Finding the Little Tricks

     Wow, my computer works a lot faster when it's been on all day. I was in here doing some other work earlier, so I just left it on. Now, as soon as I click on something, boom, it's on! Perhaps I'll give it time to warm up more in the future. I know I still need a new one, but I like finding little tricks that make my life a little more enjoyable. I've been using a lot more of the keystroke tricks that the computer has. I have never had any formal computer training. Everything I know I figured out on my own. For years I had no idea why some of the words on the toolbar had lines under a letter. I'm not really sure how you're supposed to know those things. It does make it a lot easier. Especially when I'm working on my music. Which is what I was working on earlier. I don't even know how I figured out the little keyboard tricks. I think I must have accidentally hit the Alt button once. Or maybe I had noticed some tricks using Excel. I'm not sure. I stumbled on to it somehow. Even after I learned some of them, I still thought it was specific to the program I was using. It took quite a bit longer to realize that some of them worked everywhere. I remember once hearing something on TV about employers not wanting people using the mouse because it slows them down so much. I remember thinking “What the hell else would they use?” Now I kind of get it. I can't imagine how many others there are that I don't know. All I know is that since I've found them, the little tricks make my computer time much more enjoyable.

     I started using them on the laptop. My laptop has this little roller type thing for a mouse. At first I hated it. I'm pretty comfortable using it now, but it's still a little annoying having to take my hands out of their normal position to scroll with that little thing. I found everything was taking so long. Then when I found the tricks, I was liberated. So much faster! But I still feel a little funny when I'm in here working on the computer. I definitely have to move my hands out of position to use the mouse here. It was almost as if I had to train my brain to think about the work I do in here the same way I do on the laptop. I was still going for the mouse every time I wanted to change something. I know there are instances when it's needed, but I wasn't using the tricks in here like I do on the laptop. It's weird. Like my brain was only associating those tricks with the laptop, the same way I originally thought that the tricks were only on a certain program. However, since I've been doing a lot more work in here, and since I was able to notice the differences I was making, I have, mostly, been able to make the transition. Today was the first day where I really feel like progress is actually being achieved on this front. I actually caught myself today, reminding myself that I could use the key tricks. My mind has been opened! And the weird thing is, that once I made the switch in my head, I felt a lot better about being in here. I like having the extra room, sitting in an actual chair, and as mentioned before, the larger screen.

     The other thing about little tricks is remembering them. They must be used often, in order to keep them in mind. I suppose the same can be said for any skill, but, anyway. I often work on a project for a little while, and then don't go back to it for a while. I get slightly disappointed every time because I have to remember what I was doing. And what little tricks I was using to make it flow faster. Remembering what I used to be doing is one of the reasons I have almost stopped abandoning things. Now I am so grateful that I'm in a situation where I can, if I want to, stick with a project until it's actually at some kind of natural stopping point. It's time consuming, but it's so much better to be able to just keep my workflow state engaged, instead of spending an hour or so trying to remember how I got in my groove in the first place. Which is why I'm stoked to be working in here again. My main band has been recording all of our practices since we met. We always start practice with a few improvised jams. I've been keeping them. We've been together for 18 years. We have 61 hours of improvised music! I had been making copies for everyone. Due to certain circumstances I'm not really sure of at this moment, I stopped making copies in 2018. The last one I passed out was what we call Jams #54. We have now completed Jams #61! I hope it's obvious that each hour is it's own disc. I had been putting them online, but not making copies. I finally asked a couple of weeks ago if anyone still wanted the hard copy, and only the drummer said yes. So now I'm working on getting the copies done, and I have to remember all the little tricks I was using 4 years ago! Oh well, at least now I have my new key tricks.