So I decided to get the kindle app on my computer and on my android phone.  Both work fine, but the phone is too small for me.  I have over 600 books from amazon mostly kept in the cloud server, but I have about 100 downloaded into my laptop.  I have read 2 books so far and really want to get a tablet soon because they are great reading devices.  I know that because my wife enjoys reading books on her ipad.

When I was young in grade school, I remember ordering 1 or 2 books through school and would wait for about a month or two before they were delivered.  The feeling was excitement when they finally came in and the teacher distributed them out.  Brand new books with pictures in them about everything kids like to imagine about.  I remember reading them all in a day.

In high school, I would frequent the library everyday.  Yes, I was a complete nerd and book smart.  I liked the idea of checking out books 4 or 5 at a time for 2 weeks.  I just didn’t like returning them because I wanted my own little library.  I would even frequent the public library and read there on weekends.  This was on top of the comic books I read every week.

I think it was in college when I lost interest in books.  They became books I had to read and not enjoy.  Don’t get me wrong, I still like books but became burnt out when I was taking classes concurrently at Cerritos College and Woodbury University.   It was a lot of text book reading and tons of memorizing for many exams.    That is how I was able to finish my education in less than 3 years in 2 degree programs.  I was a stud nerd and had an aptitude for short term memorization for test taking which allowed me to graduate with honors.

Since my college days, I have not wanted to read books.  However, now that I have discovered you can have a virtual library in your computer or tablet, my interest has piqued.  I have read two business type books for my enjoyment  vs a requirement for some class.  I liked being able to learn for my own edification and think I will try to read more books now.

Don’t worry, out of the 600+ books I have purchased for free, I have loaned them out through Ebook Fling.  I would say about 321 books to be exact.  If you like books, you should join because it is free ebooks.

It’s funny the last comment made me reminisce about my school days at Woodbury University.  It has been over twenty years since I graduated, but I remember it like yesterday.  Thanks for stopping by and have an excellent day.

I appreciate you coming by and hanging out with me. Be sure to make a “love list”. Cheers!

My wife shared this Love List for the new year from a site called “Be More with Less” which I am still working my way on becoming a minimalist. I want to break the habit of my consumerism. I know with less clutter in my life the more I will enjoy the quality of it.

Anyways, the list is a great idea and I wanted to share it with you. So you can achieve happiness for the new year and every year after that. Cheers!

Be More with Less:

While I typically like to stay firmly rooted in the present, I think there is something indulgent and exciting about taking a peek into a new year.

Instead of firm goal setting or setting resolutions, make a list of the things you’d love to do or start doing in 2012. A new year allows for a fresh start, clean slate or new approach. Actually, you can create those things for yourself anytime, but a new year is a special invitation to be bold, brave, and different.

Make a love list for 2012 including every possible thing you would like to consider in life, love, business and relationships. What would you really love to do in 2012? What would you like to see? Who will you be and who will you be with in 2012?

Before you start your list, eliminate the roadblocks and dream killers. This is not a list for accountability. You won’t be crossing things off or crying over your undone tasks at the end of the year. Instead, use your list to fuel your creative pursuits and to encourage routine breaking behavior. Let your love list remind you what is most important in your life.

I know your brain and heart are starting to sync up and thing about possibility, opportunity and all that lies ahead. Don’t stifle that by closing your email or jumping to the next thing. Instead, write your love list right now.

How you start is up to you but here are a few ideas.

• Curl up with a pencil and paper in your favorite place to be. Daydream in silence and write everything that comes to mind. Don’t edit or filter, just write. Star or highlight the 3 things you want to start first.
• Turn on your favorite music, gather colored pencils and paper and doodle away as you make your love list. Each item can be in a different color or you can add color all around the page.
• If you think better through images, search for images that inspire each item on your love list and make a collage.
• Close down everything on your computer except for workflowy or ommwriter and create your list. Print it or save it.

The next step should be the same regardless of the process. Frame your list or place it somewhere you can see everyday. Don’t let these brilliant, lovely ideas get buried in the stress of debt, or hidden by a long work day. Keep them alive by digging into them every day, even if it’s just 5 minutes. You might bring your entire list to life in 2012, or maybe just 1 item. Even better, a new idea might come from the combination of several love list items.

My 2012 Love List

• Yoga every week
• Learn Spanish
• Read 2 books a month or more (you can follow my progress)
• Travel to Italy
• Ski faster (just a little bit faster)
• Plant one flower a month (Thanks Alyson)
• Learn more about street yoga
• Give away more
• Buy only used/local/essential things
• Intentionally feed someone
• Take a last minute family road trip
• Make new friends
• Be even more with even less
• Write a book
• Do meaningful work

Your list can grow or shrink as the year goes on. Don’t hold yourself to exactly how you felt and just what you thought the day you wrote your list. Things change, you change, your list will change and your life will change. That’s beautiful, and so are you.

Happy new year my beautiful friends.

For me everyday is a gift. Today is no different. I appreciate everything I have in my life. I am very grateful to have found true love at a young age. I am very grateful to have gained insight on how to be truly healthy. I am grateful I have a roof over my head and a dependable car. I am grateful to share what I can with you.

Let me know what special plans you have today. Make it excellent!
Cheers!

Don’t worry, I am not a peppy guy with that attitude that annoys everyone around them.  I am just a man who knows he is blessed and appreciates every one of those blessings.  A good way to show appreciation for me is to say what I am grateful for.

Once you learn to appreciate everything in your life, happiness follows. I have read enough self help books and listened to many CDs on the matter and they generally preach the same thing. It is no secret. Focusing on all the gifts in your life will put you in the best state of mind.

During these tough economic times, everyone worries about money and how they are going to pay their bills. Really that is not a big deal. We all figure it out somehow. And if we dont’ the worse that can happen is some of the bills don’t get paid on time. So why worry about it?

I won’t deny it, I have an excellent life but most of that comes about my perception of what I have. I think most people have more than they realize.

I am thankful I am healthy and no longer eat animal products.

I am thankful for my wife of over 20 years and the great relationship we have it.

I am thankful we have delicious food to eat everyday.

I am thankful for the hot tea we share together everyday.

I am thankful for the roof over our heads.

I am thankful for the economical car that we have.

I am thankful to be able to enjoy my life another day.

Everyday I take time out to recognize what I have to be grateful for. Simply known as counting my blessings. I am sure we all do it but being consistent and meaning it is the most important thing about gratitude.

I have learned to love everything in my life and not take it for granted. So be happy today because tomorrow is not promised.

If you get a chance, try reading this book Chicken Soup for the Soul. It is free to read in google books. Or you can order the paperback online.  Pretty cool google even let me embed it for you below. On the top right corner, just click the arrows to go to the next page.  Cheers!

I saw this movie Forks Over Knives last year at a prescreening. I was impressed with it and since I changed my lifestyle, I am literally at my healthiest in my entire life.

This movie is available streaming on netflix right now, and I recommend you watch it if you have that service with the family. It will open your eyes to what you are really putting in your body. If you have ever been overweight (which I have been), then you will discover that the foods you actually eat will affect you on the inside. It doesn’t matter if you are fat or skinny because true health is measured by your blood pressure, cholesterol level, and bmi.

I plan on giving a copy of this movie to all my relatives and friends. I know most of them won’t be interested but I feel like I got to at least try to help them with knowledge. Most people I know have heart problems, diabetes, and other health issues that can be cured.

I am still getting many hits for my gadget posts, so that keeps me motivated on posting about those items. I even get hits on my older posts on the economy, credit cards, etc. Apparently, over time you start to get hits on everything you blog about. I think that in itself motivated me to keep blogging.

I recently applied for different advertisers and I assume based on the traffic I receive now vs before, they have approved me. So in the next few weeks, I will probably change up the adverts on my blog. Hopefully, they will be things more useful to you.

Thanks again for stopping by and your support is always appreciated. Cheers!