A Kindle Review

So, I promised I would talk about my Kindle once I had time to use it a little. I must say, I love it! I have now read the 2nd book in the Twilight series, and I have almost finished the 3rd book on it. I also have the Bible (ESV) - this was free on Amazon, and I have the book we are reading for Pastor's class on Wednesday nights, Systematic Theology by Grudem.

It is so easy to read on a Kindle. You can adjust the text size to your liking. If you get a cover like mine, it will even stand up. I like this feature for when I am lying down and reading. It allows you to prop the Kindle up on your lap and you don't have to hold it.

The battery lasts forever! I haven't tested it to see exactly how long it will last, but if I keep the wireless turned off when I'm not using it, it honestly lasts several weeks. Two weeks ago we went to watch the ETSU Bucs play in the NCAA tournament in Dayton, Ohio. This was a 6.5 hour car trip both ways. I read my Kindle most of the trip, and I haven't charged it since.

There are many features of the Kindle that I have not used yet, and probably many that I have not discovered. There is a hidden minesweeper game. It works well, but don't expect to play it quickly. You can put music on it (but I have heard that it will only play the music in the order that you install it). It is not meant to be your everyday mp3 player. You can upload your own pictures to it to create your screensaver (remember these will be in black and white). You can highlight text and add notes. You can search for something in every book that you have on your Kindle, or you can just search in one book. You can delete books off of your Kindle once you have finished reading them, and they will be stored on Amazon's website. It even has a basic web browser.

Downsides:
- You have to have a booklight if you are reading in the dark. They sell special Kindle booklights that fit in the cover for it, but I have just been using a booklight they I already owned.
- The text-to-speech option isn't great. This is the option that allows the Kindle to read the book to you. If you are looking for an audio book, just buy the audio version and put it on your Kindle, don't depend on the text-to-speech.
- It didn't come with a cover. Apparently the first version of Kindle came with a TERRIBLE cover, so Amazon decided to just fix that dilemma and not include a cover at all. This wouldn't be bad except it took about 3 extra weeks to receive the cover I ordered (not Amazon's fault).


Overall I am so happy with it. I would recommend it to anyone that likes to read. I have decided that I will probably not put textbooks on it because I like to write too much in my textbooks. If you like to read for fun, it is well worth the money.

Kindle

I know I haven't written in awhile; as usual school has been crazy. I just wanted to say that I'm super excited! I just ordered a Kindle 2. I have been wanting one for awhile, but I was waiting on the new version to come out. My mom has the original version, and she loves it! I'll be sure to put a review on here once I've had enough time to use it.

What have you done?

I got this survey idea from Talia's blog. All of the things in bold are things I have done.

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band.
Visited Hawaii (I wish).
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland/world
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitch hiked (This was not my idea. My dad and I were on our way back from Pigeon Forge when I was about 8-9 years old. Our car broke down after being stuck in construction for about an hour. For some reason, and I will never understand why he thought this was a good idea - a guy pulled over and asked if we needed a ride, and my dad took him up on it. Looking back on it, I think my dad lost his brain for a little bit).
Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Been to a broadway show in NY
Run a Marathon
Been in three states at once
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Been to Grace Kelley's grave in Monaco
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Swam in the Mediterranean Sea
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout cookies
Gone whale watching
Gotten flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
Bounced a check (when I was 16 - just after getting a checking account)
Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten Caviar (no, but I've watched Tanner eat caviar) Does that count? ;)
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job (and I didn't do anything wrong)
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I have seen the guards, but not the changing of the guards).
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible (I am working on this).
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared my own meat
Had chickenpox
Saved someone’s life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a law suit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

Exercise

Today began the adventures of Tanner and Tiffany trying to get back into shape. We haven't worked out in FOREVER. I mean, we're talking probably a couple of years since we really worked out. Ugh. We have decided that we are going to go during lunch at least 2 days a week and then we will go either 1 other night or on Saturday. Hopefully, we will get in at least 3 times a week. We are quite busy people, so the lunchtime thing works out ok, except I hate feeling like I stink for the rest of the day. Today we did some weights and jogged/walked the track. We didn't have too much time because we were trying to get me set up with an account. Both of us are currently super frustrated with how out of shape we are, so hopefully that will give us the inspiration we need to actually work out (that and the price we had to pay for me to get a membership). Anyway, I will try to keep you posted on our success.

Happy 2009!!!

Ok, don't yell at me. I realize I haven't written on here since the end of October. Life has been crazy as usual. The holidays were great, and I loved spending time with friends and family. After Christmas we went on a trip to D.C. It was a lot of fun, as well as informative. I will post more about that when I get the pictures uploaded to my computer. Anyway, I wanted to list some of the things that I want to accomplish in 2009. I hate making resolutions because I never fulfill them, so maybe I can call these "goals."

My goals for 2009:
- Continue to become a better wife
- Learn to be submissive
- Trust God more
- Pray more
- Study the Bible more regularly
- Worry and stress less
- Exercise 2-3 times per week
- Read for fun more
- Continue to do well in grad school
- Don't hound Tanner about his school work
- Be a better friend and family member
- Drink more water
- Eat healthier
- Cook more/eat out less
- Complain less


These are all I can think of for right now, but I know there are more. I will continue adding them as I think of them.