Musings Archives - Page 4 of 6 - The At Home Couple

Day One Of Officially Being “athome”

today

Today marks some firsts, my friends.

Today is the first day of my unemployment, and the first day that theathomecouple.com is official. I am now at home!

Truth be told, the reality probably won’t kick in until next week, because I kind of feel like I’m just on vacation. Eli has graciously given me this week to adjust, so I spent the day working through a list of things I want to accomplish around the apartment. Things that have been knawing at me and I just haven’t had the time to do. So I cleaned up the balcony,planted some flowers and worked on a project for my Uncle’s 50th birthday. All this between loads of laundry and dishes. I’m wiped . . .but I feel great.

We have a lot on the go right now, and a lot that we want to work on. We are in the process of launching a new content service called WordBoo.com. And I’m going to be putting together presentation material to market my design services. So hopefully soon I’ll be busy with work stuff, which makes getting all these little chores out of the way all the more important.

Throughout the day today I found myself thinking about what I would have been doing at work if I was there, and thinking a lot about my friends. I had a pretty rough day on Friday because I realized that I wouldn’t see these people anymore. They have helped me through a lot, whether they’re aware of it or not. In the past year and a half I have done so much growing, and each one of them is responsible for helping me through it. I almost started to second guess my decision because I realized that working from home with Eli doesn’t really allow for any other social interaction. But that is just one of the challenges we face. Finding that balance and recognizing when it’s time to be apart.

There will be many other challenges and that is what excites me and motivates me. I need the unknown to keep me moving forward, otherwise I become too comfortable and I get lazy.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, this is just day one. And on day one I feel great. I’ve accomplished a lot today and I am so proud of myself for making the commitment and taking that leap. Tomorrow is another day, and I’ll deal with it when it gets here.

Until then,

Veronica

22 Canadian Creations You Might Not Know About

For those of you out of the loop i.e. most Americans and everyone else around the world, today is Canada Day. Many people are asking how old Canada is in 2009? The answer is 142! 142 years of being a constitutional monarchy and even more importantly, 142 years of inventing and creating things that nobody in their right mind figured was Canadian.

So on that note, I thought it would be appropriate for me to educate you guys on a few things that are 100% Canadian. Here is my list of 22 Canadian Creations You Might Not Know About:

Superman – Conceptualized and created by Joe Shuster and Jerome Siegel (1938)
The Telephone – Invented by Alexander Graham Bell (1874)
Basketball – Created by James Naismith (1892)
Anti gravity suit – Wilbur R. Franks (1940)
Electric wheelchair – Invented by George J. Klein
Five pin bowling – Thomas E. Ryan (1909)
Frozen fish – Dr. Archibald G. Huntsman (1926)
Zipper – Conceptualized by Gideon Sundback (1913)
Pictionary – Created by Rob Angel (1986)
Insulin (as diabetes treatment) – Dr. Frederick Banting, Dr. Charles Best and Dr. Collip (1921)
Walkie-Talkie – Invented by Donald L. Hings (1942)
Electric cooking range – Invented by Thomas Ahearn (1882)
Trivial Pursuit – Created by Chris Haney, John Haney and Scott Abbott (1982)
Cobalt bomb – University of Saskatchewan and Eldorado Mining and Refining (1951)
Air-conditioned railway coach – Invented by Henry Ruttan (1858)
IMAX – Created by Grahame Ferguson, Roman Kroitor, Robert Kerr (1968)
Lightbulb (first patented) – Henry Woodward (1874)
Nursing Mother Breast Pads – Marsha Skrypuch (1986)
Retractable beer carton handle (Tuck-away-handle Beer Carton) – Steve Pasjac (1957)
Electron microscope – Prof. E. F. Burton and Cecil Hall, James Hillier and Albert Prebus (late 1930s)
Wonderbra – Invented by Louise Poirier (1964)
Heart Pacemaker – Invented by Dr. John Hopps (1949)

References: Canadian Inventions

***And to some of our less-informed cousins south of the border: no, it doesn’t snow all year round, and no, not all of our police men and women ride horses. Oh yeah – and we don’t live in igloos.

Happy Canada Day!

Cheers,

Elijah

Michael Jackson Is Dead: And We Killed Him

This is not going to be a rant about how awesome Michael Jackson and his music was. Nor is this going to be some superficial lecture on the human psyche. But today, one of the most influential people in my musical life has died and I can’t help but think that there are some people who should be feeling guilty right now.

We killed Michael Jackson. When I say “we” I am talking about the media members, paparazzi and journalists who have made a career out of destroying this man’s life over the last 25 years. We broke him down, piece by piece and bit by bit.

I’m many of you are thinking “he molested children” or “he destroyed himself” but the fact of the matter is that no single person, big or small, rich or poor, can or should have to absorb the onslaught of abuse this man was dealt. He wrote some of the most beautiful songs in musical history. He brought nations together through his words and melody. And this is how we thank him.

I would like to personally challenge any member of CNN, ABC, NBC or any other bullshit monopolistic, mind-twisting media machine to step forward and take responsibility for all the lies and exploitation they’ve fed to the public over the last 30 years. I personally challenge the paparazzi to step forward and make right of the wrongs they have caused.

And I personally challenge you, the readers, to comment below and share your opinion. Whether positive or negative. I don’t care if you loved Michael Jackson or hated him – it’s completely irrelevant.

How is this acceptable? How can we just stand here and believe we had no role in the slow and painful deterioration of a human being? Sure, Michael Jackson was weird. He was a creep. But he made beautiful music – and he was HUMAN.

Music And Making Money Online

It should be of no surprise to all you crazy kids that I am a child of music – I mean I sang a song for you guys! I was fortunate to be born from two families that are very inclined when it comes to music; my father is a multi-instrumentalist, all his brothers and sisters play instruments and/or sing. My grandma is killer with the maracas, and my mom is, well, my mom! So needless to say, since I was able to speak I’ve been singing and once I had the hand/eye coordination in my middle school years, I began to play any and every instrument I could get my hands on.

Music evokes emotion. In it’s truest form it is harnessed and expressed through moments of praise and inspiration – and I’m not necessarily talking about religion. Music moves people from the side of rooms into the middle and makes them act like idiots. Music apparently causes people to wear trench coats and shoot up their schools, because clearly it has nothing to do with parenting. There would be no film industry without music as I’m sure staring at moving images in silence wouldn’t have lasted – the entire horror genre would be non existent because it is the sound accompaniment which creates the sense of impending doom.

What does this have to do with making money online?

Well, let’s think about this for a second… You’re having a bad day and nothing is going as expected. No matter what you do you can’t concentrate on the task at hand – whether it be finishing an ebook that you’re writing, or doing some more link building for your latest affiliate driven review site. In an attempt to shake off the dissatisfaction you get up from the computer and start pacing around your home, with your thoughts moving a mile a minute – and this is obviously not helping.

When you’re in this state of mind there is no point working at all. It’s better to pack it up and call it a day, because without the right state of mind and focus on what your doing, the results will not be optimal.

The cure: listen to your favorite song!

Personally, I have music playing in the background all day while I work. I don’t have it blasting at 11 on the volume meter (spinal tap?) but I do have my speakers set to a nice listening level where it is not distracting, so I can still absorb the vibe and good feeling while increasing my productivity. I create a play list to typically last 1-2 hours and when it’s done I’ll create another depending on my current mood.

If you don’t typically listen to music while you work, this could be even more effective for you because once you feel yourself getting off track or loosing your groove – close whatever windows you have open and find that favorite song. Let that song play and allow yourself to feel the goosebumps forming. Take a deep breath and sing/hum along. Close your eyes and pay attention to the lyrics so you can subconsciously translate them into your current state of being. I can almost guarantee that after listening to a few of your favorite songs, you will go back to the task at hand with a clear mind and a better sense of what needs to be accomplished – and you WILL get it done!

Remember – music evokes emotion. Happy, sad, mad, etc… Use the power of music to change your mood and remind yourself that it can be used strategically to accomplish exactly that. One could even go as far as creating play lists for various situations i.e. a “tight deadline” play list which energizes you fills you with excitement at the challenge ahead. A “creative” play list which sparks your mental palate while working in Photoshop or Illustrator. A “brainstorming” play list when you feel an idea coming on and you need to map your thoughts.

Here’s a little taste of what I listen to depending on what I’m doing (keeping in mind that my music taste is extremely broad:

Jazz (Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bob James) – Usually when I’m building sites for flipping. I find the varying tempo and chord progressions keep my momentum going, while the pleasing tone of piano, sax/trumpet and contra bass prevent me from getting ahead of myself.
Hip Hop (De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Common) – I typically have consciously-driven hip hop playing during the mid-day afternoon. After I eat lunch I get a wave of tiredness, and this is easily combated by the grooving percussion and rhythmic lyricism of my favorite hip hop tracks. Sometime’s I listen to my own music as well.
Heavy Metal (Metallica, Killswitch Engage, Tool) – I’ll sometimes have a few beers while I’m putting in hours on the weekend, and nothing blends better than alcohol and hard rock. I find I come up with the most genious ideas while getting drunk and listening to people scream. I’m dead serious.
Funk/Soul/Big Band (Frank Sinatra, Lou Rawls, Willie Hutch) – The raw aspect of live instrumentation from the 60’s to the early 80’s accompanied by the unbelieveable vocal stylings of the greats always brighten my mood. Soul music can take me from thoughts of burning my computers and crushing my dreams to regrouping and appreciating what I have – rather than what I don’t have yet.
Pop (Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson) – Pop music makes me feel good. I’ll usually put on some up tempo tracks when Veronica comes home from work, so neither of us have the time to engage the thoughts of dissatisfaction and stress.
80’s Retro (Hall and Oates, Journey, Madonna) – We absolutely love 80’s pop! I guess it’s because it was playing all the time when we were children, and we absorbed the nostalgic elements which satisfy us now as adults. We rock out to retro on weekends.

What kind of music moves you guys and gals? I’d love to know!

Cheers,

Elijah

In The Blink Of An Eye

I have a serious problem right now. It seems that the older I get, the faster time moves. Yesterday I was 12 years old, playing hockey outside without a single care in the world. Then I blinked… And I’m 27, saying good-bye to another year with a laptop full of accomplishments and failures, ready to take on the new year like a spartan army with their back’s against the wall. I understand why time is flying by… But what can I do to slow it down? Can I slow it down? Some say it’s all about stopping to smell the roses, and taking the time to appreciate the finer things in life:

Like midgets and candle wax.

All in all, I’m in a much better place now than I was when this year started. 2008 began with Veronica, her family and myself grieving the passing of her father – who was the type of person that you only encounter every other lifetime. His death was an event that set me over the edge, plummeting towards what is most important and completely abandoning everything deemed to be secondary, without the slightest hesitation.

Not only did that moment get my ass into gear, but it also made me re-evaluate (for the 37th time) this college-to-cubicle system of work that’s been accepted by the general population – put in your 35 years of service to society, and retire, having accomplished nothing along the way. It’s legalized slave labor as far as I’m concerned. There is zero emphasis on passion and dream catching, and total focus on stability and safety. Taking risks is, well, risky – and risky will not secure your future. Show up for work on time, maintain neutrality and indifference, and when it’s time for the final vacation, you’ll be taken care of.

As the Wizard of Oz once said, “Not no way! Not no how!”

On a high note, this year has ended with me clearing my 3rd consecutive month profiting over $1000 online. I’ve positioned myself and made my mark. I’ve met some of the most amazing people who will, without a doubt in my mind, be future business partners and vacation buddies. I’ve discovered a world of possibilities, beneath the sales hype and secrets, that will provide Veronica and I with safety and stability of a different color. A world where we determine our hours, our rewards and our shortcomings. A world where we are in control of the books…

In the blink of an eye I have become a man. A man who is leaving in an hour to sip scotch and bring in 2009 amongst the company of my successful circle. People who’s words I appreciate, and consultation I seek in times of desperation. If all of you were here, I would be celebrating with you as well – because you guys have kept me going. I’ve created this place where I can speak freely, and you crazy bastards have accepted me from the get-go! Whether your laughing with me or at me is irrelevant – but the fact that you stop by whenever you get a minute and share stories with me still blows my mind to this very day.

Word is bond…

Please take some time to think about where 2008 started for you, and where it has ended. Look towards 2009 with a pen and pad handy – and begin to sculpt your future. I strongly believe that 12 months is all it takes to go from struggling to comfortable, and with the right plan and network of people surrounding you – success will come knocking. I wish you all the best in the new year, and hope to see each and every one of you at the top!

Oh yeah, if you’re going out tonight, don’t drink and drive. If you see someone who’s getting ready to drive, take their keys and give them a pillow. Don’t be stupid, stupid!

Cheers,

Elijah

I’ve Lost My Way

So it’s very clear that I have lost all steam on TheAtHomeCouple.com – what amuses me the most, is I have no reason why, or when this happened. It’s like one day I woke up and had nothing to write about. Eventually that day turned into weeks, and now I’m at the point where I am.

I want to be very clear in letting all of you guys know that Veronica and I are doing well. We’re doing great actually! I’ve been kicking ass online and making somewhat of a living over the last 3 months; a little white hat, a little black hat, a little NO HAT. I’ve recently hit the point where It would be smart to start outsourcing some of the content creation for my site flips, so I can produce more sites in less time – ultimately increasing my profit for that revenue stream.

To answer a few questions that I’ve received…

I am not selling this blog – no way in hell.

I am going to get back on a regular writing schedule after Christmas, promise!

TheAtHomeCouple.com will be revamped in the early new year, with a new theme, vibe and logo.

I promise to start leaving fucked up comments on your blogs more often as I manage my time and tasks more accordingly (this is where outsourcing comes into play).

That’s it!

I might squeeze out a post before Christmas hits, but in the mean time I hope all of you guys have a great holidays, eating lots of food and drinking lots of other people’s booze. If there’s a girl at your office that you’ve had your eye on, be sure to give her ass a good squeeze at the Christmas party – because it’s the only time of year you can get away with it!

Cheers,

Elijah