This is What I do When I'm Bored

Boredom is just a message sent to you by your subconscious mind to tell you that there are much more important things to do than what you are doing now.


If you're reading this because you're bored - add a thumbs up!


When I'm bored I can do some downright goofy stuff.  Now don't judge me, because I'm sure you've done some pretty crazy things too - you just won't admit it.  So here goes, and if it makes you shake your head, well, that's okay with me.  Just don't tell me.

I go to this website and guess the model's measurements.                                    
 
    http://www.zappos.com/c/measurements

Just hold your cursor over the model and the answer will be revealed.

I actually will play this game.  I'm so embarrassed.                                        

    http://www.bored.com/game/play/151442/Bob_the_Button.html








   

                 I attempt to make things out of fruit and vegetables. I tried this one once.  Not so good. 

I took the Simpson's personality test when I was bored once:                                 

     http://www.matthewbarr.co.uk/simpsons/

                                               I've also cooked up some pretty crazy stuff that doesn't get on my other blog.

 baked carrot fries....

...in the quest to being healthy.   Blaaaah!

Sometimes I'll go to this awesome site that my son told me about:  It can keep my occupied for e ver.

     http://www.reddit.com/                                                                                                 

Sometimes I play "House" and try to 'guess the disease' from a book I own called, "The Encyclopedia of Common Diseases".  Then I found this site, only to discover which of the House doctors' I am most like!

http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Reviews/House/House-Quiz.html       

                                                                                                              Cameron, of course.  :)

Something I've done for years now, is try to recite as many people as I can remember, that have gone to prison, always starting with the scumbag Scott Peterson.  I usually begin with a mocking, "I wonder what so-and-so is doing today," and the list continues with OJ Simpson, Bernie Madoff, Phillip Garrido ...you get the idea.

                                                                                                                                 

These quizzes are so bad that are addicting:

     http://quizilla.teennick.com/quizzes                                                           




I loooved dot-to-dots as a kid.  Yeah, it's easy, but so.  Sorry, I liked Light-Bright too.

http://www.coloring4all.com/dot_to_dot.htm                                           

I also make pictures in my coffee.  Really.




Who knows why you are reading my blog...are YOU bored?  Do you enjoy my posts?  Or are you still just trying to figure out why people blog?  If you're an epic wanderer like me, you may end up at a site such as this:
               http://www.bored.com/getinsulted/

                                                                                      Just to get insulted..

I'm done.

                                                                                                    javatalk

Resolutions - Yay, or Nay?

I've been reading articles all week about those who don't believe in New Year's resolutions.  They also don't believe in setting goals, or self-improvement urges.  Yet they talk a lot about getting back on track, getting rid of clutter and getting organized once and for all.  They discuss things like, "Making Life Effortless," and "Changing anything you want in your life," "How to end procrastination once and for all."  Toss out expectations!  Simplify!  Live smoothly with chaos!  Don't tell me what to do!

So much advice on "how to."  Sure, I mentally make resolutions each year, as well as throughout the year, and for the most part I meet my own expectations.  I could share with you my plan, what works for me, but I think we would all agree in the end it depends on motivation.  Does this really mean enough to me to make it happen? Perhaps someone's illness motivates you to purchase a smoothie blender.  Maybe you read that 20 minutes of daily exercise can decrease your chances of cancer in half and that catapults you into moving your butt.  Whatever the struggle - be it laziness, disorganization, putting-off that which eventually is going to catch up with you ... in the end we are either motivated to make the change permanent or not.  




Some of the biggest changes take years to accomplish (ending a dysfunctional relationship), or months (de-cluttering and organizing), or weeks (adding more fruits/vegetables to our diets), or days (reading a book). Whatever is important enough to you to change, is worth the effort if it makes you feel better.  It can take a smoker 15 attempts before he quits.

 If you're one that bites off too much to accomplish, take a nibble today and a bigger nibble next week.  If you're one that tries to change too many things at once, change one thing this month, another thing next month.  If you're not up on current events - vow to read one article each day - that's 30 in a month and now you'll know what everyone's talking about.  If you feel like you're always playing catch-up with your finances you'd be surprised how small changes can put more change in your pocket.

Vow to use grocery coupons for the next 3 months.  Purchase only what's on sale and off-season.  Get your storage garage emptied and stop paying for something that you can show nothing for.  Cut back on eating out, eat less red-meat, cancel a magazine subscription, take the bus to work twice a week, bring coffee to work instead of buying it on the way, bring your lunch to work, never pay full price.  The possibilities are endless and little steps add up to big ones and before you know it you are debt-free, fit, and organized enough that you no longer care who may pop in on you unexpectedly!  

In 2011 I got clutter-free and organized.  It required a new mind-set to get rid of things that I considered important to pass on to my children, but which they informed me were unimportant. Important were the memories and the photos.  I threw out until I was left with only that which I use.  Everything I was left with has a place - it required bookcases, decorative boxes and storage containers, files and a routine.  It felt good - it cleared the clutter from my mind.

                                                                                                               
In 2012 I have set up financial goals that will have me debt-free in 3 years instead of 5.  Everything is automatically paid so I don't have to continually make the decision.  I've bought a kick-ass blender that is helping me make healthier choices, and I've vowed to cross the street each day to go to the club and use the treadmill.

I think goals are good.  I think lists are good.  I know motivation is necessary.  Motivation increases when we see progress, so the closer I get to my goals the more motivated I get.  It's a wonderful circle.  :o)

Now I need to cross the street .....

javatalk

The Happier Life

I hope you are happy most of the time.

      Scientists have proven one way that makes people happier, and they have the research to back it up.                                

                                           

Give it away, give it away now!

                                                                    

Making altruism a part of your life and being purposeful about it.  Volunteer, help a neighbor, donate goods and services.  Soon to follow will be the "helper's high".  It's healthy for you too!  Celebrate other's successes, listen to a friend, and forgive.

                              Who remembers this?  I do, it made me happy then, and it does now.  
                                                He was not a trained rescuer, but he rescued.                                    

                                                                     

Sometimes it's hard to avoid the happiness of others.

                                                           

Look how pretty happy is.

                                                                                         


                                                Laughter is the shortest distance between two friends.

                                                                                           

                                                    Shake someone's hand, and thank them.

                                                                       

                       
                                                                                                             
                                                         

Learn your a b c's

                                                                       

       
                                   
                                                           Joy is a choice, giving is too.

                                                                                 

You have succeeded in life when all that you want is only what you really need.

       http://www.fmsc.org/                                                                 



Blessed are those that are generous, because they feed the poor.  Proverbs.

Have a blessed Christmas.  Remmeber, happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with grace, love, and gratitude.

    javatalk                                                                                

10 Things I want for Christmas in 2011

With each year comes new challenges, new wishes, and new memories to be made.  Here are just a few things I would like to find under the tree this year...or under the moon.

1.  My family of 8 all together at my parent's home for Christmas.  I was the one holding out for the past 10 years.  This year I go home.

                                                

           

     2.   These Heels.  Don't they rock?

                      

     3.     To sing "Moonlight Bay" at the table with my dad again, and then eat bread, brown sugar, and cream with him.

            

it was our thing.

     4.     A better camera

                                    so I could take pictures like this ...

or this ......

   5.   My friends without jobs, to find jobs.

                               

     6.    Finish my apartment

                                                                                                                                 to resemble this

                                                                                                

     7.    I would if I could

                                                                       but I can't :(

     8.    Cook like a rock star

                                                      

                                                               

      9.  This print:  

                   
or this:

                                                         

      or this one ...

                               

     10.    World Peace

                                    
                                                                                                   ...'nuf said.

right now

I stole this idea from a bunch of bloggers around the internet.

right now I am ...

watching:  nothing.  i am a proud non-television owner for the first time in my life.  always said i'd do it, and since my ex would not give up my tv ... i like it.  a lot!  and I can find modern family on the internet.  :)

eating:  Just finished some chicken parmesan with a glass of pinot noir - given to me by my son for my birthday!

drinking:  more chai because of the health benefits of all the delicious spices!

wearing:  a beige-puckered top that arrived in the mail today from arden b.  undecided whether to keep it or not.

avoiding:  talking to my son about delicate issues.

feeling:  restless.  at the same time, content.  i'm going to just go with it.

missing:  my beautiful buckled shoes.  you know the ones.

thankful:  that even though I wish I were a chef, I love my career as a respiratory care practitioner!

weather:  we're into single digits now.  winter is a waste of my time.  though, there is something to be said for making soup and snuggling with a blanket near the fireplace.

praying:  always

needing:  to finish my apartment so I can start having dinner parties.

thinking:  that new blender is going to do wonders for my life.

loving:  my first cup of coffee of the day.  the sun on these bitter days.  friends telling me they made one of my recipes.  watching my children have new experiences and hearing what excites them.  Shopping a boutique Saturday morning with coffee in hand.  sweet comments and emails from readers.  hugs.

what are you up to?

javatalk

I Am A Part Of All That I've Seen

 I chaperoned a school field trip to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra - simply so I could hear them play.  Part way through, my chest got heavy, tears welled, and I looked around to see if others were feeling what I was - surely they must be!  I got lost in the strings and when I emerged I looked at life just a little bit differently.  These photographs did the same to me.  The sheer beauty of the unexpected seized me.  The curve of a building's entrance; A shaddow cast by distant light; the narrowing of the cobblestone enticing me to look further ... I was sure I was there in another life and tears welled once again - for I was home.  Simply enjoy.

How many have secretly peeked from that top window.

look beyond

Bonnets

                                                                                        

experience awe

                                                                            

Exquisite detail

                                                                                                                  Archway to possibilities

the feelings you evoke!

I know I've walked your road

                                                                                                              the lovliness of you!

was it necessary?  yes.

                                                           

let me just stand here awhile

                                                                                      Surely I must now believe!

And the Angles did sing!

                                                                                               The simplest speaks the loudest.

                                                                                                                          always look up

                                           Lori Prosser, Photographer.  

                                                                       Namaste'