The one-time marketing slogan for Southwest Airlines, “Wanna get away?” is how I am feeling now. Of course in my continuing condition the slogan should be altered to read “Wanna hobble away?” The foot doesn’t seem to be getting better; cast, anti-inflamatories, ice, and rest, seem to be doing little to help. I have a scheduled podiatrist visit tomorrow. If solid answers and timelines cannot be provided I will consider seeing another podiatrist when I return from Florida for a second opinion. My inability to exercise is killing me, literally and figuratively.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Give yourself a foot massage.
Massage is great for relaxation! It can also help to alleviate pain, increase flexibility, improve circulation, stretch weak and tight muscles, and reduce muscle cramps.
This may be something that I do for myself routinely…
Wanna Get Away?
I’ve heard some absurd questions inside the three office buildings in which I’ve toiled for my current employer. “Want to go to California today?” was one of the most absurd questions I’ve ever heard. Basically there is a developer from our India office making his way to California today and I was being asked to drop everything at a second’s notice and join him there by taking a flight out last night.
WTF?
I flat out declined, using my foot and podiatrist appointment as primary reasons and the fact that I am leaving town for “vacation” at the end of the week and needed to put things in order at home before I do as my secondary reason.
In the end the situation was downgraded to DEFCON 5 and we don’t have to send anyone to California today.
Have I mentioned that I wouldn’t mind knowing about iOS developer job opportunities, preferably close enough to East Atlanta so that I can get my life back?
Move Along, Nothing To See
By the time I arrived home last night (some time after 7pm because I had to take “the eastern route” aka “I-285 East -> I-20 West” because traffic on The Connector appeared FUBAR) I had enough time to eat some dinner (though I vowed not to earlier), put the trash out, open the windows and turn the fans on high (I’m holding out on A/C), ice my foot, prepare the two hamburger patties that will make up two of this week’s lunches, and then fall asleep watching “Arrested Development” on Netflix.
I awoke again some time around midnight. By that time all I could logically do is attempt to fall back asleep, and I did.
ITP Flickr Pic
Nothing. Just you wait, I plan to take some photos in Florida and if my foot allows it I’ll be out shooting at The Peachtree Road Race next week.
This Can’t Be The Plan
This week is Caren West PR Restaurant Week which means that many (if not all) of the restaurants that the agency represents are offering price fixe menus through the end of this week.
Since seeing Diesel Filling Station on a TV show last week I have been considering trying their menu. I thought about going tonight (until I saw that tonight is “Nerd-Core Tuesday Trivia Night”) so I may give it a shot tomorrow. That being said, going out for dinner and drinks may be the antithesis of what I should be doing while I cannot exercise.
Today’s Personal Project
Get away for awhile, even if it just involves daydreaming.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – glum
Current Music – Listening to the new Selebrities “Lovely Things” CD which has been released today; it’s rather a enjoyable release, different from my normal alt-rock norm. I was planning on attempting to play music critic for this release, but I need to hone my skills.
Website Of The Day – I was going to link to the DEFCON Warning System, but the goddamn website seems to be down. What does that mean???
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – I think if I am to check any time soon I will get severely depressed.
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 1 (1 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 25
Carnivorous Meals – 34
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
June Goals
– get my foot to stop hurting
– return ITP-Reader Martha’s coffee percolator to her

- return ITP-Terri’s crutches to her

- not get sick

- 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
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
- 60 Mountain Lion Tips — by David Sparks and Brett Terpstra
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business — by Charles Duhigg
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy — by Douglas Adams
- Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real-World Guide on Achieving Success and Happiness — by CC Chapman
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
I’d go to CA for a day or two……. I need the frequent flyer miles.
Hah, good point. Let’s just say that the timing for me was a little less than ideal…
I should have also mentioned that I spent some time planning my mini-vacations for the remainder of the year. No big plans (unless I do something radical), just a handfuls of get-aways.
I think you need to be a bit more patient with your foot. My last case of shin splints took a couple of months to fix, with aggressive treatment. However, if you’re interested in an alternate path, I would recommend 1st Choice Healthcare*, Dr. Sadri or Dr. Cho. I’ve been very happy with the results, plus they work with you on conditioning to help prevent future issues.
(*note: I’m not at all a fan of chiropractors, but these guys are more PT/prevention than your typical ‘back cracker’)
Why are you torturing yourself without A/C? Ours has been on since last month, I couldn’t sleep (well as much as I do sleep) without it.
I’m holding off on the A/C until I return from Florida. Even though it’s only a handful of years old, my new unit (hehe) doesn’t perform well probably because I under-bought (I replaced the old one 1-for-1 but I may have done a better job of upgrading).
Anyway, I think it’s going to need servicing and I want to put off the change of catastrophes until I return from visiting my mother.
I’m anti-chiropractor, especially after the job the last one performed on me. Patience is not a virtue with which I’ve been blessed. I feel I “recovered” from the bike wreck much faster than from this seemingly less-traumatic treadmill injury.
Finally, I’ve asked on Twitter about ITP yoga studios. I’m interested. I know some of you do yoga. Where can an old man go and start? Thanks.
I like the yoga studio I go to at the Marietta Square, but its a little out of your way.
I’m not a fan of hot yoga, I get warm enough in the regular class, the heat jsut doesn’t interest me.
You are crazy with the no A/C idea.
We’ve got 2 roadtrip vacations planned for this summer – one in July to SE FL, one to the VA Beach area to see some other friends. I can’t wait, since I can’t really take any time off in the fall I need to get all my vacation in from Jan-August. (its bullshit, but they say its “peak” so no one can get more than a a day off).
I’ve been to Nirvana Yoga in Grant Park and Cabbagetown, I’d say it’s my favorite of the existing ones (I’ve been to a couple that I really liked that changed owners and/or closed down). It’s a little more new-age-y than I like, but the instructors are really solid (and nice). I’ve also been to Agni Power Yoga but I would definitely NOT recommend it for a first-timer. I hear really good things about Stillwater, which is in the shopping area where Trader Joe’s is. And Urban Body is one of the premier yoga places in town, although I’ve never been there.
Check into the LA Fitness class schedule, it’s quite possible they would have a yoga offering which would be included in your gym membership.
It’s not that bad. With a fan in the window and the ceiling fan on it’s been rather comfortable.
I can’t go to Florida knowing that the A/C is kaput, I’d rather not know until I return. It’s dumb. I know. It’s just the way I am.
Big changes in the works upon my return.
good idea Jenka – I know that LA Fitness has some yoga classes, that would be a reason I might consider a gym membership (be yoga is expensive).
Not running AC because you might break it? Your foot is the least of your worries- you have a bad case of crazy going on… 🙂
My tendonitis has now gone on for over 6 months- and in the last 2 days Farley has rammed his head into my knee and whipped it with his tail. After the head butt, I was about to cry.
Maybe a ride tonight if the weather cooperates.
-FP
You don’t live in my house, you don’t understand. My A/C ran *constantly* last year and never really cooled the house. With my demolition a few months ago I opened the passage from the compressor to the blower, however I have not had the opportunity to call someone out. Why risk damaging it completely when I don’t have to, because it has not been *that* hot.
Good idea about LA Fitness, I will check on that.
Additionally in my house / life one problem always begets another. I have neither the time nor patience to deals with the house at this time.
The “local” LA Fitness has a few yoga classes in the evening. I should also check the ones on between work and home to see if they offer anything.
Home prices in Atlanta keep on going up, Zillow predicts EAV properties will increase almost 5% and it looks like there is nothing else around you for sale…sounds like a great time to put it on the market, ‘as is’ and move on.
You can join Village Fitness, the add $10/month for unlimited yoga (but I haven’t been to any of the classes)…once I get this sleep thing sorted out, some sort of class activity is on my to do list.
Interesting…
Kat & John still have her house in EAV, some realtor was begging her to put it on the market as there is no inventory out there. (she is thinking about it, but just hadn’t gotten around to it). This really could be the time to sell, soon enough all the forclosed houses will hit the market & you won’t get as good of a deal. Just sell it as is, that would be your best bet.
My only concern is that with so many problems in my house in addition to “the big plumbing issue” — leaking/poor or non-functioning sinks, obvious water pressure issue in one bathroom, rusting iron work, woodwork repair necessary on the soffet, interior ceiling repair work in the living room from previous-owner water damage, wood in place of window from break-in, and more I’m not immediately remembering — that I will be low-balled to death. These are just the things that are wrong with the house, never mind the items that most people would want in a house such as a fairly-modern kitchen. As it stands right now my mortgage is easily half of what I’d pay for a two-bedroom apartment.
And now you know why I am hesitant.
That’s just it, I think the backlog of forclosures has cleared out. There really isn’t much out there. I’ve been looking for 6 months…there is nothing out there that I like that doesn’t cost a whole lot more than what our renovation is going to cost.
I hope the house next door goes on the market soon. It is tiny, maybe even smaller than mine and it’s a mess..needs new kitchen, new bath, new floors. I told the guy handling the estate, either renovate the whole thing or sell as is…(it has amazing ceilings…you know if anyone wants to be my neighbor)
Speaking of…hope to have at least two bids this week. Already I think we’re going to do better. The guy that came out last week is going to add a new furance and porch to the project, and it will still be under budget.
Martha, that’s great news!
Paulie, never hurts to see what’s on the market and where prices are.
Well you can at least speak with a realtor, see what they think. Won’t cost you a penny, you might even be plesantly surprised.
The place makes your miserable and you’re never going to make it right. Your happiness and peace of mind must be worth something?
Paulie, Paulie, Paulie……. what will we do with you. Fixing all the things you need to fix would take a while & cause you such grief (if you actually got on all these projects.)
That is why you see what a realtor says about a price “as is”. It isn’t like you have to sell it, but I think you would be so much happier if you got out of that house.
Even if you don’t make a bunch of money, so what? Like Martha says, “The place makes your miserable and you’re never going to make it right. Your happiness and peace of mind must be worth something?”
I 100% agree.
or – burn it down……
Option B would come back to bite me with karma, I’m sure.
Option A would be the way to go. However, here’s the deal. Let’s say I owe $80k on the house — “I owe $80k on the house.” Good, now I bought the house for ~$178k but really whose going to pay anywhere near that for a house in disrepair? No one. Listing it “as is” means that people are going to want the house cheap and I’m too good with finances to take a major loss on this place knowing that I’ll be moving into a place that will cost me at least twice-as-much per month.
And there’s the rub.
Meeting with a realtor will cost me time (at first). Time is one of the things that I never seem to have enough of these days. At least realtors work on weekends. Realtors still work on weekends, don’t they?
You might be surprised how much you could get for your house AS IS, I bet its a whole lot more than you think. And yes – realtors work weekends…… they will work around your schedule, they want to make money, ya know?
But to fix it up is going to cost you money as well, so your choices are
1) Fix it up and sell it (big upfront cost)
2) Sell it as is (maybe take a loss, you wont know until you ask)
3) Fix it up and live there (as someone getting ready for a major reno, it wont be cheap)
4) Do nothing and accept it
5) Do nothing and be miserable….
You’re right, a new place may cost more. You’ll be living in an apartment, you wont need to worry about yard work or maintance…what is the value of your peace of mind and your free time?? Maybe a new start, a new environment is what you need.
FYI, a very crappy 2/1 on my street (needs to be totally gutted and looked like there might even be some foundation issues) just sold for $115K
All valid points.
As I mentioned in an earlier comment, I plan to shake things up when I return from Florida. So, we’ll see.
Hell, selling the house might force me to return the coffee percolator and crutches! 🙂