(43-288) How Ironic...

I had a couple of tidbits that I tossed around tonight, but nothing really struck me as blogworthy. I did my usual, Facebook once over, but wasn't inspired. I checked my email for "Reel Life" quotes; found one that I pondered, and came very close to sharing; until I changed my mind. And then I settled on updating you on my Reunion Coordinator job.

I went so far as to write: Being the Queen of FAIRNESS, I always feel compelled to refresh your memory and remind you of posts that have lead up to whatever my given topic for the day might be. I do this so that if by any chance a new reader has joined me on "The Bumpy Ride," they can backtrack (if they chose to take the time;) in order to understand what and why I'm writing about; as well as for more familiar readers who may have missed a post or two. Am I wasting my time with that? Maybe, but it feels like the right thing to do. With that being said, in order for today's post to make sense, we're gonna have to take a lil walk down memory lane....

I thought that I was on a rol after writing that, so I headed into my archives so that I could gather up the names and links for the previous related blogs; and then there was no turning back.  No, seriously, literally, there was no turning back, because Blogger froze up and went into read only mode.  They posted an announcement stating that at 10pm PST Blogger would be unavailable for about an hour.

I was distressed when I initially read this notice, because I really couldn't wait until 11pm to first start writing this post. Then I thought for a moment, and reasoned that I could at least grab the blog names and links in the meantime; but this proved to be impossible. Frozen as I was, I decided to go back to the drawing board, and ultimately decided that I was still going to update you on my Reunion Coordinator job;  but I was going to have to do so with all of the other info that I wanted to provide.  How ironic that at first I had nothing to write about, and now it's physically and technically impossible for me to write.

In my effort to be pro-active, I decided to start typing my post in a word doc, so that I could just copy and paste it, as soon my darling blogger was up and running again. So in all fairness, I have to say that in the long run, it was totally worth it to pay my dues by gathering yearbook information over the past few weeks, because I have now been assigned four reunions to coordinate. Woohoo!! As of tomorrow, I will be preparing to take over four reunions that my boss has arranged and I am extremely excited. I found out that in addition to the planning that I will do prior to the event, I will also be present at all events that I coordinate. How fun is that going to be!!!

I am so glad that I took a chance and asked for this job.  So proud that I got myself through some tasks that were very difficult for me and that I'll now be able to do a job that I know I'll be very good at. YAY me!!  Nothing's gonna stop me.  Not fear, not discomfort, and not technology.

Till next time...

Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-25) Paige vs.The Machine

Of all of the things that I'm NOT the Queen of; TECHNOLOGY is very high on the list.   Under the heading of TECHNOLOGY, I include, computers, the Internet, websites, and machinery.  I fully admit that my understanding of these things is extremely limited; which is sad considering that I'm a somewhat intelligent woman; and yet; it is what is.  Luis is often dismayed by my lack of knowledge in these areas; and I think that it's fair to say that all 3 kids have surpassed me with theirs.

All of my kids are very fortunate this year; because they all have FANTASTIC teachers; two of whom, happen to be friends of mine.  Lyndzi is in my friend Lori's class and Kelsie has my friend Shannon.  So yesterday I volunteered in Kelsie's class and Shannon asked me to go and make some copies.   Shannon handed me 4 double sided worksheets and explained that she needed me to make 3 sets of 25 copies of each.  Does that already sound as confusing to you as it did to me?  She also handed me a workbook and a pile of cardstock and asked me to make 3 copies of as many pages as possible.  OK, I won't lie I felt overwhelmed just by the instructions and considering I have a very poor Poker face, it could not have been a secret.  Shannon assured me that it wasn't a complicated endeavor and I actually reminded her that I am NOT The Queen of TECHNOLOGY, so the task sounded daunting; but nonetheless, I was certainly going to give it a try.  Shannon told me that if I needed to I could ask the secretaries for help.

I walked into the room where the copy machines were and there stood two behemoth machines like I had NEVER seen before.  The machines had  SEPARATE computer screens and three drawers for paper, not to mention that copies came out from both ends.  Seeing the photocopy machine reminded me of "The WOPR" in the 1983 Matthew Broderick movie, "War Games;"  it was just THAT intimidating.  I approached the copier, I looked it over CAREFULLY; and I TRIED to make some sense out of it; but it was just beyond me.  I knew that there was no way I was going to figure out the double sided job on my own and the secretaries were both on their lunch break, so I tried to add the cardstock and attempt the workbook copies, but alas, I was clueless.
I decided to go back to the classroom and admit my defeat, because I knew that Shannon had a break coming up and she could then go back to the copy room with me and show me what to do.  Shannon seemed surprised to see me return so soon, but she did very well containing her laughter. A few minutes later, we went back to the copy room together and Shannon explained that I had to manually make individual copies of each page, then put the papers one on top of the other, face up and feed them through the machine.  I was supposed to program some button that I can't remember the name of now (but I'll know it when I see it again,) and then set it for 25 copies.  Once the 25 copies spit out, I was to feed the copies in again to make another 25, then another; and then clear the machine and start the manual copying process over again for the second worksheet etc.  I managed to make all of the copies and TALK to Shannon at the same time; but there was DEFINITELY no way in hell that I would have ever been able to figure this out on my own.  Shannon had to go back to class before I'd finished the job, but she said that she felt confident that I could handle it on my own.  Of course as soon as she left, the machine advised me of a problem that hadn't occurred while she was there; but ultimately I got through it.  I didn't make the cardstock copies, but only because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to take the pages out of the book or not; and I thought it best to go back and ask.  Shannon seemed amused by my hesitance, explained that I could have made the copies without removing the pages (so I was glad that I hadn't removed them) and then she excused me from completing the rest of the copying.  Shannon asked if I could come back regularly to assist with reading groups and I happily agreed; as copying doesn't seem to be my forte and as we all know, I'm A LOT better with the written word.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING