Summer Lovin

We’re going on a vacation next week. I’m excited… sort of. There’s a LOT that has to get done in the next few days, including some things that I have no control over. It’s making me wonder if a week away is really worth it, when you consider the week(s) you spend stressing, saving, planning, and then the time after it takes to get back to your normal schedule. 

I’m sure I’ll change my mind once we’re actually there, but for right now, it doesn’t feel worth it.

 

On another note, I got to spend the evening playing Mario Kart for the Wii, and Wii Sports. I can see why people are spending $300 on these things. Playing a Wii takes much more physical interaction than any other console I’ve seen. I mean, you get warned in loading screens to attach the controller to your wrist- that says a lot about the kind of gameplay you can expect with these.
I think half the fun came from the quiet knowledge that you and your friends are standing together making some of the silliest motions at your TV, and nobody cares. It’s one thing to congratulate someone that got a strike in bowling, but there’s nothing like getting a good laugh at the clumsy bouncing technique that they got it with.

If there was ever a purchase that could tempt away my savings, it would be the Wii.

Don’t Try This At Home

Okay, so, even when you’re broke… free lessons off the internet are not always the best alternate to a real class. 

After deciding to get in shape, for good (if people can’t understand the concept of being skinny and unfit, then I’ll just become fit!), I found out that I was one of those people that wouldn’t stay motivated. Not because I dislike exercise, but I have a little bit of a short attention span, so the whole repetition thing wasn’t working for me. 

Hence my decision to get fit through learning basic dance moves and just getting up and moving on a regular basis. I mean, it couldn’t hurt, right?

Oh, goodness, wrong.

 The basic moves I picked were some simple hip-hop footwork things (moonwalk, v-step, etc) and some simple beginners belly dance hip movements. 
At first, all the footwork made my legs hurt, so after a few days of that I started spending most of my time on the hip movements.

Honestly, I didn’t know there were so many ways for hips to hurt, or so many different places.
One day I wake up with my right hip joint absolutely throbbing. I spend a few days limping. Then, I pull a groin muscle. Now, my entire left side, from my lower abs down, is remaining persistently painful. Its like a side cramp that just won’t leave. 

People, be warned. There’s a reason people pay professionals to teach them these things.

Paging Doctor.. Tivo

I had a moment today that made me wonder if I don’t watch too much TV. It was something like…

Me: “Do you have our parking pass?”
Person 2: “No, it expired.”
Me: “We should get another one.”
Person 2: “I was going to, Monday, but YOU didn’t WANT to go.”
[at this point, I decided that I'd like to pause everything, like a television show. I'd pull Person 2 aside, and instead of being sarcastic, they'd drop that character and become open to criticism. I'd tell them that they didn't need to add "...but YOU didn't WANT to go." because the rest worked fine on its own. They'd ask why, and I'd explain that the way they'd said it had a negative connotation. They'd "oooh, right" and nod and go back into character. Unpause.]

Typing this, I see that I spend too much time in my own head. Its a good concept, though. If we could theoretically pause things and talk peacefully, some situations could be so much less stressful. Its hard to explain, really… imagine a way to make people drop their defensive attitudes and become open-minded in a conflict, like you’re just people playing the part of angry and obstinate loudmouths.  A little advice, a little resolution, and unpause. 

Two Things

So… just two things today.

The first: Its really hard to find a first job. Everyone wants experience. Its something that you always know is a bit of a conundrum, but when you find yourself constantly broke, it just sucks.

 

The second: A show that’s new to me but old news. “Dead Like Me” ran in 2003 and 2004, but for some reason didn’t make it past the second season. I, personally, love that show. The episodes have a pattern- it starts out reflective in a slightly depressing way, but by the end, you’ve had a few good laughs and the insight has turned less upsetting and more revealing. I always end an episode with something real (and motivating) to think about. True, the plot is a little morbid (teenager killed by toilet seat now reaps souls that die in the the most random ways) but its enlightening, and I wish it would get un-canceled.  

Edit: It seems there is a Dead Like Me movie in post-production. Yay? 

A Couple Favorite Sites

At this point, there’s not much to read here, so for those reading, I’m going to guess they’re a little bored. Bored people like to link surf, so have some links!

List Universe
If you like reading lists but always wanted more than bullet points, this is an excellent site. Be sure to visit.

Subeta
Its Neopets, without the sell-out, immaturity, and suffering economy! 

Questionable Content
I’m a big webcomics fan, and that’s partially because of this site here. I read it from the start, and immediately started searching for more. 

Wonder How To
If you’ve ever wondered how to do anything and, after spending hours clicking around Youtube, knew nothing more than you did to start with, you’ll be in awe of this site. I know I was.

75 Questions
At first, you kinda wonder what answering a list of questions could really do, and if you don’t take it seriously, nothing. But I challenge you to really think about the answers, and surprise yourself.

I Miss Your Common Sense

Now, seriously. I realize annoyance at something a lot of people like is probably not the best way to start a blog, but these things drive me nuts. Do people really find them funny? 

What are “these”? These are those “Life’s Unanswered Questions” lists that are rarely unanswered and barely questions. I bet they WOULD be funny, if they were really as ironic as people act, but they aren’t. As an example, I’ve answered some of them (to the best of my limited ability) using only my common sense.

If humans evolved from monkey’s/apes, why are they still here?
 
If we’re being basic here, birds supposedly evolved from the same place as reptiles, both of those are still here. Also, humans didn’t evolve from monkeys, nor the apes of today. Silly question.

How come people tell you not to stand in front of an emergency exit when if there was an emergency surely you would run through it?
 
Because if you’re standing there and there’s a fire without you knowing it (or if you’re just slow), you’ll be trampled. People aren’t nice when they’re desperately trying to stay alive.

Does a two-humped camel store more water than a one-humped camel?
 
They don’t store water in their humps.

Why do sleeping pills have warning labels that state :’Caution: May Cause Drowsiness?
  
Because some people may think of sleeping pills as something that will help them relax, not make them drowsy. I guess some people might just read warning labels and not instructions, too.

If there’s a wheelchair-bound comedian, is it still called “stand-up”?
  Not unless the person announcing them has no class.

Why are red buttons always the most important?
   Red is a warning color.

Why doesn’t broccoli come in a can?
 
 Have you ever HAD soggy broccoli? Its just a bad idea.

 

You get the idea. These questions aren’t funny! Some of them are good observations, sure, but they’d fit in much better with a more scientific list, rather than a funny one. Maybe a “Life’s Questions and Answers” would be more appropriate.

Being First

Everyone says, if you’re getting into the blogging business, you ought to find a niche, and perfect it. 

Okay.. but I’ve got way too much to say about way too many things for that to work.

So, I declare my niche as “Personal Opinions”. Now watch me own it.