New Quarter, New Life, New To Learn List:

I have begun a new quarter at Prince Institute - Rocky Mountains, online. I would be completely lying if I were to say I am excited to be, yet again, in the 160 speed class. There is a large part of me that wants to quit, begin self-study, and start working on what I need to on my own. However, an even larger part of me, which is ruled by my natural inclination to be an outstanding procrastinator, stays enrolled in the Institute.

I plainly lack the discipline to practice as much as I know I need to without some form of hard deadline looming over me each week. That deadline takes the form of a practice log that is due each Sunday night, by 11:59 p.m. MST. This log is then used to determine whether or not I qualify to have my speed tests count and, after all, I need those to count should I pass them within the current millennium. I'm only half-joking. I'm really close to passing the last two 160 tests I need, so close I can almost taste it... What does it taste like, you inquire? Well, stale, re-heated coffee, summer air that is filled with warmth and humidity, bits of white cat hair that have come floating upwards as my feline friend swipes against my legs and tripod, and a bit of dark chocolate for in between those takes where I have to drill like mad on words I should already have down. (Insert furious rant aimed at right ring finger for adding Ls into everything...)

Those are my evenings. My late, late evenings after my girls are tucked away in their little toddler beds. After I've perused the news and cleaned the kitchen, after a round of Duolingo or Angry Birds. It really should be my late evenings and early mornings with a bit of afternoon tucked in for good measure. However, it is not.

My husband, amazing and talented as he is, has just landed a great job that allows me more time to be at home. I am now given an abundance of extra time I never thought I had to dedicate completely to the pursuit of steno. With one caveat: two little girls. Yes. I have two little girls to take care of and they aren't the best at understanding that I need an hour to practice. So I am now given the task to become very creative in how I will handle adding more steno time into my day while keeping little mischief makers away from the walls with crayons.

I also have a huge, ever increasing, never ending list of things I need to change, modify, learn, re-learn, etc., about stenography. For example, as a result of a forum question, I now have to train myself to cap words with the cap next stroke instead of the cap previous stroke I've been using since embarking on this training. Not to mention having to increase my accuracy, which is quite honestly not anywhere near real time ready, work on problem words, theory review, finger spelling, briefs, phrases, solving problems like: why am I still writing improvement in 3 strokes? To anyone who is learning this skill or is working as a stenographer, this list is par for the course and just something you do to be a well-rounded writer. I sort of just included it so everyone else might understand that it can be overwhelming and maybe take a little pity on me when I'm a grouch because I just don't have enough time to get it all done!

Or kindly bring me coffee dressed in a top hat and tails... (Hint intended for husband)

So here I am in a new quarter, but the same old class, with a laundry list of to-dos if I ever hope to be half the stenographer that Stan Sakai, Jade King, Lisa Knight, Mirabai Knight-Lascoutx or the other numerous amazing stenographers I've had the opportunity to learn, even the smallest of tips from in my journey thus far. Add on to that a daughter who is 5 and whom I will be homeschooling this year, still a part-time job at the shop, and some editing work for Caption Colorado, and I've still got quite a plate full even with my husband's amazing new job.

You know what? I'm ready for it this time. I've got a ton to do, and a deadline of October to do it in. I work best with deadlines and under pressure. Hell, I turned out outstanding creative fashion articles for magazines the night before the deadline, scored As on any and all essays and reports I wrote the night before they were due, and wrote half a novel in two nights. I can get from 180 to 225 in 3.5 months, no problem.

And when I do...

I'm getting a huge f--ing tattoo! (In a place that is easily concealed for professional environments...) ;)

The Wave is calling me. Leave your notes, suggestions, and if you like, encouragement below. I'll probably need it when I'm feeling like kicking that machine out the window and watching a marathon of Black Books or Firefly...

-L.A.

The Culture of Now:

I want to address a topic that has been bothering me for a while now. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to think of an appropriate platform in which to discuss this topic, i.e. Facebook, Steno Groups, or even face-to-face chats. The reason being this; I don't want to come off as a complete D-bag or judgmental prick. So I will attempt to discuss my opinion on this subject below and do feel free to chime in with yours in the comments. I would love to know if others are on the same thought wave as I am, or if, in fact, I am being a needlessly judgmental.

I have noticed a shift in our culture that has many factors that come into play. This shift is the one that took people's ingenuity, drive for education and information gathering out of their own hands and capability and placed it into a high-speed, instant gratification, internet forum. What I am talking about is the fact that, rarely, do people seem to do their own research or information gathering. Why would one spend a couple of hours Googling, going to the library, or reading books on a topic they want to know more about when they can now simply make a post on Facebook or some other forum and have their question answered by a thousand-plus people who may or may not be truly educated on the topic?

This also feeds into the culture a tendency to believe whatever the majority of people are saying on one topic or another.

Where I have noticed this irritating trend the most has been on Steno-based groups and forums. The reason I say irritating is because my personal news feed from these groups is always full with redundant questions about salary, job market, what's the best theory, should I do this, should I do that, I need someone to hold my hand and validate everything I do and think that pertains to my individual career choice! Most of which can be answered by a simple Google search.

Look, I know that sounded very D-bagish and the solution is easy, take it out of my news feed if it bothers me so much. People learn differently, people need encouragement and guidance, especially in the field of Steno as it can be so independent that one feels lost or alone in the pursuit of this career. I get all of that. I am not saying I haven't needed instant information or encouragement just like the thousands of those people in the Steno groups. I am, afterall, one of those thousands.

What I would like to talk about is the broader issue of reliance on instant information without doing one's own research. I think this is a dangerous cultural trend whether it be Steno related or having to do with life in general.

In regards to stenography, how did people choose this career? Did you hear a rumor that it paid really well for minimal education requirements and go right to the nearest stenography school and sign up? Would you commit to buying a house without ever seeing it, evaluating it, looking at the neighborhood around it, schools in the district, the size of the yard, etc., based on someone near you saying here's a number you can call to get into this great house, but you have to buy it now. WHAT???

Again, I'm not saying things don't come up along the way that you will need immediate guidance for or a quick answer to a question, but let's evaluate the over saturation of useless information on internet forums and groups. When 12 people within a month have posted something like, "What is the base salary for court reporters?" and then 20-35 people respond to each post with a different number based on location, type of job, etc., you then have an over saturation of pretty much useless information because it depends on where YOU want to work, what type of work YOU want to be doing, how many hours YOU want to put into a steno job. These things cannot be fettered out, specifically, on an internet forum or group. The responses you will receive will be based on OTHER people's experiences and specific career paths. Would it not be better to sit down and make a list of what YOU want out of a career and take those few moments you would otherwise spend posting on a group or looking at funny cat videos and Google yourself some answers from reliable sources on the World Wide Web?

I think it is wonderful to learn from others who have experience doing what you want to be doing. For example, stenography. There are several people I admire very much in the field of Steno. They are all doing very different things with this skill and are amazingly successful. I want to know everything that is in their heads that is steno related. The forums, groups, blogs, and other automatic information generating places on the interwebs are a great way to accomplish this goal. However, do I take everything they say as biblical reference to be followed to a T? No. What works for one person may work for me, but it may not. That's where the research part comes in.

Do I want to write short because some speed champion does and I'll never pass the RPR if I don't write everything short? NO. Because that doesn't work for me. Do I want to write short because 35 working reporters responded to my post asking, "Should I shorten my writing?" NO. Because I will only get 35 different or similar responses that all really end in the same response, which is do what works for YOU!

That is the cultural shift I am talking about. We all want an instant answer to the tiniest questions because we are all striving for some sort of real human connection that validates what we are doing and how we are doing it.

All I am really saying is that maybe all of us should take a moment before posting a question or discussion topic and evaluate a few things: 1) Can I find my answer in a few moment's Google search? 2) Has this topic previously been addressed? 3) Will my question help me as well as others to have a variety of answers from those with experience? 4) Can I take the information offered in response as a place to start thinking about how it will apply to me? Or to give me somewhere to start looking for more information that will be beneficial?

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.”  ~ Lloyd Alexander

Hopin', Wishin', and Dreamin'...

Today I have begun to contact local court reporting firms, again, to see about any available positions in their production department. I have even offered myself as a volunteer in order to get into a firm and learn the ropes. At this point in my reporting journey, I just really, really want to be immersed in anything to do with reporting.

I also have the opportunity to sit in with an official at Adams County. I am really nervous about that and haven't yet set a date for it. I would prefer to get my CaseCat (that's the software I use for real time translation and transcript production) loaded and ready to go on my new laptop, as the one I am currently using for my school work has to have an incredibly loud fan in order for it to not blow up. So I have put doing that off, mostly because being in a huge court like that is a slightly terrifying prospect. However, I know I'll have to get over it and get in there.

I have also re-applied at the City of Golden for the position of court clerk. I have previously applied for this position and unfortunately failed the QWERTY typing test by 1% accuracy. I typed 50 wpm at 94% accuracy on a test that was about the landmass size and population density of Finland. Seriously, lots of numbers. I kept thinking, why can't I just hook up my steno machine? I am usually around the 60 wpm mark on a QWERTY, having spent my formative typing days playing Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, while other kids were doing normal things like playing real video games. I also left the typing test in a bit of a state, tears, that is. I really, really want this job.

Ha. I remember this screen so well. I was a racer, a winner, the best typist in my 8th grade class.

The court clerk position would offer my family so much more than we currently have from my shop job in the local mall.

On the school side of things, I have really tried to be more consistent with my practice this week. I am right at the cusp of getting out of my 160s for good. I have 2 literary and 2 QA tests to pass before I am officially in the 180 class.

I will pass these test this week. I will. I will also get this job.

There are my positive vibes being thrust out into the universe. Success is around the corner.

Secrets of the RPR revealed:

Not really. I didn't learn any real secrets. Sorry to disappoint. However, I did get to get a feel for what the RPR is like here in Denver as I volunteered my Saturday to help out with the big test.

The test is usually held at Prince Institute - Rocky Mountains, formerly Denver Academy of Court Reporting. It is a small campus that is very near and dear to my heart as that is where I began my journey of becoming, hopefully, one day, a kick-arse international reporter. However, this small and friendly campus is going to be closing its doors soon. Having a small amount of students on its roster, and a huge company like Stenograph owning the school, it wasn't bound to last long as a brick and mortar. There are some very dedicated and caring teachers that I will be sad to see go as a result of this change.

However, what I really wanted to write about was the experience of volunteering to help with the running of the RPR. If you are a student, I highly recommend that you do this should the opportunity present itself to you. I spent most of the day chatting with working reporters, a freelance firm owner, and CCRA and NCRA members. The sheer amount of knowledge, humorous stories, and advice that I received from spending a day hanging around with people I want to be like someday was incredible. That, alone, is worth any number of Saturdays. Not to mention, had I not been at the RPR today, I would have been stuck in the shop convincing customers to add on a pair of tights to their dress purchase. Doesn't that sound like as much fun as eating nails?

So, what to expect. If you're like me, and want to know what the environment is like because you're hoping to take the test in the fall, then read on, dear reader:

You will arrive at least 30 minutes early for the test. You will bring your ID, your confirmation e-mail from NCRA telling you all the important bits, especially your NCRA ID number (do not get this wrong, it causes all sorts of headaches for all involved), your writer (duh), a printer, and a USB drive. You may want a fan for your laptop, bottles of water, a power cord for your laptop, your own surge protector, and any other accessories that make writing on your machine work. Also, bring your own practice material that is already saved somewhere to your computer.

Don't count on a testing site to have wireless, or for that matter, any kind of internet connection. They don't always have that available depending on how the test is administered.

Also, this is very, very important: come in with a good attitude.

I observed quite the range of attitudes and demeanors in those taking the test today. I guarantee you, those who came in smiling, for the most part, walked out smiling.

You will have time to warm up and practice a bit beforehand. However, don't rely on that to be your only practice. Common sense here, people.

You may end up practicing in a different room than you test in. Be prepared to move your stuff to another room to test in, and yet another to transcribe in. Try to not let this be a bee in your bonnet. I know this test is make-or-break for a lot of people, but really, in real life you may have to switch rooms every once in a while, it's not the end of the world, I promise.

This time, the tests were on a previously prepared CD. I didn't go into the testing room, so I can't tell you what it's like in there. I imagine, since it is at my school, that it is a lot like it was taking a test while in school: You find a place, set up, and write to a dictation. All the while, trying to attempt to keep your hands from shaking, your mind from going blank, you know, all those lovely test anxiety symptoms we've all had. Then you will save to a USB, delete all testing material from every nook and cranny on your computer and machine, and head into a room to print your notes and transcribe whatever legs of the test you would like. 

You will then turn in your notes and transcripts in an envelope, or fill out a special paper stating that you are declining to transcribe. As with all tests, I urge you to transcribe. It's good to do it, even if you didn't get it. Hey, you never know, perhaps you were closer than you thought.

One of the testers had a good response to this: "I'm paying for this test, so no matter how awful it is, I'm making them (NCRA) grade it, make them earn my money."

Also, if you are a student and in your 200-225 classes. Take this test ASAP. Do it while you're in school. Everyone I spoke to couldn't stress enough the importance of getting this certification out of the way while still in school. The reason being, you are continually practicing and you are in test-mode anyway. You test every week in school, right? I do. I'm sure that this isn't really all that different from the 5 minute literary, jury charge, and testimony tests you are used to taking each week. It just costs more to take, and can lead to your potential job placement. Also, working reporters don't really have time to practice between writing at jobs and producing transcripts. Don't make it harder for yourself if you don't have to.

Now, I may sound very cavalier about this whole thing, and that may change later when I am actually the one taking the test. Who knows. I hope that I stay a bit more on the positive side about it, though. Really, ask yourselves, when it comes down to it, if you fail, what's the harm? Luckily, you don't have to pass all 3 legs at once anymore, you get another chance, you can take 3 times to pass, if needed.

Breathe. Remember to breathe. You're not a failure if you didn't get it this time. Breathe. You can do it. Breathe. Imagine yourself back in your 80 speeds, did you ever think you would be here getting ready to walk into the RPR test? Breathe. How many other people in the world can take a different language, write it on a piano-like machine, and do this verbatim at 225, 180, 200 words per minute? Let alone, 60 words per minute? BREATHE.

Those were my experiences and observations today at the RPR. I hope to see more of you lovely people in the fall when I'll be among the test takers, trying hard to remember to just breathe.

6 a.m. Quarterly Earnings Edit and... Out of coffee!

     I may have said, that I'm finishing up with the training for an editing position with Caption Colorado. If not, now I have. It is the best way I could find to get some portion of any limb; foot, hand, finger, in with the nation's largest captioning company while still in school.
    
     One Craigslist ad response, quick interview and test to gauge my knowledge on the difference between; their, they're, and there, a boiling hot and stuffy 8 hour day of training (unpaid), two lengthy tests on the Thomson-Reuter's style guide, and two practice calls to be edited, and there I was, awake at the most un-Godly hour imaginable with no more coffee.
    
     What lovely bit of experience can bring a girl, who thrives on at least 10 hours of sleep, out to greet the sunrise? How about an hour long earnings call for a furniture company? Not exciting enough for you? I'm shocked. (Insert feigned surprise.)
   
      Luckily for me, I don't really have to listen to the content of the call as it is happening. My only concern is to get, verbatim, all of the words stated while driving the media player with a pedal, whose constant jerks to play or stop the audio remind me of the few times I attempted to drive a manual vehicle. I drive an automatic. Enough said.
    
     A one hour call takes me approximately 3.5 hours to edit. That is with an outstanding captioner paving the way for me. I was so nervous this morning that I almost vurped (see Wreck-It-Ralph if you would like to better understand that reference). I had a bit of trouble figuring out just where to yell into my computer my information to the conference operator that would allow me access to the conference. Three tries later, I was groggily listening to the eloquent hold music that was obviously Beethoven, as the thunderous swell of instruments rose to full force in order to wake my tired arse up. This was just in the nick of time as the call had begun.
    
     After 5 minutes of audio has been recorded the editors, me, get the transcript flowing onto the computer screen. And we're off to edit away. Before the call even begins I have to pull up information about the company who is holding the conference. I know that captioners and reporters have to really research their jobs beforehand, I don't. I just have to make sure the product names, employee and analyst names, and industry specific terms are all correctly written. This really only takes a few minutes of popping back and forth from Google to the company's press release and website.
    
     In order for this job to be worth the amount of time spent to produce a transcript, I have to get to Tier 1, which is tops in editing and turnaround time. In order to do that, I have to have a Q-score (Q for Quality, it's the letter of the week) of 23. My first Q-score from the first practice file was 356! My second, 340. And today, well it was 113. That's f---ing improvement!
    
     I have another of the same type of call to edit at the same un-Godly hour tomorrow. I am enjoying learning how to produce an outstanding transcript, but I am not sure if I will be able to hang on to this position too much beyond the training period. It is an argument I am weighing heavily in my head.
    
     Reasons to do it:
          - It's Caption Colorado.
          - Great experience in editing financial calls.
          - Some research and prep experience.
          - Can be done around my schedule.
          -  Great dictionary building references.
     Reasons not to do it:
          - It is taking away from time I would otherwise have to speed build.
          - My husband may have a nervous breakdown as a result of not having a break from entertaining two lovely little ladies aged 3 and 5.
          - I think all I do is work, school, work, school, rinse, repeat.

This was last summer, actually, but it is one of my favorite pics.

          - My daughter just said to me, today, "We don't usually get any time together and I like having time with you mommy." 
   
      Rule number one, which I put down myself as I began this journey towards becoming a court reporter: Just as long as it doesn't take away from my being involved in my daughters' lives. That was actually singular possessive at the time the rule was written, as I only had one daughter. It has since been revised to incorporate both little lovelies.
   
      If I only had the editing gig and school, it would be ideal. However, with the added responsibility of my retail job, I just don't know if this will work out for the best for all involved.
    
     So I will finish training and put down my availability for the next week, little as that may be, and go from there. If I can get a call or two a quarter, I am a happy soon-to-be stenographer.
    
     As always, onwards and upwards.

How far I have come and how lazily I have left this blog unattended to:

Here I am embarking on year 3 of my court reporting education and I am only in 160/180 speeds. I say only as if it has been a long, arduous, uphill climb to get here and as though I had expected to be anywhere further along than I am now. Well, you're damn right, I did. I thought I would be well on my way to starting a fruitful career as a court reporter. Perhaps, not the glamorous life of an international reporter quite yet, but definitely doing a few depos or subbing for officials. SOMETHING. Anyway, I am pretty much guaranteed to be fully into the 180 class within the first 2 weeks of this quarter. Which, by the way, are now only a mere 10 weeks long. There have been a lot of changes since I last wrote anything on this blog at all.

Changes at school: My school is no longer called DACR it is PIRM (Prince Institute Rocky Mountains) and is owned by Stenograph. I have a minimum of 10 hours per week of practice to get in in order to pass at midterm. I am still online. I am actually enjoying my speed building teacher as she believes in challenging us with live dictation every week.

Changes in my court reporting aspirations: I found a whole online community of lovely reporters and students of stenography through Facebook and some other sites and have begun to feel less like the creepy lady that hides out behind a computer screen all by herself, speaking and reading some kind of language no one can really understand (bringing back the Stenglish!). I also found an amazing reporter named Jade King (you must read her blog: http://jadeluxe.wordpress.com/) as it is much more entertaining than this one. Also, she is one rocking stenographer and I would give my left leg to have a career similar to hers one day. I want to be an international reporter. I really, really, do. I still really want to do anything that will land me a cottage somewhere in England.

Changes in everyday life: Not many. My daughters are 3 and 5 now and are the smartest, loveliest, and sometimes most exhausting things in the world. My husband is still making increasingly more and more beautiful guitars as time has gone on. I'm still a shop girl, but I also get to be an editor of quarterly financial calls for Caption Colorado. Yes, I wrote that correctly, Caption Colorado! It's like the mailroom or the gofer bit of working for Caption Colorado ( I love throwing that in there). However, it is a foot in the door. Well, hopefully. Right now it really feels like a finger in the door: painful but it is holding a crack of hope open.

So there is an update thus far. Spring is beginning to come forth and here I sit with a blizzard trying to force itself upon us. Sorry to my 2 readers who may have been wondering if I had fallen off of the face of the Earth, you know there are maps and such to prove it's round; no need to worry.

I will attempt, going forward, to keep up with this on a more regular basis. Off to tea, a book, and some much needed rest.

Is Anyone Still There?

Wow. It has been a LONG time since I have posted anything here. I would be surprised if anyone actually read this. I am still trudging along on my journey toward becoming a court reporter. I am now, amazingly, in my 120 wpm speeds. I have a little over a year to finish my schooling in order to receive my degree. I feel that I have come a long way. However, 225 wpm still seems like it is quite a way off from now.

I am currently trying to recapture the fire I once had in my youth to get things done, to change myself, to make a difference in one person's life who is not immediately related to me.

Onward and upward!