This makes for an exciting evening. Watch the total lunar eclipse or watch on the news as the U.S. attempts to shoot down a satellite via missle launch. What could go wrong? They have 3 attempts.
Ohh, the joys of homeownership. Here in doldrums of michigan, we’ve recently gone through a cycle of rain, snow, sleet, snow, rain. Yesterday we had a big warm up. Well regrettably I hadn’t shovelled the back of my driveway for sometime and the melt found its way into my basement. Two hours and $30 dollars later (flat shovel), I had all the snow/ice and about 5 gallons of water moved away from the house. We’ll just have to wait and see if my work was worth it. All of this was due to an ineffective drainspout, which i have now fitted with one of my garden drains which extend about 4 feet and is flexible.
yep, my sister gave birth to a very healthy boy named Elijah King Law on February 6th at 11:24 a.m. He was 10.3 lbs and 21 3/4 inches. Big baby.
Photos
http://flickr.com/photos/jaylaw81/sets/72157603865561349/
I’ve noticed that no matter how much I want to create long and insightful posts that most of what I want to say can be summed up in a few sentences. With the use of Twitter I can create a quick “tweet” of what I am thinking at that moment. Now there are a few things I wish twitter could do. The first is categorizing or tagging tweets. Lets say I want to display all of my tweets about winter, a simple call to the Twitter API asking for tags related to “winter” would be awesome. Maybe implement tagging similar how you reply to someone ($winter:Winter is Cold). This could even possibly allow for multiple tags ($winter,$michigan,$snow:This winter in michigan there has been some snow). Another cool feature would be polling. So I could ask my followers a question like this: “poll(superbowl:yes,no):Will the patriots win the superbowl?” Users would then reply “@jaylaw81:poll(superbowl: yes)”. Now these are advanced type features that would extend the current Twitter system, not something for the casual user.
When you have the ability to do alot usually it ends up with you doing nothing. So in the spirit of simplicity I’ve reduced the design to what a blog is, about the posts. The only special thing you get extra are my twitter tweets on the sidebar, which I update more often than anything else.
What is New Years? Shouldnt it just be called New Year? And its not even possessive by itself, so it should be new year. But all that is put upon you for the new year in forms of resolutions, goals or to-do’s. Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves during this time of the year? Its just another day by all other standards. How does the effectiveness of goal reaching match up to setting them now or at any other time of the year? Shouldnt goals be set when the want is realized? With a time period that you can reasonably achieve the goal in.
Here’s a good list of why resolutions fail.
1. Your resolution is about ‘not doing’ something.
It is said that we create more of what we put our attention on. Resolutions that focus on stopping something put your attention exactly where you don’t want it. Instead, think about what you do want and how you will get it. [See SMART goals below]2. Your resolutions aren’t written down or captured
Many resolutions are forgotten the next day or the week after. Write your goals down or record them in some way that will make it easier for you to be reminded of them.3. You’re not using S.M.A.R.T. goals.
S.M.A.R.T. goals are
- Specific,
- Measurable,
- Achievable by you,
- Realistic, and
- Time framed.
For example, rather than thinking about ‘losing weight’ get more specific about what you want to achieve and how you will measure your results: e.g. I want to be able to run for 45 minutes without stopping. Even better, make your goal the behaviour that will create the result you want: e.g. I will go to the gym three times a week for at least 30 minutes each time.
[See Tips for achieving your goals]4. You’re trying to eat an elephant in one bite.
Often people take on an ‘elephant-sized goal’, stand back, look at it, feel overwhelmed and then don’t even start. Break your goal down into smaller stepping stones. Some people find it helpful to make them the smallest steps you can take – steps so small that you don’t feel any resistance to doing them. Instead of ‘working out for 90 minutes every day at the gym’, it might be ‘go to the gym and use the sauna for a quiet rest’. Let yourself experience success – it’s essential in order to make success a habit.5. You check on your resolutions once a year.
Some people only think about their goals on New Year’s Eve. If you want to succeed you need a plan with reviews built in to it. Create deadlines for checking in on your progress throughout the year.6. You don’t really want to succeed.
Lots of people choose ‘me too’ goals that aren’t really important to them and don’t fire them up. Make sure your goal or resolution is ‘right for me’ and not just what someone else is doing. To succeed, it’s helpful to know why your resolution is important to you and what achieving it will give you.7. You’ve got no accountability – it’s just you and your resolution!
Nothing happens if you don’t do what you resolve to. Most people perform better when they are accountable to someone or they have a consequence for non-performance; e.g. you let someone know your resolution and check in with them each week or you promise yourself tickets to your favourite concert only if you finish your assignments on time.8. You give up at the first hurdle.
As well as unexpected assistance and lucky breaks, you can expect the odd obstacle and set back along the way to your goal. It helps to think about the likely obstacles and how you’ll deal with them. Then, if they occur it’s easier to stay on track and not be thrown by them.9. What’s the hidden bonus in failing?
Very often we have a hidden payoff in staying the way we are. If you keep setting a goal or resolution that you then give up on, it’s worth looking at what you gain by staying the way you are now or what you might lose by changing.10. You don’t value your promises to yourself.
Success is built on keeping your promises to yourself [and to others]. Start with yourself. Make your resolutions, goals or commitments to yourself small enough that you know you can keep them, and begin building your commitment to yourself and your integrity.
So I decided to finally go and do some shopping for Christmas on friday. I went to Somerset (the second time I’ve ever been there) and it was crazy. Thinking I would be ok going around 1pm I was met with police directing traffic, overflowing parking, valet shut down and about 2 million angry shoppers. I think I’m going to start looking for presents for next year, next weekend.
Sitting in my local Caribou Coffee shop, drinking a large caramel hi-rise I get the chance to listen into some of the interesting conversations that are occuring around me. The small group of older than middle-aged men (golden years?) are talking about what makes someone a good Christian. Now they are a small group of 5 people but do they need to be observant of what they are talking about around others in a public place? Now I was raised catholic and have nothing against being religious, but I’m not too keen on the idea of preaching in public. Now yes, they are in a private conversation, but they are in the middle of the coffee shop, center of attention and it has been heated at times.It is an interesting conversation though, from what I can see highly philosophical.
Ooh and by the way it snowed outside, about a foot. So there are also the random snowball fights occuring by all ages happening. The occasional snow plow drives by, but the huge pile up of snow in the median of the street says otherwise that they are doing more than an adequate job. What I havent seen though in years are kids helping out neighbors shovel snow. I can remember when I was younger that my mom would make me go outside and shovel my older neighbors driveway. Yea it was a pain, but she said I would feel better later in life when I understand just how hard it is to labor like that when you are older. I mean i’m only 26 years old now but I can tell i’m going to be so sore tomorrow.
I havent seen this much snow in years. With this being my first big snowfall at my own house, I now have to worry about making sure that sidewalks are shoveled and salt is distributed. Ohh the joy of home ownership. It wouldnt be so bad if the snow wasnt so freaking heavy. There’s about 8 inches already on the ground now and they’re expecting about 6 more. I need a snowblower, thats for sure.
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