Eight Crazy Nights

No, I’m not talking about that 2002 Adam Sandler movie. I’m talking about the eight nights (originally planned to be nine) of activities that I planned around my birthday last week.

Let’s recap:

• July 19: Black Sheep Hash in Buford, GA
• July 20: Roswell Photographic Society meeting in Roswell, GA
• July 21: Atlanta Tweetup at Center For Puppetry Arts
• July 22: Magnolia Electric Co. at 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA
• July 23: Cracker at The EARL in Atlanta, GA BUGGER!
• July 24: Chattanooga Lookouts game in Chattanooga, TN
• July 25: Jason Lytle / Neko Case show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN
• July 26: Old 97’s show at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA
• July 27: M. Ward at 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA

I really wish I hadn’t been such a party-pooper for the Cracker show. Oh well, I guess one slip up isn’t that bad.

What’s next? An assault on my weight, house, happiness, and future…. nothing big.

And to think that I’m going to start it all off by having a relaxing night of sitting around watching Hell’s Kitchen tonight.

Let Us Continue The “War On Photography”
Even though after seeing the queue outside the 40 Watt Club last night I had all but made up my mind not to bring my dslr into the club I was more than taken aback by the signs explaining that the artist (M. Ward in this case) has requested that there would be absolutely no photography last night. To ensure the artist’s wish was upheld there were people roaming the crowd and confronting anyone who dare pull out a camera, or even a cameraphone.

I can understand an artist requesting a “no flash photography” concert, but in this day and age I think it’s a bit silly to request that no one take photos during a concert. We’ve paid to see the artist, who has chosen to be in the public’s eye by performing, let us have our fun.

ITP Flickr Pic
I like this shot from last week’s Lookouts game. Why?

First, the base runner is sharp (perhaps not tack sharp, but that’s a “me” problem). In addition the base runner, pitcher, and professional photographer with the bazooka lens make a nice line. Finally, the depth of field is such that the base runner is sharper than the pitcher, who is in turn sharper than the photographer. It’s the little things, really.

Do Paper Maps Make Sense Any Longer?
I love maps. I have always loved perusing maps. However, paper maps have a major drawback for the solo traveler — they can’t be easily read while driving.

Yesterday I decided that I would use one of the benefits of my AAA membership and order some updated maps for my car. And then it dawned on me. For the last trip to Nashville, in fact for most of the car trips I’ve taken over the past few years, I never referenced a paper map during the trip. Why? Because I own a Garmin Nüvi GPS, and more recently have come to rely on Google Maps for navigation (Canada not included).

Not only can these “new” technologies be easier used by the solo traveler, they also bring some additional features to the party that a paper map can’t match:

• Points of Interest: Need to find a Starbuck’s to use a cup of WiFi? Electronic maps are often able to point you toward one.
• Route Planning: Run into some unexpected traffic and/or road work? In nearly an instant and electronic map can reroute your trip in order to help get you out of the jam.

And in the case of the Nüvi, Jill’s voice completes the Jackmobile; it’s almost like traveling with a passenger. It is true, I am a sad little fat man…

One Sick MacBook
I love my MacBook, however, it has developed a habit that I can no longer stand so it’s time to make an appointment with the Apple Store for a little repair. The problem? Oh, just that the ‘W’ and ‘E’ keys tend to pop off the keyboard every time I type something — that’s all. I don’t know why I’m reacting so poorly to this, it’s not like I need perhaps the most used vowel and the letter I type at least three times for nearly every website, right? 😉

My only fear about taking my laptop in for repair is that I’ve upgraded my memory to 4GB and that may cause me grief if they have to replace the MacBook instead of fixing it. Even though I’ve had minor issues with my Apple hardware in the past this is the first time that I’ve had to bring something in for repair. Anyone with Apple Store repair experience? How can I ensure that I won’t get screwed? How can I prove that my hardware has been upgraded (by me) in case of a dispute?

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – tired, oddly not exhausted however.
Current Music – listening to today’s “Daily Giz Wiz” podcast.
Website Of The Day – I’m not watching much tv these days, but if I were I’m sure I’d probably be watching most of the shows featured on Television Without Pity.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – 202 pounds (really 201.6 but I round)

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~6 miles, Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 2 (19)
Vegetarian Days – 2, Carnivorous Days – 27
Marta Rides – 0

July Goals
– Regain interest in my life
– Not get fired from my job
– Plan and lay a successful Black Sheep hash on July 19th

2009 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
РEarn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalape̱o Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]