So much for the Lenten goal. Lent is over. But as it's May and it seems spring still has not arrived in Minnesota, why not stay on the theme of "spring cleaning"? I have inventory done at school, got some cleaning and organizing done around the house this last weekend, so it's time (again) to bust out a handful of blog posts! Just a little tweaking to my original schedule, but I WILL have 23 done by the June deadline.
Keeping up... ha ha ha...hysterical! I was actually trying to catch up on blog feeds the other day in Feedly, sending roughly half into Pocket for later real reading, when I read Morgan's post on Thing 4. Btw. thanks for the shout out, Morgan! I desperately needed a new RSS aggregator when Google Reader ended, and for the second time I didn't get around to transferring my subscriptions over before Reader went down completely, and a quick search for a replacement steered me to Feedly. I then desperately missed the tagging feature Reader had (although I had already lost all my saved, tagged posts, so why be so picky?) and that's what brought me around to discovering Pocket. Still tweaking my "madness methods" for working between two apps, when I had a system for working within one.
I'm of the same thought as Morgan, in that I didn't care for Flipboard, but do like Zite. I liked the variety of topics/themes at set-up. If there is one area I'm lacking information it's knitting patterns (HA HA HA), so have really appreciated having more of those types of things delivered directly to me.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Mobile Things 3
I haven't necessarily been procrastinating about working through the Things, but have been putting off blogging about them, because I wanted to keep everything positive. It is now officially Lenten season and for many years I've given up negativity for Lent ;-) and I didn't want to be expressing negativity about Thing 3 - Utilities. After meeting with Ann and Morgan (members of our Panera Royalty), I found out I'm not the only one feeling this way about the Utility apps in Thing 3 and feel free to complete the blog entry.
I installed three of the apps: Google Search, iHome Sleep and Wi-Fi Finder and will soon be deleting them from my iPad. I had high hopes for Google Search because I regularly use multiple stand-alone Google apps, so I thought they'd be integrated into this one. But what I found was that I was basically sent back out to the apps that I already had installed. I think personally I would be more inclined to simply create a Google folder and house my Maps, Hangouts, Drive, etc. apps for one tap access.
iHome Sleep, didn't seem to have any exciting/relevant functions that I'd been missing from the standard Clock app, and while Wi-Fi Finder also seemed promising, it's one of those apps that you need to think far enough ahead to conduct your search while in a wi-fi area and I rarely determine where I go based on a need for wi-fi. I like to think that I still require enough human contact to meet people in settings where I'm digitally unconnected.
Ann, Morgan and I instead talked about some the Utility apps we currently use and like. My votes were for Skitch (great for marking where I left off on knitting patterns I've downloaded!), Chirp (which is fun in theory and practice, but requires others to also have devices available and app open) and Pocket (which allows me to tag RSS posts from Feedly for later organization/reference...a feature that I greatly miss from Google Reader).
I do now feel a great desire to "spring clean" my iPad though. Why am I allowing apps that I've never used or tried and didn't like to take up space?
I installed three of the apps: Google Search, iHome Sleep and Wi-Fi Finder and will soon be deleting them from my iPad. I had high hopes for Google Search because I regularly use multiple stand-alone Google apps, so I thought they'd be integrated into this one. But what I found was that I was basically sent back out to the apps that I already had installed. I think personally I would be more inclined to simply create a Google folder and house my Maps, Hangouts, Drive, etc. apps for one tap access.
iHome Sleep, didn't seem to have any exciting/relevant functions that I'd been missing from the standard Clock app, and while Wi-Fi Finder also seemed promising, it's one of those apps that you need to think far enough ahead to conduct your search while in a wi-fi area and I rarely determine where I go based on a need for wi-fi. I like to think that I still require enough human contact to meet people in settings where I'm digitally unconnected.
Ann, Morgan and I instead talked about some the Utility apps we currently use and like. My votes were for Skitch (great for marking where I left off on knitting patterns I've downloaded!), Chirp (which is fun in theory and practice, but requires others to also have devices available and app open) and Pocket (which allows me to tag RSS posts from Feedly for later organization/reference...a feature that I greatly miss from Google Reader).
I do now feel a great desire to "spring clean" my iPad though. Why am I allowing apps that I've never used or tried and didn't like to take up space?
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Mobile Things 2
I consider myself to be a middle-of-the-road adopter of technology. Primarily because of my frugality. I can tell you my first CD purchase, which I still own, was Bing Crosby's Christmas Hits. I was 18, had scored a bargain on a combo stereo with turn table, duel cassette deck (that's right, you read correctly, DUEL), AM/FM radio and...drumroll...CD player, so I decided it was time to start investing in this new music format that had been in stores a few years. I do love me some Bing, especially during the holidays, but the truth of why he was my first CD purchase was that it was $4.
What does any of this have to do with Mobile Thing 2?? While I updated to OS 7 on my 3rd generation iPad when I got the little message on my screen that a software update was available, I've been futzing with little features here and there and the "cool things" I read about or saw on the videos don't seem to be available to those who aren't on an iPhone5, iPad4, iPad Air or Mini. So from what I came across in the exploration of Mobile Thing 2, was that I had already found most of the fun gadgets and gizmos in OS 7 on a 3rd gen, on my own. Oh well, even though Bing started a new phase for me moving ahead, I still didn't get rid of my Thriller or DeBarge vinyls!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
New Learning Opportunities - 23 Mobile Things
I was very excited to see that Metronet was continuing with the 23 Things model and offering 23 Mobile Things in 2014.
It enabled a number of wonderful things to be revived, like the regular meetings of the "Panera Princesses" with some new added friends (at least one Panera Prince), and the blog that I started initially for 23 Things on a Stick and later used to record my adventures on a Fulbright-Hayes Seminar to Hungary and the Czech Republic in 2010. Scrolling through the posts was like flipping through a photo album (which I have yet to print and assemble, a common theme among my Fulbright friends) and brought back fabulous memories.
Thing 1 on this round of 23 Mobile Things is once again blogging. I've never been comfortable with my writing style, and so regular blogging has been a struggle. I feel like more time is spent on the backspace and delete keys than any other. That being said, I am looking forward to learning (now 22) skills and apps that can be used on mobile devices and may be easily incorporated into my daily life, either professionally or personally.
It enabled a number of wonderful things to be revived, like the regular meetings of the "Panera Princesses" with some new added friends (at least one Panera Prince), and the blog that I started initially for 23 Things on a Stick and later used to record my adventures on a Fulbright-Hayes Seminar to Hungary and the Czech Republic in 2010. Scrolling through the posts was like flipping through a photo album (which I have yet to print and assemble, a common theme among my Fulbright friends) and brought back fabulous memories.
Thing 1 on this round of 23 Mobile Things is once again blogging. I've never been comfortable with my writing style, and so regular blogging has been a struggle. I feel like more time is spent on the backspace and delete keys than any other. That being said, I am looking forward to learning (now 22) skills and apps that can be used on mobile devices and may be easily incorporated into my daily life, either professionally or personally.
Friday, August 20, 2010
New this season - the Hortobágy collection
My fourth and final plane touched down at MSP at 11:25 pm on Wednesday. Thanks to my good friend Kara, I was picked up and delivered to my house around 12:30am. I got a solid eight hours of sleep in my own bed and woke feeling completely refreshed. I believe jet lag has been avoided! While I've already commented on the improvement of my swollen ankles and feet situation, here is visual proof that I am returning home ready to sport my full shoe collection.
These shoes did not return to the US. They were stained, had a small hole working through on the left pinky toe and reeked to high heaven. But I did like how slim my ankles looked in them! ;-)
Now for the real priorities...unpacking Thursday morning. When it comes to some things (okay, a lot of things), I'm a real geek. While most things are still strewn across the floor, first thing I did was dig out the pottery and table linens I bought in the Hortobágy and set the kitchen table. Like I said, one must have their priorities straight. I just love the look of the black-on-black pottery!
After coming home from the grocery store Thursday afternoon, my garage door opener wouldn't work and close the door. Thursday night while I rinsed a bowl in the sink, I felt dripping on my feet. The entire garbage disposal had dropped out from under the drain. A light bulb in the bathroom burned out. It felt like the house was retaliating for my two month absence, the way a disgruntled pet will pee everywhere when left alone too much. Luckily I have an awesome brother who was stoked to play with his new cordless drill. Check here for some of Aaron's other talents, as recorded by my other pretty cool brother Adam. The garage door is working again, the plumbing under the kitchen sink is newly replaced, and I managed to replace the burned out light bulb myself.
As a travel blog, I guess it is safe to say this is the end. Who knows, maybe a new purpose will be discovered. Thanks for following along...
These shoes did not return to the US. They were stained, had a small hole working through on the left pinky toe and reeked to high heaven. But I did like how slim my ankles looked in them! ;-)
Now for the real priorities...unpacking Thursday morning. When it comes to some things (okay, a lot of things), I'm a real geek. While most things are still strewn across the floor, first thing I did was dig out the pottery and table linens I bought in the Hortobágy and set the kitchen table. Like I said, one must have their priorities straight. I just love the look of the black-on-black pottery!
After coming home from the grocery store Thursday afternoon, my garage door opener wouldn't work and close the door. Thursday night while I rinsed a bowl in the sink, I felt dripping on my feet. The entire garbage disposal had dropped out from under the drain. A light bulb in the bathroom burned out. It felt like the house was retaliating for my two month absence, the way a disgruntled pet will pee everywhere when left alone too much. Luckily I have an awesome brother who was stoked to play with his new cordless drill. Check here for some of Aaron's other talents, as recorded by my other pretty cool brother Adam. The garage door is working again, the plumbing under the kitchen sink is newly replaced, and I managed to replace the burned out light bulb myself.
As a travel blog, I guess it is safe to say this is the end. Who knows, maybe a new purpose will be discovered. Thanks for following along...
Monday, August 16, 2010
The light at the end of the tunnel
I don't have any pictures from Germany to share by post as of yet...they are all still on my camera. As I'm working on Linde's computer with the German keyboard, typing is a much slower process and I wanted to get at least one post in for this last week and a half of my summer.
Unlike my fears, Germany has been very relaxing compared to the six weeks of Fulbright. I spent three days with relatives in northwestern Germany and was able to be leisurely. Linde picked me up at Agnes's on Tuesday and brought me to Ingolstadt, where I hadn't been back to since my time as a student 13 years ago. I am pleased to announce that Ingolstadt hasn't changed too dramatically. The H&M might have moved across the pedestrian way and the large bookstore is gone, but the majority is where and as I remembered it.
I have been able to serve as Linde's reason to visit all those places in a two-hour radius that one never goes to when you live somewhere, so each day has had a relatively full program of museums and castles, but usually starts out with a late morning of sleeping in! :-) Yesterday we went to the Kuhstall Cafe, which yes translates to cowstall cafe. I thought it would be a renovated barn, but no, a loft cafe was built over a working diary barn with windows allowing customers to watch the cows below. I never would have imagined that there would be a strange fascination to watch cows in all their manuered glory, relieving themselves while waiting for my coffee to come or eating my cake. It wasn't just a cafe, but an experience...and one I surprisingly enjoyed.
So, in two days I board a series of four planes making my way toward home. I honestly can't wait to be back!!
Unlike my fears, Germany has been very relaxing compared to the six weeks of Fulbright. I spent three days with relatives in northwestern Germany and was able to be leisurely. Linde picked me up at Agnes's on Tuesday and brought me to Ingolstadt, where I hadn't been back to since my time as a student 13 years ago. I am pleased to announce that Ingolstadt hasn't changed too dramatically. The H&M might have moved across the pedestrian way and the large bookstore is gone, but the majority is where and as I remembered it.
I have been able to serve as Linde's reason to visit all those places in a two-hour radius that one never goes to when you live somewhere, so each day has had a relatively full program of museums and castles, but usually starts out with a late morning of sleeping in! :-) Yesterday we went to the Kuhstall Cafe, which yes translates to cowstall cafe. I thought it would be a renovated barn, but no, a loft cafe was built over a working diary barn with windows allowing customers to watch the cows below. I never would have imagined that there would be a strange fascination to watch cows in all their manuered glory, relieving themselves while waiting for my coffee to come or eating my cake. It wasn't just a cafe, but an experience...and one I surprisingly enjoyed.
So, in two days I board a series of four planes making my way toward home. I honestly can't wait to be back!!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
R.I.P. Faithful Friend
Tomorrow is our last full day in Prague and the last official day of the Fulbright-Hays seminar. The last few days have been full of running around doing any last minute shopping and searching for those museums earlier missed. As mentioned, I went to the Kafka Museum on Monday and it fulfilled its kafkaesque reputation. I was actually laughing through the entire thing because of the absurdity of the lighting, sound and phrasing of the signage. It was great!
On Saturday I'll be boarding a train for Münster, Germany. My relatives (fourth cousins four times removed) live there and I'll be visiting with them for three days. On Tuesday, my hostmom from Ingolstadt will be picking me up and taking me home for the final week. I'm not 100% sure what my access to Internet will be like in the last 10 days, but I'll try to post if possible.
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