Friday, March 30, 2012

A mere week.

It's been a week since I tore down my computer rig, boxed up the cables and moved them and the tower to my closet. I can tell you I've thought about putting it back up once, but ultimately chose not too.

And how was it you ask? At first, quiet, very quiet. Then very, very refreshing.

At first it was very quiet, I couldn't sleep very well because of it, but I had a small fan that was on top of one of my boxes; I hooked that up and aimed it at my bed, Just a bit cooler and the noise was just about the same. Win-win. Since then I have turned off the fan and enjoy the stillness of my room.

 So what have I done? Well, for starters, I finished a book that I have had for a little over a month and never got around to reading. What might baffle you is that I have always, always wanted to read this series since it's 8th book caught my eye. I borrowed it from a friend and it sat there. Well, no computer and a full day to waste, I read. And read, and read. I finished it that day. I really can't wait till I can borrow the second book.

I was also just about caught up with my articles to read in my e-mail, but I got sick (as I'm sure you are aware) and didn't check my mail for a few days... They send me about 3 a day minimum, so I'm a bit behind now.

I have scrubbed the floors again thanks to my wonderful dog Joey who needs to be neutered now that he has impregnated more bitches than he would care to admit to me, (He used to be a stud dog till I got him, in which my ex Ace got her dog preggo too.) But the scrubbing has been working well and the stairs are the biggest concern now. He's no longer allowed upstairs either. :)

I have picked up my bathroom and cleaned out my car.. I now do push ups randomly throughout the day, just PLOP and do a set. It's easy.

I was hoping to brag that I fixed my curtain this week as well, (Linux knocked it down tearing the mounting piece off the wall) but I cannot. I have fixed the hole with stucco and it's all good to go, but I need a drill and a few screws I have yet to steal from my dad. I'm probably going to do that tomorrow after shopping for groceries but before sleeping.

Speaking of groceries... This is the next step of "Time without my computer". I'm kinda excited and nervous about it.
I have been known to purchase groceries and then let them sit in there while I run out and grab a burger. BUT, without the PC to kill my time before I rush away, I am hopeful this will be different. I'm still gonna purchase all fresh veggies and fruits and food I need to cook rather than heat up, and just see if this extra time can be put toward my diet that I want as my lifestyle change. The exception is Mac N cheese.. because, let's face it, Mac N Cheese is fantastic. And bread, because I like bread and sandwiches.

I was thinking about purchasing eggs as well... But I think I'd 'make more french toast than hard boil them or make actual scrambled eggs. But, they're cheap, maybe I will - Hard boiled eggs are great for protein.

But, I am gonna take some time and make a small area in my backyard that I can level and throw the grill on. Least that's my plan, Dunno how well it will work out, because I don't have any wood or a shovel.. But hey, who knows?

Overall, pretty great results so far. Admittedly I have watched Netflix on my phone just a bit more, like when I'm eating breakfast since that's what I did on my computer during meal time, but it'll probably change around to reading e-mails.

How was your week?

~Just a thought.
Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

Friday, March 23, 2012

An epiphany of sorts.

e·piph·a·ny
1. A sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality oressential meaning of something, usually initiated by somesimple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

I went and met my friend Megan for breakfast the other day. Her and I hit up McDonald's, as it is cheap and I don't like their breakfast, so my spending is $2 on a drink and hashbrown. I get their early since I was at work, and I proceeded to bring in my laptop from work, because I have been meaning to do some productive work, and why not do it there? Free Wi-fi anyway. So I load up, browse CareerBuilder and Craigslist for jobs, a few potentials. In case you didn't know, I've been looking for a second job, preferably part time, but full time is looking for promising. Anyway, so I do that, read a couple articles that I have flagged from LifeHacker and Gizmodo send me that I would find interesting. She shows up, have a great laugh, she gets a business card from a creeper who is failing at his own career (it sounds mean, but he was a joke in my opinion.) We had fun and she went off to something she had going on and I end up mailing myself these potential job choices to review when I get home then I drove home.

I haven't touched those e-mails since.

..... So I am lazy. I know this, those who know me know this, those who have read my blog know this. I have started as many diets on HERE than I ever have. I've been motivated and unmotivated so many times I really think it is a syndrome. Not depression or Bi-polar, mind you, but laziness-syndrome.

I have always been frustrated as to WHY. The WHY that made me lazy. I've tried many things, but the only conclusion I could come up with was that I had Willpower before, and now I don't.

But that couldn't have been the case when I was at McD's right? At first I thought it was because I was on my work computer and there isn't anything better to do, but I think that's the point. I never really understood why people go to Starbucks and sit there on their computer for hours. For some reason I thought they just didn't have internet at home, which is probably true for a few, but being at Starbucks, or McD's, or OUT of the house gets rid of the distractions. I was amazingly productive when I was at McD's just waiting for Megan.

So again, I ask myself WHY am I lazy at home? I finally believe it to be my computer... My room is designed for no laziness except my computer! My alarm clock and closet are the farthest away from my bed as possible, I have work out equipment on both sides, a calendar that says "10 PUSH UPS AND 50 SITUPS EVERY MORNING) on my wall... But I sit here on my computer and do NOTHING for hours on end. Seriously... A part of me aches when I am on my computer browsing old comic strips looking back at my unfolded laundry, I find folding very therapeutic and lets me think, but I accept it sits in my basket. From my computer desk I also look at my push-up bar, in which is laying against my wall, KNOWING that doing ten push-ups and twenty crunches would take less than 10 minutes, 15 if I pushed myself. Then, when I get hungry, I look downstairs from my chair, complaining cause I am hungry and I want to cook something, but have nothing in the cupboard. Now I'm thinking which fast food joint sounds good, and then start scouring Facebook for someone to go with me so I have the excuse to go to Burger King instead of Wal-mart. If I can't find anyone, I head to fast food anyway, then just head to my dads. Company is always present there.

Even on the computer itself I can't seem to do productive work. Facebook is always up, so are my comic strips I read regularly, Gmail, and then your selection of Youtube/Hulu/Netflix/Escapist or porn. That is what I do on my computer at home. This PC is just not being used for any productive work anymore. I don't have Photoshop, nor do I write while I'm here.

That being said... I have decided to take my computer rig down. I mean, I don't even play video games on it anymore. I have a list that I have purchased, but not played. I just don't do it really. So I am going to unplug it and move it to my closet. I think the only reasons to bring it out is if for some reason I have friends who want to play a multiplayer game (SC2, LFD2, and Minecraft). Or if I have arranged Skype time with friends from around the world.

I have Facebook at work and on my phone. I have my work laptop when I quickly need to get online for something important. But this whole wasting of my day needs to stop.
So I am an IT guy without a computer.

I think I am going to take a day or two out of the week to visit various Starbucks's and do work on my laptop for myself. Maybe right after I hit up the gym, which is sporadic, but I do go. Drink a nice tea or something.

I also plan on hanging my dogs leashes on my walls to get me to go more. I used to love taking them for walks. I leave their leashes in my car normally, I tell myself it's because when they get IN my car I want to make sure I have them. Unfortunately, out of sight out of mind works that way too, and if it isn't RIGHT there for me to grab, my computer just looks far more comfier.

Even IF my laziness turns into just a lot of reading from my unfinished books or Gizmodo off my phone, that is a win for me.

That's the latest updates I want to share today. Have a good one, and always find a way to better your life. You only got one.
~Just a thought