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We all know ‘the clothes make the man’ is an outdated and untrue saying.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