A Pearl of Great Worth

I've been using the BookBook case for my iPad 2 and it's been fine, for the most part.  However, it does have a few clunky features that the Commander has found annoying and I've had to agree with him.  So, in an effort to find a workable compromise, I went back to the drawing board (re: Amazon) and started searching again for another case.  What I decided on was the iPearl Folia Cover Case with a built-in stand and handstrap.  You can see the details here on Amazon.  I even found it in a lovely spring green color that I love.

It arrived today and I wasted no time putting my iPad 2 into it.  That was very straightforward.  On the one side that isn't attached to the back cover, you just unfold the flap and slide in your tablet and then fold the flap back under the iPad.  There is a cut-out on the back for the camera and all the buttons are easily accessible.  The cover is designed in such a way that it automatically puts your iPad to sleep when you close the cover and wakes it up when you open it back up.

On the left inside cover are two features. The one on the right is the handstrap, which I'll discuss later in this post.  The one on the left is the flap that opens for propping it into a position for typing.  You can't see it in this picture but the flap has clear plastic on the front of it that is separated into two sections that are the right size for business cards (or, as one reviewer up on Amazon mentioned) credit cards).

This is how the flap looks when it is raised up.  It can only be opened so far because it is secured with a ribbon strap.

The picture above shows the case set up in the "typing mode."  I gave it a quick try in one of my apps that uses a lot of typing and at first, I found myself making a lot of mistakes because I found the edge of the case getting in my way.  However, once I rested my wrists on the table surface (which was easy to do given the height and angle of the case), I easily was able to accurately type.  Usually I would NOT type this way as it is ergonomically incorrect for long term typing but hey, I don't know many people who do production typing on an iPad.  I think for normal tablet typing, you'll be fine unless you REALLY have a problem with carpel tunnel syndrome.

There is another tab on the back of the case that can be utilized to put your tablet into a position for reading horizontally.  You fold the cover over and slip it under the little tab.  The cover has a bendable spot that folds it at just the right place to do this.

Here is my iPad looking at it from the front when it is set up in the reading position.  It's really at a nice level for reading on a table, leaving your hands free to swipe, point, touch, or whatever.  For that matter, you can also easily play games in this position, too, if you prefer.

Now if you want to use your iPad in a vertical position, there isn't a hinge that allows you to place it into a "hands-free" position.  You still have to hold it but that's where the handstrap comes into play.  You just fold the left side of the cover back, slip your hand under the elasticized handstrap and you can hold it easily.

A few other features:  There is an elastic band that you can slip over the cover to hold it shut when you aren't using the iPad.  The cover is leather, according to the manufacturer, although you couldn't prove it by me.  It doesn't smell like leather to me (I'm a saddle kind of girl) but I'll take their word for it.  The inside is a nice soft gray suede fabric.  The cover comes with a touch screen stylus pen that slips into a handy little loop on the side of the case.   I used the pen (which isn't actually a pen but rather a pointer-like device with a foam end) and it worked great on the surface of the iPad.

Best of all, the iPearl Cover Case is a very reasonable price.  I paid $17.99 for my case.  That's a bargain in my book.

You Know You Want One

Well, once again I was perusing my latest issue of iPad and iPhone User Magazine and came across some nifty gadgets that I just HAD to share with you all.  This particular issue (issue 57) was their Gear Guide and it was loaded with lots of goodies.  I have no affiliation with any of these products.  Hmmm, in fact, I'm not even sure I'd want to be affiliated with them but I digress.

1.  The Hoodie Buddie  - I present to you the "Hoodie Buddie."  This ingenious hoodie sweatshirt has earbuds that are threaded through the hoodie and double as drawstring pulls.  The idea is that you wear the sweatshirt and stick the drawstring earbuds into your ears (I guess the hood can be up or down) and then you can listen away while out and about looking fashionably casual.  My fear would be that I'd forget I had the things stuck in my ears and go to pull the drawstrings and wham, out they'd fly.  If you want your own "Buddie", you can get one at  http://amzn.to/yZ3Gm4 and they come in assorted colors.

2.  The iMusic Hat - Closely associated with the concept of "wearable music accessories" is the iMusic Hat.  If you rock the knit cap look, you can wear one with embedded speakers in the ear areas and then listen to your music player without wearing earbuds.  Don't get too excited though.  The Amazon UK store is sold out of them and so is this site.  Apparently they are pretty popular.  Who knew?

3.  Eternal Fire App - Who doesn't love cozying up to a lovely fire in the fireplace especially now when the weather outside is frightful?  Hey, if you don't have a fireplace or even one of those nice electric fake ones, don't despair.  If you have an Apple smartphone, you can head on over to the iTunes store and get the "Eternal Fire" app for free and then sit and watch those crackling logs on your phone screen when the mood strikes.  Prop it up on the floor, uncork a bottle, snuggle up to your sweetie and I predict good times ahead. Let's just hope that you have a full charge.

4.  Mobile Phone Hoodie  - Speaking of smartphones, as much as we love our phones, have you ever thought to provide them with their own wardrobe?  No?  Shame on you!  Forget expensive cases.  Now you can dress your phone up in its own hoodie.    You can find one here.  If you're a sewer, you might already be thinking of alternative outfits for your right-hand gadget ("might" being the operative word).

I'm sure there are more indispensable gadgets out there and trust me, I'll be sure to find them.  What are you waiting for?  Go ahead....you know you want one.

The Simplest of Toys

Are you still reeling from the money you spent for gifts this Christmas season?  Have your little darlings already cast aside the expensive toys you purchased and are now complaining that they're bored?  You know, sometimes it is the simplest of things that make the best toys.

Maybe I can wear this as a hat.

I was reminded of this today when little Sweet Pea grabbed an old Easter basket from last year and spent the next 1/2 hour playing happily with it.

Where am I, Nana?

She wore it on her head as a hat and tried mighty hard to hide in it and then scare us by shouting, "Boo."

Maybe I can think of some way to get the dogs to play with me.

She tried very hard to enlist the dogs, including Schatze, who was visiting us for the day, in her basket play.

She tried to get Schatze to line up behind her and then parade around the room.  Schatze wasn't too sure that she wanted to do this and kept trying to wander off.

No, I'm supposed to be the leader!

It was quite entertaining watching Sweet Pea try to herd Schatze into position for her "parade."

Left, Right, Left.....

She finally mustered the troops successfully and marched around the room until.....

Schatze snuck around Sweet Pea and made her bid to become the leader of the pack but Fresca, the Wonder Dog was all too happy to bring up the rear of the parade.

A few more parades and then a bit of "put the basket on PawPaw's foot" and finally Sweet Pea was ready to move on to another game and toy.  Next Christmas we might just get her plastic bowls, baskets, and boxes and then sit back and watch the fun.

No, No Noel!

Christmas has come and gone and the presents have been opened.  Little Sweet Pea was SO excited about the Christmas tree when we put it up and then the subsequent presents that she practically camped under the tree.

Each day she has insisted that we turn on the lights (usually from mid-morning on) and I often have observed her heading over to the tree to look at the ornaments.  Many times she has "redistributed" them more to her liking.  Today she was playing with a stuffed kitten and she was cradling it in her arms saying, "Don't be sad, kitty.  Mika take you to look at the Christmas tree."  Off she'd go with the kitten and they'd stand in front of the tree.

That's why we waited until she had gone to bed before we started the sad job of packing away the decorations.

There is just a bittersweet feeling when it comes time to put the holiday decorations away yet again.  It seems to magnify the passing of time.  It also reminds me that the kids, including little Sweet Pea and Spud, will be heading back home to Texas tomorrow.

Off came the lights, the screws were loosened on the tree stand and then the Commander and son toted our tree out the door and to the curb while I grabbed the broom to sweep up the pine needles.  After they came inside and had been carrying the ornament boxes out to the porch, I noticed some marks on the floor.  Hmm, I figured the dog had maybe upchucked a bit in the past few days and so I went to grab some floor cleaner and paper towels.

No sooner was I bent over, spraying, and wiping then our son came inside holding one shoe and said, "Hey, Mom....I think I stepped in dog s___t when I took the tree out and I might have tracked it around inside the house.  Can I have a paper towel and I'll clean off my shoe in the kitchen?"

"Crap," I said.  "You get outside with that.  You're not cleaning it inside the house."

Yup, sometimes taking down the holiday decorations is just a sh__tty proposition whichever way you look at it.

The Mystery of Fire

Several days ago we headed off with a full van and kids in tow to Ohio to see Laura's extended family and to transfer some belongings that we'd been storing here to family heading back to Texas.  But first we made a quick detour to the neighborhood post office to mail off some packages.  I dashed into the PO, did my business and headed back to the car where I settled into my seat and took out my Kindle Fire, ready to lose myself in a good book.  Yikes!  The Fire appeared to be as dead as a doornail, even though it had worked fine and had almost a full charge just the night before.

"Stop," I yelled  in a panic.  "We have to swing back by the house so I can get another Kindle.  There's no way I'm making a long car trip without something to read."

We backtracked and I ran into the house, grabbed my Kindle Touch and its charger and dashed back to the van and off we went.  The Touch was working perfectly.

When we got to our destination and had brought everything into the house, I was griping about the Fire not working and gave it another try and lo and behold, it worked perfectly.  What in the world?

The next day before we headed off to the next family's home, I checked out my Kindle Fire once again and it was working fine.  Great!

We carried our luggage out to the car, got in and started off.  I pulled out the Fire and took it out of "sleep" mode.  What in the world?  Again it was blank and appeared to be dead as a doornail.  I was beginning to think that just the slightest bit of cold temps were causing it to lose its charge.  Back I went to my trusty Kindle Touch.

At the next house, we unpacked and I visited with folks for awhile and then thought to check the Kindle Fire.  Voila!  It turned on without a hitch.  What was happening?  It worked fine that night and yet again, passed a quick test the following morning.  This time, I put it in my purse and carried it out to the car that way, thinking it would stay warmer in there, rather than in a computer bag.

We hopped in the car, waved our goodbyes and started off for home.  I took some sips of coffee, slipped off my shoes and pulled out the Kindle Fire.  Yup, you guessed it.  Nothing, nada, zilch!  Now I was seriously getting perturbed.  I envisioned having to call up Amazon Tech Services and go over the whole crazy story.  OK, if the cold was the problem, maybe I could speed up the warming process.  I slipped the Fire between my legs.  The Commander glanced over at me and rolled his eyes.

"I'm trying to warm it up, " I attempted to explain.

Didn't work.  I unzipped my coat and put it inside my jacket and zipped it back up.  Surely it would warm up against my body.  Nope!

Alright.  Time for the heavy artillery!  I turned on the seat warmer and slipped it under my thighs.  If that didn't warm it up, I was ashamed of the darn thing.  After a suitable period of time, I tried to bring it out of its deep sleep.  Nothing doing!

In frustration, I pushed the button again and again.  I noticed that a green light was coming on at the bottom of the Kindle when I'd push the button but still nothing was showing up on the screen.  All of a sudden, I thought I detected a faint glimmer of some words on the screen.  I whipped off my glasses and peered at the screen.  It said, "Do you wish to turn off your device?"  Turn it off?  Heck, I just wanted to turn it ON!

I touched the "Cancel" button and lo and behold, my screen lit up and my Fire was lit up like a ...well, like a Fire should be.  Hmmm, a faint niggling suspicion was starting to form at the back of my brain.  I slipped my glasses with clip-on sunglasses back on.  Huh?  The screen was suddenly completely black.  I took off the clip-on sunglasses.  The Fire was on and the images were right there.  On/off.....on/off.....Every time I put on my clip-on sunglasses, the screen went completely black.  Every time I took them off, my screen was on and  working great.

Ah-ha!  Apparently, my Kindle Fire hadn't been malfunctioning at all.  The culprit was my clip-on sunglasses.  They were polarized in such a way that they completely blocked out the Kindle Fire's screen.  Of course, since I had them on when I was outside and in the car, I was only seeing a blank screen but since I didn't have them on inside, the Fire would seemingly come back to life once we were inside a house.  Mystery solved.  I am SO relieved and boy, am I glad that I didn't have to confound Amazon (and reveal my total idiocy) by calling Tech Services.

Tentative Tickles

The last two times that we've taken little Sweet Pea and Spud to visit their Great-Grandmother in the nursing home, Sweet Pea has been very shy and quite hesitant to approach "Grandma Toots."  That's understandable since I doubt she's ever seen anyone as old or even someone in a wheelchair and she only gets to see her once or twice a year.  But on each visit, there have been little tentative steps to establish a relationship.

Today when we visited, we all went down to the lounge and at first, Mika entertained us all by playing "Boo" with her brother.

She wasn't quite sure what to make of it when "Spud" ambushed her at one point and I'm not sure that he knew what to make of it either but he seemed to be game for the fun.

When we suggested that Sweet Pea try to "scare" Grandma Toots by playing "Boo" with her, she thought it over and then (with a few appropriate dramatic shrieks from Grandma) decided it might be fun.

She leaned over and said "Boo" and Mom yelped and shivered (a performance worthy of an Oscar, I can assure you).

Sweet Pea got bolder and came over to the wheelchair and tickled Grandma Toots' leg.  "Aaaah, oooh," trilled her great-grandmother.

"I think Grandma Toots fell asleep," I said.  "Why don't you try tickling her knee and see if you can wake her up?"

Sweet Pea gave a little tickle and Mom giggled, threw up her hands and said, "Whee!"

Little Spud wasn't saying "Whee" later when we sat him on Grandma Toots' lap.  He quickly made his displeasure known.

"Who in the world are you?" he seemed to be thinking, "And what did you do with my mommy?"

We finished up our visit by singing Christmas carols acapella and at some point we looked over and saw that  Mom had nodded off.  I guess she'd had quite enough excitement for one day.  Who knows?  Maybe on our next visit, Sweet Pea will be brave enough to hitch a ride on Grandma Toots' wheelchair.

'Tis a Puzzlement!

Recently our son got one of those sets of brainteaser wooden puzzles that drive you crazy.  Well, it drives MOST people crazy but not our son. He is one of those folks who is a whiz at figuring out those type of things. His sister knows this about him and also knows that he can't rest until he works out a solution to puzzles.  I guess that's why she "gifted" him with this latest set of brainteasers.  Sibling torture, anyone?

Little Sweet Pea decided that she was going to help her daddy solve the puzzle.  Who wouldn't want a two-year-old's help, right?

"No, no, Daddy..I think this needs to go in THAT little slot right there."

"Oh, no...wait! Maybe we should put them all together in a line and play 'choo-choo train' with the pieces."

"Mika, how did you get these two pieces stuck together like this?"

"Ok, we'll just play choo-choo train this morning while Daddy thinks about the PERFECT gift to get your Aunt Laura.  Heh, heh, heh!"

A Nativity Fusion

Little Sweet Pea's birthday is right before Christmas so what nicer gift could she receive than a Little Tikes Nativity Set from her Aunt Rose and Uncle John?  We all thought it would be a wonderful way for her to envision the joys of the Christmas story.  It worked.....sort of.

She was delighted with the gift and immediately began to play with it as we talked about the different parts/people in the set and what part they played in the Christmas story.

Our first inkling that THIS Nativity scene would be her own special version came when we realized that Baby Jesus was crammed into the cow's stall and the sheep were given the place of honor in the main part of the stable.

When we had pulled Baby Jesus out of the box, her mommy had asked her, "Do you know who this is?"

"Mary," she promptly replied.  Well....there WAS a connection there, at least.

The actual Mary was soon relegated to the top of the stable next to the feeding trough, joining one of the angels.

She was soon joined by a shepherd and at several points by some wise men, although they were usually holding court over in the fields with some of the sheep.  Hmm, were we seeing a mash-up of "Away in a Manger" and "Up On a Rooftop?"

The Wise Men were demoted from riding camels to tending the donkey cart while their regal tent was taken over by Mika's stuffed kitten.

At one point, the kitten fell asleep, a Wise Man was knocked over by a sheep trying to play King of the Hill, and an angel was wandering around in the barnyard wondering where the shepherds had run off to because she had a Heavenly message to deliver.

Through it all, Mary kept her composure although from a more elevated angle than during the original event and Mika had a wonderful evening immersed in the magic of a Christmas birth that changed the world.  She may be putting her own unique spin on things now but as she continues to grow and be nurtured in the Christian faith, she'll continue to find this to be a much-beloved toy set.  Thanks, Aunt Rose and Uncle John!