It seems you need a password for everything these days and I'm getting darn tired of having to remember the many versions of mine. You're supposed to start with a basic model that's easy to remember but that no one else can figure out. Those two things may seem mutually exclusive, but hey, the password gurus must know what they're talking about, as evidenced by the many rules about prudent password behavior or "ppb". To make your password more secure, they suggest using a combination of dashes, symbols, upper and lower case letters and numbers.
On one site, as I created a new password, they would advise me on the strength of each version. On my first attempt, when I typed in the minimum 6 characters, I was not surprised that the strength was determined to be WEAK. I added two numbers and was relieved to see that the strength had changed to MODERATE. Although I felt better, I thought to myself, "what kind of underachiever would be satisfied with MODERATE?" I changed some letters from upper to lower case and added another symbol. WHAT?? It was still classified as MODERATE! I felt as if I were back in school taking the SAT. My secure enrollment on this web site depended on the strength of my password! I finally pulled out all the stops. I used upper and lower case letters, numbers, dashes, you name it, and triumphantly earned the STRONG rating. The problem was, distracted as I had been by the creative process, I hadn't written down the 13 character password and had forgotten it! What a dilemma. The more secure the password, the harder it was to remember. Furthermore, even if I had thought to write it down, would I really want to be encumbered by this albatross everytime I wanted to access that account? I don't even remember what site it was for, but I finally decided it wasn't worth the trouble.
The subsequent problem is how to keep track of your passwords. We're told to write them down in a "safe place", but for me, the most convenient place, near the computer, is also the least safe. Ironically, no one in my family cares about my feedback profile on Etsy or what impulse purchase I just made on Amazon and the tech support person from Ebay can access most of my information from out in cyberspace, so why am I hiding my passwords in the first place?
Copyright 2011 KKR
To test the mettle of my intrepid band of followers, I haven't posted for about two weeks. If you're still with me, I applaud you and thank you!
I think there's an expression that "life get's in the way" and that's what has kept me from posting recently. This kind of life getting in the way is the good stuff, though. Listening to a dissertation defense, college spring break, even helping with a move to the Big Apple. Now that's livin'!
With two months of relatively uninterrupted time in my future, allow me to share with you my plan. I will make two sets of curtains, paint the hallway, re-paint the bathroom in a color that I like, organize 25 years of files, find my dream job, lose weight, clean the garage, start listing things on Ebay, take guitar lessons, and organize the shed. I'm sure there are a few things I've forgotten, but I have several to-do lists floating around that need to be condensed.
By the way, in lieu of actually getting anything done, I highly recommend making a list. It is not only satisfying, it takes time that could otherwise be spent doing something on said list. It's a win-win!
Well, all for now. I will report on my progress from time to time.
Copyright 2011 KKR
"Hammer and a Nail" - The Indigo Girls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTI2GGNFR_U
I would wager that I have taken worrying to heights never before achieved. Of course I worry about "normal" things like important decisions, my children, the environment, or not having thanked the hotel manager for his assistance in reserving a room. I suspect worrying is a more common affliction to women than men, and yet, even my female friends have had to encourage me not to sweat the small stuff; to "let things go".
One of the major sources of concern is anything that comes out of my mouth. In particular, I often feel the need for a rewind button on the things I say to my boys. "Did you brush your teeth?, please don't sit on the arm of the couch, don't make fun of your brother's hair, do you have something in mind for your girlfriend's birthday?, your wife's birthday?, did you wash your hands?" A whole litany of unnecessary comments. Thankfully, most of these questions are merely a blip on their radar, forgotten moments after the last syllable has left my mouth. For other more egregious comments, since there is no rewind button, I handle such situations by apologizing for what I've said. Their way of letting me know that I hadn't bothered them in the first place is to groan. Sometimes now, they are so conditioned to expect an apology that they will save me the effort and advise me in advance that none is warranted.
It's natural to care so much about one's own family, but I worry about casual comments I make to complete strangers. I wasn't kidding about not thanking the hotel manager. Coming into town recently the night of the big blizzard, my son wasn't scheduled to arrive until 4:00a.m. There was no way for anyone to pick him up at the bus station because the roads were so treacherous. Thankfully, I was able to make a reservation for him at a nearby hotel. The two hotel employees I talked with were very accommodating despite the lateness of the hour and the number of stranded travelers trying to reserve rooms. As I finished making the reservation, the manager said "thank you" but I had slipped out of the conversational rhythm. Instead of thanking him, I just said good bye and hung up. Now, it was 4:00 in the morning, so I was too tired to lose sleep over it, but I managed to beat myself up for the blunder for a good 10 minutes.
Wise friends have told me over and over again, that unless I am purposely running roughshod over people, I shouldn't worry so much about what I say. Lately I have tried harder than ever to put this into practice. I am taking baby steps, but think I may be on the right track.
The other day I said something relatively benign to an acquaintance but immediately regretted it. Instead of calling her to awkwardly apologize for a slight she probably didn't even notice, I said to myself, "let it go". And it worked!
Copyright 2011 KKR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ZSIeSsmwI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman
