Year: 2011

What I’ve Done

I celebrated my 30th birthday yesterday. The last “big one” for ten years when I celebrate 40. It brought up a lot of thoughts about my life, my work, what I want to do, etc, and I found myself thinking about things I haven’t accomplished. Things I haven’t “done” with my life. I thought about how I’ve kinda wasted these first 30 years. I haven’t really “done” anything. Anything of value anyway.

Then I thought of how false that statement is.

I’ve done SO much with my 30 years on this earth, it’s hard to even put it all down. I won’t bore you with the more trivial things, but here are three I consider the most important. The things that, without my input, would change the lives of those around me forever.

In 2005, I got married to the most wonderful, beautiful woman ever; Breanne Nicole Blanchard. Seriously. I will fight you on this. My wife beats your wife in every way. Want to arm-wrestle over it? I’ll go over the top.

In 2007, we had our first child, Malachi Ethan Blanchard. Arguably, the best boy (soon to be man) ever to walk the face of the earth. He has qualities in him I never imagined kids could have. I love him to the depths of my heart.

In 2010, we had our second child, Presley Reagan Blanchard. I don’t even know where to begin on this little wonder. She has not even been out of the womb for a year yet and she continues to amaze me with the things she does every day.

I love my family so much and would do anything for them. It’s crazy how deep my feelings run for them. Feelings I didn’t even have on my radar pre-2005. I don’t know what my life would be like without them, and I don’t care to even think about it. They are my world.

I am so thankful every day for them and if I never do another thing in my life, I will be proud to say I did the things that mattered. Married the love of my life, and brought these kids into the world.

 

P.S. Jackson Blanchard is on target to be born July 11, 2011 and I am sure he will bring a whole new world of love and admiration to our lives. I haven’t met him yet, but I already love him know he will blow my mind with the things he does.

Apps of the Day – Sunday April 10, 2011

Below are the apps I used on my iPhone on Sunday, April 10, 2011

  • Twitter for iPhone
  • App Store
  • Safari
  • Mail
  • YouTube
  • Phone
  • Dialvetica
  • Mobile Mouse Pro
  • Messages
  • Podcaster
  • Omnifocus
  • Camera
  • Camera+
  • Tiny Wings
  • Glam Joe
  • Settings
  • Simplenote
  • Instapaper
  • Cydia
  • Everyday

After a few days of use, we can see I use pretty much the same apps every day. Obviously, I expected Mail, Phone, Messages to be in there, but it’s becoming interesting to me to see what apps only get used every few days.

I’ll keep posting these for the time being. Beginning tomorrow, I’ll post screenshots to Flickr also.

Apps of the Day – Saturday 04.09.2011

Below are the apps I used on my iPhone on Saturday, April 9, 2011

  • Cydia
  • Twitter for iPhone
  • Messages
  • SBSettings
  • Camera+
  • App Store
  • Dialvetica
  • Photos
  • Angry Birds (Seasons)
  • Angry Birds
  • Settings
  • Safari
  • iPod
  • Mail
  • Camera
  • Omnifocus
  • Phone
  • Logmein Ignition
  • Angry Birds (Rio)
  • Poopdeck
  • Glam Joe
  • Facebook
  • Everyday

Malachi did use my phone on Saturday, as you can tell from all the Angry Birds usage. He loves those games.

Apps of the Day – Friday 04.08.2011

Below are the apps I used on my iPhone on Friday, April 8, 2011

  • Messages
  • Cydia
  • Mail
  • Twitter for iPhone
  • Safari
  • App Store
  • Mobile Mouse Pro
  • SBSettings
  • MyWi 4.0
  • Settings
  • Phone
  • Dialvetica
  • Everyday
  • Instapaper
  • 1Password
  • Google Voice
  • OmniFocus
  • Winterboard
  • Simplenote
  • Camera
  • Google Maps
  • Camera +

A more business-centric day on Friday. Obviously, Malachi didn’t use my phone, either!

Also, if links are needed to any of the above apps, I’m happy to provide them.

Apps of the Day

I started a new project a few days ago that documents each app I use on my iPhone, by day. Every day, my first and last used app is the Alarm Clock. In the morning, to wake up; in the evening, to make sure it’s ready for the next day.

Because I do this, I can easily see which apps I’ve used each day, because the Alarm Clock will only be accessed at either end of the day. I don’t use any other function of the app during the day.

Just a fun little thing to see which apps get used each day (and which don’t).

I’ll post the results for the next few days with the same title as above, but with the day after it.

 

On Social Media

Each day on my drive in to work, I listen to AM radio. This morning, the crew on the show were talking about Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. and how they are directly contributing to the “dumbing-down” of America.

I have a problem with this. To me, people who have this line of thinking really do not understand social media at all.

There is SO much more going on through social media than the token status updates (eating lunch, going to the bathroom), FarmVille…the list goes on and on.

I use the web so much more than I did four years ago (around the time social media was getting its start), and would even argue that I’ve learned more in the past four years through social media and the internet than in the previous 25 I’ve lived. Every day I’m learning new things, new ideas, new skills – all of which come through social media.

Twitter for news (often breaking faster than traditional news outlets), YouTube for instructional videos, Facebook to keep up with what those close to me have going on. I understand that a lot of information out there is wrong or biased, but don’t forget the same holds true of traditional media outlets (and sometimes schools) as well. Sure, there are plenty of time-wasters out there, but there are WAY more ways to use these services to enrich your life. It’s like they say, don’t knock it till you try it.

The change isn’t coming, it’s already here. We live in the future we could only dream about as kids.

I, for one, am glad to be a part of it.

Love Wins Live Q&A

Rob Bell is having a live Q&A session the day before his new book, Love Wins, comes out. I’m pretty interested in hearing the session, but it falls right during the time I commute home from work.

What am I going to do about it? I’m glad you asked.

I’m going to stream the talk from my CR-48 tethered to my iPhone’s data line. The CR-48’s headphone jack will be plugged into my car audio system so I can hear over the road noise.

If all goes well, I’ll be able to view and hear the whole thing. I’ll post an update on Monday post-talk to let you know how it went.

 

P.S. You can check out the live Q&A session here: http://www.livestream.com/lovewins

 

 

lovewins