Happiness is the Little Things 2.13.13

1.  Archer

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I am soooo soooo obsessed with Archer right now.  Like, I've watched the first 2 seasons 3 times.  The third season wasn't great, so I've only watched it once, and I now buy the 4th season by episode so I can keep up.  There are really no words for how much I love this show.  I would quote an obscene and inappropriate comment I saw on an Archer blog,  but it was obscene and inappropriate.

2. WoW

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I know you are currently adding this to the " total nerd" pile but its true.  I played last winter and stopped when the weather turned and I was spending most of my time outside.  I started playing again at Christmas ( When I got my super awesome new computer) and am loving it.  We will see what happens.  I think I'll keep playing through out the year this year.

3.  Little Debbie Brownies

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My aunt bought me a crap ton of these.  I unfortunately have been eating them.  A lot.  Delicious but it's time to cut back.

What are your fav things this week?

New Year Resolution And The Internet Part 2

Back in January I told you about my internet resolutions.  To quote myself:

"Resolution:

For the month of January no FB, News or blog reading.  The only time I am allowed to catch up is either Saturday or Sunday but not both.  At the end of January I will evaluate where I am mentally and decide how to proceed with February.  "

I did pretty well with this.  Not amazing, and I completely fell off the wagon while I was home sick for a few days, but I think I stayed very true to the spirit of the resolution.

The News

After January was over I went to the news sites I used to frequent to see what I had been missing.  I figured it wasn't much because people are always willing to give you bad news so keeping up with the world is not very difficult.  Even so, I could feel the hopelessness and negativity return instantly.  I almost felt like I had news hang over after my brief reappearance.  

Verdict:  

I am going to continue to avoid news sites like the plague.  It is what is best/healthiest for me and my well being.

Facebook

No one needs to check Facebook 100 times  a day.  I never actually did it because I thought something interesting was going to be on there but because I have a smart phone and I was bored/ easily distracted. 

Verdict:

I have added the app back on to my phone and have the shortcut on one of the screens.  Not m main screen, but 2 screens over.  I probably check it 2-3 times a day now when I am at lunch or bored.  I have definitely cut back and am hoping to keep it at a less ridiculous level from here on out.

Both items were the problems that I thought they were.  I am not going to go to news sites just because anymore and I am not going use Facebook as a weird ADHD crutch anymore.  I think I will have more time and be a better person for it.

The Wolf Gift

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I have always love Anne Rice.  I read Interview with a Vampire when I was 16 and have never stopped reading her books.  When I was in college I forced a group of friends to drive with me from Toledo Ohio to Chicago Illinois so I could meet her and get a book signed.  I have a very personal relationship with her characters and her world.  Anne Rice has a very definite world.

The Wolf Gift was a refreshing visit back to that world.  Anne always has a way of bringing places and people to life for the reader.  She makes you want the characters passions and adventures.  The Wolf Gift is, at its very heart, a typical Anne Rice novel.  It is everything I love and dislike about her fiction.

This book went from being an intense and enjoyable read, to something I had to force myself not to skim till the end.  It became evident in The New Tales of the Vampires that Anne was a little obsessed with Marius.  Repetitively.  As the "pack" formed in the Wolf Gift I felt more and more like I could identify the characters by their vampire counterparts. I've read the story of those characters already.  Multiple times through Anne Rice's various books.  That also made the Marius like character espousing his philosophies equally boring.

BUT

You should read this book.  Whether you are new to Anne Rice or have been around forever this is a very, very enjoyable read.  If you are new to Anne Rice you may not notice my complaints at all.  If you are a long time fan you may not agree with me.  Either way, the merits of meeting Reuben and going on his journey with him far out weigh the negatives.

4/5 Stars

New Year Resolution And The Internet

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I have probably mentioned it before, but I don't have cable.  One of the benefits of that is no news.  Even when we had cable we watched the news rarely.  We use Hulu, Netflix  video games and the internet for our at home entertainment.  There hasn't been a new video game that has caught my interest lately which means outside of working, and working out, I've been doing more internet surfing than usual.

It started with getting a smart phone I am sure.  The constant connectedness to Facebook and news sites.  During the election I slowly slipped into reading more news stories, more badness, more negativity.  After I was into the habit of checking the news on my phone it just stuck.  During the election I said over and over again that I was going to stop being on facebook so much but I never actually stopped.

What am I doing to fix it?

1.  Deleted some of the blogs I am subscribed to.  

2.  Removed all of the news apps and facebook apps from my phone.

Resolution:

For the month of January no FB, News or blog reading.  The only time I am allowed to catch up is either Saturday or Sunday but not both.  At the end of January I will evaluate where I am mentally and decide how to proceed with February.  

I am trying to decide whether or not to add email to that list.  I am thinking not right now.  I am going to be reducing the amount of email I get by changing subscriptions.

How will this effect my VWOB page?  I plan on setting up all of my posts for the week on Sunday.  I am also adding another moderator.  I  am going to allow myself to update my blog any day of the week.   As long as it doesn't involve news sites.

Three days in, how are you doing with your resolutions?

New Year Resolutions

This seems to be the year of the non resolution.  People are talking more about committing to be more present in their life or happier and are leaving it at that.  I've had years like that.  Years were my resolutions were to eat more cake and laugh more. For me, this year is about tangible goals.  Goals that I will be proud of myself for achieving.  

I found an excellent article on  New Years Resolutions.  It is here if you are interested.  The first paragraph encapsulates the article perfectly.  

"New Year’s Resolutions are promises we make to ourselves about a future vision we wish to achieve, but much more often than not, we lack the strategy, commitment, focus, and accountability to make them a reality.  An Anthony Robbins coach once said to me, “I don’t care what my clients want.  I care what they’re committed to achieving.” The same is true for resolutions – it doesn’t matter what you “want” in life.  What matters is how ready, willing, and committed you are to bringing it into being"

As I look at my list of 15 resolutions, I am thinking to myself what am I committed to achieving?  I did well with last years resolution.  I have dieted, lost weight, and kept most of it off. I increased my physical activity and worked out consistently 2-5 times a week.  All year.  I built myself up to 30 mile bike rides and have the giant leg muscles to prove it.  But I can still do MORE.  I think the health goals, having already been in place for a year, provide a great foundation to build on. 

With my resolutions I asked myself three important questions.  How will I get there?  What does success look like? and When am I checking in on my progress?  My google calender is going to be instrumental in keeping me honest with my check ins!   Here are my health goals for 2013.