Camping

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Today was a great day. Coty and I spent the day at her parents' camp. Her entire family was there and we had a great time. The weather was perfect. It was in the mid 80s with a nice breeze and no humidity. We drove her grandmother up and then had lunch. We went for a walk, went down to the water, and we sat in the shade during the afternoon. Later, we ate dinner and celebrated her father's birthday. It is so nice to have a relaxing day like this before going back to work for the week. I guess it is just a preview of what is to come this Summer. Awesome. You can see some of the photos I took by clicking the Photo Gallery link at the top of the page.

My Escapist Activity

Saturday, April 25, 2009

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss my escapist activity: video games. I play them casually for entertainment and to keep my mind busy. They have been a part of my life since my parents bought me a Nintendo when I was five and I have owned nearly every console since. I would consider Video games as one of my primary hobbies. They have provided me with hours of entertainment, but I am disappointed because I don’t really have anything to show for it. It is hard to imagine how much time and money I have lost playing video games. I sometimes wonder how my life would be different if I had invested all that time into something else. I would prefer to spend my time doing something that produces tangible results...yet I continue playing. I have debated purchasing a Playstation 3 for a while, but the cost of the system and a new television are holding me back. I wonder if it is time to stop playing and focus on something else.

Escapism

Friday, April 24, 2009

Escapism is mental diversion by means of entertainment or recreation used to avoid stress and the unpleasant aspects of daily living. Mindless activities such as watching television and surfing the internet are common escapist activities. They allow you to temporarily avoid sadness and/or depression because they keep the mind occupied, eliminating negative feelings and boredom.

Some escapism is necessary for relaxation and entertainment in order to reduce stress. Taken to the extreme, escapist activities can reach an unhealthy level. Because they only offer temporary pleasure, escapist activities sometimes lead to addiction. The most common examples are alcohol and drug abuse. Even healthy activities such as exercise or eating can become escapist activities and lead to addiction. Escapism can negatively affect a person both physically and mentally and ruin relationships with friends and family.

Escapism occurs when people don’t want to deal with their problems. If you think you are suffering from escapism, decide if the activity adds to the quality of your life. It may be an escapist activity if you can’t think of any positive aspects. If you are unhappy, don’t avoid the issue. Sit down with a blank sheet of paper and a pen and write down your feelings and their potential causes. This exercise will help you clear your mind and you might solve your problem instead of running away from it.

New Posting Schedule

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Upon reviewing the monthly traffic to this site, I noticed a significant spike in traffic during each weekend. Because visitors tend to drop off during the weekdays, I will now be limiting new posts to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I am a strong believer in quality over quantity and I feel this will ensure the creation of well-developed posts and will be the best use of my time. I really want each post to be important to me.

If you are new to this site, take some time to look at my previous posts. Also, please vote for the type of posts you would like to see in the future. So far, they seem to fall into four categories: original writings, daily happenings, rants, and product reviews. The poll can be found in the sidebar to the right.

Don't forget to check back Friday for my next post. I will be discussing escapism.

What Happened to Job Security?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Employers view wages as variable expenses. They do not hesitate to cut workers during tough times if it helps the bottom line. Employees can be eliminated and rehired at a later time as needed. There are no guarantees for future employment. The job you go to today may not be there tomorrow. Jobs are scarce and there is a gross oversupply of qualified applicants for the few open positions. Your occupational future is not in your control. Job security no longer exists.

FYI-This Is A Rant

Monday, April 20, 2009

I hate the phrase FYI (for your information). I find it to be condescending and completely unnecessary. Any phrase or comment can be completed without first saying FYI. Try it...you will quickly notice how pointless FYI is. Because of this, it makes me wonder why people insist on using it. Maybe they feel like what they are about to say is so important they need to introduce it with FYI. They are implying you should add their wisdom to your brain for later access. Or maybe they just want to feel good about themselves because they are telling you something they know but you don't.

In my opinion, the only thing FYI is good for is inspiration for a rant blog. Other than that, nothing at all. I don't want to get too personal with this, put I want to thank my coworker/s for the inspiration for this rant. Long Mondays leave me short on ideas.

Working on My First Painting

Sunday, April 19, 2009

I started working on the painting today. I thought it would be best to put a down a base layer then add highlights and details afterwards. I started with the sky and I am working my way forward. The two trees and path still need painted and there is a lot of detail work to do. I plan to add some clouds to the sky. The trees and mountains will have fall leaves. I also want to detail the grass with some light green and yellow paint. Lastly, I will be adding shadows to the shack and trees to add realism to the painting. Keep checking back for updates.

Competitive Mowing

Saturday, April 18, 2009

I woke up later than usual today. It was a bright, sunny morning and a perfect Spring day. After accomplishing nothing all morning, I spent the afternoon mowing Coty's grandmother's yard. Once I started mowing, I noticed more and more people begin mowing their yards. It was as though I started a chain reaction around the neighborhood. By the time I left, nearly everyone had mowed or started to mow. This made me wonder how many people mow just because their neighbor mowed. No one wants to be the person in the neighborhood with the long grass.

While I enjoy mowing, most people probably find it a chore. I feel that mowing gives you time to think and my mind tends to wander the entire time. Today I thought, What if everyone made an agreement not to mow their yards for one month? Sure everyone's grass would be longer; but I don't think it would matter because all the yards would look the same. There would be no mowed yards to compete with. This principle can apply to almost anything. When you stop trying to keep up with others, they can stop trying to keep up with you. In the end, everyone is better off.

Work For Yourself

Friday, April 17, 2009

I look at life as something that is finite. You only have one chance and you will never get this day back again. Why spend the majority of your life doing something you don’t enjoy?

The standard work week in the United States is forty hours. Most people spent that time working for another person or company in exchange for a paycheck. It is so easy to become complacent at our jobs and accept that paycheck as compensation for our lost time. The security and benefits keep us from living our dream. But my question is: What if you took a risk and spent that forty hours working on your own agenda and accomplishing your goals instead of someone else’s?

I assume most people would choose one of their hobbies as their new “job”. If this is true, a few challenges arise. First, you would need to select a hobby you are passionate enough about to do for forty hours each week. When you no longer enjoy yourself, you hobby becomes work. Also, because this will be your new job, the real challenge will be finding a way to make money doing this activity. Fortunately, many hobbies can be transformed into businesses. There is a market for almost any good or service; You just have to do it better than the competition. Before leaving your “secure” job, try it on a part-time basis to see if it is truly your passion and attempt to build a positive cash flow.

I truly believe that if you spend forty hours a week on something, you will be good at it. Over time, you will gain the necessary experience to perform your chosen task proficiently. While talent is helpful, perseverance is necessary. Live your dash to the fullest and happiness will follow.

Landscape Painting (Part 1)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

One of my goals is to express my creativity so I decided I would start painting to see if it is something I enjoy. For my first real painting, I decided to do a landscape. I thought up a design and drew a rough layout of what I want to paint. I decided to keep it simple by only including a barn, field, and a few trees. I've had no instruction on painting outside of junior high school art classes so I will be learning as I go. I plan to complete the painting on Sunday so check back to see the final product (good or bad).

Tax Day!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Today is the last day to do your taxes. If you haven't done them yet, it probably means you have to pay in. Fortunately, I already did my taxes and I received a return this year. But I was not fooled. I know it was just money that I had already earned, not a bonus from the government.

I understand why we pay taxes, but how can you owe the government money after paying them all year? This also brings the occupational privilege tax to mind. Where I work, there is a $52 annual tax for the "privilege" to work. Last time I checked, working was not a privilege. These taxes make me wonder: What is our motivation to work? For each dollar we earn, we are penalized more and more. I guess taxes are a necessary evil in life.

You, Me and Dupree Review

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

I found this movie in the $5 bin at Wal-Mart. With dvd prices almost as low as rental fees, I figured I would buy it. Just watch it a few times and it is worth the money spent.

Plot
Recently married Carl and Molly Peterson are just starting their lives together. Things are fine until Carl discovers that his best friend, Dupree, lost his job and has nowhere to live. Carl invites Dupree to stay on his couch for a few days while he looks for a job. Dupree quickly overstays his welcome and his antics become too much for the Petersons to handle.

My Opinion
Dupree's carefree attitude and his interactions with the uptight Petersons creates some funny moments. It is worth watching at least once. I would recommend renting the movie or watching it for free on television, but if you can get it for $5, go for it.

Dentist Appointment (almost a rant)

Monday, April 13, 2009

Last week I suddenly developed a sensitive spot on the outer side of one of my teeth near the gum line. I called the dentist and they were able to get me an appointment for today. After examining the problem area, my dentist informed me that due to my high stress level, I tend to grind my teeth while I sleep. The grinding causes pressure on my teeth, which in turn weakened an older filling on the side of my tooth. The filling then coincidentally came out while I was brushing my teeth. He replaced the filling and I was on my way.

Tooth problem solved. Grinding problem...not so much. I'll have to write a blog about stress some other time. I'll try to determine what is causing my stress. Anyway, I fully expected a bill of $100 or more, but they only charged me for an office visit ($52). This blog was going to be a rant about the cost of dentistry/insurance, but I'm really glad it doesn't have to be.

Easter With The Family

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Easter dinner! This photo was taken right before dinner. It was a full house. You can see the rest of the photos by clicking the Photo Gallery link at the top of the page. Note: The animal running through the grass isn't a rabbit. Its Horton, the new puppy.

Procrastination

Saturday, April 11, 2009

I have to admit that I am a procrastinator. I always seem to put things off until a later time. It seems like I need the pressure of a deadline to actually get something done. I find the easiest way to avoid procrastination is to make a list of things that need to be done. Order the list from most important to least important and start working your way down. Most people need structure and the list is a great way to organize your thoughts. You also have to remember that the hardest part is getting started. Once you get into a project, it becomes much easier.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

Friday, April 10, 2009

I started watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles on Monday night after the recommendation of a coworker. I usually don't watch television shows, but I am a huge Terminator fan and I found a website where I can watch both seasons at my convenience and without commercials (my two problems with regular television). The first season is only nine episodes and I have been watching a few episodes each night this week. I watched the final episode tonight and I am very impressed with the show. The finale of season two aired tonight on Fox so I am a little behind in the series. I plan to start watching season two online. With more than double the episodes, it will probably take me two weeks to see them all. I will review the entire series when I finish watching.

Self-Help Books I Have Read

Thursday, April 9, 2009

This is a short video showing the self-help books I have read up to this point. It is also available on my You Tube channel.

Your Attitude Creates Your Reality

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

External circumstances mean nothing until you associate a feeling to them. For example, do you ever notice that it is harder to get out of bed Monday morning than it is on Friday morning? There is no difference between the two days. Your attitude is the deciding factor. On Monday, you think about the week ahead and everything that needs done. On Friday, you think about the weekend that is right around the corner. In most cases, Friday does turn out to be a better day than Monday because your thoughts alter your attitude and your attitude alters your experiences.

This theory can also be tested on a day you are running late. Your mind tells you to hurry and things seem to go wrong or take longer than usual because you are frantically trying to make up lost time. Instead, if you accept the fact that you are late and make a point of staying calm, you will be more efficient and in control. You can believe the world is against you or you can believe everything is in alignment for you. Either way, you will be right because your attitude creates your reality.

Comic Book Reviews

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

One of my future goals is to write a graphic novel. I have been wanting to start reading comic books for a while. I recently found a comic book store in town so I went there last Friday and purchased four comics. They are:

GI Joe Issue 4 (IDW)
The Amazing Spiderman Issue 590 (Marvel)
Terminator Salvation Issue 3 (IDW)
Captain America Comics 70th Anniversary Issue 1 (Marvel)

After reading, I decided to review each comic based on four categories: cover, story, artwork, and quality. Since I have very little knowledge of comics, I will simply judge them against each other and give my opinion.

Cover
This was a difficult decision for me. The cover of Spiderman has a well drawn, colorful design. Terminator has a more realistic, intimidating design that fits well with the movie. In the end, Spiderman gets the win with Terminator a close second. The Captain America cover is less exciting, which gives it the third spot. Lastly, the GI Joe cover is boring and by far my least favorite.
1. The Amazing Spiderman
2. Terminator Salvation
3. Captain America
4. GI Joe

Story
I will not get into the specifics of each comic's story. I will say GI Joe and Captain America comic both had weak stories. Captain america takes last place because half the pages consist of a chase. Not much story to be found.
1. Terminator Salvation
2. The Amazing Spiderman
3. GI Joe
4. Captain America.

Artwork
Spiderman easily wins for best artwork. The pages are full of color, characters, and have great backgrounds. While the characters aren’t as well drawn, Terminator’s artwork creates the perfect atmosphere for the story. The artwork in GI Joe was the worst of the group.
1. The Amazing Spiderman
2. Terminator Salvation
3. Captain America
4. GI Joe

Quality/Bonus Features
The IDW comics have a harder cover and thicker pages than the marvel comics. Marvel makes up for this by charging $1 less for The Amazing Spiderman. Captain America features a classic CA comic in the second half of the book, but it does little to make up for the poor story quality of the new issue.
1. TIE: GI Joe/Terminator Salvation
2. The Amazing Spiderman
3. Captain America

Overall Winner

It was a close race between Spiderman and Terminator. Spiderman has the best cover and artwork, but came second to Terminator in Story. Terminator has better quality, but Spiderman costs $1 less. Based on these conclusions, The Amazing Spiderman is the winner because it is a more complete package and is a superior comic to Terminator Salvation (although it was a close battle). I would buy both again.

Click Here to see all the covers and samples from the comics!

Things Always Seem To Work Out

Monday, April 6, 2009

I have noticed that things in life always seem to work out for the best. Even when they don’t go as intended, things eventually turn out as expected or sometimes better. It is easy to wonder “why me?” when something bad happens or didn’t go as planned. Only later do you realize the why this event unfolded the way it did and how it brought you to where you are today. These events lead you to new opportunities or they teach you a necessary life lesson. They turn out to be exactly what was needed at that time.

Life has a way of taking unplanned twists and turns but always seems end up at its intended destination. Don’t worry about things you have no control over. I am not suggesting taking no responsibility in your life. Make the best possible decisions using all of the available information. Good things and bad things will naturally happen in life. Both lead you to where you need to be when you need to be there. Appreciate the good and learn from the bad. In the end, things will work out.

Rails To Trails Walk

Sunday, April 5, 2009

For our weekly walk, we decided to do Rails to Trails, which is an old railroad track that was taken out and converted into a walking/bicycle path. It is located in Pine Creek, PA. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the temperature was perfect. It feels like Spring is finally here. I took some photos of the walk and got a short video of the water with my digital camera. Click the photo gallery and You Tube link at the top of the page to see them.

My Mission Statement

The hundreds of pages within the folder, notebooks, and drawing book in the photo above contain two years of my ideas. Inside are writing/book ideas, business plans, quotes, journals, clothing designs, and life goals. They also contain rough sketches I would like to turn into drawings or paintings. The information and ideas written on these pages are the reason I created this blog. Living the dash is to live life to the fullest and I feel the best way to accomplish this is to bring my ideas to life and accomplish my goals. This blog is my motivation. It is a daily reminder to work toward my destination while enjoying the journey.

Friday Night Art Exhibit

Saturday, April 4, 2009

After work last night, I went to the Community Art Center to see an art exhibit titled "A World Destined by Oil." It is the work of a Lycoming College student named Sam Foreman. I was impressed by the variety of his collection. Because I arrived early, I beat the crowd and was able to get some photos. You can see his other pieces by clicking the Photo Gallery link at the top of the page.

Opening A Closed Mind

Friday, April 3, 2009

It is pointless to argue with someone who refuses to accept anything other than what they believe to be true. When debating (or arguing), it is important to listen to and consider the other person’s views on the subject. Instead of immediately forming a rebuttal, you must listen to the other person’s stance and decide if it is true or makes more sense than your stance. If it does, tell that person they make a good point. You don’t have to blatantly admit that you are wrong (and you probably won’t), just agree and drop it. You may initially feel that you lost, but in reality, you both win. On the other hand, if the other person is clearly wrong, explain the reasons they are wrong and hopefully they will consider your view and go through the same process described above. This solution will save you both time and energy.

People need to give up their ego and admit when they are wrong. Some people find it more important to fight for their point than actually be correct. Always try to learn from other people. This will help you make better judgements and increase your level of knowledge. And lastly, do not make judgements when you have no knowledge or experience on a subject.

A Trip Into The Mind of Jim Morrison

Thursday, April 2, 2009

I have been listening to this album for the past few days so I thought I would review it and give my opinion.

An American Prayer by The Doors

This album features Jim Morrison reciting his poetry and it is backed with instrumentation by The Doors. Morrison recorded his vocals on his birthday in 1970. He speaks calmly and clearly throughout the session. Unfortunately, Morrison died roughly one year later so his plans for his poetry were never realized. After Morrison’s death, the surviving members of The Doors added music and sound effects to his words. This amazing combination creates a movie for the listener’s mind. The album was finally released in 1978. It is unknown whether Morrison intended for music to accompany his words, but the result is a very unique album with a hypnotic quality. I recommend it to anyone interested in Jim Morrison, The Doors, poetry or rock music. You have to listen to it completely to fully appreciate what the album has to offer.

The Most Worthless Coin

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Yesterday, a coworker borrowed some money from me to buy lunch and he paid me back today as promised. The problem is this: He repaid me with a half dollar/fifty cent piece. I realize the coin is worth 50 cents and can be used to buy goods and services, but in reality these coins are worthless because they can’t be used in any common device that exchanges currency for products.

When you receive a half-dollar, your immediate reaction is get rid of it as soon as possible. Your only hope is to pass it on to someone else, take it to your bank, or put it in a Coinstar machine. I can’t be sure, but I think almost everyone hates half-dollars/fifty cent pieces. Whatever you call them, receiving one is a horrible experience.