Take me for a ride

Sometimes my students (senior citizens learning computers) get frustrated and want to just give up. I have to cajole them sometimes. Most of you have grown up with computers, but these people are sometimes confronting one for the first time in their lives and are intimidated. The last thing they need is a geek being all techie on them. So I try to make it more fun and more interesting to keep them in the mood to learn something that intimidates them.

It seems to work. Some come up to me after a class is over and ask me what I am teaching next. A shy gentleman who is retaking the class from another instructor came up to me after the first session of this class. "Hello. I am from India. Presentation is everything. You teach a most excellent class." He calls me ma'am. Every day. He doesn't seem to be having a problem in my class, and I doubt he will need to take it again.

One blonde woman is from Germany. She has a heavy accent, and I asked her how long she has been here. She told me that she probably came here before I was born. Her husband was American. This woman, who has been in this country maybe 50 years, is using a German/English dictionary to learn computer terms.

I gently coaxed her to learn the terms in English, reminding her that the terms didn't even exist in German 50 years ago. She was quiet the first lesson, constantly complaining that it was too hard for her. Slowly, with support, she is starting to feel some 'puter power. I always tell them to show the computer no fear. I remind them who is in charge, that they are.

Actually I sat down to write about what I did today. I am finally done with physical therapy. At no time did the PT do a re-evaluation of my progress. He did not ask me if my pain was gone. He just suddenly told me last wee that this week I will "graduate." I don't think my insurance benefits ran out yet, so I am not sure what that was about, but I didn't care. The Vampire managed to give me two massages at work, and he is finally getting some hands-on experience in this country as a therapist.

My doctor agreed to change my sleeping pill to see if it helps my all around exhaustion any. The bad part is, the new one, Lunesta, caused me to get a really nasty taste in my mouth within ten minutes. It is just now starting to go away, 20 hours later. As soon as I take one for tonight, it will be back. Sigh. The doctor had told me that this Rx has virtually no side effects. I believed him so much that I stopped at the local pharmacy and asked for a package insert, and read it all. One third of people get the bad taste, and 20% get headaches. I don't have a headache, but then I never get one from anything.

Perhaps this nasty taste will prove to be a form of miracle diet. I sure don't want to eat much. Nothing tastes right. So far the best description I can come up with is it's like sucking on a tart soapy dime. Ick!

So what did I do today? I had lunch with a former co-worker who has found a new job. She is so excited she almost glows! Anyone who gets out of children's protective services is joyful.

After lunch, I took a drive. I drove some of the back roads of our county. I went around Bald Mountain and the preserves there. I would love to live in that area. Then I came down another similar road, which comes fairly close to where I live now. A deer ran across the road in front of me. It was over 90 degrees out. I drove around probably three dozen lakes; the roads were all winding around each other and the trees were beautiful. It was so peaceful and pleasant. The last time I drove around that area it was to go investigate abused children. This time, it was just me and nature.