Workplace Adventure

The weather is getting nicer and work continues to be just as long, though, to its credit, it feels like it is several hours longer than it actually is. No, there isn't some strange time slowing device, it is more that you get to view how great the day is and watch it pass you by. How can you make yourself enjoy your day? Good question. I have a few ideas for how to have fun at work.

Only Movie Quotes Day
Talking in movie quotes, or song quotes, all day is fantastic because it allows you to be creative and have fun. My favorite version of this is quoting Batman all day long and become annoying as possible. Well worth it.

Go on an Adventure
This can be as simple as stealing someone's new invention and randomly pointing it at stuff. Sure, it might be extremely dangerous, but you may win a contest...somehow.

Listen to Horribly Catchy Music
Horrible 80's music is usually the way to go in this instance, though be forewarned: "The Safety Dance" isn't really that safe. Of course, if you can find good elevator style music and really get into it people will notice and either enjoy it too or leave you alone. My favorite so far is Burt Bacharach's Greatest Hits.

Learn Something New 
Learning something new isn't too difficult and can be fun. If you are paid to learn something, then by all intents and purposes, learn something else that is fun. This entire process can be expedited by having space worms. Just beware of internal battles.

Create a Game
A game is simple. All you have to do is make a score card of things that happen on a fairly regular basis. Give each a point value. Then make a few items on the list that are outrageous with extremely high points. Whoever ends up with the most points wins.
 

Just Remember: Work can be fun, just fake it like it is and it might actually start being fun.

On Being Successful

A few weeks ago I received an invitation for my 10 year high school reunion. Everyone wants to go back and brag to everyone about how they are a great spaceship captain or lion tamer, but certain networking websites make that difficult in modern society. Several of the people from the guest list have since friended me on Facebook. Curiosity struck me to research them a bit. I've found a few people to have become rather successful. This has me looking back to the fruits of my labor, writing, and trying to compare. All I can think of is that song by Ben Folds and Nick Hornsby.

It is hard being a writer at a reunion, surrounded by business people. It can seem on when they have their houses, children, jobs, and their always present phrase "it just felt like the next step" to guide their every decisions and you have your words, papers, and pens. I, on the other hand, never really felt like any of that to be my goal. I wanted to share ideas that make people think. My goal is being met and I can't ask for me.

Just Remember: Those classmates of yours that all have kids can't go out and party like those who don't. Take advantage of the fun. Also brag as much as possible.

It Gets Hotter and Hotter

So the weather is changing and, despite how you have yearned for warm weather all winter, it isn't the kind of warm you have wanted. It feels like someone is increasing the Earth's temperature 5,000 degrees every day...for five days. In all honesty, it is hard to deal with warm weather aside from trying to amalgamate to it slowly. The best way to do so is to hunker down in the lowest section of your house and familiarize yourself with an old show you love. It's a great way to relax.

Just Remember: That's how this blog got started. Perhaps you can start a blog on a show you like too.

Family Reunions

Phillip J. Fry was sent 1,000 years into the future in the year 1999.  He left behind his father, mother, and brother. While he felt they didn't care for them, it wasn't until a year after his waking that he found out he had a nephew named after him, a nephew that did all the fantastic things he dreamed of accomplishing. It wasn't until a few years later that he got to finally go back in time and be with his family, treating them the way he always wanted to. His bonds to them grew as he lost the new family he made in the future.

You and I may not be frozen for a thousand years and we may not be able to time travel back to visit people. What we should do is appreciate the people we have now. Take a break from our busy work week, sit down with them, and enjoy a meal or a movie because, in the end, they are all we have. We should enjoy them while we have time.

Just Remember: What are your priorities? Your actions will show them.

Your Music is Bad and You Should Feel Bad

A while back I took up guitar and, in the five years since taking it up, I haven't progressed much at my own work, but have done well in covering the work of others. Lately, there have been people I work with that have been playing for years longer than myself and, after having listened to their work that their rhythms are nice and their lyrics are clever, but there is something missing. I then realize then that is the problem that musicians and writer's both have: what you have are parts that are great independent from each other. Of course, not all music can be bad if the music is in you right?

That is a lie. Look at Taylor Swift. Her music has been around for a while and had studio production with it and it is horrible. And since you aren't Taylor Swift, that means you have talent of some sort. If you don't, just keep persevering and get help from friends. That is how one can get better.


Just Remember: No matter how bad your music is, at least it isn't techno.

Look at Ms. Puke and the Puke Mobile

Driving, whether I like it or not, is a vital aspect of my life. I have to get around. Whenever I hear people talking about driving, they have stories about being flashed by girls or getting out of speeding tickets. The stories I am usually involved in go something to the effect of Once upon a time, I was driving home from work when some schmuck in an SUV decided to cut me off. Ignoring this schmuck I continued onward towards my destination, when at an intersection another schmuck in an SUV decided that they had the right to turn before me, nearly crashing into me. Needing to stop for gas, I take the last open pump, only to be flipped off by the person entering the gas station behind me. They too are in an SUV, from which they begin insulting me and my "pukey-puke mobile."

Now there are a multitude of ideas that come to mind. The first being to turn the other cheek. Of course, this idea is thrown on the window by the time the second and third driver put me off within the same hour. My second idea lends itself to a more lawful path: calling the police. While that is well and good, I would rather not go through that hassle. Then comes the idea polar opposite to the former: DEMOLITION DERBY, BABY! Then logic kicks in and I realize that my tiny sedan is no match in that kind of derby against an SUV. And, while my mind logically realizes that their cars are more likely to roll or hit each other should a Demolition Derby take place, I then realize that my anger has gotten the best of me.

Just Remember: All people drive like crap, but we cannot let it get the best of us.

Bye Bye Gadget Childhood (Now in Hypnovision)

I was hanging out at the bookstore the other day and started noticing a horrific trend: kids admire schmucks. There wasn't a time in my life I remember thinking kids from Disney were cool and, better yet, the ones that were on Disney at my age didn't make music. Even when they made music later on, I didn't care for it. That aside, there sure as hell wasn't a book on any of them.

Such was not the case today.

I saw rows of books on "stars" who can still hardly play their own instruments. Think about it. There still really isn't a book about Justin Timberlake or Brittney Spears. There wasn't one about Phoebe Cates or Kirk Cameron. And there still isn't one fully about Michael J. Fox. Do you know why? Because their body of work isn't finished yet.

Sure, some joy can be measured that perhaps as there are books out about these schmucks that their careers will tank soon, but what if not? That is entirely bothersome more so than how these fools became famous. A lot of these "stars" have become famous like Hannah Montana: we were told they are popular and thus became so. At least Timberlake and Fox could back that up. The same could not be said of Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, etc.

Just Remember: Someone is going to make a lot of money when those books are updated to include any addictions and/or illegitimate children. Then they will be a lot better. Of course, nobody will read them.