Just when I decided it would be fun to do more long-distance drives in the Jackmobile…
Today’s Daily Challenge
This is too difficult to get to via iPad.
My Bad Luck Followed Me To Florida
I swear that each time I tried to take a positive mindset toward life something unfortunate happens to me to change my mindset back.
The trip down to Florida itself was uneventful — I-75 is not exactly “scenic.” I had peace for nearly half of a day. After my arrival my mother and I drove to get some lunch, made a stop at Publix, and then her bank. We returned to her house and chatted for awhile. Feeling a bit tired I took a nap, after which we sat around watching reruns of “Law & Order: SVU” (potentially interesting note: these were the first episodes of “Law & Order” that I have ever seen). And then the fun came to a literal halt. My mother and I decided that we’d drive to get dinner. It was odd that no matter how I pressed my key fob the locks in the Jackmobile didn’t open, even though it sounded as if the motor was trying. I shrugged my shoulders and opened the car the old fashioned way, I stuck the key into the lock and turned — success. However, when I put the key into the key into the ignition and turned the car did not start. At first it was just nothing, I saw lights on the dashboard and the headlights illuminated, but the engine didn’t start. Subsequent attempts yielded no more than series of fast, loud clicks from the engine.
I was more than a little perturbed that I took my car to be checked out two weeks ago for the sole purpose of having the confidence that the Jackmobile wouldn’t break down on this trip. If I had any doubt I would have rented a car for this trip.
On Saturday morning AAA came out and determined that the Jckmobile’s battery had a dead cell. While this diagnosis cost me $130 for a new battery (installed) it was probably the cheapest repair of the things that could have possibly been wrong. The AAA guy said that his diagnostic tool said that my electrical system is fine — I certainly hope so.
My Little Alma Mater Is All Grown Up
On my drive to mom’s I passed one of my alma maters — St Petersburg Junior College (Clearwater campus) — only to find out that it is now St Petersburg College.
ITP Flickr Pic
“O-No”
What does a good son do while visiting his mother in Florida? Go out and play BINGO of course!
(I didn’t win)
It was an interesting night at this bingo hall, unfortunately not because I came close to winning often. The night started off strangely as a woman entered the hall clutching her face, clearly in distress. From the speculation that swirled among the room quickly it was determined that the woman was robbed as she was approaching the building by someone who sprayed something (mace? pepper spray?) in her face.
(My diatribe about being feeling young playing bingo was lost. This was the third edit lost writing thi blog, presumably because I am doing so via an iPad on an LTE connection. Oh well…)
Alas, They No Longer Bottle
As a condition to go to bingo last night I “forced” my mother to eat dinner at Dunedin Brewery. We ordered some fried cheese curds, chicken tenders, and I had two half-pints of beer. While eating I inquired about buying their beer and was informed that thy no longer bottle for retail, I stead they are trying for tap space, and they sell full growlers. I would have purchased a t-shirt, but they were out of stock.
My plan is to stop at a local package store on my departure and attempt to purchase a case of beer not available in the Atlanta market.
Listening To A Carl Hiaasen Book Seemed Appropriate
Since I was traveling to/from Florida I decided that listening to a Carl Hiaasen book, specifically his new novel “Bad Monkey.” As I write this I think that I am about 75% through the novel which is typical Hiaasen, but I am enjoying it.
Today’s Personal Project
Make it home.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – meh
Current Music – listening to podcasts or an audiobook at this time
Website Of The Day – My mother and I played bingo at Belcher Bingo.
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 – 0 (0 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 0
Carnivorous Meals – 0
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
July 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]
Oh yeah, how about the first two stages of Le Tour de France?
I’ll be back ITP tonight. Though I officially have the next two days off from work I need to go into the office so I’m certain that there will be blog entries.
I Just realized that today marks the start of the second half of 2013.
Unfortunately the year thus far has been a huge bust for me. I have had the flu/ bronchitis, been on the shelf since the end of April with no relief in sight (my foot still hurts), have not lost weight but have gained weight instead, I have not gone on a single date (the one woman I was considering asking out has shown no return interest), and my job has become a lot less rewarding (though I love my profession).
Time for change.
I have learned the battery thing on a car can not be blamed on the mechanic. They just tend to die when they feel like it. At least it happened at your mom’s place. That happened with the CRV, just wouldn’t start one day at the house, with no prior indication. AAA came out, got it started, tried to sell me a battery on the spot, which I declined, since I had another perfectly good working car right there next to it. Went to the auto parts store & got a new one.
It’s Canada Day today, not sure if we will make it to the hash tonight.
I went SUPing Sunday at Lake Allatoona, its an interesting water sport. I tried out 4 different boards, 2 that were on the high end side, there is a big difference in boards. And, they cost a hell of a lot of money, I looked online at the nicer boards I tried, it probably cost thosr folks close to $1500 each for those boards. I think I’ll keep borrowing………
I think we’ve had a total of 3 dead batteries in just over 4 years. First time was the worst, Jerry ended up having the car towed…the next two time we just took the battery to the auto parts store, had them test it and installed a new one ourselfs (and by ourselfs I mean I did it). Today’s cars come with so many features that just drain the battery. They don’t last as long as they use to.
So let me get this straight after 23 years, 5 spin-offs (who can name all 5?) and a movie, you’ve not seen an episode of any of the Law and Order franchise??
The weekend was pretty quiet. I rode Catersville on Saturday and we had a little block party Saturday night. I spend the rest of yesterday, just sitting around…I was not feeling well at all.
Barb, I’m going to need to pick JoAnna’s brain about SUP. I’m ‘considering’ getting one for Jerry’s birthday…but it might need to wait for Christmas, when, hopefully, we will have a place to store it. There are a lot of options and price points. I’m not really sure where to start.
Martha – we didn’t even take JoAnna’s SUP, she wasn’t feeling super well, but needed to get out & get some fresh air, so I drove, and my car needs some cross bars to put a SUP on it. We used my friend Anne’s 2 SUPs, and another friend of theirs 2 SUPs. I’ll sned you an email with some of the stuff I’ve learned.
Oh yeah – Paulie – really? Never seen a Law & Order? (Law & Order, SVU, Criminal Intent – what’s the other 2? I can’t remember) SVU is my favorite, I guess I like the sicker shows.
Law and Order: LA,
Law and Order: Trial by Jury and
Law and Order: UK (however, I’m not sure if I should count that one, or if I do I should count the two Russian and one French version as well).
Mom says hello (we are eating breakfast at the “Chatterbox Cafe” inside Dunedin Lanes.
Not “blaming” Lam’s though I vaguely recall them telling me that the battery was okay. Either way I have a new box of lead and acid to take me home later.
Paulie: looks like *I* am the final one left then! I, too, have never seen a single Law & Order of any variety!
Hi Paulie’s Mom! 🙂 Are y’all having cheese curds for breakfast again too? If so, this Wisconsin girl approves.
Hoping you got those sunset pics you promised….
HI MOM!!!! and, the battery probably was fine at that time – damn those things.
Oh no, all cheese curds were eaten on premise.
Mom says hello back. She’s now buying lottery tickets. I don’t play because I understand probability.
I was hoping someone here would ask about the cast. I was going to lie and say that I dropped a 16-pound ball on me foot. 🙂
I don’t play BINGO! Am I a “bad” son or just not as “good”?
PS: Even batteries go to Florida to die.
Ha! On both of those.
Brother Ronnie – you won’t go play bingo with your mother? Shame on you… LOL
Yeah, I wear the Black Sheep shirt, he’s the real black sheep. LOL.
How busy am I? Almost 1:30 and just checking in.. holy crap.
The big conversion I have been working on for weeks was a bust on Saturday. We made progress, but could not get enough running to even keep a piece converted, so we backed all the changes out. 12 hour day.
Sunday was lovely- breakfast with the missus, one estate sale, some wandering around country roads (trying to figure a way to include Cove Road near Woodbury on one of our rides- but we’ll need to pack some serious climbing gears!!), 2 antique shops and a 30 mile ride. A swim, work on the pool and dinner on the grill. A lovely weekend packed into a single day.
The problems from Saturday may mean a second attempt will coincide with SSS #1, but I will supply maps and enough direction to get you completely lost!
TdF stage 1- $hit happens, deal with it.
TdF stage 2- Don’t ever look back!! Debbie will vouch- I was screaming!
-FP
I haven’t watched stage 2 – Allan doesn’t have cable at the station yet, so I thought I’d wait for him.
I just saw the dog on Good Morning America……
Steve – Allan was screaming at the TV for Stage 2 as well last night…..
WHY is there no blog post today? I’m on vacation, I need things to do!
In other news: I’ve seen every single episode of every single L&O iteration, even those reality ones that Martha mentioned. I also own the L&O board game. And I used to have the theme song as my ringtone. And let’s just say the things I want to do to Sam Waterston are illegal, and leave it at that.
WHY is there no blog post today? I’m on vacation, I need things to do!
In other news: I’ve seen every single episode of every single L&O iteration, even those reality ones that Martha mentioned. I also own the L&O board game. And I used to have the theme song as my ringtone. And let’s just say the things I want to do to Sam Waterston are illegal, and leave it at that.
Sorry, I will do a better job tomorrow.