Okay Universe, You Got Me

Your minds may not be blown the way mine was last night, but here’s my story.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Play a quick game of hopscotch: Hop forward four times, alternately landing on one foot or both feet.

Hopscotch turns an exercise into playtime. Besides boosting your flexibility and balance, hopscotch may be a way to find fun in improving your fitness. Having fun during a workout can change the way you feel about exercise. According to a recent study, you may also choose healthier foods after exercising if you found it more exhilarating than exhausting.

In a New York Times crossword puzzle that I attempted recently the clue was “What ‘hopscotch’ is called in New York” (or close to that). This confused me because I grew up in New York and we called the game ‘hopscotch’ ‘hopscotch’.

On Wednesday Night
As I was driving home from the play on Wednesday night I started to think about my “old days” back when I did Spinning twice a week and step aerobics three times a week at Jeanne’s Body Tech. I spend a lot of time alone so reminiscing about better times is a frequent occurrence. I started thinking about the step classes and specifically a woman that used to be a regular as well. You may correctly assume that I thought that she was attractive, but she was married and barely gave me the time of day, never mind any indication that she liked me. Coincidentally I also interacted occasionally with this woman professionally because she was friends with one of the founders of the company for which I was working at the time. Why I started thinking about her again on Wednesday night made no sense, but a lot of things in my life make no sense.

ITP Flickr Pic
“I’ve Seen Better Days”
I've Seen Better Days

As I stared at this paint on an old elementary school door I couldn’t help but think that it must feel as if it has seen better days.

Nerds Unite! Holy Shit, Are They Models?
Yesterday I went to Red Brick Brewing for the Atlassian “Get Git Right” presentation. Had the temperature inside the brewery not be hovering somewhere in the 80s and the AV system used loud enough to allow me to clearly hear the presenters as I sat in the back (side note: For a developer event the participants were amazingly punctual. I was one of the last 25% to arrive.) I may have had a chance of learning something. It also didn’t help that a single (but married) beautiful young woman who slightly resembled the woman who I was thinking about the night before was in my periphery and my eyes wandered from the presentation to her often.

With the presentation wrapped up the boss and I went into the air conditioned tasting room and sat next to a table of six stunning young ladies, dressed to the nines, with one guy. I’ll assume the guy was a eunuch for he did not seem to be interested in any of them. But I digress…

I find it odd that on most Wednesday Thursday nights Red Brick hosts Team Trivia. The table of “models” signed up to play, and I considered signing up as well because I cannot fathom a Universe that blesses people with such good looks and trivial knowledge. But since the boss and I weren’t planning on making a night of Red Brick we did not join in; naturally we tried to answer questions as they were being asked. I only broke down and gave the table of models one answer because I assumed that most of the guy teams would know it.

In which sport is the “Lady Bing” trophy for sportsmanship awarded?

Before reading out the answer the emcee said “Only one team got this question right, and they were giving the answer by another person.” I was so proud, but slightly ashamed as well. 😉 Have I mentioned I was drinking beer?

The emcee was also a bit angered by the blatant use of cell phones at tables playing Team Trivia. I can sort of understand because you have to then assume that teams are cheating. However in this day and age we are addicted to our phones and cannot conceive of not using it for the duration of a sedentary event such as Team Trivia.

Oh, the answer is “Hockey”.

Sother Teague, Alton Brown, And The Universe
Nearly a couple of months ago I mentioned my old friend Sother being interviewed by Alton Brown (who have been friends for a long time) and reconnected with Sother on Twitter because of this.

One day on Twitter I posted a question about where in Atlanta I should go eat and Sother recommended Bocado because one of his New York compadres now works there (I met him last night and it turns out that he manages the joint.)

There was free food at the nerdy get-together, and it actually smelled quite good, but I was not far from Bocado, wanted to try their food, and was hoping to meet Sother’s friend (and perhaps get something comped for having a common ally — I did not) so the boss and I went to Bocado.

I don’t believe that I’ve mentioned that my boss was on a sales call with a young woman the last week and she mentioned to him that her favorite hamburger in Atlanta is the one made a Bocado. He mentioned this to me and I thought “Bocado” why does that ring a bell?

Weird coincidence, right?

But wait, there’s more.

BOOOM! GOES THE DYNAMITE!

As I returned from the restroom I crossed paths with the woman I was thinking about on Wednesday night! I spoke her name and she turned around to me.

I should now mention the only sad part of the story. This woman had no idea who I was. I’m sure this disappointment showed in my face. 🙁 Have I mentioned I was drinking beer?

The burger and fries were really good, but not my favorite in Atlanta. The small plate mixed salad with beets, radish, pumpkin seeds, some other fruit whose name escapes me, blood orange, and a soft cheese I’d never previously eaten was delicious.

Whoa, Good Thing I Didn’t Ride MARTA
Because I am heading to Decatur tonight I considered taking MARTA to work. It was only the threat of afternoon rain that changed my mind. I am so glad that I didn’t choose to ride MARTA because as I was driving in I remembered that I have a followup appointment with the ENT today at 9:45am. Technically I could walk to the doctor’s office, which is about a mile or so from my office, but I am glad that I do not have to do so.

I’m not looking forward to having a scope shoved down my nose again, nor will I not be thrilled to report to him that the medication prescribed hasn’t worked miracles.

Today’s Personal Project
Meet up with my old friend Mike for a few drinks in Decatur.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – nervous
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – While wandering the same halls that provided today’s photo I was also reintroduced to Radio Free Georgia.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – 217 pounds (2014-06-14)

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~10.5 miles
Wheel Mileage – ~33.0 miles
Gym Visits – 6 (6 cardio)

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

June Goals
– clean my basement to the point where I could have people over
– hire a plumber to fix all of the sinks at the ITP Estate
– go away two of the weekends

2014 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
– 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
– Sell the ITP Estate (tentative)

2014 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Continue to 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)

Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2014

  1. “Johnny Carson” by Henry Bushkin
  2. “Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative” by Austin Kleon
  3. “Chaos: Making a New Science” by James Gleick
  4. “What’s So Funny?: My Hilarious Life” by Tim Conway

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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17 Responses to Okay Universe, You Got Me

  1. Barb says:

    So, did you ever look up to see what hopscotch is called in New York?

    Trivia at Red Brick, that’s interesting.

  2. Steve says:

    Could the term have been specific to a burrough? I’m sure there are always localized terms, especially kids terms.

    Stager came, made lots of suggestions- move this, paint this, change this… now to implement and have them come back.

    A little exercise last night while it poured rain. Meanwhile, Debbie had loaded Phinney to go ride with Megan, only to get there and the bottom fell out. Phinney enjoyed the car ride, I suppose, but he never got off the trailer.

    Tonight, work!! 8PM call with New Orleans as they upgrade 2 core switches. Hopefully things go well. Tomorrow evening, a gathering of Games folks for a pot luck. We realized except for parties and the work week of the Games, we don’t get to gether often enough, so we are trying to fix that.

    Have a great weekend!

    -FP

  3. Jenka says:

    Don’t you mean they do Team Trivia on Thursday night? Not Wednesday.

    I’ve heard tell that a lot of people think the Bocado burger is the best in town. I’ve not had it so I can’t weigh in. I also hear they have a good lobster roll; that’s something I need to try, as I’m on a quest to find an authentic lobster roll in the ATL. Mostly I’m out to prove there isn’t one, and so far I’ve been successful.

  4. Barb says:

    I don’t know what an authentic lobster roll is.

  5. From the interwebs: “39A. What is hopscotch called in New York City? : POTSY”
    I believe that’s what we called the piece of roofing shingle we tossed onto the hopscotch board/court/field.

    Was last night Thursday? You are correct, Jenka. Wow, my mind was truly blown! This is what happens when I start my workweek on a Tuesday.

    I don’t think that I’ve never eaten a lobster roll. I like lobster, but have never gone anywhere where that is a specialty (read “the upper Northeast”).

    Back from ENT. Meh. Once again stuck a scope down my nose, go back 8/1, may need sleep study after that.

  6. Jenka says:

    An authentic lobster roll is basically lobster salad (like potato salad only with lobster instead of potato) in a toasted hot dog bun. Yep, if you get a lobster roll in some sort of fancy roll of any kind, it ain’t authentic. It should be big chunks of lobster, toasted hot dog bun, end of story. Down here, just getting lobster is the biggest impediment. Then, when they do get lobster, they want to fancy it up. I am SO getting one as soon as I get off the plane in Boston next month.

  7. Steve says:

    Damn, that sounds good.

    So is the ENT trying to find the source of the sore throat or what?

  8. Debbie says:

    I liked the stager. She was very down to earth in her suggestions and was all about implementing the changes as inexpensively as possible. Apparently we were a little over zealous in packing things away and she pulled some stuff back out. I get to paint the red room, hallway and maybe the master bath. Oh boy, my least favorite thing!

    I’m having an ultrasound and was quite surprised that they have Saturday appointments. So my Saturday will start with fasting and imaging. More fun. I must be living right.

    Now I’m craving lobster. Years ago, my parents were rambling around New England in their RV and very thoughtfully shipped some lobsters down to my brother and me. We were beyond excited, but the package didn’t turn up the next day. Turns out the dumbass UPS driver delivered to the wrong address AND put the box in a parked car. Needless to say the lobster and my dreams of it were destroyed. I’m still mad about it. Carry a grudge much?? Why yes I do.

  9. Steve says:

    And before anyone jumps to any conclusions, the ultrasound is for her gall bladder.

  10. Nicely done, Steve.

    ENT scoped me for a while today. He saw some mucus buildup and said that I have a deviated septum. He correctly assessed that I snore and wondered if I suffered from sleep apnea. If things don’t get better by my next visit he might have me do a sleep study. I need to call them and ask a few follow questions.

  11. Barb says:

    Paulie – you could have Kevin do your sleep study!
    Steve – it was more fun before youi put in that comment……..

    I think I’m weird, I think lobster is ok, but not that great. It seems to sweet for me. That being said, I haven’t had it all that much, so maybe I don’t know.

  12. Oh you know that’s what I thought at first Barb. I’m not sure how I feel about having Kevin watch me sleep, or not sleep, as the case may be.

  13. Barb says:

    well – knowig you & Kevin, you’d never get any sleep, you’d be talking to him all night.

  14. Steve says:

    I can occasionally wake myself up when I snore. I know I bother Debbie, especially after tequilla! Arriba!!!

  15. Jenka says:

    Barb, all that tells me is that you haven’t had good lobster. You’re from, like, Iowa or something, right? Then moved to Atlanta? I rest my case.

  16. Barb says:

    Jenka – that is probably very, very true.

  17. Martha says:

    If you have any questions regarding the sleep study just let me know.

    I was told a couple of years ago, I also have a deviated septum, it’s not causing any issues and apparently it is pretty common.

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