Winter 2014, January 22, Wednesday

16 degrees this morning.  Not particularity bad, since there was no wind.  I did my regular exercise (walk about 30 minutes, bike to ATC, stationary bike etc.)   Main problem is the amount of extra time it takes to dress for the weather.  An extra layer etc., it all starts to add up.

Newspapers arrived on time, which was good.  It gives me a good start on the day to be able to read them early, usually as I ride the stationary bike at ATC Fitness.  I just started using my "Fitbit Force". It is interesting how it keeps track of everything and "syncs" wirelessly, as long as I have the toggle in my computer.

I downed "box", which is similar to "dropbox", cloud (Amazon), Skydrive (Microsoft) and iCloud (Apple).  I like them all, although I use dropbox and cloud the most right now.  I got 50 GB free on box, which was enough to decide me to switch to Box to store a lot of items!  I still need Apple iCloud to sync my information between all my apple devices (it actually automatically syncs my iPhone, iPads, laptop and desktop so everything I do on one is reflected on the other.  

I feel like today is going to be a great day!  Nothing wrong with being positive! Some years ago, I did decide I was going to have to stop "living in the future" and start "living in the present", mainly meaning I wasn't going to put off so much to some "future self".  I guess that is about the same as was discussed in the "The Willpower Instinct" when a person feels they will have more time, have more willpower, be more confident etc. in the future.  Maybe it's not all that related after all, but it is somewhat the same concept.

Working on "weeding" "things".  Very difficult.  It is a littler easier if I am giving them away, at least I feel the item may have a useful life elsewhere, so to speak.  

As far as the weather is concerned, I'm glad there isn't any snow involved.  I can deal with the cold.

Winter 2014 January 21 Tuesday

43 degrees this morning.  However that is probably the high for the day as the weather is already noticeably colder.  It is now 34 degrees with wind and is supposed to go down to  28 degrees by 11 a.m.!  There is also a wind that makes it seem colder.   

Newspapers arrived late this morning, around 6:30 a.m.  I may or may not read them today, but if this is the new schedule I am canceling all three of them!  I assume the normal Commercial Appeal carrier, who is normally so reliable was ill or may have had car trouble.  A  good news carrier is wonderful.

Reentry into the normal world again after a trip out of town.  It is always a time of finding things again, remembering where you packed them and dealing with the aches and pains of a long car trip  (or a cramped airline seat, but a long car trip this timeI).  

The wind is up and howling, which makes it seem colder.  I am ready for Spring.  I always think that around this time of year we need to take a long trip somewhere that it is hot, hot, hot, or at least reasonably warm!  My Uncle John and Aunt Ruth (if I remember correctly) always did that and I thought it was a great idea. 

Indulging in my secret vice of watching Country Western videos.  I don't actually sit and watch them, they are on and sometimes they catch my attention.  Keith Urban just had a really good one on.  I tope them so I can avoid some of the more toxic commercials, primarily the ones from "Progressive" insurance with "Flo".  A good reason I will never buy Progressive insurance, probably wouldn't anyway since I am an Allstate fan (converted from a State Farm fan after a traffic accident where I was blown off.  Aliene had Allstate and I had State Farm so we knew we had to go with one anyway, and the customer service failure by State Farm made it easy to change.  Funny, the same thing happened to my Dad with State Farm when I was in the 5th or 6th grade.  Maybe the culture of State Farm hasn't changed much.  All I know is, the few claims we have had, Allstate has always come through without any hassle and State Farm has always been some kind of hassle.

Fall 2013 November 9 Saturday

39 degrees this morning.  Didn't seem to be that cold.

Saturday morning on a three-day weekend!  I like looking ahead and seeing a clean slate for several days!  The possibilities are unlimited!  (so to speak!)

I have started watching a recording of "Mad Money" in the morning.  While I don't pay as much attention to it as I probably should, it is probably better for me than watching music videos (and almost as entertaining!)  I used to try to watch the news in the morning, but I prefer "hard" news and not the talking heads trying to tell me what to think or slanting the "news" so much it is it just their opinion.  

I still get most of my news from the Newspapers (either printed or electronic).  Probably one reason is I don't have the patience to watch long winded reports or even videos (I "read" the on-line USA today every day, I think it is a great format, but I never watch the videos since they take too much time to convey the information.  Saying that, I do watch (several days a week)  a recording of the national news (NBC and ABC) so I can speed through any boring reports or the "feel good" (or bad) reports they fill their time with.  We also watch a recording of several of the Sunday morning shows (Meet the Press, Face the Nation, This Week, 60 minutes) with the remote in hand ready to speed through some of the more bland or the bizarre behavior by the "guests" when they yell over each other.  I don't know what the host doesn't keep them in line.

Watching some of the early music videos I am always stuck by how the singers have noticeably aged through the years (just like me!).  Nothing wrong with it, it is just a fact of life, but the change is rather startling. I expect I would see the same thing in movies and tv shows if I watched them.  

The last "regular" tv show I watched was "Hill Street Blues" so it has been a while since I watched a tv show.  Just a matter of time and quite frankly, priorities for the use of my time.  Aliene likes to watch "CSI" tv shows when I am at work.  Maybe some day I will get on Netflix or Hula and watch an entire series in one day!  Probably after I retire, which I hope is a long time off and I hope I don't have the time after I retire either!