As my summer rapidly comes to a close and I start getting ready for my 34th year in the classroom, here are some things I am enjoying...

The Grapes of Wrath

I have a very interesting path that finally took me to this book over the course of the summer. That path began with another book I've been chipping away at. On and off, for the last 2 years, I've been reading; Working Days: The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath. That book has been very inspirational for me. Reading about Steinbeck's insecurities while writing The Grapes of Wrath should make anyone feel like they can sit down and attempt writing. I'm not sure why the thought never occurred to me before now but about 3 weeks ago, while reading one of the entries in Working Days I said to myself, "Self, why are you not reading The Grapes of Wrath?" I immediately ordered the book and have been reading it (along with 2 other books) ever since. I'm in chapter 12 right now. Just as Steinbeck's journal writing is magical, this novel (and I know I'm super late to the game) is even more so. I am enjoying it at the sentence level and have found myself more and more preferring to read it, during these summer days, than just about anything else.

Cal Newport

In an attempt to stimulate the intellectual in me, I am consuming all things Cal Newport this summer. This includes his podcast; Deep Questions with Cal Newport. I'm also reading a book he wrote during the pandemic titled: Digital Minimalism. And, I am using my Apple News+ subscription to gain access to his writing for The New Yorker magazine. Listening to his podcasts has afforded me the opportunity to reflect on the way I am living life currently, my career as a teacher, and what I might want to do when I retire. Reading his recent book has provided me a chance to further examine what I am doing with technology in an attempt to streamline my use so as not to depend on "it" to entertain me when I am bored (see The Grapes of Wrath). Newport's articles in The New Yorker allow me to think deeply about topics that are of interest to me; namely technology.

Beta Testing on my iPhone XR, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch

I recently published some thinking about this year's betas. Here's some super quick takes about each platform I'm testing the betas on...

iPhone XR

The ability to customize the Lock Screen has led me to create 4 unique Lock Screens for 5 different Focus Modes; one I call "Normal," Writing, Work, Reading, and Personal (which I am currently using on the weekend). I'm using a variety of Widgets along with relevant photos I've taken, in an attempt to create a highly personalized and inspirational experience whenever I pick up my phone.

11 inch iPad Pro

Stage Manager is providing me the opportunity to organize apps in a way that was not possible before this update. Coupled together with the ability to use (when it's not being too wonky) an external monitor as a second screen, Stage Manager affords me the opportunity to have 8 apps running simultaneously; 4 on each screen. Just because I can doesn't mean I am. That's the cool thing about Stage Manager. It has a "Strip" you can use, to put apps in while you use Stage Manager for the apps you want; "on stage."

Series 6 Apple Watch

watchOS 9 comes with some interesting watch faces. The one I am using during most of the day is Metropolitan. It's clean, simple, while providing space for 4 complications. I'm also really liking the support it provides for Medications; a feature that can also be found in iOS 16, within the Health app.