It's not quite as fat Albert. I had set a goal for myself to lose 20 lbs over Christmas break. Pretty ambitious goal, and of course I didn't hit it, but I did drop about 15. That puts me an an even 30 since this time last year. I've gone through spurts of trying, usually only for a couple weeks, then mostly maintaining in between. This time though the motivation has held much higher, and it shows. 5 weeks, consistent 3 lbs per week, eating a little better, and keeping the workouts going.
Now that school has started it will get a bit tougher, with time at a premium convenience food will become more tempting, and finding workout time will be less tempting. There are some little things I can do to help of course, school has a subway on campus, just gotta avoid the meatball and go with the turkey and ham, most of my time between classes will be used for homework, but I can get in a mile or two walk when time allows.
What I really need is some workout options that are more exciting. Hopefully this spring I'll have enough loot to buy a kayak, I know fishing trips will keep me working out all summer. Finding someone to play tennis, or basketball with would be great too. Much more entertaining than lifting weights in the basement, which would help keep motivation up, plus then you have a commitment to someone else that you don't want to break.
Time and money will be a problem for any of these, but I think the outcome will be worth it. So...who's up for tennis?
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Don't tell me, bout your business...
Everyone thinks they know someone that gives away information way too freely. They get into their personal lives in a group of strangers, giving painful details about themselves, or even worse, you. It's bad when it's a friend, worse when it's a sibling, and downright terrifying when it's a parent. Everyone thinks that they're big mouth is worse than everyone else's. I'm here to tell you all though, you're wrong.
Since working in the hospital I've seen some people that will publicly and very loudly air any and all dirty laundry. Sometimes it even gets to the point that I would wonder if it's even real, or if they're just a couple people like me that will say anything to get a rise out of someone else. Now sometimes it's mostly harmless, quite humorous, and really nothing wrong, just stuff you don't expect to hear when you wake up in the morning. Things like the old lady watching a Curious George cartoon with the sound off and providing her own sound track. "NOW LOOK AT THAT LITTLE BASTARD! NASTY MOTHER FUCKER CLIMBING ALL UP ON THE KITCHEN TABLE! I'D SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF THE LITTLE BLACK SON OF A BITCH! YOU STUPID MOTHER FUCKER YOU CAN'T SOLVE NO CRIME, WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS CSI, BITCH? NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DONE DID, THE CAT IS UP THERE TOO! THAT'S OK THOUGH, THAT LITTLE WHITE MOTHER FUCKER WON'T GET IN TROUBLE LIKE YOUR BLACK ASS! YOUR SHIT WILL BE LOCKED IN YOUR ROOM FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS AND HIS ASS WILL GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE AND BECOME A LAWYER, MAYBE THEN HE'LL GET YOU THE FUCK OUT!"
For a full 30 minute episode. If I had the motivation I'm fairly certain I could turn that into a youtube sensation. As funny as it was, it kind of lost its luster when 12 hours of conversation turned into this exact same thing. Whether it was about tv shows, lunch, family, nurses, friends, or changing the sheets. 12 hours of endless yelling was a bit much. She wasn't really yelling at anyone, that's just how she talked, and there was absolutely zero filter.
On the other side of the spectrum are the people that publicly fight, dragging each other through the mud, and constantly try to one up each other in front of others. These are like sitting on stage at a Jerry Springer showing, and Jerry walking away wondering what the hell he got himself into. They usually start mild, someone brought the wrong pair of shoes, didn't show up early enough, didn't stay late enough, and I can understand the agitation. If you're stuck in the hospital for a few days, drugged up, sick, tired because you can't sleep with people coming in to poke and prod you all the time, it makes sense that you can get mad about things you normally wouldn't notice. On the other hand, your visitor is probably stressed because they're worried about you, they're tired too, their schedule is all messed up from the extra time spent on you, and they don't want to be criticized over something trivial. I get all that, so I can see where some minor flare ups could occur. With some people though these automatically turn into World War III.
Here is a sample that I have actually heard, much condensed:
Wife brought wrong socks.
H: "You can't even find the time to take care of me when I'm sick?"
W: "Well you never even find time to help me cook!"
H: "Well I do stuff with your kid and you never do anything with mine!"
W: "But you cheated on me with her mom and showed my mom your junk while you were passed out!"
H: "At least I didn't screw the damn dog when I was smoking crack!"
Now this argument was much, much longer. Close to 2 hours, and it involved them breaking up and getting back together at least 3 times, crying because they loved each other, crying because they hated each other, and me, sitting in the corner of the room because I was assigned to a 1:1 that day and couldn't run away. Funny thing is, my friends and I say some absolutely terrible things to each other. Worse than anything that comes out of these arguments. Things go to a whole new level though when you realize that these conversations are real.
I mean honestly, did I really need to know that he never helps her cook?
Since working in the hospital I've seen some people that will publicly and very loudly air any and all dirty laundry. Sometimes it even gets to the point that I would wonder if it's even real, or if they're just a couple people like me that will say anything to get a rise out of someone else. Now sometimes it's mostly harmless, quite humorous, and really nothing wrong, just stuff you don't expect to hear when you wake up in the morning. Things like the old lady watching a Curious George cartoon with the sound off and providing her own sound track. "NOW LOOK AT THAT LITTLE BASTARD! NASTY MOTHER FUCKER CLIMBING ALL UP ON THE KITCHEN TABLE! I'D SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF THE LITTLE BLACK SON OF A BITCH! YOU STUPID MOTHER FUCKER YOU CAN'T SOLVE NO CRIME, WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS IS CSI, BITCH? NOW LOOK WHAT YOU DONE DID, THE CAT IS UP THERE TOO! THAT'S OK THOUGH, THAT LITTLE WHITE MOTHER FUCKER WON'T GET IN TROUBLE LIKE YOUR BLACK ASS! YOUR SHIT WILL BE LOCKED IN YOUR ROOM FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS AND HIS ASS WILL GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE AND BECOME A LAWYER, MAYBE THEN HE'LL GET YOU THE FUCK OUT!"
For a full 30 minute episode. If I had the motivation I'm fairly certain I could turn that into a youtube sensation. As funny as it was, it kind of lost its luster when 12 hours of conversation turned into this exact same thing. Whether it was about tv shows, lunch, family, nurses, friends, or changing the sheets. 12 hours of endless yelling was a bit much. She wasn't really yelling at anyone, that's just how she talked, and there was absolutely zero filter.
On the other side of the spectrum are the people that publicly fight, dragging each other through the mud, and constantly try to one up each other in front of others. These are like sitting on stage at a Jerry Springer showing, and Jerry walking away wondering what the hell he got himself into. They usually start mild, someone brought the wrong pair of shoes, didn't show up early enough, didn't stay late enough, and I can understand the agitation. If you're stuck in the hospital for a few days, drugged up, sick, tired because you can't sleep with people coming in to poke and prod you all the time, it makes sense that you can get mad about things you normally wouldn't notice. On the other hand, your visitor is probably stressed because they're worried about you, they're tired too, their schedule is all messed up from the extra time spent on you, and they don't want to be criticized over something trivial. I get all that, so I can see where some minor flare ups could occur. With some people though these automatically turn into World War III.
Here is a sample that I have actually heard, much condensed:
Wife brought wrong socks.
H: "You can't even find the time to take care of me when I'm sick?"
W: "Well you never even find time to help me cook!"
H: "Well I do stuff with your kid and you never do anything with mine!"
W: "But you cheated on me with her mom and showed my mom your junk while you were passed out!"
H: "At least I didn't screw the damn dog when I was smoking crack!"
Now this argument was much, much longer. Close to 2 hours, and it involved them breaking up and getting back together at least 3 times, crying because they loved each other, crying because they hated each other, and me, sitting in the corner of the room because I was assigned to a 1:1 that day and couldn't run away. Funny thing is, my friends and I say some absolutely terrible things to each other. Worse than anything that comes out of these arguments. Things go to a whole new level though when you realize that these conversations are real.
I mean honestly, did I really need to know that he never helps her cook?
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Facebook and you.
I was reading an article today about the proper way to use facebook as it applied to work and school. It covered how you deal with what you post on facebook and your employer/teachers, and whether or not you should friend anyone in an authority position over you. I thought the answers should be pretty evident, but looking at some of the advice they gave, apparently not. Now, what makes me better suited to give advice over this subject than the yahoo that wrote the article? Well, as anyone who reads this probably knows, I'm quite the expert on what you shouldn't say. Hell, at least 50% of the crap that comes out of my face is inappropriate, sometimes because I don't know better (and by that I mean I don't care), and the rest just trying to get a rise out of someone.
The first piece of advice they gave...it's ok to friend a professor or employer if they're ok with it.
Wrong...just...wrong. If you're going to do this, at least have the common sense to create a new account just for this purpose. Giving someone that has a little power over you access to all of your stupid shit, as well as your friend's stupid shit, is just...well, stupid. I don't care how "cool" the person in question is, or how hard you try to censor yourself, one little slip from you or a friend about that one time at band camp, and you can kiss your standing with the prof/boss goodbye. There is absolutely nothing to gain from giving someone in this position access to your personal life.
The second thing they said, giving them insight into your personal life can be a benefit, showing that you have more in common as people. Best case scenario? You have a perfect facebook page and it confirms what they already thought about you. Realistic scenario? One of your asshole friends posts the picture of you wearing the stuffed moosehead as a hat while you do the electric slide in a purple speedo. Just...no. Don't ever ever ever ever give people access to this.
Now I'm not saying you can't be friends with a teacher or boss. I am. One of my old high school teachers is a facebook friend. As you get older I think it's only natural. The age difference seems to melt away, you have more in common than you possibly could have at the time you were in the class. You realize that it's someone you look up to, or they had much more of an impact on your life than you could appreciate at the time. I have another professor right now that also fits all of those traits. I honestly hope to be friends with her well after I have graduated. For now though, hell no she isn't looking at my facebook page.
Getting too personal at this point is bad for me, and bad for her. It could affect my grades, my reputation with other teachers, even getting accepting into the nursing program. For her it could affect her job. Not that I'd do anything to hurt her, but if someone else saw us talking casually as a problem you never know. People jump to conclusions way too fast to even take a chance.
In essence, use facebook for what it is. A casual place to chat with friends, share stupid jokes/stories, and keep in touch with those that live far away. It's not a business networking site, it's not an educational site, it's a timekiller and nothing more.
The first piece of advice they gave...it's ok to friend a professor or employer if they're ok with it.
Wrong...just...wrong. If you're going to do this, at least have the common sense to create a new account just for this purpose. Giving someone that has a little power over you access to all of your stupid shit, as well as your friend's stupid shit, is just...well, stupid. I don't care how "cool" the person in question is, or how hard you try to censor yourself, one little slip from you or a friend about that one time at band camp, and you can kiss your standing with the prof/boss goodbye. There is absolutely nothing to gain from giving someone in this position access to your personal life.
The second thing they said, giving them insight into your personal life can be a benefit, showing that you have more in common as people. Best case scenario? You have a perfect facebook page and it confirms what they already thought about you. Realistic scenario? One of your asshole friends posts the picture of you wearing the stuffed moosehead as a hat while you do the electric slide in a purple speedo. Just...no. Don't ever ever ever ever give people access to this.
Now I'm not saying you can't be friends with a teacher or boss. I am. One of my old high school teachers is a facebook friend. As you get older I think it's only natural. The age difference seems to melt away, you have more in common than you possibly could have at the time you were in the class. You realize that it's someone you look up to, or they had much more of an impact on your life than you could appreciate at the time. I have another professor right now that also fits all of those traits. I honestly hope to be friends with her well after I have graduated. For now though, hell no she isn't looking at my facebook page.
Getting too personal at this point is bad for me, and bad for her. It could affect my grades, my reputation with other teachers, even getting accepting into the nursing program. For her it could affect her job. Not that I'd do anything to hurt her, but if someone else saw us talking casually as a problem you never know. People jump to conclusions way too fast to even take a chance.
In essence, use facebook for what it is. A casual place to chat with friends, share stupid jokes/stories, and keep in touch with those that live far away. It's not a business networking site, it's not an educational site, it's a timekiller and nothing more.
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