March Madness

So the third anniversary to the start of the TiVo Changed my Life blog came and went without fanfare. Yes, TiVo Changed my Life has hit it's three year milestone. Woo Whoo!!  So you may be asking - why no blogging. Well there are many blogs to be written about March - none of them actually written in March. 

Here's a short preview of what's to come:

March 6th-8th Half-Marathon Orlando (without training)

March 9th-12th: Not being able to walk 

March 13th: Last Day at St. Clair TEC

March 16th: First Day at Lapeer Ed-Tech

March 20th-22nd: Chicago for Max's 4th Birthday

March 22nd - Present: Work, School, Work - Laziness, Exhaustion - Work

April 3rd: Spring Break 2009 Starts

So I will get started, but I just wanted to alert you to the fact that though it appears I have left this blog unattended - I have been writing in my head, it's just now that I have actually had time to get what's in my head onto the computer.

Another Evening with Ira

Last night my mom and I went to hear Ira Glass speak again, this time at at the Wharton Center on the campus of Michigan State. Bruce and I bought the tickets the instant I heard he would be there because Bruce missed him when my mom and I went to see him at Borders in Ann Arbor. Then Bruce found out that he had to work at WDIV because there was a Pistons game. So of course I called my Mom to see if she wanted to spend another evening with Ira Glass, she said yes. I feel bad that Bruce had to miss him again, but I was glad to have my mom's company.

This is the third time I have gone to see Ira Glass speak, each time I have enjoyed it. Some things about the talk have remained consistent. He always takes times to talk to journalism students. He tells them about "the gap." It's the space between their taste and their actual abilities. I have used this in my classes with my students, and with myself. The other thing he stresses that practice makes perfect (ok maybe not perfect but better.) He says that the only way to get better is by setting goals and deadlines and creating things. I always leave these lectures with hundreds of ideas of things I want to create, now I just need to set deadlines to create them.

He also spoke of the power of narrative. He said that all our English teachers fail us with the dreaded "topic sentence." Yes, he claims, and I agree that good storytelling is often doomed by the driving need to have a topic sentence. We are all taught to write with a "topic sentence" or "thesis sentence" and then follow it up with supporting facts. I wonder if that is why I got a bad grade in 9th grad honors English, my inability to use the topic sentence effectively.

I agree that stories are powerful. I know that is why I listen to his radio show, "This American Life." It's an hour of great story telling. I left his lecture empowered and excited about creating something new. As I approach a new step in my life - 30 years-old - I sometimes think that there aren't many forks left in the road and I am headed in the direction I am headed in for the rest of my life (which wouldn't be that bad.) But then I married this guy named Bruce, who is a dreamer and it has rubbed off on me a little and I wonder, will there be a day when I will work for a show like this American Life - telling stories. Or maybe I will be featured on the show because of my blog writing. So when I left last night I was re-energized thinking there are still great things ahead for me creatively. Maybe a book, maybe I will write for a magazine, maybe I will be an intern at "this American Life." Who knows?

After the lecture (which was 2 hours) we meet my dad at the Okemos Denny's for a quick bite to eat. It was nice hanging out with my parents on a Saturday night in East Lansing. Next week that time I will be in Prague hanging out with Bruce, Meghan & Karyn.

In other news I didn't die at the Flushing Township run, however, I didn't break any land speed records. I average about 9:55 miles. I wasn't last in my age group, which is always positive. We even ran into my Aunt Val. We had fun. Tony and Robert finished in about 2 hours. Way to go guys a half-marathon is a big accomplishment. Next running event for the club is the marathon in Traverse City: Bruce, Karyn and I plan on running the 10k, Robert and Tony will run the full marathon.

A New Look for 2008

So I am coming down from the holiday high. This week I think I consume more candies, cookies and cake in one week time than I do all year. The kicker is the holidays aren't really over yet.

So now we are just days away from 2008-- which means resolutions (and of course the new look for the TiVo Changed My Life Blog.)

First the New Looooooook.

Well I must admit it's not my favorite, but I need to spend a little more time with the html until I can decide I can produce something better looking than this. However it is green, a color which I thoroughly enjoy - I know I sound like a kindergartener but it's my favorite.

What are my resolutions:

1. Run the Chicago Marathon
   This has been a goal of mine since 2001. I have technically been signed up and paid my money twice for this race. The first time, was after my first marathon and I was still working in the news biz. The race is in October and when September 11th happened, work became my number one priority. Then there was 2005. It was the first time I was training on my own for a long run, and I was doing pretty well. I had finished my 12 mile run, then I trip at work over the railroad tracks in Greenfield Village and broke my fifth metatarsal in my left foot. Which well stopped my training -- so this year (with the help of the 7:11 club) I am hoping that I will finally be able to register and run. My goal time is 4hours 30 minutes - which is 50 minutes faster than my first one. We shall see if I can do that. Anyone else in? Bruce?
   
   
2. Finish Graduate School
   This one is a no brainer because well it's a 15 month program and graduation is set for 08/08/08. But as I found out this fall classes can get a little much when you are trying to go to work and be a good student. I also need to put our grad school project into high gear, it's easy to let that fall behind with our other school work, work and well life.
   
   
3. Be More Organized
   Ok, I have a slight case of a type A personality, but sometimes it gets lost to the public, but it's always there. I crave organization and honestly without it, I don't sleep as well. Just ask Bruce, I have to make the bed before I can sleep in it. The question is why am I not organized. Well can you say, I have a lot on my plate. In reality I don't have as much as others, but I get so overwhelmed by the details - that I just get consumed. So in 2008, I am going to stop spreading myself so thin, instead, I am going focus on organizing Graduate School (set aside for school - so that I don't get too stressed out - don't wait for the last minute to get assignments done - which leads to burnout by the end of the semester,) my students (this one is hard, I need to set time aside to grade, so I don't get behind, and to realize that I can say no, and to organize my desk - stop the piles - start a filing system that works - but is not hard work for me) and my running (see number 1 - I need to hit the gym for at least 2 days a week even in the winter blahs - try to run in Marysville at 3:30 pm right after work - on the Helen 5k route.)
   
   
4. Write
   I love to write (if anyone who is still reading this) you know. I am not sure if I am the best writer, but that does not stop me. I have a secret dream of being both a fabulous children's book writer or chick lit novelists. I have many ideas and many book titles, but they are all in my head. So this year I am going to try to take them from my head to paper. Then figuring out if they are good enough for someone else to read them is another thing.
   

So that's just a short list. We will see how long these last. I think the hardest is organization - but I am committed.

TiVo Changed My Life
2007 Stats*

Visitors
6,411 Visits
1,530 Unique Visitors
11,081 Page Visits
2:16 Average Time Spent on the Site

Top Visits
1. April 12 - 49
2. February 19 - 43
3. August 8 - 42
4. March 22 - 38
5. July 12 - 36

Top 10 Searches of 2007
10. Krista Sahakian
9. Kathy Griffin Emmy Outburst
8. Jennie's G Love Channel
7. Tivo Switzerland
6. G Love Cleveland
5. how tivo changed my life jenny holladay
4. tivo changed my life
3. "port huron to mackinac" emmy
2. benny ninja
1. tivochangedmylife

Top Traffic Sources
10. Taawd's Blog
9. The "TiVo Did Not Change My Life" Blog
8. Broken Road Blog
7. Life in Alabama
6. Bruce 2 Go Blog
5. Blogger
4. TiVoChangedMyLife.com
3. Blogger Referral
2. Google
1. TiVoChangedMyLife.blogspot.com

Who's Visiting (Oh Yes We Are Global!)
North America

• United States (All states except North Dakota, Wyoming & Alaska)
• Canada
• Mexico
  

Central America

• Panama
• Costa Rica
  

South America

• Venezuela
• Brazil
• Peru
• Chile
• Argentina
  

Europe

• Germany
• France
• Beligum
• Switzerland
• Netherlands
• United Kingdom
• Sweden
• Norway
• Finland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Portugal
• Spain
• Italy
• Slovenia
• Greece
• Poland
• Russia

Asia

• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• India
  

Africa

• Uganda
  

*as of December 28, 2007

Why You Should Give a Hoot about Woot.

Yes, I said a hoot about Woot. What is a Woot? It's one item on one day on the Woot.com website. How it works? Well there is a new woot (item)at 1am EST. That Woot will remain on the website until it's sold out. The best part of Woot -- I think it's the witty podcasts. Also these Woot Guys come up with the wittiest writeups for nearly any item. Here's an example for today's Woot - A Polaroid Ultra-Compact 7 Megapixel Digital Camera for $79.99:

‘Roid Ragin’

Wassup, Polaroid T737? I suppose you think you’re pretty hot mustard there, with your—your seven megapixels and your 16mb of memory built-in. “Ooh, look at me, I’ve got image stabilization, I’m super cool, no one’s as cool as I am, I’m the coolest thing since… like, whatever.”

Well, you know what? Whatever!

You can also take a look at the past Woots. Along with the Woot there is the Shirt.Woot too. The shirt Woot usually sells out pretty fast. Why do I like woot? Well I enjoy their sharp sense of humor. For example if you are interested in working for woot here are some of their most important qualifications:

• No shirt, no shoes, no job
  
• Must be more intelligent, adaptable, and motivated than a typical bucket of gravel
• Must treat people as you would wish to be treated, unless you’re some kind of weirdo who wishes to be treated badly

Well I can't take the credit for finding Woot, I have to thank my husband Bruce for introducing me to Woot. I know make it a daily stop on my internet surfing. It's usually good for a chuckle and who knows there may be a woot that you can't live without.

Alert!!!!
New blogs added to the blogs I read.. Please enjoy my the musings of Megan & Wet Cat Carl.
There blogs inspired by the greatness that is TiVo & the TiVo Changed My Life Blog.
Megan's blog: TiVo Did Not Change My Life & Carl's: I Don't Even Have TiVo!

Pause The TiVo: It's Time to Celebrate

"TiVo Changed My Life" Hits the 200th Post

I realized tonight that I missed the 1 year anniversary of TiVo Changed My Life, that was a week ago today. So in celebration of 1 year (and 1 week) and 200 posts, it's an all in one anniversary post. I must say that in one year's time I have become blog obsessed, as many of my loyal readers and friends (and especially my husband) know. I usually am (hopelessly) promoting my blog. I really have enjoyed blogging in the past, not only posting and keeping all of you up to date with those must TiVo shows, but with reading other blogs. I have found several interesting blogs and I visit them daily, with hopes that their authors have nothing to do but update their blogs. And though I don't know them, I feel that I am friends with them. Yes, I know it's abnormal, but hey, I am embracing the world of bloggers. Looking back at this blog, it has really grown, from my first post with no pictures and hardly a paragraph to the marathon posts like my 199th post with video, pictures and more. As for visitors to the blog, it's growing. I didn't put Google Analytics on the blog until August 27th. But here are some of the stats:

• From 8/27 to today there has been 2,963 visitors.
• Visitors from 5 continents, 29 countries, 39 states & the District of Columbia.
• Top Number of Visitors: January & February: 550 visitors each month, February 19th: 43 visitors
  
• Most Searched Keywords: Tivochangedmylife (26 searches), Weavologists (13 searches), Tivo Changed My Life Blog (11 searches)
• There has been 415 searches
• Most Interesting Searches: catified, cat snots all over, i vomet, clean up with comet
• Name Searches of people I know: Mary Lobbestael, Lora Castle Stock, Krista Sahakian, David Griner, and me (Jennie Holladay)
• Most Searched TiVo Shows: America's Next Top Model, Beauty & The Geek & Grey's Anatomy

So here's to 200 posts, a year of blogging. Those of you who have become loyal readers: Thank You! Those of you who are just passing through, welcome hopefully you will you will be amused enough to stop back by. As for this blog, what's ahead, I can guarantee more on America's Next Top Model, Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, Heroes, G. Love & Special Sauce and of course the mishaps of my life.

Also the count down is on 22 days until Olive and I see G. Love & Special Sauce in Cleveland. I am getting that excited feeling again!