This title is self-explanatory, I along the rest of the readers of this blog, however few we may be really miss Kyle's comments on here. So please Kyle come back and start commenting once again. I don't think the blog works well without your comments and input, and many people seem more entertained by your comments than my actual content. So please when you get a chance come back to commenting because your comments and my posts have a symbiotic relationship, meaning they really don't work without each other.
Let me give you some sports analogies to compare my blog posts and your comments to my posts. Think about PTI with Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon. By themselves, not so entertaining. When either of them do PTI by themselves it's not that good and remember how horrible Tony was on Monday Night Football? They usually have opposing viewpoints similar to us, and together their back and forth commentary works well and is quite entertaining. Same thing with Woody Paige and Skip Bayless when they used to do Cold Pizza. When they had their back and forth commentaries it was very entertaining but when they are by themselves they just sound like idiots. Sorry to those of you who may not understand these references but basically I'm trying to say that the blog is lacking sizzle without Kyle's responses to my posts. So please Kyle come back so that we can continue our back and forth on whatever issues or instances I choose to write about. That's all.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Taking Time Off
So last night I had a great outing with people from work at a bar. We met to celebrate a fellow co-worker and her newly acquired full-time job, which will give her benefits and better pay. I'm very happy for you Janet but sad to see you leave Borders, except for one night a week. It was great because it was totally a spur of the moment decision to go out. I was sitting at home on facebook thinking I was just going to take it easy and then I saw that Janet had posted a status about how she was going out to the bar to celebrate and that Borders co-workers should come out. Then I just decided, 'screw it I'll go, it's Saturday night and I'm not doing anything else.' It ended up being a really fun time. I had never been out with people from work as a group and it was excellent. After some drinks we merged with these people who were having a party to have one big dance party, it was excellent. Lot's of dancing and drinking (not me though b/c I drove) and overall it was just a great time. I ended up giving a couple of co-workers rides home after and I just remember being really happy I decided to go out instead of staying in on a Saturday Night.
A friend at school recently told me how no matter what's going on Friday and Saturday nights are his to do whatever he wants. Even if he has lots of schoolwork he makes sure to go out on the weekend and have a great time. I think everybody should his example, or atleast to take advantage of nights that are followed by a day off. Sure we all have work, school, and family commitments but we've all got to have some time during every week that is scheduled for fun. In this juncture in my life and my friends' lives such fun usually consists of going out to a bar to dance, drink, socialize, and generally have a good time. Too many times last semester I used the excuse of schoolwork to keep me in on the weekends, when I should have been out enjoying my youth. If you find yourself in a similar position just think, if not on a Friday or Saturday night then when will you go out, let loose and have fun? We all have our commitments with work and school, but at some point you've got to think do I really have to get everything done? Is it absolutely imperative that I do everything perfectly, or can I sacrifice a little bit of my time for some fun? Go out there and enjoy yourself taking a couple of nights off a week, we work to live not the other way around. Get your work done during the day so at night you can go out and enjoy yourself.
A friend at school recently told me how no matter what's going on Friday and Saturday nights are his to do whatever he wants. Even if he has lots of schoolwork he makes sure to go out on the weekend and have a great time. I think everybody should his example, or atleast to take advantage of nights that are followed by a day off. Sure we all have work, school, and family commitments but we've all got to have some time during every week that is scheduled for fun. In this juncture in my life and my friends' lives such fun usually consists of going out to a bar to dance, drink, socialize, and generally have a good time. Too many times last semester I used the excuse of schoolwork to keep me in on the weekends, when I should have been out enjoying my youth. If you find yourself in a similar position just think, if not on a Friday or Saturday night then when will you go out, let loose and have fun? We all have our commitments with work and school, but at some point you've got to think do I really have to get everything done? Is it absolutely imperative that I do everything perfectly, or can I sacrifice a little bit of my time for some fun? Go out there and enjoy yourself taking a couple of nights off a week, we work to live not the other way around. Get your work done during the day so at night you can go out and enjoy yourself.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
A Dream within a Dream
Those who have seen and are fans of Inception would appreciate this post. Last night I had a dream within a dream. I was woken up in my dream by my mom, feeling like I had been woken up from dreaming at 7 am. I remember it being early in the morning, around 7 am and feeling very angry; and for some reason my mom was screaming at me. I think my dream within a dream was about a lovely lady that I met not too long ago but unfortunately is unavailable so that interest was short lived. Stop thinking what you're thinking, there was nothing dirty about the dream, just kind of a memory of something that will probably never be, oh well it's probably for the best. Anyway, it was cool because as soon I was woken up in my dream I realized something was funny, like it wasn't real. It was like, 'oh wow, I'm still dreaming'. I tried not to panic or go too crazy because I remembered in Inception they said not to freak out once you realize you're still dreaming. Haha, sorry I just find it funny how the cast of Inception has now become my authority on dream etiquette.
So this interesting dream from last night made me realize that I want to start doing something that I used to do, keeping a dream log. Starting tonight I'm going to place a notebook next to my bed for the soul purpose of recording my dreams. We all know that we remember our dreams best right after we wake up and as the day goes on we tend to forget about them. Now I'll be able to write down my dreams right away, even if it's only a sentence or two to remind me of what I dreamed about. I used to keep a dream log; the idea coming from my freshman psych professor Dr. Ali who suggested it to all of his students. If you find yourself in the same predicament as me, knowing you dream about cool stuff but then you forget about it as the day goes on try keeping a dream log. As soon as you wake up jot down however much you want about your dream. Even if it's in the middle of the night just a sentence or two would probably be enough to jog your memory if you're trying to relived or remember your dream. See if you can notice trends like recurring dreams or similar sensations like falling, or the feeling like your feet are lead weights for instance: you try to run but you can't no matter how hard you try. Also some people say we dream in black and white, I disagree because I can definitely remember colors from my dreams, but anyway try to see if you can recall colors. Hopefully you like my idea and start a log. If you do start a dream log and make some interesting discoveries please comment on here and tell me about them. Sweet dreams.
So this interesting dream from last night made me realize that I want to start doing something that I used to do, keeping a dream log. Starting tonight I'm going to place a notebook next to my bed for the soul purpose of recording my dreams. We all know that we remember our dreams best right after we wake up and as the day goes on we tend to forget about them. Now I'll be able to write down my dreams right away, even if it's only a sentence or two to remind me of what I dreamed about. I used to keep a dream log; the idea coming from my freshman psych professor Dr. Ali who suggested it to all of his students. If you find yourself in the same predicament as me, knowing you dream about cool stuff but then you forget about it as the day goes on try keeping a dream log. As soon as you wake up jot down however much you want about your dream. Even if it's in the middle of the night just a sentence or two would probably be enough to jog your memory if you're trying to relived or remember your dream. See if you can notice trends like recurring dreams or similar sensations like falling, or the feeling like your feet are lead weights for instance: you try to run but you can't no matter how hard you try. Also some people say we dream in black and white, I disagree because I can definitely remember colors from my dreams, but anyway try to see if you can recall colors. Hopefully you like my idea and start a log. If you do start a dream log and make some interesting discoveries please comment on here and tell me about them. Sweet dreams.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Go away Snow
I've never been a huge fan of the snow, especially now that I have school work and work work that leaves me with little time to do fun things like sledding. I don't even own a sled anymore, what a poor choice to get rid of such an important household item. Any household located in an area that gets snow needs to have at least one sled or tube present, no matter how old the residents are. But yeah at this point in my life snow mostly just gets in the way, unless of course anybody I know would want to go sledding, don't hesitate to let me know. I could always be innovative and use a lunch try or some other contraption but I guess sledding is just more fun when done with a group of friends. I've never been into skiing or snowboarding either, probably because I'm not really a fan of winter but who knows, maybe one day. What really bothers me about the snow is that I've wanted to go running lately but now that would be difficult. Sure the sidewalks are mostly shoveled but it's freezing cold and there's still icey patches. I think I'm going to have to take my sister up on her offer to use her guest past for her gym membership and start hitting the treadmill. I could go right over after work and run for a little while some nights; I think her gym is 24 hours. If I start running again I'll probably see results from my exercise sooner so I'll have to try to get on that. Of course it's going to be tough keeping up with exercise with all of the schoolwork this semester but I will do my best to stick with it unlike last semester when I barely exercised. Well there's my rant for the night, take it for what it is. Probably not my best but what can I say, today was kind of a boring day. Lot's of reading this weekend, maybe it'll spark some creative topics.
I have a Toothache I hope it's nothing serious
So I have a toothache, sort of. It's the tooth all the way on the bottom right side of my mouth underneath my gum. If you're thinking wisdom teeth well I've already had all four of them out. Anyway I've never had a cavity (knock on wood) so as you can imagine I've never had the need for a root canal or an extraction/tooth pulling. Hopefully it goes away sometime soon so that I won't have to go to the dentist. I brush and floss everyday so I can't imagine it's a cavity but who knows. Ever since my dentist told me about full mouth extraction resulting from gingivitis (he probably embellished a little bit to scar me) I have been on the ball with flossing. It's crazy how dental hygiene relates to heart health though, like how plaque can clog your arteries. Two things that I wouldn't think are related, but hey I guess it's good that I'm all about the flossing.
I can't just write about my dental hygiene so what else can I share with you all. Ok so I'm sorry to put someone in my life on blast here but I've got to do it. Today I drove over to somebody's house and helped them shovel out their driveway and sidewalk. Now given the conditions and the fact that my car is all wheel drive it only made sense that I help, but did I get a thank you? No I did not. Did I have better things to do? Yes I did, as in working out, reading, or doing schoolwork. Let this be a lesson to you all to not take very generous and helpful people such as myself for granted. Just because someone is able and available to help you does not mean that you should take such help for granted. Nobody has to help you do anything, and especially when somebody takes time out of their busy schedule to help out with free, manual labor, the least you can do it make sure to thank that person. If you continuously expect people to be there for you for favors and help, make sure you thank them and that when they need something you return the favor, otherwise you may find yourself with nobody to call next time you need a helping hand. A simple thank you or a gesture or appreciation can go a long way, so think about that next time you call on someone else for something that you could do yourself if you had to. Forgive me but I had to sound off, good night.
I can't just write about my dental hygiene so what else can I share with you all. Ok so I'm sorry to put someone in my life on blast here but I've got to do it. Today I drove over to somebody's house and helped them shovel out their driveway and sidewalk. Now given the conditions and the fact that my car is all wheel drive it only made sense that I help, but did I get a thank you? No I did not. Did I have better things to do? Yes I did, as in working out, reading, or doing schoolwork. Let this be a lesson to you all to not take very generous and helpful people such as myself for granted. Just because someone is able and available to help you does not mean that you should take such help for granted. Nobody has to help you do anything, and especially when somebody takes time out of their busy schedule to help out with free, manual labor, the least you can do it make sure to thank that person. If you continuously expect people to be there for you for favors and help, make sure you thank them and that when they need something you return the favor, otherwise you may find yourself with nobody to call next time you need a helping hand. A simple thank you or a gesture or appreciation can go a long way, so think about that next time you call on someone else for something that you could do yourself if you had to. Forgive me but I had to sound off, good night.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
When Will They Catch on?
Now I don't mean for this to be a complaint, as I don't mind having classes canceled due to inclement weather, but when is the Borough of West Chester going to accept the fact that in Pennsylvania it snows during the winter months, and when snow falls the roads have to be plowed? I mean seriously I'm sure the borough has money, why can't they buy a few plow trucks and take care of the snow? Sure it's nice if you're a student attending a school in West Chester, but it makes you wonder why this problem continues to go on. Today I drove to my sister's new house to help her out with a couple of things and on my way there I had no trouble driving on the roads. Now I do drive a car with all wheel drive, making it very efficient in the snow, but all of the main roads were clear and some of the back roads needed some plowing. Overall the situation was very much under control, way to go Htown for knowing how to handle snowfall. Now if my home town can do it why can't the Borough of West Chester catch on and do the same thing? It just boggles my mind that this issue continues, but hey now I have more time to do my schoolwork, even though I'll be doing it right after I finish this so that I don't fall behind.
I had to start writing this post now so that I can get going on my reading and schoolwork. I've had a lot so far but it's not that bad, mostly just reading and busy work. You know, like 2-page papers and article responses for classes but nothing that is too mentally taxing, just time consuming. I'll take that over some of the drubbing academic essays that I have to read in my grad level English classes anyway. I mean seriously, I don't know how PhDs read so many academic essays, I check out so quickly with those. People wonder why I read young adult books like Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series, but after all of the academic essays that are thrown at me I need a break with some fun reading. Anyway I'll probably have another school cancellation tomorrow which is nice, but I now have to go and do my work anyway so that I don't fall behind. Plenty of work coming up this weekend as well, I guess you can say I'm fully back into the swing of things with school. Hopefully my writing won't suffer as a result.
I had to start writing this post now so that I can get going on my reading and schoolwork. I've had a lot so far but it's not that bad, mostly just reading and busy work. You know, like 2-page papers and article responses for classes but nothing that is too mentally taxing, just time consuming. I'll take that over some of the drubbing academic essays that I have to read in my grad level English classes anyway. I mean seriously, I don't know how PhDs read so many academic essays, I check out so quickly with those. People wonder why I read young adult books like Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series, but after all of the academic essays that are thrown at me I need a break with some fun reading. Anyway I'll probably have another school cancellation tomorrow which is nice, but I now have to go and do my work anyway so that I don't fall behind. Plenty of work coming up this weekend as well, I guess you can say I'm fully back into the swing of things with school. Hopefully my writing won't suffer as a result.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Trying out for the Soul
You ever see that movie Invincible where Vince Papale, an average guy goes out and makes the Philadelphia Eagles at an open tryout? Well this Saturday I'm going to do what Papale did, only I'm going to try out for the arena team, the Philadelphia Soul. They are having open tryouts this Saturday at the Novacare complex and I'm going to go and try out. I've always dreamed of being a professional athlete and I just feel like I can't let an opportunity like this pass me by. Football is my favorite thing in the world and even being given the slightest chance of playing it at a high level is so exciting. I'm feeling very anxious about it, but in life opportunities like this don't come along very often, and when they do we've got to do all we can to seize them and to make the best of them.
When I was around 5-6 years old I told my dad I wanted to be a professional basketball player. He calmly told me, "That's not going to happen". Well dad guess what, I'm still going to give the whole athlete thing a shot. Why not? I mean seriously what do I have to lose? I'll go out there on the field and I'll give it my all for however long the practice lasts. If I make the team great, and if not well at least I'll be able to say that I tried. I know I'm not the biggest, fastest, or strongest guy, but I've been working out a lot and I've always had pretty good hands. If I catch every ball that comes to me who knows, maybe I could play receiver or tight end. I think defense isn't even out of the question, I mean it's a small field and I could probably take one of those guys down. You're probably laughing at me right now thinking, 'who are you kidding you won't even make it that far'. Well guess what, that type of attitude is going to get me nowhere. I've got to go in there acting like I'm going to do it and try my hardest to make that team. Wish me luck, I'll let you know how it goes come Saturday.
When I was around 5-6 years old I told my dad I wanted to be a professional basketball player. He calmly told me, "That's not going to happen". Well dad guess what, I'm still going to give the whole athlete thing a shot. Why not? I mean seriously what do I have to lose? I'll go out there on the field and I'll give it my all for however long the practice lasts. If I make the team great, and if not well at least I'll be able to say that I tried. I know I'm not the biggest, fastest, or strongest guy, but I've been working out a lot and I've always had pretty good hands. If I catch every ball that comes to me who knows, maybe I could play receiver or tight end. I think defense isn't even out of the question, I mean it's a small field and I could probably take one of those guys down. You're probably laughing at me right now thinking, 'who are you kidding you won't even make it that far'. Well guess what, that type of attitude is going to get me nowhere. I've got to go in there acting like I'm going to do it and try my hardest to make that team. Wish me luck, I'll let you know how it goes come Saturday.
Drawing a Blank
Here I go once again starting this post off with no idea where it's headed. Maybe if I start to recount my day I'll come up with something interesting and insightful to focus on. I woke up around 9 am, ate breakfast and then got moving on some homework. I worked diligently until about 12:30ish after which I did some laundry, dishes, and exercised. The workout was good, I felt drained afterwords, but the good kind of drained like you really feel like you did something you know? Last year I totally changed my philosophy on weightlifting, adopting a high intensity full-body circuit for my weight/resistance training routine. I came to realize that if I wasn't out of breathe and exhausted or sweating profusely I really wasn't getting a very good workout. I can now say that after all of my circuits I am absolutely dead, and I feel that I worked my muscles as hard as I could. One of the best feelings in the world is the endorphin rush that follows a tough workout, seriously makes you feel like you could conquer the world. Anyway, after that I did some more schoolwork, ate lunch and then went to work. Work wasn't bad, a typical Monday night. Alright where can I take this, I still haven't gotten anything solid to focus on. Sure I went on a mini tangent about working out but I can do better than that.
Ok, here we go. So I recently discovered Pandora, the online radio site, and I absolutely love it. I just plug ion a band that I like and create a radio station and then Pandora plays me music from that band and others a lot like it. I made a Muse, Senses fail, and Red Hot Chili Peppers station. Ok I confess, I also made a Lady Gaga station, what can I saw I'm a sucker for fun pop music and I love the Gaga. She's absolutely wonderful, does whatever she wants, wears whatever she wants, and she's a friend to the gays so you've got to love her. I'm not gay but I have gay friends and it's nice to see a celebrity who so openly supports gays. Anyway, I feel like I discovered Pandora way after everyone else but it's still so fascinating to me. A lot of times I catch on to things after everyone else has already known about them, for instance Harry Potter. I started reading Harry Potter when the seventh book had already been out and while the sixth movie was in theaters. Right now I'm obsessed with the show Weeds and it's about to begin it's 7th season. I started watching over winter break and I'm about halfway through the 4th season (thank you netflix for instantly streaming all of the seasons and becoming my new addiction). Let's see what else, I got an XBOX 360 way after everyone else, still don't have a flat screen, finally at the age of 24 feel like I know how to dress like an adult. I don't know where I'm going with this maybe just some self reflection. Overall seems like I don't catch onto things until they've fallen out of mainstream popularity, it's almost like the wave of newness passes and then I dive in when everyone's already forgotten about the object. I don't know why I have a tendency to do this, or if it's even important, but hey I guess that's what happens when you just start writing to write. Boom, alright time for me to go do homework, I've got to get better at my time management this semester so I don't get owned by this semester. Goodnight.
Ok, here we go. So I recently discovered Pandora, the online radio site, and I absolutely love it. I just plug ion a band that I like and create a radio station and then Pandora plays me music from that band and others a lot like it. I made a Muse, Senses fail, and Red Hot Chili Peppers station. Ok I confess, I also made a Lady Gaga station, what can I saw I'm a sucker for fun pop music and I love the Gaga. She's absolutely wonderful, does whatever she wants, wears whatever she wants, and she's a friend to the gays so you've got to love her. I'm not gay but I have gay friends and it's nice to see a celebrity who so openly supports gays. Anyway, I feel like I discovered Pandora way after everyone else but it's still so fascinating to me. A lot of times I catch on to things after everyone else has already known about them, for instance Harry Potter. I started reading Harry Potter when the seventh book had already been out and while the sixth movie was in theaters. Right now I'm obsessed with the show Weeds and it's about to begin it's 7th season. I started watching over winter break and I'm about halfway through the 4th season (thank you netflix for instantly streaming all of the seasons and becoming my new addiction). Let's see what else, I got an XBOX 360 way after everyone else, still don't have a flat screen, finally at the age of 24 feel like I know how to dress like an adult. I don't know where I'm going with this maybe just some self reflection. Overall seems like I don't catch onto things until they've fallen out of mainstream popularity, it's almost like the wave of newness passes and then I dive in when everyone's already forgotten about the object. I don't know why I have a tendency to do this, or if it's even important, but hey I guess that's what happens when you just start writing to write. Boom, alright time for me to go do homework, I've got to get better at my time management this semester so I don't get owned by this semester. Goodnight.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Procrastination, Where Does it Come From?
I've been pretty lazy today, hung out with a friend then just sat around the house watching TV and I took a nap. I think the most productive things I've done so far were writing my previous post and paying my bills. Sure I have plenty of reading to do for my classes this week, but I just keep putting it off for far less important activities. I just keep thinking that I have still tomorrow before class and the remainder of the evening, plus Tuesday during the day I have a 4 hour break so I could do some work during that. Such a terrible thing procrastination, although some people actually do their best work under pressure. If I can at least get some of my work done tonight than I'll be feeling pretty good about my progress for tonight.
I know I'm not alone in my procrastination for my schoolwork. Plenty of people I know put things off as long as they possibly can, and why not? Who wouldn't rather watch some TV or go spend time with friends instead of reading and doing homework for class? There are so many distractions at our fingertips in this day and age making it so much more difficult to do work. I wonder if procrastination is a natural human tendency or just a fad of my generation. There have got to be some people out there who are hard wired, like robots, who are just always super productive. That's just not me, and if it's not you than hopefully you know exactly how much time you need to do your work and you allot yourself such time. Anyway I'm not thrilled about this post, it's all that could really come to mind right now. I must confess that right now I'm only thinking about finishing this so that I can go watch another episode of Weeds on netflix. Forgive me for the lackluster second post of today I just felt that I cheated myself and my readers by not posting yesterday. In any case I'll try to do some more interesting things tomorrow so that I can have a better topic to share with you all tomorrow.
I know I'm not alone in my procrastination for my schoolwork. Plenty of people I know put things off as long as they possibly can, and why not? Who wouldn't rather watch some TV or go spend time with friends instead of reading and doing homework for class? There are so many distractions at our fingertips in this day and age making it so much more difficult to do work. I wonder if procrastination is a natural human tendency or just a fad of my generation. There have got to be some people out there who are hard wired, like robots, who are just always super productive. That's just not me, and if it's not you than hopefully you know exactly how much time you need to do your work and you allot yourself such time. Anyway I'm not thrilled about this post, it's all that could really come to mind right now. I must confess that right now I'm only thinking about finishing this so that I can go watch another episode of Weeds on netflix. Forgive me for the lackluster second post of today I just felt that I cheated myself and my readers by not posting yesterday. In any case I'll try to do some more interesting things tomorrow so that I can have a better topic to share with you all tomorrow.
Know Who Your Real Friends Are
So it only took me 23 days to bail on the whole writing every day resolution, nice. Anyway, to make up for my lack of a post yesterday I"ll try to post twice today. So yesterday morning began with my friend K and I moving my sister's belongings into her newly purchased home. She would have helped but she was feeling a bit under the weather so it was just K and I in what seemed to be the coldest day of the year. It was absolutely freezing and until we got moving and the blood was flowing it was quite miserable. I mean really moving in general is not fun, one of those things that you understand why richer people just pay others to move for them. In my constant attempt to remain positive and upbeat I kept telling myself it wouldn't be that bad, there aren't that many things and we'll finish fairly quickly. Surprisingly it actually went by quickly with K and I working very efficiently together, and we had some late help from A, another one of my sister's friends. A bunch of her other friends were supposed to show up but nobody did. Come on, who wouldn't want to wake up early on a Saturday morning on the coldest day of the year to assist with doing unpaid manual labor? I had no problem with it, but times like these really make you wonder and see who your true friends are.
Sure some people probably had work or other commitments but we all hope that when we need a helping hand our friends and family will be the first to answer the call. I know I've helped numerous friends and family members move, paint, landscape, and other tasks that usually involved unpaid manual labor. Did I ever expect anything in return? No, not really, only the hope that when I need a couple of helping hands for a laborious task that I would have a few volunteers. Nobody actually enjoys tasks like moving, or landscaping (well maybe some people but I don't know any) but when a friend is in need you just suck it up and do it, because it's the right thing to do. Consider that next time you need help with some type of laborious task, and ask yourself how likely you are to receive help from others when you rarely answer the call yourself. Also, if you're not going to help a friend in need who are you going to help when called? If the answer is nobody you may want to rethink your morals and priorities because without friends and family life can be pretty bleak.
Sure some people probably had work or other commitments but we all hope that when we need a helping hand our friends and family will be the first to answer the call. I know I've helped numerous friends and family members move, paint, landscape, and other tasks that usually involved unpaid manual labor. Did I ever expect anything in return? No, not really, only the hope that when I need a couple of helping hands for a laborious task that I would have a few volunteers. Nobody actually enjoys tasks like moving, or landscaping (well maybe some people but I don't know any) but when a friend is in need you just suck it up and do it, because it's the right thing to do. Consider that next time you need help with some type of laborious task, and ask yourself how likely you are to receive help from others when you rarely answer the call yourself. Also, if you're not going to help a friend in need who are you going to help when called? If the answer is nobody you may want to rethink your morals and priorities because without friends and family life can be pretty bleak.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Googled Myself, Couldn't find Anything
The other day in class we had a presentation from the head of the teacher education center, and he advised us about a whole number of things to think about and be careful of. Most notably was our online exposure with social networking websites and photographs on pages like facebook. He advised not to post any pictures containing alcohol, drugs, nudity, or any photos or content that could reflect negatively on us. Let's be honest, just about all of us have pictures on facebook with us holding some type of alcoholic beverage, or partying in some way. I'll make sure once I begin student teaching to take all of those photos down even though I have privacy restrictions on my facebook page. I have to say though I think it's kind of crappy that it's gotten to that point, I mean I am over 21 years old so under the law I'm allowed to drink. But I guess because I'm going to be a role model as a teacher I should be setting a good example for my students. Either way, better to be safe then fight the system, it's more important for be to have a job than some pictures up on a website.
Besides stressing facebook, dressing professionally, and cell phone etiquette, the good doctor (PhD technically) also advised us that if we have any doubts about what schools will be able to see that we should google ourselves. So tonight, about 5 minutes ago I did just that, I googled myself. I tried my full name and my nickname, and I even entered in the town that I live in, and nada. I couldn't find anything relating to me which makes me feel good; I guess I'm not important enough to show up on the front page of results from google. Anyway it's not like I engage in illegal activities on a regular basis, or really at all, and I shouldn't have any dirt floating around the net about me so I'm glad that at least to my prospective employers I should appear like an upstanding citizen. Haha I say that like I have a checkered past or something; yeah right no skeletons in my closet.
I think my whole experience sheds light on the fact that anything that you put on the internet is out there for anyone to read or see. It's important to keep that in mind before posting any photos or content that you may not want somebody seeing. You may think your info is protected on facebook by privacy restrictions but I'll tell you if it's on there it can be found, all you need is the right password and you can see anyone's page. I've experienced this first hand so if I'm the first to tell you, be cautious with anything that you put on facebook or the internet. Sure this blog doesn't have my name attached but if somebody really wanted to track down the author they probably could. That's why I try not to talk about inappropriate things or use profanity. Sorry if you're looking for edgier material, maybe in the future once I'm tenured I'll start to throw in the raunchy stuff. For now I hope this satisfies your curiosities and gives you somewhat of a glimpse into my life and how I think.
Besides stressing facebook, dressing professionally, and cell phone etiquette, the good doctor (PhD technically) also advised us that if we have any doubts about what schools will be able to see that we should google ourselves. So tonight, about 5 minutes ago I did just that, I googled myself. I tried my full name and my nickname, and I even entered in the town that I live in, and nada. I couldn't find anything relating to me which makes me feel good; I guess I'm not important enough to show up on the front page of results from google. Anyway it's not like I engage in illegal activities on a regular basis, or really at all, and I shouldn't have any dirt floating around the net about me so I'm glad that at least to my prospective employers I should appear like an upstanding citizen. Haha I say that like I have a checkered past or something; yeah right no skeletons in my closet.
I think my whole experience sheds light on the fact that anything that you put on the internet is out there for anyone to read or see. It's important to keep that in mind before posting any photos or content that you may not want somebody seeing. You may think your info is protected on facebook by privacy restrictions but I'll tell you if it's on there it can be found, all you need is the right password and you can see anyone's page. I've experienced this first hand so if I'm the first to tell you, be cautious with anything that you put on facebook or the internet. Sure this blog doesn't have my name attached but if somebody really wanted to track down the author they probably could. That's why I try not to talk about inappropriate things or use profanity. Sorry if you're looking for edgier material, maybe in the future once I'm tenured I'll start to throw in the raunchy stuff. For now I hope this satisfies your curiosities and gives you somewhat of a glimpse into my life and how I think.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Always be Prepared
So yesterday I did something pretty dumb but hilarious at the same time. I thought that my evening class was from 4:15-7pm when it was really scheduled from 7:15-10 pm. So I go to campus like it's a normal day, go to class and sit down. I caught up with some of the people in the class that I knew and all of a sudden the Prof. comes in and starts up saying, "Hello all welcome to English 595". I was looking for English 615, so immediately I knew I was in the wrong place. I got up to leave thinking that there must have been some mistake with the room assignment and as I was leaving the Prof. asked me what class I was looking for. I answered her, ENG 615, and it turned out that some people in the earlier class were also in the 7:15-10pm class and informed me of the actual starting time of my class. Kind of embarrassing but overall pretty funny right? Now you're probably thinking no big deal, just go home and then come back to campus at 7. Problem is I live 40-50 minutes from campus so going home is kind of a waste when it comes to gas and travel time. Luckily I brought a book with me, so I just went to Starbucks and grabbed a comfy chair, and settled in for three hours of leisure reading. Well not actually three hours because I ended up catching up for a little while with a friend, but still without that book I would have been quite bored.
I've gotten to the point where I almost always have some type of reading material with me wherever I go, whether it's a book, magazine, or academic essay assigned for a class. You never know when you'll have some free time or when you'll get stuck somewhere and need some type of entertainment. I personally really enjoy reading and writing so usually I'll have a book or a notebook with me. For some people an ipod or a laptop could better fill their free time, but whatever it is try to always have some form of self-entertainment on you. Who knows if you get stuck in traffic for a while, or maybe you're stuck waiting for a while in a doctor's office. Whatever the case may be it's always a good idea to be prepared for an unexpected batch of free time, and to have something on your person or in your car that could serve as some type of entertainment.
I've gotten to the point where I almost always have some type of reading material with me wherever I go, whether it's a book, magazine, or academic essay assigned for a class. You never know when you'll have some free time or when you'll get stuck somewhere and need some type of entertainment. I personally really enjoy reading and writing so usually I'll have a book or a notebook with me. For some people an ipod or a laptop could better fill their free time, but whatever it is try to always have some form of self-entertainment on you. Who knows if you get stuck in traffic for a while, or maybe you're stuck waiting for a while in a doctor's office. Whatever the case may be it's always a good idea to be prepared for an unexpected batch of free time, and to have something on your person or in your car that could serve as some type of entertainment.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Workout Results Come Slowly but Surely
Today I responded to a friend's status on facebook when she said that she's been working out extremely hard every day and still has not seen any results. K, I want to assure you that results will come in time, but you won't begin to notice them until a couple of months have passed. It's kind of like growing, you don't actually see yourself getting taller every day but over time it happens and you begin to notice it. I think that K's, frustration is experienced by many people, especially this time of year when lots of people have a New Year's Resolution that somehow relates to exercising. I know I did last year and this year, and the only reason that I got my results last year was because I stuck with a grueling diet and exercise program. Last year I went from 215 pounds to 180 (now I hover around 185) in about 3 months (February-May). This just shows you that if you stick to your program in time you will begin to see results, and once you're body's metabolism kicks into gear results will come quickly. It can be very frustrating in the beginning but you've got to go into serious exercise knowing that it is going to be very difficult and stressful on your body. There's a reason why we don't all look like supermodels; actually two reasons: We can be plagued by our genetic dispositions relating to metabolism and body type, and working out and staying in good shape can be very difficult. If you find yourself engaging in intense exercise in an attempt to lose some pounds or get into better shape make sure you focus on all three elements of exercise: resistance or weight training, cardiovascular exercise, and proper dieting.
Resistance training is so crucial to losing weight and getting into better shape and I feel that a lot of people brush it off and head straight for the cardio machines. Cardio is great because it takes energy, and makes you sweat, but weights allow your muscles to get stronger that you can work harder in cardio. If you engage yourself purely in cardio you'll most likely hit a wall at some point, where you will see little improvement in your body or in your fitness level. Resistance training allows you to strengthen and build muscle, prompting the process of protein synthesis, which in itself burns fat in order to produce more muscular tissue. Even if you don't like machines, free weights or gyms, simple body weight exercises such as pushups, pullups, dips, lunges, squats, crunches, and more can all be done anywhere and the only tool that you need is your body. I myself don't really like all of the fancy weight machines at the gym. Instead I use free weights and lots of body-weight exercises in my training programs. Find out what works for you and consult different sources for ideas and programs. I like Men's Health Magazine and there's also a version for Women (Women's Health). Experiment and try different things, but know that if you want results you've got to have some type of resistance training in your regimen.
Cardio is probably the most popular form of exercise that people engage in but beware, because some forms of cardio work more muscles than others. My favorite forms of cardio are running (outside not on a treadmill), swimming, and rowing. I find that all three of these work your entire body where other versions such as an exercise bike or elliptical machine mostly work your lower body or your legs. So often when I used to go to the gym I would see people with thin and defined legs overshadowed by a big gut. With the exception of rowing, sitting machines aren't going to get your quick results and won't work all of your muscles. Running outside also trumps a treadmill because you have to face the elements plus hills, and running outside requires more core stability because there's no bar in front of you to catch if you lose your balance or need to slow down. Swimming is the best but we don't all have pools or access to gyms with pools so you may have to go for running or rowing instead. Cardio like resistance training is another staple of any weight loss regimen and if you don't like it than get over it quickly because it's most likely going to be your major calorie burner.
In my opinion the toughest of the three elements of exercise is the dieting. Let's be honest, the best tasting food can be the worst for you. Who doesn't like burgers, fries, pizza, greasy Chinese food, candy, chocolate, and all of those other goodies? I know my last meal would either be a burger and fried or a big juicy steak with a baked potato on the side. In our culture we have endless options of unhealthy eating, and if you don't closely monitor your diet than it's easy to go overboard and pack on those unnecessary pounds. There's much to say about dieting and eating properly so I'll try to simplify my beliefs. First of all, you've got to eat breakfast every single day. Think about sleep; your body is deprived of any food or drink for around 8 hours, so the first thing you should do is fuel your body. The human body is kind of like a care, as long as you give it fuel and maintain it than it should keep running fine until it just gets too old. Think of food as your fuel, and what happens to a car when it runs out of fuel? It dies. A metabolism will only function well when the body has enough fuel. When your body is hungry it's telling you that it needs fuel and if you don't answer that call than your metabolism will slow down and your body will begin to store fat. The key to not letting this happen is eating 4-5 smaller meals a day, and opting for larger portions earlier in the day so your body has all day to burn off any excess calories. I think portion control and eating slowly are very important, and if you like to count calories than go for it. You shouldn't starve yourself or deprive yourself of food that you really like. Have a treat day once a week where you eat whatever you want, just make sure that it's only one day a week. Healthy eating takes lots of discipline but if you want to change your body than you've got to do it.
All three elements are very difficult and if you don't have the time, energy, or desire to do them all than you don't have to. I'm just saying if you want the quickest and best results you've got to do all three. Some people like to only do cardio and dieting, or just counting calories without exercising. Do whatever works for you, just keep in mind if you have the will, great results will come from the combination of resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and proper dieting. These results won't come instantly but when they do you'll look and feel way better than you did before. Keep up with your program and in a couple of months see how many waste sizes you've gone down and how many pounds you've dropped. If you stick to your regimen good things will come your way.
Resistance training is so crucial to losing weight and getting into better shape and I feel that a lot of people brush it off and head straight for the cardio machines. Cardio is great because it takes energy, and makes you sweat, but weights allow your muscles to get stronger that you can work harder in cardio. If you engage yourself purely in cardio you'll most likely hit a wall at some point, where you will see little improvement in your body or in your fitness level. Resistance training allows you to strengthen and build muscle, prompting the process of protein synthesis, which in itself burns fat in order to produce more muscular tissue. Even if you don't like machines, free weights or gyms, simple body weight exercises such as pushups, pullups, dips, lunges, squats, crunches, and more can all be done anywhere and the only tool that you need is your body. I myself don't really like all of the fancy weight machines at the gym. Instead I use free weights and lots of body-weight exercises in my training programs. Find out what works for you and consult different sources for ideas and programs. I like Men's Health Magazine and there's also a version for Women (Women's Health). Experiment and try different things, but know that if you want results you've got to have some type of resistance training in your regimen.
Cardio is probably the most popular form of exercise that people engage in but beware, because some forms of cardio work more muscles than others. My favorite forms of cardio are running (outside not on a treadmill), swimming, and rowing. I find that all three of these work your entire body where other versions such as an exercise bike or elliptical machine mostly work your lower body or your legs. So often when I used to go to the gym I would see people with thin and defined legs overshadowed by a big gut. With the exception of rowing, sitting machines aren't going to get your quick results and won't work all of your muscles. Running outside also trumps a treadmill because you have to face the elements plus hills, and running outside requires more core stability because there's no bar in front of you to catch if you lose your balance or need to slow down. Swimming is the best but we don't all have pools or access to gyms with pools so you may have to go for running or rowing instead. Cardio like resistance training is another staple of any weight loss regimen and if you don't like it than get over it quickly because it's most likely going to be your major calorie burner.
In my opinion the toughest of the three elements of exercise is the dieting. Let's be honest, the best tasting food can be the worst for you. Who doesn't like burgers, fries, pizza, greasy Chinese food, candy, chocolate, and all of those other goodies? I know my last meal would either be a burger and fried or a big juicy steak with a baked potato on the side. In our culture we have endless options of unhealthy eating, and if you don't closely monitor your diet than it's easy to go overboard and pack on those unnecessary pounds. There's much to say about dieting and eating properly so I'll try to simplify my beliefs. First of all, you've got to eat breakfast every single day. Think about sleep; your body is deprived of any food or drink for around 8 hours, so the first thing you should do is fuel your body. The human body is kind of like a care, as long as you give it fuel and maintain it than it should keep running fine until it just gets too old. Think of food as your fuel, and what happens to a car when it runs out of fuel? It dies. A metabolism will only function well when the body has enough fuel. When your body is hungry it's telling you that it needs fuel and if you don't answer that call than your metabolism will slow down and your body will begin to store fat. The key to not letting this happen is eating 4-5 smaller meals a day, and opting for larger portions earlier in the day so your body has all day to burn off any excess calories. I think portion control and eating slowly are very important, and if you like to count calories than go for it. You shouldn't starve yourself or deprive yourself of food that you really like. Have a treat day once a week where you eat whatever you want, just make sure that it's only one day a week. Healthy eating takes lots of discipline but if you want to change your body than you've got to do it.
All three elements are very difficult and if you don't have the time, energy, or desire to do them all than you don't have to. I'm just saying if you want the quickest and best results you've got to do all three. Some people like to only do cardio and dieting, or just counting calories without exercising. Do whatever works for you, just keep in mind if you have the will, great results will come from the combination of resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, and proper dieting. These results won't come instantly but when they do you'll look and feel way better than you did before. Keep up with your program and in a couple of months see how many waste sizes you've gone down and how many pounds you've dropped. If you stick to your regimen good things will come your way.
First Day of Classes
Today was my first round of classes for the new semester. Besides the horrible weather it wasn't really that bad of a first day. We mostly went through the motions, establishing all of the different course requirements and objectives. The one consistent thing about first days is that you always feel so overwhelmed, like there is no way that you will be able to do all of the coursework for the semester. It seems like so much when you look at the syllabus and see all of the readings, assignments, and due dates, and it can be quite intimidating. I have to try and stop myself from feeling overwhelmed every semester, because I know that as long as I keep up with my work and hand everything in on time that I will be fine. I sort of accomplished this feat today, but I still found myself a little intimidated by all of the upcoming reading, assignments, and observation hours ahead of me.
A lot of people probably share my feelings of being overwhelmed on first days when it comes to semesters of school. I was even discussing the topic with a couple of my classmates who admitted that they were not looking forward to all of the work this semester. I attempted to reassure them that we all survived a very difficult semester last fall, and that as long as we stay on top of things everything will be finished. As humans I think that we are easily overwhelmed when we see all of the tasks required of us over a long period of time; especially when they are grouped together. Closely clumping assignments makes them seem impossible, and we easily forget that we have 15 weeks in the semester to accomplish all of the goals laid out before us. The important thing to do when you have numerous tasks is to calmly evaluate the situation and take it one step at a time. Sure, sometimes it will seem like there is no way that you will ever get everything done. There are times when you literally can't, and if that's the case so what? Is life really going to cease if you don't finish every homework assignment, or project, or duty at your job? No it won't , and as long as you work really hard you'll usually get everything done. Don't stress when facing situations like the beginning of a semester, but instead take the rational approach that you will do one thing at a time and work hard, not worrying that you won't get every single thing done. We are human beings, not machines, and we all have our limits, so don't stress. Just work hard and do the best you can when faced with numerous challenging tasks.
A lot of people probably share my feelings of being overwhelmed on first days when it comes to semesters of school. I was even discussing the topic with a couple of my classmates who admitted that they were not looking forward to all of the work this semester. I attempted to reassure them that we all survived a very difficult semester last fall, and that as long as we stay on top of things everything will be finished. As humans I think that we are easily overwhelmed when we see all of the tasks required of us over a long period of time; especially when they are grouped together. Closely clumping assignments makes them seem impossible, and we easily forget that we have 15 weeks in the semester to accomplish all of the goals laid out before us. The important thing to do when you have numerous tasks is to calmly evaluate the situation and take it one step at a time. Sure, sometimes it will seem like there is no way that you will ever get everything done. There are times when you literally can't, and if that's the case so what? Is life really going to cease if you don't finish every homework assignment, or project, or duty at your job? No it won't , and as long as you work really hard you'll usually get everything done. Don't stress when facing situations like the beginning of a semester, but instead take the rational approach that you will do one thing at a time and work hard, not worrying that you won't get every single thing done. We are human beings, not machines, and we all have our limits, so don't stress. Just work hard and do the best you can when faced with numerous challenging tasks.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Super Frustrated but at the Same Time Chilled Out
I'm really frustrated with my academic institution at the moment. I'll withhold the name so they cannot dismiss me for badmouthing them, but overall it hasn't been the most pleasant experience at my graduate institution. Today I was lucky enough to receive an email from a fellow student in my department informing me of a student teaching meeting that will take place tomorrow morning. She told me that the program coordinator apparently sent out emails reminding students about the meeting but I received no such email. I mean seriously University can you do anything correctly? How hard is it to send out an email to students reminding them about an imperative meeting? Especially when nearly all of the graduate students commute and work and would need to make special arrangements to attend the meeting. I was just really frustrated to hear about it and now I have to wake up early and call the department and see if there actually is a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. This hasn't been the first time where my graduate school has not been on their game, and I never experienced anything like this at PSU. You really do get what you pay for, even with Universities, and I must say that I cannot wait to be done with my teacher's certification so that I can leave this institution behind and move on to a new place of higher learning for any further graduate-level study.
Ok so now that I got that off my chest it's really not that big of a deal. Sure I have to wake up a little earlier tomorrow and call to see if the meeting is still on, but there will probably be a 2 hour delay because of the snow so I shouldn't have to be there much earlier than I normally would on a Tuesday. Work was extremely busy today because everyone was off for the holiday (MLK day) and it seems that they all decided to come to Borders. I can't stand Monday holidays because we get absolutely bombarded at work and usually don't have an extra help. At least I got to see some of my favorite people at work today, that's always a nice thing. I don't really know if I have anything extremely relevant to write about tonight, as in a piece of advice for the general public. Maybe just a short rant about how my working out has been going. Lately I've been back to working out 5 days a week consistently, doing a full body weight training circuit 3 days a week and an abs circuit 2 days a week. I've been feeling great and I can see my results coming along slowly but surely which makes me feel good about where I'm headed in regards to my six-pack resolution. I was discouraged when someone told me lately not to lose any more weight and that a six pick just isn't going to happen. I'm not actually trying to lose weight, if anything I'm trying to gain by building more muscle and I am going to get defined abs. It's a goal that I set for myself and I'm not going to give up on it. If those idiots on the Jersey Shore can eat the way they do, go out drinking every night, and then still have abs than I know I can too. I know that I've touched upon this topic before but if you make a goal for yourself don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. There are always going to be haters and doubters but if you want it bad enough you can do anything that you put your mind to; I know it sounds cliche but if you keep your goals reasonable it's usually true.
Ok so now that I got that off my chest it's really not that big of a deal. Sure I have to wake up a little earlier tomorrow and call to see if the meeting is still on, but there will probably be a 2 hour delay because of the snow so I shouldn't have to be there much earlier than I normally would on a Tuesday. Work was extremely busy today because everyone was off for the holiday (MLK day) and it seems that they all decided to come to Borders. I can't stand Monday holidays because we get absolutely bombarded at work and usually don't have an extra help. At least I got to see some of my favorite people at work today, that's always a nice thing. I don't really know if I have anything extremely relevant to write about tonight, as in a piece of advice for the general public. Maybe just a short rant about how my working out has been going. Lately I've been back to working out 5 days a week consistently, doing a full body weight training circuit 3 days a week and an abs circuit 2 days a week. I've been feeling great and I can see my results coming along slowly but surely which makes me feel good about where I'm headed in regards to my six-pack resolution. I was discouraged when someone told me lately not to lose any more weight and that a six pick just isn't going to happen. I'm not actually trying to lose weight, if anything I'm trying to gain by building more muscle and I am going to get defined abs. It's a goal that I set for myself and I'm not going to give up on it. If those idiots on the Jersey Shore can eat the way they do, go out drinking every night, and then still have abs than I know I can too. I know that I've touched upon this topic before but if you make a goal for yourself don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. There are always going to be haters and doubters but if you want it bad enough you can do anything that you put your mind to; I know it sounds cliche but if you keep your goals reasonable it's usually true.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
No Idea Where This is Going
I'll be honest, I have nothing particularly interesting to write about tonight. I'm just drawing a blank right now, sitting here, trying to think of something to write about. I guess today wasn't too interesting, I slept in, ate breakfast, then went to Starbucks to read for a little bit. Starbucks is nice because I don't feel the cabin fever of being stuck in my house, and there's the possibility of social interaction being out in public. I must say though the one thing I cannot stand is the people who come to Starbucks and treat it like it's there office, constantly on their cell phones talking business. I think in general people having prolonged cell phones conversations in public places like Starbucks bothers me. It's like hey people nobody else here cards about or wants to hear your conversation. I'm sure these mobile workers are at Starbucks for the same purpose as me, to get out of the house, but what's the point if all you're doing is talking loudly on the phone.? Now that I think more about it, Starbucks isn't a library and one of the negative aspects of going out to a public place is that it's a shared space and you have to be able to deal with other people in that space. That same working person on there cell phone could be having a conversation with a person in Starbucks, and should I be annoyed by that? I mean it is a public place meant for social gathering, so why should someone not be able to go and have a conversation there. Interesting how some mild thinking has led me to completely change my opinion on a topic, sorry if you're confused. Something I'll have to work on I guess; not getting annoyed at people who have prolonged cell phone conversations in places that are not libraries or movie theaters. It's just part of sharing the world with nearly 7 billion other humans.
Let's see what else happened today. I watched some playoff football; I could write about that but I'll leave that content for my sports-specific blog. I should really start looking into full-time work for the summer so that I can save money for the fall when I'll be student teaching and not working. I have a couple of ideas but nothing solid as of right now for summer time work. I figure if I can't find anything related to education I could always find a painting job somewhere so we'll just have to see what happens. I'm really getting sick of my life as a student, I can't wait to get a job and start making money. A lack of income can be such a stresser, and it'll be really nice once that changes for me. Just one of those things that I'll need to stay positive about, knowing that in a year I'll be done with school and I'll be able to get a teaching job where I'll be making nice money, which will allow me to move out and officially start my life as a functioning adult in society. Of course being a teacher will only be my source of consistent income; as I hope that eventually I can reach more people than just my students through my writing. Maybe that's my ultimate goal with my writing and in life, to positively affect the lives of as many people as possible. That's how I'll measure my success, not money or fame, but the amount of people whose lives I changed for the better. Hooray.
Let's see what else happened today. I watched some playoff football; I could write about that but I'll leave that content for my sports-specific blog. I should really start looking into full-time work for the summer so that I can save money for the fall when I'll be student teaching and not working. I have a couple of ideas but nothing solid as of right now for summer time work. I figure if I can't find anything related to education I could always find a painting job somewhere so we'll just have to see what happens. I'm really getting sick of my life as a student, I can't wait to get a job and start making money. A lack of income can be such a stresser, and it'll be really nice once that changes for me. Just one of those things that I'll need to stay positive about, knowing that in a year I'll be done with school and I'll be able to get a teaching job where I'll be making nice money, which will allow me to move out and officially start my life as a functioning adult in society. Of course being a teacher will only be my source of consistent income; as I hope that eventually I can reach more people than just my students through my writing. Maybe that's my ultimate goal with my writing and in life, to positively affect the lives of as many people as possible. That's how I'll measure my success, not money or fame, but the amount of people whose lives I changed for the better. Hooray.
New Clothes Equal less Money
I went shopping today for new dress clothes in preparation for my upcoming semester which requires me to spend more hours observing in schools. Before today I had no dress pants and only a couple of dress shirts aka oxfords that fit me. Just a side note, I think it's a good idea for all of us to go through our closets periodically to get rid of clothes that we no longer wear in order to free up space and to donate clothing to places such as goodwill or the salvation army for less fortunate people. I like the Carson Kressly rule: If you haven't worn it in a year get rid of it. My only amendment to that rule is a suit or tuxedo for males, as it's always good to have one around in case of a wedding, funeral, or black tie event. The equivalent for women would probably be a simple mid-length black dress but I'm not going to attempt to be a go-to for woman's fashion. I really don't like clutter and I feel like a lot of people have way too much crap. If you're not using it get rid of it so that you'll have more space and somebody else may put your items to use; items that would otherwise be collecting dust in your home.
So back to my shopping excursion, I began at TJ Maxx because you can always find name brand items there for very affordable prices. I've gotten dress clothes there in the past so I started there before moving on to a higher end store. I was quite disappointed because they didn't have any nice dress pants, or really any dress pants in my size, and all of the shirts were packaged so I couldn't try them on before purchasing. I ended up leaving with some socks and two dress shirts on the assumption that if they didn't fit well I would return them. Overall it was a bit of a discouraging start to my shopping adventure as I was hoping that I wouldn't have to spend too much money (something I'm very short on at the moment), but unfortunately when it comes to fashion you usually have to pay more money to look good.
Just another side note; I probably enjoy shopping and clothing much more than the average straight male. I think it's fun to buy new clothes and shoes and to look good and I'm a big fan of shoes specifically. Not really sneakers but moccasins, boots, oxfords, wingtips, boat shoes, and sandals are lots of fun. The only part of shopping that I don't enjoy is the money spending portion, or when I see things that I really want but couldn't possibly afford.
That brings us to the next stop on my shopping trip today, Banana Republic. Let me just say I'd be perfectly fine-x that, I'd be ecstatic- if all I could wear were clothes from Banana Republic. I love their clothes and if I had the money my wardrobe would be almost exclusively filled with clothes from Banana Republic. If you know fashion well I know what you're thinking...Banana Republic isn't THAT expensive. Well guess what for a suburban 24 year old who works part time at borders and doesn't get too much help from the parentals when it comes to 'vanity items' such as clothing, the place can be quite pricey. Luckily I had a coupon for buy one item and get another at 60% off, so I wasn't feeling horrible about the amount of money I'd be spending. Initially I was a bit confused and intimidated by all of the high prices but a nice employee helped me out and gave me some very good suggestions. In the end I bought 3 pairs of dress pants and one oxford shirt. I was also able to use a second coupon that a customer gave me because he did not end up buying anything; thanks again random man you saved me some big bucks. I have another coupon for next Saturday as well (the buy one get one 60% off is only good on Saturdays) and I may have to go back and pick up a couple of sweaters. I spent more than I was looking to, but I bought good quality items that are tailored well for my body and look really nice. At first I was feeling really guilty about all the money I spent but then I realized that I deserve to have some nice things, especially when I actually need them for my upcoming observations and student teaching. I've figured out that's it's ok to go a little overboard every now and then on consumer good like clothes or electronics, because we all deserve to treat ourselves every once in a while. Sure I could have gone to a less expensive establishment, but I'm happy to know that I will be wearing better quality clothing that looks and feels great.
So back to my shopping excursion, I began at TJ Maxx because you can always find name brand items there for very affordable prices. I've gotten dress clothes there in the past so I started there before moving on to a higher end store. I was quite disappointed because they didn't have any nice dress pants, or really any dress pants in my size, and all of the shirts were packaged so I couldn't try them on before purchasing. I ended up leaving with some socks and two dress shirts on the assumption that if they didn't fit well I would return them. Overall it was a bit of a discouraging start to my shopping adventure as I was hoping that I wouldn't have to spend too much money (something I'm very short on at the moment), but unfortunately when it comes to fashion you usually have to pay more money to look good.
Just another side note; I probably enjoy shopping and clothing much more than the average straight male. I think it's fun to buy new clothes and shoes and to look good and I'm a big fan of shoes specifically. Not really sneakers but moccasins, boots, oxfords, wingtips, boat shoes, and sandals are lots of fun. The only part of shopping that I don't enjoy is the money spending portion, or when I see things that I really want but couldn't possibly afford.
That brings us to the next stop on my shopping trip today, Banana Republic. Let me just say I'd be perfectly fine-x that, I'd be ecstatic- if all I could wear were clothes from Banana Republic. I love their clothes and if I had the money my wardrobe would be almost exclusively filled with clothes from Banana Republic. If you know fashion well I know what you're thinking...Banana Republic isn't THAT expensive. Well guess what for a suburban 24 year old who works part time at borders and doesn't get too much help from the parentals when it comes to 'vanity items' such as clothing, the place can be quite pricey. Luckily I had a coupon for buy one item and get another at 60% off, so I wasn't feeling horrible about the amount of money I'd be spending. Initially I was a bit confused and intimidated by all of the high prices but a nice employee helped me out and gave me some very good suggestions. In the end I bought 3 pairs of dress pants and one oxford shirt. I was also able to use a second coupon that a customer gave me because he did not end up buying anything; thanks again random man you saved me some big bucks. I have another coupon for next Saturday as well (the buy one get one 60% off is only good on Saturdays) and I may have to go back and pick up a couple of sweaters. I spent more than I was looking to, but I bought good quality items that are tailored well for my body and look really nice. At first I was feeling really guilty about all the money I spent but then I realized that I deserve to have some nice things, especially when I actually need them for my upcoming observations and student teaching. I've figured out that's it's ok to go a little overboard every now and then on consumer good like clothes or electronics, because we all deserve to treat ourselves every once in a while. Sure I could have gone to a less expensive establishment, but I'm happy to know that I will be wearing better quality clothing that looks and feels great.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Can't sleep, Red Wine and Writing instead
It's 2:00 am and I can't fall asleep. It's funny, I should probably take my own advice and get on a consistent sleep schedule. Lately I've been going to bed around 1-1:30 am and sleeping 'til around 10-11am. Too much sleep, and a very inconsistent schedule is totally messing me up. Today at work I felt like crap until I ate dinner and drank coffee. I was literally about three seconds away from standing up on the cafe counter and yelling, "Nobody else can come order a drink until I have my Coffee and eat my dinner. The Cafe is temporarily closed for an hour...It's Friday night anyway, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE". I am going to place the blame for my recently irregular sleep on my renewed netflix subscription that allows me unlimited access to their instantly streaming movies and TV shows. I recently watched both seasons of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and I'm halfway through the second season of Weeds. I was such a waste this winter break, except for the fact that I've been working out. Oh well, at least I got some lovely time off from school and I got this thing up and running which has been quite fun. Speaking of this blog, I wasn't feeling awesome about my last post, which is sort of contributing to why I'm writing now. That and the fact that I couldn't fall asleep. In my intro psych class at PSU I learned that if you don't fall asleep after twenty minutes you should get up and out of bed and do something else, because you're body isn't ready for sleep. Good advice Prof., because now I'm sharing my thoughts with all of my wonderful readers, whoever you may be.
Just a side note, if you are a reader of my blog feel free to follow and or comment here. All comments are welcome and I was hoping that people would share some ideas of what they wanted me to write about or asking for my opinions on different topics. Either way I'm having fun with this thing but so far only Kyle and Sidney are commenting so please let's start an open forum. This could be egotistical of me, actually assuming numerous people read my blog, but different people tell me they've read it so I feel like it's getting a decent following. Oh red wine, hopefully you will be my sleeping aid tonight. I don't usually like wine but red wine is good for your health; I believe the recommended amount is 5 glasses a week. Beware though, too much wine leads to the world's worst hangovers so make sure to drink plenty of water if you're pounding wine, I find that it creeps up on you and will knock you out fast.
Just a side note, if you are a reader of my blog feel free to follow and or comment here. All comments are welcome and I was hoping that people would share some ideas of what they wanted me to write about or asking for my opinions on different topics. Either way I'm having fun with this thing but so far only Kyle and Sidney are commenting so please let's start an open forum. This could be egotistical of me, actually assuming numerous people read my blog, but different people tell me they've read it so I feel like it's getting a decent following. Oh red wine, hopefully you will be my sleeping aid tonight. I don't usually like wine but red wine is good for your health; I believe the recommended amount is 5 glasses a week. Beware though, too much wine leads to the world's worst hangovers so make sure to drink plenty of water if you're pounding wine, I find that it creeps up on you and will knock you out fast.
* * *
I believe the three stars symbolize a totally new idea or a major break in time between sections when you see them in a book. Anyway I didn't feel like creating a fancy transition so I'm just going to begin a new thought. I've recently been watching a lot of TV and playing video games. I hope that once school starts up again next week I won't be too distracted with all of the new media and entertainment possibilities that are now always present in my bedroom. Wow I thought that idea was going to have a lot more beef to it. Oh well, writer's block I guess, but I'm sure if I get focused on schoolwork I won't let TV, movies, and video games distract me from my top priorities. Especially because now that the Eagles were knocked out of the playoffs-tear-for all intensive purposes football season is over-second tear. School will be good though, I'm looking forward to all of the observation time that I'm going to log this semester. I'm sick of all the educational theory and I'm ready to put it to practice. So many of my classmates are fearing student teaching while my attitude is 'bring it on, I'm sick of classes'. Honestly if I was told tomorrow that I would begin student teaching Monday I would be thrilled. For the aforementioned reason plus I want to get a job asap so I can make money and move out of my mother's house. In due time, that's what I keep telling myself so I don't go insane. This is a pretty decent rant, maybe I should only write when I can't sleep and I'm downing red wine. I've often thought that my best ideas come out when I've got a slight buzz going, just because the mild relaxation and loss of inhibition (not that I have much inhibition anyway) just let's my ideas flow out in a fluid and concise manner. Who knows, I've just always thought if I ever had to give a big speech I would down a couple beers first just because it would take the edge off and it wouldn't be as stiff. Maybe that's crazy but who knows I could be onto something for my own creativity. I mean look at this post, I'm just churning away over here. Wow I just noticed how many times my blog has 'I', in it...egotistical much? haha I guess that's kind of what a blog is, me me me. Oh well I continue to grow every day by doing this and from the comments of those who read it so please keep reading and commenting.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Put Yourself out There
So I was having a conversation with a female acquaintance tonight and we touched upon the topic of moving on after being hurt by a past relationship. She was telling me how she was not eager to jump into dating or a relationship because she had been hurt by her past two partners, and that she was not eager to start anything new . It's a shame because she's quite pretty and attracts a great number of suitors, but I think that she represents a lot of people who may be reluctant to start re-enter the dating scene in fear of being hurt. Understandable because heartbreak is one of the worst pains we experience, along with losing a loved one. Nearly every adult has had their heart broken at one point or another-guys don't try to be tough you know it hurt-and what can you say, it sucks. Sure you never want to experience that kind of pain again, and the easiest way to do that is just to shut yourself off from relationships. The problem with that approach is that as you shut out the negative possibilities you also close yourself off from the positive outcomes of a healthy and happy relationship.
Sure it takes time to get over heartbreak, sometimes months and even years, but eventually you've got to get back on the horse and get yourself out there. If you find yourself in the position where you've been hurt and are afraid of it happening again than take a few things into consideration. First of all, you survived; you're here and alive and most probably doing fine. Because you survived, you know what to expect and how it bad it feels, and you know that you never want to feel that way again. That alone makes you stronger for the next time that someone may come along and break your heat. Having already experienced such pain and the recovery, the next time should hurt a lot less. You also can reflect on the failed relationship and examine the reasons why it failed. Such knowledge would then allow you to move forward with a better idea of what you want from a partner and from a relationship.
Let's be honest, loneliness stinks. Who enjoys staying in on a Friday or Saturday night while everyone else is doing something with their partners? Not me and probably not you too. If it's been a while since you've dated anyone and you're still feeling guarded just think about all of the possible fun that you're missing out on. Staying home and avoiding any type of dating or relationship isn't going to get you anywhere. Don't be afraid of getting hurt, instead go into any dating situation telling yourself that nobody is ever going to hurt you like your ex did. Your feelings are completely in your control, and somebody can only hurt you if you let them. In life you've got to be able to move on from the hardest things like heartbreak. Get back out there and control your own feelings; knowing that once you've hit rock bottom you'll never go back, that way you'll always come out on top.
Sure it takes time to get over heartbreak, sometimes months and even years, but eventually you've got to get back on the horse and get yourself out there. If you find yourself in the position where you've been hurt and are afraid of it happening again than take a few things into consideration. First of all, you survived; you're here and alive and most probably doing fine. Because you survived, you know what to expect and how it bad it feels, and you know that you never want to feel that way again. That alone makes you stronger for the next time that someone may come along and break your heat. Having already experienced such pain and the recovery, the next time should hurt a lot less. You also can reflect on the failed relationship and examine the reasons why it failed. Such knowledge would then allow you to move forward with a better idea of what you want from a partner and from a relationship.
Let's be honest, loneliness stinks. Who enjoys staying in on a Friday or Saturday night while everyone else is doing something with their partners? Not me and probably not you too. If it's been a while since you've dated anyone and you're still feeling guarded just think about all of the possible fun that you're missing out on. Staying home and avoiding any type of dating or relationship isn't going to get you anywhere. Don't be afraid of getting hurt, instead go into any dating situation telling yourself that nobody is ever going to hurt you like your ex did. Your feelings are completely in your control, and somebody can only hurt you if you let them. In life you've got to be able to move on from the hardest things like heartbreak. Get back out there and control your own feelings; knowing that once you've hit rock bottom you'll never go back, that way you'll always come out on top.
Embrace Your Guilty Pleasures
We all have our guilty pleasures, don't deny it, and mine happens to be Jersey Shore. I don't know why but the show amuses me so much. For some reason I just can't get enough of the tanned guidos and guidettes doing their GTL routines and then going out to the clubs to hook up. I love the lingo, the drama, the routines, all of it. And not because I think they are cool, just because they are so ridiculous with the way that they live their lives, it's like watching a train wreck. Nothing constructive or educational comes from watching Jersey Shore, it's just a small addiction that I've developed, and continues to be an extremely entertaining program. Sure tonight's episode was kind of lame, but every time Pauly D says "CABS A' HEEEEAAAA" I can't help but crack a smile. The characters are so dumb and ridiculous and it kills me to know that they make tens of thousands of dollars just to make appearances at bars, but at the same time I just can't stop watching.
As much as I enjoy watching the show, I always catch myself before I admit that I actually watch it in front of new people. It is very trashy TV and I'm sometimes afraid of being judged for watching such a show. Recently I've come to the realization that we all have our guilty pleasures. Maybe you like some crazy foreign music, or you're a sucker for Japanese horror movies. You could be that guy who gets the girly Frappucino drink at Starbucks, or maybe you've just got to have the McDonald's cheeseburger every Friday at the end of a tough work week. Whatever you're pleasure, don't be ashamed of it, even if you feel like it's a guilty one. We all have our quirks and our weird interests, they are what make us individuals. Embrace your guilty pleasure, whatever it may be, because it makes you happy and makes life a little more enjoyable. Ignore the people who try to judge you for it, because you know that everyone's got their guilty pleasures, just not all people are willing to own up to them.
As much as I enjoy watching the show, I always catch myself before I admit that I actually watch it in front of new people. It is very trashy TV and I'm sometimes afraid of being judged for watching such a show. Recently I've come to the realization that we all have our guilty pleasures. Maybe you like some crazy foreign music, or you're a sucker for Japanese horror movies. You could be that guy who gets the girly Frappucino drink at Starbucks, or maybe you've just got to have the McDonald's cheeseburger every Friday at the end of a tough work week. Whatever you're pleasure, don't be ashamed of it, even if you feel like it's a guilty one. We all have our quirks and our weird interests, they are what make us individuals. Embrace your guilty pleasure, whatever it may be, because it makes you happy and makes life a little more enjoyable. Ignore the people who try to judge you for it, because you know that everyone's got their guilty pleasures, just not all people are willing to own up to them.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Who Cares if it's Competitive, Don't Give up on Your Dreams
I remember when I was first thinking about careers back in undergrad I would bring up a field and people would say, "oh wow that's really tough to break into", or ,"yeah that's a really competitive field". I don't know about you but to me when somebody says that it translates to, "yeah I don't think you'll be able to do that". I made the mistake of taking such words in that way when I was younger, specifically when I thought about being a sportscaster or sportswriter. Instead of thinking that I would never make it in such a career I wish I would have taken the attitude of, "Ok it's competitive, I guess that means I'll have to work harder than all the other people who want it". When I was an undergrad at Penn State I had a Spanish class my Freshman year with a really outgoing and social girl. That girl is now on the Elvis Duran morning show on Q102, showing that there was a person exactly like me who followed her dream and is now on a nationally cindicated radio program. It just shows me that if I had stuck with my dream of being a sports writer or sports caster I could have done it.
Now I'm not saying that I don't want to be a teacher, I know I'm going to love it. That's the thing about me, I don't feel like I was born to do one specific thing, but that I could be happy doing a number of different things. I'm not bothered by my career choice, I'm bothered by the fact that I gave up so quickly on a past dream. Now I don't want to blame others, it was my decision to change my major from communications and move onto psychology, but I really didn't feel much support from those around me that I could make it as a media figure in sports. Do you ever feel like there are more haters out there than people who will support you? Sometimes I feel like the majority of people out there believe that you'll fail rather than succeed and this can really hurt your confidence, if you're not already a head strong and driven person. What I've been though with my roller coaster ride of undergrad major changes and now grad school has taught me that no matter what the odds are, if you have a dream than you've got to follow it. Be your own inspiration and support system if nobody else has your back, because in the end you're following your dreams for yourself, and not for anyone else.
A few weeks ago I guy I worked with was telling me how he'd really like to work for The Onion in New York City, or at least get an internship. He was telling me that he didn't know how he was going to do it and that it's really competitive and I stopped him right there. I told him that if he really wants it to go for it and not let anybody hold him back. Even if it's competitive just work really hard and do whatever you have to do to get in. And hey, even if you don't get there, your hard work usually opens you up to new possibilities along the way. All I'm saying is if you have a passion, a dream, work as hard as you can for it and make it happen (unless of course it involves hurting people, if that's the case you probably should go talk to a professional). Cast aside the haters, and listen to the supporters even if the only supporter you have is yourself, because in the end that's who you'll be pleasing most when following your dream.
Now I'm not saying that I don't want to be a teacher, I know I'm going to love it. That's the thing about me, I don't feel like I was born to do one specific thing, but that I could be happy doing a number of different things. I'm not bothered by my career choice, I'm bothered by the fact that I gave up so quickly on a past dream. Now I don't want to blame others, it was my decision to change my major from communications and move onto psychology, but I really didn't feel much support from those around me that I could make it as a media figure in sports. Do you ever feel like there are more haters out there than people who will support you? Sometimes I feel like the majority of people out there believe that you'll fail rather than succeed and this can really hurt your confidence, if you're not already a head strong and driven person. What I've been though with my roller coaster ride of undergrad major changes and now grad school has taught me that no matter what the odds are, if you have a dream than you've got to follow it. Be your own inspiration and support system if nobody else has your back, because in the end you're following your dreams for yourself, and not for anyone else.
A few weeks ago I guy I worked with was telling me how he'd really like to work for The Onion in New York City, or at least get an internship. He was telling me that he didn't know how he was going to do it and that it's really competitive and I stopped him right there. I told him that if he really wants it to go for it and not let anybody hold him back. Even if it's competitive just work really hard and do whatever you have to do to get in. And hey, even if you don't get there, your hard work usually opens you up to new possibilities along the way. All I'm saying is if you have a passion, a dream, work as hard as you can for it and make it happen (unless of course it involves hurting people, if that's the case you probably should go talk to a professional). Cast aside the haters, and listen to the supporters even if the only supporter you have is yourself, because in the end that's who you'll be pleasing most when following your dream.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Change can be a good thing
Today I found myself bored with a couple of things so I decided to change them. The first thing I did was put a TV in my room; something that had been missing one since I moved from the third floor to the second floor in May. Recently I've been watching a bunch of instantly streaming movies on Netflix and it's annoyed me having to watch on my laptop. Now I'll probably be able to connect my computer to my TV (either with a cord or with a wireless adapter) so that I can watch movies and TV shows on the bigger screen. No cable up here but no worries, I mostly watch movies anyway. I'll also be able to play XBOX now whenever I want. My sister bought me Assassins Creed Brotherhood, so now I'll be able to tap into that and play it whenever. I'm not a huge gamer but when a game I have to play it endlessly until I beat it. My room looks a bit different now, but I'm happy with the change.
Besides moving my today TV I also decided that I'm going to grow out a beard. For those of you who know me, you know this won't take very long as I'm already well on my way there with my scruff. I just figure I always shave and it's winter time so this is the best possible time for me to grow a beard. I tried it once before and didn't really like it, but this time I feel like it could suit me a little more. Plus I'm always cold so maybe I'll start to feel a little warmer with an extra coat of fur on my face. Hopefully I won't have to shave once I go into schools to observe this semester, and even if that's the case I might as well enjoy it now while I can. I've still got a couple of weeks until I'll get into schools to observe so I'll be embracing my inner yeti at least until then.
I feel that sometimes a small change such as a room rearrangement or an alternative grooming choice can be refreshing. If you feel bored, like you haven't done anything spontaneous or different for a while try a subtle change like one of the things that I did today. Maybe try eating at a new place or a buy some new clothes that don't resemble something that you already own. Possibly try listening to a new band or watching a new TV show. If you feel content with everything than that's great, I've just found myself slightly bored lately because I'm still on my semester break from school and I only work 3 days a week. Change can spark a new interest and can bring about fun, something that will not likely result from stagnation when you're bored. I once heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. If you're bored and not having fun change it up, or else you may go insane.
Besides moving my today TV I also decided that I'm going to grow out a beard. For those of you who know me, you know this won't take very long as I'm already well on my way there with my scruff. I just figure I always shave and it's winter time so this is the best possible time for me to grow a beard. I tried it once before and didn't really like it, but this time I feel like it could suit me a little more. Plus I'm always cold so maybe I'll start to feel a little warmer with an extra coat of fur on my face. Hopefully I won't have to shave once I go into schools to observe this semester, and even if that's the case I might as well enjoy it now while I can. I've still got a couple of weeks until I'll get into schools to observe so I'll be embracing my inner yeti at least until then.
I feel that sometimes a small change such as a room rearrangement or an alternative grooming choice can be refreshing. If you feel bored, like you haven't done anything spontaneous or different for a while try a subtle change like one of the things that I did today. Maybe try eating at a new place or a buy some new clothes that don't resemble something that you already own. Possibly try listening to a new band or watching a new TV show. If you feel content with everything than that's great, I've just found myself slightly bored lately because I'm still on my semester break from school and I only work 3 days a week. Change can spark a new interest and can bring about fun, something that will not likely result from stagnation when you're bored. I once heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. If you're bored and not having fun change it up, or else you may go insane.
Sleep
I'm pretty tired but nevertheless I must write something before I go to bed. Sure you can say it's already the 11th but I don't believe that it's a new day until the sun rises. Anyway, I've recently read a lot of differing opinions on the amount of sleep one should get on a nightly basis, and it's made me somewhat confused. It used to be that everyone is supposed to get 8 hours, but now experts say that while some people can do fine off of 6-7 hours, others may need as much as 9 hours of sleep. Studies have shown that too little sleep can decrease muscle mass, while sleeping a little bit extra can boost your metabolism and can burn more fat. Other studies have shown that sleeping more than 9 hours a night can make one more susceptible to heart disease and other ailments.
All of these different figures have slightly confused me and are somewhat contradictory of themselves. My solution is simple, everybody is different and some people probably need more sleep than others. Find out how much you need by trying out different times using an alarm clock. Set your alarm clock to wake you up after 6, 7, 8, and even 9 hours of sleep. Try sleeping the same number of hours for a few consecutive days and see how you feel. If you feel well rested and alert throughout the day stick with that number. If you feel exhausted try sleeping more, and if you feel sluggish after a longer sleep, like 8-9 hours you're probably sleeping too much. I think that it's really important that we know our own personal requirements for sleep so that we are energized for the following day. A good friend of mine once told me that routines are important when you are facing challenges, and consistency can allow for some stability in life during tough times. If you're feeling sluggish or exhausted try to figure out your amount of required sleeping time and once you figure it out get yourself into a routine. Sure routines can be boring for you spontaneous folks, but just think that if you're sleeping enough you'll have more energy to be spontaneous in other facets of your life. The research findings seem to be varied on how much sleep one needs, and the possible side effects from too much or too little sleep, but I believe that an individual knows his/her body best, and should come up with a personalized sleep requirement after experimenting with different durations.
All of these different figures have slightly confused me and are somewhat contradictory of themselves. My solution is simple, everybody is different and some people probably need more sleep than others. Find out how much you need by trying out different times using an alarm clock. Set your alarm clock to wake you up after 6, 7, 8, and even 9 hours of sleep. Try sleeping the same number of hours for a few consecutive days and see how you feel. If you feel well rested and alert throughout the day stick with that number. If you feel exhausted try sleeping more, and if you feel sluggish after a longer sleep, like 8-9 hours you're probably sleeping too much. I think that it's really important that we know our own personal requirements for sleep so that we are energized for the following day. A good friend of mine once told me that routines are important when you are facing challenges, and consistency can allow for some stability in life during tough times. If you're feeling sluggish or exhausted try to figure out your amount of required sleeping time and once you figure it out get yourself into a routine. Sure routines can be boring for you spontaneous folks, but just think that if you're sleeping enough you'll have more energy to be spontaneous in other facets of your life. The research findings seem to be varied on how much sleep one needs, and the possible side effects from too much or too little sleep, but I believe that an individual knows his/her body best, and should come up with a personalized sleep requirement after experimenting with different durations.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Adding another Resolution
So I was thinking about my recent blog post about cooking at home as opposed to eating out and I concluded that this I personally want to cook more at home. I currently live in my mom's house where the cooking duties rarely fall on my shoulders and I find myself sometimes disappointed with the quality of the food (sorry mom). I've always been given free range to cook in the kitchen and I think that I am finally going to take advantage of such freedom on a more consistent basis. I have decided that this year I will attempt to cook a new recipe once a week, for the rest of the year. I also think that I am going to coordinate my cooking efforts on nights that my friends are available so that I can invite people over to enjoy my cooking. And I now have four New Year's resolutions.
One resource that I see myself tapping into is the Magazine, Cooking Light. This magazine features numerous recipes that are both low calorie and easy to make. I think these recipes would be perfect for me as I won't usually have all day to put extravagant meals together. It's funny, now that I think about how I'm writing about a cooking adventure on a blog I almost feel like I'm in that movie Julie & Julia. No worries, I won't blog about my cooking efforts to that extent, but if I make something that turns out exceptionally well I may be sharing it on here. So I now have four New Year's resolutions: six pack, write everyday, eliminate negative thinking, and cook something new every week. Let's see how I do sticking to them all. If I know you personally and you have any suggestions or requests for dishes please send them my way so that we can coordinate some dinner parties. Should be a good year.
One resource that I see myself tapping into is the Magazine, Cooking Light. This magazine features numerous recipes that are both low calorie and easy to make. I think these recipes would be perfect for me as I won't usually have all day to put extravagant meals together. It's funny, now that I think about how I'm writing about a cooking adventure on a blog I almost feel like I'm in that movie Julie & Julia. No worries, I won't blog about my cooking efforts to that extent, but if I make something that turns out exceptionally well I may be sharing it on here. So I now have four New Year's resolutions: six pack, write everyday, eliminate negative thinking, and cook something new every week. Let's see how I do sticking to them all. If I know you personally and you have any suggestions or requests for dishes please send them my way so that we can coordinate some dinner parties. Should be a good year.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Greener Pastures
In response to a request from one of my readers' I am now writing about a topic that I discussed last night amongst friends. Sometimes when we have been single for some time we begin to revert back to past relationships. The loneliness builds to the point where we think that maybe things weren't as bad as they seemed, and that with some work following a reconciliation, we may be able to work things out with an ex-partner. I am here to tell you that 9 times out of 10 it is a very bad idea. Chances are if you ended things with an ex there was a good reason (or reasons) and that things really weren't meant to be. Sure I've seen a few examples of couples who following a break up and reconciliation grew stronger and are happily together today (one of my cousins and my good friend KG). I'm not saying never try to work it out with an ex, all I'm saying is there's a good chance that it's not going to work out and to realize that things may never go back to the way they were.
If you find yourself in this position of still having feelings for an ex-partner, I'd say go for it. Meet up with them see how they're doing, and see if they feel the same way about you. If you both want to reconcile and work on the problems that drove you apart than I say it's worth a shot. Know that if it is to work you must forgive all that happened in the past and start fresh. Don't focus on things that happened when you were apart, but instead attempt to build a new foundation, if things work out well and you two choose to move forward. Beware though not to build up the initial interaction in your head. For all you know your ex could have moved on to somebody new or may not share your feelings. It's best to go into situations like this (the initial meeting with an ex) with zero expectations, knowing that no matter what happens you'll emerge unscathed. I believe that it's very difficult to get back together with an ex and make it work for the long term, but I've seen a couple examples in my life of a reunion successfully working. It can be done but know that more often than not you are better off forgetting about your ex and moving on to greener pastures, and new experiences with new people.
If you find yourself in this position of still having feelings for an ex-partner, I'd say go for it. Meet up with them see how they're doing, and see if they feel the same way about you. If you both want to reconcile and work on the problems that drove you apart than I say it's worth a shot. Know that if it is to work you must forgive all that happened in the past and start fresh. Don't focus on things that happened when you were apart, but instead attempt to build a new foundation, if things work out well and you two choose to move forward. Beware though not to build up the initial interaction in your head. For all you know your ex could have moved on to somebody new or may not share your feelings. It's best to go into situations like this (the initial meeting with an ex) with zero expectations, knowing that no matter what happens you'll emerge unscathed. I believe that it's very difficult to get back together with an ex and make it work for the long term, but I've seen a couple examples in my life of a reunion successfully working. It can be done but know that more often than not you are better off forgetting about your ex and moving on to greener pastures, and new experiences with new people.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Family Dinners Can Trump a Restaurant Outing
Last Saturday I assisted in cooking a 'family dinner' with some friends on New Year's day. Together we made a Caesar salad with garlic bread, spaghetti in gravy (yes it was real Italian gravy), and Chicken Parmesan. The meal fed seven people and only cost a grand total of $46 dollars. That's pretty impressive when you think about what it would cost seven people to have a nice and filling dinner out plus drinks. You're getting into the $125-$150 range for that type of eating, but we were able to enjoy delicious and filling food without having to go out. Plus we were able to save on drinks, one of the most marked up items in the consumer market. Consider this, a glass of wine at a restaurant usually costs around $6 while a 1.5 L bottle of a typical house wine usually runs around $13. Such a bottle usually contains about 8-10 glasses of wine. As you can see that's quite a mark up, and shows how enjoying a meal at home can be a big money saver.
Not only are home-cooked dinners more cost effective but they are usually healthier than meals cooked at restaurants. All of the ingredients that we used were fresh, and because we cooked the meal ourselves we knew exactly what we were eating. Restaurants often use heavy doses of butters, oils, and fats to give their foods taste plus high levels of sodium and other preservatives. By cooking out meal at home we knew that is was both inexpensive and healthy for the most part.
Another positive aspect of cooking group dinners at home is the satisfaction that results from laboring over such a meal. It felt great to look at the food spread out on the table knowing that I helped to prepare such a feast. Accomplishments like this really make you feel like you did a nice thing, especially when everyone at the table really enjoys the food. It feels great not only to accomplish something for yourself, but also knowing that you're hard work provided an enjoyable experience for others.
Now I'm not saying that people should never go out to eat but maybe consider hosting a dinner party or having friends over for dinner next time you think about meeting out at a restaurant. Sure on special occasions it's nice to skip the effort or preparation and the clean up required by a nice meal, but it can also be very rewarding to have friends and family over for a home-cooked meal. The home should be a place of happiness and security, and provides an atmosphere of privacy for yourself and your loved ones. Consider a group dinner at home next time you want to share a meal with friends because it's more affordable, healthier, and can give one a greater feeling of satisfaction.
Not only are home-cooked dinners more cost effective but they are usually healthier than meals cooked at restaurants. All of the ingredients that we used were fresh, and because we cooked the meal ourselves we knew exactly what we were eating. Restaurants often use heavy doses of butters, oils, and fats to give their foods taste plus high levels of sodium and other preservatives. By cooking out meal at home we knew that is was both inexpensive and healthy for the most part.
Another positive aspect of cooking group dinners at home is the satisfaction that results from laboring over such a meal. It felt great to look at the food spread out on the table knowing that I helped to prepare such a feast. Accomplishments like this really make you feel like you did a nice thing, especially when everyone at the table really enjoys the food. It feels great not only to accomplish something for yourself, but also knowing that you're hard work provided an enjoyable experience for others.
Now I'm not saying that people should never go out to eat but maybe consider hosting a dinner party or having friends over for dinner next time you think about meeting out at a restaurant. Sure on special occasions it's nice to skip the effort or preparation and the clean up required by a nice meal, but it can also be very rewarding to have friends and family over for a home-cooked meal. The home should be a place of happiness and security, and provides an atmosphere of privacy for yourself and your loved ones. Consider a group dinner at home next time you want to share a meal with friends because it's more affordable, healthier, and can give one a greater feeling of satisfaction.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Soft spoken people
Working in a service industry, specifically food service, I talk to customers on a daily basis. For some reason I feel that people are way more soft spoken than they used to be. Like someone will be practically whispering their order to me. Do they actually think I can hear them when their volume is turned all the way down to 1? I mean seriously what gives, I feel like people didn't used to be so quiet. Either people are growing quieter or my hearing is crapping out on me after 24 years of abuse. Either way I feel like many people are very soft spoken these days and I even noticed it when I was out and about today. I went to go get my fingerprinting done for my education clearances and the guy doing it was so quiet. When he came out and read the names off I barely heard him, but luckily the people next to me got up so I knew he was reading off our names. Then when we were in there he was practically mumbling the instructions to us and didn't really say anything else. No 'Hi, How are you today'? just a blank stare. That's another thing I feel like those same people who speak in whispers also don't make simple conversation. For instance if I ask you how you're doing is it so difficult to say 'fine thanks' or even a simple 'hi'. So often I greet people and I get nothing back; hey people guess what? that's just rude.
I fear that many people in today's society have become soft spoken, and I can't figure out the cause of it (maybe everyone's on drugs?). I wonder how such people would perform in a job interview or in any type of professional setting that requires human contact. My guess is not very well. And what about on a date, if such people even date or a social situation with friends. Have you ever heard the saying quiet people have the most fun? I haven't. The lesson that these mumblers and mimes have taught me is simple. When somebody is speaking to you try to respond at a level that is audible and in a way that is understandable (no mumbling, proper enunciation). Eye contact and an assertive attitude can go a long way, especially in a setting such as a job interview or a work meeting. Don't be afraid to speak up and speak loudly because chances are you probably have something useful to say as long as you think first and it's respectful. So often it's not the words we say but how we say such words, so don't be soft spoken because it probably won't get you anywhere.
I fear that many people in today's society have become soft spoken, and I can't figure out the cause of it (maybe everyone's on drugs?). I wonder how such people would perform in a job interview or in any type of professional setting that requires human contact. My guess is not very well. And what about on a date, if such people even date or a social situation with friends. Have you ever heard the saying quiet people have the most fun? I haven't. The lesson that these mumblers and mimes have taught me is simple. When somebody is speaking to you try to respond at a level that is audible and in a way that is understandable (no mumbling, proper enunciation). Eye contact and an assertive attitude can go a long way, especially in a setting such as a job interview or a work meeting. Don't be afraid to speak up and speak loudly because chances are you probably have something useful to say as long as you think first and it's respectful. So often it's not the words we say but how we say such words, so don't be soft spoken because it probably won't get you anywhere.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Ladies please be honest when us guys come calling
It may just be me but I feel like many ladies, often in an attempt to be nice, won't instantly shoot down a guy that they are not interested in . This is a message to all people who are being pursued by somebody who they are not interested in: be honest, tell them you're not interested and do so as soon as possible. That way you can spare yourself the future awkwardness of cooking up excuses why you don't want to hang out, and the interested party can move on to somebody else who they may actually connect with. If you're trying to be nice than you're actually accomplishing the opposite, by allowing the interested person to hope that at some point things will change and you will actually want to date them. You see this type of thing happening all the time.
For example, we've all seen that guy at the bar who sees the pretty girl and decides to buy her drinks all night. And then by the end of the night she thanks him and leaves. Thanks a lot lady, you just wasted that guys time and money. Sure he was an idiot for not catching on after the first 15 minutes that you weren't interested but should that mean that he should receive a big time burn both to his ego and wallet? Instead just let him down easy when he approaches, something along the lines of thank you for the drink, I'm flattered but not interested.
We've all probably had similar experiences at work or at school with people we have pursued. They commonly make up excuses about being busy, sick, or unavailable, yet they continue to pretend like they want to get together. Us humans are emotional creatures, sure, but I think as adults we can all handle a little bit of rejection, especially if it comes sooner rather than later. Honesty can go a long way and can save people a lot of trouble. So if you find yourself in the position of being pursued by someone that you have no interest in just be honest and move on. If they pursue further raise your voice, and if they continue, well that's why we have pepper spray and stun guns.
For example, we've all seen that guy at the bar who sees the pretty girl and decides to buy her drinks all night. And then by the end of the night she thanks him and leaves. Thanks a lot lady, you just wasted that guys time and money. Sure he was an idiot for not catching on after the first 15 minutes that you weren't interested but should that mean that he should receive a big time burn both to his ego and wallet? Instead just let him down easy when he approaches, something along the lines of thank you for the drink, I'm flattered but not interested.
We've all probably had similar experiences at work or at school with people we have pursued. They commonly make up excuses about being busy, sick, or unavailable, yet they continue to pretend like they want to get together. Us humans are emotional creatures, sure, but I think as adults we can all handle a little bit of rejection, especially if it comes sooner rather than later. Honesty can go a long way and can save people a lot of trouble. So if you find yourself in the position of being pursued by someone that you have no interest in just be honest and move on. If they pursue further raise your voice, and if they continue, well that's why we have pepper spray and stun guns.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Stick to your New Year's Resolutions
Did you make a New Year's Resolution this year? How about last year and the year before? I know I did, only last year was the first year I ever followed through on a New Year's resolution, actually five of them to be exact. I won't go into details as some of them were somewhat personal but most notably was my commitment to fitness and dieting; which yielded me results that I had never seen before. This year I have started out with three New Year's Resolutions. In no particular order regarding importance they are: get a six pack (abdominal muscles not beer), write something every day, and eliminate negative thinking. If you're laughing right now go ahead; take a second and enjoy it. It is a little funny that one of my New Year's resolutions is a six pack, but hey if I'm working out hard and eating well don't I deserve some results to show for it? I think so and I also find that when you make specific fitness goals you have something to strive for, not just general fitness and exercise. This goal will push me to continue my work outs even when I'm tired or discouraged. I will no that all of my time and effort will pay off in regards to my health, fitness level, and physical appearance.
My second resolution of writing everyday mainly has to do with this blog. I find that the only way I am going to improve myself as a writer will be to write as much as possible. This blog is for me to share things about myself and things that I have learned with whoever chooses to read it. When I eventually begin writing novels I will be writing them for me, about what I choose to write about regardless of their marketability. If they can sell that would be wonderful, and if not than at least I'll know that I did something for me, that gave me joy and fulfillment.
The last resolution that I mentioned of expelling negative thinking is a general trend in my life that I would like to eliminate. Thinking negatively only hurts one's progress, creativity, and happiness. Nobody accomplished great things without thinking that they could do so, and if I want to do great things in my life I must begin with a positive attitude towards my endeavors. For instance, Marconi didn't invent the radio by thinking that he couldn't do it, he worked his butt off until he built one of the most monumental technological achievements of his time. People accomplish amazing feats by believing in themselves and working hard towards their goals. I want to be happy and successful moving forward in life, and I feel that positive thinking is the first step towards both.
So enough about me and my resolutions, if you're still reading this take time to reflect on your own New Year's resolution(s) of the past and present. Think about resolutions that you've made and followed through on or maybe resolutions that you've made and forgot about. Now think about what you want to accomplish this coming year. If you already have goals in mind then great job, and if not no worries. It's never too late to make a goal or resolution, but having no goals will likely lead to little progress and growth with your life. It's important for all of us to make goals in order to better ourselves and those around us. Nobody's perfect and we can always work on ourselves to be the best possible people that we can be.
My second resolution of writing everyday mainly has to do with this blog. I find that the only way I am going to improve myself as a writer will be to write as much as possible. This blog is for me to share things about myself and things that I have learned with whoever chooses to read it. When I eventually begin writing novels I will be writing them for me, about what I choose to write about regardless of their marketability. If they can sell that would be wonderful, and if not than at least I'll know that I did something for me, that gave me joy and fulfillment.
The last resolution that I mentioned of expelling negative thinking is a general trend in my life that I would like to eliminate. Thinking negatively only hurts one's progress, creativity, and happiness. Nobody accomplished great things without thinking that they could do so, and if I want to do great things in my life I must begin with a positive attitude towards my endeavors. For instance, Marconi didn't invent the radio by thinking that he couldn't do it, he worked his butt off until he built one of the most monumental technological achievements of his time. People accomplish amazing feats by believing in themselves and working hard towards their goals. I want to be happy and successful moving forward in life, and I feel that positive thinking is the first step towards both.
So enough about me and my resolutions, if you're still reading this take time to reflect on your own New Year's resolution(s) of the past and present. Think about resolutions that you've made and followed through on or maybe resolutions that you've made and forgot about. Now think about what you want to accomplish this coming year. If you already have goals in mind then great job, and if not no worries. It's never too late to make a goal or resolution, but having no goals will likely lead to little progress and growth with your life. It's important for all of us to make goals in order to better ourselves and those around us. Nobody's perfect and we can always work on ourselves to be the best possible people that we can be.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Why not wait?
The previous post was greatly influenced by a current trend that I have noticed involving young people around me getting married. When I say young people I mean under 30, but in my recent observations under 25. I hear about more and more people my age, engaged, married, or with children (pregnant or already have them). What's the rush? I mean really why get engaged or married when you're so young and have barely experienced the different things that life has to offer? At this age we are allotted the ultimate freedom to stay out late, party, and have a good time. When we're young we can just pick up and leave, try something new, or travel to a new place whenever because we have no familial obligations. I know this is quite general as some people may be limited by other circumstances (physical or emotional disabilities, maybe you have to care for a sick family member), but when such limitations aren't in place, why limit yourself by getting settling down so young?
Instead why not take the time to save money, secure a career that suits you and build a foundation there, possibly buy a home, and most importantly take as much time as possible to alleviate any doubts that the partner you have chosen is indeed right for you. Personally I don't understand people who rush into a small wedding, skipping on nice things that they could not afford, and then moving into a small one bedroom apartment because the newly married couple has no money. Just a side note I think that military marriages are the exception as that lifestyle usually requires a young marriage to insure that the serviceman/woman's family is cared for by government benefits. Besides that situation, I do not understand why people rush into weddings at such a young age. Even with shotgun weddings, if people marry because the woman is pregnant for religious reasons, didn't she already sin by conceiving out of wedlock?
Overall I'm just concerned that many young people are not taking the institution of marriage seriously, and are not taking a significant amount of time to make the right decision. Just because you are with somebody for 'x' amount of years does not mean that you are contractually obligated to marry the person. Also, a strong physical connection on its own does not predict a successful marriage; an aspect that many seem to focus on. Sure the physical connection is crucial, but once it dies out there must be a deep emotional connection to support a lifelong partnership. If more people were to take their time and save up money, mature, and get to know their partners more, I believe that less people would get divorced, and more people would be happy with their relationship status. I really hope that my observations do not reflect a general trend of individuals downplaying the institution of marriage and the importance of taking the time to make the right decision. By all means if you want to have a cheap and small wedding and then move into a tiny apartment when you're young because you have no money then go for it; that just won't be me.
Instead why not take the time to save money, secure a career that suits you and build a foundation there, possibly buy a home, and most importantly take as much time as possible to alleviate any doubts that the partner you have chosen is indeed right for you. Personally I don't understand people who rush into a small wedding, skipping on nice things that they could not afford, and then moving into a small one bedroom apartment because the newly married couple has no money. Just a side note I think that military marriages are the exception as that lifestyle usually requires a young marriage to insure that the serviceman/woman's family is cared for by government benefits. Besides that situation, I do not understand why people rush into weddings at such a young age. Even with shotgun weddings, if people marry because the woman is pregnant for religious reasons, didn't she already sin by conceiving out of wedlock?
Overall I'm just concerned that many young people are not taking the institution of marriage seriously, and are not taking a significant amount of time to make the right decision. Just because you are with somebody for 'x' amount of years does not mean that you are contractually obligated to marry the person. Also, a strong physical connection on its own does not predict a successful marriage; an aspect that many seem to focus on. Sure the physical connection is crucial, but once it dies out there must be a deep emotional connection to support a lifelong partnership. If more people were to take their time and save up money, mature, and get to know their partners more, I believe that less people would get divorced, and more people would be happy with their relationship status. I really hope that my observations do not reflect a general trend of individuals downplaying the institution of marriage and the importance of taking the time to make the right decision. By all means if you want to have a cheap and small wedding and then move into a tiny apartment when you're young because you have no money then go for it; that just won't be me.
The most important decision in life
This is quite a debated topic in today's society and welcomes a number of logical answers. Some people believe that choosing the right University or College is the most important decision in one's life while others believe that career choice is most important. Money after all is what fuels us and allows us to consume goods and maintain ourselves in modern society. Although career choice, education choice, and income are all very crucial to living a comfortable life these all fall short of what is truly the most important decision in life.
One's choice of a spouse supersedes all other decisions in life. The right spouse is a blessing; an individual who is both a lover and a best friend. A suitable life partner provides a foundation of happiness and love, the two most important aspects of life and human emotion. I find it hard to believe that an individual could live a truly full and happy life without the right life partner (with the exception of Hugh Hefner and other rich man whores whose physical fulfillment likely trumps and emotional void). Money troubles are stressful, and sometimes we may regret missed opportunities with different careers, yet true happiness and love rest at home with those who we hold dearest, and that all begins with the immediate family.
To illustrate the consequences of choosing the wrong partner, here are some possible scenarios of what a mismatch could result in. Both parties will likely argue consistently and not solve such arguments. Fundamental differences and fights may lead to anger, frustration, and sadness. These negative emotions would probably carry over to other facets of life such as friendships and family life. When the closest bond that we are supposed to have is a weak one, the stress builds up to the point that the bond will eventually rupture; usually resulting in a divorce. Then comes the separation of assets, where one person usually takes a larger financial hit than the other, followed by alimony and possibly child support. And of course when children are involved things become much more complex. Divorce can greatly affect children, and may require therapy and other types of counseling in order to correct the damage of a broken home. Overall choosing the wrong partner creates a domino effect of negative situations and emotions, all of which usually leave their mark on the lives of an entire nuclear family. We can always change careers, or go back to school, but the damage done by choosing the wrong life partner may never be fully corrected. People should put far more emphasis on this decision than others in life because of the deep emotional consequences related to choosing the wrong life partner.
One's choice of a spouse supersedes all other decisions in life. The right spouse is a blessing; an individual who is both a lover and a best friend. A suitable life partner provides a foundation of happiness and love, the two most important aspects of life and human emotion. I find it hard to believe that an individual could live a truly full and happy life without the right life partner (with the exception of Hugh Hefner and other rich man whores whose physical fulfillment likely trumps and emotional void). Money troubles are stressful, and sometimes we may regret missed opportunities with different careers, yet true happiness and love rest at home with those who we hold dearest, and that all begins with the immediate family.
To illustrate the consequences of choosing the wrong partner, here are some possible scenarios of what a mismatch could result in. Both parties will likely argue consistently and not solve such arguments. Fundamental differences and fights may lead to anger, frustration, and sadness. These negative emotions would probably carry over to other facets of life such as friendships and family life. When the closest bond that we are supposed to have is a weak one, the stress builds up to the point that the bond will eventually rupture; usually resulting in a divorce. Then comes the separation of assets, where one person usually takes a larger financial hit than the other, followed by alimony and possibly child support. And of course when children are involved things become much more complex. Divorce can greatly affect children, and may require therapy and other types of counseling in order to correct the damage of a broken home. Overall choosing the wrong partner creates a domino effect of negative situations and emotions, all of which usually leave their mark on the lives of an entire nuclear family. We can always change careers, or go back to school, but the damage done by choosing the wrong life partner may never be fully corrected. People should put far more emphasis on this decision than others in life because of the deep emotional consequences related to choosing the wrong life partner.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
What constitutes cheating?
I believe that the general population is split on what actually constitutes cheating between a couple. Some say that sleeping with somebody else is cheating while others believe that simply wanting to be with someone else can be considered cheating. There is quite a gray area between sleeping with someone and fantasizing about being with them and I wonder how soon into that gray area would one have to go in order to cheat. For instance, let's say a girl with a boyfriend decides to go out to a bar, have some drinks and have a good time. This good time would consist of dancing very closely with at least one guy in the style us young people call 'grinding'. Essentially you're dry-humping on the dance floor and the consistent 'grinding' usually leads to later hookups. Would you consider this type of dancing cheating?
I used to think that cheating meant a significant other kissing somebody else but I have since revised my definition. I think that some significant flirting and close dancing could be enough to constitute cheating. If you are with somebody in a monogamous relationship than what business do you have going out and grinding with people in a non-joking manner (meaning that a serious attraction lead to such dancing)? Shouldn't your eyes be only for the person you are in love with? I thought about it and I know that I would be quite angry if I had a girlfriend and I found out that she was out flirting and grinding with guys even if she did not kiss any one else. When in a relationship it's important to know what you consider cheating before the foundation of the relationship is laid. Everyone has their own definition, but if your partner wants to be with someone else and acts on such desires with heavy flirting and some close dancing, isn't that just as bad as carrying out the act of kissing and/or sleeping with somebody else?
I used to think that cheating meant a significant other kissing somebody else but I have since revised my definition. I think that some significant flirting and close dancing could be enough to constitute cheating. If you are with somebody in a monogamous relationship than what business do you have going out and grinding with people in a non-joking manner (meaning that a serious attraction lead to such dancing)? Shouldn't your eyes be only for the person you are in love with? I thought about it and I know that I would be quite angry if I had a girlfriend and I found out that she was out flirting and grinding with guys even if she did not kiss any one else. When in a relationship it's important to know what you consider cheating before the foundation of the relationship is laid. Everyone has their own definition, but if your partner wants to be with someone else and acts on such desires with heavy flirting and some close dancing, isn't that just as bad as carrying out the act of kissing and/or sleeping with somebody else?
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