The Laboratory

This weekend, my girlfriend, our friend Stacey and I got a first hand look at Lafayette, La's most amazing new venue for the creative community.

Picture New Orleans' Launch Pad mixed with Andy Warhol's Factory. The Laboratory is located downtown Lafayette and is a mix of office space for rent (catering towards young, multi-media professionals and web developers), a performance space (which was being used by djs and breakdancers while we were there) a conference room and full kitchen.

I'm really excited to see things like this and Grinder that allow the creative community in Lafayette to come together.

One Week Without a Cell Phone

After reading "The GOOD (and ReadyMade) Guide to Slowing Down," I decided to actually follow through on some of these practices that seem very in line with my goals for 2010.

"Simplify, Simplify" - Henry David Thoreau

The first article I'm going to start with is called "Eliminate Something." It suggests easy things like not using plastic bags, but I already don't do that so I'm going for something a little more challenging: NO CELL PHONE FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK.

There was a point in my life where I felt that this would be the most stressful and anxiety-filled thing that could ever happen to me, but I'm actually looking forward to it. I think it could end up being a really freeing experience.

So, Starting tomorrow (Monday January 25th), I will be without cell phone. Cell phone use will resume on Monday February 1st.

This means finding creative ways to contact people and planning things in advance.

I'll let you know how it goes:)

reBlog from befitnola.com: Why Did I Quit Smoking?

My Newest BeFitNola Blog:

You may or may not have already read my previous post: “Some Things are Worth Quitting: Like Smoking,” which talked about how I quit and some of the things that I found particularly helpful.befitnola.com, Why Did I Quit Smoking?

 

2010 Resolutions

2010 is going to be on purpose.

Here's my New Year's Resolution Plan (some of it I will fill out as I go):

A. HEALTHY BODY
1. QUIT SMOKING
2. Yoga 1 - 2x per week (Sunday 4p.m. and Wednesday 4:30 p.m. @ LIFE YOGA)
3. Run - 3x per week on MWF for 15 minutes before work; 1-2 hour RWHTR @ city park on Sundays
4. Fruit and/or veggie MUST accompany every meal

B. HEALTHY MIND/CONTINUING EDUCATION
1. Reading Yoga theory and how-to books (suggested by yoga instructor Nathalie Croix)
2. Learn a new language (just the basics for now) GERMAN - bc eventually I'm going to make a pilgrimage to the homeland
3. READ:
a. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Marquez
b. The Road - McCarthy
c. The Making of Americans - Stein
d. Freakonomics - Levitt & Dubner
e. When You are Engulfed in Flames - Sedaris
f. Naked - Sedaris
g. Magical Thinking - Burroughs
h. The Fountainhead Ayn Rand
i. the lathe of heaven - ursula leguin (suggested by Ryan Lane)
j. The Tree of Yoga
k. Moving into Stillness
l. Stone Butch Blues
4. Lean about SEO


C. FUN
1. Learn how to juggle
2. Learn how to juggle WHILE tap dancing
3. Make 5 new friends
4. Laugh more at things that usually annoy me
5. Spend less time being stressed out and more time having fun


D. PROFESSIONAL GOALS
1. Take the Trumpet Magazine to the next level by raising awareness, expanding distribution and forging partnerships.
2. Spend the first 15-20 minutes of each work day setting goals for that day and getting organized
3. Start preparing for future goals/plans/employment
4. Work as a freelance writer


E. MISCELLANEOUS
1. Grow a mini-urban garden
2. Grow my hair out
3. From @thatspeaker advice: Surround myself with:

POSITIVE PEOPLE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NICE TO OTHERS
THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
HEALTHY CHOICES
GREAT MUSIC
MENTORS

In 2010, I plan to LIVE BIG

Evangelical Brilliance

Yes, that's right. The Evangelicals are brilliant. What other faith-based group has succeeded in getting so much positive free advertising?

Right now, the gay rights movement in America is stronger than ever. And with almost every religion claiming to be more forgiving and less judgmental than the next, it only makes sense for one of them to step up and welcome gays with open arms.

I would love to shake hands with the marketing team for the Evangelical faith. They really are on a fast road to taking over the religious sector of America.

However, I saw the documentary "Jesus Camp," (a must watch if you haven't already) and I think I'll just stick to my own reliable and nonjudgmental religion: yoga.