Useful procrastination

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 ~ 2 comments so far

I’m updating.

I’m updating my budget spreadsheet and hating the colour red.

I’m updating Twitter.

I’m updating my About page, and wondering what else I can write.

I’m updating the list of online accounts, usernames and passwords as I’m getting fed up having to hunt for them.

I’m updating my list of backup files.

I’m updating Twitter.

I’m updating my weight on a daily basis.

I’m updating the design on one of my own websites.

I’m updating the way I work to cope with recent changes.

I’m updating the applications on my iPhone.

I’m updating the list of books I plan to read on holiday.

I’m updating Twitter.

I’m updating my blog.

I’m NOT finishing of the website design for a client but hey, all the other stuff is useful.

Right?

Not too proud

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 ~ 6 comments so far

How often do you ask for help?

The reason I ask is that whilst I can be pretty bloody minded at times, I am always more than happy to ask people questions.

I truly don’t understand the mindset of those that just presume they are smart enough to be able to get through something without additional help. I include searching the internet in that statement as well for, despite the fact you need to carefully vet the information you find there (here?), it is a good source of useful information and answers.

And yes, it does seem to be a guy thing, doesn’t it?

I sometimes wonder if the reason I don’t fully understand that way of thinking is because… and please, hear me out… is because of my star sign. I’m a Libra.

Now I’m not saying that’s the main reason, I presume that at some point in the past I’ve read up about what Librans are supposed to be like and that has matched with the fact that I do find myself able to see both sides of the story and that I do believe that balance should be saught in most situations.

So no, I don’t understand the mindset of those peacock proud guys who strut around and presume that they know best, and yes, I’m self-aware enough to know that, whilst I can play along with the “alpha male” thing when I need to, I have a little more emotional range than a lot of guys. I’m very happy with my feminine side.

And with all that in mind, my dear blog reader, I have a question for you.

What on earth should I write about next?

Flipping Context

Tuesday, April 21, 2009 ~ 4 comments so far

At work I’ve spent the last couple of weeks mired in planning spreadsheets, shuffling chunks of information around from here to there, from that to this. It’s the kind of work that needs to get done whilst in the full realisation that it’s a bit of a drag. But, as my Mother says “You can’t always get what you want”, well should have had my mother been Mick Jagger and, let’s be honest, if Mick Jagger was my mother then it’s unlikely that I’d be blogging about spreadsheets.

Instead I’d be blogging about the fact that I was a medical marvel, having been given birth to by a man.

That’s not to say I’m NOT a medical marvel, just that I choose not to talk about THAT THING that makes me SPECIAL (you mere mortals wouldn’t understand, so don’t ask).

So there I am, sitting at my desk, an endless series of spreadsheets full of words and numbers in front of, watching as they spin and float off the screen just like they would in a big Hollywood movie full of special effects.

But hey, it needs to get done.

And then, at home, I’m busy being creative, having just finished off a website for a client and in the midst of reworking design mockups for another.

It’s a bit of a head fuck to be honest, and I find myself taking far longer than usual to get my mindset to change.

However, that’s nothing new, I always have had a bit of an issue switching context and know that it takes me a few moments for my brain to re-engage and have tried several strategies in the past, none of which work.

Until now.

Believe it or not, the noise and chatter of Twitter really does help me make that switch. Going from a rote, line by line, formulaic piece of work, to the small and digestable chunks of randomness that is my Twitter channel, allows my brain to break away from the previous context and very soon I’m able to tackle something more creative. I’ve not tried it in reverse mind you, but certainly the effect of checking in with Twitter seems to allow my brain to relax.

Does that mean I don’t value Twitter, that I pay less attention there? Perhaps, or perhaps it’s the fact that the cognitive load on my brain is different, and the switch to reading 140 character tweets helps reduce that load and allow other areas of my brain to kick in. Sort of like shifting to neutral before picking a lower gear in your car so you can accelerate past a car.

Anyone else use Twitter the same way? As a stop gap between different types of work or task?

And, whilst I’m asking, why DO you use Twitter?

P.S. My Mother is not on Twitter, neither is Mick Jagger.
P.P.S. If you really want to know about why I’m a medical marvel, ask. I’m sure I can come up with something…

I have a revelation!

Saturday, April 18, 2009 ~ 4 comments so far

Apparently, and this MAY come as a shock to some of you… in fact, before I continue perhaps some of you should make sure you are sitting down, even if you already are. So, please could you (yes, you) double check that you can feel your body weight being supported by your arse on something (hopefully) cushioned.

I mean that the seat is cushioned, of course, not that I think you have a fat arse..

In fact perhaps some of you should prepare yourselves by making sure you have a stiff drink ready, purely for medicinal purposes of course.

OK.

All set?

Right.

The revelation is….

Actually perhaps I should mention that this is not a Revelation with a capital R, this is no biblical tale of the coming of the New Earth and whatnot (and apologies to those of faith, my knowledge of the Book is lacking). It is, however, a revelation of the more everyday sort, so perhaps all this hyperbole is overplaying things a little.

But then, I tend to do that, don’t I. Waffle, some would say.

Yes please, with maple syrup…

Ahhh, but I jest, and even I have to admit that it now feels like I’m just stringing you along further in the vain hope that someone, ANYONE, is still reading (hellooooooo ?), rather than reveal what is likely to be recognised as less a revelation and more a rather obvious fact that everyone already knows.

Guess I should get on with it then.

So.

Did you know that you can turn computers off?

*click*

Finding the balance

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 ~ 1 comment so far

No big revelation but life is all about balance and, currently, mine is a bit skewed. This is completely my own fault, having broken one of my own rules, one which I’ve written down and published.

I only work on one site at a time

And I’m not, I’m working on two, not to mention now having three blogs, and a monthly newsletter article to write.

Somehow, in the midst of all that, I’ve got to find some time to get to the gym. Yes, I’ve decided to try the gym, again. But having failed to find the time to read more books, how on earth am I gonna find the time to get to the gym.

I mean apart from all the time I spend playing games on the PlayStation, or generally noodling about online reading articles and blogs, or … sleeping … working … eating??

Part of me lives by the premise that is something is important enough I’ll get off my ass to do something about it. Part of me likes the comfort of what I know, and another part of me is constantly disappointed in myself as I do always want to better myself, and do the right thing and yet even writing this stuff done has me shaking my head at the angsty, whiny teenager that has appeared.

Honestly, you’d think that, at 35 years old, I’d have this shit figured out by now. Apparently not.

I am the chairman

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 ~ 5 comments so far

Everyday I am someone new. Today I am bored. The mundane day to day churn has nothing to alleviate it but it keeps me busy, and we are told that being busy is good so, by definition, today must be good.

But it isn’t. It’s boring and, more than that, it is slow. I look up from my screen and the view is flat and uninspiring. My email lies silent, and the task that stretches before me aren’t exactly engaging (tidying up the layout and styling of lots and lots, like tens of thousands, of paragraphs of text).

I’m bored. Listless. Lacking. Missing. Absent.

But let’s be honest, being bored isn’t really something to complain about, is it?

I have a job, that pays for a house and food and clothes. I’m reasonably well educated and live a comfortable existence. My lot is not a bad one, it is, to all extents and purposes, a good one. I have nothing to complain about, yeah I’ve had a shitty month but that’s past and the future holds much promise.

It’s probably just because I’m tired, staying up too late last night, candle burning, then up early to light a match to the other end of said candle. I know my sleep patterns have an effect on my mood, and too many late nights make Jack a dull boy.

Which prompts the question, who the hell is Jack? The only one I know isn’t even real (but he IS kick ass and never ever needs to pee).

It also prompts other questions, perhaps I need a good blowout. A night on the tiles might just be the answer. Yes, I need to get my thinking cap on and get something organised. Get plans in place and execute! Yes! Be a go-getter, be proactive and positive and make it happen!

But.

You know.

Until then.

BORED!

Let the nonsense descend

Sunday, March 22, 2009 ~ No comments yet

aka, you have been warned.

Random thoughts pepper my day. The would salt it if they knew how but then would lack sufficient bite and leave me parched. Random thoughts hate leaving someone parched so they pepper rather than salt. Simple.

The unfortunate fact is that I don’t like pepper, preferring the prickly build of a chilli than the all-consuming thwack of a pepper. Another unfortunate fact is that I need to watch the amount of salt I consume, given that it raises my blood pressure, and, having cut back a great deal, it’s surprising what an impact it has on ones tastebuds.

Outside it is a glorious day, the morning fog has burnt off and the sky is a lovely powder blue. Not sure why I wrote that.

Since getting a laptop at work my back is noticeably sore, it’s the crouching over to read the screen, need to get a screen stand but not a pressing issue really. It’s a familiar pain, as is the people who sit in the outside lane of a dual carriageway even when they aren’t overtaking anyone.

How much water do you drink a day? I drink a few cups of coffee, a can of diet juice, and a couple of glasses of diluting juice most days.

I once had a daydream that was so lucid it took me some hours to realise it hadn’t actually happened. Yet, like most dreams, I don’t remember the detail, nor even a broad sweep of what it involved, which is a shame. There was a rhythm to it, an incessant drum being beaten, and everything was a similar shade, but beyond that the detail is lost.