Jeepers Wally, my morning is already swamped with work. We have a visitor at the office from India who is working on the project I am supporting, so it is my task to work with him.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Do a spine-strengthening stretch.
Many people complain of low back pain as they age, and sedentary lifestyles can contribute to weaker muscles in this region. This is a great exercise to strengthen the muscles along your spine in your lower back. This can help prevent pain during everyday activities or when you’re exercising.
More stretching sounds like a good thing for me.
Riding, And Swimming, And Cavorting, Oh My
And you thought that my absence from the Day Spa would mean that I wouldn’t ride or swim, didn’t you…
On Saturday the gang and I headed out for a near-eleven-mile ride on Raleigh’s abundant pedestrian/cycling friendly trail system. The kids were champs, pedaling their hearts out and being rewarded with hash browns and sodas at McDonald’s at our turn-around point. My foot behaved for the ride, though soreness set in afterward. As if that weren’t enough exercise for one day (which apparently it was not for the kids) we also went swimming at the community pool to which ITP-Readers Lisa and Randy belong — I also managed a nap in a shady corner whilst there.
Saturday evening was for adults only. The torrential downpour which started just before we were to head out put the kibosh on the original plan of wandering through Raleigh’s downtown area. Instead the three of us settled at a local favorite restaurant, Humble Pie, where we shared numerous courses of tapas and two bottles of wine.
On Sunday “the family” went to the science museum because it was determined that the dinosaur bones located there might be the only thing in Raleigh older than “Uncle” Paulie (kidding, though we did actually go to the science museum).
I left Raleigh, stopping at the beer store for two six packs of beer I cannot buy locally, around 5:30pm on Sunday and stayed overnight at a hotel in Anderson, South Carolina, completing my journey yesterday morning. I knew that I had stayed at this particular hotel previously, and if I were Rain Man I would have remembered whether the room assigned to me on Sunday night was the same one in which I had previously slept.
ITP Flickr Pic
“Chihuly At Dusk”
Another shot from my walk around Atlanta Botanical Garden a few weeks ago.
Today’s Personal Project
A lot of iOS studying.
Try to figure out why food seems to get stuck in my throat more often then I ever remember it happening previously. I’m trying not to be a hypochondriac, but it concerns me a bit.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – okay, though I have so much to do (in addition to figure out how not to die from suffocation from food getting lodged in my throat)
Current Music – listening to last week’s “Sound Opinions” podcast
Website Of The Day – Nerdist will be way too geeky for most of you, but for the nerds out there it’s right on target.
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – checking tomorrow morning because I forgot this morning
Monthly
Foot Mileage – 0.0 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 0 (0 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 3
Carnivorous Meals – 14
Marta Rides To Work – 0
Bike Rides To Work – 0
August Goals
– still TBD
2013 Goals: Measurable
– Get my weight down to 190 pounds so that I can wear a 36″ waist pants comfortably
– Completely read ten books, audio books permissible
– Dissolve Sharpened Stone
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Completely run at least one 10k
– Fix all (or at least most) of the things which are wrong with the ITP Estate
2013 Goals: Unmeasurable
– Simplify, simplify, simplify
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– 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)
– Take two real vacations, perhaps one abroad
– Take a more proactive approach to meeting women (read “stop being such a pussy”)
Books I’ve Read/Heard In 2013
- Pages 1.7 for iPad (Timestompers Guide) — by Sean Wells
- 60 Mountain Lion Tips — by David Sparks and Brett Terpstra
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business — by Charles Duhigg
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy — by Douglas Adams
- Amazing Things Will Happen: A Real-World Guide on Achieving Success and Happiness — by CC Chapman
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love — by Cal Newport
- Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life — by Steve Martin
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Oh yeah, I also picked up my new laptop last night. Anyone want to buy a 2009 white MacBook (with a dead battery and a slight crack in the wrist rest) with power charger and OS X 10.7 “Lion” installed for $100 cash? A new battery will cost about $100-$125 at the Apple store.
Lucky me, I get to do a airport run for the 2nd day in a row! (need that sarcasm font). tookm the in-laws yesterday, they need to go see the other son & family & Spain, today I get to pick up Felicia. She usually doesn’t come back so soon, but work needs her on site for some reason.
And -we figured out an interesting scenario for next week – she will be taking (& parking) the in-laws car when she leaves (Allan & I will be in VA) so TJ has a car when he comes back a couple days later. I’m guessing he is working Tour of Utah or Colorado, but of course I didn’t ask or wasn’t listening. We need to figure out a hide-a-key spot for Felicia to leave the car key.
Anyone have any “MUST SEE or DO” things to do in Norfolk/VA Beach area? I’ve never been to that part of the country. I’m trying to start thinking about this next trip finally.
I’m guessing TJ isn’t working Utah, as it starts today. Colorado in 2 weeks.
I guess it’s too late to get her a copy of the key?
We took dinner to some friends that have moved back to Newnan from Nashville. They made the decision, put their old house on the market, found a mover, packed and moved in the span of not quite 3 weeks. Wow. I’m impressed.
What’s in VA Barb?
-FP
I’ve only been to Virginia as an adult once and that was to do an adventure race about a decade ago.
Mary is the one that needs the key for when she flys back. She didn’t bring one with her to Spain, and she is flying back a few days after TJ, so she will pick up the car that he leaves for her when he leaves to CO. It a logistical nightmare, and I even majored in logistics. We even wondered in Toyotas are sold in Girona to go get a key made.
My old roomie Gregg (Hand Solo) lives in Norfolk now, and we had this trip planned for a while. I was trying to think of places to go within driving distance & fairly cheap (staying with friends makes this a very reasonably priced vacation). I have plenty of vacation days & I hate burning them staying at home. Then the trip to FL came up for July & we decided to do both.
Steve – Why did these friends decide to up & move so quick? What about jobs?
That was the deal. He was hired back by a guy he used to work for- a deal he couldn’t refuse. She was in a job she didn’t much care for- or at least working for a jerk who took all the credit for her work.
Hide-a-key works good but you’d just have to explain where the car is and where the key is hidden. Simple.
Should be interesting explaining the whole hide-a-key to Mary……. LOL
I think we could up & move that quick if we had to, but I think I’d send Allan ahead because I don’t think we could find a house/apartment that quick that I know I would like. But, withthe start of the school year, I guess getting it all done & over with quick is the way to do it.
They rented the house last Thursday off of pictures. That’s pretty brave!! It’s nice though kind of far out… and that’s saying something when you live in Moreland. While we were there last night their boys met the neighbor kids and in a really serendipitous twist, the two kids are the same ages and in the same classes at the new school. The school thing was the rush to get everyone here so quickly.
I have been remiss in Brownie reports. He added another possum to the tally a couple of weeks ago and yesterday he brought home a very large, very ripe squirrel. Unfortunately he’s decided to move back to the back door area, so the stench hit the minute I walked outside – lovely. Does anyone want a really quirky dog?? He’s back on the market. 😉
At least Brownie didn’t bring that very ripe armadillo that I saw just down the road Saturday.
He has yet to retrieve an armadillo- I think there are some things even below his standards.
I was telling Brownie stories at breakfast just this morning. He never fails to crack us up- and Debbie is all talk- road kill or not.
Paulie, you have tempted a lurker out. My daughter wants to buy your used Mac. Post, email or call me. Claire ( blue ball special)
It’s yours. I’ll get in touch.