The boyfriend and I made homemade pizza and watched Dharma and Greg tonight. This was delightful and fun! I introduced him to my mom's homemade pizza sauce, which he liked. This is yet another reason why he's a keeper. I've added it to the growing list. :)
The not-so-fun part of my day was that I got the chance to head over to Bethel's library and deal with their librarians. I couldn't get into the articles in their ERIC database for my work project (because I was searching from Metro State because I'm really bright, too [not]). Our conversation went like this:
"Have you created an account?"
"I'm an alum, and I gave you some money and you gave me a card; does that count?"
"Did you create an account? An account?"
"Gave you money?"
"Created an account?"
"I don't know what that means."
"Then you didn't create one. Here, do it here."
"Do I use the barcode on my library card or my old ID number?"
"I don't know. Hey [student worker], does she use her barcode? Can she do this if she's just a community memeber? I don't know what you should do. Here, I'll go get you logged in. What do you think, [student worker]."
While this was going on, I typed in my old student ID number and created an account. Then they didn't believe that it had really worked, so I logged into a computer while they debated whether or not I could create the account I had already, in fact, created.
On the up side, they showed me how to operate the database and request articles interlibrary loan from the comfort of my own home on my own wireless. This means that I don't have to go back anytime soon, so that makes me happy.
It was an OK day, after all. :)
Posted by LoWriter at June 8, 2007 11:11 PMActually you apparently still had an account from when you were a student, and when you requested to keep your email account for life. If you hadn't done that, you wouldn't have been able to "create" it (which usually for alumni just adds the ability to access things locally for now rather than only remotely), which is probably what confused them. It's annoying how often I end up explaining the criteria to those who are supposed to be able to assist with things (rather simple rules - people who have accounts can keep using them, those who don't can't yet will be able to get them eventually, if a person doesn't remember they can just try to use it like you did).
Posted by: Jeremy at June 9, 2007 12:27 AMHooray for homemade pizza!!!
Posted by: Ben at June 9, 2007 02:13 AMJeremy-- Hey, I admire you for trying to explain it to them! Our IT department has had huge turnover lately, so it's pretty much anybody's guess when I have a question. It would be nice to have someone around who knows something.
At any rate, I've gotten good at the "try it and see what happens" standard. We have a similar system at my school, where students have to activate an account to use the computers, and I had a hunch that since my email was still active, my ID and PIN probably were too. :) And I decided that since they stared at me like I was crazy when I said I'd gotten a community member library card (and that I was an alum), I would just try it rather than asking if it made a difference. Thanks for letting me know what happened! And again, I celebrate the fact that you know what you're doing!
Ben-- I'm so glad that you enjoyed the pizza. :)
Posted by: Lo at June 9, 2007 10:53 AMI just love the fact that the staff member doesn't know as much as the student worker. Seriously what is up with that?? Ah, reminds me of my days at Bethel...
mmmm, pizza!
Posted by: 10lees at June 9, 2007 01:20 PMActually, the student worker was the one who argued that I shouldn't have been able to make an account. So, I'm not actually sure she knew what was going on, either. :) Anyway, she was far too busy surfing the web to actually look up for more than a second at a time. Clearly she had more important matters to attend to.
And, yes, yum, pizza indeed. I'll say it--I make a mean pizza with a little help from mom's secret sauce. (Seriously, she has no receipe. If you ask her how to make it, she'll tell you she boils tomatoes and adds a little bit of everything from the spice rack. This is false. She doesn't add food coloring or vanilla extract or any number of other things, but she can't tell you what those things are. Plus, it takes her days, so you can't just stand and write down everything she throws in. It never tastes exactly the same two years in a row, kind of like wine, and it's a little sweet-tasting.)
Hey, 10, if you come out for the reunion, I can make you pizza, too. (Dr. G, you and yours can come over as well) :) I don't think I am going to said reunion, but we could have festivities of our own. (State Fair, Patina/tea source, etc.) :) If facebook is a preview of the awkward small talk I'm going to have to make, I think I'm gonna have to pass. ;) Maybe I'll change my mind by then. They put my info in the contact book even though I didn't give them permission to do so.
My favorite part of facebook so far is the people who contact me and say, "I had no idea how to get in touch with you." Well, I have lived in the same place for 5 years, still have Bethel email, and I haven't changed my cell phone number since I was a junior in college. I'm also listed in the phone book. You're so right; I'm really tough to track down. I bet the CIA would even have trouble.
Posted by: Lo at June 9, 2007 02:15 PM