Enabling instant gratification since 2010

As one of my New Year's resolutions, I decided to actually start budgeting. I know, it is quite shocking. As a strange side note I realized that I am not spending money on "real" books anymore. I I haven't bought a "real" book since last year. But that doesn't mean that I'm not buying books anymore... I've just switched to ebooks. Sadly, last month I spent over $40 on ebooks. I have decided that my e-reader has enabled my instant gratification needs. With it if I want a book at 1:30 am I can get it. And I can have it with me wherever I go. I'm frustrated when there isn't an ebook available and I have to actually read the "real" book. Part of me whines the whole time... the book is heavy, it won't stay open and I can't carry 30 books around with me at once. I know, I'm such a baby. I really want to buy the Harry Potter books, but they just aren't available. Come on publishers, get with the times! As an attempt to be better about my book spending habits, I will check to see if the library has the ebook available first. It helps that I can check out a book from the library at ridiculous hours as well. No need for waiting in my life. I am lucky to live in an area where the public library is actually spending a bit of money on ebooks. I have noticed that their collection is continuing to grow and I am able to get more of the books that I want to read from the library. With that I can have me ebook and keep my budget too!

the rise of e-books

I love books. I love the weight and smell of books. I love owning books, as anyone who has been to my apartment will attest... But recently I have been tempted by the notion of e-books. While I have tried reading an e-book before, it wasn't that much of a success, and I thought I would never do it again but times have changed. The other day I was running errands before going to work. One of the errands was suppose to be to stop by the library and pick up a book that I had waiting for me, so I didn't bring a book with me. Life conspired against me and I wasn't able to get to the library. I really don't like be stuck at work without anything to read, as it can be a bit slow at times. While others might point out that I do work in a library, so I could just read one of the books available there, it is full non-fiction library. It is a small collection that mostly focuses on business, a topic that I am not really interested in. Then I remembered overdrive, which allows me to check out e-books from the library. It was really nice to be able to pick a book to read have it available instantly. While reading a book on my computer wasn't all that convenient, it was much better than having nothing to read. Of course, I got into the book, so when I got home I had to pull out my laptop and tried to curl up in bed with it to finish the book. Again, I did it, but it wasn't that enjoyable. I then thought how much better it would be if I had an e-book reader. My brother-in-law has a nook, which is compatible with overdrive, and the thought of getting one of my own became very tempting. It would allow me to check out books from the library, whenever I wanted. I liked the idea of not having to go to the library to get a new book, because sometimes it isn't always possible. By no means would getting a nook stop me from buying "dead tree" books (as my sister calls it) but it would make taking multiple books on trips much easier. So not is just a case of saving up my money so that I can get a nook of my very own! Then I will never get stuck at work without a book to read. ;)

Escape from Alcatraz!

Okay, so it really isn't that hard to leave Alcatraz these days, but it was fun to go there. While I lived in the Bay Area, I always planned to go and visit Alcatraz. Somehow I never got around to going... Anyway on a recent trip to Cali I finally got around to going there. It was a beautiful day to go as it was sunny and there wasn't even a hint of fog. While it was gorgeous it was still really windy, so I was still grateful that I had a hoodie, or else I would have frozen! It was enjoyable to walk around and learn more about the history of Alcatraz. Recently it has become more of a wildlife sanctuary, so parts of the island where closed off to all for nesting birds. There is also a lot of plants and gardens, which make the island very beautiful. The prison block also has an interesting self guided tour, which I enjoyed as I could go at my own pace. Being the geek I am, I was surprised that they had a small library on Alcatraz. That is one job that I would never want to have. I know even today there are libraries is many of the prisons across the US and I am grateful to all who are willing to work in them. I am sure they can be a wonderful job, but I don't think I could handle it! Overall I had a great trip and was glad I had such beautiful weather while I was there.

It is finished!

Years and years ago, I started this cross-stitch for my sister. For the most part I enjoyed doing it, but if you look closely all the snowmen are stitched in white. That is the part that took me the longest because it was quite boring to do. I think that if I ever did this pattern again, I would make sure to do it on a darker colored canvas, so that the white would pop a bit more. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. I am even happier that I could find a ready made frame in which it would fit. I am always surprised at the cost of custom framing... While I didn't finish it in time for this past Christmas, I look forward to seeing up this coming Christmas!

A Job!!

In some very exciting news, I am no longer unemployed! I recently got a job working in a small university library. While it isn't ideal, as I never really wanted to be an academic librarian, I am thrilled to have a job. It is great to be able to use my degree, something that doesn't always happen. It is a really nice place to work as all the staff and instructors are great and I already feel very welcome. The downsides are that I have to dress professionally... something that I haven't had to do for years! It did give me the excuse to go on a shopping spree... and I do like to shop. :) Anyway, right now it is still pretty novel to dress nice and wear all my new clothes. Give me about a month and I will be dieing to wear jeans and a t-shirt to work. One thing that I am sure that I won't miss is the job hunt. After months of feeling guilty if I didn't check the job listings at least once a week, I don't have to do it at all! While eventually I would like to get a different job, something more in the field I specialized in, I am quite content to learn my new job and enjoy having benefits again.

A shock to the system.

After months of being unemployed, I finally landed a temp job. While it isn't the most exciting job in the world, it at least is a paycheck. In a truly novel fashion, it also pays me every other Friday. For the last several years I have been working for the state, which pays you once a month. Let me tell you, it sucks having to budget of one paycheck a month, but I did it! Anyway, on another side note I have been doing freelance graphic design work for the several years, but as it is freelance the work comes and goes. Last year it mostly went as the economic problems had affected many of the publishing companies. Well, with the new year, I was contacted and asked about my availability for the upcoming year. At that point I still didn't have a job, so I gave them the green light, but didn't really expect anything to come from it. As fate would have it a week before I started my temp job, they contacted me and had 3 projects that they wanted me to do. I was happy for the work, but felt that the timing really sucked. As it goes, to finish all the projects on time and still work my temp job I have gone from not doing anything to working 10 to 12 hours a day. Let me tell you it has not made for a happy Tawnie... I finish the last of these projects this week and am looking forward to having some time just working one job. It looks like I won't get much of a break as it does look like things are picking up for the freelance work. I just have to remind myself that is money, which I do desperately need...

A brand new me!

While I have complained about my weight gain since I turned about 28, I haven't really done anything about it. I make vague efforts, which I why I bought wii fit a while ago. While I used it for a bit, I got tired of always having to select the next workout. It felt like it took 45 minuets to do a 30 minute workout. It also didn't help that I didn't feel like I was getting a serious workout. It is fun and enjoyable, but it seemed to focus more on balance and coordination, not a good calorie burning exercise. So in the spring when I heard about Active, I decided to give it a try. I bought the game, which sat on my shelf for longer than it should. I did pull it out and play it once, but then got caught up in the bussle of finishing my last semester of graduate school. But even when I finished school, and lost my job, I still didn't work out more. For months I have lazed around with no job and just the occasional freelance projects.

Well, back to the orignal focus of this post, I have decided to turn over a new leaf and exercise more often. As it stands now, I have worked out for the last 3 days. I have been using the Active game I bought all those months ago. Overall, I am enjoying it. I have been using the 30 day challage, and I like how it creates preset workouts for me so I don't have to worry about what I am doing next. Each workout is just under 30 minutes, and I like the variety of strength training and cardio. By the end of the workout I am breathing hard and a bit sweaty. I think these are signs of a great workout! I also like that when you move from on exercise to the next they have a cut screen where it pauses while you get what ever equipment you need or grab a quick drink.

One of the things that I can't stand about it is the cheesy pep talks by the personal trainer. They just get annoying after a while. When I think about how they could be given by a 50 pound overweight voice actor sitting in a recording studio, they are even more annoying. Might least favorite is "what you are my friend, is poetry in motion!" Really, who thought anyone would be encouraged by this? Because of this, I have taken to muting the tv and just playing my own music while I work out. I find it easy to just follow the on screen prompts, and I don't miss the games bad music or cheesy dialog. Now I just have to keep it up!