NYE '08

Today is the day we say goodbye to 2008 and hello to 2009. However you celebrate, may you be happy and safe. Happy New Year's Eve!

P.S. The HOKIES play tomorrow night (8/8:30pm) and the PIRATES play Friday afternoon @ 2pm.

7 Quick & Easy Ways to Avoid Procrastination

Procrastination is an extremely common problem, and every one of us will have experienced it! You know that you have to get something done, but you will do anything to avoid actually having to do it. Here are 7 tips to use to avoid the pitfalls of procrastination.

• Early in the day, write down a maximum of 5 things that you absolutely must do today. By writing them down, you will see exactly what you need to do. Having various tasks swirling around in your head won't help you get anything done!
• Restrict your list to 5 tasks. Any more than that and you just won't know where to start.
• Look at the list and decide on 3 tasks that you will be able to complete quickly and without too much effort. Normally, you would be advised to do the hardest task first, but think about it. If you procrastinate with the hardest tasks, then you won't complete anything on your list!
• When you complete a task, take great pleasure in striking it off your list. Take a couple minutes "out " to congratulate yourself on completing it. Feel really positive about your accomplishment, no matter how small or trivial the task was.
• For the "harder" tasks on your list, you must look at these in a positive way. If it is something you really don't like doing, imagine that the task has been completed, and reflect on how you will feel once it is done. See yourself striking it off your list, and congratulating yourself for completing it.
• Having a sense of accomplishment will make all the difference when tackling your next task. The problem with procrastination is that if you don't complete anything on your list, you miss out on this wonderful feeling. Get your first task done and your feelings of accomplishment will snowball as you continue to tackle more items on your list.
• Sometimes tasks just have to get done, whether you like to do them or not. This is where you really just have to get on and do it. Besides the wonderful feeling of accomplishment (which will be greater the more you hate the task!), you will be rewarded by the benefits that completing the task will bring. Before starting the task, decide on an additional reward that you will give yourself when it is completed.

Procrastination keeps us from achieving the things in life that will help us grow and to reach our full potential. Enjoy the challenge of completing your daily tasks and congratulate yourself on achieving so much that day! As you continue to achieve more and more, procrastination will soon become a thing of the past!

http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Quick-and-Easy-Ways-to-Avoid-Procrastination&id=1828178

...Not that I have a problem with procrastination or anything..... ;)

3 hours...

For 3 hours on Saturday, I anxiously watched and waited (and yelled) until the final seconds ticked off the clock before I threw up my hands and said, "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" ECU beat Tulsa to claim the title of Conference USA Champs! The Pirates will be headed to Memphis, TN (hmm...roadtrip?!) to play Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl on January 2nd. I am so PROUD to be a PIRATE!

Saturday morning, I took Bella to the Reedy Creek dog park for her first time. She was so cute. She was petrified for the first 5-10 minutes, hovering in the corner with her tail between her legs while the other dogs came up and sniffed her. After awhile, the fear went away and she found her legs. We stayed for an hour or so (had to get back for the game!), came home and I put her immediately in the tub for a much needed bath. I promised her if it doesn't rain this week, we can go back next weekend. :)

I am anxiously awaiting PAY DAY so I can get our picture printed and buy/make our cards and get them mailed. That'll be the project for this weekend...I'll let you know how they turn out.

To this:

I've had her almost 4 months (Man! Time flies!), so she's about 7 months old now. :)

Intermediate

Last night, Bella and I went to our first intermediate class at PetSmart. To say I was overwhelmed when we left, would be a serious understatement. :/ But, as we left the ring, our trainer Lindsay, said I was doing great. I think I should not give her two bowls of food before class next week. ;)

Unlike puppy school, we started off right away. She was all excited with her new classmates (I think she might have a crush on Jackson, the grey Weimaraner), so getting her to listen and sit/stay was quite a challenge! One of the commands we learned was, "wait". We practiced by going in and out of the ring by unhooking the curtain.

Well, this morning when we were going out on the deck for our usual water/oj, she sat while I unlocked the door (as usual), but stayed sitting while I opened to door, stepped outside and looked at her. She didn't budge! She didn't move until I pretended to put down her water bowl. She waited! And, I didn't even give the command! :) YAY!

From this:

Post-Thanksgiving

We had a pretty nice Thanksgiving this year. Bella and I got to my folks' early enough to help make a couple dishes (total shocker for my mom!). Joe arrived around 1:15, followed by Paige and Paul around 1:30. We munched and talked while Mom and Dad were fiddling with the turkey, that came out too soon and had to be put back in. We had a great spread, the usual, but still yummy: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans oriental, yummy fruit salad, cranberry sauce (at Joe's request). Later, pumpkin pie and carrot cake. It was delicious! :) Paige, Paul and Mom had fun making music in the living room while I watched football with my dad and Joe. My mom said Paul got extra points for bringing his new guitar with him! I wish I would've taken a picture!
Friday, I spent the day with my mom and Bella spent the day with my dad. My dad raked the entire yard and let Bella hang out. He said she had a great time running through his piles of leaves and at one point, even stole his rake that he'd left on the ground! :) Needless to say, when she came inside, she couldn't stay on her feet she was so exhausted. She'd sit up in her crate and basically slide down in exhaustion. It was really funny and super cute! :) Saturday, I went to the fabric outlet off Capitol with my mom and got a couple swatches. I intend to recover the blue chair (again...since Bella went to town on my incomplete upholstery project a couple months ago!). So, we'll see. That will be my January project perhaps. And that's where the "great" parts of the holiday end.

P.S. The Conference USA East Division Champs, the East Carolina Pirates will be playing Tulsa on Saturday in the conference championship game, 12pm on ESPN2! AARRGGHH!! :)