Sick of Being Slow

With the start of University this year I bought a laptop with some of my loan. It's taken me a while, but I've finally gotten around to getting rid of Internet Explorer and moved onto using Google Chrome. So far, even though it's only been a few days, I like the change. It is mostly because Chrome somewhat resembles the apple browser Safari, which I love. I've tried Safari for windows but didn't enjoy it at all. There's something about the compatibility with the windows operating system which simply isn't as nice when it's on a mac computer. 

Anyway, I've been finding a lot more user friendly browser than explorer. Technically I knew it was going to be better, but I'd never used it before. It's nice and simple to use and everything seems to be in a logical place. I have spoken to a couple of people who prefer explorer, but the majority I've talked to about that topic prefer Chrome. I'm quickly finding that I should have changed sooner. 

To anyone still stuck using Explorer who might be finding it annoying, like I was, and want an easy alternative, I'd recommend giving Chrome a thought. 

Progress

My book I'm currently working on that I've titled 'The Vatican' is coming along nicely. Currently I'm sitting at my desk searching for some inspiration to finish writing chapter 13. So far, even in the planning, it has to be one of my favourites so I want it to be perfect. I've got the word document open on my laptop and am blogging on my desktop.

I am pleased to say that I've reached about a third of the way through story line wise. it's coming together nicely but I'm doing my best not to rush the process. I don't want to ruin the story because I was too eager to get it down.

I'll put a snippet up from this chapter soon. I'm more than excited to be getting to this point. 

It's My Life

Recently I've realised something. No matter how hectic or busy my life becomes, I always make room for music and writing. I've attempted a couple of times to join both interests into lyrics, but I've found I don't have that skill at the moment. Even when my daily life if far from predictable, I will always make at least five minutes to right something and to listen to my music.
Skipping through my ipod selections can sometimes be interesting. Just now it jumped from Avenged Sevenfold to Van Halen then Adele. Many people seem to have more specific tastes, but mine jump around. For example, I can go from listening to Disturbed to Sir Mix-A-Lot. It can be confusing sometimes.
Anyway, I think my rant concerning my music is over. Hope y'all enjoy the rest of your day. I'm off to do something productive.

Road Tripping

Last week, while I was off uni for my mid semester break, my sister, dad and I went road tripping around some of our area. We saw some of the sights that the top of the north island has to offer and I was reminded how beautiful the country I live in is. Along the way I took many pictures t remember the trip by and spent a couple of nights in different motels. seeing sights ranging falling down churches in the middle of nowhere, the oldest church in the country and a tree thought to have been a seedling around the time of christ.

It really is amazing to see what New Zealand has to offer. Although I'd been to most places before, visiting your own backyard is always interesting. I really enjoyed the trip even though it meant spending hours sitting in a car over three days. 

Change of Network

So a little while ago I did a post pretty much ranting about the cellphone networks in New Zealand. I'd used the services of the two main contenders and hadn't been satisfied with either. I was having money go missing when with Vodafone and coverage issues with Telecom, although I'd been with Telecom years earlier (their coverage is better now). However, both, I feel, have very poor customer service and are far too expensive. For a long time, it was like choosing your lesser evil.
Recently I had a little extra money to play with for the week and saw a deal on a new phone and sim package from 2Degrees. For a while I'd been wanting to try them out, so when this came up I pounced. It didn't help Vodafones case with having had five dollars from my account with them go missing about two weeks earlier. I will admit that the young lady I spoke with on the phone was very friendly and happy to help, but I didn't get all my money back. That event was the straw that broke the camels back.
Anyway, I've been with 2Degrees for almost two months now and so far I'm more than happy. I haven't had one issue that was very noticeable for long. I can't say they're perfect though. For about four hours a couple of weeks back I wasn't receiving any txt messages (and yes, I do know that people were txting me and it wasn't just a lack of that). In all reality this didn't really bother me. My best friend is on Telecom and she gets that regularly, but it's for a number of days, not simply a few hours.
But I couldn't sing 2Degrees praises louder. They're cheaper, nicer to deal with, more reliable and it's easier to monitor your account with them. I would  any advise any other kiwi's still putting up with the other two to ditch them. Support New Zealand business and back the little man I say. Anyhow, peace out.

Bouncy, bouncy

Well do I have a story for you guys. Today, while coming home from Uni, the car started to swerve across the road. I was in the back seat sitting next to my little sister and mum said we had a flat tire. My immediate thought was that it'd be okay.
It took me a moment to realise, where we were was a particularly dangerous stretch of road and has no cell phone reception. Next thing we know, the back right hand side of the car drops down and all control is lost.
The wheel appeared bouncing ahead of us, bouncing down the road. Slowly we came to a stop and assessed the situation. My step dad walked up the road to call for a tow truck and we managed to find a tiny spot of cell reception. We managed to get a hold of my sister and she came and got us.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, an hour later than normal, we're home, all safe, but with an amazing story to tell our mates. One lesson here (and we've to a tire guy), tighten your wheel nuts properly, cause if you don't, you could be seeming it bouncing off ahead of you.

Motivation

Perhaps for those who find motivation easy, this post may not relate to you. However, it could also help provide some insight into what it's like to struggle to find reasons to get things done. For those of you who do find it difficult to find motivation, then hopefully this post could give some suggestions on how to find some.

For me, motivation does not come naturally. It can be difficult for me to find reasons to continue with something I find difficult. It's not necessarily the fact that I find it difficult, but more the fact that it's difficult for me to stay engaged. If something doesn't interest me, or challenge me, I'll find it difficult to stick with it. If this sounds like you, please keep reading. I've recently found ways to help myself keep motivated.

The best way I've found to keep myself interested on a task is to give myself a schedule. If I plan my time then I find it a lot easier to stick with what I need to get done. If I know what I have to do, but don't have a plan, then I'll procrastinate. My procrastination leads to stress which in turn leads to more procrastinating. For me, not having a plan turns into a vicious cycle. If I plan all my time, I know what needs to get done and when I need to have it done.

For other people, making a schedule doesn't work so well. For these types of people I think it's important to keep in mind that there are other ways to make sure you get everything done. Some thrive on pressure and leave everything to the last minute. What I think is most important for these people, is to explain that to others. I've watched as others, who didn't understand this thought, judge those who work this way. Those of us who need to plan need to accept that not everyone works like this. Stressing about someone else is not going to help you.

My last note would be to those who need the help. If you find yourself struggling with motivation, find ways to create interest in what you're doing, but also make sure you're having time for yourself. Go listen to some music. Sit down and read a book for half an hour before bed. Whatever it is that you find calming, make time for that. Personally I think this is very important for parents. I've listened to parents of young children scoff at the thought of having time for themselves, but, you can not look after someone else if you're not looking after yourself.

If you need help, do the research. Deficiency in vitamins and minerals can make life difficult, as well as underlined problems which haven't been addressed. Do some googling and find a way to get through, because there is a way. Also, support those who need it, you'll feel better about who you are at the end of the day if you do.

Domination

After a relatively short discussion with a good friend I realised something. I, as a consumer, seem to be sucked in by the big brands. My apple desktop which is in sever need of an update, was once top of the line, even if I didn't get it new. My Hewlett Packard laptop was best value for money and often considered top of the line for what it is. Even my iPod was made by the computer giant apple.
Not only do I buy the big products, but I use the big brands online as well. Google is my go to search engine and holds my emails, blogs and occasional document. Facebook is my main way to stay in contact with friends who have moved away for various different reasons. Twitter is my way of staying up to date with the world around me.

Realising this made me think for a moment about the type of power these companies hold. I'm a devoted apple user, and would own only their products if I could. I've only moments installed Google Drive in a hope to have another backup of my documents. Without these products, what would I do? I wouldn't be able to ensure the safety of my writing and my understanding of computers would be far more limited. The big technology companies have a hold on us all. We need them, but they need us too. Without customer satisfaction, no one would use their products.
The competition between these companies drives capitalism but it also drives new advancements within technology and how we live. My last point I would like to make, is one to make you think. Eventually, with all these new progresses in technology, will we still be able to live without them. Will, one day, the human race be unable to survive without technology?

A Familiar Difference

As my second semester begins I'm faced with a new timetable, new textbooks and a different schedule that I'm going to have to adjust to. On one hand my timetable is amazing, because I don't start most days till one, meaning I can sleep in, and I've also got Fridays off, but on the other hand, I don't finish until two hours later than last semester, and the lectures I have are all one after another each day, leaving pretty well no time to get from one end of the campus to the other between my lectures.

Anyway, none of this is really important, what actually is, is the activities that the new semester brings. Today they're setting up skiing by shipping in snow to the quad area of the university. There are also events which solely people who have a university ID card can enter, such as a concert by a couple of local musicians.

What seems to be the most surprising for me, however, is that coming back from a substantial break, I feel as if I haven't had a break at all. Not exactly in the sense that I'm tired, but that everything is so familiar. I know where I can go to have a quiet place, or sit down and do some work on my laptop, like writing this post for example. I also know how long it takes to get places. At the start of last semester, everything took twice as long because I had no idea where anything was. Now, I can walk down the street knowing exactly where I'm going, and if need be, what buses will get me where.

With my daily routine consisting of lectures, study and hanging out with friends, it makes me wonder how this would change. I know there was a huge difference between university and high school, so does that mean, there's going to be a huge change between university and full time work?

Anyway, what I wanted to do with this post was to get people to think about their own lives, their routines, schedules and daily rituals. Are you happy in your life? If your not, what can you do to change it? If you are, how can you make it even better for you and those who love you? I hope everyone can find their little piece of happiness, and know that wherever you are, someone loves and cares about you.

Anita Blake

This series by Laurell K. Hamilton has got to be one of the few that I am devoted to, although less as the series progresses. This lot of books has been a huge inspiration to me in my own writing, mainly as I often make fan fictions of series I enjoy, and this one is no exception.

I'll try not to give away any of the story in this post as I hate it when others do. I do have to say that the seventh in the series would have to be my favorite, then the first follows closely behind. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a read about the preternatural and supernatural. However, I'd place these books R16 and after about the 8th book, I'd place them as R18. They're raunchy, although I've been told that they don't compare to Fifty Shades Of Grey, but don't quote me, as I haven't read that series.

The main thing I like about this is the power of the main character, who the books get their titles from. She strong, mentally and physically, but she's realistic. For example, she has a great phobia of flying. For me this show of character helps to make the righting more believable, even with it being set in an alternate reality.