Author: TheJoeyHarris

My Bullet Journal method

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-I do a simplified version of the Bullet Journal. I start out with a title page, an index, and a future log. I write down lists of audiobooks, physical books, Kindle books, movies, and TV Shows that I want to watch. Then I write down any important work notes that I need to remember over the long term. Then I make a life plan for myself and write down all of the blogging, podcasting, YouTube, social media, personal, and professional goals I have for myself.

Then I create a monthly log with a calendar and specific tasks that I want to accomplish for that month. Things like read two books, watch one movie, whether I am on call at my job, etc. Then I do a daily log that is really just a list of things I need or want to do every day. I make note of whether I completed them and leave some room at the bottom for any notes for the next day or important things that I need to remember.

I am currently using a Leuchtturm 1917 411 notebook. I also am currently using the lined version, but may switch to a dotted notebook when I am done with this one. I switch pen colors every month between black, blue, and red.

What kind of note taking method do you use?

How Chair Yoga Helped My Cold Recovery

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-I have had a lingering cold for the past week. I have had the running nose, sore/scratchy throat, coughing, congestion, you name it. It is mostly better, but the last bit of congestion and the runny nose is just hanging around.

Then yesterday, I am part of a committee at work to help with professional development outside of the normal 9-5 workday. Things to make you more active or help you improve your job, your health, and your quality of life. As part of this initiative, we had a session of chair yoga for 30 minutes outside.

I don’t know if it was the act of moving around, the sunlight, the fresh air, or a combination of all of the above, but I haven’t felt that good for over a week. It did more in 30 minutes to help me heal than anything else I’ve done lately. So if you get sick and you are able, get up and move around. Outside preferably.

Taking Responsibility: The 1% Rule in Relationships

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-Many years ago, I was in church one Sunday and the pastor was talking about an exercise he did when someone came to him for counseling.

He said that the person usually had an issue with another person, whether it was a spouse, business partner, friend, coworker, etc. The pastor said that he would take a blank sheet of paper and draw a circle on it. Then he would hand the person the paper and tell them to fill in the circle like a pie chart on how much of the issue was the other person’s fault. It could be anywhere from 0-100% their fault.

He then told the congregation that he never had a person fill in the entire circle. He said usually it was half and half according to the people who came to him for counseling. Even if they thought the other person was mostly to blame, they would only fill in 99% of the circle.

He would then say to the person that the part of the circle that they filled in, even if it was 99%, they had no control over. The part of the circle that was their responsibility, even if it was just 1%, was what they needed to work on.

I took that to heart. I have almost no control over what happens to me, only how I react to it. I need to work on my own faults and hand ups, even if it is only 1%.

Discipline and determination

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-I’ve been sick this week, and I missed two days of work. That puts me behind on things that I need to accomplish. So when I get back into the office this morning, I have a list of things that need to get done.

How do I get it done? It goes back to discipline. You can have all the want and drive in the world, but until you actually put word to screen, pen to paper, etc. It means nothing. I was determined to write 5 pages worth of script for my podcast. I means nothing until I actually sat down and did it. Then it feels good when I get it accomplished.

Surrounded by death

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-A lot of people I know have died lately. It’s all been distant relatives or family friends. It’s weird to me. They say death runs in three and I am up to 5 in the past 10 days.

I was thinking a couple of months ago that there seem to be two types of people. Those who would go to the funeral, but it is highly inconvenient to them for some reason. Then there are those who would go to the funeral if it were held at the North Pole on Christmas morning. I have been both types during my lifetime.

Living After Gastric Bypass: My Ongoing Journey

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-I had gastric bypass surgery four years ago this past May. I have had struggles the past two years with a little weight gain, but mostly discomfort. I am bad about not taking my time to eat and as a result, have a lot of trapped air that leads to discomfort.

I also struggle to get my daily steps in as well as getting enough protein and water. I try to focus on taking it one day at a time as I know that this is a tool to a better lifestyle and not a magic fix. I do get frustrated though, mainly at myself. The struggle continues.

Stuff I’m reading/listening to…

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

-Howdy and Happy Monday, folks!

I’m enjoying that the weather is starting to turn cooler.

I decided several years ago that I would read more for pleasure. I usually have a physical book that I am reading, a book that I am listening to, and a few comic series that I read.

I have heard so many great things about All-Star Superman from Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. I recently picked it up and started reading it, and I have been blown away. This series lays out exactly what Superman should be. I’m two issues in so far and can’t wait to read the rest.

-Anyone who knows me knows I am a huge Stephen King fan. My friend Nan and I do a podcast called the Book Club Baristas on my Patreon feed . Our next book is ‘Salem’s Lot. It perfectly captures the spookiness of the season and Autumn in New England.

Why Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen is a Must-Read Comic

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment

I recently finished the 2019-2020 comic series Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? and it was the most fun I’ve had reading a comic in several years. I got back into reading comics in 2021 as I decided that I was going to read things that I liked and that made me happy.

This book had it all. Laugh out loud moments and visual gags. You can tell that writer Matt Fraction and artist Steve Lieber are having the time of their lives with this one.

Highlights from SNME XIV: Hulk Hogan vs King Kong Bundy

Published on by TheJoeyHarrisLeave a comment


-Today we look at the first Saturday Night’s Main Event for 1988.
-SNME XIV was broadcast on NBC on January 2, 1988. It was tapes December 7, 1987 from the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.
-I was 9 and 2 weeks away from turning 10 when this aired. As I record this, I just had my birthday this past week. It was birthdays and business as usual at my job. This is the third busiest time for my job and due to some personnel decisions, I have been doing more than usual.
-Birthdays.
-Jake Roberts says 1988 is a new year for him and Damien. He invites Sika and Mr. Fuji to a New Year’s party where he’s going to change their future.
-Greg Valentine and new/old manager Jimmy Hart say when you combine Koko B. Ware and Frankie you get one bird and one bird brain.
-Strike Force says Bolsheviks beware!
-Slick and The Bolsheviks say there’s going to be a new Russian Revolution.
-King Kong Bundy, Bobby Heenan, and Andre The Giant say that Andre will officially be in the corner of King Kong Bundy. Bundymania Lives!
-Hulk Hogan Says Bundymania makes him sick. Hulkamania lives forever!
-Opening Credits.
-Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura welcome us and Jesse has to say his own Happy New Year greeting. They then run down the card for the night.
-Mean Gene Okerlund interviews Hulk Hogan who’s getting ready. Hogan says the only way his New Year gets any better is if he could get his hands on the big, stinky Giant.
-Mean Gene then interviews The Bolsheviks and Slick: Slick says he and The Bolsheviks had a meeting with Gorbachev and they have a game plan. He says The Bolsheviks are peaceful not capitalistic.
-Slick says Gordy and not Gorby and Vince calls him out on it.
-WWF Tag Team Championship Match 2/3 Falls: Strike Force Tito Santana and Rick Martel VS. The Bolsheviks Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov with Slick: Nikolai does the Russian National Anthem gimmick. They flashback to how Strike Force won the titles from The Hart Foundation.
-Mean Gene interviews Strike Force. They say this is the year of Strike Force.
-First Fall: Quick tags by Strike Force. The Bolsheviks slow it down and hit some power moves. Rick Martel makes Boris Zhukov submit to the Boston Crab.
-Second Fall: Volkoff and Zhukov hit power moves again. Back and forth. Slick then throws his cane to Volkoff to hit Santana, but he ducks and Zhukov gets hit instead and Santana pins him.
-Mean Gene interviews Mr. Fuji and Sika. They have a long bread roll and a jar of mustard. They say Damien is dinner.
-Mean Gen interviews Jake Roberts. He says he’s not worried because you have to respect Damien and the DDT.
-Sika with Mr. Fuji VS. Jake Roberts with Damien: Roberts is quick here, but Sika is too powerful to be moved. Fuji attacks Roberts with the cane. Sika gets Roberts in the corner and charges, but Jake moves then rolls Sika up for the pin. Jake then DDT’s Mr. Fuji and then puts Damien on him.
-Mean Gene interviews Bobby Heenan, King Kong Bundy, and Andre The Giant. Heenan says per doctors’ orders, he can’t be at ringside, but Andre will be at ringside. Bundymania lives! They flashback to the last SNME and the Bobby Heenan/Hulk Hogan confrontation and attack.
-Mean Gene then interviews Hulk Hogan. He says lightning struck once in 1987 when King Kong Bundy won, but he says Ronald Reagan is a Hulkamaniac, so he will win. A lot of political talk here since we are so close to Washington, D.C.
-WWF Heavyweight Championship Match: Hulk Hogan VS. King Kong Bundy with Andre The Giant: Hogan come out hot. They go back and forth. Bundy takes control. He subtly cheats. Hogan slams him, but he’s hurt. Hogan hulks up! Bundy charges, the ref gets in the way accidentally and gets knocked out. Bundy gets knocked outside. Other refs come down to check on the fallen ref. He gets taken away as the match continues. Hogan gets knocked outside of the ring. He does get back in as Bundy takes over again. He hits two avalanches. Hogan kicks out. He Hulks up, hits the leg drop, and pins Bundy. Andre come in. and Hogan taunts him. Andre backs down. Hogan must pose! Andre comes back in and head butts and chokes out Hogan. The British Bulldogs come out to help and get manhandled then Andre goes back to Hogan. More wrestlers come out and they struggle to get him off. Hacksaw Jim Duggan hits Andre with the 2×4. That does it. Hogan gets carried out.
-Jesse interviews Jimmy Hart and Greg Valentine. Valentine is happy being back with Jimmy Hart.
-Mean Gene interviews Koko B. Ware and Frankie. Koko says Valentine and Hart are featherweights.
-Koko B. Ware with Frankie VS. Greg Valentine with Jimmy Hart: Valentine attacks early. Koko tries to fight back. Brutus Beefcake comes down to ringside. Referee Joey Marella tells him that he has to leave. Greg Valentine Dominates again. Back and forth. Valentine gets the figure four on Koko and Koko submits. Beefcake comes back down and chases Valentine to the back. Beefcake then comes back and cuts some of Jimmy Hart’s hair.
-They replay the Andre attack on Hulk Hogan.
-Mean Gene interviews Bobby Heenan and Andre The Giant. Andre says he enjoyed himself. Heenan says Andre’s going to choke the belt away. He then says he is close to clinching a deal for Andre.
-Mean Gene is then back talking to Jesse Ventura, who loved the attack on Hogan. They say Hogan has a damaged windpipe.
-Vince, Jesse, and Mean Gene then close out the show.