Clyde not caring about the pretension...

April in Chicagoland

Un-needed, but Awesome

Mother Nature has an agenda...

It's a new day...

Where I started

Simple, but chaos

More organized than it looks

Sorting out the 'key situation'

My new breakfast routine

I need a better solution...

Clyde wins

I love having graphic designer friends!

These plates will be 'legal-ish' on my '74 Spider. Perfectly legal
under Illinois' laws regarding "Year of Manufacture" license plates,
as long as a valid Illinois Antique license plate is in the car.
Other States, are indeed allowed. I'm only 'fudging' two things - the
first being they don't technically allow 'reproduction' license
plates. I figure, regardless of my subtle plate number, how the hell
do they know who made the plate? Technically, I suppose, the plate
'should be' the type with a stamped year, but as not all states did
those, that may be a fine point, indeed. Secondarily, California
stopped issuing the black & yellow plates in '69, and my '74 Spider
would have gotten a blue & yellow plate. Bummer, I like this look!
We'll see how it goes...

Every Day Carry

Classic Spec's w/ Ray-Ban-Green lenses
Hamilton 'Khaki' Field Watch w/ Corvus NATO 'Bond-Grey' band
(Issued to me by my Uncle Samuel)
My father's signet ring (My initials, also)
Keys to my '74 Spider, house, and mailbox
Ghurka leather notecard holder w/ graph-printed cards
Mont Blanc mechanical pencil (Laser engraved serial ring specifies
EAST Germany!)
iPhone 4
iPhone earbuds in a Radio Shack headphone reel (cant figure out an
easier method to keep 'em untangled!)
My grandfather's BOKER Solingen pocketknife
Coach saddle brown leather business card holder (used as a low-profile
front-carry wallet)

Tolerating my being there, barely

Visitors

The Daily Clyde

Roaming the plains...

Pushing The Rules, a bit...

Further Testing

Diagnosis

I need to expand my horizons...

The Italian Section

The Great White Wagon Rocks!

Checks & Balances

This morning as I checked off my daily goals, I thought it was high time I sent out an update.

 

As part of my New Year’s Resolutions, I chose to measure 13 ‘small things’ each day.  The thinking was that rather than trying to do one or two BIG things this year, I’d try to affect change in my life by instilling new ‘small habits’.  I’d been inspired by my own success at taking the stairs & ‘far parking’ at the office every day since we moved into our new building in early December.  I figured, if I could do THAT, then why couldn’t I do a few things - all at once?

 

Well, as it turns out, ‘The Experts’ tell us to change just one thing at a time - for a reason!  I may have chosen to bite off a little more than I could chew all at once J

 

To aid in my success, I tried the checkbox method used by Jerry Seinfeld.  The idea was that you get one box for each day, and every day that you do the item, you get a check mark.  After a few days, you don’t want to break the chain.

 

However, I apparently didn’t have ANY problem breaking the chain!  I appreciate the idea though, as I’ve always felt you never know what little thing will put you over the tipping point.

 

So, you ask, how am I doing?

 

Probably no great shock, but some things are going better than others.  The easiest items to stick with have been the ‘non-quantifiable’ items.  If it’s an easy ‘Yes/No’, it’s a LOT easier to track this way.  Items like following my Atkins plan, or doing a daily to-do list are a bit more…hazy.  Does it count if I just look at the to-do list?  I mean, I don’t need to make a new list EVERY day, do I?  Some items get done, some don’t – the ‘rush of life’ get’s injected, the list gets recycled to the next day, and then it’s hard to make it a cut & dried yes or no.

 

So, how do I make that more easily measured?  I’m not sure.  I don’t want to drop that category, though.

 

The Atkins Plan & Junk Food daily to-do’s are perhaps best left to my daily carb tracker app.  I need an uninterrupted hour to set up the favorites section on that.  Hmm – maybe that should go on my to-do list…?  Perhaps I could make it a check-mark that I used the tracker each day?

 

Early to Bed / Early to Rise - both continue to frustrate me.  They stay.  I need my 8 to 9 hours each night, and I seriously NEED to not be such a night owl!  Getting up early enough to walk the puppy & do a bit of writing before I head to work…this…this would be seriously good.  Walking the puppy after dinner may also help get my fat butt into bed at a reasonable hour.  Perhaps the Puppy Walk should get broken down into two categories, one each for morning & night?

 

Daily Writing / Puppy Walk / Read My Book Today – these all continue to plague me.  Surprisingly, I’ve not been reading a lot lately.  This isn’t like me, and it needs to change, but I’ve been frustrated with ‘the Library experience’, nor do I want to continue paying for books that crowd my shelves with mediocrity.  I may try an e-reader, although that feels like the literary equivalent of driving a Prius.

 

Drink The Water – I’m going to edit this.  My intention was to drink 8 glasses of water each day, but I get a check mark for each one…making my slackness look like success.

 

Likewise, I need a new definition for ‘Snappy Dresser’.  Wearing ‘new’ cargo pants does not mean they are ‘snappy’.  Getting the lunch-stains out of my favorite polo shirts doesn’t make them ‘snappy’.

 

My daily ‘Fiscal Check-In’ is my big success!  I am dumb-money-free so far for 2011 (meaning no late fees, no bounce fees, etc), the bill management is going well, and I’m reasonably happy with this area.  Lots of room to improve my overall ‘fiscal strategy’, but that’s not what we’re looking for here.

 

The other big success is actually doing this list each day.  I should give myself a checkmark for that…

The Chick 'n Dip is open for 2011!

Remind me later to tell you about this...

Lovely vendor!

The Sunday Clyde

The Sunday Clyde

The Daily Clyde

Happy Birthday to me!

It's been 3 years, today!

Winter's Solstice

Goal Tracking

The Daily Clyde

The Daily Clyde

Becoming a 'Snappy Dresser'

Trying to not look like a bum
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man.

We all know ‘the clothes make the man’ is an outdated and untrue saying.

Or is it?

I won’t debate the true nature of my inner character, but for now we’ll work on the premise that having a snappy, clean-cut appearance is a ‘good thing’, the condition of soul notwithstanding. After all, in this modern economy we all need to strike a delicate balance between looking like a bum wandered into the office, or looking like we dressed up for an outside interview.

So, my goal is to look professional yet casual, nice but not stuffy, and stylish without being trendy.

For this ‘look’ of mine, I’m returning to my prep-school roots. Back in 1981, the look that could get you into the country-club, out of detention (or in-demand at the school dance), was penny loafers with khakis, a button-down dress shirt, a thin vintage tie and a navy-blue blazer.

So, that needed a slight update.

The foundation of my wardrobe (and honestly, I never thought I’d write THAT phrase) are my dress shirts. Having recently lost a lot of weight, I had to significantly thin-out my closet, and determine which items actually fit properly. I ended up with about eight nice long-sleeved button-down shirts. That was enough for a two-week rotation, and I made the commitment that these would all get laundered & pressed professionally, each week. My absolute favorite is the French-blue oxford-cloth, but the two Land’s End white pinpoint button-downs are very nice, too. Mondays are Blue, Fridays are white, and mid-week tends to be a mix of checks & stripes.

Done deal, good-to-go.

A couple of sets of new, correctly fitting khakis were next. I got machine washable, permanent press.

Done.

Shoes were acquired at Nordstrom’s. I needed to update my classic penny loafer, yet I didn’t want a big-buckle pilgrim shoe, nor some long-nose-pointy Kenneth Cole monstrosity. I didn’t want to be so formal as a highly polished cap-toe, nor so casual as a suede slip-on. I settled on a brand called Ecco, which were stylish, but not shouting about it. Simple lace-ups, in brown & black.

Done, and done.

Tomorrow, we talk about Men’s Accessories…

Far Parking

Far Parking
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man.

This is working well!

Helped by my previous habit of ‘almost-far-parking’ at our old building, I parked across the street, but could never bring myself to park at the FAR side of that lot.

This lot is further than that…but I like it, and it’s going well.

The Damn Stairs

These stairs are surprisingly steep, like Battleship-ladderwell-sort-of-steep, and the treads are VERY narrow. Going downwards, my toes hang over each tread, and I fear losing my step, pitching forward, and crashing down into the metal edges of the steps 50 feet below me.

Requiring Band-Aids & an Emergency Broken Tooth Kit.

I feel like I should keep that Broken-Tooth-Kit with me, so that when the inevitable happens, my Dentist will have a fighting chance at reattaching my broken mandibles. In the meantime, I've adopted a downward stair-stepping-stance of my own invention which I call 'sumo-duck-walk'.

Have yourself a quiet moment, and picture THAT...

...but where do we go from here?

Taking this as the pre-concept:

 

http://artofmanliness.com/2009/12/07/forging-habits-of-steel-7-tips-on-making-and-breaking-habits/

 

So…it takes 60 days to make a new habit stick?  That's about two months, and that immediately means to me that I can ("should" being another question) set a goal for 2011 of six new habits.  What would those habits be?  I will track these 'Seinfeld style', and my theme shall be 'Healthy Body / Healthy Mind'.  These are a bit tougher than previous year's goals, though, as these should be DAILY habits…not items done just once a week, or twice a month.

 

1.       Far-Parking & Stairs – as of Day #1 in The New Office, I'd like to take that brilliant opportunity to set a new, and very difficult habit.  First is finding & using the furthest parking spot from the front door, secondarily, always using the stairs.  Up AND down!

2.       Early to bed, Early to rise – 9pm to 5am - a good wintertime habit, I'd like to find an hour of productive 'personal-time' in the morning before work.

3.       Six new books – it's too easy for me to pick up a book off my own bookshelf & spend a week or two 'visiting with old friends', so I'd like to embrace my newly-found Public Library, become active in the book club, and read 6 new books in 2011 that I ordinarily wouldn't.  I will read for 30 minutes each night before bed, and for an hour of Sunday 'relaxation-time'.

4.       Fiscal Fitness – I will contain, manage, and build my fiscal well-being.  I will set & do daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly financial goals & reviews.

5.       Snappy Dresser – I will dress nicely, every day.  Yes, I know it sounds silly, but I believe it adds a good bit of self confidence for me.  Yes, even weekends!  Improving sartorial standards!

6.       Puppy-Walks – good for him, good for me.  A minimum of the half-mile round-the-block, I'd prefer to do the longer-loop of 1.5 miles.  Not sure how to designate this as a 'daily-check-box'…

7.       Daily Atkins – follow the points, eliminate the caffeine, drink the water…

8.       Writing – daily/weekly/monthly postings on all this progress (or lack thereof) & the evolution of the project over the next year – this could be less of a 'goal' and just how I make it all 'accountable' by publishing it on a blog or some-such.

 

I'm thinking that these don't lend themselves easily to staggered starts throughout the year.  They are each things I'd like to do very consistently on a daily basis until they become part of my subconscious routine.  

How do I build-in quarterly benchmarks, or goals?  The Books & Fiscal goals easily lend themselves into 'measurable goals' over time, but what about the others?  Perhaps I should think about how each one could lead towards something?

A good day, indeed

This was Friday, December 3rd, 2010.

Let's not pay too much attention to the disparity between the speedometer & the signpost...

An early winter

> A few days ago I drove my Fiat to work, and That was quite notable in that I'd never gotten an 'official' December Fiat-drive! Of course, The Gods of Fate & Destiny immediately intervened, and we got snow.
>
> THAT NIGHT!
>
> (grumble)
>
> The Fiat now rests comfortably for the winter, even if it's not yet fully 'stored'. Clyde is already whining about his cold paws, I had to dig out the scarf & gloves, and it all seems a month early & unfair, somehow.
>
> But it also seems nice, like maybe we can get a jumpstart on this thing, and maybe (if we're lucky?), get it over with sooner?
>
> No, you're right, maybe not. But maybe we can enjoy it along the way?
>
> Yes. Definitly!
>

Strangers who matter

AHS Grads '85
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1925288,00.html

My random web-bit of the day really got me thinking. How would I categorize the people in my life? Who makes which cut? The categories range from stranger to soul mate, with consequential stranger, acquaintance, friends, and intimates in between.

To me, a true stranger is someone I’ve never before met, never seen their face before. Unknown.

I don’t like the nomenclature of ‘consequential stranger’, but I ‘get’ the idea. This is someone who you recognize & see on a regular basis, but don’t ‘know’. People like fellow dog-walkers, gym nuts, or service providers – people whose name we may not know, but we see them and exchange bits of conversation on a regular basis. The above article points out how important they are to us, and it really opened my eyes.

An acquaintance is someone whose name I know, and maybe even have had lunch with. This is the pool of ‘potential friends’, people you know, but not well enough for a ride to the airport. Happy Hour compatriots, but not the ones invited over for a cook-out when my Mom comes to town.

Friends – ah, the conundrum of who is, and who isn’t! We all have cycles in our lives. As we change jobs, neighborhoods, and significant others, we have a cascade of people falling through our lives like water going downstream. Things change, some come closer, some fade away.

Intimates – the people who make the grade beyond being “just friends”. These aren’t the ones who come bail us out of jail, these are the ones IN the cell with us!

Soul Mates – I expand this category a bit more than some would. Most would say this is the “one & only”, the person you marry. I say we all have several rare people at this level, the “first phone call”, if you will. When something (good or bad) happens – who do you call first? I’m not married, so maybe I don’t yet quite ‘get’ this level, but I have a few very-important-to-me people whom I’m sure I’ll know again in future lives.

Today's random web bit

Congrats to Project Icarus!

http://space.1337arts.com/

MIT must not be too challenging to these guys who spent $150.00, and successfully accomplished a near-space launch with time lapse photography!

Way to go guys! Innovation like this is what we need more of these days.

Illinois Stink Weed

Turning golden outside
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man.

Goldenrod grows wild around here, in amazing abundance. "Naturescaping" as done by the Hoffman Estates Village includes a lot of it, regardless that it makes me miserable.

...you'd think they'd be more considerate of my transplanted East Coast allergies...

Of Olives, Martini's, and Guinness...

Best Bartender EVER
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man

No matter how well my Health & Fitness program is going, sometimes I just need a damn drink.

Alcohol, of course, isn't usually listed as an "approved item" on a diet's authorized food list.

...so...

I improvise!

The best choice is a Vodka Tonic, made with Diet Tonic. Easy rule of thumb - clear liquor is zero carb, brown is NOT. The diet Tonic isn't "too bad" tasting, and technically, made this way, the drink is zero-carb. It tastes a LOT better with a lime wedge squeezed in it, but that adds to the carb-count, even if only incrementally. I purchase my Diet Tonic at Dominick's, and my favorite bartender keeps it available behind the bar as my own "Private Stock". I tip her very well, and she takes excellent care of me. (Circle of life)

Next best is the Vodka Martini. Dry (no vermouth), made dirty, dirty, FILTHY, dirty! (That's just salty Olive Juice!) Best with Blue Cheese stuffed Olives, but that requires a certain level of dedication in your favorite bartender. Flavor by soaking. Tip accordingly.

Last on the list is a favorite - Guinness. Nearly as low-carb as some beers advertised exclusively that way, it also has protein & vitamins! Practically health food, you know?

All things in moderation, though. Otherwise it's hard to say "no" when the twenty-somethings order shots, and next thing you know it's 2am and you're at IHOP ordering pancakes with syrup.

Little Blue Car has been sold

LBC sold to Tony the Pizza Guy
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man.

...oh, the bitter-sweet angst! The car drove me insane, drained my budget, and gave me such joy to drive.

It goes to a new owner who truly seems to "get it", who says he wants to join our club. He has another Fiat, which is beautifuly restored, though non-functioning. He also has a Ferrari, two Masserattis, two Ducatti's, and a cruiser of a Moto Guzzi.

Favorite driving memory?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leeputmanjr/2671740837/

The 2200 mile roadtrip to & from the 25th annual Fiat Freak Out in 2008, just 200 miles after a full engine rebuild, with ZERO mecahnical issues the whole way!

LBC, you will be missed.

...and other things to see in the dark...

Originally uploaded by The Put-Man.

When was the last time YOU saw the Milky Way?

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/060825_night_sky.html

I remember as a kid in Virginia having nights so dark you could barely see your hand in front of your face. But if you looked UP, you saw an incredible carpet of light.

...with the wispy edge of The Milky Way...

But I've not seen it in years.

Suddenly, I feel the need to drive out into the country for an evening's exploration.

Who wants to come?

Clyde has been a big help. Seriously.

Because sharing is the important thing...
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man

So, my new Health & Fitness routine has the buy-in of my little buddy, Clyde.

I'm sure you were worried!

First, I noticed around week 3 or 4 that my energy level had increased to the point where I was LOOKING to do things that previously felt like a lot of work.

Like walking.

Now, every night, The Clydester gets a 1.5 mile walk. He LOVES it! In fact, he looks forward to it so much, that any time I approach the 'zone of leash', he gets all twirl-around-happy. Laundry can be a real disapointment for him, being withing the 'zone-of-leash'.

The other thing I noticed in that first month, was what I refer to as "TV Avoidance". I was finding other things to do, because when in front of the TV, I get munchy, and crave "The Crunchy".

Not much crunchy stuff on Atkins.

Lots of meat, cheese, eggs and such - but no bread (toast), or any chips, or any sort of potato/corn/flour based products whatsoever.

So, since I craved that, I was avoiding the situation.

Then I figured out a neat compromise! Tuna salad with celery sticks! I use the celery as crunchy-eating-sticks, and the tuna salad has yummy bacon bits and shredded cheddar - and TUNA for the important omega 3's.

...and Clyde likes it so much, he helps with the dishes...

Today's Random Web Bit...

Need an offbeat iPod accesory?

Try this!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090918/od_nm/us_technology

A designer necktie with an iPod pocket to keep your portable device hidden, and YOU looking stylish!

...dorky, but stylish...

...better with bacon...

Brunch
Originally uploaded by The Put-Man

Hello, Internet. I've missed you!

Guess what? Since we last spoke, I've lost 50lbs!

Yes, you read that correctly - 50 (fifty) lbs!

After more weight loss frustration early in the year, I actually gave up. I was tired of beating my head against the wall, tired of constantly feeling like I'd failed. A friend researched some different plans, and she talked me into reading a book about Atkins.

I began on June 1st.

The first week was all about the sugar withdrawls, and all I can say is - WOW. Anyone who put up with me - you are truly a friend.

The rest fo the first month was learning how to implement the system for myself, and by the time I hit July, I was rolling pretty well with it.

My energy has increased a ton, too!

...anyway, read up on it:

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Atkins-Diet-Revolution-Revised/dp/1590770021/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253560256&sr=8-2

I'll continue with my story, and try to motivate you to grab onto my success!

...and Little Blue Car is sold

Originally uploaded by The Put-Man

It's amazing how quickly the warm glow of yesterday's adventure turns into yesteryear's history.

It really wasn't long ago that I bought this car. I dragged it to the 24th annual Fiat Freak Out in Detroit in 2007, about 6 weeks after purchasing it - took it there non-functional! Fiat people helped me fix it in the parking lot of the hotel, and I got to enjoy the weekend DRIVING, made a flock of new friends, and was inspired enough to try starting my own club.

Flashing forward, my "new" club is entering it's third driving season with over 90 members, I've been to three Freak Outs, I'm on my 7th Spider, and while the Blue Car has been totally rebuilt & driven more than 20,000 miles - it's now off to a new home.

I have mixed emotions.

It's great that it's going to someone who wants to joing the club, keeping it "in the family". I'm glad it goes to a good home. I'm thrilled to have Spider #7 so close to being functional.

...but I'm gonna miss the comfortable familiarity, and fun driving of this car.