Friday Five: Simplyfying

kathyrnzj, over at RevGalBlogPals offers this Friday Five:
I returned to the office today after over a week of vacation. I'm not the best at re-entry, but I do find myself with a renewed interest in being a bit more stream-lined in the way I approach things. I'm also open to ideas....
What are 5 things you do or things you have bought that have made your life simpler/easier to manage?
1. Last summer I got an iPad 2. It doesn't exactly make my life simpler because there is a learning curve to making the most of it: such as writing blog posts. It is even difficult sometimes to post comments on blogs, but that has more to do with blogger than the iPad. But it is awesome for other things. I really like to preach from the iPad. And, it's so easy to use for email and Facebook. I also download books to read on the iPad and music to listen too and videos for exercise (Yogamazing podcast videos and Dennis Austin on YouTube)...it's kind of a one machine does all...
2. For the second summer in a row I have a garden. And, more importantly, despite the high heat and dry temps this summer it is producing. Well, not so much when it comes to pickle cucumbers, which seem to go from nothing to bloated and over ripe in a day. I have managed to get enough pickling cuc's to put up three jars of spicy refrigerator dills (they'll be ready on Tuesday). And I have frozen a lot of broccoli. I have zucchini and tomatoes coming out my ears... so, having a garden is delightful. Simple, ordinary veggies grown by my own love and labor.
3. Living in Dearborn is wonderfully convenient. I can walk or ride my bike most any place I want to go. And, I do ride my bike a lot. Having a bike and being able to use it is, for me, simple fun. Dearborn is also delightfully convenient to many places - it takes almost no time to get to some wonderful museums, restaurants, theater, and outdoor activities. Even when I have to get in my car I can most any place with little effort (bad traffic here is not really bad traffic)...
4. I do like the iPhone. I waited until it was available via Sprint because I don't want to support Verizon and I don't like AT&T. So, I am thrilled Sprint carries it now - even though the labor to upgrade their cell phone towers to accommodate it means dropped calls for awhile. But I like that it syncs with my iPad and all my data ends up on both machines, regardless of which one I update. It's particularly useful for my calendar. And music. And, books. (no doubt it's a little small to read a book, but in a pinch, when I am sitting in a waiting room, it's nice).
5. Five things, eh? well, I'm sure there are others but I can't think of any more at the moment.
Bonus: What's something you wish you could manage better. I often wish there were more hours in a day so I could more consistently squeeze in exercise, blogging and other social media updates, reading, knitting, all the work I have to do, meditating, and spending time with family and friends. I am forever having to condense something or let it go...and it usually is not work. My goal recently has been to find greater balance in my life. It is an ongoing challenge...and some days all I can do is let go of some stuff....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Comments

kathrynzj said…
Syncing electronics seems like a small detail, but it absolutely saves time and energy. LOVE that you can walk and bike to places. I miss that here.

Thanks for playing!
I am learning the ipad curve as well. Thanks for all the tips etc you have shared on ipad stuff.
Amy+ said…
Putting the electronics on my list as well - great play!
balance... the quest continues! good for you with the garden... it's been much to dry here to have one this year.
river song said…
gardening and biking... such joys!!! Happy weekend!!!
RevAlli said…
Let me know when you find a way to find more hours in a day. Meanwhile, glad to have company on the balance beam.

Your blog picture is beautiful. Where is that piece of paradise?
Sharon said…
I also love my iPhone! I didn't think anything could be all that, but it was -- and more!
Terri said…
Revalli, it is the northern Oregon coast, a place called Cannon Beach....
Wendy said…
I so wish I lived in a place conducive to walking and biking.
Terri said…
Wendy, it's the first time in a long while that I have - most other places required a car...so, all the more reason I take delight in this place!

Popular posts from this blog

The Bleeding-heart: a poem by Mary Oliver

A Funeral Sermon: Healed by Love

Luke: A Mary Oliver Poem