Devoted to the Day-Planner: Filofax or Siri?

Recently, I missed a reunion luncheon with some dear, old high school friends because I neglected to look in my Filofax that morning. Yes, I said Filofax.

I admit I have an unnatural attachment to my old-fashioned, deep purple, hand stitched, leather bound Filofax that I feel cannot be broken. But, I am finding that technology is not so subtlety trying to break us apart.

If I had been properly “synched,” which, in layman’s terms, means I put all my appointments on iCal where they could then be found in multiple locations, including as an alert on my Blackberry, which would annoyingly but effectively ‘buzz” my appointments in my ear, I guess I would not have missed the lunch and the resulting humiliation when explaining to my friends why I did not show up.

I have used the Filofax as my day planner of choice since I was old enough to have appointments and not just play dates. I love the fact you can customize it to your own needs by filling it with various inserts, such as a very useful world calendar or meal expense forms that are handy but not quite detailed enough to submit to your accountant at tax time.

OK, so maybe those inserts are seriously antiquated and no longer necessary.

But, try to pry me away from my Week-On-One-Page-With Notes and I will sneer and claw at you until you let go of it.

It is there that I put all my appointments, even the silly ones, like “go to the market and buy food so you can make dinner tonight” or “get gas.” I also like to use it for reminders to buy birthday gifts, make future appointments, return calls, guilt my way to going to exercise class or even to doodle my thoughts and dreams.

I know I can do all of this, and oh, so much more, using the technology already installed on my Mac. iCal has been patiently waiting for me for years to get up the courage to divorce myself from my Filofax crutch and allow the magic and wonder of daily synching to bring me into the next century.

And then, of course, there is the latest iphone 4S with voice-commanded Siri, who can set up and remind me of absolutely everything, anytime, day or night. I don't even have to pick up a pen or pound the keyboard.

But, by now,  the 2012 Filofax inserts will be available. I will soon make the pilgrimage to William Earnest Brown on San Vicente in Brentwood and look at them all until I find the one that best suits my needs. That is, if they haven’t already stopped making them in favor of an “online” version.

Are you a devoted Filofax user or have you gone high tech with your appointment-keeping? I would love to know! Please share your comments below.

Tracy is a regular contributor to the Brentwood real estate and community blog, Brentwood Lifestyle Real Estate Voice.

Originally posted: http://brentwoodlifestyle.losangelesrealestatevoice.com/2011/08/02/devot...