Archive for November 2011

I work all day with multiple windows open on my computer monitor at work. I check my e-mail, I check my "work queue", I check my excel spreadsheet and move onto the next account. It's kind of like driving : Look front, check rear view mirror, check side mirror. It's a kinda of monotonous, but it gets the bills paid or gets me where I am going safely. Once I leave work, my time is all mine....so what am I doing with 7 windows open on my two monitors here at home. And *pauses to count* 36 tabs open in 2 Chrome windows??

Oh my goodness. That's not good for my machine *or* my sanity!! This happens often enough that I started thinking I might as well share it here while I process it more thoroughly.

So what exactly do I have open? Let's see.....TV folder with Season 5 of Xena is open. This is because I reward myself with watching Xena episodes while I walk on the treadmill. I leave this folder open simply because I forget to close it. By the time I am done walking and all stinky, I go jump in the shower and then move on with my day. Next up is my two Chrome windows - but we will get to those later.

I have two Excel spreadsheets. One is a chart for the fridge - it's a listing of the meals we will have for two weeks so that it is easy to indicate the leftovers and the dates. My memory sucks and I like a clean fridge It's still open because I need to update the menus. The other Excel spreadsheet is part of my Travels to Naturopathy. I have started a spreadsheet listing the various details of the various diets of the various ailments I appear to have. The Blood Type Diet, Rosacea Diet, Inflamation Diet and Candida Diet are all listed nicely across 8 columns and down 126 columns. It's alphabetical and color coded. I made another tab to show everything across the X axis to try and reason out what the HELL is going on with me. It's partially complete. I paused because it's depressing really. So many foods listed on the "do not eat" lists and so many contradictions. It makes my head spin.

Next up - Word documents. An essay and two cover letters for internships with which I was assisting a friend. I have no idea why those are still open. I just closed them. Ok, now for the craziest part.

Chrome window one: Tab One : Team Heavy Cream front page - I had to make sure that my most recent automated Kory's Kitchen post looked right. It posted while I was at work today. Tab Two: Medco - I was checking on a prescription from my mail order company. Tab Three: Reynolds Wrap Pan Lining Paper - I saw it in an add somewhere and wanted to find out more information about it. It looks cool - Parchment on one side, foil on the other. Next tab is just the weather. That is up most of the time and I just hit "refresh" when appropriate. Tab number five in Chrome window one is Polar Seltzer. I was enjoying their eggnog and pumpkin spice flavored seltzers the other day and did a search so I could share the link and my joy on facebook. Next is an Amazon link for Everybody Poops. I think I pulled that up because I wanted to make sure it was a book before I told people in the apartment about it. I don't even remember the precursor to that. Last for Chrome window number on is Once Upon A Time. This was another thing I had to look up so I could share it on facebook. I am really enjoying the show and I need to watch it again from the beginning with more focus. I watched the premiere with The Tribe, but the other episodes I have just listened to from my room while they were watched in the family room. I want to watch them from the beginning because there are a LOT of layers in there.

Now for Chrome Window 2: Tab 1 is Our internal Tribe website - I check this out daily for news and info and goings on. Tab two is the awesomeness of Chore Wars. It's a great way to compete with the family and get chores done at the same time. It's like a to do list with rewards in itself!! The next three tabs don not need explanation; google plus, gmail, and gmail calendar. We keep our meal plans on the google family calendar, so I have it open to check my plans and change them as needed. The real question is why do I havethe calendar open THREE TIMES?? Oh my. Next is an Amazon tab with my goth forest skin for my new KINDLE FIRE!!! That is there because I had to choose a skin the other day to order. I like the art so much that I left the tab open to enjoy it until I actually have it. The next tab is also for Amazon; the Christmas present I am getting for my niece and nephews. Laurence helped me shop for it and I fished it out of my e-mail, so I don't want to search for it again. I realize I could just put it in my shopping cart and close the tab - but I plan to order it on Black Friday, so why not just leave the tab open? Next is a BBC Good Food tab. Elaine sent me the link in an email and I want to browse the site. If I just bookmark it, it will become out of site out of mind. I want to take some time to look at it since the little pieces I saw so far look good.

Ok, so we are still on the second Chrome window and onto tab - I forget - I closed some as I was writing. Haha. Next is my fitbit tab. It's a great system that uses tech to track your activities and sleep habits. It can also track your foods, medicines, menstruation and whatever you want! The next two tabs are Team Heavy Cream. One I was logged into and grabbing pictures urls so I could use them in a post. The other was just the front page - I like to look at it. Next up is a to do list called Remember The Milk. It has a google plug in and everything! My task list is full, but not as full as my Chrome window! Next up is another great thing that Elaine found for us - it's called Lumosity. It is for improving brain health and performance. You should definitely check it out. Next is my tumblr site Moblography - it's open for the same reason facebook is open next to it. Then there is a site I opened because of facebook (have you noticed that happens a lot to me? I either look something up to add/comment or I look up something FROM facebook.) One of my gaming friends posted an etsy site that belongs to her cousin. She sells custom aprons and things so of course I had to check it out! I do not know why it is still open. I closed it now. Next up is talkoclock. Elaine mentioned it on facebook and in an email the other day, so I looked it up to read more about it. I got the basic idea but I wanted to go back to it and learn more, so it is still open.

Pressing on, we get to some yummy places. Smitten Kitchen posted Baked Pumpkin and Sour Cream Puddings the other day.....and boy do I wish I could eat egg!! I am leaving that open because it makes my mouth water. Next up is also a recipe - from Savvy Vegetarian - for Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake - YUM. I like to look at this one also. Next tab, Xena on Whoosh. Since my memory is horrible, I have to review the synopsis to remember where I am/which episode I need to watch next. Next tab is Amazon again - some personal shopping. Then we have Smitten Kitchen again (she is awesome). This time she makes my mouth water with her pictures of Homesick Texan Carnitas. I actually drool at this one... Last but not least is the UPS site for tracking the KINDLE FIRE I received the other day!

So, there you have it - what's open on my computer screens right now. This exercise has reinforced for me that I need to find a better way to work with my horrible memory other than making a million tabs in Chrome. I leave most things open so I will remember to look at them again. This (for me) does not indicate lack of interest - it indicates lack of memory. Sometimes I feel I have no control over what I remember or what I forget. That scares me since I am not even 37 yet. I fear for my memory almost daily - I am terrified of being stuck in my own head someday. I feel that you can learn about others or yourself by the things you have bookmarked (or open - in my case). It's the same way you can learn by looking at a playlist or a bookshelf. You can learn a lot about another person, but you can also learn a lot about yourself if you take the time to look at *your* bookmarks, playlists, and bookshelves. It's after midnight and I have to work in the morning. Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoyed this jaunt!