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I'm so excited!
I've just been able to upgrade to a new home on the web. The best part is the domain. It's at Http://CrystalTillman.com. Won't y'all come by and take a look. Thanks :)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
MMORPG's and Me
For those that don’t know, MMORPG stands for Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. While the name contains reference to Role Playing, these days the games revolve more around small in game communities called guilds. There also tasks for you to do, such as carrying messages, and collecting items, for prizes (quests).
About 2 1/2 years ago I played MMORPGs a lot more than I do now. I barely play them at all anymore, at least compared to what I used to. For a long time I had completely quit playing this type of game, and had said I wouldn’t pick them up again. Yet, when a new MMORPG with an interesting plot was released recently I started playing again. No where near as much has I used to though.
Was I addicted?
For awhile I qualified as an addict, sometimes playing 4 to 7 hours in one day (on the weekends). Which is a lot of time to put into any hobby, but when you’re playing it you don’t realize all the time that you’re putting into it until you sit down and really count out the hours. It’s just not something you think about while playing the game.
Looking back on that time, I’ve noticed a few bad habits that added to the addiction. Maybe they were simply side effects of being addicted? I cannot be sure. I’ve noticed them in a few other areas of my life, so I doubt they’re addiction related. The pattern is interesting none the less.
One more thing syndrome
Most people have dealt with this at one point or the other. The drive to do just one more thing before running out the door or to get one more thing done before you go to bed. On the last on it always seems to happen when you're running 5 minutes late anyway.
This itch to get just one more quest done, or to get 10% more experience so you can level up, is one way the games eat time up quickly. "It'll only take 5 minutes to get this done, so I'll get it done before I get off and not have to worry with it tomorrow." The next thing we know it’s 2 hours later and we’re still playing.
I'm going to feel bad anyway
This is a classic excuse that I used when I played late at night. I would look at the time and see how late it was. Then I would think... "I'm going to feel really sleepy tomorrow anyway, so what is finishing this step going to hurt?" Then I would end up being up till 2AM and be a lot worse off than if I had gone to bed when I saw the time originally. That in itself kills the original faulty logic.
Not getting off when you say you will
This one is easy to do, and it fits hand in hand with the above. It's just plain easy to loose track of time when you're playing a game. Since most of them do not have clocks in game. The closest thing that I've seen is one that tells you in the chat box every time an hour has passed that you've had the game on. It’s no good though if you don’t pay attention to the time scrolling by.
My simple fix?
I’ve found that by listening to a podcast, or setting a timer across the room, that goes off about the time I need to get off works quite well. It makes me change gears, either by having to turn on another podcast, or get up and turn off the timer.
There’s still the possible problem of starting back after the change has happened. I do fall into that trap sometimes, but it’s pretty rare. So it’s best if I have a backup strategy. The podcast, and then the timer set for a few minutes after the podcast.
And over to you…
Have you ever been addicted to a MMORPG?
Do any of the habits apply to you? If so, how do you deal with them?
About 2 1/2 years ago I played MMORPGs a lot more than I do now. I barely play them at all anymore, at least compared to what I used to. For a long time I had completely quit playing this type of game, and had said I wouldn’t pick them up again. Yet, when a new MMORPG with an interesting plot was released recently I started playing again. No where near as much has I used to though.
Was I addicted?
For awhile I qualified as an addict, sometimes playing 4 to 7 hours in one day (on the weekends). Which is a lot of time to put into any hobby, but when you’re playing it you don’t realize all the time that you’re putting into it until you sit down and really count out the hours. It’s just not something you think about while playing the game.
Looking back on that time, I’ve noticed a few bad habits that added to the addiction. Maybe they were simply side effects of being addicted? I cannot be sure. I’ve noticed them in a few other areas of my life, so I doubt they’re addiction related. The pattern is interesting none the less.
One more thing syndrome
Most people have dealt with this at one point or the other. The drive to do just one more thing before running out the door or to get one more thing done before you go to bed. On the last on it always seems to happen when you're running 5 minutes late anyway.
This itch to get just one more quest done, or to get 10% more experience so you can level up, is one way the games eat time up quickly. "It'll only take 5 minutes to get this done, so I'll get it done before I get off and not have to worry with it tomorrow." The next thing we know it’s 2 hours later and we’re still playing.
I'm going to feel bad anyway
This is a classic excuse that I used when I played late at night. I would look at the time and see how late it was. Then I would think... "I'm going to feel really sleepy tomorrow anyway, so what is finishing this step going to hurt?" Then I would end up being up till 2AM and be a lot worse off than if I had gone to bed when I saw the time originally. That in itself kills the original faulty logic.
Not getting off when you say you will
This one is easy to do, and it fits hand in hand with the above. It's just plain easy to loose track of time when you're playing a game. Since most of them do not have clocks in game. The closest thing that I've seen is one that tells you in the chat box every time an hour has passed that you've had the game on. It’s no good though if you don’t pay attention to the time scrolling by.
My simple fix?
I’ve found that by listening to a podcast, or setting a timer across the room, that goes off about the time I need to get off works quite well. It makes me change gears, either by having to turn on another podcast, or get up and turn off the timer.
There’s still the possible problem of starting back after the change has happened. I do fall into that trap sometimes, but it’s pretty rare. So it’s best if I have a backup strategy. The podcast, and then the timer set for a few minutes after the podcast.
And over to you…
Have you ever been addicted to a MMORPG?
Do any of the habits apply to you? If so, how do you deal with them?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Skip, Skip, Skipping posts...
I've been reading blogs for... Well sense they started becoming mainstream... Maybe a little before that. So that makes it a couple of years now. I've noticed a trend of three types of posts that I skip entirely. Simply out of dislike for the formats that they're using. Irony of irony's I'm going to use a short version of one of them here in this post!
1. Really long lists.
Lists are a great tool when used properly. Short ones under 10 items are great when you're writing a post. In fact FIND BLOG ENTRY) I felt that the one here is an example of how well lists can work when used well. Here's another example of FIND GOOD SHORT LIST how short lists can be used well.
The problem comes when someone has a numbered list that goes over about 15 items (Which is still a bit long in my mind). Then the post gets extremely dull, as it's all one format. The author looks like they took and outline for a speech and tried to pass it off as a normal blog post. Which is fine if your blog specializes in speech writing, and outlines.
Verdict: Auto Skip
2. MeMes
Sometimes I'll read these if I particularly like that Meme, I've even been known to do them DA MEME, BLOG MEME LINKS/TITLES HERE. But unless it's the one I like, I skip it completely. It's like those forward e-mails that have you fill out the really long surveys and send them out to all your friends. There are way too many floating around and are becoming a really bad clque.
Verdict: 98% Skipped.
3. Interviews...
You can learn a lot from interviews, but I just don't like the format that text ones are presented in. The questions that the interviewer are usually in a different font and stand out from the person being interviewed's text to the point of distracting me from the rest of it... I love audio interviews, if the interviewer is good, but text ones I just can't get into. I only read interviews if It's someone that I know, and I'm really interested in reading their opinion of something... Even then I usually skip them knowing that I can get the same information in a different format somewhere else that bugs me a lot less.
Verdict: 99.99% skipped
And over to you...
What types of posts do you skip?
1. Really long lists.
Lists are a great tool when used properly. Short ones under 10 items are great when you're writing a post. In fact FIND BLOG ENTRY) I felt that the one here is an example of how well lists can work when used well. Here's another example of FIND GOOD SHORT LIST how short lists can be used well.
The problem comes when someone has a numbered list that goes over about 15 items (Which is still a bit long in my mind). Then the post gets extremely dull, as it's all one format. The author looks like they took and outline for a speech and tried to pass it off as a normal blog post. Which is fine if your blog specializes in speech writing, and outlines.
Verdict: Auto Skip
2. MeMes
Sometimes I'll read these if I particularly like that Meme, I've even been known to do them DA MEME, BLOG MEME LINKS/TITLES HERE. But unless it's the one I like, I skip it completely. It's like those forward e-mails that have you fill out the really long surveys and send them out to all your friends. There are way too many floating around and are becoming a really bad clque.
Verdict: 98% Skipped.
3. Interviews...
You can learn a lot from interviews, but I just don't like the format that text ones are presented in. The questions that the interviewer are usually in a different font and stand out from the person being interviewed's text to the point of distracting me from the rest of it... I love audio interviews, if the interviewer is good, but text ones I just can't get into. I only read interviews if It's someone that I know, and I'm really interested in reading their opinion of something... Even then I usually skip them knowing that I can get the same information in a different format somewhere else that bugs me a lot less.
Verdict: 99.99% skipped
And over to you...
What types of posts do you skip?
Friday, January 16, 2009
I'm going on a job hunt....
I've got to go job hunting.... AAAAHHHH!!!... Well it's not quite that bad, but it is scary. This isn't the first time that I've went job hunting, every other time has been unsuccessful. With the lack of jobs in my area currently I don't hold out great hopes for this round of hunting either. There is a distinct lack of jobs in my area, of any kind.
What job am I looking for...
I'm not 100% sure what kind of job that I want. I would prefer something working with the public, and possibly computers. Retail looks like an interesting job, or perhaps working in a restaurant as a cashier. I'm not sure if I could wait tables, but I'm willing to try. There aren't very many restaurants around here that aren't fast food. I'm not in a position to be terribly picky as I don't have an extreme amount of experience. I wouldn't mind working in an auto parts store, but I'm not real sure how well men would take to asking a woman about car parts.
I'd love to have a job in either the technology sector, or something related. I have two certifications in computers (CompTIA A+, and Network+), but that's not really the direction that I'm interested in going anymore. (Though if I can get a good part time job in that area I'll take it.) Maybe computer repair in a little shop.. Though that's doubtful as most of the local shops are drying up.
My dream job...
Something creative that I can get a simi steady income off of. Freelance writing, podcasting, art commissions, or some combination there of would be wonderful. I love to make things, and to be creative. Even if these are only sidelines to a normal job they're something I'm going to try anyway.
Something that keeps me interested enough that I want to get up most days and go to work. (I'm not asking for all days because that's an impossibility, because who wants to work if they have the flu?)
And over to you...
What is your dream job...?
What job am I looking for...
I'm not 100% sure what kind of job that I want. I would prefer something working with the public, and possibly computers. Retail looks like an interesting job, or perhaps working in a restaurant as a cashier. I'm not sure if I could wait tables, but I'm willing to try. There aren't very many restaurants around here that aren't fast food. I'm not in a position to be terribly picky as I don't have an extreme amount of experience. I wouldn't mind working in an auto parts store, but I'm not real sure how well men would take to asking a woman about car parts.
I'd love to have a job in either the technology sector, or something related. I have two certifications in computers (CompTIA A+, and Network+), but that's not really the direction that I'm interested in going anymore. (Though if I can get a good part time job in that area I'll take it.) Maybe computer repair in a little shop.. Though that's doubtful as most of the local shops are drying up.
My dream job...
Something creative that I can get a simi steady income off of. Freelance writing, podcasting, art commissions, or some combination there of would be wonderful. I love to make things, and to be creative. Even if these are only sidelines to a normal job they're something I'm going to try anyway.
Something that keeps me interested enough that I want to get up most days and go to work. (I'm not asking for all days because that's an impossibility, because who wants to work if they have the flu?)
And over to you...
What is your dream job...?
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Do we even have ‘Family Fun’?
Family fun is something that I don’t think about often. My family doesn’t do fun things together, at least in the classic sense. Most of the common types of family fun I see shown, or talked about are: Board games, card games, vacations, trips to theme parks, etc.
We don’t play games together; we don’t really enjoy trips that well because of having to keep up with everything. I doubt that we’d enjoy going to a theme park even if we went to one, because of how crowded they are. Shopping isn’t that fun for us either because we don’t really need anything much. My parent’s tastes in movies are quite different, so it’s hard to find something that they both like. Even then it’s hard to get together and watch it.
I finally took a few minutes to think about what we do together that would be considered family fun. I finally came up with two things:
Visiting with friends in small groups, just one family at a time is usually the most fun. Because we get to talk to everyone in their family, and they get to talk to everyone in our family. It’s not like at a party where everyone is talking over everyone else. Because we have a lot of friends, so a meal with one or two families at a time tends to be a special treat. Even just going over to their house to visit awhile is fun.
Playing with our pet birds is another of our favorite fun things to do throughout a day. The birds are always doing something a bit different to get our attention. Playing with them all of us will get into playing. The birds just love it of course.
Maybe we don’t need the traditional family fun times. We’re together a lot. My Father’s auto repair shop is a few hundred feet from the house, and my mom is the home maker. I’m currently job hunting, both locally and working toward freelance writing.
And over to you…
What do you, and your family, do together for fun?
We don’t play games together; we don’t really enjoy trips that well because of having to keep up with everything. I doubt that we’d enjoy going to a theme park even if we went to one, because of how crowded they are. Shopping isn’t that fun for us either because we don’t really need anything much. My parent’s tastes in movies are quite different, so it’s hard to find something that they both like. Even then it’s hard to get together and watch it.
I finally took a few minutes to think about what we do together that would be considered family fun. I finally came up with two things:
Visiting with friends in small groups, just one family at a time is usually the most fun. Because we get to talk to everyone in their family, and they get to talk to everyone in our family. It’s not like at a party where everyone is talking over everyone else. Because we have a lot of friends, so a meal with one or two families at a time tends to be a special treat. Even just going over to their house to visit awhile is fun.
Playing with our pet birds is another of our favorite fun things to do throughout a day. The birds are always doing something a bit different to get our attention. Playing with them all of us will get into playing. The birds just love it of course.
Maybe we don’t need the traditional family fun times. We’re together a lot. My Father’s auto repair shop is a few hundred feet from the house, and my mom is the home maker. I’m currently job hunting, both locally and working toward freelance writing.
And over to you…
What do you, and your family, do together for fun?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
My Dream Wedding... NOT!
Every once and awhile something on TV about weddings will come up, I hear about someone getting married, or I'll see some photography of a wedding. It always gets me to thinking about what I'd want in a wedding if I ever get married. It's just one of those odd things that runs though my mind once and awhile like what car would I buy, what kind of house would I want, etc.
The more I think about it, the less I want a white gown wedding with frills. Even a small one doesn't work for me. For one thing I don't have that kind of money, for another even if I did I wouldn't want to spend it on something that would be just one day. I'd rather take the money and spend it on a house,or a car. Something that would be actually useful to me later on.
Most people think white dress, tuxedos, flowers, big cake, big ceremony, etc. I look at those and it just boggles my head how much money people spend on weddings... After I get over that first reaction, and give myself a kick, remembering that it is a very special day an if they want to spend their money that way it's fine. (It kind of falls into the same category as me spending what I do on books, chocolate, etc.) I go to thinking about how I'd want my wedding to be.
So here's my actual dream wedding...
My immediate family, and his immediate family, meet up at the court house, get married. Dressed up in our 'Sunday best'... With maybe a new dress for me, it's not a big deal. Then after that maybe all of us go out to eat some where. Then a couple of days later a smallish pot luck type party for our friends. (A couple of days later because my nerves will probably be shot enough with getting married as it is on the day).
For the honeymoon... Maybe rent a cabin for two weeks in the smoky mountains, or just have a honeymoon at home.
And over to you...
What's your dream wedding?
The more I think about it, the less I want a white gown wedding with frills. Even a small one doesn't work for me. For one thing I don't have that kind of money, for another even if I did I wouldn't want to spend it on something that would be just one day. I'd rather take the money and spend it on a house,or a car. Something that would be actually useful to me later on.
Most people think white dress, tuxedos, flowers, big cake, big ceremony, etc. I look at those and it just boggles my head how much money people spend on weddings... After I get over that first reaction, and give myself a kick, remembering that it is a very special day an if they want to spend their money that way it's fine. (It kind of falls into the same category as me spending what I do on books, chocolate, etc.) I go to thinking about how I'd want my wedding to be.
So here's my actual dream wedding...
My immediate family, and his immediate family, meet up at the court house, get married. Dressed up in our 'Sunday best'... With maybe a new dress for me, it's not a big deal. Then after that maybe all of us go out to eat some where. Then a couple of days later a smallish pot luck type party for our friends. (A couple of days later because my nerves will probably be shot enough with getting married as it is on the day).
For the honeymoon... Maybe rent a cabin for two weeks in the smoky mountains, or just have a honeymoon at home.
And over to you...
What's your dream wedding?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
It almost feels like square one
Getting back to writing after NaNoWriMo is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. I've been procrastinating royally, and I'm kicking myself for doing so every day. Tonight I'm still wide awake so I thought that I'd put it to good use and kick myself over my lazy streak again.
Why does it feel like square one?
I'm having to start over for the 3rd time this year on trying to write an entry here every day. I had it almost a habit a couple of times but other things busted in. I'm going to try and work my way back up to it again. I'm probably going to be spotty at times, but I'm going to keep at it. I'm never going to be perfect at it, it's something that I just have to accept and move on with life. Which includes continuing to write.
Fumbling for words...
Which is exactly what I'm doing right this moment. I tend to do it a lot when I'm writing lately. Not on first drafts, but on actual entries that I want to publish. It's my inner editor yelling over my shoulder that I need to get this right the first time. (At 1:30AM it is highly unlikely I'll get this very well done at all, but it's the chance I'm taking for now.) I know better, but it still bugs me.
I've noticed that I also got too picky on what subjects I was writing on. I'm not going to be quite so picky, and tackle a few of the harder and more interesting ones. Such as a few more snippets on trains, and knitting, art and other things. I was getting in too much of a rut. I'll probably keep the same themes to the days that I've planned out too. It's rather sketchy, and will probably end up being better defined as I go along.
I guess I'll stop right here and call it a night, or is that a morning... It's just hitting 2AM now so I guess I'll call it a very early morning.
And over to you....
How's your week going?
Why does it feel like square one?
I'm having to start over for the 3rd time this year on trying to write an entry here every day. I had it almost a habit a couple of times but other things busted in. I'm going to try and work my way back up to it again. I'm probably going to be spotty at times, but I'm going to keep at it. I'm never going to be perfect at it, it's something that I just have to accept and move on with life. Which includes continuing to write.
Fumbling for words...
Which is exactly what I'm doing right this moment. I tend to do it a lot when I'm writing lately. Not on first drafts, but on actual entries that I want to publish. It's my inner editor yelling over my shoulder that I need to get this right the first time. (At 1:30AM it is highly unlikely I'll get this very well done at all, but it's the chance I'm taking for now.) I know better, but it still bugs me.
I've noticed that I also got too picky on what subjects I was writing on. I'm not going to be quite so picky, and tackle a few of the harder and more interesting ones. Such as a few more snippets on trains, and knitting, art and other things. I was getting in too much of a rut. I'll probably keep the same themes to the days that I've planned out too. It's rather sketchy, and will probably end up being better defined as I go along.
I guess I'll stop right here and call it a night, or is that a morning... It's just hitting 2AM now so I guess I'll call it a very early morning.
And over to you....
How's your week going?
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