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. ;)

Patience

This week my patience has been tested numerous times and it's not just holiday related, however rude teenagers in the mall parking lot have not helped the situation. A few times I've let it get the best of me, but I've been working hard at taking a step back and figuring out how best to handle the situation instead of just being mad. Sometimes it's taking a break or saying 'no' to another activity or event. Sometimes, it's exercising. Sometimes it's just sitting on my tush and watching television. Whatever it is, it usually helps more than stewing in grumpiness. So, tonight, I will be seated on my couch, taking a break and tomorrow I'll feel better because of it.

Bathroom Hijinks

A lot of you have already heard this story, but it's too funny not to share with the world.

Yesterday at work we were having a toilet malfunction, which I forgot about. After I took care of business, I decided to try to flush it to see what would happen. It made some noise and then toilet water shot approximately four feet in the air, missing me (Thank God) and splashed on the wall. Of course, I jumped backwards going "EWWWWWWWWWW!" The bowl started to fill with water after that and I waited to see if it was going to overflow. Suddenly, with a great woosh, all the water was sucked down the plumbing and like that I unclogged the toilet. :)

NaNoWriMo - The Epic Adventure

Here it is. The post I promised about my November writing challenge, NaNoWriMo.

To start, I WON! WOOOOT!! I wrote 50,053 words in 29 days. I wrote something almost everyday, even if it was only a couple hundred words. During November I functioned in the real world, but I was living in my novel word. Emails were ignored, shows recorded and as soon as Thanksgiving dinner was cleaned up, I was back at the computer.

I had THE BEST group of cheerleaders a girl could ask for. Whenever I updated my word count on Facebook, I would get motivating comments and notes on my wall. When I finished the challenge, I had this convo with my hubby:

"I couldn't have done this with out all of you."

"Yes, you could."

"But you guys made it easier." 

That's the truth. Toward the end, when I was afraid my story might run out of steam before I reached the 50K mark, the belief you all had in me kept me typing (and not crying). Thank you.

Here's what I learned about myself:

1) I can write an entire novel, with a beginning, middle and end. I'd never done that before.
2) I can write a rough draft without editing (or even rereading) as I go. It's crappy, but the story is out and I have something to work with now. P.S. I still haven't read any of it.
3) Deadlines are my friend.
4) I am most efficient and creative when writing at Starbucks at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday night.
5) I truly enjoy writing (duh). When the challenge was over I felt like I was leaving summer camp. Excited to get back home to my own bed, but bummed to leave my new friends.

What a ride! See you next year NaNo!

Ryan Reynolds ... Step Away from the Gossip Girl.

After a three week hiatus while I participated in NaNoWriMo (more on that in a later post) I'm back in action with a post on my favorite hottie, Ryan Reynolds.

I'm in mourning over my dear Ry-Ry. He's been dating Blake Lively for a while now and my BFF and go-to-gal for celeb news, Stacie, says it's rumored that they're apartment hunting together. Really? Dude, it hasn't even been a year since you separated, not divorced, Scarlett Johansson, and you're already shacking up with a gal 11 years younger than you? I'm sure she's nice, I'm just not seeing what these two have in common. If it works out for them then mazel tov, but if feels like bad decision making to me.

Why do celebs, or anyone for that matter, jump from relationship to relationship? Thoughts?