Domestic Geek

Last week I finally got enough courage up to talk to my supervisor about getting trained to become a Prepress Operator (I'm a Preflight Technician now). Basically, they get to do the cool stuff — fixing the files, setting them up in the imposition software, etc. I had already taken the online class that taught the basics of using the imposition software and I did quite well. Well, he agreed that it was time that I start learning and he knows that I'm a fast learner. Things kept coming up last week that kept me from being able to start training, but today I finally got to sit down with an operator and start going over the basics. Yay! The guys I work with on first shift are extremely helpful and really nice, so I know I'll get the hang of it all really soon.

Our company pays a yearly subscription fee to an online prepress training organization. I knew it was time for them to renew the subscription for the service, but I didn't give it much thought. I had checked out the site for myself and had wished I had $300 so that I could learn it on my own. Well, last Friday I was given my very own login. Woohoo!

I've been signed up for 23 courses:

• Adobe Acrobat 7
• Adobe Bridge
• Adobe Illustrator CS2: What's New
• Adobe Illustrator CS: Drawing, Tools, and Text
• Adobe Illustrator CS: Layers, Advanced Features and Output
• Adobe InDesign CS2: What's New
• Adobe InDesign CS: Master Pages, Colors and Images
• Adobe InDesign CS: Objects, Shapes and Lines
• Adobe InDesign CS: PageMaker Plugin Pack
• Adobe InDesign CS: Template and Workspace Preferences
• Adobe InDesign CS: Text, Formatting and Output
• Adobe Photoshop CS2: Color Correction
• Adobe Photoshop CS2: Masking
• Adobe Photoshop CS2: What's New
• Adobe Photoshop CS: Fundamentals
• Color Management Theory
• Creo Preps 5
• Enfocus PitStop Professional 6
• FlightCheck 5.5
• Mac OSX Panther: Font Management with Suitcase X1
• QuarkXPress 6: Fundamentals
• Transitioning from Quark to InDesign CS2
• Troubleshooting Digital Files

I've already passed two of them. I decided to get the Illustrator and Suitcase ones out of the way first since I know the most about those. Next I'm tackling Acrobat, Pitstop and Flightcheck, since those are the programs I use the most during my current duties. When I get through these, I've been told there are more than I can do. Hopefully this is my chance to really show I can get this stuff and start training as an operator.

Edit: Here, I took a screenshot of my class list. Aren't those little diploma graphics the cutest when you pass a class?

Bah, I'm still up and I should've been in bed awhile ago. I don't want to go to work tomorrow...not because I don't like my job, but I have so much I need to do around here and two days in a weekend is just not long enough to get everything accomplished. *sigh*

I'm finally getting a little inspiration for a blog design I want to work out, too, but having to go to work everyday puts a little crimp in my design time. I also am a little brain fried by the time I'm off shift and have been at a computer all day. Doesn't really put one in a creative design frame of mind. Why, oh why can't I be independently wealthy so I can pursue my hobbies?

Getting out of this park has been topmost in my mind lately, too. I'm really wanting to have a garden and get dogs, again. It's just not right to be a dog person and have no canines in your life, y'know?

This is more of a note to self, but I watched two movies yesterday and I must remember to tell you my thoughts on them tomorrow.

OK, making myself go get ready for bed.

Hey all — sorry about my absence of late. First off, I jacked up my hand somehow on New Year's Eve. That or I've developed carpel tunnel. Either way, my right hand has been killing me. It hurt so bad on New Year's that I couldn't even sleep. I also couldn't take any pain killers since I'd been drinking over at Dave's get together. Typing and mousing has been excruciating. I was bummed about the Bronco loss on Sunday, but that was quickly overshadowed by the news that Darrent Williams had been murdered. All of that in conjunction with losing Skippy, I've been in a depressed fog all week. I'm also having insomnia again. No matter when I go to bed, I can't sleep. I haven't allowed myself to resort to NyQuil or anything to help me sleep this time, but I'm really dragging.

I had a breakdown yesterday when the vet that we took him to sent us a condolence card. That in itself wasn't so bad, it was very thoughtful. What really tore me up was a paper with The Rainbow Bridge story on it and Skippy's paw prints. I totally broke down crying. I miss him so badly. It is so weird coming into a dogless house.

I do have a big of good news, though. I finally got full time at work. Good thing with the lack of PPP money I've got coming in the next few weeks. I also probably got $1/hr raise, but the owner of the company has to approve it first. The HR lady told me he would more than likely approve it, but it all depended on the mood he is in when it crosses his desk. He has seemed to be upbeat, so keeping my fingers crossed on that one. Now I'm eligible for paid holidays. In 90 days, I get full paid benefits. I've never had a job with benefits before. I think I actually get paid vacation in a year, too. I'll have to look at the handbook.

I had other things to say, but can't remember right now and my hand is hurting. I guess that's it for now.

Man, my boss was not happy that the weekend manager had me working. Oh,well. So much for putting in extra hours. Really got to get another part time job or there will be no Christmas again this year.

Speaking of Christmas, have you seen some of the butt ugly trees this year? I saw one at Michael's the other day that was made out of pink feathers. There's a picture over there on the left. There were some at home depot today that were purple tinsel or something. Ewww. They hade some ugly Winnie the Pooh and Cinderella ones, too. Can you say tacky?

Home Depot did have a cool decoration I wish I could purchase, but it cost $50. It's one of those old fashioned looking street lamps that had a banner holder on it. It was really neat. It probably won't exist when I have money again.

I am freezing today. I'm sitting here with my coat on and my shoes still on and I am so cold. My hands feel like ice. I hate it when I get like this.

I spent a whole 8 hours at the new job today. Cool! They've been really behind in the "grunt" work, so the weekend prepress manager kept thanking me over and over for coming in and helping them get caught up. Hey, no problem! I'll certainly appreciate the extra income come payday. I spent the whole time bent over a table taping press flats together, so my lower back and feet are killing me. I'm going to go fill up the jacuzzi tub and take a nice long soak!

I've put in two days of work at the new job. I hope I get to be full time soon! The sooner that happens, the quicker I'll get through 90 days until FULL BENEFITS, paid holidays and all of that other good stuff that comes with working for a decent company! I was a little down this morning. One, because there was nothing to post about from PPP. I really enjoy checking out the sites in the opportunities and then giving my humble opinion. I also really need cash coming in. Two, because of that email I got yesterday about the job. I had really wanted to work there and if I had been hired four months ago when I interviewed, I wouldn't have had this whole unemployment mess. *sigh* Oh, well. I guess I needed the depth to which I sank to teach me some valuable lessons. Finally, three, I need to get more sleep. I can't let myself stay up until midnight hanging out in the PPP forums.

On a totally different note, I'm sure everyone has seen the Pepto Bismol commercial with all the office employees dancing to the song that goes, "Naseau, Heartburn, Indigestion, Upset Stomach, Diahrrea." Well, there's a new one for Pepto MAX that has Paul Bunyon, Godzilla, a Space guy, etc. dancing. Really freaky. I had to stop fast-forwarding and go back to make sure I seen what I had thought I had seen.

Hey, I got a job! I start tomorrow morning. Have you ever had to do a pre-employment drug screening? It's quite the process. The dude who's going to be my boss called it a whiz quiz. Never heard that term before and it made me giggle.

It's as a preflighter for a printing company. I'll start out part time. Hopefully it will become full time very soon. It'll come with full benefits after 90 days of full time employment. They kept stressing that it's not a design job. I'm quite well aware of that. I hating designing for other people. They take all the fun out of it.

The dude I interviewed with a month ago that never bothered to contact me called and left a message while I was in my interview today asking if I was still available. Nice timing, huh? I guess whomever he hired instead of me didn't work out. Oh, well. It was farther away and I think it paid less (I can't really remember).