Hi Dale, check out The Brief Zone !
Great Drilling Material For Any Steno Theory...
www.thebriefzone.com

Hi Dale. Wow, sorry for the late reply. I've been so busy lately with work. So how are classes? Have you reached 200 wpm yet? Remember to keep on practice, practice, practice.
Take care until...........

Hi Dale. Sorry it took so long to reply (March?) ...wow, that's late. Truth is I rarely visited this site until recently. I am a transcriptionist and I guess you are in training to be a scopist. Since you have 10 years of work life to look forward to, I say go for whatever makes you happy, challenges you. I am within one year of my husband retiring so I will probably do less and less work. I have always worked though so it's inconceivable to me that I would wake up one morning and not work. But...it's not like you forget to tie your shoestrings or ride a bike, so I suppose it's something I could always pull out of my many hats and do again...
good luck to you in your endeavors. I bet it's nice and cool in Michigan. I'm in central KY and it is in the muggy 80s today....
Tonja

Hi Dale,

Sorry it took so long to reply, it's been a busy weekend. Congratulations on making it so far in school and on captioning, that should help you with you school. I don't really know how I got into international work, I sort of fell into it, and now a lot of agencies and friends know what I do, so I get calls from all over. I also have a few law firms that request me on all of their work. As far as advice for school; practice, practice, and use all materials at your disposal. Be prepared BEFORE you sit to take a test, that will make you more relaxed and confident DURING the test. As far as advice for international work; remember CR is a profession, and they pay more for you to be away from home, please don't take international work for "reduced rates." You are not going on vacation, you are not sightseeing, you will be working all the time. You also need to have two complete sets of equipment, and you need to be able to get it on the plane WITH YOU. A lot of newbie court reporters accept international work without knowing what is involved or how to bid, so they spoil it for those of us who make our living here. Please do your homework before accepting these gigs: )
Hope you are well!
Robert

Hi Dale, that would be nice for us to have lunch and I look forward to meeting you and your family. Keep up the good work in steno and remember to practice, practice, practice.........:)

Thanks I've been hearing great things from RPR's about Eclipse software. I have to start doing some research so I can see the various features it offers. I really think that the software must be all or better than CaseCat or everyone wouldn't say so.

Dale, I got your comment and I am VERY excited about the stenomaster theory. Very good suggestion. I am grateful! thank you, and drop by any advice you have, because I'm all ears. Have a great day and let me know if you need help, my e-mail is karebear7006@yahoo.com

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DALE,

Happy Father's Day

A dad is a mender of toys, a leader of boys.
He's a changer of fuses, a healer of bruises.
He's a mover of couches, a healer of ouches.
He's a hanger of screens, a counselor of teens.
He's a pounder of nails, a teller of tales.
He's a dryer of dishes, a fulfiller of wishes.
Bless him, O Lord.

--Jo Ann Heidbreder

Dale, the website is California Court Reporter's Association, click on Resources, scroll down to Free Online Dictation, then click on www.stenospeed.com.

Dale, I was like that in steno classes. I live, breathe, and eat steno. I was always on that machine getting like two or three hours of sleep and then back on it. I used to practice by listening to anything that I hear, even the sports, and that can be real fast. If I hear someone speaking I would be stroking that in my head, even now I'm still doing it. Sometimes my fingers are moving automatically, you know, like I'm in church, listening to the preacher and if he is at a real nice speed I say to myself wish I had my machine.
Another great way to practice is copy work. That is stroking from written material at your pace and look up in your dictionary for briefs and phrases. You need to start incorporating a lot of that, because when you are out there taking a transcript and it is coming real fast, those briefs and phrases come in real handy.
Lastly, remember to practice, practice, practice, practice..... You can start out by doing copy work that helps with accuracy also slow takes, then you get into it with starting your speeds. Speed tapes can be bought at this website "courtreportingdvd.com" and you can find it on the California Court Reporters Association, I'll send that in another post. I wish you all the best. Have a great weekend

Hi Dale, I called your daughter and we spoke for a while. We took each other phone numbers, and promised to keep in touch. She is a very pleasant person. So, how are you doing with your steno classes?

I have lived in a few places in Michigan. I grew up in Houghton, home of Michigan Tech. In lower Michigan I have resided in Mendon and Grant, then moved back up to the UP to Norway, now I live near Pittsburgh.
I am not sure who I am pulling for in hockey since the Pens are the Pittsburgh team and the Red Wings are my old hockey team.

I got a new laptop with Vista on it...don't do it! It is taking me a while to figure out all of the quirks. What a pain. Anyways, I'm just working and living. Busy as can be. How are you doing?

I was thinking I was the oldest student on this site, but you have me beat by a few years. It is very nice to meet you. I also use to live in Michigan, both the upper and the lower, I prefer the lower to the upper.

Thanks Dale. I see that you will soon be reaching your goal of 225 wpm, hang in there! Your daughter resides here? That is cool. What's her name? I could give her a call sometime. Have a great evening.

Your music Rocks! Can't get enough of Zep! Brings back memories of my childhood. I am close with my parents (who are very young - Dad just turned 50)

Hi Dale! Thanks for the message. I totally play the "steno in my head" game when I listen to talk radio on the way to and from school! I have "met" some great people here! Have a wonderful holiday weekend yourself : )
~Kyla

Hi Dale,
Sorry I haven't reponded but I've been so busy and haven't been on here in so long. Hope everything's going fine. Gail subs a lot in our court building.

oops! Sorry, I just seen it. You use Eclipse.