Android Apps

My big sister got a really nice Asus Tablet like the one that I use, Mom now has a Kindle Fire and they both have been asking what Apps I use.  So here is my top 10 and why.

Netflix - for old TV shows and instant streaming this is great on both my phone and my tablet. I really like using this one at the gym on the exercise bicycle (Commercials kill me if I am watching TV, my mind spends to much time worrying how bad my body hurts).

Pandora - Currently this is my favorite for new music.  I tend to move from Pandora to Google Music where I have my music stored on the cloud.  On my phone I have an SD card with most of my music library since Internet streaming is not always available in the places I walk.

Alarm Clock Plus - I switched to this alarm clock so that I could wake to music.  I also like the nap timer, at my age its always good to have a way to grab a 15 minute nap when you can.

Lose It - I am as always trying to lose that last 25 lbs but this program balances your intake, exercise output and weight changes so you can make it work for you.  Now if I could just stick to my limit for more than 2 weeks at a time.

SuperNote - Don't use this a lot but its great for making quick notes you can even do it by just scratching a a note on the tablet with your finger.

Kindle - I am reading on my tablet about 95% of the time.  The Kindle is smaller and lighter but I like that backlite screen.

Google Docs - I store most of my important information here so that I can access statements, EOB's, Vet bills, Car repair bills and other documents from any one of my devices.  I added PrinterShare to my computer so that I can print from any device to my home printer from the tablet or phone when I need to. The other important piece of this is CamScanner an app that lets you photograph a bill and convert it to a PDF and upload it to Google docs with less effort than going to the scanner and scanning it into the computer and then uploading it to Google Docs.

SportsTap - This is just a great way to monitor you sports scores.  If your a fan the is wonderful.

Mint - I starting using this program with my computer and laptop long before Android but now that it is available on my phone and Tablet its just great.  I can monitor every one of my accounts look at transactions, and get warnings about large transactions by text.

Jorte - Calendar is a really wonderful set of widgets to display the Google Calendar.  Dorothy, Teddy, Edward, Elda, Mom and I all share our calendars so with Jorte I can know what everyone is doing and plan things easily.

Also on my phone and tablet but not often used, Facebook, Google +, Republic News, Google Sky Map, GM Stitcher (podcasts), MLB app, Google Catalogs, Blogger, and Worldscope Webcams.

For Gavin I keep All by Myself, Kid Mode, Talking Tom, Talking Hippo, Talking Rex, Talking Larry, Talking Ben Angry Birds and the Cat in The Hat.

Merry Christmas

The family is getting together at Oma's for Christma Eve and then back home for Christmas day. 

Merry Christmas Revel

Turns out our new tile floor is too cold and hard even for Revel.  His new xmas present should help.

Visit with the cousins

John our cousin from Colorado came for a visit to Oma's on Sunday.  The boys all had a good time despite all the age differences.  Lots of fun.

Gavin and Teddy taking walk

With both of the boys out of school they took some time to join Revel and I for our morning walk this morning.  I really like the setting for this picture.  I think both boys have grown remarkably since our trip to Colorado this summer.  It is a very exciting time for both of them and I am so happy to be able to be part of it.

Weekend in Solvang

Mom and i are spending a wonderful weekend in Solvang. We have had some great meals, did a lot of xmas shopping (wooden shoes for everyone :-)  ) and lots of good conversation. The weather is amazing, cold at night in 30's but 70 in afternoon. Might have to make this an annual trip.

Gavin watching

Took Gavin for short walk today weather is very cold.  It really is such a pleasure spending time with him.

Need to post more updates

I really need to be better about updating this blog.  Saturday we bit the bullet and took Gavin for a major haircut.  I am so glad we did, he was much better about holding still and the results were wonderful.  Its been three days now and no one has told us what a beautiful little girl we have.

Ladies Want to Go to Europe?

Here we are in early 1956 just at the start of our plans to travel to Europe and visit Italy for cooking classes. Who would have known at that early date that we would actually be standing in front of the Ponte Vecchio, in Florence just 53 short years later.   

Teddy's birthday continued

Looks like Picasa only transferred 20 of the pictures so for those of you who are dying to see the new hairstyle here it is.

Teddy turns 21

Teddy will turn 21 tomorrow. Boy time really flies, since the family is rarely together during the week we had a birthday celebration today. Took him to Red Apple for lunch and gave him his new camera. Its a Nikon S8200 and it takes amazing pictures. I am including the ones he took today that I have edited slightly and I am amazed at some of them that really should not have been possible. The focus is crystal sharp. Note the bee pictures which were enlarged to the maximum amount. The picture of Revel and Gavin with Revel close to Camera and Gavin farther away should not be as in focus as it is. That just doesn't work with most cameras.

For those of you with sharp eyes Gavin got a haircut around the 20th picture.

Rain off and on all day

I just finished a post to Google+ about today's walk and rainbow on the beach, looked up and there is a rainbow right in front of me.

Nice to be back.

After a week with some injuries kept us from our routine it nice to be back.  Five miles on beach then an hour making tablelegs.  We are both very relaxed and glad to be back in our rut.

Gavins bedtime style.

Gavin was working on his bedtime style last night.

Rose Valley campground Waterfall

This waterfall is located about 20 minutes out of Ojai. Picture does not do it justice. The ferns and moss growing on and around the waterfall were unusual and spectacular.

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End of the Road

 Today was quite disappointing.  We set off from Bend on our way to Crater Lake. When we reached the junction that should have led us into the north side of the park the signs all said the road was closed.  So we decided to enter the south side. When we actually got into the park the ranger said that viability was "Limited" truth was it was zero. The lake was not visible from anywhere.  The rim road was closed due to 12-14 feet of snow still on the road.  We are talking June 18th here.  That picture shows Gavin playing in the back of the gift shop the sign says don't get on the roof, the wood structure at the top of the snow bank.  This is crazy  but what we have seen throughout our trip through the north.. The amount of Snow and water in rivers has been amazing. The tree lined road below is highway 97 leading to Mt. Shasta.  Shasta is covered with snow below the cloud line. We got to Redding at about 7pm and I decided that rather than push everyone home we would stop for one more hotel visit. Watched a disappointing Giants - A's game and will head home in the morning.  Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and sharing this really amazing journey.