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Great People Make Great Teachers

teachersI was taught at an early age that teachers were meant to be respected. All through grade school, I had teachers that I felt positive about. I loved school and identified with each of them. In elementary school, I looked up to our music teacher. She was very positive and taught us to be proud of ourselves and our voices.  Continue reading

Baffle Them With Bullshit

computerI was 25 years old when I started working at ExecuTrain as a computer trainer.  I was tasked with teaching adults about how to use Windows, Microsoft products, and other such things.  After working there for about 3 months, our network administrator left and my boss said, “Hey Michelle.  You said you like technical things, right? Well, here’s our network.  Take care of it!” Continue reading

Traumatic Events

traumaticI had a few traumatic events happen to me during my grade school years.  Both events were a result of my teachers and had a significant impact on my feelings about those years. Continue reading

Technology Troubles

technologyI’ve always prided myself on being able to keep up with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to complete tasks. Well, scratch that “always” off the books.  It seems that everything I need to do today requires technical knowledge that I struggle with. 

Writing our Sidetracked Sisters Blog has always been fun for me. Recently, it seems like the programs we need to understand and use have become more complicated.  Every time I make notes about what I need to do and how I need to submit my writing, something has changed. So I try to use my version of “common sense” and I really mess things up. I refuse to give in to failure and yet I dislike feeling like I’m not keeping up.  Continue reading

17 Tech Tricks Everyone Should Know

17 Tech Tricks

 

I’ve been working with computers for 30+ years.  I’ve found lots of keyboard shortcuts over the years to help me.   Here are 17 keyboard shortcuts/tech tricks that are not commonly known to help you at both home and work!

 

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Love or Hate Cell Phones

smashed cellWho has a love/hate relationship with their cell phones?

Well, first of all, I hate the cost of these stupid things. My gosh my rent used to be $65.00 per month.  I know, that was in the dark ages! Now to get an updated phone that does lots of things, costs ten times that per month. You’ve got to be kidding!!!!

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Be Unplugged!

Be unpluggedI have a love/hate relationship with technology…specifically with cell phones and how people use them. It’s time for us all to sit back and see how our gadgets are also complicating our lives and putting up barriers between us and the people we love.

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To Use or Not to Use (cell phones)

no-cell-phonesI have a lot of pet peeves when it comes to cell phones.  People simply don’t know the proper times to use and NOT to use them.  For example – public restrooms…  Does the person you called really want to listen to the sounds emanating from a public restroom??  I know I’d rather not hear those sounds when I’m actually IN the bathroom let alone when someone has called me.  Can’t they just wait till they are done and then make their call?

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Cell Phone Etiquette

Orange case phone and glasses cell etiquetteI resisted having a cell phone for years. The thought of having a phone “on me” all the time gave me the creeps.   Then I took a job out of town that took me away from home at all different hours and in all different seasons, rain and snow and I gave in.   

Before I knew it, I had just the “right” cell phone. My blackberry even had to match my glasses. In no time at all I was hooked. I couldn’t leave home without it.

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