I left the office “early” yesterday (~4:30pm) and MARTA was packed like sardines on the ride toward home. Argh!
From the MARTA station I drove back to East Atlanta, and then drove around trying to decide where I was going to eat dinner. As I was driving through one of the parking lots some woman entered the lot going the wrong way and took umbrage when I pointed her to move-the-fuck-over so that we could pass like two ships in the dusk. She then yelled at me as we passed. Double argh!
Oh, I wound up at Tomatillos where I ate a brisket burrito, some chips and salsa, and a Coke. Related: I need to eat less food and stop drinking anything other than coffee, water, and the occasional beer for awhile.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Share one free or low-cost activity in your community that you enjoy doing.
Having fun is an important part of well-being, but entertainment can be expensive. Many communities have different types of free or low-cost events and activities, but sometimes we don’t think to pursue them or forget they are available for us to enjoy. By sharing how you get in on free fun, you may inspire someone to seek out something similar in their city or town. And you might pick up some good ideas for your next outing!
Ride MARTA! Oh wait, it’s something that I’m supposed to enjoy doing. 🙂
Here are three (and may depend on what you consider to be “low cost”):
- Visit the High Museum of Art. I’m not exactly sure what the cost of entry is (I am a long time member/supporter) but it’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon, especially if you are a loner like me.
- Riding on the BeltLine. Okay, confession time…. I have actually done this more than once yet, but next year I am recommitting myself to bicycle riding and if I am still living anywhere near the BeltLine I will do this often.
- Awhile ago I heard of this thing called “hashing”… LOL
What says you?
Squirrel Scratch Fever
I need to hire a professional to rid my attic of the critters and then patch up all of the places that they are entering.
I need to hire other professionals (plumbers, tree maintenance/removers, carpenters, electricians, oh my!) as well.
Or, need to cut and run on this house. This option is starting to sound so much better these days…
I have also found out that playing a radio loudly in the attic, even on Power 96.1 which plays the same four songs repeatedly ad nauseam, doesn’t convince the critters to move on.
ITP Flickr Pic
“Fake Easter Island”
Someone (Or Something) Took My Skeleton!
Remember that rat skeleton photo I posted a couple of weeks ago? Well as I sat in bed last night I realized that I didn’t recall seeing it outside when I went looking for squirrels on the roof yesterday. That means that someone, or something, has absconded with it!
I say “someone” because I did notice that my back fence was left open one day and really, what sort of some “thing” is going to take a rat skeleton — tail and all?
However, it wasn’t like the skeleton was visible from anywhere except my deck, and my deck is a second-story deck with no stairs (not that mattered to the motherfuckers who broke in a few years ago).
Something is very strange…
Oooh, maybe the guys who cleaned my roof also cleaned me out of my skeleton!
Today’s Personal Project
Still need to clean out that filing cabinet. I was sidetracked yesterday by the critters.
Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – doing the best with what I have
Current Music – silence at the moment
Website Of The Day – You have to be 100% Mac (Developer) Nerd to appreciate today’s pick — Carpe Aqua. Whaaaat? Have you met me?
Mode Of Transportation To Work – MARTA
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Morning Weigh-In – 213 pounds (October 21)
Monthly
Foot Mileage – ~10.1 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0.0 miles
Gym Visits – 0 (0 cardio)
Days Of Bed-Making – 0
Vegetarian Meals – 38
Carnivorous Meals – 32
Marta Rides To Work – 7
Bike Rides To Work – 0
October Goals
– clean my basement to the point where I could have people over
– hire a plumber to replace my malfunctioning faucets
– submit to important documents, neither of which I can talk about at this time
– walk no fewer than 75 miles
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
- Who Am I: A Memoir — by Pete Townshend
- Still Foolin’ ‘Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys? — by Billy Crystal
- Unstuff Your Life!: Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good — Andrew J. Mellen
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
Was the fake Easter Island pic from up at LEAF?
To make Martha happy, I showed Allan a pic of her Halloween costume & he figured it out. So, I guess you have to be a Doctor Who watcher to get it, which I am not.
Hashing, we had fun at Black Sheep a couple weeks ago, we just might have to go do it again sometime.
I need something to do Halloween night, I don’t want to be home alone, we don’t get many kids & they are usually too old to be trick or treating. Anyone have any ideas? Maybe trivia somewhere?
Free things to do? Hiking up Stone Mountain was alwaysgood for a cheap date when I was a poor single guy… many years ago.
I met a friend for dinner last night in Alpharetta- a sushi bar where they have one of those conveyors and you can select what looks good. Collect the plates at the end and pay the bill. Not bad, but not great either.
Debbie is off on an adventure tonight and tomorrow- playing “horse shipper” for a friend who bought a horse and is being the delivery agent. From Savannah. Horse due at 06:00 tomorrow morning. Oh. What. Fun.
World Serious tonight.. should be fun.
Barb, we don’t get Trick or Treaters… come on down!!
-FP
We usually have a good showing of kids, I hope we do this year. I have alot of candy and lord knows I don’t need it.
Well I reserved a storage space, we are going to start packing/moving this weekend but probably wont finish up before next weekend.
I vote ‘cut and run’…of course I don’t know what you’ll blog about if you go that route.
Martha, have pickup truck, will work for beer.
Photo is from Sunday at LEAF. Some guy set up a rogue artist’s booth selling these for $20 each. Normally I don’t condone such activity but I rewarded his creativity by purchasing the speckled one, second from the left.
I’ve never had a trick-or-treater. Is my house that scary? Don’t answer that! Tipping tomorrow’s blog post early I’ll be at the Hertz Stage for a play tomorrow night.
I’ll still be able to blog about the foibles in my life — health, weight, being single….
Red Hare seems to be having a “thing” tomorrow night, Barb.
I’m with Martha – cut & run………
Thanks Steve, once I start sorting things out I will let you know. I need to figure out what is going into storage and what is going to midtown and what is getting tossed!
Oh, and I need to find the time…all my PTO was used during the shutdown.
yes, I have heard that – but I don’t know of anyone going, and I’m not that huge of a fan of their beer. I go for the company.
Funny conversation of the morning…
Boss: “I’m looking to buy some dining room chairs on Craigslist. Address is downtown. south of the dome. I don’t know much about the area. Want to go with?”
Me: “Sure. I bet it’s in Castleberry Hil. What’s the address?”
*I look it up in Maps*
Me: “Oh hey, I’ve been in that swimming pool!”
Boss: “What? You’re kidding me!”
Me: “Nope”
When I first started hashing (1999) we ended an Atlanta Hash at that pool. If memory serves me right, that pool is where “Fag Pipes” (aka “ITP-Reader Steve”) got his name. Do I remember that correctly, Steve?
Someone asked me Saturday, how long/when did I start hashing…I couldn’t remember (and I still don’t)….I remember the hash (Painful Member) but I can’t remember the year…I’m brain is scrambled these days.
Another vote for cut and run.
I better get in gear if I want to be in Savannah in time for dinner. Any suggestions on where to eat. No pressure, but this will be the “highlight” of this adventure… 😉
Enjoying the LEAF photos and would like to see some of the boys, hint, hint.
I believe you are correct Mr. ‘Bit. I can only recall ending in Castleberry Hill one time and that would be the occasion of my naming.
I’ll post pictures of the boys once I send some to Lisa and Randy and then get their permission to post them.
Debbie- don’t eat anywhere that has a location here in Atlanta.
Depending on what part of town……
Get some seafood (hahahaha)
I enjoyed Tubby’s, we went to the one in Thunderbolt right by the intercoastal. (I have a friend with a condo across the street)
there’s always the Lady & Sons, I hear they have food that is cooked with butter.
Meh, no one who’s really riding bikes for exercise goes on the Beltline anymore. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to maneuver around all the oblivious walkers/runners/skateboarders/rollerbladers. The only people who ride bikes on the Beltline are actively transporting themselves to a destination.
Martha: federal employees are getting their back pay, and don’t have to use PTO. Is that not the case with your company?
Debbie: Circa 1885 (I think that’s the year, do a google search) is fancier but SO GOOD, B. Matthews (also great for breakfast), Blowin’ Smoke (BBQ). If you like beer and good bar food: The Distillery. If you like a quaint British pub with mediocre food: the Six Pence Pub. Just went to The Five Spot on my last trip (last weekend) and it was EXCELLENT.
Also, I was at SoBa last night (Martha: with Steve) probably at the same time you were at Tomatillo’s!
The Five Spot, might have to check that place out someday.
Huh, I nearly chose SoBa but it was too warm for pho.
No, we don’t get any back pay…I had several people that didn’t have enough PTO, so they didn’t get paid at all. Latest rumon is someone in PGO (the feds that run the contract) screwed up and contactors shouldn’t have been issued stop work order at all…*sigh*, no idea if it is true but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Jerry will be having SoBa tonight, he gets it about once a week.
I got the keys to the condo, my boss took me over today to show me around. It is small but not that much smaller than my place. I’m just a little worried about the noise (from us and the dogs), I guess ‘downstairs’ can be a little sensitive.