For five months I had been looking forward to making my annual visit to Shakespeare’s Tavern for “A Christmas Carol.” When I thought that the painters would be painting yesterday I was pleased to think that I wouldn’t have to fight traffic to get to the theatre.
And then all hell broke loose at work over the weekend.
By the time I could leave the office (knowing that I would have to call into a 6:30pm conference call too) I had to give up on my plan to go to the theatre.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Bring your left knee to your chest while twisting your right elbow to your knee, then switch.
This quick exercise gives you a little burst of heart-healthy activity and can inject a bit of energy into your day. It also provides a nice stretch for your leg muscles.
Dear Santa: Please bring me the desire to exercise and stretch again.
I Don’t Make Lemonade, I Make Beer And Dinner
With my initial plans destroyed alternate plans (that would provide me a thirty-minute out to call in to the conference call) were constructed.
I wound up meeting a few friends at Brookhaven’s Pub 71 for a few beers before walking over to Mellow Mushroom where the four of us split a pizza.
While at Mellow Mushroom I was able to catch some of the Falcons v 49ers game (the good part from the Falcons’ perspective), though my request to change the tv at which I could directly stare from CNN (?) to ESPN fell upon deaf ears.
During my travels last night I stopped by the house on Peachtree-Dunwoody owned by the people who literally cover every inch of their front yard with Christmas inflatables (they do a similar stunt on Halloween). The display was incredibly impressive, and if I wasn’t such a wimp I would have gotten out of the car and taken photos of it.
Christmas Has Come Early
In the form of cookies!
At ITP-Reader Barb’s party on Sunday night I was chatting with to our friend Sharon who mentioned that she’d had so many leftover cookies from a cookie-swap party at her house. I joked about taking some of those cookies off her hand and she said that she’d drop some off at the house.
While lounging around in my bedroom (as I am still doing at 10:00am) this morning I heard the distinctive tune of “Jingle Bells” being played by someone’s car horn. When I got out of bed to see what was going on I opened my kitchen door to find a container of cookies.
I’m not saying that the two events were linked, but regardless I brought the cookies inside and have already consumed three. They are sinfully delicious.
Ho!
Ho!
Ho!
Mark It On Your Calendars
Want to spend some time hanging out with me? Who wouldn’t!
Here are some outings at which I can be found and would love to have you attend:
Saturday, December 28: There are talks of bowling in preparation for Cheddarhead.
Wednesday, January 1: Cheddarhead!
Saturday, January 11: Gwinnett Gladiators hockey game.
Today’s Personal Project
Relax, and start thinking about how I am going to reintroduce fun, exercise, and discipline into my life.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – ticked off, but trying to put in one more push at Christmas spirit
Current Music – listening to the Coverville “Best of 2013” countdown
Website Of The Day – .
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – too fat
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 0 (0 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – on vacation
Carnivorous Meals – on vacation
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
- 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
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love — by Cal Newport
- Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life — by Steve Martin
- Who Am I: A Memoir — by Pete Townshend
- Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? — by Billy Crystal
- Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good — Andrew J. Mellen
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Is it Saturday 12/28 or Sunday 12/29?
I’ll be at Cheddarhead (since I have no choice, the end is in my yard)
Not sure about the Gladiators.
Bummer you missed the play.
very busy after having yesterday off & only supposed to work a half day today.
Ooops, I typed the wrong date, it should be Saturday, 12/28. And while I was at it I also corrected my spelling of December. 🙂
Any Snickerdoodles or Coco Crinkles are mine…I gave the last of what I took home to the tow truck driver on Sunday.
I’m at the office today, not thrilled but at least it was an easy commute today.
If you figure out the answer to your personal project please share…I’m looking for the same.
I’ll dig around for those later. All I did was open the tupperware and pick the first three I saw.
This is the first year we’ve been given Christmas Eve off as an official holiday. With the clusterfuck that started on Saturday I’m surprised that I wasn’t asked/required to work today.
I will keep you abreast of what I figure out. I need a completely altered mindset for the remainder to my time on this planet.
Saturday 12/28 – I’d think we could probably bowl. But – we will have to decide that on Friday.
We have way too many cookies at the house, and of course I didn’t think to put out any at the party…..
When Sharon mentioned cookie swapping I immediately thought back to the Sunday Morning Runners. Jesus (happy early birthday!) my life has completely fallen apart over the past three/four years.
[note to self: 2014, CHANGE THIS!]
Barb, just let me know about bowling whenever you want. I mentioned it to the Ukrainian yesterday and she’s interested if we go.
For those of you needing a different Christmas music slant, tune your internet radios to EAV Radio, they’re playing Christmas music until midnight tomorrow.
I will miss the bowling practice as we will be in Orlando. We are however driving back on new years eve so I will be there to kick your ass at bowling at cheddar head (or have my ass kicked).
I’ll have to talk to Laura but I would like to join you at the Gladiators game, have you purchased tickets yet?
We are still not 100% sure when Debbie’s family is doing Christmas- bowling does sound wonderful, if we are able to attend. Got to work at recapturing the title!!
Brownie is back from the vet. Slightly dazed, but still the trooper. He amused the staff by rolling n his back and growling to himself- a normal activity around here.
On the way to take lunch to Debbie’s folks- I was going to ride, but the mizzus veto’d that with the way I’ve been coughing lately.
Prezzies are all wrapped and we’re ready for Santa!
And if Sharron really wants to unload cookies, JEFDSDR is always open!!!
-FP
Good advice for us all:
“Fear less, hope more;
Eat less, chew more;
Whine less, breathe more;
Talk less, say more;
Hate less, love more,
And all good things will be yours.”
Merry Christmas es 73 de JG/HamWithCam
I’ve not purchased tickets yet, Bob. In fact Laura and I discussed that at Barb’s.
Nice words, Ham.
To all my friends: please travel safely and have a Merry Christmas (if this your Winter holiday of choice, if not, have a Happy Hump Day).
Paulie, what are you doing tomorrow morning? Want to go for a hike? Walk? Gym?
We’ve got nothing planned, probably going to the gym and then maybe Sweetwater or somewhere for a hike (if the weather cooporates). A journey of a 1000 miles starts with one step …or something like that. I could use a workout buddy and really, who would be more fun than I? Me? No one that’s who!!
Wonderful words John!
Martha – I’d love to go, but alas, I can’t…… the parents are here until Thursday. I am back to my belief in the rule that 3 days is the max. for me being with relatives. But I’m trying to smile & nod & as my sister keeps texting me – having patience.