Personal Archives - Roger Hyttinen

My Binge-Worthy Challenge: A Movie a Day Keeps the Boredom Away! 🍿

By Roger Hyttinen / November 1, 2023

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

This is the first post of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE

Hey friends! 🙌

Guess what? I’ve gone a tad bit cuckoo and decided to dive headfirst into a crazy challenge: to watch a movie EVERY SINGLE DAY for the next YEAR. Yep, you read that right. The next 365 days are about to get reel! (See what I did there? 😜)

Why on Earth…?

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. “Umm, don’t you have a life? Why on earth are you doing this challenge?”

Honestly? I’ve just been feeling like I’m in a rut lately, now that the weather has turned colder (it snowed yesterday!). With the year winding down, I wanted to do something fun and different. Plus, (and this is a biggie) I’ve got this MASSIVE movie queue on multiple streaming services that’s been gathering digital dust. I mean, honestly, I think I might be singlehandedly keeping some of these platforms in business. So, another sneaky goal? Figure out which services I truly love and which ones to kick to the curb. Also, movies, well, they’ve always been my jam. So why not? 🍿🎥

Originally, I was going to only do this challenge for 60 days – November and December. But then I thought, “Roger, what’s the fun in that? Where’s the challenge? Anyone can do 60 days.” And I was right. So I made it a little more challenging and a little more interesting…and a lot more lengthy.

The Rules

Alright, folks, it’s not just about popping a bag of popcorn and zoning out. I’ve set some “guidelines” for this little challenge of mine:

No repeats! That’s right. No matter how tempting it is to watch “Lord of the Rings” for the umpteenth time, it’s a no-go. Every film must be one that I haven’t seen before.
Mix of genres: From rom-coms to documentaries, I’m diving into it all.
Old and New: One day it might be a black & white classic, and the next, something that just dropped on Netflix (or one of the other zillion services I’m subscribed to) or even a film at my local theater.
World Cinema: Gotta expand those horizons, right? A sprinkle of Bollywood, a dash of French romance, and whatever else the world offers.
Feature Length Only: No cheating by watching movie shorts. Only full length feature films allowed.

What I Hope to Gain

I mean, besides an excuse to munch on popcorn and stay in my PJs?

A broader perspective: Movies are like windows to different worlds, cultures, and experiences.
Conversations: Trust me, give me a topic, and I’ll have a movie reference ready by the end of this.
Whittling Down My Queue: By this time next year, that intimidating ‘to-be-seen’ list better be way shorter. And, who knows, I might find a few new all-time faves!
Streamlining Streaming: By the end of this, I hope to have a clearer idea of which streaming services are worth my bucks and which ones get the boot.
Creative inspiration: Who knows, I might just pen down a script by this time next year! 😂

Join Me!

Fancy a movie night (or 365)? If you’re up for it, join me in this madness! Share your recommendations, your reviews, or even your rants. Let’s make it a communal cinephile experience! 🎬

Will I make it to the end without turning into a couch potato? Will I finally understand the hype behind “Inception”? There’s only one way to find out. So, folks, grab your blankets, your popcorn, and let’s get this movie marathon started!

Stay tuned, and may the film force be with you! 🌌

Until next time,
Roger

P.S. Day 1’s pick? “Bullet Train” — a pulse-pounding adventure flick about assassins. Wish me luck! 🌟

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

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Growing a ‘Stache for November: The Whys and Hows

By Roger Hyttinen / October 31, 2023

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Hey, friends! 🧔

November is knocking on our doors, and with it comes the delightful and ever-popular tradition of growing a mustache, affectionately dubbed “Movember.” It’s not just about sporting some stylish facial fuzz, but there’s a deeper meaning to this whiskery adventure. If you’re thinking of joining in or just curious, buckle up! We’re about to embark on a hairy journey together.

Why Grow a ‘Stache in November?

Movember began in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia. It started with a group of friends aiming to bring back the mustache as a style trend. However, the movement soon evolved to serve a larger purpose – raising awareness for men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.

Each ‘stache you see in November becomes a conversation starter, an opportunity to discuss topics that often stay in the shadows. Plus, it’s a chance to raise funds for research and support services.

Tips for Growing Your First Mustache (from personal experience and research):

Patience is Key: Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a glorious mustache. You might experience an itchy phase or uneven growth, but stick with it!
Regular Maintenance: Trim using a good-quality beard trimmer, and consider investing in mustache scissors for more precision.
Stay Clean: Wash your mustache with a beard shampoo to keep it fresh and hygienic.
Moisturize: Beard oils or balms can help reduce itchiness and keep your ‘stache soft.
Style it Right: Once your mustache has some decent length, you can play around with various styles using mustache wax. The Handlebar? The Pencil? The possibilities are endless!
Stay Healthy: A good diet, rich in vitamins and minerals, can support healthy hair growth.

Joining the Cause:

Growing a mustache is fun, but remember the deeper purpose. Join the Movember movement by signing up on their official website, creating a profile, and spreading awareness. You can also raise funds, host events, or simply share your mustache journey on social media using the hashtag #Movember.

Wrapping It Up:

Movember is more than a facial fashion statement. It’s a global movement that unites people for a significant cause. So, whether you’re growing a ‘stache for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro, remember the impact you’re making, one whisker at a time.

Let’s grow, show, and support together this November! 🖤👨🏽‍🦱👨🏼‍🦳👨🏻‍🦰👨🏿‍🦲🧔🏻🧔🏾🧔🏼🧔🏽🧔🏿

You can learn more about Movember HERE

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

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Returning to Writing: A Year in the Rearview

By Roger Hyttinen / October 30, 2023

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly a year since I last put my thoughts into words on this platform. It feels both like a blink of an eye and a lifetime. The white page in front of me seems more intimidating than it did a year ago, but as I type, the familiar rhythm is returning, reminding me of the joy and solace I find in writing.

Life has a way of throwing curveballs, doesn’t it? For those who have been with me for a while, you’d recall the frequency and enthusiasm with which I used to share my thoughts, musings, and stories. It was as much a passion project as it was a form of therapy. But, as with every journey, there come detours and pauses.

A New Chapter in a New Condo

One of the most significant changes in my life was the decision to sell my house and move into a new condo. Anyone who has ever moved residences knows the magnitude of this undertaking – the endless packing, decluttering, the emotional heaviness of parting with memories tied to a place, and the simultaneous thrill of crafting new ones. This transition, though an exciting one, was certainly more time-consuming and draining than I had imagined.

Health First

Amidst the chaos of moving, my health decided to chime in. Without delving too deep into the specifics, the past year saw me grappling with health issues that demanded both my physical and emotional bandwidth. It was an eye-opener, a period of introspection, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Writing, though my solace, took a backseat as I navigated this unfamiliar terrain.

Looking Forward

With all that said, I find myself in calmer waters now. The health storm has passed, and the new condo feels more like home every day. With these hurdles behind me, I am elated to announce that I will be returning to regular blogging.

To my ardent readers, here’s a little treat to look forward to: Over the hiatus, while my blogging ceased, my writing in the background did not. I’m thrilled to reveal that there’s a completed book in the editing stages — a gay Christmas romance novel. More details will follow in due time but know that it’s a piece of my heart and soul that I can’t wait to share with all of you.

And for those who have been patiently waiting, I have some exhilarating news to share: the final installment of the Ghost Oracle Series is nearing completion! It’s been a profound adventure, crafting this tale and sharing it with all of you. Every twist, every character, and every spectral encounter has been leading us to this culminating moment. I’m as excited as you are to see how the story concludes and to share that experience with each of you. Stay tuned for further announcements, cover reveals, and release dates.

Here’s to the grand finale of our ghostly adventures (though Nick and the gang may return for future adventures)!

Gratitude

Before signing off, I’d like to express my deep gratitude. To those who sent messages, checking in, offering support, or merely sharing their stories – thank you. Your warmth and understanding served as a comforting balm during challenging times.

As I embark on this new chapter (pun intended), I hope you’ll join me. Whether it’s life updates, thoughts on the world, or snippets from my upcoming book, the journey promises to be an enriching one.

Photo by Dziana Hasanbekava

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19 Things I Hope To Accomplish in 2019

By Roger Hyttinen / January 7, 2019

I was updating my 2019 bullet journal and was working on my “19 Things I Hope to Accomplish in 2019” page. This is where I create a list of goals for the coming year that match the two-digit year. I started this last year actually with “18 Things I Hope to Accomplish in 2018.”

Looking back, I didn’t do too badly last year – there were only a couple of things I didn’t accomplish, but I’m merely going to move them to this year’s list. So without further ado:

19 Things I Hope to Accomplish in 2019

1. Finish my Ghost Oracle series.

This is my young adult urban fantasy series featuring a tarot-slinging high school boy named Nick who can see ghosts. I am working on the fifth book right now and will be outlining the sixth one in the coming weeks. Would be nice to wrap the series up this year.

2. Increase my BookTube videos to 3 per week.

I just started my BookTube channel last year and put out an average of 2 videos a week. This year, I want to increase that amount and be more consistent with posting. So I’m aiming for 3 per week, every week. Which brings me to number 3.

3. Create a video review for every book I read.

I did a few video reviews on my BookTube channel last year but this year, I’m going to try and post a mini review video for every book I read.

4. Travel to Québec

Thinking of taking a train trip to Québec this year, a city that I’ve always wanted visit. Still unsure about whether I’ll be driving or taking the train. The train would no doubt be quite an adventure.

5. Publish my Gay Ghost Story collection by Halloween

I started a collection of gay ghost stories awhile back but never got around to publishing them. Once the idea for my Ghost Oracle series popped into my head, I’ve put a lot of my energy into that and the story collection got pushed aside. So I’m going to try and resurrect it and would like to publish it by Halloween.

6. Read 110 books.

Last year I set my Goodreads reading goal to 100 books and I ended up reading 147, the highest number ever. I typically read between 80 and 100 so I dod extra good in 2018. This year, I’m upping that goal to 110 books, that’s a little better than 2 books a week. Should be able to handle that.

7. Return to knitting

I know, this is a strange one. But when I was a kid, the neighbor lady taught me how to knit….not purl or anything list, just the plain old knit stitch. I actually knitted a ton of scarves back then. This year, I want to get back to knitting (figure it’d be a good thing to do whilst watching YouTube videos) but learn how to make other things like hats, mittens, fingerless gloves…hell, even sweaters. So I picked up some needles, got me some yarn so I’m ready to get crackin’!

8. Get back on the bicycle

In my youth, I was a huge bicyclist and put on a couple thousand miles each season. That, however, came to a screeching halt a few years back after I purchased a maxi-scooter. Since then, any free time during my summers has been spent on the scooter. I was thinking a while back about how much I missed bicycling and how much better shape I was in when I would put in 100+ miles every week on the bicycle. So I’m going to pump up those tires this spring and get back on the saddle, as it were.

9. Record video courses

Okay, this is kind of work thing. I write computer courseware and have done so for nearly 20 years now. I decided toward the end of last year to increase my offerings to include video courses. I’ve already started working on my first one and thus far, it’s going swimmingly. I hope to get at least 3 or 4 of them done this year. We’ll see.

10. Take more long weekends.

This year, we decided that rather than taking one long 3-week vacation like we’ve done in the past, that we would instead take more long weekends, like 3, 4 or 5-day trips. It’d be nice to have a lot more traveling to look forward to in the coming year. Several long weekend trips sounds like a lot of fun.

11. Pare down possessions

I want to do a bit more decluttering this year. The goal at some point is to move to a condo in a warmer climate so I want to start by doing some paring down this year. I have a few things that I used to collect that I plan on getting rid of, as well as a lot of my books.

12. Get back into photography

Last year was a super busy year for me, and I ended up putting my photography on the back burner, and it’s something that I really miss doing. This year, I’m going to get back into it so I plan on taking more photo walks and weekend photo safaris.

13. Watch more photography classes

I purchased a few photography technique classes quite a while ago that I never finished and ended up forgetting about them. This year, I put “photography learning” in my weekly calendar so I hope to finish off the videos this year….and hopefully get a lot more real-world practice.

14. Live a Calendar-Based Lifestyle

I wrote about this earlier this year…or was it last year? Anyway, I plan on scheduling anything I want to get done on my Google calendar which hopefully, will give me a more realistic look at what I can actually accomplish during the day. Going to give this a go for at least a year to see if it’ll work for me.

15. Start a new book series

This is dependent on whether I can wrap up my Ghost Oracle series this year. I’ve been rattling around a couple of ideas for a new book series and would like to turn those ideas into action this year.

16. Write at least one standalone

I’ve also outlined a few standalone novel ideas that I wouldn’t mind getting started on. At the very least, I hope to publish at least one Christmas story this year (this is carried over from 2018).

17. Stick to my writing goals

For a while now, I’ve been writing a minimum of 1,100 words a day, rain or shine. I remember last year I started out strong but then other things pushed my writing aside and I fell behind on my projects. This year, want to make sure that I stick with my current streak. I think that calendar-based project planning has really helped with that.

18. Expand my Book Blog

Last year, I started my book blog “Roger’s Reads” where I post a review for every book I read. This year, I hope to expand the blog and add other content such as book tags, book lists, information on literary prizes and other bookish items of interest. I’m really enjoying the book blog and would like to grow it a lot more. Of course, I must be careful not to neglect this blog in the process.

19. Have more fun!

This was on last year’s list and it’s debatable whether I kept this one up or not. I do have a tendency to be a workaholic, so I’ve scheduled time right in my calendar for relaxation. The long weekend trips and photography safaris should help me accomplish this goal as well.

That’s it! These aren’t resolutions, mind you. I don’t do resolutions. They’re not necessarily goals either. Rather, these are simply some things I’d like to accomplish in the coming year, some things to aim for.

How about you? What do you hope to accomplish in the coming year?

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An Entrepreneurial Challenge

By Roger Hyttinen / June 3, 2013

Why So Quiet

I know that it’s been mighty quiet around here lately. I haven’t been ignoring the blog though. I’ve actually been recovering from unexpected surgery.

That annoying stomach ache I was getting more and more frequently turned out to be a very swelled gall bladder. So I finally went to the doctor and was scheduled for surgery the next day (the Ultrasound specialist said that my gall bladder looked scary”).

A Plethora of Firsts

This was an experience of many firsts for me – first time for surgery, first time I’ve ever been under general anesthetic and first time I’ve ever been in the hospital. I do have to say that none of these are an experience I wish to repeat. Although everything went smoothly and the health care professionals that I worked with were excellent.

Luckily, they were able to remove my gall bladder laparoscopically (minimally invasive surgery), which meant a shorter recovery time. The doctor told me that I would be out of commission for a week. “No problem,” I thought. “I can handle a week off.” So I prepared my businesses the best I could and went in for surfer. Things didn’t proceed quite as planned, however. While they were operating on me, they discovered that I also had a hernia (I had no idea!) so they operated on that as well. Unfortunately, the recovery time for that is not quite so fast (no lifting or straining for 6 weeks). But as of right now, I’m on the road to recovery.

Entrepreneurial Challenges

I do have to say that this is one of those times that can be challenging for an entrepreneur. I can’t just call a boss and tell him or her that I won’t be into work for the next 6 weeks. Nobody is going to step in and do my work for me or deal with my clients. There is only me. So this meant that the day after surgery, I was answering e-mail and talking to clients over the phone. Less than two weeks after surgery, I had a two weddings and a rehearsal over the same weekend.

For just a second (OK – maybe longer than a second), I thought about how nice it would have been to simply be able to call in to work and not have to worry about anything work related — to completely rest for the next several weeks and know that my paycheck would be deposited to my account. I might have even briefly questioned my decision to become an entrepreneur.

But these fleeting thoughts quickly disappeared. In reality, I would never willingly trade my freedom for a cubicle. Even though there will be challenging life periods like this one from time to time, I still prefer working for myself. I love the fact that I can explore my creativity and do the work that I want to do, not work that someone forces me to do. I love the freedom to schedule my days as it suits me. I love the fact that I can explore new creative paths on my own. I even came up with some great ideas while lying in bed convalescing.

Yeah, being your own boss can be a pain at times — but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

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Why It’s Important to grow and evolve

By Roger Hyttinen / April 6, 2013

“Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.” ~ Auntie Mame

I ran across a friend recently whom I had not seen in over 30 years. He had aged (like all of us do) but apart from that, he had not changed a bit.

He still works at a restaurant as a short order cook (which surprised me — when I knew him, he had plans to go to med school). He still has the same interests. He still smokes. He still parties like crazy on the weekends. He even still watches the same television shows. He told me how much he loves “The Young and the Restless” and asked me if I still watch it. It took me moment to realize what he was talking about. He was referring to a soap opera we watched when we were barely out of our teens.

I don’t find lack of change to be a good thing. If you don’t change, you don’t grow — and I believe that it’s part of being human to grow, to change, to evolve. By growing and continuously learning, we discover and live up to our potential. We grow into who we are meant to be. We learn how to be better people and in so doing, motivate those around us to become better people.

By not growing, we often feel empty inside, sometimes even lost. We have the feeling deep down inside of us that there must be something more to life that what we are experiencing. We become exiles from one another and from our community, wandering to and fro like a homeless zombie.

An acquaintance once said to me:

“I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up — but I know it wasn’t this.”

We need to stop and look down into our untapped creativity and potential and then, bring it forward. But wishing, yearning, dreaming and hoping won’t do it — only concrete action will.

So how can we move from sleepwalking complacency to growth, from exile to inclusion?

By engaging with people, both old and new.
By engaging with life, not avoiding it.
By reading books, both fiction and non-fiction.
By connecting with nature (the ultimate teacher of change and growth).
By slowing down and appreciating the moment.
By taking classes and/or workshops.
By taking on a new hobby
By engaging with teachers.
By remembering your dreams and then taking first steps — even tiny ones — to bring those dreams closer into reality.
By trying or learning something completely new, even if it scares you. Trying doing something that you’re not good at.

There are many ways to get started but most importantly, you have to get started. I have found that creating a list of all the things you want to be or learn — or dreams you have ignored or put on hold — is a great place to begin. I personally did this several years ago and rediscovered photography, a dream I had put on hold.

Now you may say that not everyone wants to change or grow. That may be true — and that’s fine. But often, it’s not that we have made a conscious choice to stay the way we are, but rather we just forgot to follow our dreams. We became complacent, lazy and simply accepted our circumstances.

If you are exactly the same as you were twenty, ten or even five years ago, ask yourself, “Is this the life that I want? Am I happy with the way things are? Or do I feel a yearning to grow and evolve in a different direction?”

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Evaluating Our Tools

By Roger Hyttinen / May 7, 2012

I’ve been a Mac guy pretty much for the past 12 years (please – no ‘Mac vs. PC’ rants: I’ve heard them all) and had been working with a 2008 Macbook Pro. Over the past few weeks/months, I’d noticed that the machine had really begun slowing down, especially since upgrading to Lion, the latest version of the Macintosh operating system. It was taking forever to carry out routine tasks and I was beginning to get frustrated. I performed all of the required computer maintenance, ran various cleanup scripts but the darn thing still chugged along like a locomotive with three broken wheels. I looked into adding additional memory but sadly discovered that 4 gig was as high as I could go.

Now in addition to being a fiction writer, I also write technical manuals so I tend to need quite a bit of computing power. Finally, I decided to break down and get a new computer. But instead of buying directly from Apple’s main online store or one of their retail stores, I thought I’d give their Refurb Store a try. I checked back daily for awhile until a listing finally caught my eye. It was a speedy New iMac that was greatly discounted — almost four hundred dollars less than the list price (the price found on the Apple Store). After hemming and hawing (and fearing the inevitable buyer’s remorse), I finally pulled out my credit card and bought the darn thing.

But I wasn’t finished yet. The machine shipped with only 4 gig of ram (the same amount as my old Macbook Pro). I I headed over to Crucial’s Web Site and purchased 16 gig of ram (it was quite a deal!). A couple of days later, my computer and ram arrived and since I have been one happy camper. I couldn’t help but wonder why I had endured so much frustration for so long? I knew for awhile that it was time to upgrade some of my aging equipment as it was taking me longer and longer to get my work done. I am now considerably more productive with less anxiety.

The moral here is that we need to evaluate our tools from time to me to make sure that they are still working for us. Take a look at what’s out there and see whether it can make your workload a little lighter, a little easier and a little less frustrating. Sometimes, upgrading to the latest version can make all the difference in the world. I know it did for me.

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