Like many, I got sucked into the plethora of iPad apps out there; so much so I was one of “those people” who were checking the apple, macrumors and other tech sites for the first sign of the 4.2 iPad update just so I could organize all of my apps into folders (much happier these days with the new features).

So, here goes my Top 10 favorite apps so far…

• iBooks: One of the reasons I just love the iPad is the easy access to so many books!  I can read purchased books, classics which are free, and I can even import pdfs into my library.  I pretty much don’t go out without my iPad because even without internet access, I’m guaranteed a good read.  Price: Free.
• Amazon: Amazon has done a great job in providing a number of apps, two of my favorites are the Amazon and Kindle apps.  I really appreciate the selection of books that can be purchased for download and reading with the Kindle app.  I’ve used the Amazon app for their “Best Deals” and “Lightning Deals.”  Price: Free.
• Twitter: If you have a Twitter account, this is by far the best app.  The functionality and features are awesome.  This app is the reason I’m more active on Twitter than I was before–I just love this app and actually have fun on Twitter.  Price: Free.
• WunderMap: Simply a great weather app.  I tried other weather apps, but this one is clean, you can set your location easily, get an hourly and 7-day forecast, and even view weather alerts and animation.  Price: Free.
• ABC Player: I use this app to catch up on “Modern Family” episodes.  I miss the show during the week and have actually come to enjoy watching it on my iPad.  I only wish that other networks would follow ABC’s lead and provide decent apps, to watch network shows.  Price: Free.
• Pulse: Is a reader that’s much more than a news reader with a great assortment of easy to choose featured news, tech, design, and social sites, it’s easy to get updates on whatever you’re interested in.  Couple this with the ability to add any rss feed and it’s the first place I go for my morning news, updates and ideas.  Really great app. Price: Free.
• SkyGrid: Another great news reader app that shows what’s trending.  Also gives you the ability to customize and follow what you’re interested in.  This app has been great in that it’s expanded my exposure to other news/interest sources.  Price: Free.
• Netflix:  There’s been so much hype and chatter on the Netflix app and with good reason.  I can watch anything instantly on my iPad (with an internet connection), choose from items in my instant queue, and if interrupted, easily resume where I left off.  Netflix does a good job of switching out movies and adding new items.  I love the access to documentaries.  Price: Free with a subscription to Netflix which is as low as $7.99/month).
• Angry Birds: Those that know me know that this list wouldn’t be complete for me without some games, and this one is one of my favorites. I started playing the free version and then purchased the iPhone version because it was only $.99.  Price: Free Lite version, $.99 for iPhone version, $4.99 for HD version.
• Lego HP: This Harry Potter Lego game goes through books 1-4 and it’s creatively done.  After you play through all four books, you’re only 50% finished with the game because there’s a bunch of challenges that are now available after having learned all of the skills.  Just plain fun. Price: $4.99.

These are just a few of my favorites, although I could have easily penned a top 25 list (but thought I would spare you).

Seriously, though, when the iPad first came out I wasn’t all that excited about it.  I thought it was cool, but wondered if I really needed another tech gadget.  It was when we purchased one for my husband’s birthday (to help him with client appointments, management and follow up) that I realized, I could enjoy one of these.  The iPad has allowed me to stay connected with the freedom of getting away from my work environment.

My favorite character is the “very small animal”.  This is might be because I find it difficult to reach most of the cupboards in my kitchen without standing on a nearby chair or climbing on the counter.   Or it could be because I’m referred to as “Little Mommy” by my daughters.

And then there’s Pooh.  He seems pretty comfortable wandering here and there just enjoying where he is regardless of where Pooh finds himself.  Along the journey, Winnie-the-Pooh is also pretty content with who he is–whether he gets stuck in someone’s doorway or imagining he’s a little black rain cloud.

The thing is that Pooh, Piglet and they’re colorful friends give us an opportunity to join them on their grand adventures and in doing so, help us to learn more about who we are.

Sounds like a good plan for a journey

One allowed our family to begin;
the other completed us.

They have showed me
that love
is higher than the sky
and deeper than the ocean.

They have revealed
a world
of unimaginable
beauty, color and light.

And taught me
how to sing,  dance,
and view the world as a symphony.

I can’t imagine who I would be,
or how I would see
if not for my daughters.

Comes home early from work to help Mom take care of a crying baby.

Picks up his daughters and holds them upside down just to hear them laugh.

Plays silly games like “get your toes.”

Reads “On the Night Before Christmas” all year long, just because it’s his daughter’s favorite book.

Sits at the foot of his child’s bed until sleep comes.

Runs along the kids’ bikes after the training wheels have been removed.

Plays “Hide and Seek” in the house on rainy days.

Makes freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for everyone.

Attends all of the school meetings.

Tries to teach his daughter how to drive.

Drives his daughters to art exhibits, plays, performances, auditions, and then off to college.

Takes the puppies for long walks just to tire them out—and just because his daughter asked.

Laughs when the kids call him “Stodgy Man.”

Is there to listen, advise, and encourage as the babe that was once in his arms, has become a wonderfully loving adult.

Happy Father’s Day

Interestingly enough, I’ve been reading Karl Albrecht’s book, Practical Intelligence: The Art and Science of Common Sense, and he sums up his perspective on the news as written in an earlier book, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Success, in this way…

“Only Ten Basic News Stories”

1. Shock and Horror (shootings, kidnappings)
2. Tragedy (natural disasters)
3. Hot Sex
4. Scandal (Madoff?)
5. The Fall of the Mighty (GM CEO?)
6. Conflict (fights)
7. Worry (gas prices, crime )
8. Voyeurism (bizarre, sick or twisted)
9. Dilemmas (capital punishment, euthanasia)
10. “Gee-Whiz” stories (change of pace to give you a feel-good story)   (p.144)

When I read how Albrecht broke down what I fill my head up with during my morning news time, it really made me think about how I’ve been starting my day.  More importantly, it made me think about how I should be starting my day.

Now I’m not saying to live in a news vacuum and completely out of touch with what’s going on around us, but I think it’s worth considering what effect the news has on the rest of the day.  How much news, especially when the same stories are repeated over and over,  is too much news?

So what are some ideas to begin with a more optimistic start to your day?

1. Read a book that spurs “out of the box” thinking.
2. Write down a “wish list” for the day—who you hope to meet, what you would like to do, goals for the day.
3. Create some quiet space to contemplate what you want to do, and how you want to be today.
4. Go for a walk to clear the mind, if the weather permits.
5. Think of how you’re going to turn yesterday’s challenge into an opportunity for today.
6. Listen to classical music.
7. Take a look at an ordinary object and think about how you can make it better. This is great for creative thinking and generating new ideas.  Remember to write down your ideas, they may come in handy.
8. Think of a way to brighten someone’s day, and then do it.
9. If you’re into Twitter, Facebook or MySpace, post something positive on your friends’ profiles to encourage them. Or update your own status with something positive to remind you of where you wanted your day to start from.
10. Remind yourself that change facilitates growth. So, when a situation arises that may force you to change the direction of your day, see it as an opportunity for growth and expect additional unexpected bonuses to arise out of the change you’re facing.

Lead Without Authority is a site where,

Our goal is to be a leadership resource so you can effectively lead from where you are. We want to create a portal, a resource, and even a community of people who really want to make a difference and learn how to lead from the where they are right now. With the country calling our for leaders to come forward and solve the problems, right the wrong, and actually lead, now is the time to do what we can to ensure everyone has the opportunity to learn how to lead better and make a difference.

We are still working on this site, really hoping to build up the content.  But in talking with my daughter I have realized that I need to keep writing…for me.  Like everyone out there, I have thoughts, dreams, prayers and memories.

I’m not quite sure where I want to take my writing next…but I will take it one day at a time, and just write.  I’ve written a lot on faith the past several years.  (This blog has been going on for more than 4 years now!)  I think, though, I want to share more of my story—whatever comes to mind.

If you stop by, thanks, and take care.

he was from nyc, too. he worked and lived in the city, but would come up to the farm that shared borders with our property on weekends. sometimes his mom, sister, aunts and uncles would stay at the farm. they were a nice bunch, and we all knew that we were just a bunch of city people trying to figure out how to survive in a very small town in some very big woods.

when i think back about carl, i know that back then i didn’t realize how young he was because he was 10 years my senior. he was an adult and i was still trying to figure out whether i was still a kid.

carl was a guy that liked to laugh and joke around. he was so much fun. he also helped out my parents a lot around the house. our house had been empty for a while before we moved in and it needed a lot of work. whenever carl came upstate to stay on the farm, he would also stop at the house and help out my dad. sometimes they worked on a car, sometimes they worked on the house, and other times we all went into the forest to cut wood for the winter.

while he helped my dad, sometimes i thought he was like a big brother–goofy, fun, and a bit mischievous. i remember looking up to him–he was just cool.

many years have passed since then. i left home, moved away, and really have only visited that small town every now and then. carl went on to become an anesthesiologist working in ny. even so, the memories from my childhood stay with me, as do memories of carl.

last weekend, however, after being diagnosed with stomach cancer just a few months ago, carl died. i found it a bit hard to process–wished i’d seen him more in recent years.

he was a good man. he was a good friend.

i pray that God is enjoying carl’s company now.

for carl…

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, ^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Usually when I read, it’s to acquire more information. I tend to get caught up in marketing, trends, and cutural shifts. There’s theological books, from commentaries to various authors’ contemplations on all things spiritual, that occupy several book shelves. And then, I can’t forget the variety of computer-related resources from programming to tutorials, that capture my attention until I find the answer to a very specific question, which ultimately results in the book becoming outdated before I’ve actually read it through.

Mostly due to my daughters’ encouragement, I recently read all of the Harry Potter books–from book one through book seven–one after the other–finishing the last book the day before yesterday. I really enjoyed the series and greatly appreciate the writing talents of J. K. Rowling. Reading through the series was quite the adventure. Once a book was finished, I enthusiastically moved on to the next. The crazy thing is that before reading the series, the last time I read for fun was frankly, just too long ago.

It’s funny, because I did notice that when I read solely to gain information or insight, I read ‘to learn’ in a somewhat linear way. Conversely, when I found myself reading this fictional series, my mind wandered and visualized wonderfully colorful illustrations, scenes, and characters. Reading for ‘story’ rather than function, was like painting a picture with an unlimited palette and a more than 2-dimensional canvas…an experience that cannot be matched by tv or movies.

i saw this article on cnn and thought that it was appropriate for my first post in a while.

8 things no one tells you about being a mom

have a good night.