One of my big fears in teaching Institute is the drive into Lexington from Sadieville in the winter on bad roads. One of the blessings of being retired is that Claude and I do not have to drive to work on bad roads. If the roads are bad, we can just stay home. I expressed that concern when I was asked to teach Institute and was told that, if I needed to cancel for this reason, this is who I contact and they will get in touch with all the Young Adults and tell them not to come. That gave me a measure of relief. We made it so far through this winter just fine and no weather related issues on Thursday evening.
Last Thursday we had an ice storm coming in. The forecast was for it to come during the night Thursday night and I was well home before any of it hit.
However, last night there was a forecast for cold winds and snow. The snow started at the end of our Institute class. I realized this when I went to my car and had to brush snow off the top and windows. By the time I got back to the driver's side of the car the snow was again covering the windows. Not a good omen for the 30 minute drive home...on good roads.
I left the meetinghouse and by the time I got up on I-75 the roads were already covered with a layer of snow. It was blowing big flakes right at the car which can have a dizzying effect. But I could tell where the lanes were and could keep my speed up to about 60mph without much concern. If I could keep this up maybe I could get home before it got worse.
As I got to where I-64 and I-75 run together for a bit, I came upon three snow plows, one in each lane of the interstate. They were spreading salt in their respective lanes. There was no need to put their plows down yet as there was just not enough snow to do that on the road. We all slowed to 35 to 40mph and followed them until I-75 splits and heads north. Much to may chagrin they also took I-75. However after they made the curve they separate the distance between them a bit and another car and I were able to get ahead of them. I just wanted to be home and off these roads.
I also wanted to stop at get gasoline. It was $3.35/gallon at the Pilot on the way to Lexington. I had hoped it would be less in Lexington. Alas, the stations in Lexington were up to $3.59/gallon. My hope was to get gas at the Pilot before it also went up in price. As I got to Georgetown the Pilot sign encouraging use of their station further on up I-75 let me know their gas price had also climbed to $3.59/gallon while I was teaching Institute.
The snow let up in the Georgetown area and I actually had dry road for just a tiny bit. Then the storm hit in full fury again. I determined I would not stop for gasoline. It wouldn't save me any money and I had enough to get back for gas on my next trip to town. I just needed to get out of this storm.
The drive from the rest area outside Georgetown on I-75 to my home was bad. There was enough snow that had fallen until you could not tell where any of the lane markings were. The snow was coming thick enough that you really couldn't see very far unless someone had lights on coming on the other side of the Interstate and then just a little. I actually kept hoping I was in the middle of the Interstate so I didn't go off the road. My speed was no more that 30mph. I did manage to creep up behind a semi and could tell he was over to the side because of all his lights. I did go around him and continued on in what I hoped was the middle of the 3 lanes of traffic.
Then it occurred to me I might not be able to see my exit. Fortunately I knew I should look for a guard rail and then a break in that and another guard rail just before the exit. I was able to make out a bright spot in the distance and realized that was the sign for the gas station on the other side of the Interstate at my exit. Then I was able to make out the first guard rail on my side of the Interstate, then the 2nd and the lights of the exit helped me get off I-75 safely.
The snow was all over the state highway I take to get to my home. However, slow and steady does win the race. I was so very, very grateful to be home. It felt great to shut that garage door on the madness of driving in what the weather man was calling a mini-blizzard. Yep, I think he called that one just right. Not a lot of accumulation on the ground this morning but man was it blowing a mini-blizzard last night.
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Joy of Visiting Teaching...
We have a lovely program in the Church called Visiting Teaching. Each sister in the ward (congregation) either alone or with a companion is given several sisters to keep in contact with to be sure they are okay. The ideal is that you visit these ladies in their homes at least once each month.
I have five ladies on my visiting teaching list. One of these ladies has been a 'Do Not Contact'. For various reasons some people do not want visits in their homes. This lady had expressed this to a home teacher several years ago and prior to her being placed on my visiting teaching list.
With this understanding I have mailed something to her every month for the last several years. I recognized her birthday with a little homemade gift, a little present at Christmas, a copy of the general conference issue of the Ensign or a copy of a special Ensign that comes out on one topic, a letter, whatever I felt should be sent that month. I always include my name, phone numbers, address and eMail address just in case she might want another form of contact.
After several years of this and absolutely NO response, not even a 'return to sender, I found myself wondering if maybe these bits of correspondence might just hit a trash can unopened. In my heart I felt that was fully her choice but I also felt that I should consistently continue to be a friend through correspondence as best I could.
This week I was surprised to receive in the mail a padded envelope with her name on the return address label. I opened the envelope and out came a note card and a truly beautiful yellow hand crocheted doily.
She expressed her appreciation for the items she has received via mail over these years. She told me the yellow crochet thread was chosen to represent the friendship she felt for me. She expressed tender feelings of her life including daily prayer. She also said she would like to meet me some time. I was overjoyed to say the least. Claude was home and it was great to have someone with whom to share that joy.
I'm grateful for her gift and I do look forward to actually meeting her and getting to know her better. What a great blessing this was in my life.
I have five ladies on my visiting teaching list. One of these ladies has been a 'Do Not Contact'. For various reasons some people do not want visits in their homes. This lady had expressed this to a home teacher several years ago and prior to her being placed on my visiting teaching list.
With this understanding I have mailed something to her every month for the last several years. I recognized her birthday with a little homemade gift, a little present at Christmas, a copy of the general conference issue of the Ensign or a copy of a special Ensign that comes out on one topic, a letter, whatever I felt should be sent that month. I always include my name, phone numbers, address and eMail address just in case she might want another form of contact.
After several years of this and absolutely NO response, not even a 'return to sender, I found myself wondering if maybe these bits of correspondence might just hit a trash can unopened. In my heart I felt that was fully her choice but I also felt that I should consistently continue to be a friend through correspondence as best I could.
This week I was surprised to receive in the mail a padded envelope with her name on the return address label. I opened the envelope and out came a note card and a truly beautiful yellow hand crocheted doily.
She expressed her appreciation for the items she has received via mail over these years. She told me the yellow crochet thread was chosen to represent the friendship she felt for me. She expressed tender feelings of her life including daily prayer. She also said she would like to meet me some time. I was overjoyed to say the least. Claude was home and it was great to have someone with whom to share that joy.
I'm grateful for her gift and I do look forward to actually meeting her and getting to know her better. What a great blessing this was in my life.
Institute Can Be...
Last Thursday we covered Acts 13-18, 1 Corinthians 1-3 and 1st and 2nd Thessalonians in our Institute class. That is a lot of ground to cover. Literally it is an overview of Paul's three missionary journies and several of the letters he wrote to the people where he had established the church. The title given to me to cover this block of scripture was "Wisdom of Men".
I started the class by writing "Wisdom of Men" on the board. Then I turned to my class and said, "Please share your impressions, feelings, and understanding with just these words I've written on the board." My intent was to keep them focused first on the wisdom of men and then enlarge that topic. I just didn't want them to get to the enlarged part before I got there.
We had a lovely discussion. Many of them are college students and they are fully engulfed in the 'wisdom of men' and the importance of gaining that knowledge for their chosen career field in their futures.
Then I asked them what the opposite of the "wisdom of men" would be. I told them I was trying to draw something specific from them. My intent was they would say " wisdom of God" and we would then be able to discuss and flow into the remainder of the lesson from that point. So I asked my question expecting to get that quick response "wisdom of God". It just seemed that would flow naturally and easy...right?
I asked, "What is the opposite of the 'wisdom of men'?" There was a brief hesitation and then David quietly stated, "The 'wisdom of women'"!! I just lost it. I actually had to lay my head on the table in front of me I was laughing so hard. The entire class broke out in laughter. It was just a great moment.
I do love those moments in this class. Institute can be great fun.
Last night we had a lesson covering 1 Corinthians 4-16. Again there are lots and lots of topics to cover in those chapters. I prepared a lesson plan carefully covering each topic. But I kept feeling the impression I should start on chapter 12 and move to chapter 13 first. I also felt if we didn't get to any other part of my lesson plan, that was okay. It was ready in case we did but if we didn't we would have been well fed spiritually if we just focused on those chapters.
We started with chapter 12 and focused on the 'gifts of the Spirit'. Now, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition to and confirming the teachings found in the Bible we have additional books we consider scripture. In the Doctrine and Covenants there is a section that discusses the 'gifts of the Spirit'. In the Book of Mormon there is also a chapter that discusses the 'gifts of the Spirit'. I prepared worksheets with each of these blocks of scripture at the top of a worksheet and four things to look for as that block of scripture was read. I broke the class into three groups and gave each group one of these blocks of scripture. Then each group read their block together and wrote their responses to their four things they were to look for in their scripture block. Each group designated a presenter. After the preparation time was complete, the presenter for each of the three groups came to the front of the room and shared the insights their group found while reviewing their particular scripture block.
The first leader listed the 'gifts of the Spirit' contained in 1 Corinthians 12. Then they shared examples of the gifts being used and understanding they gained as they studied in their group. The second and third leaders added to the the first groups insights. By the time we finished we all had a pretty good idea what gifts of the Spirit are, that they are to bless our lives and we are to use them to strengthen the Church and others. We understood we all have at least one of these gifts and some several of these gifts. We also understood we were to seek after these gifts for the above stated purposes.
I then asked them to sit quietly for a minute and ponder what gift(s) of the Spirit they feel they have in their lives. I love when the classroom is quiet like that at times and you can see in their faces, watch as they might make a note in their journals, and feel by the Spirit in the room that something is happening that is very good.
After they finished, I then asked if there might be other gifts than those listed on the board that they found as we read the scriptures. I only paused a second as that was a lead in to a quote I wanted to share. The quote was given by Elder Marvin J. Ashton in 1987. I'm old enough I remember this quote and how neat it was to hear in 1987. I shared that with these young adults and then read the quote:
Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.
As I read, I paused between each gift so that gift could settle in their minds and hearts. I looked into faces between each gift, and I felt a tingling all through my heart and body. The Spirit was strong. We felt the love of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ for each of us. These are the 'best gifts' found in the scriptures we had studied and included in this beautiful quote. I confirmed through testimony to these young adults that they each had at least one gift and probably more. These are from a loving Heavenly Father who wants each of them to succeed in their personal lives. He then wants them to use those gifts to bless the lives of others and to serve faithfully in His Church and Kingdom.
It was just a spiritual high for me. A moment in time that I want to remember and treasure and be able to reflect back on when times might be difficult. Therefore, I record it in this journal. May the reading of it touch someone else in a positive way at some point in their lives.
Learning can be fun but it can also be spiritually uplifting and prepare us to take on the next week of our lives.
I started the class by writing "Wisdom of Men" on the board. Then I turned to my class and said, "Please share your impressions, feelings, and understanding with just these words I've written on the board." My intent was to keep them focused first on the wisdom of men and then enlarge that topic. I just didn't want them to get to the enlarged part before I got there.
We had a lovely discussion. Many of them are college students and they are fully engulfed in the 'wisdom of men' and the importance of gaining that knowledge for their chosen career field in their futures.
Then I asked them what the opposite of the "wisdom of men" would be. I told them I was trying to draw something specific from them. My intent was they would say " wisdom of God" and we would then be able to discuss and flow into the remainder of the lesson from that point. So I asked my question expecting to get that quick response "wisdom of God". It just seemed that would flow naturally and easy...right?
I asked, "What is the opposite of the 'wisdom of men'?" There was a brief hesitation and then David quietly stated, "The 'wisdom of women'"!! I just lost it. I actually had to lay my head on the table in front of me I was laughing so hard. The entire class broke out in laughter. It was just a great moment.
I do love those moments in this class. Institute can be great fun.
Last night we had a lesson covering 1 Corinthians 4-16. Again there are lots and lots of topics to cover in those chapters. I prepared a lesson plan carefully covering each topic. But I kept feeling the impression I should start on chapter 12 and move to chapter 13 first. I also felt if we didn't get to any other part of my lesson plan, that was okay. It was ready in case we did but if we didn't we would have been well fed spiritually if we just focused on those chapters.
We started with chapter 12 and focused on the 'gifts of the Spirit'. Now, I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition to and confirming the teachings found in the Bible we have additional books we consider scripture. In the Doctrine and Covenants there is a section that discusses the 'gifts of the Spirit'. In the Book of Mormon there is also a chapter that discusses the 'gifts of the Spirit'. I prepared worksheets with each of these blocks of scripture at the top of a worksheet and four things to look for as that block of scripture was read. I broke the class into three groups and gave each group one of these blocks of scripture. Then each group read their block together and wrote their responses to their four things they were to look for in their scripture block. Each group designated a presenter. After the preparation time was complete, the presenter for each of the three groups came to the front of the room and shared the insights their group found while reviewing their particular scripture block.
The first leader listed the 'gifts of the Spirit' contained in 1 Corinthians 12. Then they shared examples of the gifts being used and understanding they gained as they studied in their group. The second and third leaders added to the the first groups insights. By the time we finished we all had a pretty good idea what gifts of the Spirit are, that they are to bless our lives and we are to use them to strengthen the Church and others. We understood we all have at least one of these gifts and some several of these gifts. We also understood we were to seek after these gifts for the above stated purposes.
I then asked them to sit quietly for a minute and ponder what gift(s) of the Spirit they feel they have in their lives. I love when the classroom is quiet like that at times and you can see in their faces, watch as they might make a note in their journals, and feel by the Spirit in the room that something is happening that is very good.
After they finished, I then asked if there might be other gifts than those listed on the board that they found as we read the scriptures. I only paused a second as that was a lead in to a quote I wanted to share. The quote was given by Elder Marvin J. Ashton in 1987. I'm old enough I remember this quote and how neat it was to hear in 1987. I shared that with these young adults and then read the quote:
Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.
As I read, I paused between each gift so that gift could settle in their minds and hearts. I looked into faces between each gift, and I felt a tingling all through my heart and body. The Spirit was strong. We felt the love of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ for each of us. These are the 'best gifts' found in the scriptures we had studied and included in this beautiful quote. I confirmed through testimony to these young adults that they each had at least one gift and probably more. These are from a loving Heavenly Father who wants each of them to succeed in their personal lives. He then wants them to use those gifts to bless the lives of others and to serve faithfully in His Church and Kingdom.
It was just a spiritual high for me. A moment in time that I want to remember and treasure and be able to reflect back on when times might be difficult. Therefore, I record it in this journal. May the reading of it touch someone else in a positive way at some point in their lives.
Learning can be fun but it can also be spiritually uplifting and prepare us to take on the next week of our lives.
Digital Update...
As I continue on this journey of digital enlightenment, I just marvel. We can do so much and have so much at our fingertips today. It is absolutely amazing.
For instance, I learned this week about Google Drive. While this may date me with some of you techo-savvy people, for me it was a 'light bulb' moment in time. As with so much that is digital, I'm not just sure how I figured this one out. But it happened and sent me down another learning path.
I have a few documents that are coming to me via Google mail (Gmail). They can be opened and they look a lot like a Word or Excel file but they are a Google file.
This Monday I received an eMail with a file somewhat like an Excel file. This spreadsheet was set up with a row for each week of 2013 and a column each for opening, sacrament, intermediate, closing, and postlude hymns. There was also a column with the theme to be used in Sacrament meeting for each of the months. The request to me was to pick out hymns for February based on the theme chosen for February. I was to insert that data in the spreadsheet and send it back. Okay...I know enough to easily do that in Excel. How hard could this document be. It truly does not contain as many bells and whistles to work around as Excel.
I brought my hymnal to the computer, checkout the theme for February and set to work picking what felt like the perfect hymns for each Sunday. I felt strongly that I needed to open Excel and get this in Excel format just in case. Thank heaven I did.
I highlighted the Google spreadsheet and successfully copied and pasted it into an Excel spreadsheet. I only had to format the column width to get it too look right. I chose my hymns and entered them in the Excel spreadsheet. Then I copied those cells and pasted them into the Google spreadsheet. I saved my Excel spreadsheet. I saved the Google spreadsheet. At least, my computer showed the words, document is saved when I looked at the Google spreadsheet.
I tried to return the Google spreadsheet to Ivan with the hymns picked and a note that I had entered a few bits of information on other dates that would help in picking out hymns for other months. I hit send and sent it back to Ivan. Then I opened the attachment I sent to Ivan and, lo and behold, there was no data I had copied in the document I sent him. Goodness. I sent Ivan another eMail and inserted my Excel spreadsheet this time so I was sure he had the information he needed for the bulletin.
This has been my frustration with Google and the way it opens files. I know I'm spoiled by Outlook. I've used it for years. It is software just made for eMails and using them. I could easily do a 'save as' and safe the eMail's on my computer in Outlook format and keep them that way. I have not found a way to do that in Google eMail. I'm reduced to copying and pasting them into a Word document, editing that Word document to get the stuff out of tables and in a readable format, then saving it. Way too many hoops to jumb through. I'm sure there must be a way to save them but I have not yet found it.
The attachments that come in my Google eMail I am able to display on the screen just fine. I've even been able to get them large enough to print. But I can't seem to get them to download on my laptop or to just let me save them somewhere on my lap top. If I save the file and then try to open it, it is just garbage. If I try to download, I just get a message it can't do that. I'm thinking I have enough firewalls and security that it is hindering this process.
Now, I'm not a keeper of everything in my eMail box. I have created different 'saved' folders in Google and I do put things in there. But I don't want those things forever. I'm just holding items until they are resolved and then they are deleted. If an item is valuable enought that I want it for long term, I want to be able to save it in my regular computer files.
I also don't keep anything in my deleted folder. This troubles the Google software. Everytime I clean out the trash folder in Gmail it tells me something like, "Why are you doing that? You have sooooooo much memory. You don't have to empty your trash." Now, that is paraphrasing but that is what I mentally see when I get the message. I don't want a full trash can. If I sent it to the trash, it is because I didn't want it, am finished with it, and I truly what it gone.
I also don't keep a lot in my inbox. I treat it like a 'tickler file'. You know, just a reminder everytime I check eMail's that I need to do something with that eMail or because of that eMail. Once that is done, that eMail is going into a saved folder to be held until an event is over or an order is complete or whatever. Then it is going to hit the trash can and I will have the above conversation with the emptying the trash mail feature in Gmail. It truly annoys me to have to scan down hundreds of eMail files to find the one in my inbox for which I am looking.
Claude and I were also talking Gmail calendars this week. Mine updates automatically when I enter an event in my calendar on my phone or laptop. These both talk to each other and whatever I enter on one shows up on the other. For some reason Claude's phone is not doing that. What he enters on his laptop shows up on his cell phone. What he enters on his cell phone does not show up on his lap top.
We spent a little time comparing how my eMail is set up on my cell phone and lap top to see where there were differences. We found none in the setting. The only difference is that when I set mine up I couldn't get it to talk to Outlook somewhere so I now use the Gmail to work with my eMail and somehow told Outlook not to get the eMails. The result for me is that I can send eMail's from my Outlook but I don't receive anything there. I still use my Outlook eMail address for everything but it automatically goes to my Gmail and that is where I open it. My calendar does the same things. I can only guess that this is where the difference lies between by calendar and Claude's calendar set up. Somehow he was able to stay on Outlook and have it show on his cell phone for eMails but he can't get the calendar to do that. He has to use the Google calendar.
My head is swimming...again.
The icing on this digital cake is that in all this research about opening document attachments in Gmail, I stumbled upon Google Drive. I was able to set up this on my lap top and can now copy and paste documents that I want on my phone, Kindle and lap top into this 'Drive' and they will show up on all my devices. Well, I haven't perfected the Kindle part of it yet. But I ran upstairs when I learned the meager bit I did about it. Claude needed to know this. He needs a lot more document carrying capabilities than I do with his Mayoral stuff, his Church stuff and those 25 boards he sits on. There are lots of documents it would be nice to have available on his phone or his Kindle. He got his phone and Kindle working great. My Kindle struggled and ended up causing me to change my password with Google as they thought someone was doing what they shouldn't with my Google account. That trickled over into eMail sending and receiving on my cell phone and lots of frustration on my part.
Next I had more of this 'Circle' stuff in Google and found out several of my family members are in this 'Circle' stuff. I included them in my circle and now I must figure out what in the world I do with that!!!
On another note, when I got my cell phone I finally signed up for Pinterest. I'll just share here that there has been NO time for Pinterest. Lots of people have said they were following me on Pinterest. That is very nice. Alas, they will have a short view because I have not been back out to play with that novelty again. Nothing is pinned on my board. I think I created one board that sits there waiting for me to come back and play.
It is just madness. As I sit here catching up on Blogging, I am amazed that so much of our lives turn around these computers and digital devices. For me, who grew up with rotary phones and the first black and white television, the first Hi-Fi Stereo records with a turntable in its own cabinet, all the quick-at-your-fingertips stuff is overwhelming at times. I'll wade through, get a few more wrinkles in my brain (as my mother used to say when I learned something new), and use the pieces that work for me. I'll wonder at all the capabilities that I've not tapped into with these things. Be grateful for the nice things they do for me and avoid all that just befuddles me.
I wonder what this week will bring to me...digitally speaking???
For instance, I learned this week about Google Drive. While this may date me with some of you techo-savvy people, for me it was a 'light bulb' moment in time. As with so much that is digital, I'm not just sure how I figured this one out. But it happened and sent me down another learning path.
I have a few documents that are coming to me via Google mail (Gmail). They can be opened and they look a lot like a Word or Excel file but they are a Google file.
This Monday I received an eMail with a file somewhat like an Excel file. This spreadsheet was set up with a row for each week of 2013 and a column each for opening, sacrament, intermediate, closing, and postlude hymns. There was also a column with the theme to be used in Sacrament meeting for each of the months. The request to me was to pick out hymns for February based on the theme chosen for February. I was to insert that data in the spreadsheet and send it back. Okay...I know enough to easily do that in Excel. How hard could this document be. It truly does not contain as many bells and whistles to work around as Excel.
I brought my hymnal to the computer, checkout the theme for February and set to work picking what felt like the perfect hymns for each Sunday. I felt strongly that I needed to open Excel and get this in Excel format just in case. Thank heaven I did.
I highlighted the Google spreadsheet and successfully copied and pasted it into an Excel spreadsheet. I only had to format the column width to get it too look right. I chose my hymns and entered them in the Excel spreadsheet. Then I copied those cells and pasted them into the Google spreadsheet. I saved my Excel spreadsheet. I saved the Google spreadsheet. At least, my computer showed the words, document is saved when I looked at the Google spreadsheet.
I tried to return the Google spreadsheet to Ivan with the hymns picked and a note that I had entered a few bits of information on other dates that would help in picking out hymns for other months. I hit send and sent it back to Ivan. Then I opened the attachment I sent to Ivan and, lo and behold, there was no data I had copied in the document I sent him. Goodness. I sent Ivan another eMail and inserted my Excel spreadsheet this time so I was sure he had the information he needed for the bulletin.
This has been my frustration with Google and the way it opens files. I know I'm spoiled by Outlook. I've used it for years. It is software just made for eMails and using them. I could easily do a 'save as' and safe the eMail's on my computer in Outlook format and keep them that way. I have not found a way to do that in Google eMail. I'm reduced to copying and pasting them into a Word document, editing that Word document to get the stuff out of tables and in a readable format, then saving it. Way too many hoops to jumb through. I'm sure there must be a way to save them but I have not yet found it.
The attachments that come in my Google eMail I am able to display on the screen just fine. I've even been able to get them large enough to print. But I can't seem to get them to download on my laptop or to just let me save them somewhere on my lap top. If I save the file and then try to open it, it is just garbage. If I try to download, I just get a message it can't do that. I'm thinking I have enough firewalls and security that it is hindering this process.
Now, I'm not a keeper of everything in my eMail box. I have created different 'saved' folders in Google and I do put things in there. But I don't want those things forever. I'm just holding items until they are resolved and then they are deleted. If an item is valuable enought that I want it for long term, I want to be able to save it in my regular computer files.
I also don't keep anything in my deleted folder. This troubles the Google software. Everytime I clean out the trash folder in Gmail it tells me something like, "Why are you doing that? You have sooooooo much memory. You don't have to empty your trash." Now, that is paraphrasing but that is what I mentally see when I get the message. I don't want a full trash can. If I sent it to the trash, it is because I didn't want it, am finished with it, and I truly what it gone.
I also don't keep a lot in my inbox. I treat it like a 'tickler file'. You know, just a reminder everytime I check eMail's that I need to do something with that eMail or because of that eMail. Once that is done, that eMail is going into a saved folder to be held until an event is over or an order is complete or whatever. Then it is going to hit the trash can and I will have the above conversation with the emptying the trash mail feature in Gmail. It truly annoys me to have to scan down hundreds of eMail files to find the one in my inbox for which I am looking.
Claude and I were also talking Gmail calendars this week. Mine updates automatically when I enter an event in my calendar on my phone or laptop. These both talk to each other and whatever I enter on one shows up on the other. For some reason Claude's phone is not doing that. What he enters on his laptop shows up on his cell phone. What he enters on his cell phone does not show up on his lap top.
We spent a little time comparing how my eMail is set up on my cell phone and lap top to see where there were differences. We found none in the setting. The only difference is that when I set mine up I couldn't get it to talk to Outlook somewhere so I now use the Gmail to work with my eMail and somehow told Outlook not to get the eMails. The result for me is that I can send eMail's from my Outlook but I don't receive anything there. I still use my Outlook eMail address for everything but it automatically goes to my Gmail and that is where I open it. My calendar does the same things. I can only guess that this is where the difference lies between by calendar and Claude's calendar set up. Somehow he was able to stay on Outlook and have it show on his cell phone for eMails but he can't get the calendar to do that. He has to use the Google calendar.
My head is swimming...again.
The icing on this digital cake is that in all this research about opening document attachments in Gmail, I stumbled upon Google Drive. I was able to set up this on my lap top and can now copy and paste documents that I want on my phone, Kindle and lap top into this 'Drive' and they will show up on all my devices. Well, I haven't perfected the Kindle part of it yet. But I ran upstairs when I learned the meager bit I did about it. Claude needed to know this. He needs a lot more document carrying capabilities than I do with his Mayoral stuff, his Church stuff and those 25 boards he sits on. There are lots of documents it would be nice to have available on his phone or his Kindle. He got his phone and Kindle working great. My Kindle struggled and ended up causing me to change my password with Google as they thought someone was doing what they shouldn't with my Google account. That trickled over into eMail sending and receiving on my cell phone and lots of frustration on my part.
Next I had more of this 'Circle' stuff in Google and found out several of my family members are in this 'Circle' stuff. I included them in my circle and now I must figure out what in the world I do with that!!!
On another note, when I got my cell phone I finally signed up for Pinterest. I'll just share here that there has been NO time for Pinterest. Lots of people have said they were following me on Pinterest. That is very nice. Alas, they will have a short view because I have not been back out to play with that novelty again. Nothing is pinned on my board. I think I created one board that sits there waiting for me to come back and play.
It is just madness. As I sit here catching up on Blogging, I am amazed that so much of our lives turn around these computers and digital devices. For me, who grew up with rotary phones and the first black and white television, the first Hi-Fi Stereo records with a turntable in its own cabinet, all the quick-at-your-fingertips stuff is overwhelming at times. I'll wade through, get a few more wrinkles in my brain (as my mother used to say when I learned something new), and use the pieces that work for me. I'll wonder at all the capabilities that I've not tapped into with these things. Be grateful for the nice things they do for me and avoid all that just befuddles me.
I wonder what this week will bring to me...digitally speaking???
Mail Order Madness...
In what has seemed a mini-marathon, I have finally received a much awaited package. Claude's sister, Joann, has sent us a gift card to Deseret Book each Christmas. My hubby has cheerfully given me to gift card to purchase as I choose.
This year I ordered two new books of organ prelude music. I have four of these already and love them. They are 'chain' books. They use the hymns out of the hymnal and arrange them one right after the other with an appropriate interlude between to change the keys in which they are played. I believe there are actually 8 in the series. I have totally enjoyed the four I have and made great use of them. Now that I'm playing the organ every Sunday again it is nice to have something different to play. More for me that others probably. We are a noisy lot at Church and I'm sure I get as much enjoyment out of playing that organ for prelude as any others do. At least as the chapel starts to fill and everyone is greeting each other I'm pretty sure I'm one of the few hearing the prelude. I do start to play prelude 30 minutes prior to the meetings so that those who are there early can sit quietly and enjoy the peace of the hymns. Occasionally you'll even hear someone humming along in that quiet before the congregation fills the chapel.
So, I ordered two more that were available. In addition I ordered a new book by Jeffrey R. Holland. Couldn't resist me another Jeffrey R. Holland book. And I ordered two birthday presents for future use. Needless to say, I overspent my gift card but that is just fine.
I placed the order on the 4th of January. I received a notice on the 9th of January that the order was shipped. I waited...and waited...and waited...and then began to wonder...what happened to my order. I sat down last week to check my eMails.
I keep a saved folder on my computer with all the eMail traffic about any orders that I'm working on. I went through those and clicked the link to the FedEx tracking of the package after it was sent. It turned out the package got as far as about an hour north of us in Kentucky and was reported as 'damaged' and returned to Deseret Book per their instructions.
I checked back on Deseret Book's website and found a place to send an eMail regarding this package and it's current whereabouts. On Friday the 25th I sent an eMail with all pertinent information for them to find the order and let me know what happened to it. Monday I received an eMail from a nice lady. She said they did get the package back. They were back logged on getting these things sorted out with clearing out Christmas issues and orders. She did find my order and asked if I wanted a refund or a re-order. I opted for the re-order. I got another eMail in the afternoon stating she had done the re-order. The next day I received an eMail stating my order shipped. The other day my order came in the mail.
I'm truly happy to get these new books and my other treasures. Now I just need to get to the Church and give these books a try out on the organ. Yeah!!
Thank you Joann for thinking of us. I truly enjoy that bit of Christmas that you provide for us. It is great fun!
This year I ordered two new books of organ prelude music. I have four of these already and love them. They are 'chain' books. They use the hymns out of the hymnal and arrange them one right after the other with an appropriate interlude between to change the keys in which they are played. I believe there are actually 8 in the series. I have totally enjoyed the four I have and made great use of them. Now that I'm playing the organ every Sunday again it is nice to have something different to play. More for me that others probably. We are a noisy lot at Church and I'm sure I get as much enjoyment out of playing that organ for prelude as any others do. At least as the chapel starts to fill and everyone is greeting each other I'm pretty sure I'm one of the few hearing the prelude. I do start to play prelude 30 minutes prior to the meetings so that those who are there early can sit quietly and enjoy the peace of the hymns. Occasionally you'll even hear someone humming along in that quiet before the congregation fills the chapel.
So, I ordered two more that were available. In addition I ordered a new book by Jeffrey R. Holland. Couldn't resist me another Jeffrey R. Holland book. And I ordered two birthday presents for future use. Needless to say, I overspent my gift card but that is just fine.
I placed the order on the 4th of January. I received a notice on the 9th of January that the order was shipped. I waited...and waited...and waited...and then began to wonder...what happened to my order. I sat down last week to check my eMails.
I keep a saved folder on my computer with all the eMail traffic about any orders that I'm working on. I went through those and clicked the link to the FedEx tracking of the package after it was sent. It turned out the package got as far as about an hour north of us in Kentucky and was reported as 'damaged' and returned to Deseret Book per their instructions.
I checked back on Deseret Book's website and found a place to send an eMail regarding this package and it's current whereabouts. On Friday the 25th I sent an eMail with all pertinent information for them to find the order and let me know what happened to it. Monday I received an eMail from a nice lady. She said they did get the package back. They were back logged on getting these things sorted out with clearing out Christmas issues and orders. She did find my order and asked if I wanted a refund or a re-order. I opted for the re-order. I got another eMail in the afternoon stating she had done the re-order. The next day I received an eMail stating my order shipped. The other day my order came in the mail.
I'm truly happy to get these new books and my other treasures. Now I just need to get to the Church and give these books a try out on the organ. Yeah!!
Thank you Joann for thinking of us. I truly enjoy that bit of Christmas that you provide for us. It is great fun!
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