Thing 8

I didn't realize that there were so many different social sites available.  I joined Facebook several years ago while doing 23 Things and I still check it every day.  I use it mainly to follow friends and family (and to play games) and I've reconnected with some people I haven't seen in years.  I also use it for messaging my kids.  I used to text through my e-mail but now that they all have smart phones, this is much better for all of us.  I watched a video of my Facebook activity highlights and my posts were mostly along the lines of "The Vikings suck."  I also have a Twitter account which I set up at the same time and get a few tweets from news and sports sites that I follow.  I don't care to tweet myself and I have a grand total of two followers, one of which is family.  I don't know who the other one is.

I did set up a LinkedIn account and was surprised to find out which of my friends already have accounts.  I read a little about some of the other apps available and maybe I'll try them later.  I guess I'm not a social person.  I'd rather read a book than surf the web or follow tweets although I can see how these can be useful. And for old times' sake.  I think I'll look up my old MySpace account if I can remember my sign-in information.  It's been a long time since I've been on that site.

I also use Google+.  I am really enjoying doing this program and I am discovering so many apps I didn't even know existed but I am a little overwhelmed by all this information that's coming at me.  Eventually I will cull the stuff I don't need and learn more about the stuff I save.  My Kindle is full of new apps, photos, files.  I only have one book on the device which is the reason I got it in the first place.  Oh, I do have a few knitting patterns, which is sort of like having books, right?

Thing 7

I have been using Pinterest for some time.  I use it to search for craft ideas that I can use for library programming, recipes for both programming and personal use, and knitting and other fiber art ideas.  It has its drawbacks as my daughter and I follow each other's pins. I have recently received an order for her for four knitted fox stoles for her kids AND their friends.  I like that I can pin a photo and easily go to its original site.  I have often found sites I like and then can't find them again when I want them.  No more! 

Thing 6

I loved Thing 6.  I downloaded the app for SignNow.  I could have used this a few weeks ago when we were filing documents concerning my mother-in-law's estate.  I printed and copied and scanned and mailed documents when I could have been using this app. I pulled several documents out of my files and practiced signing and adding things to them just for fun.  I must say that using a stylus to sign anything always looks like a child's scrawl.  I am working on that without much success.  I also found an office app where I can sort and file my documents which is something I have been intending to do but never quite got around to it.

Thing 4

I wasn't able to access Fllipboard without signing in although I'd never had an opportunity to create an account.  I'm still working on that one, but I did try out Site and also LinkedIn.  Illike the idea of getting a quick look at what's going on in the world but I enjoy reading more in-depth stories.  A couple of sentences about Woody Allen is all I need but I want to know more about the drought in California which directly affects my life.  Because I choose the topics of interest to me I miss the serendipity of reading a newspaper and finding stories I might not otherwise read.  I learn in spite of myself when I get subjects that I haven't preselected.  I like the LinkedIn app the best of the two I tried.  I' still working on Flipboard.

Thing 5

So today I tried out note taking.  I will explore Spring Pad some more but I didn't like it.  I wanted something simpler.  I tried  out Remember the Milk and it was more basic so it was something I would use to keep track of appointments, chores, events, etc.  It would be practical for me because I write things down to remember them and then forget to to read the notes.  My shopping lists are usually left on the table while I go to the store.  I also tried Evernote. This one shows the most promise to me although I cannot fully use it on my device. I can keep notes and lists and photo albums and it seems easy to organize.  I think I like this one the best but I will continue to play with them.

Thing 3

I have been exploring more apps.  I have don't use an alarm but now I have a clock app with alarm capability.  I can choose my search engine and I have a calendar, a weather app (2 actually), a calculator, and enough other apps to keep me busy all day.  I am having fun exploring all the apps available and if it weren't for this program I might only used the Kindle for books and games.

Thing 2

I got a Kindle for Christmas.  I didn't really think I needed one but my laptop had been out of commission for months and I was missing my regular Scrabble and Words With Friends games so I was given one for Christmas.  I quickly figured out how to play the games with my friends, even finding some benefits to using the mobile apps.  I read an e-book from the library and checked the weather but I hadn't really explored what I could do.  Now I can not only add apps but delete them, I know how to find help when I need it, I can send screen shots of my winning Scrabble games to my opponent and shots of my losing games with messages scrawled across the screen.  I am having fun exploring the available apps and I can do many of the same things on the Kindle as I can on my computer.  I don't think I'll ever give up my laptop, which is now working, but I appreciate the Kindle more and I have found that trying out the various apps is like eating peanuts--I can't stop at just one.