Mr. Sandman Bring Me A Dream ...

I don't remember my dreams very often, but when I do they're usually weird in a "haha" kinda way. Last night I had one of those dreams:

I arrive in a looooooong, wide and tall hallway that curves gently, so you can't see it end to end. It's vastness reminds me of the halls in the Kennedy Center. There are 4 or 5 rows of people lining the entire hall and they're all holding musical instruments. I realize they are a marching band and I'm a member. They're chatting and wearing street clothes, so I figure they must be waiting for practice to start. I find my place in line and hug my friends (we're all around my current age - 30). The dude in front of me turns around and it's my boyfriend Paul Rudd (Clueless, any Frat Pack movie). We hug, peck on the lips and I remember thinking in my head "He's so cute and he's my boyfriend!".

Haha.

Anywho, the scene cuts to the next day and I'm walking into another practice. I'm a little early, but looking around I see all the flute players (my instrument) were holding piccolos and I brought my flute. I'm really mad at myself for doing something so stupid because in marching band just being late was a serious offense. (Side note: when I was actually in the marching band our instructor's motto was "To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late and to be late is to be dead." He made us repeat that on a regular basis. - 15 years later and I'm still panicking about it in dreams). I see Paul Rudd and tell him what's going on. Fear floods his normally happy eyes. We embrace like it's the last time we're going to see each other and I leave to get my piccolo.

Fin.

Top Ten: Daytime Television

When I'm home sick, like I was on Monday, daytime television is as comforting to me as chicken soup. The familiarity of sitcom reruns, game shows and talk shows makes me feel cozy and often lulls me to sleep. What I find interesting though is how different the programming and advertisements are from primetime. It makes sense when you think about who's probably watching television during the day, but I still feel a little ripped off. Just because I work from 8-5 doesn't mean I wouldn't like to learn about Hover Rounds when I get home.


Top Ten: Daytime Television

10. The News

The midday break. This is a good time to have your mom heat up some chicken soup before naptime.

9. Soap Operas

Sadly, these are a dying breed. If Erica Kane can't even make it, that doesn't bode well for the remaining shows.

8. Kid Shows

Heavily scheduled in the morning and on cable networks like Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Easy to bypass unless you have kids or every other station is off the air.

7. Commercials for Law Firms
They usually feature a female "client" who describes how alone she felt after her accident until she called XYZ Law Firm. Now she can pay her bills and spend time with her family again!

6. Commercials Paid for by Law Firms about Dangerous Medications

You know what I'm talking about ... "If you take one of these 800 drugs and have grown a second head, you may be entitled to compensation."

5. Game Shows (besides TPIR)

When I was younger I used to watch reruns of classic game shows like Pyramid and Press Your Luck. Nowadays, reboots like Let's Make a Deal are the soup du jour.

4. Sitcom Reruns
My favorite part of daytime television. When I'm sick, I want to have something on that is uplifting or funny and that I don't have to think about too much. Old episodes of Golden Girls, Fraiser, Friends and Full House are the way to go for me.

3. Talk Shows
Pick any hour between 9 and 5 and I'm sure there's a talk show on. Seriously! They'll give anyone a show!

2. Commercials for Medical Products
Example: On Monday, during a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond (woohoo!) I saw a commercial for catheter supply home delivery and one for portable oxygen. And it's only a half hour show.

1. The Price Is Right
The be-all-end-all of daytime television. "Help control the pet population. Get your pets spayed or neutered."

A Typical Conversation

Friday is FUNDAY so I thought I'd share a typical, but fun conversation between me and my BFF Stacie:

Stacie: So I love me some Leo but what the crap is he doing with his socks pulled up like that?

Jessica: LOL! I've noticed the young teen boys are rockin' black socks pulled up like that these days. But Leo is definitely not a young teen boy nor are those black socks. You know, even though he's not on my list, I still hold a special place in my titanic loving heart for him. 

Stacie: Oh yeah definitely. Leo is the bomb diggity. :) If only he and Kate [Winslet] would realize there undying love for each other. It’ll happen when they are both like 50 or something. 

Jessica: I know, right? When they finally get married I think we should go to the wedding. Like a pilgrimage. 

Stacie: It’s a date. :)  

Happy Friday, everyone!

The One-Minute Rule

With the Page-A-Day Calendar I purchased for my desk this year, I received a free email version of another calendar of my choice. I chose "The Happiness Project", which is based on a book (and project) by Gretchen Rubin. I hadn't read the book, but I liked the idea, so I thought I'd give the calendar a whirl.

The first few weeks of the calendar were ho-hum. I think a lot of it would have made more sense if I'd read the book. Every few days I'd find something inspiring, but for the most part is wasn't too earth-shattering. Last week however I read a tip that I really liked:

Follow the “one-minute rule”: Don’t postpone any task that can be done in less than one minute. Put away your umbrella, file a document—such steps take only moments, but the cumulative impact is impressive.

Huh. That's a cool way to think about those tasks that tend to pile up around the house and work. I tried the rule out that day at work and I loved it! Instead of stacking things on my desk and filing them at the end of the day, I filed them as soon as I was done. It made getting out of the office at 5:00 much easier. At home, I took the recycling out right after dinner instead of letting it sit on the counter. The result was a clutter free kitchen and a happy Jessica!

Honestly, I'm probably not going to follow this rule all the time. We all slip up even when we have the best intentions. Getting some of those one-minute tasks off my plate though eases the feelings of "I have so much to do and not enough time to do it." Apparently, I do have the time. A minute here and a minute there.

Top Ten: Things I've Been Doing Instead of Blogging

Top Ten: Things I've Been Doing Instead of Blogging!

10. Thinking About Blogging 

I've been having trouble coming up with blogging inspiration, so I've spent a lot of time pondering ideas. I probably should have blogged about my bloggers block. There at least would have been a lot of material to work with.

9. Working

This isn't a complaint, just a fact. There's 40 hours a week, plus commute time I'm not available for blogging.

8. Sleeping

See above.

7. Checking Facebook on my New Nook Tablet

I got a Nook Tablet for Christmas so I've been having fun checking Facebook from the couch. I also enjoy looking up things on Wikipedia that I read about in books and news articles. For example: Haviland & Co. which is referenced in A Killer Plot by Ellery Adams.

6. Writing a Novel
My participation in NaNoWriMo during November kick started my bloggers block. I just didn't have enough brain power or time to blog on a regular basis.

5. Recovering from Writing a Novel

I took the month of December off from writing so I could read, get ready for the holidays and do our annual Christmas Tour to visit our families.

4. Reading

After completing NaNo, I only wanted to read. I started Magyk by Angie Sage and then switched over to our January book club selection, The Submission by Amy Waldman. By the way, it was a terrific read! Try it out!

3. Bumping Up My Exercise Schedule

I began more serious training for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer coming up this May. Those 39.3 Miles aren't going to walk themselves, you know. Additionally, I've been making more time for yoga, which is one of my favorite forms of exercise.

2. Adopting a Dog 

AW! A week ago the hubby and I adopted a Chug (pug/chihuahua mix) named Max and he's super cute! We've been focused on getting him settled, getting our other dog, Sulley, settled and working out new routines.

1. Visiting with Family and Friends

Obviously the holidays are a time to gather with friends and family. Who knew it would extend into January? I had no idea I was SO popular. ;)