THE OFFLINE EXPERIENCE & MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THE OFFLINE EXPERIENCE & MERRY CHRISTMAS.

24/12/12

Seventy Three days. Offline. Or almost offline.

For seventy three days since we migrated to Australia, my family and I did not have complete access to an internet connection. We used the internet when it was available in my brother's and sister's place for the first month and a half we were in Caniaba and Leeville, New South Wales.

There were days when we had a good amount of Gigabytes to eat up, and days when we limited ourselves to email and a bit of Facebook due to the limited bandwidth supply.

When we transferred to our own flat in Lismore twenty seven days ago, it took the telecom company almost a month to hook up the phone and ADSL Broadband connection ( I placed the order about a week before we moved).

For the past ten years or so, I usually spent almost every waking hour online. Checking my email and facebook accounts the moment I wake up. Using mobile Twitter when I am on the road or in the toilet. Using Google, Wikipedia and other websites in my work all day. And using my iPad to check my Email and Facebook while in bed before sleeping.

Even when I am with other people, I would usually go online with my smartphone to search for information on a movie or an actor in IMDB, or settle a debate by checking the correct facts and information on the web.

Family and friends who were aware of my situation were probably wondering how I was coping with the internet-free life. Many of them are also as hooked online as I am and probably commiserated with my situation.

It was an interesting – sometimes difficult, sometimes refreshing - experience to be almost offline for about two and a half months.

Combined with having no television this past month, books and the occasional DVD made up for the time usually devoted to online activities. It wasn't such a bad situation actually. It was kind of relaxing. And being able to finish a couple of books was enjoyable and felt great.

A week ago, on the 17^th of December, the phone connection was installed. I immediately assumed that the internet access would be activated at once the same way connections were installed in the Philippines. Alas, they do things different in Australia. More systematic and organised, but different. I was told that I had to wait another 7 days till the ADSL access would be activated.

After 2 days, the Modem / Wifi Kit arrived and I thought the internet access would be up and running. But, I found out that it would be activated as scheduled, on Dec. 24.

After 4 more days, on the 23^rd of December, the telecom company made a mistake of sending me a 2^nd modem. Upon clarifying this with them, and looking at the 1^st Modem unit I already set up, I wondered if they would really wait till the last minute to activate it as scheduled. I decided to power it up and lo and behold, I was online.

I immediately configured the three laptops, a PC, an iPad and two iPhones the family uses to go online and we all spent the next three hours glued to our gadgets, catching up on the online stuff that went untouched for the past seventy three days.

As I announced on facebook that I was back online, somebody greeted me, “Welcome to the world of the living”.

Another friend told me that “it's the best Christmas gift ever”.

Is it ?

Being offline had it's merits. The books and movies I was able to watch. The stuff around the house I was able to fix.

But am I glad to be online?

You bet....Merry Christmas.

The Magic!

The Magic

Thank you for spending your precious time with me and the SHOPLIFTER Blog.

I have been reading this book - THE MAGIC - by Rhonda Byrne for the past 3-4 weeks.

I picked it up at Powerbooks, after noting in the store's bestseller list poster, that it was the number one book in the non-fiction category. My primary intention for buying it ( Php 419.xx) was to learn about the non-fiction style of Ms. Byrne. After all, her earlier book - "The Secret", was a huge hit and even spawned a hit video ( confession: I did not read the book BUT watched the video / movie).

So once again, her new book is a big hit and I was interested to see how she does it.

The writing style is nothing extraordinary. Even the topic of the book is nothing new. From page one, you realize that it is something that you already know.

However, it is in the way Ms. Byrne presents "The Magic", much like how she presented "The Secret", that makes all the difference.

In the book, Ms. Byrne practically guarantees ( at least that is how it appears to me) that the book will change your life and will bring on much blessing and happiness - IF you read and follow the workbook type chapters of this supposedly magical book. The book asks you to read one chapter a day with an activity practice after each chapter. There are Twenty Eight in all. Together with the opening and closing chapters, the book promises to transform your life in a month or so - even less.

The cynical in me immediately thought of the preachers on television wearing shiny suits, promising wealth and abundance if you raise your hands and repeat their mantras at the top of your voice. However, the writing student in me wanted to give it a chance and learn from this person. If not the secret to the magic, to at least the secret on how to write a bestseller.

I won't reveal what "the magic" is all about, but , after reading one chapter a day for the past 23 days - magical things have indeed happened to my life. Wonderful things that I believe will change my life in the many years to come.

The first chapter asks " Do You Believe In Magic? " .

After 23 days, I will have to say .... YES!

And believe it or not, it is not much different to the kind of magic that we are familiar with. Much like the way Harry Potter and his kind makes things happen with a wave of a wand, I have discovered that we muggles have the same power.

The secret is in how we look at "the magic" in our lives and make it work.

Last Aug. 9, I decided to erase all the previous posts to this blog and start fresh. To find out why, please check out - http://adrlshoplifter.blogspot.com/2012/08/starting-fresh.html

I have Five more Activity Chapters and practices to go. Each Activity I eagerly look forward to every morning. I have even recommended this book to some of my siblings and even intend to lend it to them once I have finished.

Without spoiling it for anyone, I would just like to reveal, that even if, for some reason,  the book fails to conjure tricks and treasures, it transforms the attitude of the reader into being aware of the truly magical wonder that is life...and everything that comes with it.

Once again, thank you for reading my post and I hope you enjoyed it.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Starting Fresh ...

I started this Blog in 2004, under the name Manila News. I re-named it The Shoplifter a year ago.

Today, I erased all the posts - more than a hundred, and decided to "Start Fresh".

I was going over the posts earlier today and found that most of them were pretty negative.

I realised these past weeks that I have so much to be thankful for. And I felt that this gratitude should go into this blog.

So here's to a fresh start.

.........