after the ride, but as I won’t be breaking any speed records if I do the 66, there may be no food left…..
I know JoAnna is planning to ride too, not sure if she would be up for the extra festivities, she does have a beagle that she’d have to figure out what to do with (I think Mike has something else on the agenda all weekend)
And- I know Sarah is riding, and I’m guessing Ray may be there (not with Sarah of course)
I’m staying in my old ‘hood in OP for the week (house- and dog-sitting at the neighbor’s) and it took me 50 minutes to get to Emory this morning! 50 minutes! Martha, I’m glad you thought traffic was f-ed up, too, because I was wondering if that was normal now. Phew!
Heh: one thing about working for a university: we might not make the big bucks, but employee satisfaction is generally through the roof. What with all the benefits, holidays off, short work days, and encouraged flex time/work from home. Oh, and also zero restrictions on computer use due to that wonderful little issue called academic freedom. Yep. You should be jealous, but then you’ll have to buy me dinner, ’cause I sure as hell can’t afford it.
Jenka – OP?
7PM Friday would be fine. I have Friday off and Debbie is cooking up a special lunch for her dads’ 80th birthday. Of course, you’re certainly welcome Saturday evening as well. As far as JoAnna, as long as she knows there is lots of fur down at the day spa- we do have boarding facilities (a crate). Sarah, too! (not a crate for Sarah, though.
Barb, OP = Ormewood Park
I worked for that wonderful University a few years back, I ended up crying most days I showed up…
I’ve worked for way worse places than here…and they pay me pretty well, even if I’m probably not going to get a raise this year.
Meeting with the builder in an hour, my tummy hurts 🙂
Barb – Ormewood Park (or so I think)
Jenka, I should buy you dinner for all of the editing work you have provided for this site.
Yep, Ormewood Park, about a mile north of Casa de Martha (soon to be McMansion de Martha). Moved to Inman Park last summer.
We’ve got room for everybody/everything. We might have to break out an air mattress or two, but we have that technology. I could probably figure out an option that splits the difference between the 30 and the 66 – you’d be deciding at about mile 28 whether you wanted to add another 20 or so.
The one time I did TdP – oh those days long ago when I actually got on a bike – the food after was pretty meh. Y’all could either come back to the Day Spa or we could go to Matt’s Small Town Pizza.
I’m so glad the know it all (not) dude is gone from TAR. That he was defending is decision to sit on the Express Pass after they were eliminated just proved what a douche he is. The father/son team is awesome, but I bet there will be a physical challenge that sidelines them soon. I’m rooting for the hockey players to go all the way — so they will probably be eliminated next week.
Good luck with the builder Martha – so exciting!
Speaking of expensive dinners at which I will be alone, I’m seriously contemplating forking over the cash for Kevin Rathbun’s BBQ 2013. I mean why not, it’s not like I’m going to put that money toward plumbing or anything…
I am always a fan of pizza……… I never say no to pizza, unless it is a green pepper only pizza, I might say no to that.
Okay, I’m in for Tour de Pike. I’ll be down there on Friday, and may even grace you all with my presence on Saturday night (did someone say “dominoes”?)
No raw onions nor salty fish, other than those I will eat and enjoy any pizza placed in front of me.
Now I’ll need to knock the dust off of the Black Jack and pump up its tires.
WOOT!! Sounds like the Summer Slacker Series 2013 is off to a bang up start! Guess we better start cleaning…