Of Outdoor Writing, Critter Encounters, & A Dinky Keyboard

I’m one of those sacks of bones who is frozen for the majority of the year, so I’m relieved when summer comes. Then I can thaw out and finally write outside, because that’s my favorite writing place. I’m not one of those coffee shop writers—I don’t even do coffee OR caffeine. I’m not exactly the “room of one’s own” type, either, because I hate being confined indoors. (Unless there are many windows. Give me windows or give me death!) I feel more at peace outside, where I have sufficient space to truly think and decompress.

This works out well for writing in longhand or drawing, but once I need to type, I am doomed because my computer is indoors (obviously). No, I do not own a laptop or a tablet (obvious solutions to my problem) and have no desire for either one. I prefer to get by with as little technology as possible. This year I decided to compromise and got a wireless Bluetooth keyboard so I could at least type on my phone outdoors, rather than feel trapped at my desk while the glorious sun beckons and taunts me in my prison—OH, the agony. The more progress I can make while enjoying the warm weather, the happier I am!

After careful consideration and much drooling over a steampunky keyboard that looks like a typewriter, I settled for something that would less likely aggravate my RSIs: a small Macally keyboard that can be used with a phone (or with other devices as well). It’s a membrane keyboard that cost $39.99, which is considerably less than a laptop or tablet and also less than the steampunk keyboard.

I went for a light purple one. It also comes in mild-mannered black or white, or pink, or a bright magenta that would likely make my eyes bleed. Purple seemed to be a nice, cheerful middle ground that makes it look more like a toy than a tool.

Just prop your phone or tablet in the slot, turn it on, and type away.

I am very pleased with it. It types! Any weirdness that occurs I attribute to the autocorrections of my phone rather than the keyboard. I also find it reasonably comfortable to use. The smallness is perfect for my puny hands. I wish more keyboards were so dinky, because dinky keyboards mean less stretching and greater speed. The round keys are nice, considering my fingertips are roundish. (Yours, too? Fancy that. We must be related.) It really makes more sense than square keys, when you think about it. (Except for those of you with square fingers, for whom technology caters to so obsessively.)

I was impressed that it only took 30 minutes to fully charge when I first got it. Most rechargeable devices I own take far longer than that. I’ve been using it since late May and have yet to recharge it. Bear in mind that I do not use it daily, and my typing sessions typically last under 30 minutes.

Here it is next to a Leuchtturm1917 for a size comparison.

Anyway, I finally have an outdoor option for typing, I’m spending more time outside, and so my grouchy level is pleasantly low.

Extra outside time means extra critter watching opportunities (and even lower levels of grouchiness)! This year my backyard has felt like a baby squirrel nursery. I saw one get in a fight with its own tail. I believe the tail won. They harass rabbits. One got inside a bird feeder—just to hang around. Another had a fit in a hosta like a cat drunk on catnip. I love those crazy little guys.

I almost tripped over a tiny baby rabbit while watering. A friendly red admiral bonked me in the head. A one-legged bird has been a frequent visitor; I’m impressed by how well she gets around.

A red admiral is a butterfly, by the way!

It’s been a decent critter year so far. Nothing has sought me out for medical assistance yet (2022 was sickly turtle rehab year—please be aware of what species your local wildlife rehabilitation center accepts—I had to travel an hour away for reptile help). No nests have banished me from my patio (although it was an amazing opportunity to watch those robins grow).

And I have yet to witness any unusual combat. A fight between a praying mantis and a cardinal was one of the strangest things I had ever beheld in my life. The bug was victorious; the bird surrendered.

Slightly inaccurate representation of the actual event. The mantis needed no weapon because the mantis IS a weapon.

Well, that seemed random of me. I suppose the general idea of this post is:

Get outside if you can. It’s lovely.

If you have small hands, you may like that keyboard—you can even use it outside!

Look out for baby squirrels and warrior insects while you’re out there.

(I confess I originally intended this to be a couple posts, but I’ve had delays with getting this blog up and summer is quickly slipping away. Therefore, I shoved all of this “outdoor” material into one post. I will be more focused in the future.)