Monday, March 24, 2014

Distractions: When I Should Be Blogging...

Last night, I was planning to read Volume 7 of Death Note and write up a review in time for Manga Mondays. In an ideal world, I would have pre-written and pre-scheduled my post days or weeks earlier. But I procrastinated. When the time came to read the manga and write the review, suddenly I came up with so many more interesting things to do. This happens all too often. I really do want to read, to blog, to comment, to write reviews, but other things seem so much more appealing.

Here are a few things I do when I should be blogging:


Tetris Blitz



I go through phases with phone games but this has lasted for months. I am obsessed with Tetris Blitz. Hours literally melt away as my eyes and fingers are glued to those little tiles falling down my phone. This is the specific reason that I did not get today's Manga Monday post up. There was a point challenge that was going to expire in an two hours, so I had to spend large amounts of my evening meeting said challenge.

Television Shows



When I started law school ten years ago, television disappeared from my life. I was too busy and preferred to spend my free time reading or playing on the internet. Fast forward to last May when I decided that I wanted to start watching Doctor Who. I became obsessed and a whole new world opened up. Maybe there would be other television shows that I'd like. So I started watching Sherlock, Firefly, The Thick of It, Broadchurch. In the past few weeks, I watched all of the British version of The Office. I've started watching Foyle's War, Merlin, and Orphan Black. I want to start Torchwood soon (I'm saving it). I've also been watching classic Doctor Who. I finished Terror of the Autons this morning. Plus, I rewatch Doctor Who episodes over and over. Along with Sherlock. Basically if it's British and/or sci fi, I'll watch it.

Nail Polish



I was never one to paint my nails, but that's changed recently. When I lived in Sacramento, I found a great place that did quality $10 manicures and $20, so I started to get in the habit. Unfortunately, nail salons are a lot more expensive in Montana, so I figured I'd start painting my own nails. This quickly turned into an obsession. Not only does painting nails take up time, but there is the time spent at Target, Ulta, and Sephora looking at nail polish. And there are lots of great nail polish blogs to get me excited about new color lines. Basically, I love painting my nails any shade of blue as well as anything that is bright and noticeable. Neon yellow is a favorite.

Fencing



I'm always looking for new hobbies. Last November, I decided to take fencing lessons. A total whim. I'm still not sure what prompted me to try it, but I love it. I spent all of Saturday at a fencing clinic in Bozeman, plus four hours of driving to and from the gym there. I'm not very good, but it's a sport that requires a lot of strategy - sort of like physical chess. The more I learn, the more I enjoy it.

Celebrity Gossip



We all have our guilty pleasures. Mine is celebrity gossip blogs. I spend far too much time reading this stuff. Especially because I don't care about most of the celebrities. But the ones I do care about are utterly fascinating. The blogs that I loyally visit every day include Lainey Gossip (my favorite), Gossip Cop, Celebitchy, and People.

Podcasts


I love podcasts. I'm subscribed to at least 100 podcasts. I pick and choose which ones I listen to, but I do spend a lot of time listening to podcasts. Usually when I'm driving or doing chores. That's time that I could be spending using my Audible audiobooks but I'm not. It's too hard to stay away from my beloved Doctor Who podcasts and history podcasts and NPR podcasts and pop culture podcasts and more. Sometimes I can comment or blog and listen to podcasts at the same time, but usually I like devoting my full concentration to each task.

22 comments:

  1. I'm British and currently going through a phase of watching every American show that I can find, it halts my reading a lot! I too have an addiction to nail polish, if I see a colour I like I have to buy it. Then theres the hours spent painting my nails and not being able to touch anything cause I dont want to ruin them.

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  2. I've been trying to take breaks whenever the mood hits this year. I took all of last week off because I had no urge to write reviews. I'm starting to get better about it and not feel too guilty.

    I also like reading posts like this that let us know what other things you might be doing and are interested in.

    I've been movie binging and trying new shows since we just upgraded our cable.

    Fencing! How cool is that?!

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  3. Just in the past few months nail polish has become an obsession of mine. I am painting my nails usually twice a week, never mind spending hours looking in stores and online for those perfect shades of polish.

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  4. Hahaha, I was going to do Manga Monday today but I was too busy doing other things to think about it. However, I have never actually listed those distractions. I enjoyed reading yours.

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  5. My big distraction is my diet. Not so much the food but exercise. I do work all day, then family time/chores/errands then I come home to usually read a book. But not anymore. Now I come home and hit the treadmill which takes up my reading time. I'm doing my best to trying to balance it but its hard. I found myself reading late at night instead of the evening like I use too.

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  7. Ack! I have no idea why it posted as glamourwriter. I haven't used that username for years...grumble grumble. I guess that's what happens when you don't blog for a year. Oh, well! Guess I have to start over with this whole book blogging thing. Too bad I can't used Twitter. Anyway...what I was trying to say in my previous comment (before I deleted it), I've come back to book blogging after a year's hiatus. I decided to take part in your Manga Mondays! I posted something for this week. Fencing and watching TV sounds like good times to me!

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  8. Well if you are watching the Doctor then obviously blogging wouldn't appeal....LOL I post out 2-3 weeks sometimes 4 and that cushion allows me to veg out and lose myself in socializing, Doctor Who and pedicures. Will look for your Manga Monday next week:)

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  9. Oh wow, I feel so behind on my Brit television after reading your post! :) Lots that I want to see, but it's so hard to find the time. (And it doesn't help that I'm currently on a Star Trek kick). I LOVE that you are learning fencing - I think that's a really cool hobby and it might get you out of a dangerous situation... maybe if you use an umbrella as an epee. :D I would love to try it someday, you've inspired me to look up any places that teach it in my area! :)

    Though it is hard to find time to read and keep up with the book blog, I think you should post about those other interests - it would be interesting to read more of your thoughts on fencing for instance! And on the Brit tv shows!

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  10. British TV is a perfectly good distraction in my opinion ! I was obsessed with Downton Abbey at one point. If you like gossip blog have to check out ONTD ? They are a bit snarky but I get addicted to it from time to time.

    I've been super distracted a well, mine is mostly just scrolling on Tumblr.

    Love some pop culture podcast recs !

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  11. Oh man - if you had brought up Tetris Blitz about a year ago, I would've been right on board with you and your obsession. I've somehow escaped its grips since then. More recently, I've become totally and completely addicted to Jurassic Park Builder, which is a totally silly game, but I can't help it. I love hatching new dinosaurs!

    Also - fencing? Coolest hobby ever!

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  12. I can totally relate. I love TV shows and now I'm watching The Walking Dead, Dexter, Fringe, Weeds... and some more. And my guilty pleasure is to watch some of the shows on TLC. And since I'm trying to improve my health I also spend some time exercising and planning my meals.
    But I don't have any cool hobbies like fencing :)

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  13. LOL! Love it. There are such time-wasters out there but some are so AWESOME, there's no reason to give them up. I took yesterday off work for a mental health day and, after finishing a great book, wasted the rest of the day playing a new game on my XBox (I did my best to quash the voices in my head telling me I needed to clean and be an adult.).

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  14. wow you sound busy and I agree with you that Tetris is a good time suck . I totally get the beauty things now ...as someone who is back to school, and working. I adore orphan black :)

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  15. I am always avoiding reading. LOL! I just bought an Xbox One so there is that. Then I watch a ton of TV... and movies. My husband tried fencing a few years ago. He only went to one class. He did say it was pretty tough to do.

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  16. Ha I'm so easily distracted it doesn't even have to be anything I'm dedicated to. I love nail polish but don't have patience to paint my nails but I definitely find myself lost in games on my ipad on my way to the kindle app.

    I love that you are taking fencing! That's cool I want to try it, that and archery. I remember enjoying it as a kid.

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  17. LOL, I've been slacking in my read as well by playing Candy Crush and watching Angel. I just finished Season 1 of Angel and hope to start 2 soon. I'm really thankful that you only have 5 lives on Candy Crush because that's my limit. I won't pay for extra lives which I think is ridiculous.

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  18. For me it's WOrds With Friends - so addicted to that game.

    Tanya Patrice
    Girlxoxo.com

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  19. Finally, someone else who watches Orphan Black! How did you like it so far? I'm addicted to it. And high five on Gossip Cop. It's actually the only celebrity blog I read hehe. My other distractions are Another Case Solved (a mobile game) and Clash of Clans, lol.

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