Random thoughts

My travel high is past, the laundry is done, and I am left alone with my thoughts. My thoughts are not linear, although I am generally logical. My brain jumps around like a Mexican jumping bean after too much tequila. I hop from topic to topic, maybe three at a time. People have to pay attention in a conversation with me to be sure we are still on the same page. I can't help it. It is just how I think.

Tomorrow is one of the last sessions of my Internet class I am volunteer teaching to senior citizens. This is one of the more advanced classes we cover; yet people sign up who can't handle email or basic word commands. Some are at the most elemental hunt and peck level, if they recognize a keyboard at all.

Some of the things I end up explaining in detail can be very entertaining. I had to spend at least 15 minutes explaining what an email address is and why you can't just guess at what the address might be. I carefully explained that you could send one email to someone at hotmail, AOL, CompuServe, whatever, and all at the same time.

Cut and copy had to be done by example. Once they cut something and realized it was gone, we had no more issues with that. Pasting affected them like magic. A lot of the processes do amaze them. I have to remember how it felt when I was first learning. I stress that there are no dumb questions and to show the computers no fear. I do as much hands on (the computer) as possible.

When doing Word lessons, we have to spend much time explaining what a page is, and how lines wrap, and how backspace and delete work. Even the word "font" usually is unknown. These classes are very basic. Last class I had to explain the origins of “tab.” I have explained in the past where the word “floppy” comes from, since current disks aren’t.

But I love it. I hope to be teaching these classes for a long time. The entertainment value alone is worth it.  Watching a face light up with new knowledge is rewarding enough.

I also need to plan another vacation. I want to return to Las Vegas or go on a cruise, but neither seems to be happening soon. I have been on maybe nine cruises and loved each one.  Maybe next I will just fly some place new. I am grateful to have a friend who will now provide doggy camp for my beagles. She and her husband find the dogs’ antics to be charming, not destructive. So it costs me a Brighton bracelet or two. Maybe next time I can get her a Tiffany necklace. It is worth it to know my girls are safe and spoiled.

The little lemon beagle I have sat for will be back this weekend, even though they have now moved to Ohio. They are considering traveling out of Detroit from now on so they can leave their dog with me because they feel she is in good hands with me. I am considering going to their condo in the Shaker Heights area sometimes to dog sit. Why not?

If I keep going here, I will hit another 15 topics. I think Connie at indigosunmoon calls this “thought salad” or something like that. I can see why!