Short one today, I’m bushed. I’ve discovered that I sleep better in the hours during which I am supposed to be awake than in the hours during which I am supposed to sleep.
Fed Up
I got a bit fed up with things yesterday.
First, I decided to just go ahead and buy a new backup battery for my alarm system. At the same time I also ordered a new battery for a UPS that’s been laying around for awhile. Disappointed that the Batteries+Bulbs on Moreland Avenue is still in the works, I placed an online order to pick up my purchase at the store located in Shamrock Plaza on North Druid Hills.
Having to go to a store to pick up the batteries turned out to be a good thing as well. The clerk asked me “Is this battery going into an alarm system?” to which I naturally answered “Yes”. He then proceeded to tell me that I ordered the wrong battery because apparently the terminals on the one I picked from their website were too wide and then sold me the proper battery at the same cost. Sure enough the battery he sold me works perfectly with my alarm panel.
I took the fact that I was going to have to drive up to North Druid Hills to pick up my batteries as impetus to go to LA Fitness. To my credit I turned a negative, having to drive all the way to pick up my batteries, into a positive, getting in a hard hour-long stationary bike ride.
ITP Flickr Pic From The Archives
2004: “Me and Santa (2004)” (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)
Back in the days when I had gotten larger again, but still used to hash.
ITP Flickr Pic
“How Well Did You Sleep?” (Atlanta, Georgia, United States)
This was the condition of my bed the other morning. Can you say “Slept like shit?”, I knew you could.
Fun Night Of “Top Chef”
I cooked a pan-load of comfort food last night, Baked Chicken and Rice with Black Beans. I have to admit that mine didn’t look much like the photo, in part because I think that I was supposed to rinse the can of black beans, and I did not. Also, when/if I make this again I am going to use less cheese (I know, heresy) because the amount of cheese overwhelmed the other flavors a bit. However, the meal was good to eat on a chilly winter night.
Here’s the thing to be wary about this recipe however. It is advertised as a “one-dish” meal, that is not true! The first instruction is “Prepare rice according to package directions.” which requires a pot. One of the ingredients is cooked chicken, so you will have to use a pan to cook the chicken. Another of the instructions is to sauté the vegetables as well. And finally you mix all of these things into the casserole dish in which you bake it.
In a wonderfully-effective insulated casserole traveling case I took the food over to Betsy’s where we watched the two most recent episodes of Top Chef.
The Video Hit List
Here are the the videos that I’d like to watch before midnight of December 26th.
Elf
It’s A Wonderful Life
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (the tv show, not the movie)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Time’s running out…
Christmas Cheers!
Paulie [eatl/ga]
I get cooking the rice & chicken, but saute the veggies too? that’s too much work for the 1 dish meal. Glad it was tasty.
I kept Allan (& I) in the will last night by going to dinner with his aunt & uncle & cousins that were passing thru town. I’ve only met them a few times, but thought what the hell, free dinner!! Ok, I didn’t think that as the first thought, really. Mary has told me they were driving thru, but I hadn’t heard any more, until I got a FB message from the cousin. So, some quick thinking on what we can feed everyone with that will be acceptable to both kids and picky older folks – and Cinco Mexican Grill by Cumberland was decided on.
Are we on for bowling on the 24th? Just say where & what time. We can make about anything work. TJ & Mary want to come too, if its ok with everyone. The Grove’s are just not all in the holiday spirit, with having the house on the market & all the fun that goes along with that.
We have bought pre-cooked chicken and it isn’t too bad, but the one pot meal sounded pretty good.
I was left to my own devices last night, so a quick ride, some leftover pizza and present wrapping were the order of the evening. I’m getting tired of sharing the bed with Zelda… the 3 of us don’t really fit. She will start the evening on her bed but slip (if a 125# dog can slip) onto our bed through the night.
I’d love to see you guys on the 24th. I’m looking for centrally located and see Midtown Bowl on Monroe/Piedmont Circle. One place I looked at was closed on the 24th, so we better double check. Funtime on Buford hasn’t updated their website in 4 years- schedule was for Summer 2012.
-FP
Verizon just called me, they really want us to upgrade our phones (and of course, do another 2 year contract). I think we might even save $10/month on the plan, maybe, but the phones would cost $10/month, so that’s really not saving any money. Good thing about this deal is no trade in -so, just in case a phone breaks, we’d have a backup. More things to think about today.
It looks like a quick poll of bowling alleys has most closing early on Christmas Eve. If we could start at 5, we could be done by 7 and either head our separate ways or find dinner.
Bowlero, the place near the Garage Mahal is open until 7.
One of the benefits of being unattached is that I have complete say in regards to my schedule. Count me in wherever and whenever is convenient for you all.
I have seen Elf and Vacation already, I have the Grinch recorded so will have to watch that. Never been a fan of it’s a wonderful life, I’ll substitute A Christmas Story for it 🙂
Bowling is on for Saturday and all are welcome! I think we should start either 4 or 5, whatever works best for everybody. There is open bowling at the brunswick lanes in Roswell by the Grove’s old house. We can decide from there if we want fried cheese curds and can run up to Hop Alley in Alpharetta. Does anybody have a preference of Marietta or Roswell?
Love the new format! I don’t have to turn my phone and enlarge the print any more. Getting older stinks.
Currently proofing the final version of my first magazine issue. It’s so fun to have a project that has a finished product at the end
Okay well comments format not so great on my phone. I’ll survive though.
Looking forward to attempting to bowl on Saturday.
Marietta is a bit closer for us.
Marietta works better for me, have to limit my OTP exposure. 😀
Cool, let’s do Bowlero (2749 Delk Rd., Marietta, GA 30067). Does 4 o’clock work for everybody?
Works for me!
4 works!
12/24 4pm, Bolero (formerly known as Brunswick).
Note to everyone- pitchers of Shock Top were $20 a couple weeks ago – highway robbery!!!! So, maybe a flask might be a good idea.
Fried cheese curds – we do have some in the freezer that could be fried – if the weather cooperates, we could have a frying party before or after since we need to use that oil we fried the turkey in soon.
and – do we want to invite anyone else? or keep this a smaller group?
(don’t want to piss anyone off – after the whole FDR camping email fiasco – right Steve?)
I’m okay with the more the merrier. 🙂
Bowlero, not so sure about that name switch… more expensive beer means I will drink less, which is probably a good thing.
Sorry about the comments Debbie, I have no idea why they are not as easy to read.
ok weird – Debbie’s comments just showed up, in the middle of this whole thread.
I guess Brunswick sold out – I guess we will see what the differences are….. if any????
Debbie’s comments required me to approve them before appearing, most likely due to commenting using a different email address. This is necessary so everyone doesn’t see a million spam comments.
I assume Brunswick sold out, maybe cashing in on their renovations? Bowling at 4pm Saturday is now on my calendar.
The more the merrier, it’s an open invitation.
Are we doing a pre-game at the Garage Mahal for fried cheese curds?
let me talk to Allan………… but probably/hopefully…………