Moving out...to move back in

Pro tip: No matter how expensive it seems, or how much it will 'delay your move-in'--get your floors done BEFORE you have your stuff in your house.  Our 'little' project to redo our 1st floor hardwood is the equivalent of 1/2 move.  Not fun (or inexpensive)--especially when you have to hire movers to move a piano 20 feet.

How do you like what we've done with the place?

Summer Bucket List...almost complete

It's August 2nd & we are already through most of our summer bucket list.  We did good!  So more fun to be had, though...  

Art Institute Scavenger Hunt

Our summer bucket list included an "Art Institute Scavenger Hunt" with Wally and two of his good friends.  I designed a game that would give them different things to find / see & draw together throughout the museum.  By completing the hunt, they could win a group prize (2 lb bag of Sour Gummies--ick) and their own prizes as well. It ended up being really fun & I loved seeing them looking through the different galleries & talking about Monet, Seurat & Van Gogh. Here are a few pics if you wanted to do something similar with your kids.  I think being an Art teacher would be a pretty awesome job. 

30 Days in Review

I started 2016 with a controlled experiment (muting my main sources of social media for 30 days) as a way to quickly jump-start a few focused goals and free-up time.
Did it work? The short answer is, yes.
Was it hard?  Also, the answer is, yes.

Why did I do this?

I love social media...and by 'love', I mean I'm addicted to it.  I realize this even more today, now 30+ days later.  As a visual person, and extrovert--I'm drawn in (probably more than the average person). Even much of my career has had social as an integral piece to my work (and will always--for which I am glad!) But, I am always annoyed when I feel like someone isn't giving me their full attention when I'm talking...and I had become "THAT" person, distracted by the 'lure of the feed.'

What did I find out?
I had a lot more time to create stuff.  I wish I had a monumental piece of artwork to show, or a big project completed--but I do not.  Many of the projects I attempted ended in failure (read about one here and another here.)  But, I do in fact have a cleaner office, a few new photo albums & feel slightly more organized than I did before.

The biggest shift here however, was that of going from a spectator to creator.  My focus went from watching what everyone else is doing (or how they are responding to what I’ve posted) to creating and accomplishing goals for myself.

My train of thought was more complete.  I realized that I'm a bad multi-tasker and viewing my social feeds was the equivalent of channel-surfing--never fully watching an entire episode of anything. With less distractions from whatever task or concept I have in front of me, I do feel more 'present' in the moment in many cases and more able to complete a task without the lure of interruption.

There is tremendous power in on-line/real-time. I missed many things--and these 30 days were not easy (specifics here.)  Social media is an amazing tool that connects people, places and things together. I am grateful for every person that I am connected with on social media & am glad to share in some part in their journey. It truly has enhanced my life in many ways.

I became a better listener and people observer. There was a woman who tallied how many times her kids look at her (for approval / acknowledgement, etc.) during a 15 minute casual playtime period...28 times! How many of those times with Wally did I miss when my nose was buried in my phone?  I don't want to think about it. I became more fully engaged to hear important questions like, "which do you like better--Minecraft or Madden?" and also became more aware of how much time he was spending on electronics (oh, he loved this benefit--haha.)

Fresher real-life conversation. When I see friends in person, it’s been great to fully listen to what's going on with them—truly hearing about their experiences for the first time instead of assuming I know everything because I saw their last 20 pictures / status updates.  

My friends are still friends--whether online or not.  I texted and emailed much more--which was  more authentic & personal.

Battery life on your mobile devices improves when you aren't picking it up 25 times a day.

Will I go back?
Yes, but perhaps in a slightly different way.  Social media will always be part of the fabric of our lives--in one way or another. Running from it negates its power as a connecting and creative tool (that I truly enjoy).  I probably will limit my time to my intentional time periods, and perhaps do more creative writing as an outlet as well.

Thank you for reading this--and for being my friend...online and in real life.
Bonnie

Day 31: Cat Update

I've never had a cat.  Heck, I've never even liked cats.  This is not an ordinary cat--this cat is like a dog.  It is going to be hard to give him away--even though I'm so allergic. Maybe I can build up an immunity?  Benadryl?

 

Day 30: Cat is Out of the Bag

We had some excitement on our block this morning. Our neighbors told us of a cat that had been stuck up on their tree for 5 days--50 feet up!--and asked if we knew of anyone who was missing their cat.They had called the Fire Department, Police, Vet, Animal Shelters and no one could help with such a task (when you watch the video--you'll see why). Craig, having his amazing list of real estate contacts (and a kind heart) immediately called his tree trimmer to help. Sal came over this morning (at his personal time/expense), with his entire family & provided us with heroic entertainment.  What a treat to watch his skill to rescue this unknown cat who would have died up there.  Many of our neighbors came out for the show as well. (ps - Sal is the best tree trimmer ever & all around great guy as you can probably see--salvador@martinlawn.com / 224-522-5563)

So, we took the cat out of the bag--and brought him to a local shelter (Wright Way), who said they do not accept donations.  The cat does not have a chip--and thus she is now in our care...
Do you know anyone who might want a sweet little cat?  If we didn't have the craziest dog known to man, and I wasn't completely allergic, we would take her.  Sadly...

Day 28: This chapter

I've been thinking a lot about what happens Feb 1st. I'm kind of digging this quiet phase.
We shall see.

Day 24: Sacrificing Speed for Quality

Digital photography/videography has been a passion since I bought my first HP 1-Megapixel camera in the mid 90s.  Every year the technology and software gets better and better, and I’m amazed with the options available today—both mobile and in DSLR.  This past week we went to Orlando for the weekend (extension to a business trip) and I had a chance to snap some touristy pics of our adventures.  In the past, I would have left my DSLR at home in favor of a pocket device & being able to quickly snap pics ‘good enough’ to quickly post.  Without the lure of being able to post a real-time photomentary--I now have this.  My review:

Good

• Quality of DSLR photos is double that of the snaps on our iPhones
• Click/shutter speed is super fast
• Battery life on my  camera is fantastic—I haven’t charged the battery in a month

Bad

• A DSLR doesn’t fit in a pocket and looks slightly dorky
• Have to download photos, then move them around to put them out on Google photos, etc.
• Miss some shots because of the convenience factor
• By the time you share the photos--the event is old news.  There is a tremendous lure in the immediacy of the share.  (Even as a reader, it’s more engaging to see friends stuff as it is happening.) 
• Photo editing apps (Photoshop Fix) are easier/faster/better on mobile vs PC

Confession

• I shared the photos with Craig, who posted them on his feed.  That’s kind of cheating, but it was a lot easier than sending my mother 50 texts of what we were doing. 

Here are some of my favorite snaps.  https://goo.gl/photos/GSr1kbiTs1DgeZSh6 

Day 19: What I miss...What I don't

Things I miss:

• Feeling like I'm 'in the loop' and being able to quickly seeing what friends/relatives are doing.  On the flipside--when I see them in person, it’s been great to fully listen—truly hearing about their experiences for the first time.
• Being able to share fun updates and photos about me / my family in real time.  I’ve realized how much we pack into a month—from trips to newly-found great restaurants.  In addition, I’ve taken some amazing shots and it KILLS me to not have been able to post them.  No one wants to hear about something I did or a photo taken 25 days ago.
• Birthdays!  I actually forgot to wish my mother a happy birthday, as I’m usually reminded of birthdays when I check my feed every morning.  I’m sure I’ve missed important birthdays, and I feel badly about that (especially for those that remembered mine.)
• Photo filing and reference.  I’ve struggled to find old photos to refer back to, when I used to be able to scroll down a year or 2 in my Instagram feed for easy access to past history.
• Humor. So many of my friends post memes or reactions to current events make me laugh. I was so tempted to see the reactions to the whole Sarah-Palin-endorses-Donald-Trump Iowa speech, although watching the live thing was pretty hilarious by itself.
• Being able to do something while I’m bored.  Waiting in line, trying to find something to do while Wally & Craig play video games, or passing idle time is more bland.  The benefit: more people-watching time.
• Liking friends’ posts. I am sure that my friends have posted some awesome things, and I hope they don’t think I’ve seen it and ignored them. 
• Being a creator vs. a spectator. I am finding my focus has been less about watching what everyone else is doing or how they are responding to what I’ve posted, and more about creating and accomplishing goals for myself. 

What I don’t miss:

• The time-wasting black hole.  Open up my FB or IG app—and poof! 2 hours have passed, without anything to show for it. Then following--the guilt about wasting that time.  Not a good combo.
• Blurry vision.  When I’m on my phone or iPad for a few hours, my eyes can’t focus well.  I feel my vision has improved lately.
• Envy. Especially with Chicago winters, I frequently am envious looking at sunny beach photos, etc. and ungrateful for what I have or where I am. Especially with the real-time element of social media, it is even more of a challenge.
• Political or offensive posts. Yuck.

Day 13: The "1 Thing"

I used to think I was really good at multitasking--and that being able to do or read multiple things at one time made me 'more efficient'.  What I am feeling, now 13 days in without social, is more focus in my thought lines, and less distractions from whatever task or concept I have in front of me. Granted, I'm not solving any differential equations or world peace at this point, but I do feel more 'present' in the moment in many cases.

If I come out of this month with "1 Thing"--I'd like it to be that it's helped make me a better listener...and by 'better listener' I mean really hearing the important stuff and to be fully engaged and intentional in my interactions. The volume in social media has made that difficult for me in the past couple of years.  There is this funny meme going around that goes something like, 

"If someone from 1950 suddenly appeared, what would the most difficult thing about life be to explain to him?"   

The answer--"I possess a device, in my pocket, capable of accessing the entirety of information known to man, and I use it to look at cat pictures and get into arguments with strangers."

There is a tremendous power in social media...it's wielding it to an advantage (v. limitation) that is the tricky part (for me at least.)

I asked Wally today if I was 'nicer' this week than I have been in the past.  His response--'kinda'.
I don't have to worry about the people I live with every day 'keepin' it real.' 

Day 9: Devices aplenty

I'm a gadget girl and fascinated by technology that can simplify and organize the mundane everyday. I'm not one to stand in line waiting for the latest iProductX--but I would classify myself as an 'early adopter' and even have a collection of old tech in a display case in my living room that I look at with nostalgia. From my old Handspring visor, to a first generation iPod to the the iPod nano I used to wear as a watch--all represent gadgets that enhanced my experiences during their time. I long for the simplicity that these single-function devices each had (e.g. my Motorola Razr--loved that phone!)--knowing I'd become quickly frustrated when the realization of how inefficient other tasks I take for granted have become.  Today, I regularly use the following:

• iPhone 6

  

  Cherished relics of the past
  

  
  

• iPad mini
• Apple TV
• IBM Thinkpad (work)
• Nikon d70 & Canon Rebel (DSLR)
• Fitbit / Aria scale (fitness)
• Sonos (audio)

Double-Edged Sword: Social is Everywhere
My tech cocktail has been an easy gateway to the world (assuming my internet doesn't go down) and simplified my life in many ways, but this 'Analog' experiment has made me realize how difficult muting social streams is. They are part of the fabric of the multiple gadgets I use daily--not just my phone--and certainly are not limited to personal interactions (tons of work use too.) The brightly glowing notifications on every device have been the siren song to keep hyper-connected. (An unexpected benefit has been my battery life on all these things has been a lot longer since Jan. 1.)

Today's Time Re-allocation: Skating & Videos

Figure skating is one of my favorite things to do--both for exercise & as a hobby. I have a friend in Florida who is an ex-skating pro, and thought it might be good to have her take a look at my scratch spin & provide a few pointers.  I setup my handy iPhone on the rink wall & let it record for 17 minutes & thought I could edit and splice out a few spins for her to evaluate & provide feedback.

Transferring a 17-minute Apple iPhone Video to another device or the cloud is NOT EASY.

You'd think a 17 minute video, shot on an iPhone would be easily transferred and edited in other devices.  Wrong.  If you did it all on the iPhone's tiny screen and came up with 2 minutes or so, sure--no big deal... but editing 17 minutes of footage on a 6 inch screen is a total pain, especially for a forty-something like me. 17 minutes of iPhone video is 2GB, which to transfer to the cloud (iCloud, Dropbox, Airdrop, etc.) takes 10+hours and even to move between iPhone and a PC takes several hours. 

iPhone-a-Friend

I have a friend who is an Apple Distinguished Educator & video production expert, so I reached out to him for help.  He recommended breaking down the movie into 3-5 minute chunks to transfer to my iPad.  After approximately 30 minutes of fooling around on my iPhone, I was able to move the clips in 4 minute pieces to iCloud so that I could edit in iMovie.  

iMovie--the Good, Bad & Ugly

For short clips that don't need a lot of splicing, and for a video less than 5 minutes--I found iMovie to be a great tool. 

• The good: Quick, simple editor -- easy to learn, use & fairly advanced. Ubiquitous to Apple stuff--and on every device I have...and free.
• The bad: If you are shooting / editing on the same device--great, but the speed of file transfer of .mov files and no way to reduce the 17 minute clip to a realistic size to edit between devices is a big limitation and frustrating for the simple task I was attempting.
• The ugly: iMovie has different functionality based upon device (even though we're all on the same iOS/iMovie version).  On my iPad, there was no way to speed clips past 1x, yet on my iPhone and my friend's iPad it was an option. 

What did I learn?

Less is more.  I could have saved myself a lot of time by recording short videos instead of a single 17-minute take. The experimentation & editing of 17 minutes into 1 minute took me approximately 3 hours.  Shooting & editing on the same device is really the best case scenario.

Social--the old-fashioned way.  Reaching out to a friend is a much quicker way to a solution than fumbling in the dark on my own. 

Movie editing is time-consuming... but maybe more fruitful than the same time I would have spent on Facebook. At least I have this to show for it.

Also, my spins need work.  Good thing I have extra time to practice now.  

Week 1: Detox

On January 1st, I started my quest to simplify life, re-establish focus & be 'more actively present'. One easy way for me to start on this journey was to silence one of my favorite things--social media. I blocked out both Facebook and Instagram, and haven't peeked, posted or checked anything for 8 days now. Not easy.

Facebook was a way for me to easily connect with tons of people from acquaintances to family to my besties. Everydayhour I could see what they were up to, reading, where they were traveling to or what mischief their kids and pets were into. On Instagram, I could look at their artful photography, gourmet meals or cute self portraits. I also used it as a creative outlet to post about the most photogenic, funny, best parts parts of my life and share it with others. I will admit--I love am addicted to social media. As a visual person, and extrovert--I'm drawn in.  At the same time, I need some space and time apart to re-balance.

So what has happened? Projects to fill the void

The offending cord-spaghetti

It's January 8th and I've found a few projects to fill the void. I really miss seeing what's happening, and feel myself wondering what I'm missing...how many likes or comments I would have posted or gotten to the New Years' parties or birthdays I've missed. But every day it's less and less.

Since 2008, I've had a bag full of mini-videocassette tapes, only playable using the archaic Sony camcorder we bought before Wally was born. In the move to our new house, I've lost the unit-to-PC cords in the spaghetti of "Miscellaneous" which is our basement. Rather than do the smart thing pay someone to do it for me, I was going to take this on.

I've spent upwards of 30 hours looking for the cords, trying this-and-that solution to hook it up, or watching YouTube videos from 2003 on "how to transfer mini DV tapes to digital." I even went into Best Buy with the camcorder, looking for any help. When I showed the twenty-something store staff the unit & explained the plug-in I was looking for, he looked at me like I had 3 heads. "Yeaaaah, we DEFINITELY don't have that here." I talked to friends, who so kindly gave their advice & even sent me cords to try--with no luck. Every system is different--Mac, PC, TV, VCR--some with DVD ports, some without, different operating systems, different plugs, different software. Now 8 days later, I am no further, more irritated at the bag of mini DV tapes--precious memories that will probably be reel-to-reel forever.

What I've learned so far 
1. Technology & Hardware has a lifespan of 3 years, and converting past history of data prior to that is a massive effort. Use it while it's current, quickly convert history within that time & know that you'll be moving it all again (and re-purchasing) in a few years time. No matter how good that 'top of the line' camcorder we bought in 2005 was--it is utterly useless in 2015.

2. After 3 years, convert the stuff you have and dump/recycle it. The cord spaghetti in our basement is yet more clutter occupying physical & mental space, that will go unused. The sooner you convert, the more likely it is you won't have to 'pay an expert' to do it for you later.

3. Sometimes it's just better to pay an expert to do something. Wish I did this January 1st and could get my 30 hours and frustration back. Especially with video, there is a massive effort & amount of memory required to get it right.

4. If you still have old technology / projects and you are a neophyte like me--DO NOT GO INTO Best Buy. It will make you feel incredibly old & out of touch. 

5. I'm impatient, and really bad at letting things go or waiting until there is a plug-and-play solution available (especially the stuff I suck at, like hardware). Once I have the basics on the same platform, I'm really great at putting things together and doing creative stuff with it. I need to remind myself of #3 and also be able to walk away from projects more gracefully.

To summarize
My first week was a wash. I reallocated my time in a project that went nowhere. Is "Project Analog 2016" failure? We shall see.