Perks of the Job

Well, we are back to ordinary time. Our Christmas was simple and lovely. Just the family at home (all our relatives live far away). Last month I bought an iPod Touch. You see, at concerts, I've been using a minidisc player, with another mini disc player for back up and then I carry all the separate discs 7 or 8, with wires and batteries. They don't sell these anymore, but these are the only players that let you create a playlist on the spot - no computer necessary. Sometimes I make last minute changes. However, lately, upon pressing the pause button, the thing wouldn't pause sometimes, or it would skip a song or cause some other surprise, so I had to come up with a new system. I chose the iPod Touch over the regular iPod, because when raising or lowering the volume or scrolling for songs, you don't get that annoying "click, click, click" which would amplify over the speakers for all to be very distracted by. I'll have to create a few (maybe 5) different playlists ahead of time created specifically for the season, but otherwise, I think it might work. I'll have to use it a few times for a concert to see if it "behaves" properly or if it's too sensitive to careless touches, etc. But it also holds video, so when I offer my new "Stations of the Cross" program next Lent, with accompanying video, I'll be set there too.

Now for the perks. If I knew how great this gismo was earlier, I might have gotten it a long time ago (you see, I was just too put off by the inability to create last minute playlists.) I no longer have to travel with my extra discs, heavy batteries, phone, camera, notepad, bible, or liturgy of the hours prayer book. I can download 5 days worth of liturgy ahead of time, then read it on the plane or in a church or someone's house. With my need to travel lighter and lighter, this is an awesome perk.

And... it's a write off.
I love my job.

Happy New Year!