Video Games

Are you a gamer? I wouldn't call myself a gamer... more of a gaming enthusiast. I like to play, sure, but mostly only trivia related and puzzle games. Although I do like quite a few of the RPG games. My all time favourite being Final Fantasy. Currently I'm playing Zelda: Princess of Twilight on the Wii. It's realatively simple, but the puzzle aspect and the story line are what draw me the most. I've loved Zelda from the beginning. And I just recently learned that you can download most of the previous Zelda/Link games for the Wii directly to your system (for a small fee of course). This means I will no longer have to set up old consoles when I'm feeling nostalgic. Yard Sale here I come!

I also like to watch other people game. Since my hand eye coordination is the equivalent of that of a two-toed sloth, I find it more interesting and exciting when someone else is at the helm. I like watching games like the god-father... or scary stuff which I would never have the courage to play by myself... I know, I'm a coward. I still like to jump on the bed from three feet away so that whatever is under there won't get me. In short, the Wii is the perfect system for me. It has easy games, and I get to practice that all important hand-eye coordination. Maybe if they had developed Wii when I was a kid, I would be more graceful.

Stress Relievers

Ok, so I'm having a bit of a rough go at the moment, for various reasons. In short, I've had to find effective ways to relieve stress. Here is the best of what I've found:

Excersize: This is the absolute best. It's hard to get motivated, but once you do it's great to work off all of that negative energy, feel like you've acomplished something, and generally feel healthier (not to mention less depressed about those 10lbs you put on at Christmas...).

Hobbies: Scrapping is my lifesaver. I get to excersize my creative muscles, and it is so much fun. When I am all finished I feel like I completed something worth while... and theres that feeling of acomplishment again... hmmmm....

Tea: The variety of herbal tea out there is amazing... try to avoid caffine, it will add to your stress level. My current favourite is Summer Berry Blend by Tetley. It calms and relaxes me, not to mention warms me up. Cold weather causes us to bunch up our shoulders and adopt bad posture which strains our backs. This leads to more tension.

Talking: Don't bombard your family with all of your negativity... you may feel better, but they won't! Instead, talk about your feelings in a constructive way: "This is really bothering me... what do you think I should do?"

Have a shower and apply lotion... the rubbing increases your circulation and gets your blood flowing. You'll also be realeasing those feel-good hormones from your brain that trick you into thinking all is well, which leads to....

Sex: I don't have to describe this... of course it makes you feel better!

Creativity

How do we learn to be creative? Is it a gene that some people have, and others don't? Personally, I think it is a primarily nurtured gift. Those who are exposed to the arts and creative thinking as children will have stronger gifts as adults. However, like language or any other skill, it's lost if not exercised regularly. You have to stretch you creative muscles to grow.

The big question is... why am I more creative on some days rather than others? This weekend for example, I had the time, the tools, and the space, but I couldn't come up with a single exciting idea to excersize my creativity. Everything I put down on paper looked like someone elses work (and sub par at that). It seemed that because my own creativtiy was lacking, my brain automatically mashed together examples of other peoples work and output that as a back-up plan. Where did my own creative identity go? Maybe it is just taking a break. I hope it comes back soon, I've got 5 days off coming and am looking forward to spending most of it in my work room. Maybe I just need to find the right inspiration!

To the Bravest Lady I Know

Dear Cheryl,
Yesterday you finally rested. I know it is selfish of us to want you to stay, because you were so very tired. I watched you in the various stages of your battle and never did I see you let up. You fought harder than I have ever fought for anything in my life, of course, I have never faced cancer armed with nothing but determination. There are so many things I wanted to say but didn't know how. Still don't. I have many regrets. I'm sorry I didn't have the courage to be there for you, and I'm sorry that on the last day we saw each other I didn't have the courage to say what was in my heart. Perhaps wherever you are, you can forgive me.
I hope heaven gave you a motercycle, although, I'm sure if they didn't Al will have one waiting. I hope that you are young and that you don't remember your struggle. I hope you know how much you will be missed and remembered. I choose to remember you as you were on that day in November with your eyes flashing and your face smiling. I hope that someday I have your courage.

Try, Try Again

Ok. So I didn't go home and jump back into my musical glory days. Life gets in the way. I'm trying not to be too angry with myself. I'm going to give it another go this week. We went to Welland this past weekend, and we have the munchkin at the house over night again this Friday. I'm trying to plan a quick craft, as we have to take him home in the morning, but so far I am clueless. I'll go and surf tonight for an inkling I think.... after I practice my guitar of course!

Cheers

Get back into the music of life.

One of my resolutions this year is to get back my music. I have all the tools, and now thanks to cutbacks at work I have the time. I want to put aside time each day for my guitar. Even if it's only 10 minutes. I also want to get my clairinet out again... don't laugh... I used to be pretty good. I'm planning for tonight.... I'll let you know how it goes.

A great starter

I am a great starter of projects (obviously, as this blog was started years ago and I haven't posted since 2006). I start a diary every January, and sometimes make it to February before I lose interest, or lose the diary entirely. I'm a great at starting to clean the house... but moments in something inevitably attracts my attention and I am lost again. I am also great at starting laundry and then forgetting about it because one of my work shirts reminded me that I wanted to start a new project at work and I've gone off to brainstorm.

I attribute this lack of follow-through to the fact that I want to do EVERYTHING and there is just not enough hours in a day. I have far too many hobbies.... painting, photography, drawing, scrapping, video games, movies, writing..... the list goes on and on. How is one to get enough time in for all of them? I have gotten into the extremely bad practice of only dusting off my guitar when I go to dad's house on the holidays. How am I supposed to learn anything new?

I absolutely LOVE the feeling you get when everything is complete and you know you can sit and relax and do whatever you want without guilt. Unfortunately, this hasn't happened since I was a small child and my chores were done for the day.

Today I will make it a point to start AND finish a project... but what to start?

Fitness Woes

So. I've started this new fitness routine because I've decided I'm tired of not being able to breath...no I havn't quit smoking... come on, one thing at a time people. Anyways. I'm doing the cardio step thing... which I LOVE. It's almost like dancing. Seems to be going well so far. To give myself a little boost, I borrowed this AB Rocker from a friend of mine. I'm supposed to be an engineer in training, but I'll be damned if I can figure out how the god damned thing works. Drew and I sort of worked out this horribly uncomfortable position that makes your back scream in pain... but works your ab's great! I think I'll take it back tomorrow. Sit-ups are way easier than trying to use that stupid thing. The things that people will waste money on to be fit is unbelievable.

Sunday

I haven't decided whether Sunday in my most or least favourite day of the week. On one hand, it's quieter than any other day (except for those annoying church bells). Most of the stores are closed meaning I don't have any errands to run. It's generally a lazy day for doing nothing. On the other hand, it's the day before going back to work. This is the thought that runs through my head all day and completely ruins my Sunday. I have a hard time enjoying the day because all I can think about is work. This is depressing. There must be a solution. I know! I will call in sick on Monday! Then Monday will be the day before I have to go to work, instead of Sunday! Genious.

P.S. Why is a sundae called a sundae? And why is it spelled like that? Are we supposed to eat them only on Sunday? Hmmmmm........

Crazy Morning People

Are you one of those people who jumps out of bed and goes ninty miles an hour immediately after putting your feet on the floor? If so, I hate you. I need at least an hour of quiet. This means no radio, no talking, no decision making. Don't ask me a question in the morning... because no matter what it is, the answer will most assuradly be no. Don't get me wrong, I like mornings, no i LOVE mornings... I just like them quiet. So. Note to you. If it's before 10am, DON"T BUG ME!

P.S. I drink double double... this will make the transition from quiet-morning-Julie to social-afternon-Julie much easier.

Dinner

Do you ever get tired of thinking up things to cook for dinner? I mean... there's only so many options (unless you're a chef with an unlimited budget). It just seems that we eat the same things over and over. Meat and potatoes... pasta... fish and rice... blah blah blah. I want some one to write a book with a meal plan for an entire year so I'll never have to plan dinner again. I could just come home and cook it. If you have heard of such a book, by all means, pass it on.

Overextension.

Why is it that our muscles never hurt while we are overextending them? Wouldn't it be much simpiler to have the warning that we are doing damage to our muscles rather than being in agony the next day? Wouldn't it be nice if your back said "Excuse me, but I beleive you should stop doing that now." As opposed to the way it screams at you in the morning... "Why would you lift all of that heavy shit? Now you are in pain because you are too stupid to live!" Although... in hindsight... I guess I should have known that there would be some consequence to painting and masking the factory floor for 8 hours... maybe I AM to stupid to live!

Doug said I had to.

Aparently an msn blog is not a real blog and does not count in the world of Doug (my road raging, rally racing, brother in-law to-be). So. Here I am. I confess, I've never had a blog before... Don't want to look like a wanker, so I'll keep my first one short. Think of it as a test run. Check 1, 2. Is this thing on? Can you hear me now?

I don't even have a tag line. Do I need a tag line? The only thing that comes to mind is "keep your stick on the ice." However, that would be cheating as I am not Red Green. I could never pass for him either, he's much more creative with duct tape than I could ever be.

Cheers. (I know... not very original... sigh... I'll work on it, I promise!)