The Perfect To-Do App

Do it (Tomorrow) Web version

I have for a long time looked for the perfect To-Do application. I have looked at very complex software on the Android platform such as Astrid, I have looked at some of the more simple ones such as Taskos but I have in time stopped using them one by one.

The reason is that they are not working with me, they are working against me. I used to love Remember The Milk but when I got the smartphone app it started dwindle. It just gets too fiddlesome and after a while I stop maintaining the database and then I might just as well do with good old pen and paper.

Until a couple of weeks ago when I found the perfect to-do manager that works as my brain works. I have now tried it out for a while and I am really happy with it. So happy I want to share my joy with you!

I have tried to follow the Getting Things Done scheme of things, different focus and various perspectives, never felt very natural to me. I have a more geometric kind of memory, i have no problem remembering numbers, figures and symbols, I also know roughly in which pile I have put something. Even if my home folder looks disorganised I know how to find my stuff pretty quickly. But the Getting Things Done (GTD) scheme just clashes with my frontal neo-cortex somewhere.

Enter the fantastic ”Do it (Tomorrow)”. It’s so simple it is brilliant. You have a notebook like app in your phone (and on the web) which has two pages. It has a page for TODAY and a page for TOMORROW. Everything you want to do today you put on the TODAY page and everything else on the TOMORROW.

Every morning all tasks ends up on your TODAY page and you quickly dismiss all you can not do today, all you do not want to do today, and those that you think you won’t have time for by pressing the right hand arrow and they just whiff off to the TOMORROW page. What is left is your todays task list.

As the day progresses you probably find new stuff you need to add. Make a decision, either put it on todays list if you seriously think you will handle it today or put it on the TOMORROW page if you want to do it tomorrow (or later).

It wors brilliant because this is exactly how my brain organises tasks naturally. It has pretty much two compartments for not finished tasks and they are ”now” and ”later” which corresponds pretty well to the TODAY and TOMORROW pages.

I have also realised I put far too many tasks in the GTD schemes and similar, it’s no use. Things that ought to be completed in november should not be in your task book in June. Just let it mature for a while. Maybe in October it is a candidate. But keep it simple, that really works – for me at least.

The android, iPhone and web versions can be synced. Just input your email address and a password of your choosing (does not have to be the same as your webmail password mind you) then it will synchronize automatically across platforms.

On the smartphone app you switch between TODAY and TOMORROW by swiping. Moving a task from one page to the other is done by touching the arrow pointing to the opposite side. You can also arrange the order and delete them completely, just touch the EDIT button first and you will see how you accomplis that.

To tick of a task when it is done, simply touch it. A pencil-line crosses it out and you are done. The next morning it is gone if you ticked it done on the TODAY page, if you ticked it on the TOMORROW page it will be moved, already ticked off, to your TODAY page and sit there for a day. Quite simple.

Find their home page now or if you have an Android phone you can download it form Market immediately. iPhone users find it in the app store or from the home page on the web first.

Tandläkarbesöket

Det handlade om en helt vanlig rutinkontroll, en sådan som alla skötsamma människor uppfostrade i 70-talets sverige gör. Ingen tycker väl det är roligt att gå till ”käftis” men så är det man biter ihop (eller gapar snarare) och får det överstökat.

Så även jag. Tidigare hade jag ett litet kariesangrepp på 1:8 (visdomstand övre käken höger sida) och det hade blivit ett litet hål av det. Svårt att hålla bra rent där liksom in bakom mot kinden.

Tandläkaren sade det var svårt att laga då det satt illa till och att tanden i övrigt verkade vara lite usschlig som vi säger i norrland och föreslog en urdragning i stället. Det slumpade sig så att de hade ett återbud på tiden efter min undersökningstid så det var bara att gå på.

Jag sade ja, men upplyste också om att när 2:8 tagits tidigare hade man skickat mig till tandkirurgen för rötterna är inte helt lätta att tas med på mina visdomständer. Tandis trodde dock att det skulle ordna sig och satte igång.

En och halv timme senare, jag halvt i chocktillstånd (jag nämnde inte att jag eg. har tandläkarskräck) och tandis trött i armarna, har bytt sköterska en gång så säger han ”det går nog inte, jag får inte ut rotresterna vi måste skicka dig till kirurgen”.

Skakad av den utdragna mycket obehagliga behandlingen, öm i hela skallen, adrenalinpåslag som gick ur kroppen och nedstämd av resultatet gav jag honom en utskällning och reste mig för att betala och åka hem för det gör man. De släppte dock inte iväg mig för jag mådde väl inte helt bra och tandläkarskräcken gjorde sitt till så jag fick sätta mig i ett rum.

Då delar är kvar äter jag nu penicillin för att motverka att en eventuell infektion sätter in, jag får se kirurgen om 14 dagar och tills dess får jag ha det som jag har det.

Och jag har ont i käken, det småblöder ibland och jag har fått kodeintabletter som gör mig till ett litet grönsakspaket om jag äter dem. Springa är det inte tal om, det är order på att inte ägna sig åt några högpulsaktiviteter de närmaste dagarna efter ingreppet.

Nu skall jag gå ner och röja ett förråd i stället. Det är väl någon sorts träning det med.

Jag är inte så bitter som jag låter. Bara lite trött :)

Time for a change

So, running is coming back again, still need to improve muscular toning and then start working up to the distances I used to run before the summer when I fell off the wagon. However, I feel the energy is coming back already, stress is dwindling as the kilometers tick away when I go out jogging and all the benefits are doing me well!

But now it is time for a new goal. This is to reduce weight with about 15 kg of my excess weight and the goal date is March 31st 2012. It is a decent goal, meaning around 0,5 kg a week until then and so it should be possible without having to go on a starving diet. Keep jogging and just eating smaller portions, less junk, get the breakfast habit going (even if it will be just a protein drink) and be more careful in the evenings to not eat more than necessary.

I have done it before. I can do it again. I need to do it again and so this starts today. Weigh-ins will be wednesday nights after supper but before running (if it is a running day).

My electronic scale claims to be able to discern body fat and water content as a percentage of total body weight. Although I am skeptic to how accurate this actually is – I certainly will log it as well and see where that takes me.

[table=15]

Film: The Diamond Job / The Big Bang

Alternative title: The Big Bang

I did not really know what to expect when I picked it up but once it started in my blueray player it was just great from the first to the last scene. Antonio Banderas is doing a really good job in the movie which can be described as something like ”Reservoir Dogs” meets ”The Usual Suspects” crossed with ”Ocean’s Eleven” and with quite a few twists on the way.

I also has loads of references to other films and the names like Keppler’s bar and Planck’s Constant Café is hilarious.

Just see it. Well worth the time.

Rösaring, planering

Planerar en utflykt med kameran till Rösaring, ett område i Låssa socken i Uppland med ett antal fasta fornlämningar. Jag passerade där som av en händelse för några veckor sedan och det skulle dels vara intressant att se hur det ser ut genom att gå stigen runt och samtidigt verkar det vara ett väldigt fint område att springa trail i.

Beskrivning

Stället ligger nära Låssa kyrka, ca 1 km från den och den högsta punkten är ca 60 meter över havet med fin utsikt över mälaren. Låter definitivt som att man skulle vilja ta sig dit med kameran. Här finns också en husgrund som man tror varit en likbod, en 500 meter lång processionsväg, sex gravar samt flera små labyrinter. Nedanför åsen ligger Sanda gravfält med 70-tal gravar samt Tibble gravfält med omkring 140 gravar. Processionsvägen löper i rakt nordsydlig riktning på åsryggen mellan husgrunden och gravarna som utgörs av fyra rösen och två högar. Den största högen ligger vid processionsvägens södra ände och undersökningar har visat att den är anlagd ovanpå vägen. Labyrinterna ligger invid gravarna uppe på åsryggen och den största av dem är omtalad sedan 1600-talet och är den som givit namn till området.

Fornlämningarna har daterats till järnålder eller vikingatid medan några kan vara från bronsåldern.

Karta

[cetsEmbedGmap src=http://maps.google.se/maps/ms?msid=205512603787120312282.0004ad422463c4b2e3b70&msa=0 width=400height=400 marginwidth=0 marginheight=0 frameborder=0 scrolling=no]

Kartan ovan är klickbar för de olika delarna för att få en idé om hur saker och ting ligger geografiskt.

Hänga med?

Det vore mycket roligt om någon hade lust att hänga med en helg här innan snön kommer för en expedition till Rösaring, hör gärna av er på e-post så ordnar vi det. Jag har bil och gott om plats för packning och kameragrejor. Det är väl ett lämpligt antal med ca 3 st i bilen max. Jag kan hämta från Kallhäll station eller Bro vilket som passar bäst.

Promenadvägen hela vägen runt om man går bilvägen tillbaka Sandavägen – Rösaringsvägen till parkeringen blir under 4 km, lite beroende på om man virrar bort sig i labyrinten eller inte :)

 

Stockholm Photo Walk 2011

Scott Kelby är väl inte ett okänt namn i fotokretsar direkt. För några år sedan ordnade han en Photowalk i några utvalda städer, bland annat stockholm. Ja inte personligen då, det var lokala förmågor som höll i varje fotovandring i varje stad. Bästa bilden kunde vinna fina priser bl.a. Scotts egna böcker.

I år håller Tommy Lund igen i denna fotopromenad i Stockholm. Jag tänker gå med och här är några bilder från det året jag var med tidigare när den ordnades för första gången.

Anmälan kan göras här >>>

 

 

 

 

Training Wk 37

Another three good runs this week, all pretty decent distances, speed is improving, condition is improving leg strength getting there but slower. Best run was no doubt the blue track at Altorp on Saturday, lovely trail running, up and down, up and down, hills, rocks, roots, easy to take the wrong turn (which I did a few times actually) and then also a really tough run, I had to walk some parts of it.

I also did the old run to Jakobsberg and back again, this time having a steady jogging pace pretty much the whole way. It is becoming a favourite this one, first asphalt for about 4 km then dirt road for another 2 km ending with a bit of asphalt for about 700 meters.

Day by day

Monday
Kallhäll – Jakobsberg – Kallhäll in total about 6,4 km quality jogging from my home on the asphalt down to Jakobsberg, the major city in Järfälla commune and then back again on the other side of the rail road on a good dirt road. It was a little bit rain in the air and a cool autumn breese. Made the whole trip very nice.
Tuesday
Resting
Wednesday
From home through Bolindervägen, then down to the Lake Mälaren following it back home. About 4 km of good jogging, slow tempo, good work all the way.
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Altorp 4 km – wonderful weather and the best run of the week.
Sunday

This Week

Total distance 15,07 km Total tim 2:16:56 HMS
Avg tempo 9,05 min/km Avg. speed 6,6 km/h
Max. HR 165 bpm Avg. HR 151 bpm
Training Effect 4,2 TE/EPOC Energy spent 2 435 kcal
VO2(max) 48 ml/kg/min Peak EPOC 189 ml/kg
Max. ventilation 78 l/min Max breathing 41 bpm

Last Week

Total distance 14,7 km Total tim 2:12:34 HMS
Avg tempo 9,01 min/km Avg. speed 6,7 km/h
Max. HR 166 bpm Avg. HR 148,3 bpm
Training Effect 4,2 TE/EPOC Energy spent 1 876 kcal
VO2(max) 31 ml/kg/min Peak EPOC 174 ml/kg
Max. ventilation 80 l/min Max breathing 39 bpm

 

Training Wk 36

 

Three good runs this week. Well two good and one was kind of shitty but it was okay, even though I did cut it short a bit. I am not made for exercising in the mornings, that is why. I did my third run this week on Saturday, just before we went to visit friends in their summer house about an hour and half drive from here. And for some reason my body just don’t like the idea of high pulse activities in the early day. I much rather go out in the drizzle of rain when it is dark and do my rounds then. That’s when I have my best experiences definitely…

Soon the weather will make it less nice to run outdoors and so I will be moving in to the gym instead. A new gym close to where I live will be great, it is a come-and-go gym where you can train pretty much any time you like. So I will be able to go straight from work or just whenever I feel like it. A short walk from home.

An my wife will be working out at the same gym.

Day by day

Monday
Resting
Tuesday
5,55 km the Slammertorp track close to where I live. 51 min of good exercise here, a few walks though, generally a good run.
Wednesday
Resting
Thursday
5,55 km again, same as tuesday. Now 48 mins. Now that is a whole 3 min better on the same round!
Friday
Resting
Saturday
Crap run had to cut it short even, so just  same 3,6 km. Not much variation this week. But who cares, love being out there!
Sunday
Resting

This Week

Total distance 14,7 km Total tim 2:12:34 HMS
Avg tempo 9,01 min/km Avg. speed 6,7 km/h
Max. HR 166 bpm Avg. HR 148,3 bpm
Training Effect 4,2 TE/EPOC Energy spent 1 876 kcal
VO2(max) 31 ml/kg/min Peak EPOC 174 ml/kg
Max. ventilation 80 l/min Max breathing 39 bpm

Last Week

Total distance 9,24 km Total tim 1:29:48 HMS
Avg tempo 9:43 min/km Avg. speed 6,2 km/h
Max. HR 168 bpm Avg. HR 152,5 bpm
Training Effect 5,0 TE/EPOC Energy spent 1 213 kcal
VO2(max) 30 ml/kg/min Peak EPOC 158 ml/kg
Max. ventilation 80 l/min Max breathing 38 bpm

For the first time since I restarted the average pulse is below 150. A sign the condition is coming back, now the legs need to get stronger, muscles more powerful and then I can start pushing again. This will take another 3-4 weeks usually. So it is just to keep in there.

Training Wk 35

Good week this week, started quite good on Monday with 4,5 km running and then pretty much nothing until Sunday for another 4,4 km. Not very well disposed this week but there has been lots to do and I have gotten home tired and out of what. Better next week!

Day by day

Monday
Running 4,5 km – from home via Slammertorp rd then on the illuminated track and back through the center, good round.
Tuesday
Resting
Wednesday
Resting
Thursday
Resting
Friday
Resting
Saturday
Resting
Sunday
4,4 km in Altorp with Jenny. I felt like crap, the running was bad, the trail however was great so I hope to do it a few more times before the snow sets in, and the company was splendid as always. Love to run with Jenny, it is something I always look forward to.

This Week

Total distance 9,24 km Total tim 1:29:48 HMS
Avg tempo 9:43 min/km Avg. speed 6,2 km/h
Max. HR 168 bpm Avg. HR 152,5 bpm
Training Effect 5,0 TE/EPOC Energy spent 1 213 kcal
VO2(max) 30 ml/kg/min Peak EPOC 158 ml/kg
Max. ventilation 80 l/min Max breathing 38 bpm

Last Week

Total distance 11,79 km Total tim 2:08:36 HMS
Avg tempo 9:05 min/km Avg. speed 6,6 km/h
Max. HR 177 bpm Avg. HR 151 bpm
Training Effect 4,4 TE/EPOC Energy spent 1 626 kcal
VO2(max) 30 ml/kg/min Peak EPOC 156 ml/kg
Max. ventilation 102 l/min Max breathing 46 bpm