Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Thank God for Netflix

Tags

Amazon, Curiosity Stream, Disney+, Documentaries, Entertainment, Netflix, Shows, TV Series

All of us are on lockdown, so I wanted to take a few moments to share some TV series I stream, in case you haven’t seen them. Here’s my list:

Netflix:

• West Wing
• Ozark

Amazon:

• The Man in the High Castle
• Anything James Cagney

Disney+:

• The Mandalorian
• Anything Star Wars

Curiosity Stream:

• Everything!

I hope you enjoy these. If you love documentaries, I cannot recommend Curiosity Stream enough. It only costs about $20 bucks a year, and there are enough topics on outer space, undersea exploration, animals, and tons of history. I am a huge documentary fan, so this is my bread and butter.

I’m thankful for these services and don’t regret one penny that I spend on them. It is terrific to have so many things to watch, pending my mood.

Well, that’s all I got today. I continue to hope all of you and loved ones are still safe.

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Thanks for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Curiosity Stream, and Vudu.

Tags

Amazon Prime, Appreciative, Curiosity Stream, Entertainment, Grateful, Netflix, Staying Busy, Thankful, Vudu

Well, we’re at home. We’re working from home and staying at home when we’re done working from home. If we get out, it’s because we need food or we have a doctor’s appointment, or we are just driving around to look at something different than our living room.

It’s time like these that you have to be thankful for the many streaming services that provide us entertainment. I enjoy Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Curiosity Stream, and Vudu. As I mentioned in my previous posting, I don’t watch a lot of news. Most of it is opinionated, slanted one way or another politically, and rarely carry anything of import. Most of it is designed to stress you out, and during these troubled times, I’d prefer not to add to the stress that is already there.

What do I like? Well, I love West Wing (I’m watching it right now). There is also season 2 of Altered Carbon, Locke & Key, and a bunch of other content available. On Amazon Prime, there are all kinds of great series and movies for cheap. I watched a James Cagney film last week, and it was terrific. I’ve got White Heat, another Cagney film on my watch list. It rents for $2.99 US.

If streaming videos don’t work, I’ve got Spotify for all of my podcasts and music, and my Xbox for gaming. Plenty of entertainment that I will never get through in a lifetime.

Since my gym has closed, I also enjoy using my exercise bands to stay in shape. If these aren’t your forte, there are plenty of free video home workouts on YouTube. All this technology, and all available for a minimal cost. Thank God!

There are a lot of things available to us to keep us entertained during any lockdowns we may experience. Take advantage of them. They are great entertainment, and they are reasonably priced. I pay $15.99 for my Netflix service and this allows all of my family to watch different things on four separate screens. It’s a great service.

Well, that’s it for today. During troubled times like these, it’s better to look at the bright side of things rather than wallow in self-pity and fear. You won’t change anything, but you will make yourself more miserable. Keep yourself busy. Do some chores around the house, workout, read a great book you’ve been putting off, or enjoy some entertainment on one of the many services I’ve listed. I forgot to mention Disney+, which I get for free because I’m a Verizon customer. This is a great service if you have kids!

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Grateful for Technology

Tags

facebook, Flipboard, Google Maps, Grateful, iPhone, Laptop, Netflix, technology

Today, I want to express my gratitude for my computer, my iPhone, my airpods, and all the wonderful apps and applications I use every day. It’s amazing when you think about all the things you can do today using one or two devices that before required so many devices and space-taking items.

On my phone I have access to a lot of movies: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Curiosity Stream, and Disney+. I have access to a lot of music: Spotify. I have access to a lot of books: Scribd and Amazon Kindle. I have a clock, stopwatch, calculator, weatherman, and a map to go anywhere I want.

I can go to school and learn whatever topic I want: Wikipedia, Coursera, edX, Udemy, and so many more. I can ask my phone a question, and most of the time I get a good answer or an idea where I can look.

Obviously, this list could go on and on. The point I’m making is that for a guy who grew up without these things, today is a good day. I find it so gratifying that I don’t have to spend a lot of money or go a lot of places to do all the things I need to. I can sit in a rocker, 10 feet from the kitchen, restroom, and bed and get all the things I need to get done during the day, short of going to the gym and hitting the weights.

One last thing I didn’t mention before is social media. Yeah, social media has a dark side, but it is so nice to make friends across the globe. I have friends in the UK, Australia, all over the U.S., and it’s just terrific. Even if I only connect with them for a few minutes here and there, they are still friends to me.

Most of you know that my wife is in Arizona and I am in Michigan. We are doing great. She is pursuing her career in Special Ed, while I pursue all I am pursuing, while helping my folks. Is it perfect? No, but it is so much easier than in times past. I can text her and get a response. She can call me on Facetime so I can see her and hear her. It is terrific.

I’m grateful to be alive during this terrific time. We are so blessed to have access to all that we do. Well, I’ll end here. I wish all of you a terrific week!

Until next time…

Dave

 

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – The West Wing

Tags

Enjoyable, Entertaining, Great show, Martin Sheen, Netflix, The West Wing, TV Series

I don’t know about you, but there are a few shows I enjoy watching repeatedly. The West Wing is mine. It’s been on Netflix for years. I never tire of watching it. If you’ve never watched this show and you enjoy political drama, give this show a watch. It doesn’t disappoint.

 

Here’s a link if you’d like to get a look at the cast and read about it: The West Wing

I wanted to share this with you because it has entertained me for years.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursdays – Family

Tags

family, Good Food, Good times, Grateful, Nephew, Netflix, Sister, Thankful, Wife

Our nephew visited this last week for a few days. It was great having him here. We went out to some restaurants, hung out on our deck, watched some shows on Netflix, and got in a little Xbox gaming. He got plenty of face time with Mom and Dad and we all enjoyed his stay. He headed back yesterday to get ready for his senior year at ASU, which started today. My sister also came up for a few days. While she was here we binge-watched Mindhunter Season 2 on Netflix. If you haven’t watched the Mindhunter series, it is worth your while.

I have been working with my wife to help her get ready for her teacher’s certification. We have been burning the midnight oil every day for the last few weeks for a few hours each night. It’s nice to help her get ready.

I am thankful for all the opportunities to spend time with family. I am blessed that I could be in the situation to spend time with my folks during their senior years. It was great seeing the nephew this week. It is also nice to spend time with my wife, while she pursues her career in Arizona. I am so proud of her.

I am also grateful for the new followers this week. Daily Ramblings is slowly creeping toward the goal of 1000 followers this year. It is nice to see new followers when I check into the Daily Ramblings blog site on WordPress. Thank you to all who have opted to follow my blog.

Over the next few days, I’ll be on a religious retreat, so Friday and Saturday postings will not happen. I’ll be too busy with the retreat and will not have time to get something up on the site. I’ll see you all on Monday!

I hope all of you have a great weekend!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Changing Yourself

Tags

3%, BrainyQuote, change, Daily Routines, motivation, Netflix, small changes, The Clone Problem

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” – Carol Burnett

Quote Credit: Brainyquote

Have you ever tried to change someone else? It’s pretty tough right? What about yourself? Also tough, right?

I’ve discussed change quite a bit on my blog, because it is constant. The change I am talking about are the changes you make to yourself. Do you want change or is someone else trying to change you? If you want change, you’ll get it done. If someone else wants you to change, you will resist.

In order to make a change in your life, you must want that change. Whether it is adding exercise to your day, meditation to your day, reading and writing to your day, or any number of things, you must make the change.

So, why is change so hard? It is hard because of the way our brain works. Our brain is terrific at automating things. Do something new and you struggle initially. Over time, the struggle transforms into something you do automatically. This is the very process I am talking about. Your brain records the actions you take. Do something enough and the neural pathways your brain uses to perform these tasks become stronger, much like adding twine to a rope. The more you do something, the stronger the neural pathway is.

So how long does it take? Some pundits say 60 days, others say 120 days. Honestly, I couldn’t care less. If you want to do something, do it. If you want to make a change, do it. If you really want to make the change, the time period that it takes to make it more subconscious shouldn’t matter.

Exercise has always been a challenge for me. I like doing it. I like the benefits that come from exercise, but some days I just don’t want to go. So, there it is. You may have something like this going on with you as well. Maybe your challenge is around a writing project, a yard project, school project, or something else. I struggle, but continue to push to get in an exercise routine in every day. What keeps driving me back to the gym? I want to be as healthy as I can be.

This brings up another discussion point—your why. Change is hard. It is impossible if you do not have a strong why. Why are you making the change? What benefit are you seeking? In order to be successful, your why needs to be stronger than your resistance to change.

What are some techniques you can use to make a change? You can put a daily reminder on your calendar or to-do app. You can have a set time during the day to do something. One of the best ways to get something solidified is to start small. Small changes build over time. These small changes build to big changes. Let’s say you have a goal and you want to begin working toward it. Instead of making a drastic change to your current life, make a small change. Small changes don’t take a lot of time or effort to do. They do, however, start building neural pathway. The stronger the neural pathway, the easier this task will become and the resistance you feel will dissipate.

Here’s my schedule for the week:

• Workout Mon-Saturday
• Meditate Daily
• Write Daily
• Writer’s Course Daily
• Python Course Daily
• Book Writing Daily
• Journaling Daily
• Reading Daily

I’m also doing a few fun things:

• I’m watching a Netflix series called 3%, which is quite good.
• I’m also reading a book called The Clone Problem, which is also good.

Well, that’s it for now. Have a great week everyone!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content – Video Games and Netflix

Tags

Dead Space, Dead Space 2, Dead Space 3, Enjoyment, Entertainment, Fun, Netflix, Recuperation, Relaxation, The West Wing

Image by QuentinLGH from Pixabay

I enjoy my relaxation time as much as I do the work I do. Currently, I am playing a video game called Dead Space. I am also watching a series on Netflix called The West Wing. If you have not played Dead Space, I highly recommend it. I won’t offer any spoilers but it is one great game. It has some really scary scenes and has a great back story. I love video games with a great back story. The West Wing is a television show that was very popular. The series is about a President (Martin Sheen) and a whole host of great characters who really make the show. The writing is superb and I enjoy it tremendously.

If you are into video games, try out Dead Space. It is re-engineered to work on the Xbox One and will set you back $15. It also has two more games beyond the original–Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3. I’m going to play the heck out of Dead Space this month and will jump into Dead Space 2 next month. It’s $19.99.

That’s it, folks. I just wanted to spread the word about two great things I do when I relax. I hope you give them a whirl if you are into Netflix and video games. They are a real treat!

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Funny Friday

Tags

Bob Hope, Chuckle, Friday, Funny, Giggle, Happy Hour, Laughter, Netflix, Smile

“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.”–Bob Hope

Today’s the day we clean up our office and head out for the weekend. You may go to a happy hour with colleagues, have a nice family dinner, or plop down on the couch and enjoy shows on Netflix. Whatever your plans are, have a great Friday night!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Bonus Content

Tags

Bandersnatch, family, Netflix, Relaxation, Sister, vacation

I’m up late and felt like writing a bit.

It was a great four days spending time with my sister at her new place. We ate some steaks, watched television shows, and relaxed. It was a great time hanging out with my sister.

We watched a movie that was awesome. The title was Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. If you haven’t watched this film yet I highly recommend it. This movie allows you, the consumer, to make choices with your TV controller throughout the film which affect the outcomes of the movie. It was so much fun!

I hope all of you had a nice day off yesterday with the Martin Luther King Holiday. We’re scheduled to get some more snow tomorrow. It’ll be a nice slow drive home. I am really loving the snow right now. It is so clean, crisp, and awesome outside. The sky, the last few days was so clear.

Well, that’s it for now. I’ll get my Ted Talk posting up later today.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thinking Thursday

Tags

Acquiring Skills, Amazon, Education, Ellen DeGeneres, Learning, Netflix, TV Series, Xbox

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” ― Isaac Asimov

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/learning

Only you know what you need to learn. Take some time to think about this. Learning is something that should be life-long. Why stop learning after you finish college? There is so much in the world to see, do, and understand.

There is no reason or excuse for failing to learn new things. Take advantage of the free education available on YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, and other online universities. They cost nothing or are reasonably priced.

What are you interested in? What would you like to be able to do? Take some time during the holidays to answer this question. You’ll be so excited to begin when you find what you are looking for.

Here’s what I’ve done since the last posting of Thinking Thursday on November 8, 2018:

Exercise Program:

I’m still working through Jim Stoppani’s Shortcut to Size program. Yeah, it’s taking longer than the 8 weeks because I sloughed off at my brother’s place and didn’t hit the gym that much.

Books:

How to be an Imperfectionist, Guise – This book was terrific! Like all Stephen Guise books, it is an overview of the research around perfectionism and how to thwart it and be more productive. I recommend this book if you are a procrastinator. It will show you how everyone makes mistakes pursuing new things and avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism, so you can get on with living and producing.

2136 Trilogy (Thrush, Matthew)

(I read the below books every December—they are just that good)

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey, Stephen)
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-free Productivity (Allen, David)
• Mini Habits (Guise, Stephen)

Classes:

Codecademy – I’m working through JavaScript coding currently. It is fun to get back into coding. The logic and thinking needed to work through code, line by line, is awesome!

Documentaries:

Movies:

Relatable (Netflix) – Comedy act by Ellen DeGeneres. If you’re a fan of her dry humor, you’ll love this one.

Kiss Me First (Netflix) – A good series about a world-wide multi-player game that goes awry. I think you’ll like this if you’re into tech and into CGI. I enjoyed this one.

Fun:

Fortitude (Amazon) – Great show! I won’t drop anything that will ruin the story for you. It’s just a great series. I’ve watched season 1 and 2.

Tin Star (Amazon) – Another great show about a cop who moves his family to a new area away from the big city to have an easier and safer job in law enforcement, but is their new home really safe?

Homecoming (Amazon) – Great series with Julia Roberts. This one is about an organization that helps soldiers when they return home—with a twist.

Kiss Me First (Netflix) – A good series about a world-wide multi-player game that goes awry. I think you’ll like this if you’re into tech and into CGI. I enjoyed this one.

Interesting Apps:

Nothing to add this time…

Video Games:

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Xbox) – Phenomenal game. This was not marketed like your typical game launches but was just terrific. I’m a big fan of “Indiana Jones” type adventure games and this one truly delivers. My brother and I played through the whole thing in 3-4 days. I highly recommend this one.

Until next time…

Dave