Technology, part 2

From my earlier ramblings about the adventures of my beginning computer days, I now bring you to the present. Oh, and by the way, I am not in any way endorsing turning your computer off improperly, so kids, don't do that at home; and always wear your safety goggles. Anyhoo, as I was going to say, I have come a long way from those days. I am very proud to say that I think I am pretty good at making my way around a computer, I have tought myself a lot, I have learned a lot from my best friend Nicole, who's greatest words of wisdom have been that right clicking is your best friend, and 'Did you clean out your computer like I told you to?' Thanks to Nicole for being so patient. I am pretty damn snazzy at typing too. I tought myself to type at nearly forty words a minute with nothing more than a typing program that I tought myself, and that, to me, was something to be proud of. So what the hell happened? Duh, duh duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~~ computer class. I went from being top dog in my little world to rank amateur in the real world. Wow. What a reality check. I was so surprised at how little I really know about the computer that I play on. It seems as strange to me as the first day it entered my house. I started the computer class very optimistic. We did the basics like naming the various parts, yeah, good, I was with it so far, naming the different internal components, yup, Discovery Channel had covered those so I was still cruisin' with the top down, and then we started with bits, bytes, nano this and terra that, and what was the hard drive capabilities of such and so computer and so on and so on, and up to this point I never really cared just as long as I could play the games I liked and do some more electronic hoarding on Pinterest. So basically the fabric of lies I had told myself concerning my takeover of the world of technology shredded to pieces at my feet, and I quickly learned that I KNEW NOTHING!! Bummer. I also quickly learned how to nod my head with what I assumed was a competent look on my face and make believe I actually knew what I was doing. I look like I know what your talking about, right? Good. Faked you out again. Well friends, the work had started. The instructor wanted an e-mail sent. After much deliberation and some help from others I managed it. Good. I was a computer tech now, right? Oh yeah, Sue, you just keep telling yourself that. Next it was a bit more in depth. Open this, compress that, send another thing and file that under what ever. I was freaking! I never had to do this before, I had no clue and whats more, I was terrified. If I could not do this stuff, the simple things that were the foundation of the class, what chance did I have when the real poop hit the henhouse? I struggled with the things that the others were breezing through, and under my breath,(probably not so under my breath if I really think about it) I started muttering details of the hideous things I was going to do to the computer I was working on if it soon didn't divulge the whereabouts of the damn file I needed to open to get this part of the chapter finished. Things like scissors to certain vital cords, and crumbs and such to some inner workings and a really nasty sneeze to the monitor if it soon did not agreeing to my demands. And then it happened. I actually had to do something I understood. I had to change font sizes, use italics, use the bold button, all things I knew. Praise the powers that be I was actually getting the hang of it!!! And as if that wasn't just the dip on my chips, I actually was able to help someone else with what they were doing. Oh freakin' Em Gee. I am not saying it has been smooth sailing since that day, there was a quiz that sent me to the washroom ready to throw in the towel, but I had to laugh at myself after the whole stupid thing was over, I was so nerved up over the fact that we were actually being quized that I froze and could not for the life of me read the one word that was the key to the whole thing. I did manage to get the quiz done and I even made a 91 on it thank you very much, so once again, a valuable lesson was learned that day. I am not sure exactly what it was, but I will figure it out,I am sure. No really, I am joking!! I did learn from that little adventure that I have to stop panicking and expecting the worst to happen, and just get 'er done. And for crap sake Susan use some common sense!! Things have gone much better since then, we are learning all different things on Microsoft Word, which is a playground for me. I actually love working on this part of the course because for the most part I understand it and I can actually DO it. Matter of fact today, I typed up a wonderful letter according to the instructions, complete with all the appropriate bells and whistles, even the italics and the bold all where it was supposed to be, formatted so beautifully that the angels in heaven were weeping tears of joy. Problem was, it was question three I was supposed to work on, not question two. Sigh.....but it was such a lovely letter... More adventures for you later. Keep on keepin' on, ♥Sue.