Clint Hill

For posterity I wanted to list some of the words I’ve heard my daughters use. There are some keepers here. These are the few I could think of. There are more.

margarita: diarrhea

none young rings: onion rings

tex cuss: Texas

olive oil: aloe vera

lamb old laid: lemonade

ba da ba ba bah: McDonald’s

boo boo: blanket

I just finished watching a presentation given by Merlin Mann. It made me think of a recurring theme that has been in my head for a few weeks now. The theme: I waste a lot of my time.

Merlin’s talk was about creativity patterns. More specifically patterns of behavior that people can create for themselves to be more productive. In his discussion he says a pretty critical thing which is creative work is still work. He then goes on to labor the point by saying “stop building up devices and ticks to induce creativity and start working” (I paraphrase).

I took it this way: shake and bake. Do something.

For a while now I’ve had ideas for projects and things I want to build. And in order to help with that I do all kinds of reading online. Searching for the 1 or 2 things that will spark my fire to get it done. I’m doing it wrong.

I took out a paper and drew my day into blocks. I marked sections of the day on what I do and sections I think I would like to devote to my work. Turns out I waste a lot of time. Like close to 4 hours a day. Huh? Yep. And most of it is on TV.

I work a full day, spend time with kids and eat at proper intervals. And yet I can still waste 4 hours on TV. Yes I can. Seems to me I’m not prioritizing my time to the things I want. I’m letting them get sucked into the 1 eyed monster.

Kimberly and I have already decided to turn off the cable. Actually this conversation has been going on for almost a week now. Today however it is crystalized with me. No more TV. Thats a sacrifice I’m willing to make. And I bet that I will find that creative spark to light my fire and get my projects going. At least I’ll have more time for it to happen.

Draw your day into blocks. Mark off each hour. What is it your doing all day? How many hours do you lose to things like TV? I bet you might be surprised.

Ronnie Dean Hill SN

United States Naval Training Center (San Diego 1969)
Company 69 414
USS Juneau LPD 10 (1969)
Deck 2nd Division
Yokosuka, Hong Kong, Da Nang, Philippine Islands

He didn’t fall in service, but served. That’s enough for me.

September 18, 1949 - April 25, 2008

God Speed