Date a girl who travels. Date a girl who would rather save up for out of town trips, or day trips than buy new shoes or clothes. She may not look fashionable, but behind that tanned and freckle face from all the days out in the sun, lies a mind that can take you places and an open heart that will take you for what you are, not for what you can be.
Journal
3/3 GHR Check-In!
Time to review my progress from this past month. This is the 11th annual attempt at creating life-long habits for myself. I’ve discovered that because of the after the end-of-year holidays I am not mentally or physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new year. I need a break so I take the whole month of January off to reflect and plan.
Physical
Dance lessons. We’re leaning towards country dancing. I’ll see what I can do to change that.
Kickboxing/sparring: Can you believe my gym has only one class a week? Yep, I call BS too. Guess we’ll have to do this at home.
Disc Golf. Waiting on warmer weather
Yoga/Meditation: Still not a habit but I am enjoying this more. There is a yoga studio nearby and classes at the gym.
All of this with a goal to drop 25 pounds. My motto will be “Eat clean, train mean, get lean”. Three pounds so far. That recent road trip didn’t help.
Technical
Learn Python: Not the data scientist yet but there is some lessons learned.
///Print (“Hello World!”)
Artistical
Sketching, drawing, doodling: learned some tips and tricks on using the Pencil. Shading, pressure, etc.
Learn Spanish: “Mi nombre es Chris Denbow”
Learn Chinese: “Ni hao, wo de minzi jio Chris Denbow”
Learn to play the ukulele: I picked up the instrument once this month, tuned it and then moved on to something else.
DAM- Digital Asset Management: Progress! The new year allowed me to start fresh, purge and then organize the keepers into months. Granted, only two months but there were a lot of photos so far.
Write short stories. “He had seen a lot of incredible sights when working with his camera over the years. But nothing like this and certainly nothing he wanted to see ever again.”
Write micro fiction: Micro fiction or flash fiction? I’m on the fence as to what to call it. Haven’t done it though.
Work on that novel: Or not. Still overwhelmed.
52 week challenge: Number 9 out of 52 has been completed
Financial:
Order a credit report and start settling some debts for less.This has been done and am currently disputing some items that should not be on there. Got a few knocked off. Yay.
Build credit with a secured credit card: Done!
See you back here on 4/4 for the next review of how I do!
Problem Solving
- Find a solution
- If that doesn’t work, try another one.
- Repeat step two or until luck strikes.
Feed Me
Why is it that we enlightened humans can’t figure out how to feed ourselves properly?
Every other species on this planet can do this except us.
Cock-a-doodle-do
Cock-A-Doodle-Do
Woke up to the rooster and chickens from the community garden across the street. Awesome.
Limits
This past week I have relocated to a new home. A home without Internet service. For the first time since 1996 I do not have an ISP and it feels like I am in the damned dark ages.
How is it possible for me to learn the Python programming language without it? How is it possible for me to load processed photo images to the cloud and other platforms? By finding solutions and alternatives.
By choosing not to have internet service, I am discovering a more productive lifestyle, reducing mindless surfing and wasting time and with alternate resources.
Here’s what I mean: streaming entertainment is non-existent so we’re going old school videos by using a disc player. Quaint, right? Physical books as opposed to digital books. Neato.
The pros of no service are outweighing the cons so far because of limited distractions. I can focus on reading more and writing a short story. Heck, I may even get to that long overdue novel.The Python IDLE (Integrated Development Environment) works brilliantly off line. Photo processing can be done without internet as well. Speaking of photos, I took advantage of great weather for a long overdue photo walk. Offline and IRL. Another offline option is learning how to play that ukulele eventually.
When I do have access (thanks Panera, public library, iPhone XR hot spot), I can then upload, download as needed. In fact, I just downloaded some e-books for fun reading as well as a technical manual for Python.
By limiting myself I have found an opportunity. And just like my mother always said “Be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.”
* This post was written offline and then later uploaded via hotspot.
Groundhog Resolution Day 2019!
Its that time of year again. The 11th annual attempt at creating life-long habits for myself. I’ve discovered that because of the after the end-of-year holidays I am not mentally or physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new year. I need a break so I take the whole month of January off to reflect and plan.
So the kickoff is today on 2/2! My resolutions, goals and life-changing habits are listed below. These are not to be confused with items on my “F*%k It List”. I will check in every month and then review my progress. Next check-in is on March 3 (3/3). After that will be 4/4, 5/5 and so on. Here we go!
Physical
The immediate goal is to drop 25 pounds quick. Besides the typical
motto of “Eat clean, train mean, get lean”, I’m throwing in some activities that should help.
-
Kickboxing/sparring with Tracy
- Dance lessons. Something fun like Swing? Sexy, like Bachata? We’ll figure it out.
- Disc Golf. Time to get back into it. Less expensive than golf and I don’t have to wear baggy, plaid pants.
- Yoga/Meditation. I had some moderate usage last year but not enough to form a habit. I did appreciate the quiet time to breathe, relax and focus on nothing.
Technical
- Learn Python. Only one tech goal this year because I get scattered and end up not learning anything. No more. Time to learn and apply data science and machine learning applications.
Artistical
- Sketch/Draw/Doodle. I bought an iPad and pencil last year and I want to be more creative.
- Learn Spanish with Tracy.
- Learn Chinese. For myself.
- Learn to play the ukulele. I grabbed one late last year but with the holidays in the way it took a back seat.
- DAM- Digital Asset Management, or, where the hell are my photos from that shoot last month?
- Write short stories. I have a ton of ideas for these.
- Write micro fiction. One hundred word stories.
- Work on that novel. Its been ten plus years and I still can’t get all of this out of my head.
- 52 week photo challenge. 52 weeks in a year = 52 photos
Financial
- Order a credit report and start settling some debts for less. 2017 was not a good year and it hurt me financially so I am slowly recovering. This year will be dedicated to resolving this and restoring my good name.
- Build credit with a secured credit card.
- Automate savings and track investments. Yes, there is an app for that and it is called Acorns.
- Cryptocurrency. This year I will dip a toe into these unknown waters. Bitcoin? Ethereum? Research is crucial here.
Knowing myself all too well, I may end up adding or subtracting this or that. Either way, I’ll check back in here on 3/3 for the first review of how I do!
F**k It List
Some people have bucket lists. Boring! These are the fun things I want to do this year (subject to change, add, subtract, multiply)
-
Another Tattoo
- More skinny dipping
- Route 66 trips. New Mexico to Chicago
- Hiking new trails
- Biking (need a bike)
- Running/Hashing
- Focus on urban erotic portrait photography
Procrastinate
If at first you don’t succeed give up immediately. Move on to something else until that becomes unbearable. Then circle back to the first problem. By now, your subconscious will have worked on it and you are ready to go.
What I Know
I don’t know much but I do know…
- Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
- Make misteaks.
- Make more mistakes.
- Spontaneity.
- Alcohol will never love you back.
- Don’t gamble if you are pissed at losing $20.
- Put your phone away.
- Are people happy when you walk in or walk out?
- If you wear cologne, it should leave when you leave.
- Respect your parents.
- Always carry cash.
- How can you ever grow old and wise if you were never young and crazy?
-
Never stay out after 2AM more than two nights in a row, unless it is
epic.
- Ignore the people who shout you down. They’re probably coming from the cheap seats.
- Don’t tell anyone that you hate working there. If you’re still there after three months, they’ll know you are ignorant for staying on.
- Life is stressful. Be kind to others.
- Drunk and funny guy isn’t funny anymore.
- Tip more when it is deserved.
- You don’t have to know everything, but you should understand a little about something.
- Don’t skimp on sunglasses.
- Learn how to play backgammon.
- Don’t stop dating your loved one.
- Your job does not define you.
- Nobody cares where you went to school.
- Never wear another man’s jersey.
- Have your drink order ready when the bartender asks.
- When a bartender buys you a round, tip double.
- Do meditation and sit-ups before you shower every morning.
- Replace socks and underwear every six months.
- Earn their trust by keeping their secret.
- Have at least one good joke ready to go.
- Eat brunch with friends.
- Act like you’ve been there before. Confidence.
- Don’t split a check.
- Never cancel plans by text.
- Nobody cares if you are offended.
- Use your camera more, not your phone.
- Know how to defend yourself.
- Don’t skimp on a razor.
- Always bring something to the party.
- Compare yourself to your past, not to others.
- Always have that go-to recipe.
- Get outdoors. Often.
- Eating out alone is great. Find a quiet place to think.
- Use your luggage.
- Use your passport.
- Of course you buy her dinner.
- Short and sweet is always the best.
- Know when you are wrong and admit it.
- Monotonous, isn’t it?
- Never be the first or the last one in the pool.
- Close friends over too many acquaintances.
- Order the salad instead of the fries.
- Share your dessert.
- Read more.
- You are still better off than most who have ever lived.
- Don’t be afraid to ask.
- Support artists by spending money on them.
- You don’t need that last glass. really.
- Open her door.
- Go sweat with someone.
- Buy local.
- Find a favorite jazz artist.
- Don’t stay angry.
Rules
Impossible Apologetic Unadventerous Convention Standard Fake Unproductive Dated Unacheivable Follow Conform Indifferent Settle Predictable Apathetic Bored Unaltered Subtle Unoriginal Disbelieve Compliant Adhere Timid Dispirited Quiet Obey Uncreative Passive Expected Tradition Norm Inauthentic Seen Unsustainable Average Done
The Best Knowledge Tools
I’m learning much more than anticipated when I am researching, preparing a novel and other short stories (still in progress). I have such an appreciation for those who are already published.
Something we readers take for granted is the research and preparation that goes into producing content we learn from (non fiction) and then enjoy (fiction). Reading a book is the ability to learn all of the insights and facts that an author has spent countless hours on. What takes them months or years only takes us a few hours!
This alone makes a book our best tool to acquire knowledge, years of knowledge at our fingertips. We owe it to ourselves to focus and apply what we are learning. Don’t just consume but to read for understanding and growth. I am slowly going through a book right now with pen and pencil in hand to highlight passages I want to follow up on or emphasize. I’m even having a one way conversation by asking the author questions that will probably never be answered by them.
When you think about all the hard work author’s put in to their writing it should make you appreciate it all the more. I know I do.