The Rocky Road of Coping with the Internet and Computers

Today was a fun day...not! (I picked up that expression from one of my students! :) )  I worked on getting my book trailer on my Authors' Den page with the biography.  I figured that out, but I had trouble with getting the poetry book, Pulse Points of a Woman's World video posted with the book.  I finally yelled "Uncle",  and asked for help.  I had a quick reply that they were going to try to help me. 

My anti-virus program somehow was changed when I purchased my new computer.  I had a subscription that did not expire until the end of 2013.  The message I received from my virus protection program said it expired in five days.  I called support, and by the time they got everything straightened out it took up more than an hour.   I am sure that you know that you must know what you have to go through with you call for support. 

First, the automated operator who gives you all sorts of numbers to select and push to get the correct extension.  Then, you are put on hold forever while you listen to music and all sorts of voice recordings before you finally get to speak to a person.  Finally, when you get to speak to real person, they thansfer you to another person who puts you on hold so that you can go through the entire process again.  Once you get the correct person, you must give them all the ID information once more before they can begin to help you.  I must admit there were times I just wanted to hang up and say forget it, but I hung it there like a trooper because it was important to get it all straightened out.

The next thing I dealt with was trying to get my book trailer for the poetry book, downloaded from YouTube so I could post it in with the "book" on my Authors' Den page. I had problems there, and that took up at least another hour or more.  Here again, I had to yell, "Uncle".  I contacted support, sent them a message about the problem I was having.  I received an email saying that a technical support person would try to help me with this problem. 

I checked and responded to all my email...as I could...because I have the new Internet Explorer and it takes fits of shutting down when you try to send an email.  However, I managed to get them all answered by closing IE, cleaning my temp files and finally rebooting my computer.  That was about 5 times today.  I really wish they would get this bug fixed. 

Can you believe it, I am still in a good mood!  These are just little pebbles that find their way in your pathway.  There really is no reason to let them become rocks or even boulders.  How was your day?

More updates to come!

More about Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts

I have been busy working with the publisher to get it ready for press.  There is so much to do, such as collaborating to get the cover just right.  The book has pictures, and making sure they are in the correct place in the script.  This is the part that I dislike, but it is necessary.  As soon as I know the release date, I will be relieved. 

I shared one of the stories in the book that happened my first two years of teaching in a high school, and that was 20+ years ago.  This is the one I posted on the blog with the title, Charlie's Story.  There is an update to that story.  Charlie called me a few days ago to check on me, and to let me know he is doing well.  I am not sure how much little things like touching base with a former teacher means.  Knowing that you touched someone, and somehow it made a positive difference is what teaching is all about. 

Because I directed the theatre program, coached the Speech and Debate team, taught art and speeches classes, I had contact with many students over the years that I taught high school.  The picture I am sharing was one of the musicals that included students in grades two through twelve.  The students built the sets, students made the costumes and it was their production. This picture was opening night, and they had a corsage for me, and gave me a trophy...which really belonged to them for all their efforts. It wasn't my play, I just helped them get there...it was theirs, and they made it a success.