Random Ramblings

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Jenni Elyse

I’m back on track. For the past two weeks, I’ve been eating healthy and watching my calories. I already feel so much better and I’m down another 3 pounds! I don’t know why I have such huge cravings for bad food because it just makes me feel sick after I eat them (e.g. french fries, other fried foods). I do still fight sugar cravings almost daily. But, as long as I eat sugar in moderation, then I still feel okay. :)

I still haven’t got back into exercising regularly. :? I need to because I feel better when I do and I sleep a lot better, which has a been a problem the past few weeks. Since I haven’t put a lot of effort into exercising, I’m not sure how my Skecher Shape-ups are doing. I have noticed that my walks seem more productive when I wear them. By productive, I mean I can feel more of a burn when I walk. I’ll try to be better at exercising in the name of research. ;)

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I feel like I’m in a catch-22 situation every day when I go to school. I really enjoy walking to class because it gives me some exercise, some alone and relaxation time, I get a chance to be outdoors for a bit, and I can listen to music or an audiobook while I walk. But, I also like to have Corey drop me off because that means we get to spend a few extra minutes together.

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I finally have all my midterm scores back and I’m very pleased. As I’ve already stated, I got a 95% on my Doctrine and Covenants midterm and 90% on my Japanese written midterm. I found out that I got an 89% on my Japanese oral midterm, and after the curve was applied to both of my Japanese scores, my written score went up to 122% and my oral score went up to 108%. :D The score I was dreading the most was my English midterm, but I was pleasantly surprised with an A-. However, ironically, I did worse on the written essay questions than I thought I did and I did better on expressing the main idea of the essays we had read in class.

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I still miss reading for pleasure. I haven’t had much time lately to even crack open Elantris so I’m still only a third of the way through. (I don’t think I’m going to hit my 35-book goal this year.) It’s killing me not to know what’s going on in Elantris! But, I’m being responsible and doing my homework instead. ;)

Luckily, I have had some non-thinking type projects to do at work lately so I’ve been listening to audiobooks. I finished Twilight a few weeks ago, New Moon a couple of weeks ago, and I’m listening to Eclipse right now. I’ve decided that I really enjoy listening to audiobooks because I can still satisfy my cravings to “read” my favorite books without them pushing books I haven’t read and want to read farther down my to read list. Also, the readers do such a good job at reading with emotion and animation that they bring the characters and story to life. Audiobooks are so much better than movies made from books because you still have all the elements that make you love the book.

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I joined and added Google Friend Connect to my blog. Join us or die … er … join if you want to know when I’ve made a post. ;) It’s near the bottom of my sidebar, under my shelves.

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I’ve decided that I’m going to reply to comments via commenting rather than sending an e-mail to each individual person. My friend Brodi replies to every comment made on her blog and I really like the way she does it. It works out well. Although, she is much funnier than I am. Anyway, when you post a comment, don’t forget to click the “Subscribe to this post’s comments” link so you’re notified when I (or even someone else) replies. (Click here for instructions if you need them.) I’ll also post a reminder on my next few posts so you don’t forget until it becomes a habit.

Follow-Up Comments

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Jenni Elyse

Recently, I’ve had some feedback from some of my readers, including myself, that it’s difficult to keep up with comments posted on my blog. With blogspot blogs, readers can choose to have follow-up comments e-mailed to them. Unfortunately, my blog hasn’t had that capability … until now! :D With Corey’s awesome PHP help, I’ve figured out how to RSS a single post’s comments. In the words of Boris from Goldeneye, “I am invicible!” :roll:

First things first. Do you know what RSS is? (I’m not trying to make you feel stupid; I just know I didn’t know what RSS was until about a year ago.) Anyway, RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It lets you “follow” websites, using an RSS reader (e.g Google Reader, e-mail, iGoogle), any time something new is posted or updated, eliminating the necessity to check that site for updates. A site with RSS capability usually has this iconon it. RSS is a great way to keep track of people’s blogs because you only have to go to the blog when your RSS feed tells you there’s something new. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for private blogs so I usually just check those once a week.

If you want to keep track of a blog via RSS feed, I’ve found that Google Reader is the simplest and most convenient RSS reader to use. My friend Debbie recently posted really easy-to-follow instructions on how to use Google Reader if you need help.

If you want to subscribe to or follow the comments for a particular post on my blog, it’s very simple. When you make a comment, click the “Subscribe to this post’s comments” link before or after you click “Add your Reply.” An RSS feed to this post’s comments will be created in your default RSS reader.

My Comment Form

I hope this helps you not only read my blog much more easily, but other blogs as well. If you have any questions, please let me know. I’m more than happy to answer them. ;)

PS–Unfortunately, there’s no way to eliminate the need for you to enter your name and e-mail each time you comment on my blog. But, I’ll keep trying to figure out a way.

Let the Begging Begin

Posted on November 18, 2009 by Jenni Elyse

I feel like I’m one of the telethon hosts for PBS. Why? I feel like I need to have an on-the-air fundraiser to raise more comments on my blog. I’ve just noticed that I don’t get as many comments as I used to or people who used to comment on my blog all the time no longer comment at all or very rarely.

I try to realize that my blog is for me and me alone. I also know I shouldn’t care about whether people comment, but I’m filled with a longing to be interesting, liked, loved, and approved of. I know that’s my issue and not yours. I just want you to know where I’m coming from.

I like to receive comments because it helps me see that people are enjoying my blog … or at least reading it. I guess I get a little jealous when I notice my friends and family commenting on other people’s blogs and not mine. I wonder what they have that I don’t. Is that crazy to think? It’s just that I know I don’t have kids to blog about, which I think makes the difference and I feel like I’m being punished for something I can’t help. I’ve tried to be more personal, but right now, I feel like my life is really boring or depressing and don’t want to be negative. I also can’t really do giveaways because I don’t have the money to.

Sometimes, I feel like I should stop commenting on other people’s blogs because they don’t comment on mine anymore. But, I realize that’s very petty of me so I keep commenting because I want to make those people feel special even if they don’t want to make me feel special. It just hurts, I guess.

Do you not comment because you feel like you don’t have anything interesting to say? If so, please comment anyway. I appreciate all comments, even if it’s something like, “That’s so true,” or, “That’s neat,” because at least I know you care enough to make an effort.

I’m sorry if you think I’m being whiny. It’s not my intention at all. I just want to know how to get more comments.

Anyway, why don’t you comment? Please be honest.

To Comment or Not to Comment

Posted on January 5, 2009 by Jenni Elyse

For the past several months, I’ve been wondering about something. However, I’m a little leery at how to put this because I don’t want to come off as whiny or insulted. I know I may sound a little whiny and I’m sorry for that as it’s not my intention. And, I’m not insulted; I’m just curious and I’m filled with a longing to be interesting, liked, loved, and approved of. (How’s that for honesty?) I hope that makes some sense and will help you understand my post.

Anyway, I started my blog as something for me to do–a journal of my doings, so to speak, since I don’t keep a written journal. I also like webpage design, without the programming, so a blog is perfect for my interests.

I know my blog is for me and no one else; I just like to receive comments to know that others are enjoying my blog too, or at least reading it. I know I don’t have my own cute kids to blog about, so when I do blog about others’ kids, it’s few and far between. I also know I don’t have a lot of personal stuff to blog about because Corey and I are really boring, and I don’t want to post something about Corey he doesn’t want me to post about. ;) I’m not sure if that plays into no comments.

In the past six months or so, I’ve noticed that people who used to comment on my blog don’t comment anymore. I’ve been wondering if they have stopped reading my blog and why. I have also noticed a few new commentators, which has been a fun surprise! :D

I guess this leads to a poll question.

PS–I know I’m not always the best at commenting either. Most of the time it’s because I don’t have anything witty to say or I’m too lazy. I’ve tried to be better because I know how much my friends like to have comments on their blogs too.