So This Is Monday

I’ve not been myself of late, or maybe I’ve been more of myself than I want to be. Regardless, I feel as if I am living in a cloud (more on this in a minute) and because of my wonky work schedule have been having a fun time trying to decide what day of the week it is when I wake. With tomorrow and Wednesday being work vacation days and next Wednesday being New Years Day I am going to be questioning myself the next two weeks.

Today’s Daily Challenge
List two ways you can nurture yourself without spending money.

When we are stressed, many of us have dreams of relaxing getaway vacations or spa visits, but our wallets have different ideas. Thinking of free ways you can nurture your mind or pamper your body will help you the next time you want to unwind and need (or want) to do so on a budget.

1. Spend money
2. Spend more money.

I think I’ve missed the point on this challenge.

Mother Nature Is A Fickle Bitch
Think back to last week and you’ll recall that I delayed my house painting until Friday, Saturday, and today. I’m a sucker.

The workers arrived as scheduled on Friday and did all that they could do on the first day. This work consisted mostly of pressure washing and repairing the living room ceiling.

They arrived as scheduled again on Saturday but the work leader and I both agreed that the weather was far from ideal for outdoor painting, and that given today’s weather forecast looked as bad as Saturday’s (if not worse), that we’d delay the job until Thursday (these guys don’t work on Christmas Eve or Christmas either, apparently). I’m somewhat okay with this, especial if it means I’ll get better workmanship, though I now have to juggle some more time away from the office — which as I found out this weekend may be problematic.

I’ll manage.

Grand Old Time At The Garage Mahal
Oh the weather outside was indeed frightful, but ITP-Reader Barb’s party went on without a hitch.

Because I’ve been feeling like ass the past few days (recall the cloud I mentioned earlier) I never got the motivation to make any food to bring with me (in fact, I have been completely unproductive the last handful of days spending a lot of time in bed). Instead or preparing food at home I went the “Harry’s In A Hurry” route, which really meant that I picked up some stuff at Whole Foods (what Harry’s has become), and arrived with my proverbial tail between my legs. But at least I had beer in my hands. 🙂

The party was quite a fun time, with more than enough food and alcohol to satiate the hungriest and thirstiest of the bunch. As always during events such as these I saw great friends that I don’t see nearly enough any more.

I believe that I left the party around 8:30pm with my mind still in the clouds, at least that is the only explanation I can give for not paying attention on my drive and nearly exiting I-75 South at I-285. Actually by the time I realized my faux pas I had to use Cobb Parkway to get back to I-75 South.

I was sound asleep by 10pm, which bummed me considerably since I wanted to watch a Christmas-related movie last night.

I’ll Be Here For Christmas
In case you need a blogging fix I plan to post tomorrow and Wednesday.

Today’s Personal Project
Heal thyself, and make it to Shakespeare’s Tavern in time to get a good seat for tonight’s performance of “A Christmas Carol.”

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – blah
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – Go elf yourself at JibJab’s “Santa’s Twerkshop” today.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – failed to check, suffice to say its too high

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

Days Of Bed-Making – 0

Vegetarian Meals – on holiday
Carnivorous Meals – on holiday

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]