Media on a Business Trip

Last week my husband was out of town for 2 days for a job interview.  I decided that would be a great time for me to evaluate my media use. 

First after I dropped him off at the airport, but before his flight left, I called him (to make sure he made it ok through security) and then he texted me right before take off.  Then he texted me again when he landed at his connecting airport and again when he took off on his next flight.  We texted again when he made it to his final destination.  I loved that we could text while I was in class so that I could know he made it safe!

When he got to his hotel we talked on the phone for about 30 minutes.  It is amazing that he was like 2,000 or so miles away but we could still hear each others voices instantaneously.  It was so fun to hear all the things he had done during the day and to be able to tell him about my day.

His first evening gone we did homework and used google chat.  I really like being able to surprise him while he is busy on the computer with an, "I <3 U" or something like that!

Right before bed we used google hang out to video chat.  We had a nice talk and then read scriptures, prayed and said good night.  I loved being able to see his face!  He was also able to give me a tour around his hotel room. Fun!

Our google hang out.

The next day we were able to text after his interview.  He also texted me on his way home to let me know he made it to the airport safely ect.  When it was time to pick him up, it was great to be able to use our cell phones to call each other and decide on a place to meet at the airport.

I really don't like when my husband leaves town, BUT having so many forms of technology and media that allowed us to communicate was GREAT!

How I Met Your Mother

Have you ever watched How I Met Your Mother?  I had never watched it until this semester, when my husband and I got Netflix.  Oh my goodness I wish I would have never started because I am hooked.  It is such a funny show, and now I am dying to know what is going to happen next. (Ok, not like 24 dying to know, but I am interested).  I have been watching it every day since I started, sometimes only one episode but other times more than one.

I have two problems with my new found love/addiction/waste of time:

1. How I Met Your Mother is not the most virtuous of shows.  I would never let my kids (when I have some) watch it, ever.  There are too many sexual innuendos and jokes. So why the heck do I watch it?  Well it is funny, but is that a good enough reason?  Probably not.  It also has a semi-interesting plot line, but is that a good enough reason?  Again it probably shouldn't be.  But here I sit, writing about the show, starting to love the show. Ugh!

2. Yesterday I watched three episodes in a row while folding laundry.  I did not think much of it, I enjoyed the show and the laundry got folded... win win right?  On the surface yes, but when my husband came home I felt like my attitude towards him was tainted by the show (just a little tiny bit, but I still noticed it).  It reminded me of the research Brad Bushman shared on media violence influencing aggression.  So is the show effecting me because it is going to effect me or is it just in large amounts?  Maybe I need to limit how many episodes I watch each day and see if I still think the show is effecting my thinking and attitudes.

I am not sure if I am going to keep watching How I Met Your Mother.  There is part of me that totally wants to, it is just so funny and I really want to know how Ted meets his wife.  But Holy Cow, there are 9 seasons!!  Can I handle, or do I want to put, nine seasons of sexual innuendos, drinking and bad language into my mind?  Because I have learned enough to believe it is going to effect me in some way.

The Noticer

I am reading a wonderful book right now.  My Mom gave it to me for Christmas and I am so glad she did.  The book is called The Noticer by Andy Andrews.  It was published by Halmark.  When I first unwrapped it I was like, "Umm... thanks? What is it?"  I mean I knew it was a book, but I had never heard of it so I was a little leery. 

Man oh man, was I wrong!!  I am three chapters in, and the book is amazing.  I feel like it is changing my life.  I would say that The Noticer is the single most uplifting book I have ever read (except of course for the scriptures).

It is about a man named Jones who goes around giving people "perspective".  He helps them see the answers to the problems in their lives by helping them look at the problems in a different way.

If you are looking for a little perspective, or  if you are just looking for a book that will make you feel good about life... check out The Noticer!

I got a little perspective this week... if you want to read about that check out my blog http://newlywedclines.blogspot.com/2014/02/busy-with-blessings.html?zx=a125b59e9b57c443

A Physiological Reaction

Over the weekend I watched the 90's teenage rom com She's All That. I had never watched it before, but I was fun to take a trip back to the 90's.  

For possibly the first time ever I had a physiological reaction to a movie.  The scene is a little crude (maybe a lot crude depending on your standards) so I will not describe it, but there was a particular scene involving a pizza and I actually gagged!  I have never actually gagged while watching a movie before. I have felt like gagging, but I never actually did it, until last Friday.

Have you ever gagged in a movie?

Disney Movie Club

If you have read any of my previous posts you know that I am a Disney junkie.  I almost automatically love anything with Disney's name on it... especially Disney movies.  It is my goal to own every animated Disney movie ever made, eventually.  We are doing pretty good so far :-)

That being said about a year ago an ad like this started showing up in my google account, on the side bar of a bunch of websites ect.

At first I was sceptical but we thought, "man that seems like a good deal" so we did a little investigating and decided to join the Disney Movie Club.  All of that from a little ad on the side of my gmail account!

I am actually really glad we did. We have gotten a great deal on some amazing Disney Movies!  We we signed up we got the initial great deal that the ad listed and then we committed to buy 5 full price Disney movies within the next 2 years.  That was easy... we ended up doing in less than 6 months (which may mean we have a Disney movie problem, but that is not the point!).

Now that we are members of the club we can refer our friends and they get a great deal and we get two free movies for each friend we refer.  Again Disney advertising is working on me!  So if you have seen these ads or are now thinking of joining the Disney movie club consider letting me refer you so we can both get a great deal :-)

Good grief, Disney is good!  First, their advertising worked on me. Second, I just gave them a bunch of free advertising telling you about it.  Third, I have given them even more free advertising and already referred some friends.  And fourth, maybe now one of you will join the club...

Utah Jazz Game

Buy This Coke Advertisement

Last weekend my husband and I went to a Utah Jazz game.  It was my first one so I was not totally sure what to expect (other than basketball).  There was actually a lot of media at the game, mostly in the form of advertisements on the big screens.  Right before the game started the worst (and best) advertisement came on the screen.  It had a red background, a white coke bottle and white letters that said "Buy This".  And that was the ad.  My husband and I just laughed and said, "Wait, did the intern make that one, it's terrible", but now I wonder if it really was terrible.  We remember it.  We bough coke at that game.  And now I am telling you about it.  I have used the word "coke" multiple times in this post.  Will you be buying a coke today?