In Love with Macs
In the fall of 1984, I entered a computer store in Minot, ND, and saw my first Mac. It was an attractive computer with a beautiful, intuitive, graphical user interface. Within minutes, and without instruction, I was writing and formatting text on the Mac word processing program Write and drawing illustrations in Paint. Formatting was as easy as pointing to choices in the menus at the program’s top and selecting buttons and drop-down menus with a pointer controlled by a mouse.
This was in stark contrast to the other computers existing in 1984. They had no graphical interface and presented lines of text into which you had to insert formatting commands. They were based on MS-DOS, an ugly and purely functional operating system. Computers came with five-inch thick instruction manuals so users could figure out how to use them.
I bought a Mac that day and used it to create brochures, flyers, outlines, and informational sheets for the work I was doing in the Air Force at the time.
My original 128k Mac started a love affair with the Mac that has lasted many years. That love affair has since expanded to the iPhone, iPad, AirPods, HomePods, etc. I’m writing this on a Mac Studio, M1 Max, and loving it.
My Interests and Blog
I thought I’d mostly write about Apple tech stuff when I started this blog. I’m still writing a little about that topic, but now I’m more interested in productivity tools and using apps to be more creative and intentional in my life.
I’ve found that I’m also writing much more about “general life advice.” Perhaps it’s that I’ve been alive for 71 years now and want to share what I’ve learned with others. Or, I’ve been reading a lot more lately about improving my life and want to pass that on.
As I’ve aged, balance has become more important to me. I want to live more intentionally, not just react to what happens.
My goal is to serve as a guide to:
• Help people to use technology to be more productive.
• Help and encourage people to live more focused, intentional, and balanced lives.
Jim’s Bio
I’m lucky to have been married since 1972 to my best friend and lover, Lanette. We raised 4 children and are now retired.
In December of 2022, we celebrated our 50th Anniversary with a trip to Disneyland. It was a blast! Here’s a blog post about my reflections about 50 years of marriage: Reflections About Hot Sex, Love, Friendship, and Productivity On My 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Minister & Chaplain
I began working as a minister after attending a religious junior college in Tennessee for a couple of years. When I realized I needed more education, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force to receive GI Bill educational benefits. After my term of enlistment, I returned to school and graduated with a B.S. degree.
Next, I attended a graduate school of theology in Memphis, TN, where I obtained a three-year Master of Theology degree. I became a chaplain in the Air Force, where I did a lot of counseling, teaching, and visiting. I also got to do many cool things, like go to Survival School and regularly fly on fighters, bombers, tankers, and transport aircraft.
Lawyer & JAG
After being discharged from active duty in 1993, I attended law school in Oregon. Following graduation and passing the bar, I began a career focusing on family law and estate planning.
I also became a JAG (Judge Advocate General) and practiced law in the Air Force Reserve on inactive and active duty tours. In 2009 I was mandatorily retired from the Air Force after a 33+ year career. I was kicking and screaming all the way, enjoying what I did in the Air Force and not wanting to quit.
I retired from my sole practitioner law practice in 2015 and moved to the Phoenix, AZ, area with my wife, Lanette. In the summer of 2023, we moved to Rapid City, South Dakota.
What I like to do
I enjoy hiking, backpacking, Mac computers, iPads, and iPhones.
I love learning new things and sharing my learning by teaching classes, reading, and writing. I’ve always been interested in several historical periods and like to play WWII historical wargames on my computer. I’m also volunteering for the National Park Service at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site doing tours and interacting with the public.
I still haven’t decided what I want to do when I grow up!