Progress: 0%

October 2013, mark it on your calendars. Oh wait, unless you’ve purchased a really shitty calendar it’s already on there. Regardless, this it my month of transition.

No, not a Vandy Beth transition, a different kind of transition.

And as of now I am at 0% completion.

I should scour the internets for one of those comical donation thermometer things, but I’ve no time for such silliness.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Plan to take a 5-minute walk when you hit an energy slump today.

It’s normal to feel a bit sleepy between two and four in the afternoon – our bodies’ internal clocks are set this way. Instead of trying to push through while feeling unfocused or re-fueling with sugary treats, taking a walk gets your blood pumping and your muscles moving. The change of scenery can also help re-energize you.

Five minutes? In the immortal words of Gob — “C’moooooooon!”

Worst. Physical. Ever.
When I “lucked” into getting a slot for a physical on January 17, 2013 I never imagined how bad it would be.

Sure there was the “I’m a little concerned about your liver.” comment that caused me to drink less alcohol (yes, I really have) this year.

But then there has been the nine months of harassment I’ve received from the medical lab that did my blood/urine work. Last night there was an automated message on my answering machine that threatened me with collections. All over $450 which I am certain that I do not owe (if I understand the ridiculous terms of my employer’s health care coverage).

So on this day of Government Shutdown I say “Good, go to your rooms and think about what you have done old men and women, and don’t come out until you can fix this fucking mess!”

Today I’ll have the pleasure of talking to my insurance company for the tenth time about this matter. It’s not like I have anything else to do with my life, right?

Feeling Cosmopolitan
After my walk last night I decided to skip going to Fellini’s for a slice and salad and head into Candler Park Market instead.

Oh I had my reasons.

I walked out with “dinner”:

• A loaf of bread (I wanted rolls but what they had didn’t thrill me)
• A small wedge of Jarlsberg cheese
• A small dried salami
• A half-growler of Ipswitch American IPA (I bought my first half-growler bottle for this)
• A pint of High Road Ice Cream (burnt sugar)

Speaking of High Road Ice Cream, my friend’s wife wrote a blog post about three of their flavors on Review Atlanta.

I wound up spending $33 on my booty (hehe, I said “booty”) but considering that these items will feed me at least four times (the beer, well, let’s be honest it’ll serve me twice at most) that’s not too bad.

All I wanted to do was sit, relax, watch a little football, eat, and work on some things.

And then that voice message ruined my night.

Oh sure, I still ate but the evening was nowhere near as relaxing as I’d hoped it would be.

Hey, I found out that my NY Jets are playing football on next Monday night, against the Falcons here in Atlanta. I’d consider going if not for the ridiculous ticket prices, the thought of getting beaten up because I’d wear my Jets jersey, and the fact that Monday night games now start at 8:40pm which means the game wouldn’t be done until after midnight.

ITP Flickr Pic
I have nothing.

Holy Shit, Hartwell Is This Weekend?
Once a staple of my year the Black Sheep Hash Lake Hartwell Campout is this weekend. Shit! There were rumors (started by) me that I would make my return to hashing at this year’s event.

Of course I assumed that I’d be in hashing shape (read “my fucking tendonitis would be completely healed”).

Today’s Personal Project
Exercise.
Stop at Lowe’s, Target, and Kroger (all in Edgewood Retail District) before heading home for the night.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – ready to change
Current Music – listening to my “Jesus & Mary Chain” station on iTunes Radio playing The Smiths — “How Soon Is Now?” (perhaps my third-favorite song from that era)
Website Of The Day – Old Jews Telling Jokes. Really, need I say more?
Mode Of Transportation To Work – MARTA (yep)
Exercise (b)Log – walking, ~4.3 miles
Morning Weigh-In – 213 pounds (October 1)

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

October Goals
– clean my basement to the point where I could have people over
– hire a plumber to replace my malfunctioning faucets
– submit to important documents, neither of which I can talk about at this time
– walk no fewer than 75 miles

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

1. Pages 1.7 for iPad (Timestompers Guide) — by Sean Wells
2. 60 Mountain Lion Tips — by David Sparks and Brett Terpstra
3. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business — by Charles Duhigg
4. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy — by Douglas Adams
5. Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real-World Guide on Achieving Success and Happiness — by CC Chapman
6. So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love — by Cal Newport
7. Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life — by Steve Martin
8. Who Am I: A Memoir — by Pete Townshend

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]