09.29.08
The Buckhead Sizzler sizzles AGAIN.
Woo hooooo! Just like last year, I SIZZLED at the Buckhead Sizzler! While I don’t really care about winning, I’m thinking seriously about running the Peachtree Road Race next summer. People who don’t qualify for one of the time groups are sort of stuck back in the masses. And guess what, folks? It’s the largest running event in the country, with 55,000 runners. Yes, THOUSAND. So all I had to do was finish in under 55 minutes. And guess what else, folks? I did it! I finished in 54:28. YES! I am so AWESOME! Ray and Michael both did excellently as well. Way better than I did, naturally. I think Michael finished in 38 and change and Ray finished in 47 and change. Which means we can all run the Peachtree next year. Wheee!
So that was the big event of the weekend. Friday night the Handitards went to Grant Central East for dinner. It’s always a good thing to load up on pizza before a race, don’t you think? Considering our great times, I think we’ve proven that theory. At least, I’m looking at it that way just so that I can eat more pizza.
Saturday after the race Dice and I had to rush over to Dice’s library for an important event. Luckily the event included brunch items and mimosas, heh. I had 2 mimosas and a couple pastries and I was pretty loopy. Then we sat around all afternoon completely tired. We’d had to get up at about 5:30 in order to make it to the race on time, so by 2:30 we’d had a full day of it and were ready for some relaxation. Not to mention the fact that we had to get up early again on Sunday for F1. So we ordered dinners through Zifty (sketchy, probably won’t do it again) and went to bed early. Sunday morning we went to the aforementioned F1 race, then shopping, then home again to watch TV all afternoon and go to bed early again. We basically went to bed early and got up early all weekend. Because we’re PARTY ANIMALS.
As far as F1 goes (and this is for Dave because no one else cares), Ferrari might as well not have shown up. They should have just taken an extra vacation day and relaxed at the beach. You know Kimi would have preferred that. That’s where he’s been during every other race this season, after all.
Anywho. One reason why we did so much TV watching this weekend (well, besides the fact that both afternoons we were too tired to move) is that the fall season has kicked off with abandon! In fact, we HAD to watch as much as possible because our DVR was at 92% and that’s not enough memory to record the coming weeks’ shows. So we dutifully plowed through several hours of our favorite brand of mind-numbing entertainment. Ahhhh.
09.26.08
No longer runnin’ on empty.
You’ll be pleased to hear that we found gas last night. Surprisingly, one of the gas stations on the way home not only had gas, but no lines! Bet that didn’t last long. We filled Fancy up to halfway, both because it was $4.30 per gallon but also because other people will want gas, too, and there’s no reason to fill up all the way when we’re in a shortage. As much as I hate our dependence on gas, it’s just neighborly to not be greedy during a temporary situation.
After we got home and showered, we decided to go to the Glenwood for dinner. The new section was open! It’s not open to the public yet, but it’s almost, almost completed and soon will have me as a permanent fixture. It’s to be a wine and cheese bar, and it’ll also be non-smoking! Just set up a cot in the corner, I’ll never leave!
Tomorrow morning I’m running the Buckhead Sizzler along with Ray and Michael and some other friends. Hopefully I’ll get a good time, but I’m not going to stress about it. Then off to the library where Dice will be doing a show and tell with champagne. Then, who knows? Sunday morning we have F1, which is hopefully the last early morning race of the season. Yay!
09.25.08
I’m handicapped, in more ways than one.
Oy. My stomach is officially deformed. Why is it deformed? Because it’s totally stretched beyond all recognition from the sheer volume of food that I ate last night. I met the girls at Fritti for dinner, and I started with an insalate mista, which is your basic arugula salad with cucumbers and tomatoes. Then I had an entire Bianca pizza. That’s right, I ate the whole thing by myself. Then I had the panna cotta for dessert. So you can see that I might be hobbled for life with a gigantically stretched stomach. This morning I was absolutely starving at 11:00 am, which is unusual given that I have my mid-morning snack around 10:30. Then I realized what was happening. Do you think I can get a handicapped license plate for this?
Have I mentioned how much I love Fritti? IT WAS WORTH IT.
We have yet to find any gas, still. We’re down to less than a quarter tank in Fancy and absolutely nothing in Dice’s car. On the way home last evening we passed a gas station where people were filling up, but we were in a rush and by the time Dice made it over there later in the evening they’d already sold out. It’s bad here, folks! Can you send a gas care package, or is that illegal?
Did I mention that I’m running the Buckhead Sizzler on Saturday? I ran it last year and scored my PR on a 10K, which is 56:50. I know that’s pretty slow, but it’s still my PR and I don’t recall trying very hard last year. In fact, as I remember it, Ray and I ran it together and chatted the whole way. So maybe, hopefully, possibly, if I put some effort into it this year I can get a sub-55 minute time and thus qualify for the slowest seeded category for next summer’s Peachtree.
I haven’t mentioned this year’s Clinton Global Initiative yet. Fear not, readers, I will pontificate on that subject tomorrow.
09.24.08
Second is almost first, right?
Our team came in second at trivia last night! This is a major accomplishment because first of all we go to The Thinking Man, where all the smartie intellectual people go, and second of all we were only a three-person team. Which put us at a distinct disadvantage. At one point we thought we were done for. Then we managed to pull ourselves out with some strategic betting and also my own extensive knowledge of TV. Yes, that’s right folks. They never ask any questions about British literature from 1700-1915, but at least I can contribute the knowledge I’ve gained from years of devoted study of the boob tube.
Yes, I do know who was the narrator of The Wonder Years. Do you?
So the big topic around town these days is gas. Gas for our cars. Gas which is practically non-existent. Dice’s car ran out of gas on Monday so we’ve been driving Fancy around instead. Considering Fancy gets 40 miles to the gallon, we’ve barely made a dent in the half tank she had. However, at some point we do need to purchase gas for Dice’s car. The problem is, none of the gas stations between home and work have any gas, and there’s no way in hell that we’re going to drive all over the place looking for gas. That just, you guessed it, uses more gas. Ridiculousness!
Thankfully the EPA is lowering the gas quality so that we can get it delivered from other areas of the country where they have better air quality and fewer cars and thus don’t need to regulate the sulfur content. Yay for SMOG!
09.23.08
Running on the fringe of discipline.
And it’s about as good of a Tuesday as it’s possible to be. Last night I went running with my neighborhood running group for the first time since (I think!) June. It was nice to run with other people again, it was a long, lonely summer. It was also a long, easy summer given that I ran by myself so I didn’t have to push myself speed-wise. So that’s not so good. Anyway, I ran an extra mile and a half (take that, Paulie!) afterwards just because I was feeling good and my rule of thumb is usually that if I’m feeling good, by which I mean, I don’t want to keel over and die, then I should do a little extra. It’s intended to make myself not feel guilty for only running 3 miles or so on some days. It doesn’t work, but whatever.
Then home to watch Fringe. Has anyone else been watching this? I believe we watched our third episode last night, although I’m not positive. This episode was more watchable, and by that I mean less confusing, than the previous episodes, which was good. What wasn’t good was the fact that it was so obviously trying to be like the X Files and failing miserably. The first two episodes were incredibly confusing, but only because the show was trying to be mysterious in that X Files manner. Comparatively, while the third episode actually followed a narrative, it had a lot of drawbacks. A lot of the plot contrivances were just dumb, some maybe weren’t dumb per se, but were still obvious, and parts of it were mildly entertaining. We’ve decided to give the show another shot. This means it’s not that bad, considering we usually cut and run in the beginning of the fall season when we have too many shows to watch. So we will. Give it another shot. Hopefully it gets better.
Tonight we go for trivia again at the Thinking Man. Two weeks ago our team came in third, last week we came in second, which means that this week we MUST be first! Right? Yeah, I seriously doubt it, but we’ll give it the old college try.
In the meantime, I have really been enjoying Discipline by Mary Brunton. I’m surprised that this book hasn’t been touted among the theory monkeys in the various literature departments in higher education. I’d certainly never heard of it before Dice discovered it. The plot is rather obvious, I suppose. The main character is Ellen Percy, a rich and spoiled 17 year old who’s mother is dead and who’s father doesn’t care what she does or where she does it as long as she marries the man he chooses for her. She’s the epitome of careless selfishness. Until her father loses everything in a financing scheme and consequently kills himself, at which point she becomes penniless and all of her friends leave her. This is the part where I’m at right now, and I’m assuming what happens is she learns that not having money isn’t that important, but being a good and religious person is, etc. But it’s the way in which the story is written that’s the true center of the novel. It’s written in first person future, which means that the main character is the narrator of the story as though she were telling it from the future. The narrator pretty much states all over the place that she was spoiled and selfish, so it’s not such a mystery to uncover. The best part is just letting the story unfold and enjoying the narration.
09.22.08
I was slow in more ways than one.
So I had a work event this morning that was big enough of a deal to have kept me highly occupied the past couple weeks. But now it’s over, and I can concetrate on things I like, like food and TV! Heh.
My weekend was pretty good. Friday night we went to beer club at Cypress Street Pint and Plate. We went early, at 6:00 pm, so as to take advantage of their happy hour special which are half priced appetizers (in case you don’t know, or don’t live in GA, I’ll tell you that GA state law prohibits drink specials during happy hour, or any other special “hour.” If you have a drink special it has to be all the time). This includes their famous sliders. I had a plate of the chicken parmesan sliders and I must say that they were truly excellent. The chicken was crispy, the cheese was a thick slab of romano (I think!) and in general the taste was satisfying. The people who go there are a little too fancy for my liking, so if I go back it will be with a large group, and definitely early rather than later.
Saturday morning I was up early to go run the Strut 5K along with my neighbor. I ran my ass off and really felt like I was going to break my personal record, but I think the fact that I started in the back of the entire pack of 300 runners probably skewed my time. I came in at 27:50, which is a full minute slower than my PR. I wonder what it would have been if I’d just started in front? Anyway, after the race I went on a 3 mile recovery run which really did a lot for me to cheer me up. Then I showered and went into work for a while (did I mention a large event this morning? Yeah), and then when I got home Dice and I went to watch the Strut parade. I thought the Strut in general was done much better than in past years’ and although the parade was shorter this year than last, it was still fun. We wandered around looking at the booths until the Canadians and T&R showed up and we all went to Holy Taco for drinks and food. K&M showed up while we were there, too, so the Commune was in full force. After that Dice and I were wiped out and we went home to nap and otherwise lay in front of the TV like lemmings for the rest of the evening.
Which nicely prepared us for Sunday’s laying around like lemmings most of the day. Although we were supposed to go to Macon to visit the other half of the Handitards, the trip was postponed and instead we watched TV or read books almost all day. It certainly was relaxing! Because of all the inactivity we decided to walk to dinner at Solstice Cafe. It made me feel a little better to walk there and back, just to get the blood flowing and prove my muscles still (sorta) work. T&R joined us for dinner and we had a delightful time chatting, and we even got dessert! We got a slice of the Dutch apple cheesecake (SO good!) and the chocolate mousse cake with whipped cream. The cheesecake was the winner of the two, but we managed to put away both slices without much trouble. Heh.
This afternoon I’m hoping to run with my neighborhood running group. It’s been on hiatus during the summer while it was hot and many members were out of town. Now that it’s a little cooler, and summer travels are over, we’re starting it up again. Considering my speed at the 5K was less than I had expected it to be, I’m just hoping to keep up tonight.
09.19.08
It’s Friday!
And it’s the weekend yet again. This week, and specifically today, have flown by. FLOWN, I tell you. Tonight I’ve got beer club at Cypress Street Pint and Plate, where I’ve never been before but I hear it’s pretty cool. Although we have to cross midtown at the height of rush hour to get there, which isn’t so appetizing. Tomorrow morning I’m running the Strut 5K, which I’m not expecting much of but at least it’ll get me out there running first thing in the morning. Considering I’ve got a 10K next weekend which I’d like to finish in under 55 minutes, I should really put some heart into it tomorrow. Then Sunday it shall be a very heartwarming Handitard Reunion in the grande ol’ city of Macon.
Next week is the big TV premiere week, folks. Strap yourselves in, you don’t wanna fall off the couch!
09.18.08
Yes, sports commentators are dumb.
The worst thing that happened last night was that somehow the DVR messed up and only recorded the last 7 minutes of Jeopardy! That basically means all we got to see was Final Jeopardy, but that’s okay. They’re doing a neat concept this week on Jeopardy! which is to bring back past kid contenders when they’re adults. Some of them grow up to be smarty-pants, and some grow up and are stupid. “Greg first competed in 1998 when he was 9. He’s now a PhD candidate in aerospace engineering AND sociology! Larry first competed in 1999 when he was 12. Now he wants to be a sports commentator!” Heh. It’s awesome!
We then watched the season finale of Burn Notice. I’m sorry to say that the season finale was way dumber than the rest of the season. Perhaps I’m just ready for more quality TV (oxymoron!) or perhaps it really was dumber. Who knows. Who cares?
Last night was the first night since last Thursday that we stayed in. Except Saturday, but I don’t count it because we ate bad food and had beers on Saturday. It’s also the only night for the foreseeable future that we could have been found at home. We are social butterflies! We’re also fat, but hey, something’s gotta give.
09.17.08
Second is almost first. Except it’s not.
Last night we went to trivia at the Thinking Man, and our team came in 2nd! That’s almost WINNING! We are smart, and also intelligent too, as well. The Canadians and R came with us, and a fine time was had by all. Until the end, when we had to wait approximately 18 hours for our check, then another 24 hours for the credit cards to go through, which meant we didn’t get home until at least 10:30. That’s late, y’all! I didn’t get to bed until midnight, and thus am performing at less than peak level today.
It’s depressingly grey outside. And yet, it won’t rain. It’s also cold. And by “cold,” I mean upper 70s. Last night I needed a sweater! Considering it was 90 over the weekend, that’s quite a change in a short period of time. I’m not ready for fall yet. I’d like summer to continue for a while longer.
09.16.08
L5P lets me down this weekend!
The good news is that I succeeded in keeping the debauchery a little lower than has been usual lately. The bad news is, it was still pretty high. Which is actually good news too, if you think about it!
Friday night Dice and I were all revved up for a delicious Indian dinner at Planet Bombay in L5P. We even stopped for a pre-dinner drink at Brewhouse just to prolong the anticipation. Then we get to Planet Bombay and it was closed due to a kitchen fire! Damnation! There isn’t another Indian place in L5P, and we’d already parked the car and walked there, so after we stared at each other in dismay for at least half an hour on the sidewalk we ended up going to the Euclid Ave Yacht Club for a dinner of bar food. Which was SUCH a disappointment.
Saturday Dice went to work and I went out to run 7 miles while it was still cool and cloudy out. After that I accompanied the Canadians all the way out to Monroe, GA, where they picked up their newest toy, a lime green 1972 Fiat Spider convertible, which we named Turtle. She’s a cute little car. Monroe, GA is way the hell out there, though. We didn’t stay OTP long enough to get purple scaly things on our skin, but it was close. When Dice got home we re-heated some baked ziti from the freezer and had an early night in order to be fresh and bright for Sunday morning’s Formula 1 race. For once we were actually early for the race, too! I know, it’s shocking.
Sunday afternoon we had made plans to go to the Porter Beer Bar with the Canadians and R. We got there and they were closed! While we stood there waiting for the others to show up we heard the owner talking to some people saying that their opening weekend had been so overwhelming that they had to close Sunday afternoon just to restock and recoup. As Dice said, that’s a good problem to have! Still means we had terrible luck in L5P this weekend. When the others showed up we went to the Corner Tavern instead and had a lovely time. When we got home we decided a trip to the Glenwood would be in order for dinner, so we turned around and went there. The Glenwood is in transition mode towards their fall menu, which means that many things on the summer menu aren’t available anymore, and not all of the fall menu is available yet. So it takes some time to figure out what you want, but whatever arrives at your table is always tasty.
Yesterday we had dinner with the Book Nerds, which turned out to be a ton of fun due to some good-natured ribbing on the waiter, who gave as good as he got. We went to the Colonnade, so of course I had the fried chicken tenders, mac and cheese, brussel sprouts and salad. Pretty darn good!
In other news, today is Michael’s birthday. Happy birthday, Michael!
