Archive for the 'Random Stuff' Category

Apr 01 2013

Write and Exercise At The Same Time?! Two Gadgets That May Change Your Life

running_002

 

New toys are so much fun! I’m often recommending that my coaching clients get a smart phone, iPad, or some other computer software to inspire them to organize themselves differently.

But when is a new technology gadget actually productive, and when is it simply an excuse to procrastinate?

I’ve been spending all evening in the throes of setting up my own new toy — Dragon Dictate for Mac. (In fact, I’m using this software RIGHT NOW to dictate this blog post. So exciting.).

Ever since I’ve become fully self-employed and working exclusively out of my home office, my back pain has increased.  I love coaching students on Skype, but it requires that I sit for much of the day. When I’m not coaching, I’m writing — either for this blog, or for a couple of *super secret* books that I’m writing. More sitting! Ack! I know I should walk around the block periodically, but I’m just too excited by my work.

This week I’ve gotten two new complementary toys, and it feels like they’re about to change my life.  I’ve already told you about Dragon Dictate, a piece of software that will allow me to dictate while I walk.

The second toy is called a FitBit, a handy little pedometer that counts steps, calories, miles, flights of stairs, and more. I’m hoping that FitBit and Dragon Dictate will work together nicely.

I am particularly excited about these two new toys because they dovetail nicely. The more I stand up and walk while I am writing, the more steps my FitBit will record. Match made in heaven.

So, back to my original question: are new toys ‘procrastinatory’ or productive?

I suspect that these two new tools will actually be transformative, and are not just gimmicks. I see how directly they impact my physical and my intellectual well-being. Because they are tied to some exciting goals I have set for the year and because I get immediate feedback in regards to the health of my body, I suspect that in 12 months time I will go using and loving these tools. Check back with me then!

Filed Under Academic Coaching, Random Stuff | no comments
Sep 11 2010

Life Long Learning: Worm Composting

Recently, I’ve noticed that I’m jealous of the students I coach. I haven’t done any formal learning in a long time, and frankly I miss it. As an entrepreneur I learn new skills constantly, but I usually have to teach them to myself. How refreshing to go to a class and let a teacher guide me through the learning process!

When I discovered a class on how to do worm composting, I jumped at the chance. If you are local to the Bay Area, I highly recommend Bay Worms to answer all your composting questions!

Mickey (see the picture) is eccentric, knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly helpful. I love that he announced right up front: “If it seems like I’m all over the place, that’s because I am. I have ADD. Now follow me!” We proceeded to walk all over his outdoor compost site, admiring the dark richness of the worm castings, feeling the hot soil, and listening to his bazillion stories.

I took three pages of notes in my planner (the same planner I have designed for my students, which works beautifully, I can honestly say. A blog post isforthcoming).

Here are my Favorite Four Facts:

  1. Worms do not eat our food. They eat the bacteria that grows on it. My job as a composted is to make lots of bacteria!
  2. One worm births 40 eggs, which in turn contain up to 14 eggs each. Wowzers!
  3. When worms are at the top of my worm bin, that means they are hungry and ready for more!
  4. Nitrogen is good for compost. Pee is a great source of nitrogen. So if I want to I can…well, you get the idea.

Not only did I walk away from the workshop inspired, I also had a pail full of 1000ish worms squirming in the rich brown dirt they’ve made themselves. They are now living under my kitchen table in a lovely looking Wriggly Wranch provided at a discounted rate by Alameda county.

I’ve never owned pets before. I’m quite excited about the worms. I will feed them my leftover food and shredded paper; they will provide me with dirt and some juices that I can use to water my plants.

I think that’s what’s called a symbiotic relationship. (Am I right, all you science buffs out there?).

Filed Under Academic Coaching, Entrepreneurship, Random Stuff | 1 Comment
Sep 11 2010

How to Impress Your Guests, For Nervous Cooks Like Me

 

I showed up at Trader Joe’s yesterday desperate for a good idea. A dear friend was coming over for dinner in a mere two hours, and I needed something yummy to make. But I’m not a very creative or intuitive cook.

Suddenly I remembered an old trick from my post-college days. I looked for a recipe written on the back of one of the boxes. My reasoning: the corporations really want to sell their products! So of course they are going to put the yummiest recipe on their boxes.

The Red Quinoa called me, and voilà: I found a recipe for Black Bean, Roasted Corn & Avocado Salad on a Bed of Red Quinoa.

I made it. It was delicious. My guests were impressed. And I’m now armed with a fabulous recipe for the next time I’m invited to a dreaded potluck!

If you are wondering what Red Quinoa salads have to do with academic coaching or Interplay: nothing whatsoever. I just thought my plate looked pretty and I felt proud of my new recipe. I wanted to share.

Filed Under Random Stuff | 3 Comments