2008
impossible architectures
maura @ 9:50 pm
I’m having some organizational issues lately. Not that I’m feeling disorganized, more that I’m no longer quite sure what’s the best format for my stuff. Help me internets!
(n.b. this post will be long-winded and boring. you’ve been warned!)
Okay, so there’s work stuff, which I’m entering into the work email calendar thing. Then there’s home/Gus stuff, which I write on a calendar hanging on the wall at home. But it would be nice to have a computerized linked-up calendar with Jonathan for home/Gus stuff, now that we are both working. Everything in the same place, living the dream!
I was using my 8 yr old Visor to keep track of stuff (retro!). It worked well when I was in library school — I esp. like the ability to make lists and memos. Who doesn’t love lists?! And I could occasionally even jot down a quick blag on the subway.
But the PDA thing is just not fitting in with my slick new work lifestyle. I don’t just sit at my desk all day, I’ve got places to go! I’m already usually carrying a phone, keys, ID, notebook, and pen, and not everything has pockets.
Mostly I am trying NOT to get an iphone. For all the usual crunchy, stingy thrifty, spazzy, whiny reasons you can probably imagine:
Too expensive! What if I lose it? Or drop it and it breaks? Okay, actually, I have never broken a cellphone and have only lost one. And I learned my lesson there, boy howdy. Sandwiches can be dangerous!
Also, you have to get a more expensive plan when you have an iphone, because if you have the ability to surf + email from anywhere of course you will! And do I really need to be surfing + emailing from everywhere + anywhere? Does anyone?
So I went to this old school office supplies place near my new job and got a paper date book. Not sure if it’s really going to work out either, but at least if I drop it I won’t be out $400.
8 comments on “impossible architectures”
Yeah, I know, and I think the old school one is good, except that I am having a hard time writing small enough (and legibly enough) in it.
I may just go Johnny-style and get a bunch of index cards, scrawl the date on ’em, and hold ’em together with a binder clip. Stay tuned. (I know you are on the edge of your seat!!!)
I use Google calendar. I have a color coded calendar for each person and things like bills and girl scouts. I share all the calendars with Karl and I am able to print Dexter’s schedule along with Mathilda’s, color coded!, for my mom to keep up. I can import it into outlook and vice versa. It really has been the only solution since I went back to work.
We are thinking of Google calendar, which apparently we can get to sync w/iCal (which J uses) if we buy some little piece of software. I’m not sure if it will sync w/my work calendar which is some PC Novell thing, but we might start using Google @ work anyway.
But I still feel like I need something physical to carry around to meetings, the refdesk, etc. Hence the paper thing. But we’ll see. It might not work out.
P.S. Anissa when did you get a job? What are you doing? So exciting!
Oh and we have a big plastic erasermark one on the magnetic wall in the map room.
That’s supposed to be for the whole family. Alexander writes on it sometimes. Max writes Monthly Bioshorts. This month’s topic is Abraham Lincoln. Last month it was Albert Einstein. April could bring Fermi, who knows.
Mom doesn’t get it. She sits in her chair directly across from it and asks “so, when is that dinner?” or “when is spring break?” and I say IT’s ON THE CALENDAR. or else I am more subtle (I try!) and just say “hmm, let’s see…” and read it to her. That last response is, of course, just playing into her devious hands.
Makes me wonder what kinds of mind games Madeleine & I will play!
J + I have somewhat similar issues with the paper calendar hanging in our kitchen. I laughed so hard at that scene at the beginning of “Knocked Up” when Leslie Mann gave Paul Rudd a hard time for something and he was all, “I wrote it on the calendar!”
[…] know, I know, I’ve claimed at least twice that I would not be getting one. BUT, someone in the house joined the iphone […]
Man, those black-bound carryable calendars are so old-school but I found they were the best for me back in the days of having a job!
I put everything in there: home (for when Ben called me while I was at work to find out what was up, or to tell me something), work (obviously), and what-have-you. Also stuck a bunch of papers (very important ones! Always!) in there, phone #s, etc. It was my 3rd arm, or perhaps 2nd brain.