Thursday, January 27, 2011
That'll Teach Me...
This afternoon, some of my piano students and I got together and had a party to celebrate Mozart's birthday. We watched a movie about Mozart's life and music and had pizza for dinner and birthday cake. (I'm very impressed by the woman behind the bakery counter at Festival who didn't so much as blink when I said I wanted "Happy Birthday Mozart!" written on a cake.) I planned what I could eat all day so I could have 2 pieces of pizza, a breadstick, and a slice of cake. I did great...right up until I finished my 2nd slice of pizza. It was so good I talked myself into one more slice of cheese pizza, promising myself that I would walk it off on the treadmill before I went to bed. The total I needed to walk off came to 305 calories. So I came home and started walking. I walked 84 minutes and was still 10 calories short! UGH! That'll teach me...
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Fair Weather Fan? FANatic?
I am a Packers fan. Most of those around me are Packers fans. However, I'm not sure what category I fall into.
During the off season, I don't watch the draft, I don't go watch practice, and my attitude toward the upcoming season is "We'll see how they do...I'll watch the games when I have time." However, once the season starts, my excitement for the Packers climbs...I go from "That's right, the game's today..." to "I'll catch some of the game when I'm done with this." to "When's the game...I'll try to be home by kickoff." to sitting on the couch 10 minutes before kickoff so I don't miss any of it. This year, with a longer season than we've had in a while, the excitement for today's game has reached new levels. I can't wait for today's game...provided, of course, that it looks a lot like last week's game. Go Pack Go!
Just for giggles...here's a facebook status that's going around...
During the off season, I don't watch the draft, I don't go watch practice, and my attitude toward the upcoming season is "We'll see how they do...I'll watch the games when I have time." However, once the season starts, my excitement for the Packers climbs...I go from "That's right, the game's today..." to "I'll catch some of the game when I'm done with this." to "When's the game...I'll try to be home by kickoff." to sitting on the couch 10 minutes before kickoff so I don't miss any of it. This year, with a longer season than we've had in a while, the excitement for today's game has reached new levels. I can't wait for today's game...provided, of course, that it looks a lot like last week's game. Go Pack Go!
Just for giggles...here's a facebook status that's going around...
Friday, January 21, 2011
I'm a Loser
Before Christmas (in this post), I blogged about starting on a journey toward a healthier weight. I'm really very impressed by the tool I found to help me...
I hate writing down every bite I eat. It takes time to write it down, figure out the calories, points, exchanges, or whatever system you are using to keep track of how much you should be eating. I'm usually fed up with tracking what I eat by the 2nd day. www.myfitnesspal.com however, is working for me. Once I enter a food, I never have to enter it again. If I eat exactly the same breakfast I did the day before I can "copy yesterday." Once I enter a recipe, I can always pull it up and add it to my day. I can also enter any exercise I do and have it give me "positive" calories back for the activity. The thing I like most is that I get instant feedback. Weight loss is a waiting game. The foods I didn't eat and the exercise I did today might not show up on the scale for 2-3 days. I like to know that what I'm doing is making a difference, even if I can't see it yet. At the end of the day, once all of my foods and exercise are entered, I can "close" the day. Once I do that, a sentence pops up that says "If every day were like today...you'd weigh xxx.x lbs. in 5 weeks." I know it's approximate, but it gives me some motivation to do it again the next day. It's working, too...I'm down 4 lbs. since Christmas.
Happy Weekend! (And Go Pack Go!)
I hate writing down every bite I eat. It takes time to write it down, figure out the calories, points, exchanges, or whatever system you are using to keep track of how much you should be eating. I'm usually fed up with tracking what I eat by the 2nd day. www.myfitnesspal.com however, is working for me. Once I enter a food, I never have to enter it again. If I eat exactly the same breakfast I did the day before I can "copy yesterday." Once I enter a recipe, I can always pull it up and add it to my day. I can also enter any exercise I do and have it give me "positive" calories back for the activity. The thing I like most is that I get instant feedback. Weight loss is a waiting game. The foods I didn't eat and the exercise I did today might not show up on the scale for 2-3 days. I like to know that what I'm doing is making a difference, even if I can't see it yet. At the end of the day, once all of my foods and exercise are entered, I can "close" the day. Once I do that, a sentence pops up that says "If every day were like today...you'd weigh xxx.x lbs. in 5 weeks." I know it's approximate, but it gives me some motivation to do it again the next day. It's working, too...I'm down 4 lbs. since Christmas.
Happy Weekend! (And Go Pack Go!)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Rise and Shine - Another Review
How about another review... :)
Another Christmas gift I received this year is a Verilux Rise and Shine Natural Wake Up Light. I'm really benefiting from it. A little back story...
I have a huge problem waking up in the morning. I am a very sound sleeper and have this amazing (note the sarcasm) ability to get out of bed, walk across the room, snooze my alarm clock, and get back into bed every 9 minutes for an hour without ever waking up. I don't even remember doing it. After about an hour, I finally wake up somewhere between my bed and my alarm. I've tried music, multiple alarms, moving my alarms around the room...just about everything I could think of to help myself wake up. I only wake up well if I've gotten good sleep (7-8 hours every night) for about 2 weeks in a row. Since this so rarely happens, even when I'm really trying hard, I end up setting my alarms about an hour before my "drop dead, get out of bed" time and praying that I eventually wake up.
Adding to this issue, IMHO, is the fact that I get very little exposure to the sun during the winter. My classroom is underground and I work 7:30-5:30, so Monday through Friday, I get a little light before I go to work (the sun isn't actually up yet, but it is light out), and about 20 minutes of sun during lunch (on the days I get upstairs to eat). I think this messes with my sleep patterns somewhat.
In comes this "Rise and Shine" light. Starting about 15 minutes before the set alarm time, the light slowly starts to come on. There are 20 different settings. You can set how bright you want it to be and over the course of 15 minutes it goes from off to that setting to simulate a sunrise. There is also a sleep setting to use at night where the light starts out bright and over 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes dims to off. This is supposed to simulate a sunset (something I rarely experience during the winter). I have found both of these settings to be very helpful to me.
I use the sleep setting starting an hour before I want to be "lights out." In that time, I get ready for bed and I read. This helps me in three ways:
1) My ADD is worst when I'm tired. This means I procrastinate going to bed like a champion. However, I have a time limit...1 hour. If I take 50 minutes to get ready for bed, this will only leave me about 3 minutes to read before the light is too dim to see by. If, however, I can be ready in 20 minutes, I have lots of time to read.
2) As I stated in my Kindle review, I can read for hours without realizing time is passing. I've often gotten absorbed in a book and read until 2 AM when I needed to be up at 5. Three hours of sleep just isn't enough. When the light's too dim to see, however, it forces me to realize how much time has passed and I almost always quit for the night.
3) I fall asleep so much faster when I've used the sleep function...sometimes before the light is actually 100% off. I also seem to sleep more soundly.
So far, I've only overslept a couple of times since I started using the light in the morning...once just after New Year's, when I was definitely sleep deprived and once when I forgot to set my other alarms. Most of the time, I'm awake and out of bed within 20 minutes after the light reaches its full brightness.
Another Christmas gift I received this year is a Verilux Rise and Shine Natural Wake Up Light. I'm really benefiting from it. A little back story...
I have a huge problem waking up in the morning. I am a very sound sleeper and have this amazing (note the sarcasm) ability to get out of bed, walk across the room, snooze my alarm clock, and get back into bed every 9 minutes for an hour without ever waking up. I don't even remember doing it. After about an hour, I finally wake up somewhere between my bed and my alarm. I've tried music, multiple alarms, moving my alarms around the room...just about everything I could think of to help myself wake up. I only wake up well if I've gotten good sleep (7-8 hours every night) for about 2 weeks in a row. Since this so rarely happens, even when I'm really trying hard, I end up setting my alarms about an hour before my "drop dead, get out of bed" time and praying that I eventually wake up.
Adding to this issue, IMHO, is the fact that I get very little exposure to the sun during the winter. My classroom is underground and I work 7:30-5:30, so Monday through Friday, I get a little light before I go to work (the sun isn't actually up yet, but it is light out), and about 20 minutes of sun during lunch (on the days I get upstairs to eat). I think this messes with my sleep patterns somewhat.
In comes this "Rise and Shine" light. Starting about 15 minutes before the set alarm time, the light slowly starts to come on. There are 20 different settings. You can set how bright you want it to be and over the course of 15 minutes it goes from off to that setting to simulate a sunrise. There is also a sleep setting to use at night where the light starts out bright and over 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes dims to off. This is supposed to simulate a sunset (something I rarely experience during the winter). I have found both of these settings to be very helpful to me.
I use the sleep setting starting an hour before I want to be "lights out." In that time, I get ready for bed and I read. This helps me in three ways:
1) My ADD is worst when I'm tired. This means I procrastinate going to bed like a champion. However, I have a time limit...1 hour. If I take 50 minutes to get ready for bed, this will only leave me about 3 minutes to read before the light is too dim to see by. If, however, I can be ready in 20 minutes, I have lots of time to read.
2) As I stated in my Kindle review, I can read for hours without realizing time is passing. I've often gotten absorbed in a book and read until 2 AM when I needed to be up at 5. Three hours of sleep just isn't enough. When the light's too dim to see, however, it forces me to realize how much time has passed and I almost always quit for the night.
3) I fall asleep so much faster when I've used the sleep function...sometimes before the light is actually 100% off. I also seem to sleep more soundly.
So far, I've only overslept a couple of times since I started using the light in the morning...once just after New Year's, when I was definitely sleep deprived and once when I forgot to set my other alarms. Most of the time, I'm awake and out of bed within 20 minutes after the light reaches its full brightness.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
My Kindle 3 - A Review
I love to read. I was once told that for people with ADD, there are often a couple of things in their lives that capture their attention completely. The feeling of being "focused" is so great (and unusual) that these are the things they spend the most time on...it's almost like a natural high. For me, the two things that capture me like that are music and reading. I can pick up a book and spend 2-3 hours reading the whole thing before I realize any time has passed at all. One would think I would have jumped on the eReader bandwagon immediately.
However, I also love books. I love the smell of Barnes and Noble. If you love books, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not sure I'll ever completely give up books. There's something about holding a paper copy of a book that I love. However, there's also something about being able to hold your entire library in one hand that I've been coming to appreciate more and more since I became the owner of a Kindle.
My Kindle 3: I got the granite grey Kindle 3G (6" screen) as a gift for Christmas. It has the "Fly Me Away" Decal Girl Skin on it.
Things I LOVE about my Kindle:
> Speed of the page turns. This was one of my biggest concerns about earlier models of eReaders. I read at about 400 wpm, so a page turn that takes 5-10 seconds would drive me nuts. I've discovered that I can turn the page about halfway through the last line and continue reading without even an interruption. Sometimes, though, it actually turns the page too quickly and I have to go back and re-read the rest of the line!
>eInk. The eInk screen is extremely easy to read IMHO. The screen (along with faster page turns) was one of the big reasons I chose the Kindle over the Nook. A couple of things happen when you look at a back lit LED screen for a long time. First, you don't blink as often, so your eyes dry out. Second, your brain starts making chemicals that keep you awake, so if you are reading just before bed, you may have trouble falling asleep. Some people say these things don't bother them, but they are things I notice if I use a computer for a long period of time and one of the times I read the most is right as I'm going to bed, so a non-LED screen was important to me.
>Font size options. I didn't think I'd care about this. I've never preferred large print books over "regular" print size, so this didn't really hit my list as important. However, as we traveled to Chicago to visit my grandmothers, I noticed that it was easier to read in the car if the font was bigger. It's also easier to read in dim light if the font is bigger. In "regular" situations I make the size smaller so I can fit more on each page.
>Easy access to definitions. Again, not something I considered as I was deciding on an eReader, but it's been really nice to be able to check the definition of a word just by moving the cursor to that word. It's not something I use a lot, but I do appreciate it when I find a word I'm not familiar with.
>Samples. I can download a sample of a book I might want to read to see if I really want to read it before I buy it.
>3G wireless access. This was a big factor in my decision to go with an eReader in the first place. When I go on vacation, I'm always worried about running out of reading material. This means I practically have to pack a separate suitcase for books. Never again...as long as I have my Kindle, I have access to hundreds of thousands of books.
>Battery Life. When I had the wireless on all the time, the battery lasted about a week (a little less if I used it a lot, which I did). I wanted to see how long it would last if I didn't have the wireless on all of the time, so I charged it a week and a half ago and turned the wireless of. My battery is still a little more than half full.
>Size, weight, ease of use. I love the different ways I can hold it. I can use either hand to turn pages, I can set it down on the table in front of me while I eat and it stays open.
Wish List
>ePub or something like it. I can't download books from the library or share books with any one else (that I've discovered). I hope that becomes a possibility. I can't afford to buy every book I want to read, even at eBook prices.
>Color would be awesome, but it's not a major drawback for me. I've learned within the last week that Barnes and Noble is having trouble with it's digital downloads. My personal theory (though it's just that...a theory) is that the files for the color Nook are holding things up because of their size. I purposely chose a black and white eInk screen over a color LED screen.
Accessories
>Lighted case. I got the case with a built in book light. I really like it. It feels more like holding a book, but it does take away from being able to turn pages with my left hand. The light works well and I like that it works off of the Kindle's battery.
>Skin. I got a skin to put on my Kindle...partly to protect it, partly 'cuz I like the way it looks.
I'm sure I'll be adding to this review over time, but for now, about 3 weeks after I started to use it, these are my thoughts on my Kindle 3.
However, I also love books. I love the smell of Barnes and Noble. If you love books, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not sure I'll ever completely give up books. There's something about holding a paper copy of a book that I love. However, there's also something about being able to hold your entire library in one hand that I've been coming to appreciate more and more since I became the owner of a Kindle.
My Kindle 3: I got the granite grey Kindle 3G (6" screen) as a gift for Christmas. It has the "Fly Me Away" Decal Girl Skin on it.
Things I LOVE about my Kindle:
> Speed of the page turns. This was one of my biggest concerns about earlier models of eReaders. I read at about 400 wpm, so a page turn that takes 5-10 seconds would drive me nuts. I've discovered that I can turn the page about halfway through the last line and continue reading without even an interruption. Sometimes, though, it actually turns the page too quickly and I have to go back and re-read the rest of the line!
>eInk. The eInk screen is extremely easy to read IMHO. The screen (along with faster page turns) was one of the big reasons I chose the Kindle over the Nook. A couple of things happen when you look at a back lit LED screen for a long time. First, you don't blink as often, so your eyes dry out. Second, your brain starts making chemicals that keep you awake, so if you are reading just before bed, you may have trouble falling asleep. Some people say these things don't bother them, but they are things I notice if I use a computer for a long period of time and one of the times I read the most is right as I'm going to bed, so a non-LED screen was important to me.
>Samples. I can download a sample of a book I might want to read to see if I really want to read it before I buy it.
>3G wireless access. This was a big factor in my decision to go with an eReader in the first place. When I go on vacation, I'm always worried about running out of reading material. This means I practically have to pack a separate suitcase for books. Never again...as long as I have my Kindle, I have access to hundreds of thousands of books.
>Battery Life. When I had the wireless on all the time, the battery lasted about a week (a little less if I used it a lot, which I did). I wanted to see how long it would last if I didn't have the wireless on all of the time, so I charged it a week and a half ago and turned the wireless of. My battery is still a little more than half full.
>Size, weight, ease of use. I love the different ways I can hold it. I can use either hand to turn pages, I can set it down on the table in front of me while I eat and it stays open.
Wish List
>ePub or something like it. I can't download books from the library or share books with any one else (that I've discovered). I hope that becomes a possibility. I can't afford to buy every book I want to read, even at eBook prices.
>Color would be awesome, but it's not a major drawback for me. I've learned within the last week that Barnes and Noble is having trouble with it's digital downloads. My personal theory (though it's just that...a theory) is that the files for the color Nook are holding things up because of their size. I purposely chose a black and white eInk screen over a color LED screen.
Accessories
>Lighted case. I got the case with a built in book light. I really like it. It feels more like holding a book, but it does take away from being able to turn pages with my left hand. The light works well and I like that it works off of the Kindle's battery.
>Skin. I got a skin to put on my Kindle...partly to protect it, partly 'cuz I like the way it looks.
I'm sure I'll be adding to this review over time, but for now, about 3 weeks after I started to use it, these are my thoughts on my Kindle 3.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Feeding Frenzy Friday IX
I saw a story on the news last night about the current shortage at the food pantries. Right now is one of the hardest times of the year. Christmas brings in many that need help (and more donations), but now that Christmas is over, the donations tend to dry up but there are still many that need help.
This week's Feeding Frenzy Friday item is Macaroni and Cheese (any brand). Please give if you can.
This week's Feeding Frenzy Friday item is Macaroni and Cheese (any brand). Please give if you can.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Blessings
Hmmm, so have you noticed yet that the posts I promised last Sunday have not yet materialized?? Several days ago, all semblance of motivation disappeared. Between the slight let-down after the holidays, a full week back at school, sad news, money worries, and other (relatively) minor annoyances, this week seemed to drag on forever and has left me exhausted and down.
However, I don't want to write about how badly the week went. I think, instead, it's time to see if I can come up with at least a half a dozen things that went right this week...think I can do it? Let's see...
1) My cousin had a healthy baby boy - Adam James - on Monday. Mom and baby are doing great and have since gone home.
2) All of my new band music arrived by the end of the week. My bands only get to rehearse once a week (plus a weekly 15 minute individual lesson), so getting started on new band music right after a concert is a necessity. Plus, I love getting new music, handing it out, and helping the students get started on it.
3) I had an accompanist for Mass on Monday. With the return on Jeanne's cancer, she decided that she needed to conclude her music ministry with Christmas. Therefore, I needed to have new help lined up by Monday. I did...she's temporary, but I've got more time to find someone permanent.
4) The kids love the new song we're working on for Mass. We've recently gotten new songbooks for school Masses (Never Too Young: Spirit and Song for Young People). The music is awesome and one of my favorites is "We Are One Body." We started learning it this week and the kids are as excited about it as I am.
5) I have not yet gotten the cough that's going around school. This may seem like a small victory, but I always get the coughs and they frequently turn into something nasty, like pneumonia.
6) My new alarm clock is helping me to both wake up and fall asleep faster. How does that work? I'll have to post a review.
OK - so looking back, the week wasn't all bad. I'm still tired, but there's a bit of a smile now. I hope you can come up with at least 6 blessings from your week. Please share in the comments!
However, I don't want to write about how badly the week went. I think, instead, it's time to see if I can come up with at least a half a dozen things that went right this week...think I can do it? Let's see...
1) My cousin had a healthy baby boy - Adam James - on Monday. Mom and baby are doing great and have since gone home.
2) All of my new band music arrived by the end of the week. My bands only get to rehearse once a week (plus a weekly 15 minute individual lesson), so getting started on new band music right after a concert is a necessity. Plus, I love getting new music, handing it out, and helping the students get started on it.
3) I had an accompanist for Mass on Monday. With the return on Jeanne's cancer, she decided that she needed to conclude her music ministry with Christmas. Therefore, I needed to have new help lined up by Monday. I did...she's temporary, but I've got more time to find someone permanent.
4) The kids love the new song we're working on for Mass. We've recently gotten new songbooks for school Masses (Never Too Young: Spirit and Song for Young People). The music is awesome and one of my favorites is "We Are One Body." We started learning it this week and the kids are as excited about it as I am.
5) I have not yet gotten the cough that's going around school. This may seem like a small victory, but I always get the coughs and they frequently turn into something nasty, like pneumonia.
6) My new alarm clock is helping me to both wake up and fall asleep faster. How does that work? I'll have to post a review.
OK - so looking back, the week wasn't all bad. I'm still tired, but there's a bit of a smile now. I hope you can come up with at least 6 blessings from your week. Please share in the comments!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Feeding Frenzy Friday VII (a little late...)
I was realizing that I've missed a Friday, so last Friday's (12/31) Feeding Frenzy Friday item is canned fruit. Hopefully I'll get back on track for this Friday. :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I didn't intend to be away from blogging all week, but before Christmas, I was busy getting ready for the holiday, during Christmas and the New Year I was spending most of my time with family, and in between I was trying to make the most of my break...being productive and relaxing in equal (or almost equal) measure.
I hope you have had a very blessed started to your Christmas season! I have not been completely idle where this blog is concerned...I have several ideas floating around in my head. As soon as I can, I'll sit down for a bit longer and start transferring them to my screen. Some idea of what's coming...a review of my new Kindle 3, thoughts on vocations, marriage, and dating, and more about moving to a healthier weight/lifestyle.
I hope you have had a very blessed started to your Christmas season! I have not been completely idle where this blog is concerned...I have several ideas floating around in my head. As soon as I can, I'll sit down for a bit longer and start transferring them to my screen. Some idea of what's coming...a review of my new Kindle 3, thoughts on vocations, marriage, and dating, and more about moving to a healthier weight/lifestyle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)