Where Do I Go From Here?

Oh, hello there. You’ve caught me in one of those reflective moods as I sit in my bed blogging because I’ve chosen to take Work Day #1 of 2007 as a paid vacation day. At this moment I probably shouldn’t still be in bed, but rather at the coffee shop seeing if Ellen is working so that I can by coffee from her, or camped out looking for the perfect photo as a clear, yet very cold, morning will produce glorious golden light. But I am not…

Sound Like Someone You Know?
Take a look at this description

Keenly observant, with a dry sense of humor, Paulie doesn’t miss a thing. He believes he can solve any problem once he puts his mind to it, and at the moment the problem he’s put his mind to is how to keep himself and Fergy from going to Pinata parties! Paulie is the quick-thinking idea guy who often finds himself saving Fergy from one hair-brained scheme after another. Too bad he completely loses control of his mental faculties whenever he sees a cluckle! We’re talking bonkers times ten – and the best laid plans are often left in ruins – much to his chagrin when he finally comes to his senses.

While that sounds very much like me, it’s actually a description for Paulie Pretztail from the Xbox game Viva Pinata.

Behold The Power Of Cheese!
Yesterday marked the eighteenth annual running of the Atlanta Hash‘s Cheddarhead run. As has occurred in the previous few years the Weather Gods smiled upon us producing a sunny, unseasonably warm day. A friendly bunch in the neighborhood of one-hundred-and-sixty (160) hashers met up for the event at Suburban Plaza in Decatur with visions of Wisconsin beer, brats, fried cheese curds, poutine, and bowling dancing in the heads.

The trail was exactly what I expected for a Cheddarhead — not very long, some shiggy, and a great beer stop. I managed to get my feet soaked crossing a creek which proved to be a mistake when the temperature started to drop and I realized I had left my dry socks and shoes in my car. Oh well, I had beer to keep me warm.

As the temperature continued to drop all were happy when the close of circle occurred. From there it was time to bowl.

But first a history lesson… I am competitive. I know this to be a character flaw, but nonetheless it is what I am. Some years ago I bowled the highest game at Cheddarhead bowling, beating that day’s favorite underdog, who had bowled his best game ever, by one pin. In the years since I have not achieved the same heights I had that day, not for lack of trying (except 2005 for when I was in Boston on New Year’s Day) mind you. Remember, I am competitive and I like to win.

While killing time in Target I bought a t-shirt that said “Feeling Lucky” with all intentions of wearing it during bowling as a joke. But with beer in my system and a chill in the air I forgot to take the shirt into the alley with me.

A small group of us made a pact to bowl on the same lane, much to the chagrin of Laura and Lisa. They know all too well what happens when their husbands Bob (did I mention that Bob had his own ball and shoes?) and Randy respectively, meet up with Senor Competitive in a pseudo-sporting event. It was on…. We prepaid for two games knowing that we all had been drinking and that none of us had probably bowled since the last Cheddarhead.

At the beginning of the first game I felt poorly. My normally limber body was stiff and hurt when I threw the ball. I felt that the effects of alcohol had begun to take their toll, and I felt I had no hope of winning. The results of game one were nothing to write home about; I scored a 155 which was the highest score on our lane but then I heard news from another lane that the highest male score was 192. Hopes seemed to be dashed.

Game two was another story. Perhaps it was the fact that I stripped off the constricting Hash Bowling Shirt I adorned in the first game. Perhaps I didn’t have enough alcohol running through my system in the first game. Perhaps there was a leftover Christmas Miracle in Santa’s sack. Perhaps my current winning ways were going to continue into 2007. Whatever it was, things started rolling my way (get it? rolling — because we were bowling…). Crossover strikes, perfect pocket strikes, sloppy strikes, they started coming one after another. However, try as I might I couldn’t shake Bob (did I mention that he had his own ball and shoes?). For five frames Bob and I went stride for stride scoring the same score in each frame. At frame six something happened — I kept throwing well and Bob started to falter. At game’s end the scoreboard showed the outcome. My final score was 245!!!! Yes, you read that right, 245, one point higher than my lifetime high score, and fifty-five points away from perfection. All tallied I had thrown strikes on eight of my twelve throws. Victory. Was. Mine.

ITP Flickr Pic
To the victor goes the spoils

This was the “trophy” for my victory. Congratulations also go out to my friend Michelle who had the high score for the ladies.

Meet The New Twain’s, Quite Different From The Old Twain’s
Post bowling the five of us drove down to Twain’s to get some food and share some more beer.

In case you haven’t heard, Twain’s has done a bit of reconfiguring inside. Even though I had heard this, I was taken aback when I entered. Unfortunately they are currently unable to serve their microbrew due to some legal issues, they plan to soon and I will return.

On another Twain’s note, this coming Sunday is a corned beef Sunday brought to you by New York Corned Beef Society Of Atlanta. Sadly, my day is accounted for, otherwise I’d make a return then to get a fantastic corned beef or pastrami sandwich.

Still No New CD Releases From Which To Pick
Once again I am perplexed by the fact that there are no new CDs dropping on a Tuesday. Don’t the record execs know that The Kids have money from their holiday celebrations? Have the execs given up? Who the heck knows…

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – basking in the glow of victory
Current Music – listening to the Coverville Countdown fromway back in 2006.
Website Of The Day – The GearLog “Gadget Guide for Geeks, by Geeks” may have been better pre-Christmas, but I forgot.
Training Target – I should know this
Exercise (b)Log – I ran for about eighteen minutes before making to the beer stop yesterday.

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]