New Experiences and Goals

Well, today I tried (of all things) Greek frozen yogurt.  As if yogurt wasn't scary enough to me, but Greek yogurt I honestly thought would be disgusting.  I was surprisingly pleased with the concoction however.  I now have a better afternoon snack than the cheesestick I've been eating.  Frozen Greek yogurt apparently has the most protein, so if as I'm still dieting, it's a good snack.

The diet is going well.  I've not really seen much of a loss, but other people tell me they can see it, which is I guess what matters.  I might have one of those body image diseases where when I look in the mirror, I see someone fatter than how I really am.  Of course, I still manage to squint and make myself look pretty, so I think I'll be okay.

I may have mentioned that writing is a passion of mine.  Well, I got fed up with being the lonely writer.  It's a sad but often true stereotype that a writer is like a hermit.  I am a bit like a hermit, but that's because I also play video games and do not have friends close by that share those interests.  So I spend a lot of time on the computer, playing video games and writing.  It doesn't mean I don't go out and have a good time, but largely I am happy by myself.  However, I have decided that I need more writing friends, so I posted an ad on craigslist. 

Now I'm organizing a writer's group to keep me on track, so the video games don't take over and give constructive feedback during the process.  Some people want to present a finished masterpiece to the world.  I am of the belief that as long as I'm alive, things will keep coming to my mind, reflecting changes and additions to the work that I've already created.  Therefore, I really like having input during the writing process, because it change how I'm delivering the story in my head.  Am I leaving out too much by having a chapter filled with mainly dialogue?  These are questions I don't like to answer myself, because then I will have the same chapter eight times.  There are times when feedback helps you make decisions.  I'm hoping this group will help me and I can do the same for them.

~Until next time!

Updates

Okay, this is a good approximation of what I have been looking like.  Fairly flabby in the facial region.  Dieting with light/moderate exercise as I have been doing for 12 days now is going well.  My energy levels are fairly normal.  Clearly, I haven't been posting as much in the month of August, but I have a lot going on.

1) Update, exercise takes time.  Also, you really don't feel like sitting in front of a computer after exercising.  That's usually time I've been curling up with a good book.

2) Books, I have replenished my stock.  I went to the Dollar Tree the other day and was astounded by the large shipment of books they'd gotten in.  Some of them were higher quality.  If you are looking for a good biography, or general fiction, try to check out their new selection.

3) I am in the process of forming a writer's group.  Hopefully, as a collective, we can keep each other motivated in the long writing process.  Organization and coordinating schedules takes a lot of time.

However, despite these distractions, this blog is important to me.  I will keep posting.  8 and 1/2 days left on my extremely strict diet!  I'll post a new headshot when the diet's through, so you can see the after-effects.

~Au revoir!

Diet :)

Okay, well I mentioned I was on a diet that zapped my energy!  Sorry for the delay in posting!  On the bright side, I seem to have shrunk my stomach and the diet seems to be working.  I'm losing a bit of weight and my skin is clearing up a bit.  Today's the first day I've really had food that I found appetizing.  I had some cumin chicken, grilled zucchini, grilled squash, grilled carrots, and mashed cauliflour.  Aside from that, I've mostly had cheese sticks, apples, lettuce, cabbage, and hard boiled eggs.  It's a very strict diet, but it's only for three weeks!

Diets like this don't work however, if you don't take the principles from the diet into account in returning to your daily life.  Smaller portions and less processed foods are what I'm hoping to get out of this diet.  Seems like I might be on the road to success!

~Bye for now!

Brief Update

I've been working like a madwoman.  Plus I started a new diet.  It is fairly intense and designed to get portions under control.  I'll keep you posted, but day 2, no caffeine, no carbs, just protein, fruits, and veggies mainly.  The extreme strictness goes away after 21 days.  Once my energy levels adjust a bit and I'm not falling asleep at my keyboard or in my car, I'll start some exercising too!  In the meantime, my posts will be short and sweet, as I am literally closing my eyes right now!

~Good night!

Car Maintenance

I drive a fairly fuel efficient, low maintenance vehicle.  I do this because I have no interest in working on cars.  This is not because I'm a female, but rather because I personally don't like getting greasy and dirty.  I'm like Bob Saget in Full House when I look under the hood.  It's just filthy!  I can't exactly quote him as I've only seen the episode once, but Uncle Jesse scolds him for trying to clean inside the engine when they break down on a family trip to compete at the Tanner family games.

Why do I mention this?  A car says a lot about a person.  I was having a conversation today about bumper stickers and it reminded me of papers I once graded about the same subject.  The papers were a fun subject, "Describe bumper stickers and what they tell you."  Everyone looked up bumper stickers and wrote about politics, religion, and humor.  I was thinking to myself the whole time, I hope someone writes about ironic bumper stickers, like a Go Green! bumper sticker on a Hummer.  However, no one lived up to my expectations and incorporated the cars.

Cars and bumper stickers tell you a lot about a person, so naturally I would think mention of one would lead to the other, especially with bumper stickers as the mention.  Car accessories include many things, but bumper stickers belong primarily to vehicles of transportation.  Take for instance, what type of vehicle does a person drive?

SUV) New generation station wagon, has a lot of space, avoids the family vehicle/mom tag

TRUCK WORK) This truck will lack in body detail and be equipped with improvements to help on the job, including toolboxes, special gating, and trailer hitches.  The person who drives this vehicle is a hard worker, probably doing manual labor for the high pay, so they also either like to live large or support a family.

To be continued...

Retail Therapy

Is retail therapy a real thing?  I'm always inclined to scoff when people go shopping to cheer up, but there is no denial that shopping gives me a natural buzz.  Of course, the shopping has to be done right!

Step 1:  Have a general limit and go to a store that supports that dollar limit!  Do you have only $10-$20 to blow?  Try a thrift store or Dollar Tree for some impulse buys that you really don't need, but solely want!

Step 2:  Step 1's parameter is to get you to a place where you do not have to feel budget-conscious, so you can follow this step's advice.  Go wild!  You want all three of those tops you found at the thrift store, so just put them in your cart!  Absolutely, do not add up the price until you get to the register!  Also, avoid buying anything you need!  This money is your budgeted splurge money and necessities take away from your retail high!

Alternate Step:  If you are in a tight place financially, avoid the splurge tendencies.  Try instead to get a shopper's high from getting a bargain.  Couponing is a great way to feel a thrill of a great buy on items you need, so you can still enjoy your shopping experience!

However you go about it, shopping needs to be a pleasure inducer, not a stresser!  Make sure you have time for a leisurely shopping trip once in a while, without kids or time constraints!  Remind yourself of the joy of retail therapy!  It's probably still cheaper than a therapist.

~Sayonara!

Rain and thunderstorms make me sleepy!   So this post will be short, you were forewarned!
I tried to photograph myself sleeping before.  Results can be found below!

I am addicted to a TV series I found on Netflix called the Glades.  It's a funny and witty crime drama.  Funny and witty do not always go hand in hand.  I must say, Dawson's Creek was witty, but the melodrama was not particularly funny, except when watching my roommate get into a heightened state concerning if a kiss would be interrupted at a pivotal moment!  (She watches me instead of the films when we watch Harry Potter because apparently my expressions are not to be missed!)  Funny can apply to all sorts of things.  I like slapstick and ironic humor and deadpan humor (stating the obvious).  Later on, I stop liking humor that belittles people.  Though it may be funny in an instance, I usually have lingering feelings of guilt after laughing because of ridicule.  Why I feel anything for fictional characters is because I create characters myself.  One day, I hope my characters might actually influence people enough to have people relate to my characters as people.  It might be every narrative writer's hope!

~Later!