Early Riser Challenge, Day 4
The Early Riser Challenge from lifehack.org is working out very well for me. I wouldn’t have thought I possessed the will power to do it. I’ve found that I typically use sleep to escape certain things in my life (depression, anyone?), but the fact is – I’m turning the big 4-0 this year. I’ve been examining a lot of aspects of my life. As much as I enjoy late late late weekend nights and sleeping all day on the weekends, I’m beginning a new-found love affair with early morning solitude.
The early weekend mornings will be more difficult as there are complications with the solitude part, but I’ll just have to find a way to deal with it. I’ll post progress on that during/after this weekend.
I am now realizing that I’ll have to create some “preparing for sleep” habits. As I mentioned yesterday, I lay awake for almost an hour after turning the lights off. Lifehack has some ideas that may help.
Waking up earlier to enjoy some well-needed personal time has allowed me feel less rushed and more laid back during the day. I don’t feel so scatterbrained since I’ve spent time in the morning writing down things I need to do – kinda like dust bunny cleaning of the brain. I don’t find that I’m any sleepier during the day (except this morning when I was in a 4 hour training class in a room that contained windows with a view of the grey rainy day.)
I feel more than a little empowered – I’ve been exercising a little each morning and feel like I could actually keep it up and make a difference to my ever expanding waistline. Who knows – maybe I an even quit smoking!!! Oh, but that is another challenge entirely…
I’ve been able to keep up with friends and family on Facebook by having time in the morning to read. It’s blocked at work, so the only time I can view is at home. I’ve also kept my RSS feed reader under control – and have enjoyed the articles (like on lifehack.org) where I usually empty the list because I’ve fallen behind. And what do you know? I’ve been BLOGGING this week! What a concept!
Early Riser Challenge, Day 3
When the alarm went off this morning, I popped right outta bed 
Not only that, but I had actually backed up the time to 5:30. Decided I’d like just a little more goof off time before work.
The biggest problem I’m having now is going to sleep. Although you’d think I’d be dead to the world by 10pm, I’m having to force myself to turn the lights out and lay there. I’m hoping this will work itself out soon 
Early Riser Challenge, Day 2
I came sooooo close to hitting the snooze when the alarm went off. It is truly amazing how easy it is to talk myself out of getting up in the mornings. Geez…
Was a bit less disoriented this morning. The post it note helped. I drew the line at running in the 40 degree weather. I opted for the Wii Fit instead. And a dose of Aleve before leaving for work.
Admittedly, I do feel better this early in the morning. Usually by this time, I’m at work – still trying to wake up and feeling generally rushed and a bit sullen that I never have time for me. I’m honestly thinking about bumping the wake up time back a little. It would be nice to sit and read for a while.
As a side note, the pugs are having NONE of the waking up early. They are quite put out that I’ve gotten out of bed and am not the source of warmth. Begrudgingly they follow me to the living room and try to find warm places to lay – to keep an eye on me. Ever vigilant for the possible ration of treats, they are
My addiction to BookMooch
I know for a fact that I’ve read more books so far this year than in the last two years put together. Thanks to book trade sites, I’ve discovered new authors and new genres that I would not have picked out at the bookstore or library. Not only to I keep a stack of books to read, but I always have stacks of books to mail out – which can get costly if mailing overseas!
So far, the cost has been worth it.
But trader-beware. There are many “swap” sites out there. Be sure to do your homework and read through all the rules of the site before you begin listing books for trade.
Initially I joined paperbackswap.com. For the trade newbie, it’s probably the best site out there. You will get a few credits when you list a certain amount of books so you can start trading right away. Thereafter, credits are earned by trades. Audiobooks cost 2 credits. Find books you want, request them, and watch your snail mail. The site contains it’s own postage kiosk so you can pay for and print out postage for standard size/weight books – or you can go to the post office. It’s all fine and good, but you better keep on the ball about mailing stuff out when you are supposed to! They do not have a selection for “I can only ship out every other week” etc. You must send in the time allotted or else have your trade cancelled and receive bad feedback. Also, they are more stringent than most on the condition of the books to be traded.
The second site I began using was swaptree.com. Books, video games, dvds, and cds can all be swapped on this site. I figured that I could also list the same books here that I had on paperbackswap.com to see if there was any interest in the books I couldn’t get to trade. More than once I ran into situations where a books was requested at the same general time from both sites. Not a good idea to have to decline a trade. That weighs against you on both sites. I began listing a separate collection of books on each site after that!
Unless they have changed since I left, swaptree.com is very lax on their feedback requirements. Yes, you have to leave feedback when you receive an item – but apparently no one cares whether or not they leave you negative feedback about a condition that you had explained in the listing. For awhile, I listed everything as “acceptable” whether it was brand new or not. After the 10th or 12 time I received negative feedback for something I listed very clearly in the description, I had all I could take and I closed my swaptree account. It wasn’t worth the frustration and less than accountable members.
For a very short time – probably one weekend – I used frugalreader.com. Woe be to any newbie there. They are very impatient and cutthroat. Make a mistake or not understand a policy and you can forget about anyone trading with you.
The last site I joined was bookmooch.com. So far, it fits best with my lifestyle. I prefer to mail out only every other week instead of 7 days after I accept a trade. I really don’t have time to rush out to the post office every other day. Sometimes it’s taken me up to a month to receive a book, but hey – I have plenty others to read. Generally the membership is very helpful if you need a book sooner than later. Several times I’ve sent pictures of books to moochers who wanted to give the book as a gift – making sure it didn’t look too used. The site is international, but that is a whole other can of worms…
I’ve been considering marking my profile to say that I’ll only send domestically instead of “ask me if I will”. I’ve never refused an international request, even though I wished I had when I was at the post office shelling out the money. (Yikes!) Reciprocally, it’s not been a fun venture. I’ve mooched internationally (other than Canada) about 4 times and 3 of those times were met with – well, let’s just say they weren’t very polite. I’m not talking about terse email responses – I mean… well… see the following:
fiordiligii@gmail.com
to me
Oh my, someone has a problem. Shall I count how many times people mooched a book and I’ve waited weeks without an answer? Faithfully reserving the book for them? You know what, I don’t have the patience for that anymore. When I see someone has been online but didn’t answer to my email I cancel … no matter what timeline. Hey, sometimes people only check once a week, but thanks to BM that’s indicated and then I wait. Most people are intelligent enough to send me a short email if they can’t immediately find a second book …absolutely no problem. As I’ve posted in my status message, I will check their wishlist against my TBR pile and we can sort out something. However, if someone DOES NOT answer, am I to smell that person has a) read the conditions (and every second person doesn not read them) and b) has accepted them? You know what, I would rather burn the book than send it to someone who can’t accept that.
Katharina
That is what I got after I questioned why she rejected my mooch. Evidently I was taking too long to select another book to mooch (her condition to send to the states was mooching two books). What she failed to mention in her conditions was that she would cancel requests if you didn’t reply within 24 hours.
My point of this is – don’t be surprised if you are met with flaming if you ask questions. Some people in the internet world aren’t very happy and look for anyone to take it out on.
The other thing that is frustrating about BookMooch is people abusing the vacation/available policy. Generally, if a user cannot send out books for whatever reason, money, time, etc – they should put their account on vacation. Not many people do this. It’s more the rule than the exception that I see a book available to mooch, I begin the process only to read on their status that they aren’t mailing out any books right now because their 2nd cousin twice removed’s dog passed away last October and they are too broke. Harsh? Well, maybe. It’s not uncommon for people to enter a status that is nearly 3 printed pages long lamenting about every sad thing that has befallen them in the past decade. Not the place for such stuff. Either you can or can’t mail books at a pre-designated time. No one wants to read the sob story.
But, alas – I stay with BookMooch because the good so far outweighs the bad. No, they don’t have a postage kiosk so a trip to the post office is inevitable but at least it’s on my own terms. I’m still not interested in using any of the print-at-home postage services. I can’t justify the monthly fee. I’ve begun donating a small amount to BookMooch every month and signed up to become a BookMooch Angel Network to help people get the books they want
I am totally addicted.
Happy Birthday, Boys!
Gizmo, Pax, and Bruiser's Butt
Today is Bruiser’s official 4th birthday and Gizmo & Pax’s designated 4th birthday!
I figured since the rescues were the same general age as Bruiser, I’d make their birthdays on the same day – easier to celebrate that way. Now they all 3 can have a nice yummy at the same time and not wonder why one was getting it and not the other.
In typical fashion, I’ll go buy the the smelliest can of wet dog food I can find and serve it up in three bowls. They will be in heaven!
Early Riser Challenge, Day 1
Anyone who knows me also knows I can sleep anywhere, anytime. At the drop of a hat. And sleep 24 hours if allowed to.
I caught this post at Lifehack.org and decided to give it a go. I’m a bit skeptical if I can do it past 5 days. I do love hitting the snooze button on my phone until the absolute last moment that I have to rush around to get ready for work – barely making it on time.
I went to bed last night at a decent 10:15pm. (I intended 10pm but couldn’t turn loose of the book I was reading – THANK YOU BOOKMOOCH.COM!) I knew I wouldn’t go to sleep straight away, so I kept going over and over what I planned to do if when I got up at 5:45am (instead of the usual 6:45am). 15 minutes to wake up, 30 minutes to exercise or whatever – as long as it was ME time and not housework, 20 minutes …. etc. You get the picture.
The alarm goes off this morning and right as I started to push “snooze”, I remembered. Holy Crap! I need to get UP! Now! lol
I did rather well waking up and doing me-time things, but was a bit disoriented because I wasn’t in a dash to get out of the house. I know I walked from the kitchen to the bathroom several times before I remembered what I wanted to do. Perhaps I need to leave my tomorrow self a post-it note on the counter tonight?
One day down, 4 to go!!
Goodbye Sol, We Will Miss You…
Sol
C. played a big part in me deciding to add to my furry family by adopting rescued pugs. I read her blog religiously – loving to read how Benjamin, Henry, Luna, and Sol are doing. I’m terribly saddened to read about the heart-wrenching decision they had to make to help Sol over the Rainbow Bridge. They gave that beautiful sweetheart the best months of her life.
I often look at my little Gizmo and wonder if he remembers the horror he suffered before he came into my life. I hope not. I wish that he only thinks about warm fuzzy blankets to sleep on and a never ending supply of treats in the kitchen. I’m sure that all the love C. and G. and Sol’s furry siblings gave Sol wiped away all the bad memories and she passed over the bridge knowing that she was one of the most loved pugs in the world.
Sol – say hi to Duke and Froot Loop and tell them how much I miss them…
Pics
