IT’S BOLD!

Yes, that’s a ‘B’ though a ‘C’ would also be apropos. I hope that I never seriously have to use a ‘M’, and someday there will be a title that uses an ‘S’.

Over the weekend I (auto) updated the blogging software to WordPress 2.8. Damn things are bold now. I know, you can’t see what I see, so just take my word on this.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Make a list of three songs that boost your energy.

Music is proven to have a bearing on our mood – and upbeat tunes in particular can help put a smile on your face! By having cheery songs at the ready, you can listen to them whenever you need a boost.

I don’t “cheery” much.

1. Divide And Conquer — Hüsker Dü
2. Town Called Malice – The Jam
3. there is no definitive third, this spot changes regularly

Roller Coaster Friday
After work on Friday I attended a going-away gala for one of my coworkers.

We (fifteen or so) started the night with drinks and dinner at Chuy’s. As with any large gathering this meant that I got to talk only to the five people immediately surrounding me.

After Chuy’s the heartiest of us went to do karaoke at a place on Buford Highway called “Happy Karaoke.” As we started our little room became “tense” karaoke as I got into it with one of the partygoers (long story, nothing major). Once I convinced myself that the night was not about me, I sucked up my hard feelings and returned.

Because of my mood I wasn’t sure if was going to sing, but a couple of beers and a well-selected Frank Sinatra tune changed my attitude completely. (Did you know that I can almost carry certain Sinatra tunes? I think I freaked the shit out of some of the partygoers.) In the end the karaoke was a blast and I returned home around 1:45am. YIKES!

Sadly I returned home to a couple of voice messages from my mother asking me to call her back. In my family this generally means one thing — and I was right. An uncle of mine (through marriage — is there a term for that?) passed away on Friday; it was far from unexpected as he’d recently been diagnosed with cancer which had spread throughout his body. I had a good chat with my mother and was in bed by about 3:00am.

Dreary Saturday, Stayed At Home
Perhaps it was because I couldn’t get out of bed until 10:30am, or perhaps it was because it was dreary and raining outside, but my day started really slow.

“I’ll kick around the house and then go out tonight.” I tried to convince myself.
But I didn’t.

I thought about going down to Jailhouse Brewing for their “visitation” hours. I didn’t.

I thought about going to Value Village to look for an ugly Christmas sweater (redundant?) for ITP-Reader Barb’s party this Sunday. I didn’t.

As I reflect back I’m not sure how I spent most of Saturday. All I know is that my lack of “ingredients” at the house caused me to eat like the bachelor I am (read “poorly”) and, with the exception of running out to get the mail, I never left the house.

Now that I think about it, I spent an inordinate amount of time working on coding project that went nowhere. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

ITP Flickr Pic
“Not ‘Fra-gee-lay’ Even Though It’s Italian” (apropos quote for this time of year)

This is my new table-top tripod, it arrived last week. I was a “Man of the Future” when I placed my Amazon order via iPhone while sitting at breakfast at Majestic Diner on the previous Saturday morning. Only problem was that the weather conspired against me, thus delaying delivery.

Freezing Sunday, Stayed At Home For The Most Part
I was up much earlier on Sunday.

“I’ll go get a nice breakfast.” I thought. But, by the time I showered and took care of a few things it was prime breakfast time which meant I’d have wait regardless of where I went.

“Mmm brunch sounds good.” I thought, before remembering my belief that brunch is not a single’s game, it’s meant for couples and groups. (I know, you don’t understand. Spend the next decade without a partner and get back to me.)

“Lunch then?” Sure.

Around brunch time I headed out to Target (on North Druid Hills — as I do when there is less traffic than normal) with the thought that I’d get myself in a better mood through retail therapy (I bought nothing extravagant unless you consider the pumpkin bar mix on clearance to be extravagant). I saw my friend Carissa in Target, though I’m not sure why I didn’t go up and say hello. Perhaps because I was growing a significant hunger.

Food and beer — the driving forces in my life.

“Where to lunch? Huh, I should go somewhere I can watch the Falcons game. But I want ‘good’ food.” I drove around a bit before deciding to head to Decatur. As I drove to Decatur my thoughts settled on Taco Mac (so much for ‘good’ food) or Twain’s. Guess what, I went to neither. Why? Because as is always the case with Decatur I didn’t know where to park for free when I couldn’t find parking in the lots adjacent to each establishment.

So I went home — where I had “no” food.

“Stone Soup Sunday!” My creativity in full-swing I made a “soup” from the following:

• a bag of frozen corn
• a bag of frozen flat green beans
• a bag of frozen lima beans (from where did those come?)
• a couple of packets of French Onion soup mix
• some chicken stock which has been frozen in my freezer for too long
• the rest of the dried mushrooms that I bought a while back
• water

The concoction was quite edible (especially with a spritz of Sriracha), though I doubt that I’ll ever make it again — if you know what I’m saying.

Home again and watching football, I spent the remainder of the day there. During the day I managed to clean out the majority of stuff from my living room (necessary for this week’s repairs), gather some clothing that’ll find its way to Goodwill this week, watch the Falcons win and the Jets lose, and hook up my new Roku box (more on this as time goes on).

I fell asleep with my iPad on my chest and was thankful that it didn’t shatter when I was awakened by my alarm clock and jettisoned the iPad to the floor when I turned over to silenve the clock.

This Week’s “Big Three”
I’m doing this today in an attempt to lay the foundation for this to become a regular feature of 2014. 2014?!?! Wow.

[EDIT @09:20 — It might help become a habit if I actually put something here]

1. Gather up two boxes of stuff to take to Goodwill, and take them there.
2. Buy groceries so I can cook a bit this week while spending time at home.
3. Start a 2014 budget.

Today’s Personal Project
Clean my bedroom and in the process gather more clothes for Goodwill.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – wishing I had accomplished more this weekend
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – If I ever plan to do karaoke again I really need to head to Lyrics Mode or Lyrics Freak and learn what the lyrics are to some of the songs I plan to sing.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing (BOOO! HISSSSS!)
Morning Weigh-In – 213 pounds (December 15)

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 0 (0 cardio)

Days Of Bed-Making – 0

Vegetarian Meals – 18
Carnivorous Meals – 26

Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0

December Goals
– clean my basement to the point where I could have people over
– hire a plumber, and a painter to work on the ITP Estate
– dissolve Sharpened Stone, LLC?
– follow up on some critical life details
– 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
9. Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? — by Billy Crystal
10. Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good — Andrew J. Mellen

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]