I've tried various organizational tools - my Franklin planner, Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, etc. I have tried every organizational tool on the planet in the last few months, and rejected them all. Franklin planner - too damn heavy to carry around with me all the time. I don't have Outlook on my smart phone, so it was rejected in favor of Google Calendar, which I DO use for calendaring. (Don't get me started on how every work related invitation I receive has an option of adding to Outlook but not Google. The war's over and Google WON, get over it Microsoft.)
They all work to one degree or another, but none were all that convenient. I wanted something I could use for quick notes and reminders to myself and just stuff in my bag, something that didn't involve too many keystrokes and swearing at the overly sensitive touch screen on my Accursed HTC Phone.
And then I realized what I was missing. I needed the tool I've used since my earliest days as a wee baby paralegal.
Yep, an old school "steno notebook." I do not know shorthand. I do not use it for shorthand. I use it for everything else - to-do lists, phone numbers, mental notes to self, bright ideas, just all jumbled together on the page, organized only by scribbled dates. Everything goes on the list, from "cat food" to "make eye doctor appt" to "short sale update lunch and learn," then I stuff it into my big black bag and go about my business. The Gerbil on Meth is a bit better today and not skittering quite so frantically, and I have my brain with me at all times.
The vegan red beans and rice turned out great. I did change the recipe just a bit - I sauteed a few tablespoons of a pre-cut "trinity" blend - celery, onion and green pepper - and tossed it in about an hour before dinner. It just added a little something. The flavor was great, and it made two generous servings. I served it over brown rice, and finally convinced myself that it is okay that I just don't LIKE brown rice much. I just don't, and I give myself permission to NOT like it. I like my rice all white and fluffy, and dammit, that's how it shall be henceforth. Eating a plant-based diet means never having to worry about your fiber intake. :-)
Otherwise, all's quiet in the Bossy Doghouse. Well, "quiet" is not the right word, as Higgins is still alive and bitching. Last night he kept me awake half the night because I'd given him the wrong flavor of food in his overnight snack. For the record, turkey and cheese in gravy is no longer in favor. Now, it's chicken in gravy, and don't you forget it.
Miss D is standing without holding on, waving, pointing and clapping her hands now, and says a few words: "Dada" and "Up" and it sure sounds like "Layla", and we expect her to be walking any time now. She has decided soft baby food is gross and wants to feed herself what everybody else is eating, and she's getting more teeth every day, it seems, so she does have a point.
My daughter turned 29 yesterday.
I'm coming to terms with having two granddaughters, but I'm not prepared to have two kids in their THIRTIES next year, so we've all agreed to start lying about her age. She'll be 29 until further notice. Thanks.
I feel your pain with the list thing. I use a college ruled spiral notebook (I just had to look to see what they called those things!) and list everything I have to do - work, home, bright ideas, etc. I make notes like confirmation numbers, follow up dates, what was said, arrangements made. When I finish something, I use a highlighter to mark it as done. Very much old school, but less painful than trying to type on my Droid. It is very satisfying to see a completely yellow page. It has also saved my ass more than once when I had proof of what someone did or didn't do. Enjoy your weekend - Vicki
ReplyDeleteYup, I use my steno book the same way - I prefer it because it takes up less space on my desk and in my (huge) purse. I usually just draw a line through a completed item so it's still legible, but a yellow highlighter is even better.
ReplyDeleteWhen I still worked, I carried a steno book into every staff meeting. I didn't take copious notes; I just wrote the date at the top of the page and made a list of bullet points. Pretty soon I became the unofficial keeper of the minutes, and my co-workers would say, "What did she say about such and such? I saw you write it in your book." There are times when old-school, low-tech is still the best.
ReplyDeleteBrenda.
Yes to a steno pad. I've used them off and on most of my life (I inherited a pile). It's fun to run across them after a while; a snapshot of what was going on in your life then.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes to staying 29.
Agreed about the steno pad, although my department has decided to go "agile" - ripping from IT development. I find it hilarious that the software development team has gone back to handwritten index cards pinned to a board to move their projects along, instead of project management software (they use that too, but only the project manager knows how to use it). So now we are trying it in marketing and I'm a remote employee who has to send an email to someone who cuts up my email and sticks it to a board.
ReplyDeleteKimmen
Yes, yes to all of you - old school steno pad meeting notes carried many meetings I attended! Dated records of phone calls and assigned tasks saved asses higher than mine more than once. And don't get me started on project management software. What is the source of the stuff you put into the program? Um, usually handwritten notes.
ReplyDelete