December 2005

Do you lug your laptop back and forth in style or just lug it ?

Do you absolutely love Swiss Army gear like I do ?

Do you need a case that:

1) Can handle up to a 15″ laptop ?

2) Whose main compartment features a hanging zippered pocket and slash pocket ?

3) Has a front zippered pocket with iPod® pocket ? ( for the ‘nets best iPod info, click HERE )

4) Has a cell phone pocket and key fob ?

5) Back divided stash pocket for quick-access items ?

And as if that isn’r enough, how about this all encompassing description from the Swiss Army site:

” In today’s world, you don’t just want it all, you demand it all. Well you’ve come to the right place. We deliver progressive style, relevant traveling and packing function and a brand that speaks to you. Out of the fray of these daunting expectations comes Lingo™, casual travel gear that speaks your language. “

Think about it. Can you even afford to not click thru and check out the world’s best iPod site and the Swiss Army site ?

I thought not. Thank me later. Click now.

A couple of months ago I hurt my back. As in pop, there goes my back! I was walking with a cane for several weeks and the pain still only lets me sleep about 4-5 hours a night. On the upside, I’m much more productive! But my back is trying to kill me and I’m taking it rather personally.

For the last 10 years or so I’ve worked on computers, or rather, at a computer. Then I come home and get at it again. My back is paying the price. The company I work for by day is full of heart though and for an early Christmast present my boss ordered us all Herman Miller Aeron Chairs!

Being the one with the broke back at work I got to be the beta tester. We ordered a medium size Aeron (size b) and it was a pretty good fit. A little on the small size for a man but probably perfect for a woman. After just a week of using it my back was thanking me in all sorts of interesting ways! After my test we decided that we liked them and went to the local authorized Herman Miller reseller and tested out the large size Aeron (C) and found it to be even more comfortable. So we ordered ten of the bad boys.

This week they came in and I’ve been sitting in mine, nay, melded with mine, and I couldn’t be happier with the chair. I know Cary is partial to the Leap Chair, which I’d love to try. But for my money, I’m absolutely sold on the Aeron Chair. I told my boss that if one comes up missing he doesn’t have to check my house. I swear it’s not here and I’m not sitting in it. What? Don’t look at me like that! I don’t have the damn thing!

I’m not one to spend insane amounts of money on a chair but people in our line of work spend long hours at our desks and trust me, your chair will make a huge difference in how you feel at the end of the day. So even if you don’t pick up an Aeron or Leap Chair you need to do yourself a favor and find you a chair that offers you the comfort and support your body needs. For me, I’m an Aeron man. Right after I get my 17″ powerbook the Aeron is next on my must buy list.

Amazon has a great price on the Aeron Chair - Posture Fit - Large Size (C) Graphite, Classic Pellicle, Carbon

I’ve been getting mental sermons the past few weeks from Dale Carnegie and Ted Nicholas and am now ready to get busy. All kinds of busy. So, you can imagine the grandeur of my resolutions: Clint Eastwood Expectations. Hang ‘em high.

I was all prepared to write them out on notebook paper (as always), until this morning. I came across this RESOLUTION TRACKING SYSTEM from www.UncommonGoods.com and I threw my notebook in the drawer. If my resolutions are going to be high-minded, the system I use for carrying them out should be as well.

From the website:

….With comprehensive entries that let you plan and record your motivation, sacrifices, obstacles, steps and consequences for each goal, the tracker also features a lapse log, a reward log and certificates of bona fide accomplishment to spur you on to success. Both flexible and firm, the remarkably complete tracker is like a personal coach and challenging friend all in one, filled with features and fun.

“Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” - Arnold H. Glasow

Now I realize that if you’re not an Apple fan there’s no way in heck I’m going to convince you via a single blog post that the iBook makes a great centerpiece for your mobile office – but that won’t stop me from trying! After all, at least two of us Office Freaks are Mac evangelists, so you’d better get used to hearing the good word

Seriously though, I’ve been using Apple’s low-cost and lovable iBook as my main computer for the last five years, and even though my particular model is getting a bit long-in-the-tooth (12″ screen, 466Mhz, 10Gb HD,) it still blazes along under OSX, and is good for all but the most demanding photoshop work…hence, it makes a great mobile office computer.

One of the great benefits of an Apple laptop is it’s famous ease-of-use, and plug & play compatibility. While this may not be a big selling point to the mega-geeks out there, for the average home business user it can mean the difference between costly visits to your computer tech, or just a cheap and easy fix you can do at home.

And with iWork applications installed, and Apple’s newer, larger-screen offerings, the iBook can really accomplish anything you’d need it to, and with style, grace, and speed (that’s right, there’s a Unix kernel under that hood…Vroom!) Of course that also means that if you are an uber-geek, you just might find command-line love under that gorgeous OSX interface.

So go ahead and give Apple a chance…I dare you…you won’t be unsatisfied!

Get the latest prices on Apple’s iBook line of laptops

Technorati Tags: Apple, iBook, Mobile Office, Office Supplies, Laptop

Just a quick reminder: I know most of us are in the throws of our final Christmas shopping and if you have any last minute online orders today is the last day to order if you want them to get to you on time. So don’t dilly dally and get it done!

Then go eat too many snacks that everyone brings into the break room at the office. I gain a pound when I walk by all the goodies!

Ever since my friend Cary got me all crunked up about Swiss Army branded items, I’ve been searching far and wide for more of it.

2006 is gonna be the year I collect a Pile-o-Swiss !

Pens, golf shirts, visors, watches, glasses, …maybe even a tattoo !

This pen set is just the start.

Any set of pens that has….

-Four layers of applied lacquer

-Ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil

-Available in red and silver

-.7mm lead

-Medium point

….can’t be all bad. I mean really, how many pens can your friends have that have 4 coats of lacquer ?

Go by Staples and check out all the mighty fine ( that means pricey ) pen sets.

Okay, I realize it isn’t the champion, Tony Stewart’s car, but since Office Depot is selling it rather than Home Depot, we’ll have to cut them some slack and allow them to prop their boy.

After all, we Stewart fans have honor, pride, bragging rites, and the title to hang on to during the off season. Fans of Carl’s…such as my poor husband….need something to get them through. My oldest daughter (#1 Dale Jr. fan) doesn’t even have that. Did that poor guy have a forgettable year or what?

It is a pretty cute little car, anyway. If you know of someone who collects Nascar memorabilia, it’d make a really thoughtful gift. They could put it and a #8 car on the shelf as part of a display - way behind the #20, of course. Don’t worry, they’re used to that view!

Takin’ names….

I can’t take credit for the title of this post - it goes completely to Ted Nicholas. I Googled his name the other day looking for something he had written about business cards. I haven’t found that yet, but I found something better: His official website, back issues of his newsletters, and a form to subscribe to just such newsletters (I jumped right on that one!).

“Who is Ted Nicholas?”, you may be asking. He is to words what the Colonel was to chicken - taking something that all of us use, using it better, and making himself a flippin’ millionaire in the process. BUT, where as the Colonel refused to even sell his secret, Mr. Nicholas gives many of his away.

I took (snatched, stole, robbed, pillage, swiped, expropriated…) the title of this post from one of the back issues of his newsletters: Can You Be 2 % Better?

It is written, as most of his works are, primarily for copywriters. For those who are trying to take words where he has taken them before. However, if you read the entire letter, you’ll be motivated and inspired wherever you live and in whatever you do. I’m pretty sure that’s his goal - to inspire people to be the best in their field.

This issue is particularly motivating, because who amongst us couldn’t give just 2% more? 2% is so tiny, yet could make all the proverbial differrence in the world. It’s like the difference between washing your car and washing and waxing your car. If you’re already there, already dressed and prepared to do the job - why not give that extra 2% and make your vehicle so shiny you can see your beautiful face in the reflection?!

I hope you’ll go read this particular newsletter, and browse around at the others. I got so caught up in this one, and in signing up for more that I haven’t gotten to read the others yet. I will later, though.

Right now I have to go wash my Dodge. Wash and Wax my Dodge.

I never used to eat breakfast. Not that I don’t like breakfast. On the contrary, there is a booth at IHOP with my name all over it. Before I started eating better I never ate breakfast in the morning. It made a great lunch or dinner, but I just couldn’t bring myself to eat before 10AM. But now I eat 5-6 times a day and a lot healthier. Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day as it kick starts your metabolism and gives your brain and body the fuel it needs to get going. But a good breakfast usually takes too much time and is way too messy. No more.

Say hello to the Egg and Muffin toaster. In 3 minutes you can have an egg muffin with your choice of breads and meat! This little baby looks good and makes short work of breakfast. I prefer to use white/wheat bread (only 40 calories per slice!), but you can build your own hearty breakfast in less time than it takes to put your shoes on. I get tired of cereal, plain toast or oatmeal. This thing is on my Christmas list and I’m half tempted to put it on the corner of my desk just to make my co-workers hungry! Check out the official site for product info and a how to video. Great, now I’m hungry!

Hat Tip to David Seah.

I was working on a prickly article this morning - trying to summon up thoughts that just weren’t answering the summons. I typed, I backspaced, I bit my lip, I made a second pot of coffee, I rearranged the index cards on my desk, I I tried a different approach, more backspacing. A total mental workout without anything to show for it. Okay, besides a clean desk.

Although I work at home, I still face distractions that can derail my mental train. And on days when it’s having enough trouble trudging along, that’s a disaster of epic proportions!

I can normally work right through the sports on tv (unless its’ Dicky V), daughter 3’s newest CD, Daughters 2 and 1 arguing, or my cat lying on the mousepad. But, then a day like today comes along and the batting of an eyelash renders me thoughtless.

Then I started thinking about people who work in the workplace rather than the homeplace. They must face a whole other world of distractions and noise. So, with the help of my beloved Google, I found an article that may be of use to those of you in that particular boat. I thought the author’s advice was pretty awesome. Besides, it served as a nice distraction from my own article which at this moment consists of three whole sentences, two of which I’m not real happy with.

Here’s the link: 10 Ways to Deal With a Noisy Office

I’m off to deal with my madness. It’s time for drastic measures: Lunch at Arby’s.