iPhone for the ADD Soul

How I became hooked on SUP

2011-01-16T21:55:00.000-08:00

It went like this: the last time I wrote in my sorely neglected blog was in anticipation of going to the Big Island, my spiritual home, to enjoy 8 days of sun and fun for Samir's big 49th birthday, and to finally experience Stand Up Paddle.

And experience I did! The couple months of SUP-related training along with 60+ days of visualizing holding steady on a board ended up having a decent pay off since standing on a board was quick. To say I fell in love with this sport is an understatement as I liken myself more to junky/addict status which makes sense considering my OCD tendencies. What really transpired during my handful of SUP experiences in Hawaii was the rediscovery of a young girl undaunted by getting her feet into just about any body of water.

3 months later, on the eve of what has been a completely delightful 52nd birthday, I write to say I'm about to prep for the maiden voyage of the East Bay SUP MeetUp group which I started to fill a void until I'm able to return to warm waters. Not only did I fall completely in love with SUP while in Hawaii but I've proven I'm willing to don a wetsuit to SUP in the Bay Area. Hence the MeetUp group.

It surprises me, too!

I will attempt to keep a record of my experiences here if anything to keep track of my new found love of stand up paddling. I look forward to the ride!

SUP, brah?

2010-10-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

It's 10pm-ish, October 15, and keeping with the obsession with Stand Up Paddle Surfing that's been accelerating for the past two months I continue to read blogs, forums, and Athleta posts as I count down the hours before boarding a Kona-bound trip tomorrow morning.

Once upon a time, as a sun and ocean obsessed youth in the San Gabriel Valley, I had dreamt of surfing but had always had a decent fear and reverence for the strength of the ocean. And this was matched by a certain prowess for being uncoordinated. So I never surfed. Then in my very late 40s I decided a goal of taking a surfing lesson with Rabbit Kekai, in my 50th year which would also be Hawaii's 50th year, would be a dream come true.

Needlesst to say, while I did fulfill the dream of making it over to the 50th "state" (I still consider Hawaii occupied territory...) in my 50th year, but I never sought out Rabbit Kekai for a surf lesson and resisted a very strong urge to take a SUP Lesson in the little lagoon next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

So why now? A couple of things, first being that the only New Year resolution I've ever kept has me at my best health EVER, and secondly I've found some great training info on the Athleta Chi blog whiCh I started to incorporate into my gym visits. Lastly—it's about time for me to do It!

Taking a queue from Team in Training advice regarding visualizing the end result of a marathon I'm certain I've visualized myself atop a SUP in Kailua Bay for the past two months as I try to fall asleep. Only tongiht will be different since I'll be less than 48 hours and 2300+ miles closer to fulfilling my dream of standing atop a surf board. And I can't wait!

Now I've done it—or, do I REALLY need an iPad?

2010-05-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

One thing I'll say is this—it's much easier to type on an iPad than on my iPhone but then again I won't be placing iFitness on my iPad. I'm find an interesting contrast between my home screens on both devices in that the iPhone functions as the little extension of my Brain that resides in my pocket. My little brain comes to the gym, helps to remind me when my metered car is running out of time using the built-in timer,is a handy little camera, allegedly keeps heed of my appointments and schedules, and serenades me when I need it too. My iPhone both a blessing and a curse, mostly a blessing.

So then what, aside from being an Apple gadget fangirl, drove my urgent need for the iPad? It will not likely accompany me to the gym, nor will it remind me to return to a metered parking space before the meter expires, but I can read the "Helmet for a Pillow" book and create a wireframe for an iPad app concept on my iPad. The productivity factor. And that's precisely what lead me to the Apple store in Santa Rosa last night. I too am chasing the rainbow of mobile and iPad app design and after a day of playing around with a few apps, in particular Drawing Pad, iBook, the Kindle app, and OmniGraffle, I'm appreciating the productivity aspect of it and want to be part of this new world.

Maybe I won't use JoggyCoach on the iPad but I can't wait to read Haruki Murakami's thoughts on running while lounging in in my Puerto Vallarta hotel room. I'll just need to stay away from OmniGraffle while on vacation...

One unexpected bonus is my niece and nephew all of a sudden find auntie to be "sick" :-)

When I grow up I want to be Harriet

2010-05-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

I meant to post three weeks back when I completed my first 5K ever over here in my back yard on Southshore in Alameda. It was a small little event to raise funds for Alameda elementary school sports programs, the weather was gorgeous and it was time for me to take my C25K training to the task by running someplace other than on the treadmill at Mariner Square Athletic Club. Mind you, I have done 5Ks, 6 miles (Portland), Bay to Breakers, 10 milers (Big Sur), and even a marathon (Anchorage with TNT) but all as a walker with a *tiny* bit of running thrown in.

The truth is that I've never felt I had running in me until recently. I flirted with it, on a treadmill, a couple of years ago but gave it up as I started to work crazy insane hours. The other truth is that before I quit the gym to honor crazy insane hours I have to acknowledge that my time at the gym probably enabled the energy to work so much to begin with. Ah, live and learn.

My first 5K as a runner meant a lot to me and after meeting a couple of very nice women involved with the Mermaid Series Triathalons I had seriously considered the Mermaid Series Duathalon in September. Yes, I can run four miles and yes, I can definitely bike 11 miles, uphill even.

And this is where Harriet comes in. I watched her finish Kona Ironman this year and shed a tear of joy watching a 74 year old woman cross the finish line before the cut off time. (And trust me, having the patience to watch Ironman on a computer is also an endurance test ;-) Thanks to Athleta, the money pit that tends to swallow a few of my hard-earned bucks more often than not, for giving us young whipper snappers more insight into Harriet Anderson. Because now I have a counter to everyone that politely suggests I am too old to start jogging aspirations, and I now have a beautiful grey-haired babe to inspire me to keep going. I will definitely think of her as I walk up the 11% grade that is Hayes Street during Bay to Breakers on Sunday.

The conclusion of this post is that Harriet has inspired me to officially sign up for the Mermaid Series Duathalon event in Santa Cruz after all. Thank you thank you Harriet. And here's to my 72 year old mother for a speedy recovery after knee surgery... you can do it!

Happy keyboard—finally

2010-04-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

Hooray. The rift between my iPhone keyboard and blogger seems to have resolved and for the time being I'll cease the desire to switch this blog to WP. For one thing no body reads this blog and there are more pressing tasks for me to address.

So, Blogger, my blog is safe with you for now.

Joggy Coach is my co-pilot

2010-04-25T19:44:00.000-07:00

I did what almost any normal person would do after completing a C25K program using their iPhone, especially a person such as myself with an obsession with purchasing iPhone apps—I bought a new jogging app. And then I decided that it was a good idea to enter a 5K, too.

One of the problems with working as a User Interface Designer for a living is that I'm rather picky with typography and sadly there is an overabundance of jogging-related iPhone apps with bad typography which is why Joggy Coach managed to make the cut. I'm actually able to read the text and find the video game look of this app appealing and fun. Once I was able to figure how to use it (oh, a learning curve) the app couldn't be easier. It maps my route, informs me of pace and progress, lets me listen to my playlist, and keeps track of my outings. I like it!

It's still not my beloved FeltTip C25K but I'm pleased just the same.

But even more pleasing was actually running the 5K without having to slow for a walk or feeling like I would keel over after completing the run. Today's run was almost as rewarding as walking the Anchorage Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon with TNT in 2001, achievement-wise.

I can't wait to take Joggy Coach to Bay to Breakers on May 16. Woohoo!

I did it!

2010-04-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

While I'm waiting for my work out clothes to dry I'll scribe a brief love letter to my favorite iPhone app ever--FeltTips' C25K.

When you came into my life I was a sedentary 50 year old mouse potato commencing perimenopause with an obsession with visiting the iTunes App Store. You had good looks and our life together had potential. You inspired me to make a New Year's Resolution that I have thus far kept--a new record for me. You inspired me to be consistent, you inspired me to be active, and you inspired me to want to meet the challenge even on the days when I didn't want to. And nine weeks later (actually 10 since I managed to stretch one week into two in March) I am proud to say I completed the program without serious malice done to my being. And you have allowed me to justify a new pair of Athleta Dipper Pants.

Just because I have deleted you from my iPhone to make room for other Apps doesn't mean I won't always love you.

xoxo The slightly more fit Lucija

Sweet! Or is that Sweat?!

2010-03-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Or both?

The answer is... both. Today marked my second 25 minute run this week and the end of C25K Week 6.

To be honest I had my trepidations about today's run since Friday's was a bit of a challenge but I convinced myself to shut up and do it. Enlisting the help of Mindwave 2, another one of my favorite apps, and it's "Pre-Excercise Session" to get me mentally prepared seemed to have made a positive difference. Ever since experiencing neurofeedback sessions to reduce dyslexic tendencies I've been a fan of a couple of apps that deliver binural and isochronic beats such as Mind Wave 1 & 2 and Tesla Software's Ambiscience (Brain Power and Pure Sleep). Mind Wave 2 has the nifty "Pre-Excercise Session" that I've used a few times now with confidence.

Since Week 7 of C25K is 3 days of 25 minute runs I'm looking forward to enlisting Mind Wave 2 each day.

And I have to give credit and love to Iron Man Kona goddess Chrissie Wellington who shoulders a big role in the creative visualization technique I use to keep me motivated on these runs. Nothing keeps me going like imagining Chrissie as my coach, running by my side and cheering me on, after she's finished the swim, bike, and most of the marathon portions of Iron Man :-) I'm further thrilled to discover she's sponsored by Brooks (forget Nike or Saucony or Asics shoes--I'm forever a Brooks gal).

Until the next dispatch...

Now I get it

2010-03-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

Last night was week 6, day 2 of C25K—comprised of 5 minutes warm up, run 10, walk 3, run 10, 5 minutes cool down. That should have been easy, no? It wasn't. Or at least the last 10 minute run segment was more challenging than I had hoped and I ruminated as to why my attempts at treadmill runs seemed easier a couple of years ago. Surely my age can't make THAT much of a difference, right? Right?

Then it hit me—the old gal has an extra 13 pounds since quitting the gym 2 years ago which is almost like holding two 7 pound weights while working out. Ugh! No wonder why I feel out of breath and struggle to keep a modest pace of 5.0...

Week 7 of C25K is 3 days of 25 minutes of continuous running and now is a very wise time to commit to losing some weight. Running without two seven pound weights makes for a better experience.

25 minutes!

Where has the time gone? And yeah, I'm trying to run on a treadmill at age 50+

2010-03-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm back after neglecting iPhone for the ADD Soul for the past year.

I'm back to say the iPhone has been perfect for my ADD soul preventing numerous parking tickets, helping with soapmaking projects (10 minutes to soap being cooked using the timer! Unmold soap on February 11 using the calendar!), keeping me inspired to get on a treadmill and keep up with my 2010 new year resolution with iFitness and Felttips' C25K. I've kept many appointments thanks to the iPhone. This is all good. I've even designed an iPhone app that desperately needs to be coded by a real engineer.

So why am I writing now? Well, I'm inspired to keep tabs on my fitness goals here on this blog being that my iPhone is a key component to my willingness and desire to get moving. Honestly, there is no way I would have truly decided to participate in C25K without the app I purchased, which is well-designed -and- fun to use, or without being able to listen to music (my current C25K music list --> http://bit.ly/bYuiUW), or without a reminder that pops up telling me to attend "kickboxing class @ 7pm). And there is a certain perverse joy I get from stretching and tweeting simultaneously (I'm @carouselno3 if you ish to follow).

Another thing happened today while working on my hoolakai.com website: after being distracted by an Athleta e-mail I found their wonderful Chi Blog and got inspired by Anne Marie's Goals for the Week blog and all of her visitor's--many of whom seem to be in a discovery phase of running like me. Inspired by Anne Marie, I'm here to cheer up those in my age group (I am the same age as the "State" of Hawaii) whose idea of dangling one's foot over the edge is the sudden urge to pursue running--even if it is on a treadmill. We CAN do it ladies!

Before signing off on this post I have to give a shout out to the Gratitude Journal from Happy Tapper which I have consistently used since purchasing on March 20 last year. Waking up to hubby bringing coffee & the Gratitude Journal is a fab way to start of the day.

Happy Friday,

--Lucija

Procrastination is queen! Hoarding is King!

2009-06-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's been close to 9 months, enough time for a new life to gestate, since I've last bothered to scribe a post. The excuse of being busy with other things is valid with a good chunk of 2009 preoccupied by fluctuating situations at work, trying to craft a line of hand creams (http://www.hoolakai.com), and a whole lot of distraction by iPhone apps.

I hoard iPhone apps as I hoard body care ingredients, as I hoard magazines looking for inspiration, as I hoard distractions in general. Basically I am a hoarder and am about to take a baby step to challenge my capacity for hoarding. To put it mildly, I hate this fact about myself and find it a prison hard to break out of. The idea of organizing earthly goods is daunting and equally daunting is facing the reality of have less of them. I threw away a dozen magazines just now, without thumbing through them before tossing, and it took all my might to simply remove the address stickers and toss them in recycling. But I did it. I had to throw away SOMETHING and a dozen magazines were a start.

But back to iPhone apps and their distracting nature... I'm actually glad Montezuma is pokey on OS 3.0 because I play it less these days. I do enjoy the iPhone's timer function--which has been good for timing tea, timing parking meters, and timing my distractions and diversions--often it works in my favor. Using it to time parking meters and trips to the car wash or smog testing centers helps me get outdoors during potential dull waits.

Two apps I just love are the Gratitude Journal, which has been folded into my morning coffee ritual, and TO DO, which reminds me to do something proactive for my business on a daily basis. I take heed on the proactive business task and move forward in baby steps. Now I need a combo of the aforementioned to accompany me in my quest to battle and conquer the evil beast that is hoarding. Perhaps not a killer app, but an app that will kill eventually work on killing a nasty beast shared by many.

Yeah, too bad

2008-10-15T16:25:00.001-07:00

Yeah, too bad
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

Re: Rock star of the "art" world?

2008-10-01T14:18:00.001-07:00

Re: Rock star of the "art" world?
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

"Today Michael Godard is considered one of the most prolific and influential
artists of our time."

Bullshit.

More like this guy:

http://galleryad.com/art/archives/art/backroom/barron_storey_victims/

http://www.barronstorey.com/

-k

On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 2:09 PM, Colette wrote:

> Looks like Thomas Kinkade for the Bon Jovi crowd.. or drug addled Ozzy.
> Aside from the fabulously titled painting "No butts" of an olive blowing
> smoke rings whilst sitting on one of the rings, (the mind boggles at his
> creativity) my fave bit on the site is the photo gallery of his friends &
> collectors:
> http://www.michaelgodard.com/index.php?option=com_expose&Itemid=26&album=13
>
> --- On *Wed, 10/1/08, Kevin Evans * wrote:
>
>

Re: Rock star of the "art" world?

2008-10-01T14:09:00.001-07:00

Re: Rock star of the "art" world?
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

Looks like Thomas Kinkade for the Bon Jovi crowd.. or drug addled Ozzy. Aside from the fabulously titled painting "No butts" of an olive blowing smoke rings whilst sitting on one of the rings, (the mind boggles at his creativity) my fave bit on the site is the photo gallery of his friends & collectors:
http://www.michaelgodard.com/index.php?option=com_expose&Itemid=26&album=13

--- On Wed, 10/1/08, Kevin Evans wrote:

Re: Rock star of the "art" world?

2008-10-01T11:11:00.001-07:00

Re: Rock star of the "art" world?
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

That is both pathetic and hilarious. The real kicker is that his paintings
(if you can call 'em that) are bland dog shit. He paints martini olives
doing things like drinking martinis, swimming in martinis, gambling and
smoking cigars. There is even one adventurous olive that decided to become a
horse jockey. Wtf. Seriously, wtf. There is nothing whatsoever edgy or
"ROCkStAR"about his work. "Banal" would be a compliment. When viewing this
narcissistic clod's work, I view the creator as some Milquetoast-y Closeted
gay man living in rural North Dakota who has spent most of his hollow life
selling insurance & secretly painting these "daring" images in his basement.
After all, if it doesn't look like a Thomas *Kinkade, it must be deviant
art.*

Check it out for yourself.

http://www.michaelgodard.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 10:46 AM, Lucija Kordic wrote:

> The trip to Kona has not been without it's oddities such as the scary
> leather faced fellow Samir and I saw first in 2005, seemingly missing from
> December's trip, but this guy wins. Wins over the machete wielding guy in
> Pahoa, the giant bare chested Hawaiian kid on a skateboard next to white
> sands, the filthy dreadlocked haole outside of Lava Java. First of all WHO
> is Michael Godard? And why is he the "rock star of the art world"? I had
> encountered the circa 1981 Motley Crue look a like, his lady friend, and
> another fellow while on my way to deliver sample decals to a couple of
> potentially new accounts. I thought "Hm, possibly lame metal band comes to
> play beach front restaurant", and yes that IS judgemental of me. And then,
> as I traversed further in a pair of Target sandals almost as uncomfortable
> as the days earlier experience ill fitting Crocs on a'a lava, I saw the
> attached poster outside of the leading edge of the art world--the Wyland
> Gallery--home to quaint underwater mystical seascapes and dolphin statues. I
> spotted a second banner proclaiming him "thme rock star of the art world".
> Now even I should have heard of this so called rock star either by my real
> artist friends ridiculing his stature or through other means. Out of
> curiousity, while taking a second walk in the uncomfortable Target sandals,
> I ventured into the gala reception while Samir waited for me outside. I saw
> a Utili-kilt clad artiste scribing his autograph to culture hungry girls and
> art not much like work I remember of The Pizz in the early 80s. Robert
> Williams as spiritual leader or Greg Dyer with a marketing department behind
> him only not as intriguing. The work was slightly Juxtapose-esque wrapped in
> a Tommy-Sixx in a Utili-kilt veneer...
>
>
>
>

Rock star of the "art" world?

2008-10-01T10:46:00.001-07:00

Rock star of the "art" world?
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

The trip to Kona has not been without it's oddities such as the scary leather faced fellow Samir and I saw first in 2005, seemingly missing from December's trip, but this guy wins. Wins over the machete wielding guy in Pahoa, the giant bare chested Hawaiian kid on a skateboard next to white sands, the filthy dreadlocked haole outside of Lava Java.

First of all WHO is Michael Godard? And why is he the "rock star of the art world"? I had encountered the circa 1981 Motley Crue look a like, his lady friend, and another fellow while on my way to deliver sample decals to a couple of potentially new accounts. I thought "Hm, possibly lame metal band comes to play beach front restaurant", and yes that IS judgemental of me.

And then, as I traversed further in a pair of Target sandals almost as uncomfortable as the days earlier experience ill fitting Crocs on a'a lava, I saw the attached poster outside of the leading edge of the art world--the Wyland Gallery--home to quaint underwater mystical seascapes and dolphin statues. I spotted a second banner proclaiming him "thme rock star of the art world". Now even I should have heard of this so called rock star either by my real artist friends ridiculing his stature or through other means.

Out of curiousity, while taking a second walk in the uncomfortable Target sandals, I ventured into the gala reception while Samir waited for me outside. I saw a Utili-kilt clad artiste scribing his autograph to culture hungry girls and art not much like work I remember of The Pizz in the early 80s. Robert Williams as spiritual leader or Greg Dyer with a marketing department behind him only not as intriguing. The work was slightly Juxtapose-esque wrapped in a Tommy-Sixx in a Utili-kilt veneer...

Cleanliness is next to....

2008-09-25T15:33:00.001-07:00

Cleanliness is next to....
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

Ok, I have to admit the cleanliness of this ladies room got me inspired to create a geomapped list of ladies rooms in paradise and then this sign entered into my reality. Can you imagine the joy of seeing this signage signed "the bathroom"? Wow! It brought to mind Murray Hewitt telling Bret MacKenzie "well at least the tape bothered to show up on time" during the episode Bret quits the band and is replaced by a casette tape. (BRet vs. Tape) This lovely Kona bathroom sign was truly a Flight of the Conchords moment.

My iPhone is justified, yet again, pt. III

2008-09-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

My dream, or at least a big dream in life, is to eventually live on The Big Island be it full or part time, and in theory my chosen professsions should enable me to work anywhere. One of my professions being the manufacturer of luggage decals. My iPhone is just a part of the package enabling the mobile lifestyle and imagine my glee, after I finally regained a few ATT bars so close to the Wai Opae pond, upon discovering I could fill an online order placed on carouselno3.com--from my vacation in Hawaii. Cool! Now there is no way in hades I would have ventured into an Internet cafe during a vacation and my order would have sat around, pissing my customer off, for two weeks. But my customer will get his goods and I have the satisfaction of knowing my iPhone is indeed the work/productivity/life-enhancing tool I intended it to be. And in this revelation I'm inching closer to my ultimate dream...

I miss aloha airlines!

2008-09-20T15:17:00.001-07:00

I miss aloha airlines!
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

I want a flowered stewardess dress like this....

Aloha

2008-09-20T14:43:00.001-07:00

Aloha
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

Finding refuge at the refuge

2008-09-17T21:32:00.001-07:00

Finding refuge at the refuge
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

Sadly there are no umbrellas to rent at Crystal Cove today, the waves
are breaking close to shore, the maitais are awful, BUT the weather is
splendid!

A most lovely crystal cove day 1

2008-09-17T21:28:00.001-07:00

A most lovely crystal cove day 1
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

*sigh*

Viccolo pizza, jury summons, and an iPhone

2008-09-17T21:20:00.000-07:00

When the Alameda Superior Court called me in for jury duty in October it dawned on me that postponing would be in my employers best interest. But I was hungry, felt a duty to placing a pizza in the toaster oven, and wasn't too keen on firing up my trusty laptop. The solution? Pull out the iPhone and access the e-juror site in the comfort of my kitchen. Did it do the trick? Heck yeah... I was able to defer my servitude for another six months and heat up a delicious chipotle-chicken pizza in a timely manner.

iPhone access to delivery service website saves butt

2008-09-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

So, my little toy saved my arse by enabling me to recover my account number while mailing a package to an account today. I had to fill out a form and didn't have my account number readily available. Was the delivery service's website painfully slow on the iPhone? The answer is a definite YES, however driving all the way home to my computer, filling out a form again, and then driving back to deliver the package would have taken even longer. This is the exact situation I had hoped for my iPhone to conquer.

Why I love my iPhone and look beyond it's faults

2008-09-01T09:27:00.001-07:00

Why I love my iPhone and look beyond it's faults
Originally uploaded by Lucija K

It's been awhile since my last post--mainly due to pre vacation work build up, the Olympics, a vacation, and an addiction to the apps store.

While on my delightful trip I discovered the beauty of simulteaneously recording images of my trip straight to my Flickr account and I'll now have a real-time stream of photos. This will be great for an upcoming trip to the tropics and I'll be able to share with family and friends.

Similarly, as the proprietesse of a luggage decal company who fancies taking photos of her luggage coming down the baggage claim beltway, I love the idea of capturing the durability of my decals in real-time. So this little gadget will be plenty helpful.

This is my first experiment in using a straight-to-blog feature from Flickr and I look forward to the results.

A picture is worth a thousand words

2008-08-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

While searching for a MobileMe alternative, and a solution to rectify the "inconsistent data" message received while trying to sync with my iCal at work, I came upon this hilarious image courtesy Yong Hwee at "The Second Press" that pretty much summed up a day's worth of syncing angst. I am shocked and dismayed at Apple for releasing a product clearly lacking in resemblance to a good User Experience. MobileMe's lack of interface and sub navigation is frustrating, it's lack of in-depth help irritating, and my inability to sync up with my work calendar leaves me baffled. The "cloud" must have evaporated.

For a few fleeting moments I found myself missing my Tungsten and wondering how much more I need to spend in time and money to find a decent solution for integrating my two essential calendars.

On a positive note I have to share my love for the "Mind Meister" mind-mapping app which made outlining a project on UI Design processes less of an ordeal than it could have been. Typically outlining, let alone initiating less-visual projects with many moving parts, is kin to trudging up a steep hill for me. My usual tools of choice, index cards or stickies, are fine but then to lead to a lot of erasing and unreadable hand writing.

Enter the ease of keying in multiple concepts and the ability to arrange and rearrange through an online grid. Not only was mapping my processes simple and intuitive but less time consuming, too. And should I ever be without the comfort of a computer adding a fleeting idea is easy through the iPhone app "Geistesblitz". I can't wait to use Mind Meister to kick start even more projects.

Kinda unproductive!

2008-08-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

So far my iPhone has been holding me hostage with it's newness today. My productivity has not improved and the lack of a to-do list native on the iPhone is plain silly. I will attempt to use Jott as a productivity tool for now and see how it works. I have to wonder how a smart group of Apple engineers omitted a function as crucial to a smart device as a to-do list--that's madness! OK, and mobileme strikes me as cumbersome and lacking in the ability to fully play nice with OS Tiger. Other than that, I love my shiny new iPhone.

Update: 6:02pm

I've been so engrossed with my iPhone I've missed my friend Suzanne's open studio (and feel shamed by this, too.) Since writing this post, on my iPhone which was slightly counterproductive, I've come across a couple of different apps to try. One is "Things" and the other is "Todo". Many in the iPhone apps community seem to like both and being my huge cross to bare is that of organization/prioritizing I've sprung for both. So far, Todo seems the more intuitive of the two and while coupled with "Toodledo" offers me the added bonus of goal setting. If they could add an SMS to inquire about how I'm doing with my goals, at a frequency of my choosing, I'd be grateful.

What I do like about Toodledo so far is the ability to assign e-mail or phone numbers via the iPhone's contacts--how easy is that? Very.

That's amore

2008-08-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

One thing to consider if using ones sibling's eligible phone upgrade--verify that you will or will not need that particular sim card. We found this out the hard way, which found my sis sans cell today until she replaces her sim. On the other hand, I enjoyed driving 35+ miles aided by GPS, used the timer, alarm, and snooze button to prep for a painfully early teeth cleaning appointment, and made my first appointment for 2009.

Another future use for the timer, aside from tea time, will be to time parking meters--cool, enit?

I love this adorable technological wonder.

AdSense for the OCD Soul

2008-08-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

I've accidentally broken a KAPU over clicking on the Incipio link in AdSense. Didn't mean to do it... Forgive me google—I'm NOT evil.

According to the nice people at FedEx

2008-08-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm the recipient of good news bearing the progress of my impending iPhone. Not only have I been officially charged for it by the nice people at ATT, but the nice database at FedEx has informed me the phone is closer to the store I purchased it from. Hooray! I am a step closer to the challenge of using this device to vastly improve my life. It's only taken close to two weeks.

Now I simply need to comb through the thousands of options for covering the darned thing. Do I go with the spring green silicone with concentric circles from more-thing.com, or show my half-Canadian pride with this cover from GelaSkins.com? Too many choices. And what about a stylus? And then personal-productivity apps, or NuevaSync (free) vs MobileMe (expensive and buggy)?

Most importantly, how easy will it be to migrate iPhone for the ADD Soul to the iPhone itself? My weekend is seemingly cut out for me. More to follow....

Seven days and counting

2008-07-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings to the 2 or 3 people who will actually bother to check out my blog. As of today, July 28, I've been impatiently waiting for the nice people at ATT to inform me of the arrival of my new toy, a shiny new iPhone slated to become central command of my often scattered brain. It's been seven days now.

And as of today it's been just about 10 working days since my trusty (refurb) Tungsten E2 made a conscious decision to stop syncing my Outlook mail, leaving me feeling insecure without the obnoxious beeps and warnings of meetings, dental appointments, and general reminders. I had briefly flirted with the idea of adapting the Hipster PDA--a DIY solution to time tracking/time management/personal productivity but ultimately realized the beeps wouldn't be available on a home-made paper pad. Writing something down, especially an important work meeting, or weekend dental appointment, is often not enough, and engaging more than one of my 5 senses is probably worth spending a bit of hard-earned cash on. So, after visiting two separate ATT stores, an Apple store, AND consequently seeing a coworker with his lovely 16G iPhone, I decided to make the commitment. But that was seven days ago and the ticking clock seemingly becomes louder and louder.

Addendum:

7/029/08—8 days
7/030/08—9 days as of 5:49pm PST