A Little Better

Another short post today however. I have fixed a few of the bugs in my code, but still have much to accomplish before next Tuesday.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Keep your voice in shape by giving yourself a 30 second jaw massage.

Just as you might stretch your back, arms, and legs to start your day, your voice also benefits from a good warm-up. This massage releases tension in your jaw and face and opens up your voice. Warming up your voice can improve the quality of the sounds you make, whether you’re talking with a friend or speaking up in a meeting at work.

Look Maw, No Cavities!
It was another successful trip to the dentist on Monday. From the dentist’s chair I was able to get a front row seat to the devastation that is occurring on the land that will some day house the Atlanta Braves.

So much land destruction has occurred that I nearly drove right past the office building I’ve been going to for at least a decade because I didn’t recognize the “neighborhood”.

Eurovision
Slowly but surely I am getting my shit together. After my dental checkup and cleaning on Monday I stopped by my bank and picked up some Euros for pocket money on my trip.

Tomorrow I will be heading into REI to get a bag for this trip, not luggage, more like a backpack or perhaps a durable duffel bag. Though I apparently won’t be making as many train rides as I initially thought, due to expense and the reality that I don’t need to try and hit a different town every day, I still do not want to lug real luggage around with me. The plan is to have a large bag to take “everything” and a day-bag for my travels around town. I know, this is far from a groundbreaking strategy, but this is something I’ve never had to do before.

ABC – Always. Be. Closing
This morning I started listening to 5 by 5‘s ‘At the Movies’ dissection of the movie “Glengarry Glen Ross.

I first encountered Glengarry Glen Ross when it was released as a movie in 1992. At the time I was living in Gainesville Florida and quickly anointed the film as my “Favorite Movie of All Time!”. My opinion has not changed.

In the twenty-two years since first seeing the film I have been fortunate to see the play performed on Broadway, with Alan Alda playing Shelley Levene, as well as locally on the Hertz Stage at the Alliance Theatre.

A Little Less Cobble
The rain in France falls mainly on the cobblestone. I’m writing this as today’s Tour de France stage is about to start. Today the riders ride the cobblestone, minus two portions of today’s stage that have been eliminated due to the weather.

Today’s Personal Project
Figure out why my back is hurting, hope it feels better so that I can play racquetball today, do some more Europe planning.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – nervous, so much to accomplish
Current Music – listening to today’s stage of the Tour de France
Website Of The Day – When I start planning the vacation I will take next year (in addition to Portland) I will try to buy Rough Guides book for the country early enough to actually read it before the trip.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – will check next Monday

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~6.5 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 2 (2 cardio)

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

July Goals
– be prepared for, and have fun on my European vacation

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]