syncing ical with google calendar

We’re like most families in that we are trying constantly to make sure family, work, church, etc. calendars are synced up.  I use Apple’s iCal to keep my calendar on my laptop.  I have known for a while that I could sync my iCal with Google Calendar, but had yet to take the plunge.  I really wanted the ability to sync my iCal to Google Calendar as well as sync my iCal on my production computer at the home office and Kim’s iCal on her mac.  In other words, enter a calendar event on one computer and it puts the event on all of our computers.  I had heard mixed reviews of Google Calendar’s built-in sync tool.  Enter Spanning Sync.

Spanning Sync is a relatively inexpensive program ($25 for a year subscription, $65 to just purchase outright) and had gotten great reviews.  It does everything that I need and is working like a champ so far.  There are tons of applications I could see for this but for just trying to organize the Jones household calendar, it is just right.  Basically, Kim can add a calendar entry on her computer.  All of the computers sync every half hour so within 30 minutes that event shows up on each of my iCal calendars.  Same works for either of my computers.  It can be set to sync at shorter or longer intervals.  If I have a meeting on my calendar, it syncs with Kim’s iCal calendar.  You can limit different categories so some can show and others may not.  Definitely recommend it.

AJ Mind Dump

Wanted to shoot a quick note as my body is dead tired, but I have a ton on my mind.  Been a while since I’ve done an update, too.  Will probably be pretty random.

• The West Campus open house went really well tonight.  We were able to do about 4 run throughs of most of the media components and I really think Kenny and the media team are doing a great job.
• Multi-Site has really consumed a lot of my energy and time, and I’m really excited to see it about to launch for several reasons: 1. I think it is going to blow up and be at two services by April 2. I have a lot of projects that I need to address that I haven’t had the time to do so and am really looking forward to tackling
• I really think January is going to be a big month for my family and I personally.  Not sure why or what exactly, but I just think that God is at work on some things that are going to blow us away.
• How about my Dawgs? Finished out the year well by beating Michigan State after a disappointing loss to GT.
• Speaking of college football, there are two teams that you will never see me pull for: GT and Florida.  I just can’t bring myself to do it. Nothing personal against anyone, but I just can’t do it. Next week in the National Championship, I’m all Boomer Sooner…go OU.
• I’ve had a lot on my mind lately that I’m praying about.  Would really covet your prayers.  Just really trying to seek God’s desire and direction.
• Do people actually buy Snuggies?  That has to be the goofiest looking article of clothing I’ve seen in a while.  Looks straight out of Star Trek or something.
• Back is doing better. Went to chiro twice and rested it a lot this past week. Now I’m feeling a cold coming on….bleh.
• Kim is blogging now. We just set it up so she’ll be blogging soon: http://www.kimjonesblog.com/
• I need some new books that will challenge me. Saw one by Andy Stanley that I think I’m going to grab. Love some suggestions.
• Had a chance to meet with some friends from high school right after Christmas. Kim and I had a great time. Amazing how much you change and how much you stay the same.
• Set some goals for the year a few weeks ago. Wrote them down and am planning on fleshing out how I’m going to achieve them a little more this coming week.
• Going to veg for a bit with some TV and then bed.

Time for an update

I’m about to update the backend and the front end of my blog.  If you see some weird things happening, then just hang tight

Happy New Year

Wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year.  Hoping and praying for God’s best for you.

would you cheer for the other team?….

It’s a football game, Friday night and instead of cheering on your team, you and about 200 of your friends/family go over to the visitor side and cheer for them the whole game.  Impossible?  Crazy?  Not so.  Check this out:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

Jones update

Been a crazy few weeks here so my blog has been neglected.  Wanted to give some quick hits on stuff that’s going on in the world of Jones:

• Sitting here watching the SEC Championship game.  I don’t care for either bama or UF, but seeing as I can’t stand UF and would have a hard time pulling for them against the Taliban, roll tide.
• Makes me sick how we played and finished out the season. We have to be the worse 9-3 team there is right now.  The way we lost to both UF and bama was disgraceful, and we had no business losing to tech….NONE.  Whole season has been sickening and I’m glad it’s over.
• Last football bullet – I would be surprised if the UGA staff looks the same this spring as it does right now.  Let’s hope so anyway.
• Thanksgiving was good. We went to Oconee State park and stayed at a cabin wednesday and thursday.  Was quiet, on a lake and we had a good time.
• Came home and I spent Friday through Sunday sick with some weird flu/virus thing.  Fever, body ache, headache but no cold symptoms.  Was pretty miserable.
• We’ve scaled down on our lights this year on the outside of our house.  Honestly, I’ve just had so much on my plate and trying to put up and maintain lights just wasn’t happening this year.  Had to say no to my inner clark griswald.
• Things are pretty crazy right now with everything involved in launching the new campus and to be honest, I’m feeling overwhelmed.  I’ll be glad when that campus is launched.
• Love this time of year.  Hoping to take some time off during the holidays and do a whole lot of nothing.

my sister’s voice over

My sister Kristen lives in Charlotte and does acting, voice-over work, commercials, etc.  She’s really good at what she does.  I would link to a facebook page, website or blog but she’s a slacker and hasn’t gotten one up yet (I’m trying to pressure her by shaming her into setting up at least a facebook page….shhhhh, don’t tell her about my strategy).  Anyway, here’s a recent voice-over she did for a Nascar commercial:

99 Balloons..

99 Days.  puts into perspective my days and begs the question: How are you spending yours?

blogless

hey, sorry I’ve been absent some as of late.  I’ve had a lot on my plate and A LOT on my mind.  When I’m processing through and thinking through things, I tend to get introspective and not very expressive Have a full day ahead but wanted to jot down a few notes while I’m thinking about it:

• today is my birthday…not sure how to feel about birthdays anymore.  36 today….and glad to be alive
• feel like right now is the calm before the storm with multi-site.  Over the next several weeks we’re going to be getting in a lot of the equipment.  New camera, projectors, lighting rig, etc.
• Love my kids like crazy.  They are just so fun at times and just say things that make me laugh.
• Been reading a book that I’ve been wanting to read for a long time called Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll.  I’m not a very consistent reader of books.  I like to read but tend to do so in spurts.  This is one book that I think EVERY..and I mean EVERY…pastor should get there hands on.  One of those that I have a hard time putting down.  It tells the Mars Hill Church (seattle) story but more importantly addresses some key issues that I think churches that consider themselves “contemporary” need to seriously pray and ponder over.  CCC included.
• Would appreciate your prayers.  God has really been stretching me in some areas of my life.

My Sister aka Bob Villa

Okay, so I had to post this because it is so cool.  My sister Kristen is an actor, actress, whatever term you want to use….anyway, she does theater as well as commercials, voice overs, etc.  Here she is in an infomercial for power tools.  It is so trippy to see her because she just isn’t the power tool, bob villa type.  Check it: