Weekly Journal April 8, 2017

What did I do yesterday?

I feel like I didn't get much done yesterday. I've wanted a system that could show me the answer to this question. At work I need to track my time and often feel the same way.  If I know where my time is going I believe I could learn from it and make better usage of my time.  There are many "productivity" books that say you should track you time for a day or week and learn where you waste it. 

First I'll just do a brain dump of what I remember:

• I installed the new cable box in my basement
• I brought up folding table from garage
• I worked on this document
• I watch a lot of videos on Syria
• I watched 2 Derren Brown Videos
• I napped
• Twitter
• Bought and ate ice cream
• Cooked Salmon for dinner
• Didn't watch Islanders hockey game but followed it and the Toronto vs, Pittsburgh game and the Isles are out of the playoffs :( on the second to last game of the year

Sitting vs. Standing

I've been trying to stand more since watching a video on the internet saying how bad it is to sit.  Not sure if it's true or what is true anymore.  I downloaded an app that gives me an alarm every 50 minutes to stand up.  So if I do this at work that's 80 minutes of standing with probably lower productivity unless I have a stand-up desk.

I asked my boss if I could get one and she said that I need a reason. I said "Like a doctor's note?" and she said yes. One thing I realized that how valuable you are at work is based on what you will get and will not get, If my boss really valued my contribution she would have said "I'll see what I can do." If you're being turned down for things like computers, or stand-up desks then you should take this as a message.

I'd like an app that measures how long per day I sit.

Standup Desk

I've been wanting to get a Stand-up desk at work. I asked my boss if I can get get one and she said "You need a reason."  So I have a doctor's appointment and want to ask my doctor for a note. Instead of asking him right out I first ask him about what he thinks about "stand-up" desks. After he agrees with me about their usefulness I ask if he will write a note for me 

Drs. Appt

• My PSA 3.5 which is high for a 57 year-old 
• Asking for a note for stand up desk
• I'm asked to spy on whether my doctor washed his hands

Weight

• 170.8 yesterday and 171 this morning and I want to start the Excel Diet again. In 11 weeks I could be at a goal weight. 

President Trump sends cruise missiles to Syria

This week there was a chemical weapons attack in Syria and President Trump order 59 Cruise Missiles fired at the airport where the plane took off from.  Is this the first shots fired for WWIII. A couple tweeters (People on Twitter) Scott Adams, Mike Cernovich think the attack wasn't by Syria's government. Others like John Xenakis says that it was the Syrian Govt did commit this and other atrocities against civilians.

3D images

On my phone I noticed that image appear to be 3D. I'm not sure why or how this effect works. My wife and son don't see the effect. 

Taxes

Tax day is fast approaching. About 1 week away. I hate taxes so much. I go to the accountant each year and get charged $250.

To-do List

1. Install Cablebox
2. Bring up folding table from garage
3. Clean Garage
4. Vacuum
5. Clean other desk
6. Clean poop from yard
7. Wrap up wood
8. Clean Desk
9. Read Habit book
10. Finish automation at work
11. Shopping
1. Buy Damp Rid
2. Buy Paint to finish painting the fence
3. Buy new faucet for kitchen sink
12. Work
1. Move latest mxlp-s slide to template
2. Finish Automation
3. Generalize automation
13. Health
1. Start up the Excel diet again
2. Try to figure out how to have a better diet
3. Research PSA and Prostate

Reading

I've been reading Steve Scott's book 23 Anti-Procrastination Habits. It's a good book and I'm not sure if this is from the book but I have listed this rule:

"Don't start a new task or project mid-week. Work on one project or story per week."

This idea is from the scrum methodology.  So I'd like to start an Agile methodology with my projects. I need to start a Backlog and to pick one or more items to do for the week. 

Goals - Habits - Actions

I want to change, but change is hard. Everything you do is related to habits.

Work

I've been feeling stress at work and disliking the job a bit. The stress is coming from the constant deadlines and not enough time to deliver. Then also from doing two jobs. One is automating or programmer and the other is report producer.  I feel like I have to do some work on the weekends to catch up as I feel like I'm falling behind.

Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee

I watch the show that Jerry Seinfeld does with Fred Armisen who stars in the show Portlandia. He was a bad guest and barely had anything to say. I also watched the episode with Miranda Sings. Also pretty bad, but interesting very end when she comes out of character.

Showing Phone on TV

Faster Internet

I got a faster internet connection this week and needed a new router as previous one was too old to handle the faster speeds. OptOnline gave me one for free.

Twitter

On twitter I posted a number of tweets and the one below is my favorite.

Juggling at Bryant Park

I went to Bryant Park one day last week and found the Juggling group. I met a bald guy named Alex and, a guy who was juggling 7 balls named Joshua and some other guy whose name I don't recall. 

He was teaching someone to juggle and told her not to look at the balls, which is terrible advice.

I worked on 3 balls, 4, 5 and some club juggling. My hamstrings were killing me the next day from all the bending to pick up the balls.

Food

• Fresco on the Go - Gorgonzola Zucchini and potato chips 34 E. 52nd street
• Whole wheat pizza on First Ave. between 68th and 67th street

Music

Islanders miss the playoffs

The miss playoffs

Blown games

6 on 5 and empty net goals

Luck in hockey

Mike Cernovich