5 Reasons Being Sick Can Help Productivity

Since I have a tendency to get sick quite often, I have learned a few things about how to attempt to look at the bright side of the situation. I do not always succeed of course, but generally I try to distract myself from the frustration of the ickyness in order to make it all pass more quickly. Here's a few tips to boost productivity while you may feel under the weather:

1) Keeping Up On Correspondence

The beauty of today's world is our ability to keep up with friends and family through all sorts of mediums. Technology allows us to keep in contact with all sorts of people we normally would have lost touch with had we not access to such a wealth of information at our fingertips. When you are ill, talking on the phone or logging on to the world wide web is always a great way to cheer yourself up. You feel social as well as productive as you can also communicate via text messages, instant messaging, email, etc... all are great forms of communication to help you find just the right person to help you through your tough time (especially if you don't happen to have anybody around and are all by your lonesome. )

2) Catching Up On Entertainment

When one is confined to a bed or a couch, one can only hope to have the resources to keep entertained: books, movies, magazines, TV and/or a DVD player, etc... Being stuck off your feet can be an opportunity to find new and interesting things to check out that you've been putting off or haven't had the time to enjoy. Some people read, others write, while yet another may catch up on everything they've been saving on their DVR. And if you are lucky enough to have a laptop or be relatively close to a computer, you can always surf the net or get addicted to another Facebook or MySpace game. So whether you are watching your old favorite movies or sending out gifts to your Farmville or Mafia friends, take the time to enjoy some pleasant distractions!

3) Getting Alternative Education

The doctors office or "drug aisle" of your grocery store will always have something to teach you. When one comes down with an ailment, there is generally something to be learned about yourself as well as whatever condition you have been stricken with. Some people are able to fight through their illness on their own, while others must go to the doctors office to learn what it is they must do to fix their problem. How much or how little you learn depends on your problem and whether or not there is a simple way to get yourself back to normal.

4) Sleeping As Much As Possible

Obviously we all know that our nation is in a record recession and nobody wants to put their job at risk, but sometimes it just isn't a good idea to go work. People are freaking out about swine flu as well as other strange and icky ailments going around at this time of the season, and who wants to be looked at like a leper every time they cough or sneeze? Not only do you take a risk of spreading germs to others, you also decrease the amount of time it could take to get you back on your feet. Whenever possible, sick time should become sleep time and you should never underestimate the power of a good night's rest!

5) Having An Excuse To Wear Pajamas All Day Long

How does this help productivity? Come on now, a good pair of pajamas are the ultimate in comfort wear! What better time to take advantage of comfortable clothing than when your mind and body are at their most UNcomfortable? If you are going to be eating soup, watching TV, and sleeping as much as possible, then take advantage of this time to simply enjoy the beauty of nice, soft, comfortable pajamas. Slippers are an added bonus if warm and cushiony foot protection happens to be your thing and nobody can say a dog-gone thing about it because you are SICK and that is the ultimate free pass to allow you to wear whatever attire you see fit without fear of ridicule or judgment . When you are comfortable, you are more likely to find yourself relaxed and ready to keep up those things that you still have to accomplish despite your illness.

If Only...

Dear Dirty Laundry,

You are cluttering my living space and I don't want to wash you. If you are not miraculously going to clean yourself, please go away or I will be forced to take drastic measures.

Sincerely,
(A Very Tired) Me

To The Keeper Of The Arches

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Dear McDonald's,

You make me sad. Just a few thoughts regarding your crazy fast food shenanigans:

Today was St. Patrick's Day so I assumed if I ventured through your drive-thru I'd be allowed one last hurrah! to pick up a Shamrock Shake before they disappear with the rest of the leprechauns until next year. Naturally, I also assumed that they would be around at least until the day AFTER the holiday they are made for, so you can imagine my surprise to find out that you stopped making them...YESTERDAY. Really? The 16th? Hmmm...perplexing. Nobody could possibly want a green milk shake on St. Patrick's day, right? No, of course not. Silly McDonald's. Oh, which leads me to my next thought, if you started putting orange juice back into regular drink cups instead of the McCafe cups, not only would that be very "green" of you during the most appropriate time for such things, maybe you would not need to make my delicious caramel frappe in a McFlurry cup 12 hours later. I'm no Executive in Charge or a Keeper of the Golden Arches, but still...just an observation...

The Great Text Debate

Do I text or do I wait?













Around 11pm last night, as I was about to reply to a text message, I dropped my phone face first into a thin layer of beverage I had just dumped into the sink.


D'oh!


Tragic. Depressing really. Though not as serious as it could have been, I could hear my cell phone screaming in pain, "Wet is still wet, you idiot, I'm a cell phone!"

I was trying my best not to freak out--trying being the key word in this sentence--but I wasn't doing a very good job.

I'm a texter, a slave to the keys, a crackberry addict, if you will.

If I am in the middle of a conversation and something happens to my phone, I do not hold well. Cell phones that cannot text may as well be kryptonite. My chest tightens, hands clench, and the brain goes a bit nutty as I try to be patient, though I can't help but think, "must...finish...texting..."

At 3am in the morning, this would have been no big deal since nobody I know is awake and willing to chat with me off and on, but no, not this time. This time, it was early and it was quietly creepy at work, and I was mid-text.

Since the Average Joe does not work a graveyard shift, especially one that allows the possibility of cell phone usage between chores, I am usually ok with finding other things to occupy my time as there is always something I can find to clean at work.

But this was not the Average Joe I was texting. This was the sweet, distracting, boyfriend who lives over 400 miles away attempting to help keep me awake, and, as I'd just been informed, he wasn't sleepy yet.

But there I was, 30 minutes from completion of all my chores. I'd finally be finished before midnight and have a chance to have a nice text chat with the boyfriend at a decent hour, all finished until it would be time to take notes before morning crew would arrive almost 5 hours later.

I wiped it down as quickly as possible, popped the battery out and set it aside until I was done in order to let it dry. "It's not that bad," I told myself. "It'll be dry in no time."

I knew I was going to have a problem keeping distracted when I kept catching myself look over to it and silently apologizing. We've had worse scares before in our 10 months together, we can get through this. It hadn't appeared to have much dampness, so I figured a half hour would do the trick.

Around 11:30pm, I sat down at the table to stare at my phone. The moral dilemma set in--am I in denial? Do I attempt a text or pretend to be a normal human being and continue to let it dry so I do not cause further damage?

Do I text or do I wait?

I'm going to wait, I decided...for about 30 seconds...before I hit the power button.

Power on--whew.

Open messaging--sweet...

Type text message--yay!

Send text message--woo hoo!

I was totally stoked and overjoyed. I got a reply and went back in to type a message.

Suddenly--

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa8888888a8a8a8a8aaaaa888aaaaa88888888a8a8a8a8aaaaaaaa......



A few resets, another drying session, and several mangled texts later to inform the boyfriend of such a tragic event, I did what I could to come to terms with the inevitable truth: I broked it.

Damn. Should've waited.

Goodbye Motorola Q, you will be missed. I'm glad you are not dead and you will still see me on occasion when I need you as my music player, but since 4 of your keys no longer function properly, I think it's time you retired from phone service before I accidentally flush you down a toilet.

Getting A Clue (Movie Coercion 101)

Movies come and go, some stick with you in the back of your mind with pleasant memories, and others make you so excited that you get all jittery at the mention of its name, or *ahem* see a quote on Facebook. One of these movies for me, is Clue.
















Upon learning that someone has not seen it, my brain does something like this:













I have to tell myself, "Don't hype it up...don't hype it up...don't hype it up..." When a movie gets too many reactions such as "OH MY GOD YOU HAVE TO SEE IT! IT'S SO GREAT!" You are just asking for someone to be disappointed or disinterested. Attempting to interest the semi-uninterested is a difficult process and a delicate game to play. If you want somebody to watch a movie you enjoy, encouragement is the key element. You must encourage the new possible viewer why they must see the movie without going overboard.

Case in point:

I was saddened last year at the over emphasis of the joys of Animal House to two friends who weren't sure about watching it in the first place. If several people spend 10 minutes before the movie starts quoting and joking about the film and being slightly obnoxious, the new viewers will now have a stigma attached and it will take a certain amount of finesse to change their minds. Otherwise, months or years may pass before you will get the opportunity to introduce the possibility once again. Though, lucky for us, Animal House is a certain type of college humor that is a bit rough around the edges, so it isn't for everybody. While movies like Clue or Three Amigos can really be enjoyed by anybody if they are given a chance to absorb the humor.

As with any debating or coercion, calm, upbeat tones are necessary to emphasize the joy that comes from having seen the film you are trying to emphasize. In this case, we'll go with Clue. In our day and age I can tell somebody, "Hey check it out on IMDB or Google search it" and the images can speak for themselves. But we do not always have such things at our disposal, so one must rely on words rather than images...









Yes, the movie is quite amazing and I'm sure you will find it very entertaining, but it is also a film that has many more elements of fun entertainment if you watch it with the right group of people. No party poopers. Seriously. As with riding in a car or playing board games, the enjoyment you receive from watching a movie can be largely effected by how comfortable you are with the group in which you are doing the activity. You would not go underwear shopping with just anybody, now would you? Okay, maybe that's an extreme analogy, but for me, if I know I want to like a movie I have not seen, I'm more inclined to pay full attention and have fun if everybody else is finding some kind of entertainment out of it as well. After all, movies, music, and other pop culture items are how we socialize with fellow human beings, communicate with friends, and make connections with the world around us. No matter how personal movies and music are to you, they are a social medium which is why the industries continue to thrive.

So, if you must use coercion to encourage the viewing of one of your favorite films, I recommend these little tidbits, though some of them are much easier said, than done:

1) Don't freak out, even if they've never heard of it.

2) Keep the details simple or you may spoil the awesomeness that is why your movie is so great.

3) Keep the quotes to a minimum (though we all know how difficult this can be.)

4) Know how to obtain a copy of this film: Netflix, Hulu, a video store, etc... If you get me all hyped to watch a movie, but it is nowhere to be found--I may have to call you a jerk for a while.

5)If you must use the phrase "best movie ever!" in your description, try not to sound too much like a crazy person.

5 Songs From My Mental Playlist - Part 1

Let's face it, we are a pop culture society and if you don't know the song in the list, most likely you may know the artist or band. If you don't or are simply curious to hear it again, plenty of sites let you listen to songs for free these days. MySpace is a nice place to go to search a band to hear their tunes free of charge (give or take a few ads that play between every few songs, but it's a small "price" to pay) and you don't need to have a profile to do it unless you want to save a playlist. Otherwise, if you are lucky, a simple Google search for certain bands or artists will come up with a few listening options for some of their popular music. I always love it when people share new music with me, so I like to do my part in spreading the love...






I Miss You
by Blink 182

The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley
We can live like Jack and Sally if we want
Where you can always find me
We'll have Halloween on Christmas
And in the night we'll wish this never ends...

My personal favorite Blink 182 song, though I can be a little sappy like that. A sweet and catchy tune that keeps pace with other Blink songs, but has a certain something that was different from their usual stuff. It is one of the reasons I was not surprised at the tone of lead singer Tom DeLonge's band after Blink, Angels and Airwaves. If you like I Miss You, definitely check out Everything's Magic by Angels and Airwaves.



Should I Stay Or Should I Go
by The Clash

This indecision’s bugging me
Esta indecision me molesta
If you don’t want me, set me free
Si no me quieres, librame
Exactly who’m I’m supposed to be
Dime que tengo que ser
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me?

Many people love this song, but forget about it until it pops up in a movie, commercial, or on a Jukebox. After which, you will most likely hear several exclamations of "I love that song!" and "Oh my God, me too!" It is a classic from their Combat Rock album. That album also contains my other favorite, "Rock The Casbah", which I believe is one of the most difficult songs to get out of your head, but a great catchy tune nonetheless. If you have not yet heard the tune, go ahead, expand your Clash listening library by checking out one of their most popular political statements ever shouted through the microphone.




Real World
by Matchbox 20

I wonder what it's like to be the head honcho
I wonder what I'd do if they all did just what I said,I'd shout out an order, I think we're out of this man get me some, Boy don't make me wanna change my tone

Ahhh, Matchbox 20. I loved this album and so many other songs by Rob Thomas since, but this is one of those happy, feel good tunes that stood out and always puts a smile on my face. This was the album that started it all. I remember tuning in to the VH1 Top 20, getting poked fun at since I preferred VH1 to MTV, and watching as Push began to fade out being replaced by 3A.M., which was replaced by Real World, and then Back 2 Good. By the time the Yourself or Someone Like You album finally lost steam, Mad Season wasn't far off to start the trend again. Even though it was a few years later, it seemed there wasn't much of a gap due to the popularity of those first few hits. Rob Thomas' latest solo album Cradlesong didn't seem to get much publicity, but it isn't a bad collection of songs for those of you who enjoy Rob Thomas. Now don't be fooled by the title and expect a revamp of the original, but if you get a chance to check out the Cradlesong album, Real World 09 is a catchy follow up and, at the very least, is a great song to add to a workout playlist.



Solsbury Hill
by Peter Gabriel

So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
"Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things
I've come to take you home."

Who says Peter Gabriel only had one hit? People who don't listen to enough music, that's who. I, for one, was guilty of this notion until I discovered internet searches and the ability to listen to complete songs for free. Just because he's not as popular as he was back in the 80's doesn't mean he isn't pretty freakin' awesome. We youngsters just don't appreciate some of the greats anymore because they didn't break any ridiculous records or do crazy things with instruments, costumes, or face paint that stood out enough. Now, I don't blame you if you truly have no idea what this song is by name (even though it's been out since 1977 and then rereleased in 1990) because I only recently realized it wasn't called "Take You Home". And I guess I can let it go if you don't know who Peter Gabriel is (if you don't listen to a lot of music.) But that means you must now go find this tune somewhere and give it a listen. Type "Peter Gabriel" into a google search and this will be your first listening option. Better yet, I'll do it for you: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=peter+gabriel+&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&fp=22b4dcbb1403dc0f. I believe you will recognize it from somewhere, most likely a movie, but it is another great, feel good tune that I never tire of hearing. Not only did he recently do the music for Disney and Pixar's WALL*E, but many of you may recognize who he is when I remind you that he rose to popularity back in 1989 after Cameron Crowe used his song Your Eyes in the film Say Anything with John Cusack. Your Eyes is another great listen and the movie is a great watch.


Sweet Disposition
by The Temper Trap

Songs of desperation
I played them for you
A moment, a love
A dream aloud
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs
A moment, a love
A dream, aloud

From the moment I watched 500 Days of Summer a few months ago, I was intrigued by the clip of this song in the film. After finding it on MySpace, I absolutely fell in love with it. This song is beautiful, though I will admit I wasn't sure of the falsetto vocals at first, but you can't help but enjoy the melody as it goes on. The entire soundtrack is a pretty awesome compilation for indie rock fans, but this song particularly stood out for me. It was my first introduction to The Temper Trap, and so far, I like what I hear. I cannot describe what I feel when I hear the song play--an array of emotions goes through my heart and mind, and it is one of those songs that automatically brings me to the brink of tears, usually good ones, but I guess it depends on my mood at the time. Don't worry, I'm not sending you to listen to one of those songs that tells a sorrowful story of loss, but I guarantee nothing about your ability to hold back tears or an emotional response to music. Some people just get misty from hearing songs. I am one of these people.


So my fellow friends, if you want to hear some interesting music--go forth, search, and enjoy.

(And never hesitate to share!)

5 Reasons I Love Dennis Quaid

Come on, look at that face. How can you resist? It's Dennis Quaid! A funny family man and the most charming shoeless rebel rocker around! His brother is pretty amazing as well, but we can save that list for another day. I have plenty of movie viewing still ahead of me to catch up on the work of this amazing actor, but I'm sure it would just extend my recommendations and my goal is to keep things simple. I'm not saying the following selections are necessarily his best work, just a few of the reasons why I think he is pretty shcweet. Whether you are a fellow movie fan or just a curious spectator, here are a 5 good reasons you may also enjoy some DQ...









FREQUENCY








One of my first dvd's and by far the most watched Dennis Quaid movie on my shelf, Frequency is a sci-fi-esque thriller with a wonderful mix of comedy/drama/suspense. An amazing cast brings together a touching story of one man's loss and a chance at once in a lifetime redemption 30 years in the making. Some movies, or TV shows for that matter, have a way of pointing out the faults or mistakes of others in such a way that encourages you to take steps in your own life to keep from adding more regrets to your list. What would you do with a chance to alter your past? Can you learn from your mistakes to prevent future ones? Whether you are interested in the time altering elements, you want to see Dennis Quaid's charming Fireman smile, or you think you can spot a young Michael Cera in one of his first film roles, there are many good reasons to watch this movie.








INNERSPACE








Until I lost my VHS copy of this movie at the age of 13, it was by far my favorite. I was also a HUGE Martin Short fan (and still remain to this day) but it was the earliest dose of DQ I received as a youngster that stuck with me. For the time, the FX were pretty amazing and had me glued to the screen, so it was no surprise to find out later that it took home the 1988 Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Its random premise is awesomely ridiculous (the IMDB describes its plot as "A hapless store clerk must foil criminals to save the life of the man who, miniaturized in a secret experiment, was accidentally injected into him."), but the cast brings it together creating a memorable comedy classic.






SMART PEOPLE








"Sometimes the smartest people have the most to learn."
This is probably one of his best comedies in a long time that no one seems to have seen. I love character comedies and when you mix a smart script with a great group of actors, you can't help but enjoy yourself. This is one of my favorite comedies of the past few years and has been added to my list of "serial repeaters". Ellen Page, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Thomas Haden Church round out this great cast in a comedy about the complications of life and its relationships. Quaid gives us a great performance as a bitter widowed college professor who is too smart for his own good (though still has a few lessons to learn himself), but Church is definitely my favorite of the bunch turning out a great performance as his unemployed adopted brother. The character clashes between Church and the rest of the cast make for some wonderfully funny moments and though I know its not for everyone, I wish more people had seen it.









JAWS 3-D








Don't laugh at me! Okay, you caught me, I can't keep a straight face, laugh all you want. I don't care. I like some pretty horribly wonderful movies for many odd reasons that I just can't justify in any way other than the fact that I watch way too many of them or I linger on holding attachments to movies I watched as a kid. I came across this one during my Jaws phase. I have seen this movie only once as an adult and its pretty ridiculous, but it cracks me up. For example:














Sure, at the time, a few audiences responded as the actors did, but we've come a long way since 1983 and it takes a little more than a 3-D shark to entertain an audience. In interviews, even Quaid has replied, "I was in Jaws what?" But at the end of the day, each actor has their stepping stones, some solid, some a bit caddywompous, but all in all, I've seen much worse. Young Dennis Quaid had to get his feet wet somehow, why not in a Sea World theme park over-ridden by great whites?


Speaking of sharks, we have come to my final recommendation and it has nothing to do with movies...









DENNIS QUAID AND THE SHARKS









Wondering what I was talking about when I called him a shoeless rebel rocker? Nope, I was not talking about his days in Great Balls of Fire or even his turn as a country singer in The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia. Jerry Lee Lewis was a shoe-clad rock-n-roller back in his day, but that is not how Mr. Quaid likes to rock the house.

I have only heard a few selections from this band and I missed their show in LA last fall, but I love them. From what I've seen and heard, I will not miss my chance the next time it comes around. They play for fun, they play for charity, and Dennis Quaid prefers to play without shoes. Why? I have not found that little tidbit of information yet, but I still find it awesome. Playing selections from his movie roles as well as other hits spanning from country to rock, his shows are full of energy and rhythm as he makes his way around the stage rocking on his guitar or playing the keyboards, all the while continuing to be the lead vocalist. There is no holding back whether he attempts to rock your socks off, or if he is slowing it down to try and make you a little misty. You can check them out on YouTube or Google them for further information, but if you hear about one of their secret shows happening somewhere, I better be the first person you inform if you want company!





So there you have it, he may not be your favorite actor of all time, but I'm sure you have enjoyed one of his films at sometime or another. And for the rest of you who enjoy a good DQ movie, here's a quick trip down memory lane--

Hitchcock 101

For those movie viewers who don't feel like searching through the Hitchcockian craziness catalog for the ones you may take an interest in, I thought I'd share a few thoughts. Though I do have a theory that it takes a certain type of person to really enjoy his entire body of work, I feel that interesting characters and intertwining story plots can be anybody's game if they just give it a fair shot. I can watch most of his movies over and over again because I am ridiculous that way, but for the rest of you...













REAR WINDOW This film speaks for itself. As far as storytelling goes, this is one of the best movies ever made and will always rank high up in the list of my favorite movies of all time. I have watched it more than any other Hitchcock movie so far and it is a great choice for anyone to enjoy. If you like Rear Window, you may also like Dial M For Murder.













REBECCA One of those good old fashioned classics that I can't just watch once. Like many of the other films listed here, if I turn it on, chances are very high I will watch it at least 3 times within a week, probably triple that number if I decide to repeat it in the background as I work. It is one of my "serial repeater" films that I haven't gotten sick of yet. The first time through, I was a little hesitant at the hype I'd heard through the grapevine in my years of working around movies, but it exceeded my expectations. Eleven Oscar nominations isn't something to scoff at, even if you only take home two. If you like Rebecca, you may also like his first "talkie" film, Blackmail










ROPE Though a different style than Vertigo or Marnie, it is one of those Hitchcock films that grew in popularity years after its initial release as it gained a "cult" following. The original release of Rope did not garner much financial or critical success, though it steadily gathered momentum in later years and became an official Hitchcock classic. The story unfolds almost completely in real time, making the theater-lover in me enjoy this film even more as it makes me feel I am watching a stage play that was performed back in 1948. It's a simple, yet twisted tale that touches on the dark side of human nature that we all know exists, but don't always feel comfortable enough to talk about. If you like Rope, you might also like Strangers On A Train.











MARNIE Not a film for everyone, but something about this movie continues to interest me (and its not just a young Sean Connery.) Watching it in our present time, one may not appreciate how it opened the door to more interesting subject matter as far as psychological thrillers go, seeing as how it is not as action packed as what we are used to today. Hitchcock was no stranger to casting strong leading men, but he also set the bar very high for his leading ladies. Obviously their level of attractiveness was a large part of their commercial appeal, but he was determined never to slack on character. His leading female characters are more than just a vehicle for the blond bombshell type, and he chose his leading ladies specifically to fill the shoes of those flesh and bone characters. As with Marnie, some Hitchcock movies are not for everybody, but if you enjoy movies that put you outside of your comfort zone, you may also enjoy Frenzy. *Warning* There are great bits of dark humor mixed into the brutal nature of the subject matter, but there is a reason it garnered Hitchcock his first R rating.