The 100 Day Challenge

It's time to get serious and beat this troubling habit I've developed when it comes to the poker machines.
How and why it started doesn't matter, it was pretty innocuous, but what does matter is that is has reached a stage where it could be a big problem if I continue down the path I seem to be headed.
So I came across the 100 Day Challenge - a goal to set and commit to not gambling on the machines for 100 days.
By then the habit should be broken and while I don't pretend it will be easy it's great to have a goal to work towards.
100 days is a long time and it isn't a long time - if you know what I mean.
It's important to me to be able to win the mental battle here because there are bigger battles up ahead.
Yes, I have a problem. This is the first step on the way to beating it.
Wish me luck.

Psychobabble

It's been a while since I last posted anything but that's largely from a desire to take a break and decide whether I want to keep doing this.
I've decided that I do.
In the past couple of months I've given a lot of thought to where I'm heading in life.
I know it's a big question to ask yourself, I don't know how many people consciously do it though I suspect many do.
Aside from the larger topics of work, happiness or contentment, relationships I've decided that I must place a larger emphasis on health, specifically, exercise and fitness.
I don't think I'm ever going to reach the stage where I'm considered 'buff, athletic or even toned' but so long as I feel comfortable (as opposed to uncomfortable at the moment) with my physical appearance then I'll be happy.
In many ways I am more comfortable with myself than I have ever been but what has crept up on me, and I have alluded to it now and then, is the fact that a bit of weight has crept on and I have reached a stage where it is noticeable and uncomfortable. (You know, your clothes don't fit quite as well etc).
For other health reasons, I have always feared losing weight. As silly as that may sound it is completely true.
I've paid little attention to the fact that I've put on weight in the past 12 months or so because it has never worried me, whereas losing it has.
(If you really want to know why feel free to ask but trust me it's a legitimate, if not completely logical, fear).
Now I must push past the psychobabble and actually drop some weight. And that, if you've ever had weight issues, is something that is not as easy as it sounds, despite the prevalence of weight loss shows and fad diets these days.
I should know, I've done it once before and it is as simple as this - move more, eat less.
While the philosophy is simple, the practice isn't because it involves changing habits that you have slipped into. It means making sure you go for a decent walk every day and being more conscious about the amounts of food you eat as well as what you eat.
I can't just go running to the gym because whenever I go there I tend to wind up injuring myself of overdoing it. So the plan at the moment is to make the lighter exercise a habit, a consistent part of life, again and start to feel the difference. Then I'll know it is time to start going to the gym again to build on it.
For my height, a weight of around 90-95kg would be considered pretty well in the healthy range. It will take a while to reach that I think - while I won't divulge my current weight here I'll say that I certainly don't need to lose 20kg to make that mark.
I actually must stay off the scales for a little while, and you shouldn't weigh yourself every day anyway.
I have made a start. I had a good walk on Saturday and Tuesday and today (Wednesday). I was out out of town on Sunday and Monday but I spent a good portion of that on my feet (though did attend a dinner and lunch so that probably cancels itself out).
Hopefully within a couple of months I'll start to see a difference. A few weeks would be a good encouragement but it is something that takes time. Wish me luck!

Neglect

For whatever reason it's been a while since I've posted a review or anything else here.
I've given a bit of thought to removing the blog but I'm thinking at the moment to keep going and perhaps to try to be a bit more regular than just a movie review.
I did have a couple of weeks there without the internet due to what turned out to be a faulty modem.
So, watch this space....I guess.

Unscheduled outage

I had intended to do this regularly but have been side tracked for one reason or another.
Will get back to it shortly, in the meantime enjoy some valuable silence for at least a few days.

About to reboot

After a bit of thinking about my blog and my lack of contribution aside from movie reviews, I've decided to put a bit more effort in.
Stand by....

Hiatus

Time for a break.
A week should be long enough.

Intermission

Off on a break and I've decided to ignore my blog until I get back.
It's just nice to get away from things from time to time.

Belated Christmas wishes

Since I've been out of town for Christmas and don't have internet access there (yes, some people don't have it!) I'd like to extend Christmas wishes to all.
Like most newspapers, TV news programs and the like I may get a bit nostalgic in the coming days and recount some significant points of the 2000s, the decade known as the Noughties.

Intermission

It has been a big last seven days and I really haven't got around to posting.
Will get to it shortly....

Late resolution

I'm not one for making new year's resolutions and this isn't one of them but a resolution is a good word to describe this decision. A vow, promise to myself are other good ways.
A hobby of mine from a long way back has been to have a bet on the horses, only natural when you look at my job.
Several years back a friend challenged me to go a month without betting and I did and got through it fine, so much so that I kept up that one month off each year for a few years.
I've decided I'm going to not bet for the month of February. Not only is it good to stop I think that I need to as I've been pushing my limits a bit from time to time and while that's okay if you keep winning the reality is that you also go through periods of losing.
That's where people can get stuck and drawn into addiction. Also, February is an expensive month for me with car registration due. So it makes sense to me to kill two birds with one stone. Funnel the bulk of my funds, where necessary, into the car and save the rest. Another good thing about February is that while there are a few major races it is not until March and April when the best comes along again so I won't feel like I am missing anything.
I don't have any concern about not being able to keep it up but I would like to ask for others to check up on me, ask me about it during next month.

A letter of disgust

I need to get this off my chest, I don't for a second think anyone related to commercial television networks will read it but I will feel better having said it.

Dear network TV,
I feel it is right for me to point out, as a consumer, that the treatment of viewers by all commercial networks in Australia is appalling. Any program that doesn't make a million viewers in its first two weeks seemingly gets dropped regardless of the following it may have. Nothing gets a chance to be built up. As a result I don't watch commercial programs other than the news and repeats of Friends and The Simpsons. My other viewing consists of the programs you hype, and some you ditched, by other means (i.e. imported DVDs, the internet). While this may not concern you I should point out that revenue for commercial television comes from advertising. I am not seeing the advertisements your clients are placing so their money is wasted, on me anyway. And I know I am not the only one who watches their favourite shows in this way. To channel nine, you guys wouldn't know a great show if it hit you in the face. Passing on Chuck was a bonehead idea, it's the most interesting, funny and entertaining show in years. Now Fox 8 gets a belated go. I'm just glad it was recommended to me, now I'm into season two and it is just getting better. So perhaps it might be an idea to treat your viewers with some respect and consideration. Instant success is very rare, real success must be built over time. So thanks to technology and globalisation I get to see what I want to see without being treated like someone who doesn't matter.
Sincerely,
Ray.

Now I do feel somewhat better. It's just good to have a rant now and then. In some way I envy the USA, as it is large enough to sustain the shows that we here get little access to. Great example is One Tree Hill, half way through season 6 in the States, didn't make it half way through season 1 here. Thank God for DVD.

Happy Festivus

Just a quick one to everyone out there to say a big happy Festivus to all.
Instead of airing my grievances I'll just say that I haven't helped myself out as much as I should and that I will try harder in 2009.
Merry Christmas to all, I'll be off line for a few days.

About face

I'm reconsidering my position, somewhat, on Facebook.
I still object to it in the same ways as previously but it has come to my attention that there could be an advantage or two to it.
I'm going to sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Birthday wishes

I'd like to extend birthday greetings to the following people:

1. Brant who turned 31 yesterday, though who is still celebrating as he lives in the US.
2. Matty D, who has another birthday on Monday (and I've forgotten his exact age).
3. Myself, who as of today is 33 and looking forward to spending the day at Randwick.

Sixth year in Tree Hill

Whether or not the US writers strike had anything to do with it, it's great news that One Tree Hill has been confirmed for next season, its sixth year.
In season five, of which I have watched six episodes, they took the risk of skipping over the traditional college years and into new ground and picked up four years after the end of season 4.

So far it has worked and is just as addictive as ever.

Now if only Channel 10 would wake up to themselves and realise what a cracking show it is. But it is probably too late for OTH now, they only got half way through season 2 before dumping it after not giving it a chance.

Incidentally, when I was returning Disturbia to the video store OTH was playing and I asked the guy behind the counter as to why, and he said because it's the best show and he watches it whenever he is working there!

March off

I'm happy to say that day 2 of my holidays is going well.
Sure, I haven't done much and I slept in after staying up late but I don't have to go to work tomorrow so it doesn't matter!
I'm certainly not counting, but with 28 more days off before I have to go back it's great not to be thinking too much about work.
I haven't had this much time off under good circumstances ever so it's a good feeling. Party on.

End of an era

OK, so a while back I eluded to making a decision on something I have been doing for a while. It's not an earth-shattering, life-changing decision (actually it is rather trivial) but when you've been doing something for 16 years and you decide not to it is quite momentus.
As most people know I am a bit of a music nut and since 1991 I have been compiling my own music charts, both because when I started it was fun and as a way to keep up with what was happening with music.
I have a rather thick folder with every music chart I have done since then including a top 100 for the year (except the last 2 years when I didn't do the end of year one) and I have a list of every song that has been number 1 and how many weeks it was there.
But, disappointingly, the music scene these days is pretty ordinary. Maybe I am just getting old, but a lot of the music out there now really doesn't interest me and seems to be dominated by inane rap/R&B stuff.
So as of this week I will no longer be doing my music charts.
It started in 1991 and my top five songs of 5/1/1991 were as follows:
1. Let's Make It Last All Night-Jimmy Barnes
2. Unchained Melody-Righteous Brothers
3. Disapper-INXS
4. Always & Ever-Southern Sons
5. I Touch Myself-Divinyls

The final chart, for the week ending 5/1/2008 is as follows.
1. Believe Again-Delta Goodrem
2. In Pieces-Shannon Noll
3. Touched By Love-Eran James
4. Misery-Good Charlotte
5. Into The Night-Santana featuring Chad Kroeger

Make of those what you will. My music taste is pretty eclectic but has remained fairly constant over the years. Following are some statistics about my musical experience in the last 16 years.
Most weeks at number 1: How To Save A Life-The Fray (21), Lift-Shannon Noll (20), If You Could Only See-Tonic (19), Over My Head (Cable Car)-The Fray (17), One Sweet Day-Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (16), Spending My Time-Roxette (15).
Most number 1's: Mariah Carey (19), Roxette (14), Savage Garden/Darren Hayes (14), Shannon Noll (8), Kylie Minogue (8).
Interestingly, my three favourite songs I'll Be There For You (Rembrandts), Hero (Mariah Carey) and Crash And Burn (Savage Garden) spent five, one and 13 weeks at number one respectively.
In a way it is going to be strange not doing this anymore but I see no point. There's only really 10 or so songs I like at any one time on the radio/video shows so doing a chart seems redundant. Plus, as you would note from some of the artists that have dominated I am a creature of habit and still like their music. Yeah, I am a dag. But the 80s-90s were just awesome for music and the 00s have not been as significant, except for a few artists here and there.
So there you have it, the end of an era. I am glad I am going out with a number 1 that I really, really like, a positive uplifting song and, at the end of the day, that is what music should do for you. Now if only I listened to myself on that one.....

No Festivus miracles

I think that's a good thing. As a general rule festivus miracles tend to be rather unfortunate or uncomfortable and involved chance situations that you'd rather not have to endure.
So, in honur of Festivus 2007 I announce my grievances....
1. The politicians who kept sending the same propaganda to me on a daily basis in the last couple of weeks of the election. They know who they are.
2. The guy responsible for taking EI out of the quarantine centre and destroying the spring carnival.
3. Kylie Minogue for releasing a mediocre album as her comeback from cancer. C'mon the electronica stuff didn't really work for Madonna a few years ago, why will it work now?
4. Channel 7 for now showing the last 2 episodes of the current season of Heroes (thank God for the internet or I'd have to wait until February to see them).
5. Yet again Channel 10 for not showing One Tree Hill and to whoever is responsible for releasing it on DVD and making us wait until goodness known when (again thanks to importing things on your own we don't have to wait so long).
6. Magpies
7. The canteen ladies at work who refuse to carry out the simple instructions you give on how you'd like your toast spread.

That's all I can think of right now. Happy Festivus everyone!

Slight revision

It's one thing to be witty and clever unintentionally, or naturally.
It's another to be a try-hard.
In refocusing this blog I fell guilty of the latter.
So, now that I have realised I was getting ahead of myself thinking I could describe each post with a deftly placed song title was short sighted I am backing out of that pledge.
Call it a re-refocusing.
The content will still have more depth, most of the time, and I don't have to be a try-hard.

A change will do you good

I've been thinking about this blog and have decided I am going to change focus and make it much less trivial that it is currently.
It isn't that I don't enjoy the content here, on the whole, but if I am going to continue I think it is of more value to make it more real.
The value there is for me, largely, but if through what I might say that someone out there reads (assuming others read it) and learns from my experience then that's a good thing.
I'm not going to say that every post will contain life experiences, deep insight or anything particularly exceptional but I am saying I intend from now to be more real than trivial, because I hate that a lot of the world is seemingly trivial.
I will attempt to have some fun at the same time. My favourite show at the moment, One Tree Hill (what else, after all I named this blog after it), gets all its episode names from song titles. So I'm going to try to head up each post that fulfils my new charter in that manner (starting with this one)*. I will still post my ever popular movie reviews and music comments, both because most people (including me sometimes) feel I missed my calling as an entertainment reporter.
Let's see how it goes....

* The song `A Change Will Do You Good' is by Sheryl Crow.