Apparently Weekends Weren’t Made For Exercising

Sadly, not even walking around the East Atlanta Strut on Saturday could be conceived as “exercise.” I did a far better job of adding calories than reducing them this weekend.

Today’s Personal Project
Let it go.

Today’s Daily Challenge
Take one small step to pursue an interest.

The things we’d like to achieve or learn often get delayed because tackling them as a whole seems too daunting. When you break goals down and begin by taking just one small step, you feel more positive and confident about perhaps trying another small step. That can encourage you to keep going.

East Atlanta Strut: Some Fun, In Some Sun
I made it up to the East Atlanta Strut around 1:30pm on Saturday. I had intended to grab a festival lunch before starting the day, but wound up hooking up with ITP-Readers Betsy, Terri, and Pat, along with their gang. During the day I ran into many friends, as well as many hashers (who may or may not be friends). ITP-Reader Jenka: I kept my eyes peeled for you all day, but never once saw you (obviously, otherwise I would have come up and said hello).

I watched the parade, or as much of the parade that I could see from three-people deep. I heard the end of one band’s set, though I never considered seeking out more music sets.

The day was filled with drinking and waiting, waiting and drinking. Sadly the beer sponsor this year was PBR, and not New Belgium, therefore the beer selection was not exactly to my taste. The lack of beer selection along with the frustrating tickets-for-beer policy caused me to seek alternative sources of libations. Often times I dropped into one of my local bars only to make an immediate U-Turn upon seeing the size of the crowd inside. My dinner consisted of an order of french fries cooked in duck fat at The Elder Tree. I call it “dinner” because after one more beer I wandered back to the ITP Estate and passed out some time around 7:00pm.

A Stroke Of Lucky Shopping?
While perusing Target before heading to the Highlands Saturday morning I saw that iTunes Gift Cards were on sale. For me that’s like buying money at a discount! I bought one $50 Gift Card for $42.50 (plus sales tax). Woo Hoo! Now I have some additional spending capital for apps, music, movies, tv shows, and books.

ITP Flickr Pic
None taken.

You know, it’s funny. The last way I’d describe myself is “quitter” but yet that’s what I feel I’ve been doing with photography. I’ve been known to continue doing things/fads long after the masses have peeled away (see also: “Blogging”) and I was always certain that I’d maintain taking photos (which seems like an odd statement given how long I’ve lacked content for this section). Perhaps I just need to readjust my priorities…

Working Is Not Working Out
Oh, what a loaded title…

I spent six hours in the office on Sunday, this after spending two at the lavanderia (“improving” the Jackmobile instead of having it get damaged this time). I gambled that the local Auto Zone would be open early on a Sunday and was rewarded for my curiosity. I purchased two new wiper blades (which I still need to install, because I fell asleep early again last night as well) and a canister of Windex-impregnated wipes which I used to give the windows the best cleaning they’ve seen in some time.

My efforts at the office were not quite so rewarding. I have a huge commitment to deliver on Thursday, and I have great fear that I will be failing. I’m still not sure whether or not I’m doing “something” tonight, but I can easily tell that Tuesday and Wednesday nights are taken — by work.

My weekend time at the office is also detrimental to my workout routine. Unfortunately I have no access to a shower at work on the weekends, so the concept of going out and sweating is far less desirable than when I can grab a shower afterwards during the week.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – I should be highly irritated today because of what probably won’t be happening tonight (nothing to do with the Falcons/Broncos game), but it’s par for the course in my world so I’m trying to take it all in stride.
Current Music – listening to a recent “The Story with Dick Gordon” podcast
Website Of The Day – Among the many alternatives I explore instead of watching “normal” television is Eric Ripert’s “On The Table” YouTube series.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – negligible amounts, all trumped by the calories consumed
Morning Weigh-In – Dangen, I forgot…

Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~48.9 miles
Wheel Mileage – ~50.0 miles
Pushups – 0
Situps – 0
Stairs – 0 flights

Days Of Bed-Making – 0

Vegetarian Meals – 24
Carnivorous Meals – 20
Pancakes Eaten – 3

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

September Goals
– Wear “nice” clothes to work at least twice a week, if for no other reason than to have people wonder why I am dressing up. New!
– Eat no fewer than forty-five vegetarian meals
– Take at least one load of stuff from my house to Goodwill
– Take unused electronics to recycling center
– Post at least ten new photos during the month
– Lose at least two pounds (net weight loss)
– Finish two books (audio or otherwise, comic books do not qualify)
– Not to get sick for the entire month
– Exercise for thirty minutes no fewer than twenty days
– Ride no fewer than 100 miles
– Walk (or run) no fewer than 100 miles
– Do no fewer than 750 sit-ups
– Do no fewer than 300 push-ups
– Read a non-techincal book

2012 Goals [will be a little less fluid than last year]
– Get my weight under 200 pounds, or at least whittle myself back down to where wearing a 36″ pant size is comfortable
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Run Sharpened Stone as a real business
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop
– Ride in no fewer than five 50 mile or 50K bike rides
– Run in no fewer than one one 10K
– Submit at least one application under the name “Sharpened Stone” to Apple’s iOS store
– Restore the ITP Estate to a condition where it can be put up for sale at any time
– Buy a new iPhone (iPhone 5?), a new iPad (iPad 3?), and MacBook Air [look, not all goals have to be altruistic]

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient and profitable programmer in Objective-C
– 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)
– See more live concerts than I did in 2011
– Eat more pancakes
– Drive/Fly somewhere for a real vacation

Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2012

1. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me — Mindy Kahling
2. Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man’s Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science — Curtis Ebbesmeyer
3. God, No! — Penn Jillette
4. The Elephant to Hollywood — Michael Caine
5. Here Comes Trouble — Michael Moore
6. How We Decide — Jonah Lehrer
7. Steve Jobs — Walter Isaacson
8. Death of a Salesman (Penguin Plays) — Arthur Miller
9. Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]