KEEP IT IN THE PHAMLY

My health was on the way up when I purchased a compact treadmill and rearranged my IKEA bedroom to fit it in. Then my new 15" Macbook Pro with retina display arrived and Diablo III happened so my health started to decline.

I've made a new rule that I can't play Diablo until after I've finished a session on the treadmill because I am not clever enough to rig it up like this genius who can only play Diablo III when he's moving on his treadmill. I want to go to there.
My 4 month work contract got extended by 6 months so I needed to do something before desk work turns my inner slob into my outer slob.  I love to walk and used to walk to and from work every day in Melbourne for nearly 2 hours a day. Moving back home to a 40 minute commute sitting on my arse while a car then a train does my work isn't helping with my expanding gut.

So I went on a hunt for a compact treadmill to fit in my crowded room. I found the Confidence Fitness Motorised Treadmill on oo.com.au.  Combined with a pair of 1kg dumbbells (teehee, that's a funny word) my new exercise routine is working a treat!

The machine's fairly quiet except for the way I stomp on it with my pigeon-toed, uneven legs. 97.6% of the human population is more lightfooted than I am though, so the average person would not consider this a loud machine. It's a basic machine - you can only adjust speed, not resistance or slope but it's perfect for speed-walking and light jogging. For your health!

Since moving from inner-city Melbourne (read: party town) to the outer-suburbs of Brisbane (read: sleepy town) I've started to catch up on about five years of TV show recommendations from friends. I thought I'd pass on their great recommendations to you.

Dexter is amazing. I love a show that keeps you guessing because it mindblowing plot twists and brilliant writing. Even though it's about a serial killer, the show isn't gory and doesn't go for cheap scares. In other words, people who need to watch horror movies at home on DVD because they feel stupid bringing their blanket and cat to the cinemas (like me) will have no anxiety attacks watching Dexter. The show is superbly done drama, thriller and action.

You'd think it'd be hard relating to a serial killing lead character but by the end of season 3 I was convinced I should marry a cold-blooded murderer. Seriously, think about it - he'd be the perfect husband because he doesn't want to be discovered and needs a happy family to use as a cover. The only downside would be if he decided it'd be better for him to kill off his family. That could suck.

Be warned: the season 6 cliffhanger is a doozie and will leave you reeling. At least if you watch it now, season 7 will drop at the start of October. My throat seized up and I nearly died (exaggeration) when I realised in June this year that I'd have to wait three whole months for what happens next.

Another warning: season 8 will be the last. They've plotted out the finale over season 7 & 8 and set it up during season 6 so methinks this well planned ending won't disappoint.

Dexter. Watch it!

Sorry it's been a few weeks since I've posted. You know how life sometimes just gets in the way... and by life I mean my life as a kung fu fighting monk in the Diablo 3 world of Sanctuary. Anyhoo, here we go:
I have a thing about generic greeting cards - that thing is: I don't like them. I prefer to pay the extra couple of bucks for a pop-up card or cards with personality or something that makes it that little bit different. After all, if some one deserves a card, they deserve a good card.

I also hate cards that have a generic message inside. I only use blank ones that force you to think about what you want to say to the person that you're going to give the card to. Seriously, take five minutes out of your life to put some thought and sincerity into the gift you're giving.

Or if you don't know what you want to say, buy something like this little gem I found in Australian National Geographic stores. They have snow globe gift cards with a tiny circle where you can just sign your name really big if you can't think of what to write. The joy someone will get from popping up this card is all they need - who cares what you had to say but couldn't!

I'll get off my greeting card high horse now. Please carry on.