How to Have an Ipad

Back in April, I got an Ipad. My friends know this already. They are the only people who read my blog, so this isn't really earth-shattering news is it? Hi friends!

Now that I've had it for a few months, I have some thoughts about how to have an Ipad.

1. There's no need to get the most expensive Ipad with the most storage unless it's going to be your new computer. I got the 64GB one because I have a little bit of a technology obsession. Only sometimes though. When the obsession is about an Apple product. I also plan to use it for some of my dissertation study work. It has a decent video camera and there are video editing apps, so I thought that I could use it for data collection. Video takes up space, which is the only reason I let myself actually get the 64GB. I do think the size you choose depends on what your plan for using the Ipad is, but I now know that having the biggest Ipad isn't necessary. Because I still have a little buyer's remorse months later, I'm trying to make the Ipad my new computer even though when I have to do "real work," I still get my laptop out. I'm working on breaking that habit. If you want an Ipad to play on or play on plus a little work, just get the 32GB one. It's a happy medium, not the smallest, not the largest. It's plenty of room, and I think would be totally fine.

2. There's no need to get 3G service. I got the one that is 3G capable through Verizon. Again, ridiculous technology obsession. I haven't activated the 3G yet, and I don't really expect to. I'm in a Wifi zone most of the time. I don't think I realized that before. However, at work, the Wifi is so annoying. I have to log on as "guest" which means I can't do anything except check/send work email which is all I should do at work, but who are we kidding? I can't even get to Gmail. Ugh. I'm going to try to continue avoiding an extra bill though and just keep using my work laptop, which if you see number 1 above, is the habit I'm trying to break--doing "real" work on the laptop. I'm feeling conflicted. My point is that you don't really need the 3G unless you don't have access to any other computer or a decent Wifi connection in your day. Save the money and get the Wifi only. It'll be fine.

3. You'll need some apps if you want the Ipad to be as good as your real-life computer. Here is what I think is necessary:
Stuff for "Work"
*Pages: I didn't want this at first because it cost more than normal apps. But I had to suck it up. To make the Ipad your faux computer, you need something that's like Word. At least I do. So, get Pages.
*Keynote: Replaces the need for Powerpoint. You can even use your Ipad at work to do presentations. Okay, to be honest, I haven't done this yet. I actually just finished a series of Powerpoints for work. I should really use Keynote. See, I'm still trying to make the Ipad my real computer. I will make this happen this year though. Or else.
*Penultimate: I haven't used this app tons yet, but I expect to once I'm back at work for the new school year. It's basically a "notebook" that you can actually write in to take notes or whatever. I'm in meetings or doing classroom observations all the time, so I think it will come in handy. You don't type, but instead you use your finger or a stylus to write. This is nice because you can organize notebooks for different purposes and send your notes to yourself or a colleague in an email. Also, it's paper-free, which is a goal I'm working on.
*Calendar: This comes on the Ipad (and the Iphone). It's actually really good because you can set appointments/events, give them a start/end time, set up alerts to remind yourself, make them reoccurring if they are monthly/yearly, and even invite others to attend with you. You can sync your calendars across all your devices using Google calendar (which is what I do) or Outlook (which confuses me). One goal this year is to go paperless with my calendar. I depend on a calendar a lot because at work I have multiple appointments and tasks that happen at different times daily. Then there are all of the school deadlines, meetings, etc. And then, there's my actual life with appointments and such. To deal, I have been using an awesome calendar for the last few years. I get a new one every year, and I carry it around with me and depend on it in order to keep my organized state of mind. But, I have this tool now, and I should use it like a grown up (and squeeze one more thing out of it because of the ridiculous amount of $$ I spent to get it). My current paper calendar book runs out at the end of December. I have until then to get comfy with using the Ipad/Iphone/Computer calendar instead of paper.

Stuff for Fun
*Evernote: Put this on all of your devices (work computer, home computer, Ipad, Iphone, and whatever else). As you surf around on the Internet all day, you can save whatever you want here and it syncs across all the devices. That way, you don't have to have a good memory later when you need something. It'll be in Evernote, just waiting on you. It's kind of like Pinterest but not public, which to me is better because really do people need to see just how many cupcake recipes I collect or how many how-to videos for hair braiding I like to save? Um, no.
*Google: There's a Google package that has all the Google tools. This is important for one main reason: Reader. I read approximately 1 million blogs a day. I'm kidding but only a little. I really do read way too many and annoy my friends with all of the useless mind junk I read there. Sorry friends, but it just is what it is. Using Reader helps to keep the blog reading organized. Also available there are the other Google friends like Maps, Docs, Mail.
*Blogger+: You can't use the blogger site on Ipad for whatever reason. (Okay, I should clarify that for whatever reason I have trouble with blogger.com on the Ipad. Perhaps it's just me, but this is my solution.) From my various attempts to use blogger online, I could only type blog posts, but I couldn't format them, hyperlink, upload pictures, etc. It's obnoxious. With Blogger+, you can write your blog posts problem free and like a normal person.
*PS Express: Photoshop Express. You can fix pictures. This is good on Iphone too.
*Kindle, Nook, or iBooks: I think these are necessary because I really like to read on my real Kindle, and this just makes it an all-in-one deal. I use the Kindle app more than Nook or iBooks because I had a Kindle before. However, in my opinion they are all pretty similar. The best part is if you have the Kindle app on your Ipad, phone, and the real Kindle, they sync so you are always on the same page you left off on even if you did your last reading on a different device. I'm sure Nook and iBooks work this way too.
*Netflix: Stream movies (and episodes of Friday Night Lights) when you can't sleep at night.

4. Wireless keyboard: In order to make the Ipad your new computer, you have to be realistic and realize that you are never going to get good enough at typing on the touchscreen unless you are Steve Jobs himself. But I bet even he doesn't. It's just silly. This wireless keyboard is the answer. Problem solved.

5. Get a case. At first I wanted a Dodo case. Then, I worried the Ipad would fall out and crash into 378 pieces. I decided instead to purchase the SmartCover that goes with the Ipad 2. It has come in handy because it can be a stand for viewing or it can just sort of prop it up which is good when you're actually working. I also got this case from Timbuk2, which I love because it's not bulky at all, but provides decent protection when my Ipad is in my bag, floating around with a bunch of ridiculous things that could probably scratch it up.


All righty, those are my thoughts on how to make an Ipad good enough to love. I do think it's worth the money, but I don't think anyone needs to be ridiculous and spend a ton on one. It's user-friendly. It's light and will fit in your purse or book bag. It makes travel when you still want to be plugged-in so easy. And it makes you cooler. Well, maybe not, but whatever.

To Lulu or Not to Lulu

Over the last few months, I've seen lots of references to Lululemon workout clothes on various blogs. Just today, I was thinking that I should maybe invest in some Lululemon. I use the word "invest" on purpose because Lululemon costs a small fortune. I would maybe be able to get one thing before I started feeling guilty. One is not enough usually. Then on two blogs (rachelwilkerson.com & sarahfit.com) today there was reference to Lululemon knockoffs.

Costco has these tanks for only $12.99. I think I might be getting a membership there soon just for that.

DA Active has a whole line made from Lulu-similar fabric for about half less, plus a 10% discount.

I don't really want to become a Lulu addict (there are entire blogs dedicated to Lululemon. That's weird, right?), which would probably happen if I actually let myself have the real thing.

Might try these knockoffs instead.

Good Morning!

This morning did not start as expected. On the agenda today was "clean the house," like as in scrub it. I planned on starting that task after a few cups of coffee and the Today Show. Instead, I woke up at 7:00 to Will standing over me, poking my arm. I thought there was an emergency and jolted up. The first thing I heard him say was, "There's an animal." I think he kept talking, but my mind stopped with animal. I immediately pictured an animal loose in our house. Remember when this happened? My response was no words just a look of panic. Then, he continued, "trapped in the chimney. I need you to help me get it out." More looks of panic as I sat in bed picturing the impending attack of an animal. I find it hilarious that I can go from completely asleep to panic-stricken frenzy in about 15 seconds. Granted, the frenzy was just inside my mind as I still had not actually gotten out of bed or spoken at all. Will said, "Now, just stay here and think about that for a few minutes. Then, come downstairs and help me." And he was gone. He knows me too well. Of course, I would need to lie back down and think about the animal in the chimney before I could be of any help. So I did. I eventually did make it downstairs, put his running shoes on (because mine were upstairs) and tucked my pj pants into them just in case the animal tried to escape up them or get tangled in them or in case they somehow slowed me down from running out the door when the animal chased me. Never mind the fact that I was wearing Will's shoes which are too big. Yea, never mind that.

He told me to keep the animal out of the kitchen which meant I got to stand on the steps that lead up to the kitchen from the den. This was good. I grabbed a blanket off the couch. Will said that was a good idea. I could use it to shoo the animal out the back door. Little did he know that my plan was not to use the blanket as any type of tool other than the kind that I cover my head with when a soot-covered animal was released from the chimney and having a heyday in my den. "What if it's a vulture?" I asked, and then was informed that we'd have a mess because there would be soot marks all over if it was actually a vulture. PLEASE be a squirrel. Have you ever wished that you had a squirrel in your house? Me neither. Until today.

Will released the flue, I cringed, and then nothing. Um, really? He got a flashlight and seriously stuck his head up in the fireplace. He did say that he hoped whatever was in there wasn't rabid, as it would probably be falling on his face. Nice, right? I was still standing there with my blanket. He couldn't see anything though. He closed the flue back, and now we have an animal in our chimney. I'm thinking we'll just listen to it until it escapes out the top which is unlikely or falls down to the point that we can recreate this scene with an actual outcome.

Updates to come.

This absurdity was followed by me going to the kitchen to get coffee, opening the cabinet to get a cup, and having a cockroach (lovingly named a palmetto bug) fly in my face. Ohmygod really? So I screamed the scream I'd been mustering up since I was standing with my blanket waiting on some animal to run at me from the chimney. Where was my blanket now!!?? (**disclaimer: I get my house blasted with chemicals (gross) routinely to deal with the fact that I live in a place where palmetto bugs are part of our population. Even though I'm actually diligent about this, there are still moments when one finds a way in. Don't judge me.)

I like this

commercial.

A lot.

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose

Tomorrow night, there will be a tear in my beer which I'll be drinking in order to cope with the fact that my favorite TV drama is going off the air. Friday Night Lights. Yep, really. Seriously. For real.

I tell people I love this show, and they usually laugh at me and scrunch up their faces, like "Really? It's about football and high school and Texas. Really?" And the answer is yes, really really. I love it. As a person who is a teacher in real life, I get excited about shows focused on school (remember Boston Public anyone?) even when the story lines are mostly unrealistic and the actors all look older than actual high schoolers.

I also love the character of Coach Taylor because he's almost the perfect guy, but he's not at the same time which makes him human and believable. Then, there's Tim Riggins (or in real life, Taylor Kitsch) in his cowboy boots. Um, yea. And, I kind of think about Julie and Matt's relationship in my free time. Will they make it work?? And, in this latest season, I really miss Landry. Aaaand, the music is usually really good. Well, it's good when you're watching a show about high school football. In real life, not so sure. I'll test it out next week.

ESPN is picking up reruns of FNL. It'll be on ESPN Classic. I don't have cable, so I guess I'm out of luck. But the Internet is full of interesting things dedicated to the show, like this article and this tumblr which I will continue to follow in hopes that there will be a reunion show or something.

In order to deal with the sadness, I'm hosting a party. I'll be invited and Amanda will be there out of roommate obligation. We will be eating chocolate cake and drinking beer. Cake for my sadness, beer because that's what they'd do in Texas (I think).

Green Eggs & Ham

I have some new questions about what Dr. Seuss meant when he wrote Green Eggs & Ham.

A few weeks ago, one of Will's friends was going to get some new chickens. He's been buying them from someone nearby. He'd bought 11 and then 7 of them ended up being roosters, so he went back to trade them for hens. Since he was heading out there, he called to ask Will if he wanted anymore chickens, like maybe a couple of Ameraucanas. These are the chickens that lay green eggs. Will ended up getting two, so now everyday we get two little green eggs. This new addition made me wonder, when Dr. Seuss wrote about green eggs and ham, did he mean green eggs as in green shells or green yolks? That's all I want to know.

The two Ameraucanas had been living with roosters, so we knew we couldn't eat their eggs for the first couple of weeks in case they were fertilized. I have a fear of cracking an egg to find a half-formed mutant chicken. If that happened, I would never crack another egg again. I would just give up cupcake baking all together or make Will crack all the eggs. He probably wouldn't go for that. So, instead of tossing the eggs, Will left them in the chicken coop because one of our chickens, who we call Butter, was broody and wanted to sit. So for a couple of weeks, she's been sitting on those green eggs. This morning when Will went out, he found this little chick that hatched over night.

In case you were wondering, green eggs do not make green chickens.

Roomies

Our new roommate Amanda (I'm officially going to quit calling her roommate Amanda and go to just Amanda, starting now!) got a new roommate too! She rescued this cute little pup from the pound.

His name is Joey, as in Joey Pigza (who swallowed the key, lost control, and other funny things).

Pretty sure that as soon as we all saw this face, we were done for.

It's like he's saying, PLEASE! I'll be good and not bark and not eat too much and not chew up anything and not spill my water and not put my feet in my bowl and not argue with Lily and Clover who are so big and I will sleep and be good. Please.

I mean, look at those little eyes.

**So the blurriness of these photos is totally my fault. Joey is not a rambunctious dog at all. He sits still; it's me who has the shakes apparently.

Vacation

Last week was Beach Week 2011! Here are some highlights:

Here's the whole gang.



Amanda and I perfected the margarita.



Lily and Clover had the most fun!




And Will and I cracked up about something.


Other highlights include some of the following:

-The new bridge. You can read about that on Amanda's blog. We all ended up crossing it on morning runs.

-Jimmy. I still believe this is the BEST investment we've made in years. :) We made pina coladas, margaritas, smoothies. Yum! You can't beat an actual margarita. My best concoction for beach drinking was a peach watermelon margarita (1 peach, a few pieces of watermelon, splash of triple sec, shot of tequila, and a splash of oj. add all of that to Jimmy and go!)

-Dinner. We all know that going out to dinner is a disappointment since the majority of beach restaurants are not at all impressive. Even our favorite hole in the wall bar seemed to be under new management this year. Therefore, dinner happened in our house. Other than the 80 batches of guacamole, we had some amazing ravioli a la Rob.

-Sunburns & other skin problems. As the resident red head of the bunch, I am the only one who didn't end up with a sunburn. I learned back during my life guarding days that reapplying sunscreen makes it pretty effective. However, I reapplied enough this year that I ended up with an allergic reaction to the sunscreen, which landed me at Doctor's Care on Friday night begging for prednisone.

-Porch sitting. There's not a lot to say about this one, but it's what we did. Every night!

-Fireworks chasing. So apparently it's illegal to shoot fireworks in NC? On July 4th though, people break the rules. A lot. On Sunset Beach, there are approximately 3 police cars. As people shot fireworks on one end of the island and then the other, the 3 police cars zipped back and forth trying to catch the culprits. While that was happening, we headed out on foot to find the fireworks. In the process, we witnessed a COPS-like scene of the 3 police cars screeching into a driveway and running to the back of the house only to find that the fireworks were being shot across the canal. So close! They clearly should have jumped in the water and started swimming!

This year was one of the best. We stayed in a different house because our old faithful, Island Time, changed their dog policy. This one was called Pointe Comfort. I'm not very good at reading maps, and when I looked on the map at where this house was located, I thought for sure our trek to the beach each day would be longer. It's good to not be able to read maps sometimes because sometimes you are surprised! This house was so much closer to the beach access and required no stair climbing to get over the dunes. Couldn't have been better!