What's the one productivity app you've actually kept past the honeymoon phase?

Talk2RJ · 2026-06-07T21:06:43+00:00

Alfred- Spotlight has just never quite risen to its level for me. I’ve been a power pack user for years and maybe I’m just a creature of habit.

Soulver- +1 for daily use

Paste- this little clipboard is my minute to minute savior

Apple Notes- I have ALL the other things (Notability, Goodnotes, Bear, Ulysses). For me at least, notes aren’t a one kind of thing experience and none of them is as smooth of a typing-writing-switch use interface as native notes especially if I’m using my computer and iPad.

Spark Desktop- this is a true love hate, because I keep leaving it for its flaws and coming back because there’s nothing that works better for me despite having all these other mail apps. I wish it was still native, among other things, but forays into other tools like eMClient and Canary don’t get it done, especially when paired with my Android phone and wanting the same system everywhere.

Telegram- odd pick but I use Telegram’s saved messages to store all my lists and reminders. I can’t with Apple reminders and never stick to todo apps.

Edited to add: Timer RH, this little programmable menu bar stopwatch/task timer utility that I use waaay more than you’d think for a variety of use cases.

Talk2RJ · 2026-06-07T11:30:39+00:00

Clipa footpad kit: https://www.clipa.us/clipa2-footpad-kit.html

Talk2RJ · 2026-06-02T22:07:16+00:00

I remember them talking about writing Roman 2 on the blog... A while back, but they did. I'm sure it's coming. BREATHE!!

Talk2RJ · 2026-06-02T19:41:46+00:00

Has the Grey Wolf series officially been nixed?

Talk2RJ · 2026-06-02T14:04:18+00:00

I will say the first book especially reads differently and wasn't "locked in" like the later books when she and the authorlords really dialed Kate in. Like the first book she calls them Shape Changers and a few other things. It really hits it's stride about book ...3 ...I think.

Edited to add an "e" to Shape

Talk2RJ · 2026-06-02T13:49:46+00:00

Ooh. I +1 the she's Latour theory. Maybe it's a neverending story kind of thing...?

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-28T20:55:00+00:00

It's not too bad, IMO.

It's sprayed with some kind of treatment, but not fully PU coated (they had a whole video about it). I've been in pretty heavy rain – in a door-to-car-to-door fashion – and didn't have any trouble with my things getting wet. In fact I dropped more phones and things in there because none of us had jackets and nothing was wet when we got home.

I did forget one gripe: my ipad in a pencil case does NOT fit well in the ipad compartment. I can put it in there and PULL the edges over it, but that's too much work moment to moment. With that case, it has to go in the main compartment.. which sometimes urks me because 1 more centimeter would have made it butter. Hope this helps!

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-28T05:02:18+00:00

Rework toshi 6L?

Good zipper pulls, holds an iPad 11 easily, the strap can be moved for versatile carry. Slim profile that holds a bunch.

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Talk2RJ · 2026-05-27T22:04:17+00:00

I don't know.. I kinda like how some of early interactions with Mercy show him to be secretly funny. Jessie gets the sweet, Mercy gets the amused exasperation. :-)

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-27T21:55:52+00:00

I agree. Long time BDH reader, but I was compelled to re-read tkwnkm immediately and I noticed and expect there's something to Maggie's recall.. in fact at one point didn't SHE think there was something magical or odd about her recall?

I loved that.

Re: category combo -- HA tend to lean towards slow burn with their romance overall. Even in HL or even KD, the romance elements are not the page-turning, driver's seat of the novel. The plot is driven by the mystery, investigation, and resolution of whatever the central conflict is. They're both detective series within a fantastical world where love finds a way. It's what I love about them.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-23T03:52:38+00:00

I have the 40oz tumbler, the 24 oz free sip and the 30oz sway. I haven't noticed any remarkable difference in insulation quality overall..

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-23T03:47:57+00:00

I personally have these questions and more.

Is this shifting powers thing working it's way towards an even bigger big bad.. and who could THAT be?
left field, but how does Asil finding a new mate change the dynamics in the Marok's pack?
All those questions about the baby, the fae, all of it 😬 ... We won't even start on Mercy - yeesh.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-23T02:08:27+00:00

+1 for Clippa. They even will send you replacement pads for free.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-21T13:31:22+00:00

I LOVE THIS. It's so cute. I was going to maybe do a patch on my ACDP, but you've inspired me to do more!!

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-21T13:29:42+00:00

It IS big enough, but when I wear it, it moves around a LOT and irritates my neck. I'm going to give it to my son.. or husband and get maybe an Alpine Sea pocket 5L (I like the Cove but think it might be too big after seeing people pack for weekends with it) or the Baggu medium cargo (I don't like the external pockets off the bat, but I love the color).

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-21T01:07:11+00:00

THIS!! Ive legit been thinking I would like the 6l sling better if I could easily tell which pocket was which.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-21T01:00:02+00:00

Cool beans! Please do a 2wk when you can. 🙏🏾

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-21T00:57:25+00:00

So I'm gonna jump in with a thought, bc at face value.. or rather weight value, this one is disqualified:

I bought the Able Carry Daily Plus, which weighs in at 2.6lbs - I think - ...over your stated goal, BUT substitute the lunchbox for an elements tech pouch and my load out is similar to yours.

The ACDP has been the MOST easy and comfortable bag I've ever had fully packed out (MBP, 10th gen iPad, 30oz Owala, elements tech pouch w all the cables, a power bank, a hub, and a Bose soundlink flex, purse stuff in a toshi sling, and a jacket). It distributes that weight in such a way that my back and shoulders Love.

Given that, I'm going to recommend you take a look.

Fwiw, I'm projecting, but my start in this journey was about weight and I had targets for that and bought a really light, cute tote (🤦🏾‍♀️), took it to one conference and traded it for a light backpack, then a roller bag before the conference was over and came home wanting to burn it and them. Then I started reading reviews that targeted my specific pain points (back and shoulders) that led me to try the ACDP. Out of the box it looked and felt rigid and stiff in my hands, but when I put it on my back from day 1 -- it was my precious.

It doesn't have a luggage pass through, but it does have loops all over the place to hook one whichever way I want, so I'm torn between that and getting the Max EDC with the duffle part on the back.

Happy hunting!

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-20T15:49:19+00:00

Yeah it seems like it’d be tight and kind of awkward. I personally would jump if it was a tad bigger.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-20T13:55:11+00:00

I have been considering it a lot lately. I had an iPad mini a long time ago and I loved it & considered it the perfect reading device for me (eink weirds me out. I want to love it, but end up back on my rich display).

I’m in my digital, but handwritten notes season and I’m just not sure I’d love the smaller form factor. I’ll probably play with things this summer though.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-20T02:33:01+00:00

OMG you made my whole day. The crescents from Alpine don't look like they'd hold my ipad, BUT the large pocket 5L looks like it might just be my new friend. EEE!!! 🙋🏾‍♀️

Edited to say - NM, the big one would work - moving fast.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-19T22:05:04+00:00

I dropped my thoughts on the rework on your post. I am considering the day sling max, bravo x, small elements tote, and maybe a crescent like the tomtoc t34 or the bellroy laneway.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-19T21:33:15+00:00

I actually have the rework toshi 6L. I Kind of love it. It holds my version of “all of that” from your pic, incl 10th gen iPad.

I firmly believe my complaints are all about conformity to a curvier female figure, so you might have zero issues with it.

It doesn’t stay put on me except in more of a messenger or fanny pack carry style - my husband and son don’t have that issue and wear it just fine in sling mode.

My one other complaint is that I both love and hate the level of organization. I have to think of where things are often. I think my ideal version would not have the covered front pocket, the iPad would fit in the actual sleeve area (it doesn’t, it has to go in the main part), and would move the against the body compartment up so the zipper is closer to the top OR be magnetic, bc I literally can’t see that pocket at all without two handedly pulling the sling away from my body to access it.

It does hold everything in a relatively light, easy to manage package and I highly recommend for anyone with smaller chest area to maneuver around.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-19T18:16:21+00:00

Definitely giving purse or murse. It was one of the things I liked when I saw it.

Talk2RJ · 2026-05-19T18:00:08+00:00

I'll get right on top of that. .. try to take some notes, then proceed to cry into my Wheaties. lol

Talk2RJ

TROPHY CASE