Cartoonist Cathy Guisewite admits that organization doesn`t come easily for her: ”At the end of the day I usually empty my handbag and find 10,000 scraps of paper-little notes I`ve written on gum wrappers with eyeliner.”
Yet Guisewite, 40, vows she`s turning over a new leaf with the launch of The Cathy Daily Planner, a theme computer calendar that is her latest licensing venture.
Developed by Amaze Inc., a software company in Kirkland, Wash., the Cathy Daily Planner aims to end the paper chase by approaching organization electronically. And with a sense of humor. After booting up the program each day, a new Cathy cartoon panel appears on the screen-and on Monday it`s in color. Other cartoons appear sporadically while the software is in use.
”It senses your low (motivation) points,” Guisewite teases.
The Cathy Daily Planner sells for $59.95 and is available in DOS, MacIntosh or Windows versions.
Guisewite insists on calling the software product a daily planner rather than a calendar.
”A calendar makes me feel like I have to start using it on Jan. 1 or I`ve blown it for the whole year,” says Guisewite, who finds her annual itch for organization sets in about April, when it`s tax time.
”This enables you to transform your life on any day of the year,” says Guisewite, explaining that the calendar engine starts running the day the software is installed.
The program is very user friendly, insists Guisewite, who didn`t receive her copy until the eve of a promotional tour. There were no instructions. No problem, says Guisewite, manipulating the software`s various functions on her laptop computer like a computer nerd. She demonstrates how to view a schedule by day, week or month.
The Cathy Daily Planner is available at Egghead Software stores or by calling 800-367-4802.
