Journal Em Emalb's Journal: Things you should do on a daily basis 24
#1: Challenge yourself by doing something you aren't good at.
#2: Face a fear.
#3: Tell a joke. Laugh at someone, laugh at yourself.
#4: Remember to not get too caught up in the details.
#5: Exercise. This may just be taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
#6: Tell someone you love them. (Even if it means making a phone call)
#7: Play with an animal. (you'd be surprised)
#8: Be patient with someone who you normally wouldn't be.
#9: Mean what you say.
#10: Say what you mean.
a few more (Score:2)
#12 Do your dishes
#13 Make your home ready for a guest, even if there is none
#14 Take a bath (hehe, goes without saying)
One more (Score:3, Funny)
Heh, seriously, though. Not a daily thing, but at least weekly:
Cook, you'll be surprised at how fun it is and how good it tastes if you do it weekly.
Re:One more (Score:2)
I'll second this. I never cooked much, and towards the end of September I got watch my entire finances go from the bad end to the miserable end. I'm now coming out of that, but the one skill I learned through that is not only that I can cook, but it's fun.
It started cooking with a friend, we'd hang out and she'd make me dinner because she really likes to cook and it's good food. She eventually made me try to cook, and I just came up with something out of the blue and it turned out pretty well.
I never was able to cook anything I'd want to eat, until I read a post about really 'learn' how to cook. I learned recipes aren't to be followed like a cult doctrine, they are a base in which to expand to your own tastes.
Above all, it's fun. Bring friends over, it's a great way to hang out. I've now mastered and created a few dishes, of which I can have people want to come over instantly.
I am a geek, and anything past Mac'n'Cheez never worked for me until I took the leap to make an honest effort and it worked. It's not hard. You screw up a few times, but you get it down.
Listen to FK, listen to me, cooking is fun. It doesn't take long, no longer than going to a restaurant (drive there, sit, drive back) and cleaning dishes builds character. Or, if you cook for friends have that part of the deal. I cook you dinner, and you can clean up. You'd be surprised if you are a good cook how many friends you have that will take you up on the offer.
For the price of one meal at a restaurant you can usually feed 4 people.
Re:One more (Score:1)
Cooking for yourself or family/friends/whatever, is a great way to get your mind off all the other crap out there. It also can be a great way to find out how your SO's day went, what you feel like doing later, etc....cooking is easy and fun.*
*Even if half ya bastards knock my cooking methods. Sheesh
Re:One more (Score:2)
Amen. People who think cooking is hard need a set of good knives and an open mind.
Granted, some people may not like it but it definitely isn't hard.
Good set o knives (Score:2)
Infact, these days the only knife I use is the chef's knife in the block. It isn't a super-duper expensive knife set, but I do an honest job of trying to sharpen the knives (read at least once every 3 months). However only the chefs knife has the true edge. It cuts everything. From Delicate, overripe tomatoes, to SUPER HARD cheese (think parmiggiano regiano rind).
Just using it is fun. Take a garlic clove, put it under the flat of the blade and smack it lightly, then rub back and forth in your hands to remove paper (learned that one from Good Eats halloween special) put it back under the blade and crush it, then chop chop chop, and whooo ha! Your mouth should already start watering.
*(though of late, me and the wife JUST DON'T HAVE ANY FRICKIN TIME! Satuday night I worked on my final exam until 10:47 pm! The exception of course, was Thanksgiving. Gott-damn that mushroom -phyllo strudel was the bomb.
Re:Good set o knives (Score:2)
Thanks for the info, I use garlic a lot and peeling is annoying. I'll have to try that next time.
I'll make a point of posting my recipe for really good garlic-cheese-bread after I get it perfected.
Re:Good set o knives (Score:2)
Re:Good set o knives (Score:1)
Take that chopped up garlic clove, throw it in a small bowl with some butter and a little italion seasoning. Microwave until the butter is just melted. Add grated (fresh, no can stuff) parmesan cheese. Stir it up until it's a paste. Spread generously over french bread split lengthwise, and broil until golden. (Note that I typically use about eight cloves of garlic per loaf of bread) Open a bottle of Red wine and curl up with your SO.
Re:Good set o knives (Score:2)
P.S.- I don't think anyone in this thread uses the canned parmesan cheese. But good looking out, just in case they do!
Re:One more (Score:2)
When I was at university (college for those from the US) I had a place across the road from the campus. Every Wednesday a group of us had night classes (mathematics) and we would get together at my place, I would cook dinner and we would eat and study. It was great fun, every one chipped in some money to cover the cost of the food and drinks, and I didn't have to do the dishes! My specialty was lasagne, although my tacos were pretty damn good too. We would have anywhere from 5 to 10 people turn up, we'd cook, eat, study then go to classes. Lots of fun!
Me me me (Score:2)
Well, I was polite while driving in to work this morning... I'm not very good at being a considerate driver.
#2: Face a fear.
I'm calling my broker later today to "discuss" my retirement plan.
#3: Tell a joke. Laugh at someone, laugh at yourself.
Lost count on this one. Definitely laughed at myself a number of times already...
#4: Remember to not get too caught up in the details.
Yup. Yup. Yup.
#5: Exercise. This may just be taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
I usually park as far away from the building as possible. Nice walk. And I get a little more aerobic activity by dodging the various cars speeding through the parking lot.
#6: Tell someone you love them. (Even if it means making a phone call)
This one's easy: my wife every waking moment I tell her I love her.
#7: Play with an animal. (You'd be surprised)
Well... I feed my fish this morning. Does that count?
#8: Be patient with someone who you normally wouldn't be.
See #1.
#9: Mean what you say.
90% of the time.
#10: Say what you mean.
50% of the time. Working on it.
What kind of fish? (Score:1)
Re:What kind of fish? (Score:1)
2 Aulonocara Baenschi (Sunshine Peacocks)
2 Aulonocara Stuart (Cobol Blue Peacocks)
1 Aulonocara Stuart (Mbamba Bay Peacock)
1 Copadichromis borleyi
1 Protomelas spilonatus
Go here [vatoelvis.com] for photos.
My Lake Tanganyika Cichlids:
1 Cyphotilapia frontosa (My personal favorite!)
2 Neolamprologus leleupi
2 Neolamprologus maraguensis
Go here [vatoelvis.com] for photos.
My Lake Victoria Cichlid:
1 Pundamilia nyererei
Go here [vatoelvis.com] for photos.
In addition I have one Pleco, 2 Cobalt Blues, 2 Eletric Yellows, and 2 Gourami.
Out.
And the diference is... (Score:1)
Saying what you mean
AND
Meaning what you say
??
Re:And the diference is... (Score:2)
Basically, I meant that it's better to get your true feelings out there with regards to whatever, as opposed to just giving lip service to something.
The meaning what you say is basically that. Stand by it, and if you have reservations about saying it, maybe you shouldn't.
Again, this is kinda a get it or don't thing. Hopefully I didn't confuse you more.
Re:And the diference is... (Score:2)
See, I have the opposite problem. If I say what I think, most people have an urge to hit me. I'm not a nice person, I'm an honest person. I'm not bragging when I can say I'm smarter than most people. It's not that I'm some super brain, it's that most people are stupid.
I have a low tolerance for flagrant and deliberate stupidity. I will inform people of their stupidity, and offer helpful advice on how to better their life and mindset so they aren't feeling so mentally closed in (Pull your head out of your ass) and to take in the surroundings, because intelligence is seldom more than properly knowing what's around you (Get a clue) and please, don't spew "facts" about things you have no idea about. Don't talk when you aren't being spoken to in a group because you feel neglected, you will get your turn.
All in all, I'm getting better, but I can still be a major asshole. At least according to other people. I don't take kindly to people interfering with my experience because their lack of insight. If I do say something, it's a pretty common understand that they will not be my friend because no one likes to hear that. I'm fine with them not being my friend, but enemies are worth picking careful and in few instead of mass.
*shrug*
I suppose I could just master the art of patience.
Re:And the diference is... (Score:1)
I think I started realizing I was pissing people off when I stepped into the real (well, corporate anyway) world. Pissing someone off, even if you have a valid argument/comment/thought is not a good way to do business. So, I instead pick my times to be straight up...other times, I'll either let it slide, or couch my response in PC terms. (I absolutely hate doing this, but there is a reason for it, I guess. People who are sensitive to critism always seem to be the next level in the company, you know?) Anyhow, I too feel your pain.
And yes, there are tons of simpletons out there who like nothing better than to discuss last night's episode of friends and what they did with their stupid homepage. Takes all kinds though, and they could probably say the same thing about people like me.
Re:And the diference is... (Score:2)
The advantage of the abundance of these folk is the conversations you can overhear. I heard a gem the other night,
I almost started respecting Guy #2 until that line. I was expecting, "You can't compare his money like that because it's all stock" not "you can't stack it"
It was amusing at least.
Re:And the diference is... (Score:1)
And saying what you mean is done by letting people know how you feel on a certain subject. By trying not to keep people guessing or in the dark about where you stand on a matter of importance.
Good, so I *was* thinking along the same lines as everyone else
One more (Score:2)
Whether you are religious or not. Take some time to center yourself by praying, meditating or whatever.
Re:One more (Score:2)
Prayer isn't about getting something from God, or whomever. It's more (IMO) about catharsis(sp?) and getting your thoughts out there, even if it is only in your head. Prayer helps me personally by reinforcing the important things in my life.
Re:One more (Score:1)
It isn't? Then who else is supplying the fireworks when one of our clerics casts "Call Lightning"? Sorry, couldn't resist...
Approximately 5/10... could do better, perhaps :-) (Score:2)
Kind of. I don't believe in doing this just for the sake of it. If there are things you *want* to do that you're no good at, then sure, keep at it until you are. But there aren't enough hours in the day to just be doing arbitrary things that you find challenging.
#2: Face a fear.
You may not believe me, but I don't really have any. There are certain things that I find the thought of unpleasant. Drowning, for instance. But I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm afraid of drowning, and I enjoy messing around on boats, for example.
#3: Tell a joke. Laugh at someone, laugh at yourself. :-( I wish that was
different. I enjoy the person I used to be a lot
more than I do the person I am now.
I'm a pretty hopeless joke teller. But I find amusement in others relatively easily. Although since my private life fell to pieces, I laugh a lot less than I used to
#4: Remember to not get too caught up in the details.
Tricky. My personality tends to force me to pay attention to minutae. But (particularly now I have others working for me) I'm trying to make a conscious effort to look more at the big picture.
#5: Exercise. This may just be taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Yep. Physical exertion in general falls into the "just say no" category. But I take the stairs at work, and I walk a reasonable amount, although I'd never take it as far as joining a gym...
#6: Tell someone you love them. (Even if it means making a phone call)
Check.
#7: Play with an animal. (you'd be surprised) :-)
I don't have much of a choice on this one. I have three cats, and they can be very insistent when they want to play
#8: Be patient with someone who you normally wouldn't be.
Patience isn't one of my strong points. If someone is genuinely making an honest attempt, I'll cut them a bit of slack, but again this falls into the category of "not enough hours in the day". I don't deal well with stupid people...
#9: Mean what you say.
#10: Say what you mean.
These two are easy. I do them every day. See the description of my INTJ [typelogic.com] personality type for more insight. People that don't do these two confuse me. A lot.