New Year's Resolutions

Ahh, New Year's Eve... a day of special significance for me, because it just so happens to be the anniversary of the birth of one Michael David Paul...

Actually, what I'd like to write about today is New Year's resolutions, because I'm pretty sure I'm about to break the only New Year's resolution that I've ever been able to keep for an entire year, a resolution that I made three or four years ago: to stop making New Year's resolutions.  Because let's face it - no one ever really manages to keep their New Year's resolutions past January, do they?.  So I said to myself, why even bother trying anymore?

However, in light of my experiences this past semester, I really feel that I need to make some serious changes in my life (cue a certain Michael Jackson song).  I've let myself waste too much time on the internet and stayed up til ungodly hours of the night.  As a result of my actions, I've deprived myself of much-needed sleep and neglected my studies.  While a 3.66 GPA isn't too shabby to most people, I know I could have achieved my goal of getting a 4.0 last semester if only I'd put more time into my schoolwork.  Last semester was the first time I've ever flat-out refused to finish a paper by the due date simply because I wasn't feeling up to it, both physically and psychologically.  I've also fallen back into the bad habit of consuming large amounts of less-than-healthy food, and I haven't had any major exercise since the beginning of the semester.  I'm gaining back the inches around my midsection that I've so desperately tried to lose these last few years, and overall, I just don't have the energy or the willpower that I used to have.  And all of this really makes me feel down in the dumps.

Sooooo...

Here are my resolutions for 2010:

1) Start on my homework as early as possible, and not put it off until late at night, when I'm too tired to do it.
2) Cut down on the time I spend on the internet.  
2) Go to bed before 1 a.m. on school nights, 3 a.m. on weekends.
3) Do at least thirty minutes of jogging or swimming every other day, as the health of my knees permit.
4) Meditate at least every other day (a practice I learned in my Japanese Philosophy class last semester that I'd like to continue).
5) Be more punctual, instead of stumbling into class several minutes late.
6) Limit my consumption of junk food.

I know these are some pretty lofty ambitions, but I think it's all a matter of attitude.  In the words of Master Yoda, "Try not.  Do."

I wish you all a happy, prosperous, and safe 2010 and beyond.  And for those of you who are actually making New Year's resolutions, I wish you the very best of luck.  May you find the strength, both from without and from within, to not only achieve your goals, but to excel at them.  Now if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to get a head start on Resolution # 2.  I won't start on # 6 until after the New Year actually begins, though, because there's still birthday cake and ice cream to be enjoyed!

*<B-)__@


P.S.  For those of you who are trying to lose weight or just live a healthier lifestyle, I highly recommend Mike Huckabee's book, Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork.  It's a very unique, down-to-earth approach that I believe is accessible to anyone.

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"...?

As Christmas approaches, the air is filled with the sounds of familiar Christmas carols.  But does anyone really stop and think about what the lyrics actually say?  For example, I've always found the lyrics to the second verse of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" kind of counter to the whole spirit of the season.  Y'know, the line that goes, "Now bring us some figgy pudding (repeat 3x)"?  The song starts out sounding real sweet and sincere, but then they go and throw in the demand for a sugary snack that I'm not even sure anyone makes anymore... and they don't even say "please"!  This could inspire a rather comical scene on someone's doorstep:  "Wait a minute... you're not really here to wish me a Merry Christmas!  You just want some of my figgy pudding!"  "Yeah, that's right!  And we're not going til we get some!  So fork it over!"  I'm just grateful they leave the demand at figgy pudding.  Can you imagine someone trying to rob a bank with that kind of ploy?  "Merry Christmas!  Now gimme all your money!"  Umm, yeah... maybe parents shouldn't teach that song to their kids until they're old enough to learn some manners. "Merry Christmas, Mommy!  Now buy me that tricycle!" 

If I don't post again before then, I wish all of you out there in Reader Land a Merry Christmas!  And no, you don't have to give me any figgy pudding... though I could go for a Boston Creme Pie...

*<:-}>

Gotta Catch 'Em All... Again?

Today, I gave into the new trend that's been sweeping the Facebook community this month - Pokemon Profile Pic December - thus breaking the promise I made to myself when I first joined Facebook that I wouldn't make a picture my profile pic unless my face was clearly visible, 'cuz how else would people know what I look like?  But for some odd reason, I just couldn't help myself.  I will admit, it was a somewhat difficult decision as to which Pokemon I'd use.  I'd originally planned to use Charmander, since that was my favorite one back in the day, but I ultimately went with Totodile, since it identified more with my hyperactive nature. 

But I wonder, where did this idea come from?  Was it something instituted by the people on 4Chan?  Or did it come from somewhere else?  And why the sudden revival of the Pokemon craze?  As far as I could tell, Pokemon had been pretty much out of style with my age group for the last eight or nine years.  I distinctly remember, because it became uncool as I soon as I started playing the games, watching the show, and buying the cards.  (Oh, man, how much money did I waste on Pokemon cards that could have been put to much better use today?... but that's for another post...)  I guess it's just like a lot of other old trends - sometimes they come back into fashion just because people are curious.  I highly doubt, though, that Pokemon Profile Pic December is signaling the complete re-emergence of the Pokemon fad.  I think it's just 'cuz people are feeling a tad nostalgic and want a small reminder of what life was like back in middle school (was it really that long ago?  Daaaang!)  Also, I'm pretty sure that, like other trends, this one will soon cease to be cool now that Mike Paul is doing it.  I always seem to be the extra passenger that overloads the bandwagon and causes it to break down.  Seriously, it's more than just a coincidence that Pokemon went out of style as soon as I joined the craze, so what's to say that I haven't killed off the Profile Pic trend already?  But in the meantime, though I initially found this trend annoying, I now find it kind of amusing to see how many of my friends recall those days and what different kinds of Pokemon they choose (pun kinda intended!) 

B-)

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

I just got back from Loyola's annual Snow Ball at Camden Yards.  The bus that took us back to LoCo had a few less seats than passengers in need of a ride, and all but one of those who had to stand or sit on a friend's lap were of the female gender.  If I hadn't already been standing, I would have gladly given up my seat to a lady.  All of the other guys on the bus were sitting.  This is utterly shameful!  Whatever happened to the days when guys used to be gentlemen?  Fellows, you're not going to win a girl's heart by making her stand on the bus, especially when she's wearing heels (as the driver was quick to remind us).  If you choose to keep your seat, you're just showing that you're so weak that you can't even stand up for just a few minutes and show a common courtesy towards a lady.   Trust me guys, women don't care for men who are weak.  I myself had spent the last two hours doing some pretty intense dancing - and I'm not even that athletic!-  plus I was running on very little sleep; and yet I was able to remain standing until we got back to Loyola.  I'm sure you all can do better than I did.  Guys, if a girl needs a seat, let her have yours.  Also try to hold the door for her if necessary, and if it's raining and you see a girl without an umbrella, share yours with her.  It's just the gentlemanly thing to do!

World's Worst Gift Ideas

As I returned home to Pennsylvania this Thanksgiving weekend and sat down to watch TV for the first time in ages, I knew soon enough that the Christmas season will soon be upon us, because the Pennsylvania Lottery has started showing this year's version of their "Lottery Tickets Make Great Gifts" commercial (I'd provide a YouTube link, but I couldn't find one).  I beg to differ.  Lottery tickets do NOT make great gifts, because most of them have less than a 1-in-1000 chance of actually being worth something significant.  If you're really trying to show someone how much you care about them, giving them a lottery ticket in lieu of any other gift is not really a good way to do it.  And guys, they're definitely NOT a good gift idea for your girlfriends.  "Oh, you got me a lottery ticket... this means that there's a one-in-a-million chance that you care about me very, very much, or more likely that you don't care squat about me!  Thanks... you're the best!" 

Facebook Privacy

My mom just drove home to me a point that I'm sure many of you out there in Reader Land may have reason to be concerned about pretty soon.  She suggested (to put it mildly) that I need to "clean up [my] Facebook page", because prospective grad schools are probably gonna look at it when I start applying this winter.  Now, I'd like to believe that none of the material on my page could be considered controversial.  Yes, there's pictures of me having a good time, but all of the events depicted - including Senior 250's - were school-sponsored.  There are no pictures of me holding alcohol, at least not as far as I can tell.  I've done my best to keep the coarse language to a minimum, and I highly doubt that the pictures of me in my swim trunks when I was whitewater rafting could be considered provocative.

The nature of my page's content aside, my question is this:  How will prospective grad schools and / or employers be able to see the contents of my Facebook page when I've specifically designated my privacy settings so that only my friends can see my page?  I'd like to think that I have nothing to worry about, even if I might have something that could possibly be misconstrued in the wrong way.  But could someone please answer me honestly: am I being naive here?  Could the powers-that-be at the place I'm applying to somehow override my privacy settings and see what I intended to be kept hidden?  I'm really troubled by this right now.  Am I going to have to do like Jack Donaghy did on "30 Rock" and hire a detective to uncover any hidden issues that could jeopardize my career?  ":-|

Football Games

I just love how Baltimore can claim to be a football city while blacking out practically every game that isn't the Ravens.  When I checked the online TV guide last Wednesday night, it said that the Steelers-Bengals game would be shown on Sunday at 1 on CBS.  But when I turned on CBS this afternoon, instead of the game, I saw an infomercial.  WTF?  It's one thing if the Ravens are playing at the same time and on the same network as the Steelers; I graciously acknowledge that the local team takes precedence.  But when the Ravens aren't even playing til Monday night, it's just plain rude to deny fans of other teams the chance to watch their team.  Moreover, it's rude to football fans in general, because most of us set aside our Sunday afternoons for the sole purpose of watching football.  If you're not even going to show football, at least show something that's worth watching, instead of bombarding us with three hours of infomercials.