My Hobby: Looking Up Insane Mansions on Real Estate Websites

Good Evening, S!

It's Friday, June 12th, 2009, and I'm exhausted.

I actually was excited to blog because I actually have something to say! I was watching the Cup Final (yay PENS!) tonight, and talking to T, and I decided to do this thing that I do when I'm bored... This is not super well known, but I always either have a Microsoft game (FreeCell, solitaire, etc), amazon.com, or some other random pass time running in a different window when I'm doing something on the computer or talking to someone. It's both a habit and a hobby. Therefore, I decided to start series on these hobbies! Obviously this is because I can't have any down time while I'm surfing the web. (*rolls eyes*)

So the thing that I like to do when I'm especially tired, cranky, bored or sick is to go to Connecticut and other east coast state real estate sites, and look up mansions that are on the market. Usually I select the ones that easily list for over twenty eight million dollars. Unfortunately, the market has gone down with the recent economy crash, but I am quite certain that it will pick up again soon.

It sometimes is ridiculous looking at these sprawling estates. I mean, who really needs a 10 bedroom, 6 bathroom home, other than a very well facilitated youth hostel? Can you honestly imagine real estate brokers bringing a potential buyer through a house like that?

Agent: "And here we have the butler's pantry. It's about the size of a regular 1 bedroom apartment. It has lots of counter space, 5 dishwashers and a built in robotic butler. Did I mention that the robot will transport across the home in less than 5 seconds? It perceives your needs before you even think of needing them..."

Wife: "Oh but honey! The last house had THE robotic butler from the Jetsons television show (even though it was a cartoon)! We can't just settle for some regular old robotic butler. It seems kind of tacky, don't you think?"

Agent: "Well ma'am, if I may cut into the conversation, the 1st floor bar area (not to be confused with the second floor or basement bar areas) does host the world's only completely diamond countertop, as well as the bar stools used in the popular James Bond film 'Octopussy.' It also has the carpet that Elvis DIED ON. We can stroll over there now, if you'd like. It's just down the hall 1/2 a mile, and straight on into the east wing."

Husband: "Splendid."

Wife: "Indubitably."

(It should be mentioned that all imaginary insanely rich people say 'indubitably' and have monocles and constantly eat caviar while taking part in skits in my mind... They also wear a lot of furs.)

Similarly, I know T loves to look up European castles when she's bored, which I completely encourage. Castles would be the best things to live in, in my opinion. They're big and pretty and you could easily escape a major war/revolution if you had to. Conversely, you would never actually know if anything was needed for repairs unless you kept vigilant watch on your entire property. It would get a bit gruelling, I suppose...

[note: I assume that it would be semi-bad in some way for me to put up pictures of the real estate listings I found, but here is my favourite site to visit --> link <--- and you should check this out instead asap.]

I know it is kind of short, and I know it isn't my usual style of uppity writing, but in all honesty, I'm not sure how long that is going to last anymore. You see dear S, I am very tired from work, seemingly all of the time. It is with great dissatisfaction that I haul myself to the bus, supervise a bunch of kids cleaning, and return home (usually I walk, because it's cooler outside) by ten o'clock in the evening every day. It's a thankless, uninspiring job, but I think of my future travels and awesome adventures, supplemented by my awesome job in museum work, and it almost seems worth it. Enjoy the evening, S. It certainly is gorgeous out.
 

Oh! And of course, don't forget to be awesome!

-xo

What to do when you can't travel

Good morning S & T!

It's Monday, June 8th, and once again I'm sitting at my computer, wishing I could go anywhere but here.

I've been thinking of continuing my A-Z of places I'd rather be, as well as introducing other new topics to the blog, but I can never get satisfaction out of planning and researching trips I can't go on. Not anymore at least. It's kind of heart breaking to me, because other people will go on these trips and enjoy themselves and I'll be here at home, working 5 days a week with 2 non-consecutive weekend days. 

To fight the holiday blues, I've decided to compile a list of things that get me through the week. These things are all simple to-dos (because I lack the time and effort to create tough ones, plus it would probably ensure that the hard to-dos on the list are never done) which you can use to uplift yourselves when you are stuck at work, instead of on a plane to somewhere exciting. They won't be quite as good as an actual holiday, but it might just kick up your mood until you get one.

1. Take a mini trip. Mini trips have long been advertised by popular travel magazines, television shows, and even our provincial government. It's nice to know that there is life beyond the drive to and from your work. I often get nostalgic for the distinct country smell of cows (thanks to Little Rascal Ranch) and freshly mowed lawns. I honestly couldn't tell you how excited I was when I smelt barbeque just outside of my building. Recently, I grabbed my father, some Tim Hortons and some tunes and hit the road for a day to unwind. While it wasn't exactly the trip I was hoping for (my dad missed the turn to our destination, and we ended up driving in a circle instead), it was fun to pretend I was going somewhere amazing. Mini trips can be as long or short as you'd like them to be. I only took a day for my trip, but you could spend a few hours at a nice town half an hour from you that you rarely visit or spend the night in a gorgeous hotel 5 hours away. You're focusing on your own mental health, so you get to decide.

2. Grab some movies and take out. T and I made a special day to grab a movie and some food and just take a few hours to chill in the theatre. It doesn't hurt that summer blockbusters are full of gorgeous men... On another note! Renting movies, or watching movies online (not that I condone that at all, internet... plstonotbesuingme!) is sometimes just as good as going to the theatre. Put yourself into the world of the movie and hang out for a bit.

3. Read. Blogs, books, magazines; if you're at all similar to me, you can escape in a good book and completely forget the woes and worries of work. I keep up on a lot of travel blogs, fashion magazines, and have a miriad of different genres to read when I feel down. Pick out something that looks good to you and sink into it. It might just change your mood for the better. Forgetting about work is almost as good as not working at all (only you've also got the added advantage of a paycheck ;) )

4. Go for a walk. You'd be amazed about how many things you don't see when you're on the bus on your way to work. If there are fancy beaches or bike paths near your house, take a stroll and watch the sunset. Relaxation is what I'm stressing here, my friends. Life is crappy, work is crappy, but nature and architechture and fresh air will never be. Go somewhere you rarely visit: an arty place in town, a shopping center, a museum, a historical heritiage site, a swimming pool, etc.

5. Plan future vacations. I know I said I now find this a little sad to do, but it used to be one of my favourite past times. Planning future vacations and setting up bugets and schedules is a fun way to bring up your mood. I like using expedia.ca because of their options in hotels, car rentals and attractions to visit in the area. Besides that, research into a specific area, will help you in the future to plan out your actual vacation. Knowing the things to do in surrounding areas, as well as the best times to go, and other stockpiled info might just be your ticket to the vacation of your dreams.

6. Life to Laugh. Hang out with people that make you happy to be where you are. While you're at work, you have something to look forward to (like burgers at Broadways) and you'll also accomplish #7 on my list.

7. Define yourself outside of work. You are not a cashier, desk jocky or (insert your job title here), you're a person who has hobbies, friends and family. If you're lacking in one of those categories: take up something you've always wanted to do. While there, you can meet new people. It's scary, and god knows that I would be terrified if I tried, but I do believe that regular minded people could make friends whereever they go. As for the lack of family: sometimes it's a good thing, but your best friends double yourself as that little nostalgic family as well: nuclear families are not the only type anymore. Besides that, even if you're at your dream job, you're probably going to hate some aspect of it. Relieve yourself from the pressure of the work week by reminding yourself that you will have holidays, weekends and retirement to do what ever you want, when you want to. (sometimes  I aspire to get through life as quickly as possible and get to retirement. I'm not even 20 years old yet :P )

8. Makeovers! Makeover your house, your life, or yourself! A change in pace and routine is sometimes enough to give you that extra kick. What person doesn't want a clean and newly reorganized house and fresh, new makeup? You obviously can't do this too much (you have to think about you're savings if you actually want to go on vacation), but every once in a while it's time for a change.

9. Get some sleep. Sometimes the work week is too long, and you're hours outside of work are too few. Perhaps taking a couple of hours to sleep in, or taking a nap will help to re-energize your day off, so you can accomplish what you want. Nap time is sooo not only for the kindegarteners anymore. Take advantage of that fact and relax.

10. Blog. Write out your frustrations and problems, as well as your aspirations and hopes in a journal or blog. It helps. That's why I'm doing it right now. I complain to family and friends a lot, but my life is just like everyone else's. I'm pretty positive that no one expects you to go through life only relying on yourself - that can lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. You're not alone, so share your troubles - people have amazing advice and pep talks sometimes, and it truely helps.

I hope this helped at least one person. I know it is a fairly limited and simple to-do list - but it was just as I promised: little things that help me. I basically create a world outside of work that I should probably expand a little, but for those hours when I'm doing something non-work related, I'm almost as happy as I would be photographing ruins on the Eastern coast of Italy. I may be squandering my prep-for-work-time right now by writing this blog, but it has helped to remind me that vacations will come eventually, but my life is actually pretty decent without them.

DFTBA, S &T.

-xo