Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits

So, I finally started working on video journaling...hehehe I made this silly video and uploaded it to YouTube to see how to add video journals without having them show up in my channel. I don't really use my channel anymore. At one time, I wanted to make videos and have a channel for fun. I never really got into it, though. Now, it's mostly an archive of my old stuff. Well, I didn't want to clog up the list of videos with my journals. Uploading that video helped me see how to do what I wanted. The links should work from here while keeping the channel clear. It's set as unlisted, but not private...hehehe

I next made a real video journal entry. You can see it here. With it, my intention was to journal in such a way that I was able to convey how I feel through my voice and body language. I just talked. I felt that typing out how I felt wouldn't express the meaning behind it. So, I'm glad I recorded it as a video. It's raw, of course. It helped with my insecurity of being on camera. I didn't edit it in any way. It is as exactly how I recorded it...hehehe

My insecurity is with my teeth. My mouth is a mess. When I do selfie videos and what not, I keep my mouth closed or position my mouth in such a way as to hide my teeth. When I talk, I sometimes cover my mouth with my hand. I've seen videos of myself where my teeth are visible and I don't like it. I am what I am. I really have nothing to hide. But I'm like any person who has anxiety about a physical flaw. I'm working to overcome that. Doing these video journals is one way I am facing that anxiety.

I'm going to try do some of this in 2025 on a regular basis. But I'll also try to take my random videos of my adventures and piece them together as a journal entry on those days too. Those will be edited. But that's just so I show the best parts of the day. I'll only be on camera in those for the video selfies I make. I'm not a vlogger in the sense one would see that on social media these days. The vlogs I'll do will be like this blog. Just your basic me being me type thing...hehehe I feel like the world needs more things like this...LOL I love to see authentic people and not that stuff that's trying to sell something or be an influencer.

Now that I've decided to actually do New Year's Resolutions for 2025, I decided I should make sure I knew what that means. The root word resolute is an adjective that means admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering. Based on that, I would say the reason I never made them in the past was definitely fear of failure. I was never unwavering or determined in an admirably purposeful way about most things...LOL It's too bad I felt that way before. But I've also felt that failure is the key to success. It is one of the aspects of growth in life. It's never too late to try something new. So, I don't regret having never made New Year's Resolutions in the past. And I'm glad I'm doing it this year.

So, why I did I have to look up the definition?!? LOL I'd say I'm a pretty smart person. As part of my intelligence, I've learned that I'm often wrong about things...LOL That's mostly because I've looked at something in the wrong way...hehehe I feel it is important for me to refresh my knowledge from time to time. I'm always growing and learning new things. Seeing old knowledge with new eyes is important to me. Common sense things remain common in my mind because I keep it fresh. So, while I already knew what a New Year's Resolution is, it was a good exercise to familiarize myself with it again. And to do so with all of the experience I've had in my life. New eyes for a new year...hehehe

I've been unwavering about some things in my life. Being intentional isn't foreign to me. So, I'll be able to apply an intentional spirit to some of my 2025 goals.

I had to put in a service call/work order for my toilet. It has been flushing on its own every 4ish hours or so. There appeared to be a small leak in the flap. It wasn't leaking outside the tank. Just slowly draining into the bowl and then triggering the flush. Well, when the maintenance person arrived, they knocked really loudly...LOL It scared the daylights out of me...LOL

I don't know why they knock so loud. They do it every single time I have to put in a work order. It takes a while for me to calm my nerves after. When I knock on someone's door, I do a playful shave and a haircut knock in a soft manner. It may or may not startle the person inside. I hope not. But at least it doesn't sound like someone is angry...LOL And sometimes they answer the door with the two bits reply knock...hehehe And if there isn't an answer when I knock, I'll knock a little harder a second time with the same shave and a haircut.

I've watched my journal video a few times now. I realize I need to enunciate a little better. There were a few statements that I either couldn't make out or sounded like the opposite of what I was saying...hehehe Just past half way through the video, I said, ...and I'll continue to put myself out there.... But it kind of sounded like I wouldn't continue...LOL

I noticed YouTube has speech-to-text to get a transcript of the videos. I used a service for that back in 2020 when I briefly did a podcast. After I was done editing, I ran the episodes through the service so I would have a transcript of the episodes along with the audio and video, but for the hearing impaired.

I've considered doing that for my writing so that I could just speak what I wanted to write and could later get it transcribed. I can always edit the transcripts for whatever purpose the text is for...be it for a journal or a book or whatever. That's a best of all worlds idea, really. Kind of like how I now do videos and take screenshots for some of the photos I do. Multiple perspectives of the same moments ❤️

I watched both Frozen movies today...hehehe If it weren't for Olaf, those stories wouldn't work...LOL Something I noticed in both films...Anna does the shave and a haircut knock ❤️

My sister asked me tonight if I was going to stay at Disney tomorrow night. I told her Nope...Staying home. She then asked what time [am I] heading back home? I said, I don't plan to leave home...so, I'd say at about 12:30pm today when I got home last. I'm not doing Disney LOL I had forgotten to tell her I canceled my NYE Disney plans...hehehe She asked me what changed [my] mind. The fact that [I]'ve done it before? I replied that I just stopped wanting to go on NYE. LOL

I of course canceled my park reservations in case they were full and my cancellation could free up a spot for someone else. I'm not burned out from wanting to go. I'm just tired in general. I wanted some rest. My extra visit to Indiana is part of the reason. I'll be back to Disney soon, I'm sure...LOL

I was a bit down a year ago. I almost gave up going to Disney. But I've had a wonderful year. I feel so differently now. My experiences at Disney evolved this year. Doing dapper in April and this Fall was a huge help. Plus going to Disneyland for the first time. My Disney spirit is going stronger than ever...hehehe

Okay...so...each week of the devotionals and Bible studies have continued to get better and better. This week is no exception! I watched this week's episode tonight and began the Bible study. This makes me feel even better about staying home tomorrow night and Wednesday. In my rest this week, I'll also be able to focus better on the lesson for the week ❤️