Even with a good Friday evening drinking a couple of beers while watching Bob and Laura bowl, my weekend was frustrating. Why? Because of the rain and the pain I have been nearly constantly suffering for the past six months.
I was able to pick up a bag of trash prior to meeting up with Betsy for coffee and a breakfast sandwich on Saturday morning.
The rain wiped out any thoughts of trying to hike in a state park, and lowered my morale to the point where I didn’t even feel like driving to a far away brewery to they something new.
On Saturday night I made Nobody’s Grandma’s Meatloaf. To my fake beef and pork I added onion, a packet of onion soup mix, an orange bell pepper, breadcrumbs, and a ground powder made from dried mushrooms and dried shishito peppers. The resulting loaf was incredibly moist and delicious, even if it didn’t really feel as if I were eating meatloaf. With my meatloaf I ate some small potatoes that I boiled, and then roasted in the oven while the meatloaf baked.
My pain is diminishing my quality of life, and therefore I am going to try to initiate changes this week.
My curiosity on Friday evening may have possibly saved me from all of this. As I left the ITP Estate to drive to Decatur on Friday I decided to drive in the direction of a large plume of black smoke. I assumed a car was in fire on I20, but instead a car was on fire at a gas station, and I had to drive directly past it. By the time I arrived the car was in flames, but the fire department was already on the scene and putting it out.
If you think back a few months ago you may recall my lament that an old Flickr friend of mine, Dave, was shuttering his brewery, IronShield. Well, John (aka HamWithCam) informed me that Dave is the antithesis of me, and had already found something else to do, start a YouTube channel Dave in the Shop. Dave’s channel is nerdy, coming from me that says a lot, but if you are curious to help out a local, give his channel a watch since he needs the subscribers and viewing time for YouTube to bless him properly.
Wordle: four, my starter was WRIST
Connections: perfect, Blue > Yellow > Purple > Green
Apparently yesterday marked the tenth anniversary of the Atlanta “Snowpocalypse”. One the one hand it doesn’t seem as if ten years have passed, on the other it seems a lifetime ago.
Snowpocalypse was in 2011 when we got 6 inches of snow. In 2014 it was SnowJam, because it had very little to do with the snow and everything to do with 5 million people getting in their cars at the exact same time on roads that cannot handle it. All schools, governments, and businesses closed at 1:00 pm, and 5 million cars tried to get somewhere. But why would we ever need mass transit? That’s just crazy talk.
Call it what you will, I was referring to the night I slept in my office cubicle because it was impossible for me to get home that evening.
Exactly. Because you were in midtown (right? were you in midtown by then?) and every car was on the road.
I was lucky because at the time my apartment was a mile from campus.
No, at that time I was still in Dunwoody in an office road from Perimeter Mall.
I am suffering from a new pain this morning. I think that I (would) make a great hypochondriac now.
I’ve got some pain today, but it may be from riding a bike, carrying flour & trying to throw marks. & standing around way too much at the hash ending. MY back does not like standing for long periods of time
Sorry we are in the same club today Barb. I am about to swallow my second round of Advil.
Wordle in 5- had only 2 letters, neither in the right place in 4. Connections with 1 mistake.
Saturday got started early with a breakfast and Publix run, then work in the shop. I wasn’t sure what bike I was taking to Wheelhopper and they all needed service (!!). My new “tubeless ready” gravel bike is actually tubeless!! I don’t like this as I have no repair kit. Frustrating. I put the new shoes (tires) on the CX bike I had bought last month, cleaned up the MTB, and even got Debbie’s bike ready for her riding!!
I took both CX and MTB to WH, where the CX took the honor of being ridden. A smallish crowd considering the jubilee but not considering the weather. A nice trail laid by Allan and Jackass (and Barb). Lots of folks at the end, since it was also Blacksheep’s end. A great selection of chili and cornbread!
News from Florida- we have a new horse!
-FP
A joint hash ending? Inconceivable! I thought that was verboten, not that I have given it any thought since I quit.
I never left the house yesterday, and given my new pain adding to my previous ailments I may say the same tomorrow. I think I am really starting to understand why the chronically ill lose the will to live.
Congrats on the new horse. My condolences to your bank account. 🙂
Joint hash ending – its a good & bad thing.
Lots of people, the money part stresses some people out, but I think the hashes didn’t lose money.
(we have I think 6 sweatshirts left over – if anyone needs a bright orange hoodie)
We had 10 or was it 11 crockpots of chili?
The people that made Chili & bought extra stuff (aka Fag Pipes probably didn’t break even)
He owns horses, he is used to losing money…
What size and cost for the hoodie? I am contemplating buying one just so people can wonder why I have one since I wasn’t there. 😀
They are 25. You really need to start coming out for Wheelhopper at least.
$25 -I have an XL is you want one.
I can send you a picture
You know what, I’ll take the XL.
I did manage sixty minutes of trainer time watching European Football yesterday morning. During that effort I felt the initial pang which ails me today.
While American Football was on the big screen I set up my new tent for the first time. It’s an interesting design but much larger than the one used during BRAG last year and will also be large enough to hold the camping cot I ordered yesterday.
Decided that I am going to try to bake a loaf of bread today? Check back tomorrow to see how it turned out…
Dude, I hope you seek out some help soon. If you could have figured your stuff out on your own, you would have done so long ago. I hate it that you’re so stuck!
In any case, I figured I could deign the blog with my presence today. 😉 I had no idea how momentous my decision from earlier this month would be. I decided to reengage with my parents, which among other things led my 79 year old mother to disclose something about my past that she could have easily taken to the grave, and for now at least, appears to the be missing piece that I’ve been chasing for a decade in therapy. It’s yet another thing thing that sure would have been nice to know about decades ago, but thankfully I don’t give up the chase.
In the nice work when you can get it department, I’m teaching a half-day Excel class in LA next week, and spending three nights at a shockingly affordable AirBNB in Malibu. I mean, what’s the point of flying to LA in February without bolting on some fun?
I was about two weeks behind on the daily NYT crossword but I have caught up on that. I’m caught up on the Mini too. I haven’t had the energy to play Wordle or Connections. I did today, Wordle in 6 and two misses on Connections.
My bedroom has been successfully repainted, and it was worth the 20 year wait. My daughter’s room is transformed as well. Now I’m amidst getting photographs printed from my travels last year. Instead of waking up and seeing a defunct TV on the wall every day, I’ll soon be seeing a canvas print of one or more pictures from the Grand Canyon when I open my eyes each day.
In the confluence of events department, I had to buy two new tires for the front of my car last week. I had some front end work done by my mechanic, and what fell through the cracks was the instruction to “get thee to an alignment shop pronto”. I thought the car was driving weird, by the time I figured it out the damage was done, partly because I am timesharing my car with a teenager these days. Everything is back in good repair, and my mechanic covered the tires. The matter came to a head when the right-front tire popped, thankfully on a sidestreet. It was as kind and gentle as a tire issue could have been. It would be been ugly on the interstate, especially with a teen behind the wheel.
In addition to my jaunt to LA, I also have three road trips this month. One is to Athens for a mock trial competition, the other two are for accounting professor conferences in the hopefully sunny climes of Thomasville, GA and Columbia, SC. Livin’ large! 😉
Columbia? You’ve made it big!
Thanks. I am struggling choosing the doctor I want to see because she is listed as “not accepting new patients” but my buddy Chip, who recommended her, saw her last week and she said I could make an appointment. I hate the US medical system…
Good to see you making progress. And enjoy your travel to the beautiful places… I’m working on not spending too much time in… Newark!
It’s remarkable how quickly things can shift when we get out of our own way. A month or so ago it was incomprehensible to speak to my parents ever again. I am glad that I leaned into it, my intution was spot on. And now my parents aren’t talking to ME, which is perfectly fine.
hey David – I bought some green (not blue – Allan says green is better) tape – so someday (maybe soon) I’ll get to work on my bedroom trim, so I can paint.
The blue tape was a pain in the ass for sure. It did the job, but it wasn’t any fun taking off. That’s great news that you have tape in the house. It’s another step forward!
I’m inspired to repaint some other rooms in my house at some point, so I’ll make sure to look for the green tape next time.
I painted the front room a while back but still haven’t gotten around to painting the window trim. Some day when I get motivated.
Wordle in 4 starting with DEATH. My second guess was the actual word but I kept saying no way that’s the word…but then finally I said it has to be!!! One mistake in connections: yellow, blue, purple, green. Just couldn’t come up with the green category. Probably a reason for that. lol
Fun hash gathering at Barb and Allan’s. Lots of good chili to eat and a really nice fire.
Mt. Mist 50k on Saturday is hard to describe. It rained all day for the most part. It was a skating rink for 31 miles on mud, slop, rocks, steep climbs and downhills. Creeks we had to cross were over flowing. The water fall we have to climb and cross over twice was raging. I was most worried about that. I slipped and fell at least twice in the first 7 miles. You could stand still and still slide. I was going to drop out but then Paul’s friend Eric comes up and says you are not dropping out and reminded me that he and I are the only two left that have gotten every finisher slate. I couldn’t let him be the sole survivor. It took me 3 hours longer than my fastest time out there. Still managed to get first in my age group.
Stopped in Mentone on my way back from Huntsville and had breakfast at The Hatter Cafe. Alice in Wonderland theme. Cutest little place but way over the top on the Mad Hatter decor.
Just learned this morning my longest standing friend from High School had a heart attack and didn’t make it. Her husband she was feeling a little nauseous and had neck pain during the day yesterday but didn’t think much of it. I’m having a hard time grasping the news.
I am so sorry about your friend. I find it especially hard when high school friends pass. Hugs to you.
My condolences on the loss of your friend.
Congratulations on another successful Mt Mist, and it’s thrilling to me that Eric was there to urge you on.
For the rest of you, I spent three years living in Huntsville prior to moving to Atlanta at the very end of 1994 (which means this December will mark thirty years?!?!?). Eric and I worked, and drank, together in Huntsville. It was his sister in law’s shotgun apartment in which I learned that I snore, on a trip to go to Lollapalooza in 1993. I really liked his sister in law, but then was I not only unconfident with women, I weighted a good 230 pounds, so I had no hope.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Sally.
The last two miles of my Grand Canyon hike last month were mix of a mile of mud and then a mile of ice. I simply cannot fathom 31 miles of that. Kudos on your amazing feat and determination.
sorry I didn’t get to talk to you much yesterday – but – you know how that goes.
Sorry for your loss Sally. Another thing about getting older is you start losing friends and people you know. This is why I refuse to grow up, I plan to slide in to the end with my hair on fire.
Hear, hear, Bob! I 100% plan to be late to my own funeral. 🙂
Welp, after doing nothing Monday-Thursday last week, on Friday they: installed the backsplash, installed the shower glass, the toilet, and the vanity, plumbed the kitchen (and dishwasher) and the toilet. The only things left are the stove and the electrical trim, which is happening today. It was like a whole week’s worth of work in one day! I DID DISHES IN MY SINK!
We hunkered down much of the weekend. Went to General Muir for dinner Friday. Saturday I watched movies all damn day. Kevin had to go to a black tie event (he rented a tux!) at Cobb Galleria but I was not required to go. I didn’t even get dressed that day. Sunday we had to go up to Vinings to return the tux and decided to go to C&S Seafood for a delightful early dinner. We watched the first game there and then returned home for the second game. Looks like we have a Chiefs-49ers Super Bowl!
I am not a betting person, but if I had to have made bets that is the Super Bowl I would have predicted before yesterday’s games.
Woot! Finally an end in sight!
Rented a tux and you didn’t go? Hmmm… I try to never pass up an opportunity to get dressed up! One of my bucket list items was owning my own tux and I do.
No way, dude. An evening by myself at home with no husband or kid? That shit is PRICELESS. I can’t remember the last time I was actually at home alone.
You’ve obviously not been essentially single for over twenty years. I have spent over 95% of that time alone.
Nope, I’ve been married to one person or another for the past 18 years. I like the current one but I still need my quiet time. 🙂
Yeah, I knew all of that. Coupled people yearn for solo time, Solo people yearn for coupled time. The grass is always greener…
I’ve heard of C&S seafood now a few times – we may have to go check this place out. It’s so near the bike shop where Allan worked, but we’ve never been.
Congrats on the kitchen getting close to done!
I know how exciting that is.
C&S is worth the trip. I had a nice lunch at the one in Vinings a few years back.
As a seafood snob C&S is one of the few places in Atlanta where I will eat seafood. It is delicious. But you will think it’s too expensive, Barb. Most of the entrees are in the $40s range.
I am FAR too cheap to pay that, plus, seafood is not my jam. I might pay $40 for a steak which these days isn’t even a great steak, so probably not.
Jenka – yes – most of the time seafood is too expensive, you are correct.
But – every once in a while (or if someone else is buying) I love it!
this weekend was a busy one.
Friday night – Drag Bingo at Atlanta Hard Cider & Distillery. It was entertaining enough, I need to go when it isn’t busy, so I can get a flight of cider to figure out what I like there. The 2 cocktails I got were ok- but nothing I’d order again.
Saturday we did some drive around reccy for the hash, Allan went & chainsawed a few things on the “trail” that comes out of Sope Creek, grocery shopped, beer shopped, etc.
Then to a friend’s 70th birhtday gathering.
Sunday I laid the short trail – I got turned around in a neighborhood, a check really was a 3 way whichy way, but also a circle jerk, so after I got home & Allan got in from his trail laying sections, we went back out & decided one of the checks would just be premarked so people weren’t stuck in that neighborhood forever.
I never counted – but I think we have 50-60 people there. People asking me for things about put me over the edge, but I held it together & didn’t yell at anyone. I can tell more stories in person, you never know who might read this blog.
I hope I wasn’t one! I think I’ve known you both long enough to help myself and make myself at home!
no Steve – you were not one of the problem children.
“You never know who might read this blog”
I may have held some things back over the years because of this thought…. and I own the damn thing!!!
oh yeah –
Decluttering – when some dumb hasher doesn’t bring a hash bag (on a freakin cold day) & falls in the creek, and someone tells me – can’t you find some dry clothes for him?
Well – I now no longer have some scrubs that I don’t know where they came from in the 1st place……..
Hahahaha
and he still sat on the ice! Poor Bean.
We chatted a bit and he seemed lucent. I always worry about concussions with anyone, but especially us older folks.
That was an interesting pop quiz. Good for you you to lighten the load a little.
I am at the step of bread making that always seems to let me down…dough rising. I have an incredibly good looking dough, first time I have ever hand kneaded, sitting inside the turned off oven which has a pilot light (have I mentioned the oven is over sixty years old?). In two hours I will learn if my effort will be rewarded. Tomorrow I will post a photo of my finished product, good or bad.
recipe searching today- what can I make with leftover cornbread?
I think I found a chicken casserole idea that might work.
Cornbread stuffing?
Dump it in the trash and then make anything else? KIDDING!
The major issue with cornbread is that it’s sweeter than regular bread, so you gotta keep that in mind when seasoning.
I seriously thought about just dumping it, it wasn’t that expensive to make.
But – I found a recipe that might work – if it doesn’t -the finished chicken concoction will get dumped too!
Fun seeing you Friday night Paulie! We won’t be there this Friday but will be there the next.
Saturday with the rains coming and I still wanted to make smoked chili I set up a pop up on my deck so I could cook in the rain. It worked out well and the chili turned out pretty dang good. I will definitely make it again.
Sunday Wheelhopper was fun, I appropriately layered so was comfortable during the ride. However after the ride I discovered one of my hash shirt layers was a size medium (Doh!) so I was minus one layer. I survived but was a little chilly.
Thanks for hosting Barb, good times were had! I kept asking Allan what I could do to help as he was running around like a mad man and he always said “I’m good”. I tried to help as best I could.
It was fun indeed Bob. I will probably be in Florida, at least on my way to Florida on the 9th. Depending on how inhabitable the house is, I may be there for the remainder of February. More than likely I will be there long enough to see one Toronto Blue Jays spring training games since I can walk to the stadium from the Florida house.
OOOOOOHHHHH! Spring training is the best!
I used to go as a teenager and it was the greatest. Back then (the 1980s) there was far less separation between the players and fans and I was able to get a lot of autographs.
We are going mid-March when the Red Sox play the Braves.
For whatever reason it doesn’t appear if the southernmost teams travel to Dunedin? I didn’t see the Mets nor the Braves on the Blue Jays’s schedule.
Bob –
Most everyone was ok – there were just a few needy people.
And – there really wasn’t much we needed help with – just people to stop asking for shit.
you could have asked for an extra tshirt – we both have plenty that could be borrowed. We know where you live if we really needed it back.
Agreed, when 5 people start asking for stuff at the same time it gets annoying.
I could have also put on the warm hoodie I just got 🙂 It didn’t get too bad, just a half a tick out of the comfort zone. Heated seats FTW on the way home.
Warm enough for me to go out and stir my compost. Wish I was motivated to go for a walk too, but I’m tired and thinking today is going to be a complete rest day.