This past weekend I celebrated my 37th birthday. And by 'celebrated' I mean chilled and kept it low key. I'm not all about big celebration or grand gestures. I wanted to just enjoy the day. I took three days off of work which is what I normally like to do for my birthday just because. I don't want to be at work on my birthday. It's a day for me.
The first day of my three day weekend was spent watching the original 'Star Wars' trilogy. I have been doing this for several years now. I grew up loving these movies and I still do. Yes it's nerdy. Yes I could do something else with the six and a half hours. No I don't want to do anything else with that time during my birthday. We see those social media posts that are like 'take care of yourself' and 'self care is important'. Self care has many facets and I think that some include losing yourself in a favorite movie or book or tv show.
Saturday and Sunday were spent just chilling at home and doing a little running around. My wife and I checked out a brewery in Hastings and ate dinner at a restaurant we liked. I say we checked out a brewery, but let's be honest, I checked it out. My wife doesn't drink so she tolerates me enjoying a beer or two while we sit and talk. It's what we're all about.
Everyone spends their birthdays in different ways. Some go all out with parties while some lay low. It's all about what you want to do isn't it? Embrace being selfish on your birthday. If you want to sit around in your pjs all day and drink coffee while reading a book, DO IT! If you want to go shopping and buy some new clothes just because, DO IT! If you want to invite a bunch of people over for an all night rager, DO IT! Spend the day feeling great about yourself, but also think about doing that more than just once a year. Celebrate a half year birthday, or just celebrate you every couple of months.
21 February 2019
07 February 2019
Ned was Right
After having a lack of snow during the months of November, December and January, Minnesota finally remembered that it is, in fact, Minnesota. But not before delving out a handful of rather bizarre days of weather. From negative thirty degree temperatures to mid thirties just two days later at the end of January. We also saw some freezing rain right before another plummet in temperature. Then finally. It happened. Winter showed up. We finally got snow.
In the months of November and December we had to shovel snow maybe three times. It has been snowing in the Twin Cities for the past twenty four hours. It started snowing last night around six thirty. It is now seven twenty two and the snow hasn't stopped. We have easily gotten a foot and a half in that time. It's just wonderful.
We have a very small driveway because our garage is on an alley. Because of that we do not have a snow blower. We have no need for it...yet. We do have to keep our front sidewalk and porch clear though. That takes some time. There are a few people in our neighborhood that will run up and down the sidewalks on the block and clear a path. You still have to go through and full clear the width of the walkway, but at least a good majority of the walkway is done.
I have been of the mindset that if you get out and clear the snow a few times it is less stressful on your body. I'd rather get out and shovel two or three times during a snow storm to keep the accumulation down. It helps that I enjoy the cold and the snow. If I was not a fan of it, I'm sure I would just want to be outside once and be done with it. I would also probably just do it once if I had a snow blower. Going old school and having a shovel almost forces your hand to go out a few times. I just put in my earbuds and listen to music as I go. It makes it go by quicker. I've seen both in our neighborhood and I've been wondering which method is best. It helped that I did not have to work today so I could pick and choose times to go out.
In the months of November and December we had to shovel snow maybe three times. It has been snowing in the Twin Cities for the past twenty four hours. It started snowing last night around six thirty. It is now seven twenty two and the snow hasn't stopped. We have easily gotten a foot and a half in that time. It's just wonderful.
We have a very small driveway because our garage is on an alley. Because of that we do not have a snow blower. We have no need for it...yet. We do have to keep our front sidewalk and porch clear though. That takes some time. There are a few people in our neighborhood that will run up and down the sidewalks on the block and clear a path. You still have to go through and full clear the width of the walkway, but at least a good majority of the walkway is done.
I have been of the mindset that if you get out and clear the snow a few times it is less stressful on your body. I'd rather get out and shovel two or three times during a snow storm to keep the accumulation down. It helps that I enjoy the cold and the snow. If I was not a fan of it, I'm sure I would just want to be outside once and be done with it. I would also probably just do it once if I had a snow blower. Going old school and having a shovel almost forces your hand to go out a few times. I just put in my earbuds and listen to music as I go. It makes it go by quicker. I've seen both in our neighborhood and I've been wondering which method is best. It helped that I did not have to work today so I could pick and choose times to go out.
30 January 2019
it. cold.
You guys. It's cold. Too cold. And I love cold, but it's almost too much for me. The one good thing is that if you put room temperature beer outside, in less than an hour it's ice cold. It's so cold that places like the post office is not sending out their delivery men and women. Stores and businesses are closing. Schools are shut down. For all of that to happen, especially in Minnesota, it's something 'special'. I don't have much else to say about it.
13 January 2019
No Rush
The big thing on the movie landscape in the past decade has been super hero movies. Specifically movies in the Marvel Universe. Movies like Iron Man, Thor, and the Black Panther. Everything in between as well. They are all enjoyable to watch and I have seen them all with the exception of one (Ant Man and the Wasp). However, I do not rush out to see them.
They are all well made. Visually they are amazing. We truly live in an age of wonder with what movie studios can do. They bring you into a world that is an escape from every day life which is what movies are suppose to do. They're fun. They take themselves just seriously enough to have great cinematic tension, but also have quite a bit of humor in them.
For all the positive things that the MCU movies have going for them, they have one flaw. They all start to run together. There is not much of a difference from one to the next. Because of that, I haven't found myself rushing out to see them when they're in the theaters. I do understand the point of seeing them in the theater, it's an experience. It's an immersive environment, you get pulled into these grand adventures.
I'm sure it's great, but it just isn't for me. I'd rather sit at home and watch them when they're released to streaming services. You know, sit down in my pjs, enjoy a few cups of coffee, not have to over pay for the movie or snacks. In order for this to happen, you have to let go of the fact that if anything major happens, it won't be a shock to you. We just watched Avengers: Infinity War a few weeks ago and anyone that has seen knows about 'the snap'. It's a major moment in the MCU which has ramifications we aren't fully aware of yet. Because we finally watched months after it had been out in theaters, the major spoilers were gone. And you know what, it doesn't much matter to me. I'd rather avoid the large crowds and enjoy the movie from the comfort of my own home.
They are all well made. Visually they are amazing. We truly live in an age of wonder with what movie studios can do. They bring you into a world that is an escape from every day life which is what movies are suppose to do. They're fun. They take themselves just seriously enough to have great cinematic tension, but also have quite a bit of humor in them.
For all the positive things that the MCU movies have going for them, they have one flaw. They all start to run together. There is not much of a difference from one to the next. Because of that, I haven't found myself rushing out to see them when they're in the theaters. I do understand the point of seeing them in the theater, it's an experience. It's an immersive environment, you get pulled into these grand adventures.
I'm sure it's great, but it just isn't for me. I'd rather sit at home and watch them when they're released to streaming services. You know, sit down in my pjs, enjoy a few cups of coffee, not have to over pay for the movie or snacks. In order for this to happen, you have to let go of the fact that if anything major happens, it won't be a shock to you. We just watched Avengers: Infinity War a few weeks ago and anyone that has seen knows about 'the snap'. It's a major moment in the MCU which has ramifications we aren't fully aware of yet. Because we finally watched months after it had been out in theaters, the major spoilers were gone. And you know what, it doesn't much matter to me. I'd rather avoid the large crowds and enjoy the movie from the comfort of my own home.
09 December 2018
Festive Again
All the years that we lived in apartments, we did not have a real tree for Christmas. One of the benefits was not having the care and upkeep. No watering the tree. We didn't have to anchor it to the wall because it was uneven in the tree stand. There was minimal clean up from the 'needles'.
There wasn't a ton of advantages to the artificial tree. Yes, it was a tree but there was just something missing. We use to buy pine scented air fresheners and put them in the tree to try and create the atmosphere but it didn't last that long. Last year we got our first real tree. It was wonderful. Because of this, I feel like we can't go back to artificial tree. Sure we don't have that special go out and illegally cut the tree down in the middle of the woods before any law enforcement people show up moments because we buy pre-cut trees, but it is great to have a real one in our house. Every once in a while you'll get a whiff of pine when you walk by. It can just bring back so many childhood memories of this time of year.
So, once again this year, we have gotten a real tree for Christmas. And it is fantastic to have.
There wasn't a ton of advantages to the artificial tree. Yes, it was a tree but there was just something missing. We use to buy pine scented air fresheners and put them in the tree to try and create the atmosphere but it didn't last that long. Last year we got our first real tree. It was wonderful. Because of this, I feel like we can't go back to artificial tree. Sure we don't have that special go out and illegally cut the tree down in the middle of the woods before any law enforcement people show up moments because we buy pre-cut trees, but it is great to have a real one in our house. Every once in a while you'll get a whiff of pine when you walk by. It can just bring back so many childhood memories of this time of year.
So, once again this year, we have gotten a real tree for Christmas. And it is fantastic to have.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)