Know-it-alls

Just back from a chat with a work colleague. Why is it, everytime I say something, it gets shot down. How is it that this one person knows so much more than me. Even told me what public libraries do (hello? used to work in one, I sorta have a good idea what happens in-house)

I've gotten to the point of just shutting up during some conversations. When no matter what I say, it will be 'upped' by the other person in the conversation, it brings me down.I don't understand that mentality.

I have a close relative that likes to be the most knowing person. Even to the point of spoiling the surprise for others around. I find that annoying too. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, it's nicer to just shut up and let others enjoy what you already know. It's not important to show off how clever or knowing or intelligent you are.

I like an intelligent person, someone who *knows* their stuff. Even if the subject is boring, when you hear people speak with passion about their chosen field, it is a joy and I could sit listening to them for ages.

But when it's a know-it-all who has to one-up you on everything you say, or has to speak over you to get out their opinion on something, I get frustrated, walk away and don't feel compelled to go out of my way to chat with them again.

The Trip

I have a history of whinging about my trip in to work. Yeah, not here, but on previous blogs.

Well, history be damned. It's going to be repeated yunno.

Things I've noted of late:

• There is always one thing that will crap the crap out of you on the drive. Some days it's red lights. That was late last week for me. Every. Freakin'. Single. Red. Light. I don't know why or how it happens, but that was one drive in. Today, it was highbeamers or 4WDs up my butt with big bright lights. People. Listen to me. If you drive a 4WD and your headlights are going through the back window of the car ahead, it is ANNOYING! It is also DANGEROUS! I can't see anything when you do that. Sit back a little. Please. It won't hurt, honest! Of course, once the 4WD moved around me, I had Mr 70's Dodgy mobile with the one wonky headlight. One normal headlight, one wonky, which was directed exactly at my pupil. Gah! Park next to a plain painted building, put headlights on, then make sure they are aimed at the same place (ie straight ahead, and down on the road a little) That is what they are for - to show you where you are going, not to shine into people's eyes! Morons.
• People in a hurry are the worst drivers. Sure you may be late, but seriously, better late than... well, you know how that one goes. They weave in and out of traffic, seriously endangering other people on the road. Hello! One of those other people on the road is MOI. Drive nicer thanks.
• Some people think the road is theirs and theirs alone. I'm sorry, the roads have been built for everybody to use. Not just you. If I'm here in this lane, you can't indicate while BESIDE me and then start to move into the lane EXACTLY WHERE I AM. Not a hard lesson here folks. Find a gap, then indicate and start to move. If the person you are moving in front of starts to try and minimise the gap, then don't let them.
  
• Oh and finally, the indicater. No, that's right indicatEr. The person who sits in a lane driving along with the speed of all the traffic, with a permanent indicator flashing on their car. Yup. We have no idea what you are doing either. Get off the road, pick up your mobile phone, dial "Learners are Us" and get some lessons. Seriously. Learn how to change lanes on a slow and a fast moving freeway. Otherwise you'll never get out. Of the lane I mean.

Finally, a funny thing I noticed the other morn. You know how there are those days where everytime you move into a moving lane, it stops and the lane you just left starts moving? Heh. I saw a bloke change lanes 3 times and it happened to his lane every single time. I was just lucky it was my lane he moved out of in the first place!

Stopped in their tracks

It would appear the advertising for not stopping on train tracks isn't getting through.

I left for work this morn at 9am, after waiting to see if gout-boy (Formerly known as husband) needed me to stay home. By 9, he'd decided all was ok and he'd get through the day without me, so off I traipsed. Stopped behind the white line, as everyone ahead, like me, was turning right after the train line. Two cars ahead of me were stopped on the line.

What the? I hear you say. This is normal. Mind, I'm usually on the road around 7am, but they still do it.

I am aware that two cars or one bus will fit on the other side, so if I'm the third car in the queue, or the car behind a bus, I'll stop before the train line. It's just sensible.

I know my kids annoy me at times, but I think growing up motherless wouldn't be the solution.

Queen

How did this long weekend sneak up on me? With the little I've done today, I could have taken today off and had a 4 day weekend.

Idiot me.

Oh and HB to Mrs Windsor!

Amazed

I'm always amazed when I find I'm more competent at something than other people. I mean, I find doing certain things so easy and when I have to explain to some people, I'm just floored.

Across from my office is a classroom (one of many in the building) and this one has a teamboard/smartboard installed in it. Projector in ceiling, PC in cabinet, wireless keyboard and mouse, DVD player in cabinet too. To me it's a basic set up, which should be in most classrooms these days. Have used them infrequently and only for basics, but have seen them in use by others and know how to use a PC, so the knowledge is transferable.

And the set up of using the boards is so simple. Once the PC is on and you know where you've got the projector switched on, login and it's done. Again, many find this difficult.

Simple things like logging in; your login goes here, then you go to the next box and enter your password. So many people reach for the mouse to click in the password box, where hitting the tab will move to the password. Same with most PCs. And people use these all the time at work, so though this is simple to me, it's amazing that I find so many staff here don't do as I do.

I've always said that I'm lazy, in that if there is a shortcut to be found and used, I'll be the finder of such short cuts. If it simplifies my life at work, or anywhere really, I'll do it.

I suppose I've been using a PC for years and have been online for most of that time, and the assumption that most others are at that same point as me is in my head. I guess working for me is my happiness in sharing my figured out short cuts. I try to give people a hand wherever I can.

A teacher asked me if I had a key to the cabinet for the board. I did, so I opened it up, then she looked confused, so I guided her through switching on, logging in, and working around the projector.

It's nice to sometimes be the smart one.