Chess

June 5th, 2010 By Jane | No Comments »

Chess. When did I learn how to play chess? Hm I learned four years ago while on a holiday at Fire Island. (An island off of New York.)

I was taught by a handsome man who kept saying he’d marry me in a minute if I’d take him… If only he were ten years younger I would have dated him. Actually, I probably should have dated him. I’ve changed since then.

Before I learned how to play I used to think: O that’s too hard, I won’t be able to pick it up. We are our own worst enemies. After I learned, I was amazed at how quickly I picked it up. Then, I became obsessed.

For about two years I usually had twenty-something games going on at one time at  www.chessmaniacs.com.  I played around two hours a day on there,  then  there were those days when I played for longer. When I transferred colleges I compared chess to human life in the application essay. When my boyfriend of that time (I met him a few months after I learned.) beat me, I would make him keep playing until I won. He used to win a lot in the begining, but that changed after a few months. I guess I have a slight competitve streak.

Do I play that much now? No. I don’t have time for it, nor do I want to, as I said in the last post…too much salt is too much salt. I hardly ever have the chance to play now. I used to carry around a magnetic chess board in case I’d run across a fellow player, but no-one plays. Or at least I can’t find anyone that plays. Or people are simply tired of me beating them? I don’t know? I do miss it. But don’t feel badly for me…I’m going to start playing at Bryant Park with the professionals. Those guys mean business.

What have I learned from chess? Chess teaches the brain how to naturally adapt to changes in a rushed manner, or at least that is what it taught me. When ever parking my car in the city, I would see an open spot (That I had passed, because that always happens for some reason.) and I would quickly map out a route back to it. Yes, there have been lucky occassions when tada, the spot was still there. I could list other examples, but I think this is a one example paragraph.  

If you think it’s too late to learn. It isn’t, just do it. And if you have children turn them on to it because I’m pretty sure it’s good for the brain.

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‘Forever21′

June 3rd, 2010 By Jane | No Comments »

Although I just wrote about shopping and saving cash, I think I may have to write about it a little more since I recently had a Forever21 evening.

I used to detest Forever21, but as of late I have noticed that their clothing has gone from tacky to what’s in. Or maybe I’m just happy about what’s in, since I wasn’t so content about the trends that were going around for about a long time.

Anyhow, Forever21 isn’t only putting out items that are currently in, they are also reasonably priced. Hm, correction, they are cheap. There I said it….Cheap. And although the quality of the fabric isn’t as durable in comparison to the more expensive items, and you may quite possibly may see ten other people wearing your T-shirt on your way to work, the quality of fabric has increased over the years, and who cares if someone else is wearing the selfsame printed T as you are…? Maybe you two or three can get together for a coffee, cuz you probably have more in common if you chose the same T-shirt..no?

Right now I’m really into printed T’s with funny sayings on them. I like to rock them under blazers, it’s sort of my personality breaking through the bland colors of tan, grey, brown, all those – I belong in the world of suits –colors.

Does the evening at Forever21 mean that I have a closet stocked full of Forever wear? No. I still  believe in shopping at locals where each item is special, or close to it, but it’s good to do a little of everything, too much salt, it just too much salt.

Check Forever21 out and get back to me if you do. And no, I’m not even going to go into the meaning of their name with you…But think about that one for a minute.

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Free Hugs

June 2nd, 2010 By Jane | No Comments »

I just wrote about Free Hugs on my blog…

Anyway, Saturday I was going about my business attempting to get home when I was stopped by a hair salesman. I am talking NYC hair guys that try to make you sign up for hair packages on the street. It’s very annoying and I can’t stand it. Fortunately when I explained to this person that I am a poor writer he smiled and realized that he and I were on the same ship. We parted, and I nearly got away, but was stopped again by another hair salesman. I immediately told him no thank you, and became so belligerent that I had to him not to be rude before walking away.

When I got to the other side of the street I was confronted by a number of Free Hugs participants. One of which asked me if I would like a hug. I said yes, and he hugged me. It was definitely a wow moment considering what had previously happened.

The hug was nice, it wasn’t one of those tap hugs. You know those social gestures of leaning forward and barely touching someone on the their shoulder or back, or the brief brushing of your cheek against someone else’s cheek? No, that gesture had meaning.  It also caused me to think: When was the last time I really hugged anyone? That’s a problem. And what’s doubly sad about this is that I’m not the only one.

There’s something to be said about physical contact. It relaxes us. I think it’s because the mind is telling the body that you’re loved, and that’s good news, however naive that may seem I am a believer in the positive effects that a simple piece of good news will do for a person. The next time someone truly compliments, or says something especially nice to you check your happiness stock. Has it gotten higher? Because it usually does due to your body releasing a small amount of endorphins into your system.

But returning to the hugging. Maybe we should hug each other a little more? I don’t mean our significant others, I mean the family and friends.

Also p.s.  The Free Hugs movement has been going on for some time now in various places all over the world. The movement is featured in a Dave Matthews Band video and I’ve caught it on national news a number of times….. Bravo Free Huggers.

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