Discovering Myself

I feel like lately I’ve been extremely busy.  I think this is a good thing because if I wasn’t busy, maybe I wouldn’t have a job and someone I love filling up my time.  It makes sense.  So I like being busy.  This weekend is the first weekend in a while where I’m just doing chores and hanging out.

I actually miss going to my bf’s house and hanging out though.  I like the activity and people to always do something with.  Usually a rousing game of Trivial pursuit where boys rules and girls drewl!

Haha, I’m domesticated I suppose, but I love it!

Work has been CRAZY lately!  I’m been working on a education program with my colleague on Security Awareness.  It’s such a cultural change to get these things through though… It’s wierd.

Anywho, I’m off to finish up some cleaning and trying to figure out how to get rid of some of my stuff.  I need to pair down.

This made me so angry the other day when I stopped by with a load of books to donate to the local library for people to use as reference.  They refused my donation stating that it was library policy to not accept ANY DONATIONS AT ANY TIME!

I was astonished at this statement!  I wanted to help my community by donating some of my technical resources that I didn’t need anymore.  The librarian told me that the community did not want to accept donations of books because it would cause an undue overhead to log the books into the system.

I assume that the library system doesn’t care about the community because of this.  A community member was bringing in non-questionable materials to donate to his community and is told to go away.  I think I’ll write a letter to the newspaper and complain about the state of affairs in the community about this.  It’s just ridiculous!

I think if someone wants to donate some unwanted or unneeded books that they might have, the library should take them graciously and without question.  They should then take it upon themselves at that branch to categorize and make sure the books are logged appropriately and put into circulation.

I’m flabergasted!

I thought this was an awesome drawing!

This poster is FANTASTIC for us 80s kids!

I love the 80s!

I hope to grow old with and surprise my love with flowers!

Well, I just completed training for the Certified Ethical Hacker cert.  It was very slow the first two days, but it got increasingly more interesting as we progressed through the last 3 days of class.  I learned how to chain applications so that execute in a particular order and how to hide things, etc.

The material wasn’t difficult, but this will be an additional certification that will help me in my career.

Also, I’m a bit nervous about a project I have at work.  In good conscious I had to suggest a switch in antivirus providers.  It is a good decision which they should do, but we’ll see what happens at work.

Anywho, I’m happy and my relationship is going quite well.  Vu is great, he’s got the biggest heart that I’ve encountered.  I think he’s doing what he thinks is right, I just worry about him, that’s my nature.  I want everyone I know to be safe and happy.

Well, enough for now, time to hack some shiznit in my lab.

Lately I’ve been going up to visit my boyfriend in Snellville.  Seemed like this weekend just went by so quickly.  The weather was wonderful, maybe next weekend we’ll take advantage of it.  I wouldn’t mind having a BBQ or sitting out by the pool or something.  It was almost brisk.  All in all I had a great time up there, but I wish it wasn’t so out of the way, the house is beautiful, but the location… a bit far from the city.  Although, it couldn’t be worse than Jackson, MS.  That place is just the pits!

Regardless of where he is, I’ve probably still make the trip because I really enjoy spending time with him and he’s really sweet.  He’s the first guy I’ve dated that I feel makes an effort at showing his affection back to me.  I love the way he gasps when I tease him.  Anywho, he’s great, I’m great, all is well with the world.  IF ONLY I HAD SCREENS ON MY DOORS!!!  The weather is amazing.

Since I got rid of the dead weight, I’ve saved SOOOO much money on food.  I guess it adds up when you always have to pay for someone else’s food as well as your own because they are too much of a loser to get a real job for over a year and then when they do get a job they start drinking and then do some really stupid shit.

Anyway, things are looking so much better.  I met a really great guy, he’s super duper (wow that’s the first time I’ve every said super duper), I’m financially sound (not that that’s ever been an issue), and I should have enough money for a down payment on a home soon.

So we’ll see how it all pans out.  So far, things look good.

Take a Good Hard Look in the Mirror

1. Improve your diet. Like the old adage says, “You are, what you eat.” Take out Rockstar, add in water. Take out beef, add in fish or chicken. Take out the M&M’s, add in vitamins. Take out McDonald’s, add in Subway. You get the point.

2. Get more sleep. Not only will it make you feel more refreshed, but it helps in so many other countless ways. Here’s a great article about the importance of sleep: “Sleep: You Need More.” [LifeClever.com]

3. Get to the dentist. Now is not the time to reschedule that appointment. Get your teeth cleaned, crowns fixed, bridges built, and root canals dug.

4. Get yourself a real haircut. Okay there’s nothing wrong with those Supercut $14 specials, but it just won’t do this time. I’m not saying go to one of those foofy salons where they serve you wine and make you take off your shirt. But just ask that one guy (you know who I’m talking about) in your circle of friends where to go.

5. Update your wardrobe. When you look good, you tend to feel good. Treat yourself to a new outfit. Stick to buying pieces that you will always have a need for like a 2-piece suit and leave the trendy new stuff for the fashionistas.

6. Get new glasses. Update your look with a fresh or modern pair of specs. If you’re tired of wearing glasses then try contact lenses.

7. Get a new watch. It’s time to retire that Fossil of a watch and get a true timepiece. Skip the brands that also make clothes and opt for those that only specialize in making watches exclusively.

8. Shine your shoes. Don’t use the fake liquid shine stuff. Use real shoe polish, some water and a lot of elbow grease. If you can’t see your reflection on the shoe, then get them shined by a professional.

9. Buy new cologne. The goal here is not to smell like teen spirit. Sample more than a few scents and ask the sales person for their recommendation.

10. Bring your suits to the tailor. It might cost you a few bucks, but there is simply no substitute for well-fitting clothes (even better if you can swing a made-to-measure suit). Here’s a great video we posted before, “How to Suit Yourself.”

11. Wear your favorite underwear. If you don’t have one, get one. If you can’t decide between boxers or briefs, go with boxer briefs.

12. Get a car wash. There’s something about arriving in style that never seems to get old (even better if you get your car detailed).

13. Stop comparing yourself to others. This is easy to say and difficult to do, but it is essential.

Get Your Shit Together

14. Align your priorities. Take a piece of scratch paper out and identify what is important to you in your life right now. Make sure you put yourself as #1.

15. Set goals. You don’t have to wait for the new year to set goals. Here are some tips on “How to Write Resolutions That Stick.”

16. Take care of business at work. You spend roughly 60% of your waking life there so make sure you’re doing what you need to be successful. If you don’t like your current job, then quit and find a new one.

17. Organize your finances. Read “What Every Guy Ought to Know About Proper Money Management.” If you need more assistance, make an appointment to meet with a financial adviser.

18. Drop bad habits and develop good ones. They say it only takes 9 days to form a habit. Do you really need another reason to stop biting your nails already? Start today.

19. Cut dead weight. Let go of anything and everything that is weighing you down. This includes extra pounds, negative friends and the subscription to that magazine you never read.

Be More Active

20. Change your latitude. Take a trip to somewhere you’ve never been. Traveling often opens up our eyes and changes our perspective (even better if you can afford to go international).

21. Hit the gym. Exercising makes you look and feel better.

22. Start running. Running doesn’t require a gym membership and is also one of the best ways to get in shape. Here is a fantastic article if you want to start running: “Beginners Guide to Running.” [ZenHabits.net]

23. Take up a new hobby. Even if you’re already a skilled juggler, you can still always learn a few new tricks.

24. Join a public sports league. They have all sorts of different leagues with sports ranging from kickball to bowling to basketball. This is a great way to get in shape and meet new people at the same time.

25. Learn a new language. This is a great way to flex your brain and to challenge yourself. I recommend taking it at a community college or online at Mango (they offer up to 12 languages and it works–I’ve tried it).

Get Inspired

26. Get nostalgic. Get out your old football highlight reel, dust off your trophies, and pull out pictures of your hot ex-girlfriends. We’re not saying to live in the past, but it’s always good to give yourself some credit and remind yourself that you were once a badass mofo.

27. Listen to music that gets you going. Check out some of these songs: “The Top 15 Songs to Get You Pumped Up.”

28. Watch your favorite movies of all time. Grab some popcorn and watch that go-to movie that always seems to make you feel alive.

29. Bring your friends close and family even closer. Friends and family are almost always your biggest supporters and can give you that needed pep talk to lift your spirits.

30. Rekindle some of those long dormant dreams. It’s never too late to go after your dreams. Here are two videos that remind us that anything is possible: “Rocky Inspiration” and “The Best Speech I’ve Ever Heard Steve Jobs Give.”