Personal Experiment

I've decided to try and not watch television until next Sunday, November 1. This may not be a big thing for most people, and am hoping that this won't be a big thing for me. But I watch TV mostly everyday, even if just for 30 minutes. However, some days I just get sucked in, and can end up watching for 2 hours after dinner.

My productivity in our home hasn't been top-notch, and I'm curious if that's because of the amount of TV that I watch. So, I'm off to see if my productivity will increase as my TV intake decreases.

I'm not embarking of any sort of social protest, claiming that TV rots the human brain or makes people more stupid. I am simply curious as to whether I would be a more contributing member to household chores if I didn't watch any television. So, let's see...

I decided to keep this blog going, even if I am the only one who reads it. Maybe one day my grandchildren will read it. Ha!

We had a wonderful visit with J and Nat these past 7 days. They arrived last Thursday and left this morning, and I even took two days off from work to spend the days with them. They are moving to Israel August 26th, and I am going to miss them terribly. I know there's the phone, and the internet, and Skype, and letters, and packages and all that. But there's something lost when you can't sit right next to someone, sipping on honey tea, cringing at the kids on NYC Prep and anxiously awaiting a commercial to finish up a sewing project together. That is something that can't be recreated with all the technology in the world.

An attorney has joined our firm, and I can't say she's a new attorney. She's been practicing longer than I have, and was with the firm for five years, before she moved to Rochester, NY. She's back, and just her presence has decreased my stress level three-fold. She's picking up where I can't and she's even taking cases from me in order to alleviate my work load. In an economy where people are scrounging for business, I am not having any problems. This economy does generate criminal activity and carelessness, and that's where I come in. I'm lucky in that respect, to be so busy that I am grateful for another person to take some of this work from me. Also, it's a breath of fresh air to have another person to bounce off ideas and share thoughts on cases.

I've been debating whether or not to keep this blog going. Why do I have a blog? I know it's not because I think anyone really cares what I have to say. And I don't mean to sound self-deprecating, really. It's just that compared to other blogs in the blogosphere, mine is not very interesting. I just write about what going on in my life. I don't start debates about the state of affairs in Iran, or my view on how the media is responding to Michael Jackson's death, or the meaning of Independence Day. The topics I cover on this blog are all about me, my life, my passions, my interests. But why would I think that anyone would want to read them? And even then, I'm nervous to write about topics that are too personal, such as my marriage and partner, or my relationship with my mother or any other family member for that matter. So, is there really a point to keeping this up? I might as well just write in a journal.

I haven't made my final decision, but this post should give you some idea as to which way I am leaning.

I'm sorry for not updating the blog more regularly. These past few weeks have been crazy, especially at work. But i believe I am now in a calm phase.

We had a fun Seder at our friends' home on the first night of Passover. N led the Seder on the fly, and did pretty well. We made my favorite dish, Honey Apple Noodle Kugle (not kosher for Passover - don't tell). E and her mom set a beautiful Passover table and were very hospitable hosts. I enjoy spending time with E's mom and step-father. I hope to be as spry and caring as they when I am their age.

This past weekend I saw my mother on Thursday and Noah's mother's side of the family for the celebration of Passover. It was a long drive up and back to Long Island but well worth it. We had a wonderful Seder and I know I've gained at least 7 pounds from all the food I've eaten this past week.

As for my list, I'm still working on many items, and have not lost my desire to accomplish many of the items on the list.

Now it's back to work, as usual.

Classes

I've fallen in love with classes at the gym. I've gone to boxing fitness twice - Tuesdays at 5:45; I've gone to Body Step once - Mondays at 5:30; and then I'm gong to Body Pump this week - Thursdays at 6:45. The classes not only give me a consistent schedule, but also kick my butt. I didn't realize how much I wasn't working out until I took these classes. Granted, it's only been two weeks (and just one week that I'm attempting to attend all three classes), but I like how I feel so far.

Progress on 101 list - stop taking antibiotics

At the urging of my doctor, and for a few other reasons, I have begun my trial run of refraining from taking antibiotics. I originally started when we first moved to Charlottesville. There were prescribed by a dermatologist for acne, something I battled with as a kid, and then again when we moved here. While I can't definitely say it's the cause, my adult acne started right after I stopped taking oral contraception. And the whole reason I stopped taking oral birth control was because I didn't want to be pumping hormones into my body for years upon years. But then, once I stopped taking the pill, I developed acne and then I started pumping antibiotics into my body. I was switching out extra hormones for antibiotics. Every time I've tried to stopped, I develop acne something terrible, the point my face hurts. But, so far, so good. I've been using benzoyl peroxide as a topical medication, and Home Health Blemish Treatment Lotion. I've also been vigilant about washing my face three times a day, regardless of how tired and lazy I may feel when I get home. So, I've begun tackling something on my list that I was afraid of. Hopefully my regimin works.

Progress on 101 list - Get a new bed

Last week we had our new mattress delivered. Mattresses are much more expensive than I realized. Besides buying things for the wedding (cupcakes, invitations, wedding dress, wedding rings, etc), we wanted to get a wedding present. So, we got a new mattress. Not very romantic, but let me tell you, we needed one. We've been sleeping on N's mattress from college. And it was a full-size mattress. And with three beings in one full-size bed, it gets pretty hot and crowded in there. Surprisingly, the queen size mattress gives us just enough room for all three of us to fit. Baby puppy Stevie was skeptical at this change of sleeping bedware, but she has finally come around. Now she snuggles in the new bed in the morning while I get ready for work.

Now we just have to get an actual bed. I'm thinking something from Ikea. Our mattress is on the boxspring which is on the floor. Oh, and don't get me started about getting the boxspring up the stairs. Seriously, N and I almost got divorced. But we are going to cut that thing up to get it back down. There's no way I am going through that ordeal again.