For those who have visited and noticed that I haven't updated these pages in a while, the reason is good. I have volunteered to give computer classes at N.O.E. (Northeast Occupational Exchange) here in Bangor. The clients at NOE are mostly at or below poverty level, have minimum or less education and some have substance abuse of mental health issues.
I had been encouraged to find a way to volunteer as I can't work as of yet. I am still unable to stand for longer than 15 minutes at a time and can only be "up" and around a few hours a day, so work is out of the question. I can however, spend an hour a day at a computer, teaching someone how to use a computer.
This has really turned out to be a boon. See I love computers and have accumulated a LOT of knowledge (and tips and tricks) over the years. The only thing I didn't figure on, beforehand, is if you're going to teach someone something, you'd better have some kind of lesson plan!!! So, I'm spending more time at my computer than I used to, but its in making lesson plans and collecting and organizing the thousands of "bits" of computer knowledge into some kind of cumulative lesson plan to follow.
So that's why I haven't been in to revise these pages recently. I started teaching classes a couple of weeks ago (5 classes/clients a week, 1 hour at a time ... we started out slow) and I am loving it and SURPRISE! I'm GOOD at it. This is what I was meant to do. Who knows, maybe this is why the past year and a half happened to me! I even have some of the staff as students!
So, anyway, I am getting onto these pages every few days or so to make changes. I'm even having trouble finding time to get out my regular jokes to my regular e-mail buddies across the country. Be patient with me. The first 8 or so chapters of my lesson plan are complete and that should hold us a while ... I'll try to get into here more often.
The bad news is that I still need help - financially. Perhaps this tutoring will lead to a paying job, but Ill have to figure out what's wrong with my back that's preventing my standing for any period of time first. And to do that, I'll need cooperation from the DOL, who will have to approve my seeing back specialists and a chiropractor to relieve the pain. I'm still waiting on that. Been waiting a long time.
Thanks ... and keep visiting!
Downeastcajun |
