Saturday, September 19, 2009

Procrastination, peanut butter, and the end of life.

I bet if you thought hard enough you could link procrastination, peanut butter, and the end of life without too much difficulty.

Everyone procrastinates. Everyone. It's a scientifically proven fact. Yeah, it's on of those "fact" things. However, not everyone procrastinates often, or so often that it affects their lives. Around 20% of people procrastinate badly enough for it to actually be noticed. The scientists have all sorts of reasons for the nature of procrastination they just came out with. (I'm pretty sure they would have been done years ago, but they kept getting distracted by positrons orneurkinetics or some other silly thing.) Anyway, they believe that our brains were wired back in the Cave Man Era (a little while before the 60's, I think?) to think short-term, because who knew if they were going to live long-term. Food spoiled in 3 days or less, and while trying to figure out the whole food-shelter-not dying thing, our ancestors' minds were trained to think "now!"

Of course, now we all suffer for those fools! If only they used their schedules and Blackberrysefficiently enough... Now, our mind wants us to accomplish short-term needs, such as eating and sleeping, instead of long-term needs, such as writing for school work instead of writing in a blog. There are some main factors that goes into this. The big ones are the need for instant gratification (including how much time will pass before rewards are given and how bad you want the reward), a person's expectancy for succeeding, the value of the tasks, and the person's impulsiveness. Needless to say, I probably fail on most of those accounts.

Regardless, the wise-guys actually came up with an equation to determine a person's tendency to procrastinate. That is: How likely one is to delay = (one's confidence x the importance/fun of the task) / (how bad you need the reward X how easily you are distracted)
If you'll do the math, you'll see that you probably want to do something else instead of figure out numbers to plug into a formula that won't actually give you real answers.

Also, I found this psychology magazine at the drug store, hence the three long paragraphs about something that I, personally, never researched.

Peanut butter? No idea. I thought I had something about peanut butter, but don't remember what I was going to say. So, as far as peanut butter goes, it's some good stuff, and it's hard to have too much of it. Pretty sure peanut butter makes everything better.

My grandfather hasn't been doing too well lately. A usual spattering of late-age symptoms, and recently was staying in a memory health place, where the patients have a tendency to forget a lot or want to wander off easily. Each door leading to the outside has a pass code, which you must punch before you can either enter or exit the building. A tad disconcerting, but it also has a neat inner courtyard, and at least it doesn't have that overall permeating hospital-like odor.

He wasn't expected to last much longer, as his body began to shut down, and certain functions (such as digesting) stopped, so eating and most drinking stopped along with it. Luckily, most of the closer family had already gotten into town, before Granddad passed this morning (Sat, 9/19). Plans are currently in the works for the memorial service, as he will be cremated and the ashes eventually spread in the ocean. Granddad was in the Navy in WWII, and the Navy guys will be there, at least with a trumpeter, if not with the rest of the pomp and circumstance. Ceremony will be held next weekend sometime, to give the extended family time to arrive. You would think that was already the case since there was 20-something people there today, but more are on the way.

So, now I'll sum it all up for you: Procrastination is good (at times), but don't delay because some kind of end may come sooner than you think. And before whatever that is arrives, be sure you have enough peanut butter to feel satisfied. Smooth or chunky, it's all good.

Friday, September 11, 2009

McDonald's Breakast: When you know it won't be a good day.

Breakfast is the most important part of the day.

Especially for me. I grew up eating cereal and milk every morning for pretty much my entire life. Sure, there were pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, etc., every now and then on a weekend, and the breakfast's out in various restaurants, but other than that, cereal all the way. This of course ingrained a strong sense of urgency in making sure that there was adequate milk and cereal of some kinda at all times. Nothing quite like waking up, getting ready, opening the 'fridge door, and then being surprised at how light the milk just was. So very sad.... Do you remember those "cute" commercials for paper towels where the kid leans over and dumps out a jump of milk on the floor? Those commercials make me angry. Such a waste of milk....

So, (in case you were slow) today there was no milk. Downside to having a roommate: He doesn't drink milk enough for me to judge when we'll be out. The moment I realize I do not have the two requisite items for the creation of breakfast cereal, I panic, staring at the 'fridge/cupboard, lost as to what I should do next. Make eggs or waffles? No time. Oatmeal? I get hungry an hour and half later. Fruit? I don't think so. Also, there is no fruit... This requires that I somehow force my mind to wrap around the concept that today's breakfast choice will require thought.

So, of course, I think of McDonald's. The great thing about a McDonald's breakfast is that I know one is on the way to anywhere I'm going, I know what to expect, and I know I can get it quick. The downside (in the event you haven't thought of a half dozen reasons already) is that you can actually feel part of your soul dying as you eat it. Ever see a movie where the demon/devil character touch a flower, and the flower shrivels and dies before your eyes? It's very similar to that. But of course the psuedo-deliciousness of it fools you into continuing your mistake, cruising along the road, getting rid of the hunger but feeling your soul slowly slip away into the McD hell.

Why, milk jug, why do you bring this upon me? Cereal box retains its honor and integrity, always being ready to provide grain-filled goodness that's packed with 11 vitamins and minerals. Yet, it is always you, milk, that is found lacking. Sure, you don't always turn up empty, but if you can't provide enough of what I need, then it isn't enough. You have failed me, and in doing so, led to my own failure in visiting the earthbound hell that is McDonald's breakfast. I shall never forgive you. NEVER. As soon as I return home, I am replacing you with a full jug of milk. It is my hope, my prayers, that this milk jug will not fail me as you have, and as so many jugs before you have failed.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Movie "9," Fall, NC, and TN

9/9/09

Interesting date. Although I am sure I can conduct the research necessary, a lot of people were getting married that day. Good luck? Tradition? I dunno. Maybe I'll have to get a bride soon so I can get married on 10/10/2010, which I think is a cooler date. Regardless, it does make it easier to remember in the future!

The animated movie "9" came out that same day. (Spoiler alert!! Skip this paragraph if you're planning on see the movie later.) It focuses around this post-apocalyptic world where the humans created great machines that eventually fight back, destroying all the humans. Usual post-apocalyptic stuff, don'cha know. I am a HUGE fan of post-apocalyptic worlds and story lines, so I had to see it, which I did that afternoon. Anyhow, in this war-torn world there are these small puppet-like critters, each having its own number. To shorten things up (and ruin the plot completely) a scientist found a way to split his life into segments and put them into these puppets, giving them life. They end up accidentally activating this giant war machine, and then destroy it. They eventually figure out how to put the soul-bits of the dead puppets into a device which rains life back on the earth. Weird stuff. Really reminds me of "The Secret of NIMH." Now THAT was a good flick! Very classic, and you must watch it if you didn't absolutely hate "9." Even if you didn't see "9" rent "Secret of NIMH." Do it.

Fall. Gosh-darnit, fall is coming! The briefest hint of a slight coolness was in the air. Fall is freakin' awesome. If it could be fall all year around, I would totally take that. Well, 8 months out of the year, with 2 months for full summer and 2 for full winter. The other night I got a whiff of something that reminded me of burning wood in cold weather, like a bonfire in winter. Both of those things reminds me of North Carolina, where I used to visit my grandparents during Christmas, and Tennessee, where my family has a cabin by a great state park (more on that later).

The feeling of cool fall weather puts in a dual-nature (much like everything does, it seems). I feel very energized. I love opening the windows and getting stuff done around the house, while also getting outside, enjoying the parks, or even just going shopping (weird...I know). Unfortunately, if I'm feeling energized in such a way, if I can't find the right activity then I get depressed somewhat. If you can relate, it is similar to a weekend day when you want to accomplish something, or a weekend evening when you just want to go out and have loads of fun, but you can't make it happen. It is like wanting to run but finding yourself on a treadmill. Bummer, indeed.

The other half is that that fall, much like winter (and Christmas for some) inserts a melancholy mood into life. The "death" of the world as summer transitions into winter is felt, and I'll feel just like curling up in some blankets, getting a big bag of candy corn (oh, yes!), and watching movies or playing games for the entire day. Not a bad thing, really. The serenity (woo!! gotta watch that movie again...). Sorry.... The serenity of the cool, breezy days as they pass to darkness seems to last forever. During fall, twilight seems to last forever. Much like the movie Twilight, which seems to never, ever end, except that's a bad thing in this instance.

The cabin in Tennessee reminds me of all of these, in some ways. It's in the middle of the woods, atop a small mountain. Perhaps you could call it a very large hill. Either way, there are excellent views all around. I can't recall the last time I was there in winter, with no leaves on the trees, opening up new vistas across the hillsides, and the wood burning stove burning away. Is it just me, or are you surprised that there are so little accidents involving those? My brother has one; it's 3 feet from a big-screen TV, and my nephew used to crawl around nearby. No injuries, though... Anyhoo, usually the visits to the cabin in Tennessee are during the summer days, when we can enjoy the state park nearby. Free entry, which is quite nice, to a good deal of hiking trails, cascades, waterfalls, and rivers filled with large rocks and boulders. Lots of claims to fame, but the only one I can recall is this: Did you ever see the live action "Jungle Book" movie? It came out like 10 years ago, or more, maybe. In one scene Mowgli jumps off of a waterfall into a lake below. That scene was filled at the park, as were a lot of other less exciting scenes in the movie. People actually still jump off of that waterfall, but with the relatively low water table in the SE US, they don't do it was much anymore. I'm looking forward to going back. Want to join me? (If you said, "yes," you're probably a stalker considering I don't think anyone really reads this.) (That may not be a bad thing).

Enjoy your weekend, reader. Unless it's Monday, in which just zone out until Wednesday or Thursday.



Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Transition: August to September

So, apparently it's September? September was always a weird month for me. In my head, the calendar sort of just went from August to October. It probably has something to do with streaming major events together, which this example being a jump from the start of school in August, to my birthday and (more importantly) Halloween. September doesn't have much in it for me right now, so it's always some kind of bizarre shock when I realize there's another month to go before I get to get presents and play dress up.

School progresses, as I predicted. My astounding soothsaying abilities have proven accurate in that time itself did not stop when the semester began. The overall schedules and occurances of class, walking, buses, eating, and workouts (with or without Bootcamp) are still influx, but that's half the fun of it. The moment I get adjusted and work out a relative schedule is the moment I'll get bored and wish I were doing something else. There is an instructional systems (my master's subject) in Louisville at the end of October. Rumor has it that Louisville is far away, but Google Maps verified it for me so that I now know that I will not be driving, and the cost for tickets and for a plane flight are prohibitive. $300 for the conference ticket, and $250 for a plane ticket from Jacksonville. I may have actually thought about driving up and making a road trip of sorts out of it, but there's so many things happening in October (as opposed to the oft-forgotten September) that driving would take too much time.

Speaking of October, you get to hear me think aloud via the format of typing the various October events: Sis-in-law Edna's birthday, my birthday (10/24), my brother's big Halloween party, and Halloween itself. Please note I turn 30 this year, so extremely special gifts are in order. (Take that phrase however it applies to you).

I visited FSU's Thagard Health Clinic for the first time this past Monday. I'm still alive, so it can't be that bad. It was one of the first health institutions I've been to that had a "Sick People" section separate from a "Well People" section. You would think this would be obvious any place sick people may congregate. I situated myself in the "Well People" section as they did not have a "Sick, but not Contagious People" section, and only had to wait a couple of minutes before being let in so that the poking, prodding, and probing could begin. Good times.

I received a call from a guy at Excel (my old work place) who wanted to go over some stuff that I handled, for which he was now responsible. I don't mind at all because he's a nice guy who tries to help out. The only problem I have is that both he and I brought this up to the manager the day after I turned in my resignation, which was 3-4 weeks before I actually stopped working. That was 3-4 weeks of potential training time, a lot of which I didn't have much to work on anyways. Le sigh. Yet another reason to remind me why I'm not working there anymore.

Hey, I think this was one of the first times I referenced someone's name. I suppose I could look back and check, but I count that as editing, which I don't go back and do once I've written in this blog (see blog #1 for that rule. maybe it was blog #2. whatever). Queries about names? Then ask.