Category: Just for Fun

My husband knows me so very well. One of my favorite presents for Christmas this year is my Penna Keyboard. There is something deliciously satisfying about the tactile experience of a good, old-fashioned keyboard. Years ago, I got the Hanx Writer app by Tom Hanks (yes, THAT Tom Hanks) that at least allowed the sound of a typewriter on my iPad; however, I still pined for an old school word processor just so I can have keys that depress. Since I prefer writing in the fantastic Scriviner app, I never pursued the word processor desire and lose the ability to work and type right in the app.

The Penna Keyboard is the best of all worlds. The keys (round Retro Chrome Keycaps on my version) have a pleasing click-clack and are very responsive. The keyboard can pair with up to five devices and, since it is not OS-specific, so I can use it on any device as I float between my Mac, iPad, and PC… and even my iPhone.

Since I just opened my new toy this morning, I’m still getting to know all of the features. Despite looking like an old school typewriter, all of the key options you’d expect to see on a quality Bluetooth keyboard are included, and then some. Multi-media keys control things like volume and screen brightness, while the clever little faux return carriage lever allows you to record and automatically retype favorite keys or sentences.

Overall I’m super excited and suddenly inspired to write. Whether that’s from the keyboard, the vacation time, the wine, or some combination, we’ll never really know. I’m humoring my husband now by writing this blog post about the Penna Keyboard using the Penna Keyboard, but I think I’ll finish up the dozen or so posts sitting in draft and retro-publish them this week.

Merry Christmas!

We’re getting ready to redecorate. Well, I say redecorate, but we never really got around to finishing the decorating when we bought the house three years ago. Recently, my husband and I have started feeling artsy and inspired to take on the redecorating ourselves. I have a vision of a warm, inviting kitchen with a Tuscan color scheme and old world / southern country French accents and my husband is determined to master the Tuscan faux paint technique.

Innocently but inevitably, this drove me to Pinterest. The vortex. The black hole. The incessant time suck addiction which has, of course, taken over my every conscious free moment. A thousand pins on 20 boards later, we haven’t bought any paint brushes, but I’ve planned out my next 5K, 10K, and half marathon; created a reading list through 2023; and planned the next three vacations (India, Germany, and Budapest – I didn’t even know I wanted to visit Budapest).

Like most women, I pretty much planned my wedding on Pinterest. And our vow renewal ceremonies every five years until we die. You did it, too. Don’t lie.

Pin pin pin pin pin.

I mean, seriously. Look at these gold jamavaar cigarette trousers with diamanté embroidery that I now have to buy!! —————>

Even with all the distractions, I managed to find a lot of great decorating ideas. The husband has at least four different painting techniques he’s going to try out and we actually landed on a color for the kitchen (three shades of color, actually) that will complement the living and dining rooms nicely (if we ever get around to finishing them).

Thanks to Pinterest, I also located my two artful contributions – hand-painted ceiling medallions and stenciling for the archways. Right now, since it’s all in my head and no where near a reality, the project will be easy, not at all exhausting, and a wonderful fun bonding experience for me and my husband. Aren’t you excited for us? Wanna help?