Today was a day of trying to teach this old dog new tricks. And I’m not sure I’m trainable!

When I started this journal last summer, part of the reason I did it was to teach myself how to use HTML. I don’t have one of those editors, and I work on a Mac, which in many ways puts me at a disadvantage, because lots of the programs out there aren’t Mac compatible.

But I like my Mac (it comes from the old days of learning on an Apple 2e, then an LC2). All my work files are on a Mac, so to write reports at home I need to stick with the Mac. Even though I know I could cross-platform it’s just way too much effort. I can only print at school because the printer I have here doesn’t want to work. It’s a pain in the ass.

So I think I’ve gotten the hang of basic HTML, I’d still like to learn more, but I’m comfortable with using it and running to the "Dummies" book when I freak out. I don’t need a program for clip art, there’s lots of free stuff out there.

Back in September I was asked to do the web page for my building, and was promised stipends, a computer and all sorts of perks. None of which materialized, due to state funding that never passed.

The powers-that-be were also determining what they wanted the overall look of the school site to be. They felt that while each building should be able to put up whatever information they wanted to, the look of each page needed to be uniform in color, font. Layout etc.

The powers-that-be, however, are incapable of making these decisions. So nothing was done. They sent us to a one-day training session in Boston, that was really meant for businesses, not schools, then we languished.

Not that I needed any extra work.

Which brings us to today.

They called together all of us who were appointed web masters and decided to train us. They are going to use Front Page Express as our WYSIWYG editor. It stinks. Why are we using it? Because we have it and it’s free.

Which is the reason most school systems do anything they do.

I don’t like it.

But I know it’s the old dog thing. I just don’t feel as if it allows me to make the page look the way that I really want the page to look. Fortunately I found how to get in and view the page as HTML so I can fool around with it if I want to.

I think this threw the woman who was doing the training a bit. But then she was thrilled when we ran into a problem and I could help her look at the HTML coding and found why the links weren’t working.

Of course no one else knew what I was talking about, but that was alright. I’d rather be able to do it my way. Had I started out using an editor it wouldn’t have bothered me at all, but I get so stubborn when I like things one way that I don’t want to change. Maybe if the editor we were going to use had more bells and whistles I’d be jumping up and down.

Of course I do see the advantage of just typing a document and dropping it into a program. I guess it will be easier when people start handing us disks to load onto the page. The one thing that we have all agreed on is that we aren’t going to act as secretaries who type up the documents, we’ll just be sure it gets on the web page.

Of course today we didn’t have all the components that we needed, like no FTP (which I’ve never tried) and that may be a problem later on. I guess they plan to show us that in August.

Another one of the problems that I will continue to shout about is that I don’t have a computer in my office that has Internet access, and until I get that I will NOT be doing a web page. I’m not going to be fighting with other teachers and kids to get on one of the computers in the library.

If they want me to do this they’d better give me the tools!

dee and I went out to celebrate her freedom tonight. Today was her last day of school. We had lobster dinners and then went to Wal-Mart.

I bought fabric. I have no idea why. It was calling to me. I think what I’d like to do is make a quilt, but I don’t think any of my sewing machines (I have three!) is actually working. I haven’t sewn in years, even though for a while I was really into it. I think my years of making costumes for my musicals killed my interest. I’ll never forget making 32 poodle skirts, or 44 tops for the girls in the chorus of "Mame". Although it may have been the 88 felt boot tops (to make regular shoes look like riding boots) that finally did me in.

Whatever the case, I know have a slew of red white and blue fabric. I was also thinking of using it to make book covers for mini books, which I intend to make this summer. (yeah, I know…just add it to the list!)