Becoming fully Shabbas Observant

I can now report as elsewhere that today I am fully shabbas observant.  I knew that this was imporant and I no longer feel that I am violating a very very very important law and commandment.   I mean, I learned of shabbas as a kid and considered it a time to be Jewish.  We went to a Friday night service if we were lucky and that was a big sabbath.  A meal was nice too.  If we were in a youth group as we were in our high school days, going to someone elses house for sabbath was a nice time. Though it wasnt a religous experience at the time, the holiness of  a well prepared family meal was always special.
That said, as the years went, I met a few more people who kept the sabbath, to a T!.  I never knew that it was such a big ordeal when I was growing up.  I soon learned that one does not drive on sabbath and does not use ones cell phone.  I had long debated as to whether this really was necessary.  I rationalized that clearly making a spark on shabbas that you may do by trudging on the rug is a daily occurrence.  Surely our Creator does not want us to focus all our time and energy in keeping from using an electrical appliance.  Driving on sabbath?  How else did you get to the sabbath service?  Surely the service elevated you more than anything... I always felt a transcendental experience driving home from temple with my mother and father as the talk turned to jewish topics and away from the mundane. This was sabbath. It felt holy.  I really felt that we did a blessed deed.   That was so really until the past year or so.  In March 2010, I am proud to announce that I keep Shabbas to a T.  Damn near 'perfect'.   It took me a while and there eventually was a lot of guilt involved.  I would notice how Artscroll.com kept their services off line during shabbas.  You could not browse or buy books.  Excessive I once thought.....  I had a few experiences in the past several years where I might buy somthing on line on shabbas.  I knew this was wrong.  I wondered if the item might even be a curse to me, (but not so).  Baruch Hashem.  This was a learning process.  I remember once last winter that the new Local Emergency Room opened on a Saturday.  I was excited to know wed have such a facility so near our home. I did not feel drawn to go see it, but I pushed myself up and out of the house, into the car and there.  I knew at that state that I was Jewish and visiting an ER without reason was really not somthing that shines light on my people.  I went.    Maybe that is why a good few months later, I had a need to visit the ER for a small finger laceration that would not stop bleeding.  To pay for my own over exuberance about an "ER".   Well that said, I knew that the driving was an issue. I had considered going to services to be ok, but to drive to a frivilous endeavor did strike me that day as a bit helter skelter.  So I continued going to Friday and Saturday morning services by car.  It was a nice Shabbas Minhag at the Orthodox community synagogue (well I have learned we are not in fact truely orthodox... you need at least 10 shomer shabbas persons who live within walking distance to get this status I was told).  I expecially enjoyed the gefilte fish, herring and cookies that was served after the 3 hour worship service.  Not to mention that you could do a shot or 2 of fine spirits at noon.  That was great.  I really liked this experience.  
That said, come March, I decided just one week that I was done.  No more services on the weekend, I would have had to drive.   I remember how the children of the orthodox rabbi who lived in walking distance would shine with well being on shabbas.  I never felt I ever had that in me in my experiences as a youth.  I remember how another congregant was described as "not even touching a cell phone on shabbas".  He carried one religously on other days of the week.  This stood out.  I did not really think it was a special thing that he rid himself of the cell phone, but I knew that there was some truth to the fact that one does not use items with electricity on the sabbath. 
I will report to you that Shabbas is very enjoyable. I instead have my spirits at home these days.  Maybe even a beer if I want.   My mother works hard to make sure that I have a hot pot of food to eat through the day.  We leave a crock pot on with a beef or chicken like stew.  Sometimes even chicken noodle soup will do.  The religious folks will call this "cholent".   I make tuna salad each week.  I love to have some fish on shabbas.  I do not beleive that I am completely observant as an ultraorthodox person may be on shabbas. I might open a can of soda and I'm not entirely sure that is permitted, though that I do not refrain from doing.  I may open a bag of chips.  I do not make electrical changes at all if I can help it. I do not cook.  If my family makes coffee, I'll partake in a cup.  I do feel a sense of rest that does not compare with anything I had felt prior to this.  I realize that shabbas observance is a difficulty that in this modern age, many just really do not find to be simple enough seemingly to observe. I do not fight to convince others to do so. I have ceased asking my family member not to call us on shabbas, but I am glad that I did have that discussion once.  I do not answer the phone, though if there was an emergency I would.  The biggest step in personal improvement that seemed to make the rest come naturally was ceasing to use the computer.  Once there, you can do anything I think  (as we are so used to daily computer experiences these days!).  Would I watch television?  You konw. I have once left the television on and watched one channel all day when I was home with no family. I doubt that will be my practice.   I leave lights on in strategic locations.  Though the religous will disagree, I keep a radio playing. I am an audiophile.  I feel that its ok, the electricity is on and I will enjoy the stereo tunes.  It is what gets me through a day where I do not watch television, do not use the computer, mostly might find reading books to be the endeavor of choice and the rest is resting and eating.  (and hopefully family time).   I hope that someone is inspired by my experiences , in fact all that I have listed.  Realize I did not get to my abilities over night.  It took time and was in fact a struggle of morality, spirutality, decency, religion and mind over matter.  If a guy who used to love pork and shellfish can do this, I think any Jewish person can.