Ever notes, ever more

It's amazing what you can learn from reading blogs.

Most recently, I was reading through my list of favorite blogs, and someone mentioned a free software application they have used to collect knitting or stitching patterns they've found online, called Evernote.  Since I'm always finding things online and (despite the endless list of bookmarks I have) losing them again, I figured this  could come in handy.  So I downloaded it and have been giving it a try.

Oh my, it is quite wonderful.  Basically, it allows you to capture a web page or image or make a note, and then tag your captures and organize them.  So later when you're looking for that GREAT THING you found a few days ago, or was it weeks ago, you'll have the ability to retrieve it.

When the program installs, it allows you to put a button on your web browser menu bar, so when you're actually at a webpage and want to save something, you just click the button.  It asks you to tag it, and voila.

I'm quite pleased.  Perhaps in the future I'll be able to find whatever it was I cut fabric for.  (And I'm giving up on the mysterious quilt I cut those 2 1/2 and 4 inch strips for.  I think I found what it was, maybe, and I'm not crazy about it now.  So, those strips will go right into a different project (which I wrote down and pinned to the strips themselves. Just in case.)

I'm not related to Evernote at all.  But I'm a happy new user.  You might want to check it out.

My ideal notebook

Some years ago, I was involved in a case where my client was a condominum developer. The case involved tracking down lots of details about how they'd done things, when, and why. I was totally impressed when the fellow showed me his record keeping system. He kept a yellow legal pad with him at all times (the same one, day after day) and made notes on it for whatever he was doing. He'd use it to jot telephone numbers, keep notes of meetings, record research data, you name it. He used that same pad for whatever he was doing -- personal business, setting up an appointment to get his car tuned up, planning a meeting with the architect, etc. He'd fill up one pad and go on to the next, and they were all filed away as he finished them. From a lawyer's point of few, this was fabulous. It made finding information really easy, because everything was in there SOMEwhere.

I was so impressed by this system that I decided to try it myself. It actually didn't work so well for me in terms of my legal practice, as the notes on one client's business really needed to be in that client's file and couldn't be put in any other client's files for privilege purposes. So, I had to abandon the idea for work purposes.

But since then, I've used this sort of system at my home desk. And it works really well for me. Instead of hunting for stuff (where did I put that slip with the phone number on it?) I know it's in that one journal and I just have to thumb back a few pages.

For this purpose, my ideal notebook is a lined or graph paper one with a spiral binding. It sits next to my keyboard, blank page up, ready for notes.

But a few years ago, I stumbled onto what I consider my perfect journal for all other purposes. It's the size and shape of a standard student composition book (I love those books) but it has graph paper. I love graph paper, too. And just recently, I filled up my last one.

So, recently I set out to see if I could find a good graph paper notebook...not too small, not too large. I know Moleskine makes them, and that some people are Moleskine obsessed...in fact, there's a blogger whose topic is what people do with their Moleskine journals. I have ordered one of those to try, but they're sort of pricey...compared to my favorites, which sell for about $4 each.

And lo and behold, I found the ones I'd been searching for! It's a line of Keith Haring notebooks, which come in graph or ruled paper. $4 each! They're sorta soft cover, but durable soft cover, not flimsy. And I'm stocking up. Wanna take a peek? You can find them at Shop Rock Candy, here.

Trading Books

The other day, Deb R mentioned Library Thing, a very cool site that lets you keep track of books you've read, find other books you might like, and generally scout around and read about what books other people read. If you're like me, and you're always on the lookout for new authors and books to read, it's a Good Thing. A Great Thing, in fact.

And Deb's mention reminded me that I hadn't logged in there in a while to update what I've been reading, which led to my poking around the site a bit further, which led me to discover the world of online book trading.

Who knew? Turns out there are various sites where you can list the books you have and no longer want, as well as the books you'd like to receive...and these sites link you up so you can do a trade.

The site I ended up signing up with is called Bookmooch. Through that site, you list books you want to trade and get "points" for the books you have in your "inventory." If anyone has that book on their wishlist, Bookmooch automatically emails them to let them know you have it. And here's the cool part: if you send off the book to someone who wants it, you get more "points" which you can spend on trades with others. You don't have to do a direct trade... you spent your points by getting books from others, and earn your points by sending your books out.

So, I'm giving it a try. Lord knows I've got books I need to get rid of, and each time I've tried to list something on Amazon or Half.com, I find there are already bunches of whatever I have for $1.00 a copy or something. Hardly worth the effort.

I've noticed that the Bookmooch site is a tad slow at times, but so far I can live with that.