I started the week getting into work on time instead of early. There's always so much to do, but there was one thing I'd promised to get done over the weekend that was still pending.
For about a month now, I've been working with our Web Manager (Bill) to put a RealAudio version of a news and events program on the web. I've been recording for four weeks now, while Bill's gone through the difficult process of building a consensus that audio news would be a good thing. I had done a similar program when I worked in the Registrar's Office, and I'd wanted to expand to an events program on a University-wide scale.
I've been writing the script, recording and converting the file each week, and I promised Bill this past Friday that I'd have this week's piece ready first thing Monday morning. Unfortunately I didn't remember until about 11:30 last night (way too late to start assembling the script). So this was at the top of my list of things to do when I got in early this morning.
Except I didn't quite get in early like I'd wanted. That kind of thing happens, but life was complicated today by a meeting I had at 9:30. I needed to prepare for that too -- it's a project just getting started that we hope to complete before the month is done -- so I found myself with just enough time to get one task done before my meeting. And that was the project plan for the 9:30 meeting.
After the meeting I did a little prep for the script, but I had the WebTech meeting at 11, with preparation to be done for that. So it wasn't until lunch time that I finally got back to my office to finish recording the script.
The good news is that Bill got the final okay to "go live" with the audio link. So we're official! Now all we have to do is hope folks find the audio file (it's just a couple of pages down from the main University page).
I wanted to walk home tonight but it's been spitting off and on all day. By the time I finally changed into my jeans to walk home, it was raining just a bit. If I'd had my hat or an umbrella, I would have walked home anyway. Some of the best walks are in the drizzle (such a moody atmosphere when it's too dark too early). But with nothing to keep me dry, not even a coat, I threw my stuff in the car and drove home.
I spent a bit of tonight trying to figure out the card I need to purchase for my scanner. I got the scanner when I got my new home computer back in January, but the folks who sold me everything neglected to tell me I'd need a $200 card to plug the scanner into the computer. I'm trying to find a better price than the one Dell is quoting, but there are nuances in products like this and I might order (and get stuck with) the wrong card. So I'm going to give up on the search for this evening so I can sit back and read for another hour or two before going to bed. Perhaps Will Durant can turn a frustrated evening around.
© 1998 Kevin J.T. Creamer