Thanks ; ) It is crazy having 3 children under 4. Twins are a HANDFUL!!!

I love your pets' names. We don't have any pets, becuase I can barely handle my kids LOL... My girls all have stuffed cats they can't live without. Bailey (my oldest) calls hers "Kitty", and Paris and Payton (the twins) both call theirs "Meow"
I am considering getting Bailey a pet for her upcoming 4th birthday, but it will have to be as low maintenance as possible... maybe a fish?

I'm sorry for not properly introducing myself. My name is Kyla.

And BTW, Congrats on being almost done! How long have you been in the program? How was interning?

Hi David.

Don't ever worry about writing too much! It is a pleasure to have something to read, and I appreciate any advice, knowledge, and experience you are willing to share.

All I can say about your ride on the CR School rollercoaster is... Wow. Kudos to you for getting through all of that.

I have had one heck of a week this week. I will have to elaborate on that later, though. Wednesdays I have night class, and I just got home to a house in shambles, and I don't want my husband to have to come home to this mess.

~Kyla

I thought I might tell you a little more about how I am doing in school with the hope that you may be ale to offer me some advice on how to improve...

I think I already mentioned I am at 130. I have already passed a 130JC. At my school each speed class is a range, so right now I am getting dictation at 120, 130, and 140. We have Straight matter (literary, congressional, legal opinion, etc.) Jury Charge, and 2 voice testimony (Q&A). Jury charge comes pretty easy for me--those are always my first passes. I have never passes a Q&A at my goal speed. (We are only allowed 1 JC and 1 Q&A at each speed, but you may use 1,2,or all 3 straight matter - 3 passes to advance to the next speed) I have been sitting in on the 90-110 class for extra Q&A practice, and I am able to get the 90 and the 100 and most of the time the 110. We also get 3V practice, but it is not timed and is read considerably slower than 120-140.
I was taught StenEd theory, which is conflict-free, but I often write conflicts during speed tests. I figure I am not going to be a realtime writer fresh out of school and I would rather get my speed and work on perfect writing as a paid reporter.
I tend to carry quite a few words, and I find that when I am "right on" the speaker I make really stupid careless mistakes, almost as if I have too much time to "think" (Does that make any sense at all?)
Nerves tend to get to me most on dictation for readback.
I am not able to practice everyday, and this is going to sound ridiculous, but whenever I have a ton of practice before the next school day (more than an hour or two), I feel like the next day, I am writing slower! And not as clearly!

One more thing: I am taking the CAT class and just learning how to use the software and build my dictionary.

So.... If you think, based on all this info, you might be able to offer me some tips, or see some way I can tweak anything, please let me know.

Hope to hear from you soon : )

~Kyla

Sorry about the typos in that last message... : ) I know they are annoying

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond in such detail. I feel a lot better knowing you can relate to my issues. I think your explanations sound right on the money.

Regarding the CAT class: so far I am a bit disappointed with it. We are in week 5 of the class and so far we haven't even covered dictionary building. We've learned how to make a cover sheet, a cert page, and we take dictation in realtime each session. I was actually discouraged from taking the class this early, but I got my way--heehee--I can be very persuasive. Hopefully, it will get better in the coming weeks. I have a lot of complaints about the structure of the program at my school, but I'm trying to make it work for me. There are things I like about it too when compared with what I have heard about other programs.

So, what do you plan to do once you are out of school? Freelance, Officialship? What's it like living in New York? Have you lived there all your life?

Hi David.

I am so glad we met here! I just love "talking" with you!
Hey, before I forget, I have been meaning to ask someone before I call stenograph: do you know how to set up using your writer and Case software to write to email and other text documents? I have the current version(9) of Case, and I was told that this version has this capability. Boy, could I save some time if I learned how to do that. And I would get the added benefit of being on my machine!
I think you are right, we seem to be a lot alike when it comes to CR school! That seems unfair that you have to wait for your pass to "count". Why would they want to hold you back? I think you and I could probably design the perfect CR training program... LOL
I'm getting irritated with my requirements class. I don't know if I am just tired of my current teacher and her particular style, but I am hoping that she is not teaching the 150-170 requirements class. I could go on and on about my gripes with her, but I'll spare you.(Besides, I don't want you to think I am a total whiner)
I'm with you on freelancing. I am afraid I couldn't report in criminal court. I don't think I can separate my emotions. It is something I have to work on. Even some of the tests we have had which dealt with criminal charges against children have been difficult for me, and they did not include any real details. I know this is something I need to overcome to be a reporter in any capacity.
We had a challenging medical Q&A in CAT class on Wed. night and I just finished editing it. This is how neurotic I can be: I am extremely annoyed with my instructor for giving us the following preview spelling: John Hopkins Hospital. Is it not Johns Hopkins? Ugh....

Bailey's birthday is on Sunday at Chuck E. Cheese's. Thanks for the good wishes.

I hope you have a good weekend.

~Kyla

Well, I figured out how to use my machine to write to other documents.(Great fun!)
How's it goin'?

Hi David.

Bailey's party went well. The Chuck E. Cheese thing worked out all right for us. It unfortunately is not the same as I remember. The one I went to as a kid was HUGE! It was two stories and had the separate room for the "band" as you remembered it. The one in our area is tiny. Everything all in one small space. She enjoyed herself but was dissapointed that they smashed another party in right next to our table when they had plenty of space 3 or 4 tables over. I have done all of my kids' birthdays at my house until this one, and it was wonderful to not have to fret over the food and the mess.

Had an instructor not show up on Monday -- very irritating! We just sat around all period talking about the convention. I love to chat and all -- don't get me wrong -- but I hate the thought of my time and money going to waste like that. Then for the first 15 minutes or so of the next period, the department chair came in to lecture us about policies, and it just gets on my nerves. If someone is editing their notes between tests, I think he/she should be dealt with individually. If there is a problem with cheating, again, deal with the cheater. Stop wasting my time and money!!! Sorry. Just had to get that out one last time so I can have a chance at having a decent attitude tomorrow.

I am excited I am going to the convention in Anaheim. Are you? Have you ever been to one?

I certainly don't mind chatting about things other than CR. Sometimes I need the break. KWIM?

I haven't passed a test in a while. I was kind of on a roll there, but my streak has ended. I'm trying not to stress about it too much. Honestly, I have not been practicing much, and that is probably why. Sometimes I just get burnt out at home with all of my other responsibilities. And I miss my kids. The weather is getting nice, and I'd rather just play in the sprinklers with them. LOL.

Wait a second... Mr. Softy? What is that?! Don't tell me it's a truck that cruises aroung the neighborhood selling soft-serve cones?!?!?! We had an ice cream truck that you could buy packaged ice cream (you know, like the ones you can just get from the store and have in your freezer at home)but, if what you're talking about is what I think you're talking about... well, we're definitely deprived here in CA.

Wow! What an experience you had at that convention. I am familiar with who MK is. Jeez, why'd you have to tell me that? now I just know my experience will be a let down. (just kidding) I can't possibly get that lucky...Do you care to share any of his writing principles? -- or is that like asking "Hey, tell me all about your theory" (BTW mine is StenEd) I'm sure you have figured out by now, that I just want to soak up all the advice I can get : )

I had CAT class tonight, and we are at midterm week. We were given our assignment for the final. Take down a whole speed or requirements class (any speed at or below your level) in realtime. So, what do you think? Should I take the easiest way out and do the 60-80 class? Or be ambitious and go for my own class? What would you do? The speed chosen has no impact on your grade.

Okay... So I made an interesting observation about myself today and would be interested in your opinion. Today was Q&A day. I did my own personal warm up long before class at speeds ranging from 120-150. It was okay. Not great, not horrendous. Come class time, we start warmup at 120 and quickly progress to 150, and it felt GREAT!!!! I mean, I wasn't getting everything, but it was the most confident and comfortable I have ever felt in 2V. Next comes the actual tests: HORRIBLE!!! Now, I wasn't going in with a bunch of confidence, or even trying to psych myself out the other way. In fact, I really had no nerves at all. But it just sucked! I'd have great 1 minute spurts, followed by pure sh*t, followed by another great 1-11/2 minute spurt. When I got to the 120, I had completely lost concentration and couldn't even get that. ARGH!!! I am so determined to get a freaking Q&A. It's just a bummer that we only get them on Wed. I will not give up though!!!

Well, I'm going to forego my practice tonight for some well-needed sleep. TTYL : )

~Kyla

Oh, yeah... Yes, I do subscribe to the JCR. Tell me what issue to look at : )

Darn... I don't have the issue. Oh well.

I am going to take your suggesstion regarding the CAT class final. I am going to start taking my class in realtime, and if it totally bombs, I will drop down to the 90-110 class. I like sitting in on thier Q&A anyway.

Thanks for the drilling ideas. I like them. Already used them as part of my warmup today. It's funny how difficult it is to go backward. LOL

I turned in a lot of notes today. Hopefully I'll have a pass to tell you about next week : ) fingers crossed>>

I've got another "school gripe"... We had a 3V requirement today. These are dictated really slow. There was a spot in the transcript where one of the attorneys asked for a recess, and then they got back on the record. After the dictation ended, we read back and I asked the instructor, "Shouldn't we put in a paranthetical or something?" And she said we don't have to worry about it since this is just school... WTH?!?!?! Aren't we supposed to be learning how to make a real transcript? It's these kinds of things that really irk me. So at what point should we learn this stuff? At 200 WPM? When we turn in our first real transcript as a working reporter? Or is this the kind of thing we are taught in the secret professional practice class, which we are not allowed to take until right before qualifiers? Whatever. I am putting one in. I don't care if we don't have to worry about it or not. I want my transcripts to be the best they can be no matter how far I am from being a professional. So there! (I'm sure you have picked up the fact that I am a stubborn and strong-willed person, sorry if that is offensive to you, but I can't help who I am)

Hope you have a nice weekend.

~Kyla

Hey David. How's it going?

Thanks for the good wishes. I did have a nice day. My husband got up early with the kids so I could sleep in. (heaven) He brought me my favorite breakfast once I did wake up: Starbucks!! Then I took the kids to my mom's and he went to his mom's (too hard to try to take the kids to both) We had pizza at home for dinner -- no cooking for me. YAY! We don't eat out a lot here. We are really picky about eating out, and all of our favorite restaurants are in my home town, about an hour and a half away.

Did you get to do something with your mom?

So... How is school going? Have you finished your interning project?

My goodness... I hope you are feeling better soon.

Funny you should bring up the subject of movies... I don't get to see many movies, and as a result, I feel like I am completely out of touch with the rest of society in that regard. I like all kinds of movies except horror. I just feel so guilty sitting and watching a movie when I always have a million things to do around the house. Either that or I feel I should be doing homework or practicing. The only TV I get to watch is children's programming or sporting events or home-improvement shows. I used to be a Food Network freak, but I have had to stop, because I've gained toooooooo much weight!!! In fact, I am trying to figure out how I can fit the gym back into my schedule...

I haven't been in the transcription lab all week. I wish we could just transcribe our tests at home. I am not allowed to use my software to transcribe, because I don't have the right kind of writer. I can write realtime, but I have no place to store steno notes other than the writer's internal memory or by writing directly in realtime, and we are not allowed to do that. I want to buy a new writer, but when I do, it will have to be the one I will use professionally, and that is a big decision. Which writer do you prefer?

Yeah -- send me a copy! Here is my personal email address: specialk44@live.com

We have the same issue with Friday attendance at our school. Roughly half of the students enrolled in a class show up on Friday. Of course, I am a diehard -- always there!

HHHEEELLLPPP!!!

I am in desperate need of something... I am in a slump. Even the tests I am transcribing that I feel good about turn out to be crap! (Good notes with either a huge drop that blows the whole thing or a bunch of little drops adding up) I am discouraged and frustrated, and as a result, my practice is way down. When I do get around to practicing, my heart just doesn't seem to be in it....
Excuse my language here, but I feel like I just plain suck : (
Any advice?

Hey, David. Kyla here... Just wanted to check in with ya. Hope you are doing well. I'm sure you are busy, but given what you told me before about your health, and the fact that I haven't heard back from you in a few days (Sorry, don't mean to be pestering or anything - I know you have a life outside of CR forums -- unlike me LOL) just thought I'd pop in again. : )

Hi David. How was your holiday? How's it going?

Glad to hear your doing okay! You had me nervous there for a minute...

I am sooooo behind on schoolwork it isn't even funny. I hope you have a great week! TTYL

~Kyla

Thanks, David. My holiday was pretty blah.... We had some friends over, and that went way too late on Sunday night/Monday morning. My husband went golfing with his buddies on Monday, and I took the kids swimming at my sister-in-law's. It was okay. For years, up until the twins were born, we always went camping on Memorial Day weekend. So the last few years, I have felt like I am missing something...

I have started working on the Veterans' Oral History Project through the NCRF. I have finished writing one, and I am in the process of editing and researching some of the places referred to. I am enjoying it. This may have been the little change of pace I need to get me out of my "steno rut".

I didn't make it to class tonight -- I just had too much work to catch up on at home (laundry, cleaning etc... ) I'm looking forward to next week -- back to some normalcy, KWIM?

So, how's the progress on getting me a copy of your book? Don't worry. I am not that squeamish. I'd like to read it.

How are things for you at school, Mr. Mysterious? LOL. I hope you don't feel like all we do is talk about my school experience. (which is pretty boring, espescially right now -- Sorry)

Look forward to hearing from you again soon ; )
~Kyla

Haha... Curse words. I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh. But it is easy for me to be prim and proper online. When my kids aren't around and I've had a couple drinks, I have quite a dirty little mouth. There is no possible way you can offend me in that regard. I'm laughing so hard right now I am literally crying. Let's just say I've been known to use some choice words myself...

Your memory of the community pool sounds so great. My sister-in-law just got her in-ground pool last summer. It is pretty samll, but it is beautiful with a waterfall and a "sandbar" so even the twins can go in.

My husband and all the men in my family are avid golfers. Unfortunatley he doesn't get to go very often. When we were dating, I took a golf class at the community college and tried to get into it, but frankly, I suck. First time at the driving range, I hit the guy next to me. I still like to go with him and watch, drive the cart etc... A few times when we were dating, I carried his bag for him (for the exercise) and all of the other men on the course were like "Where in the world did you find this chick?!". It was fun. All the men thought I was so cool and I'm sure the younger guys thought he was some kind of pimp. It was funny. I certainly wouldn't be doing that now. I'm not patient enough for golf. I am very competitive, and it takes too long to become good at it. I like to say I am pretty athletic, and I don't like to suck at anything, or look like a fool for that matter.

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!! Not only did I pass that last 120, but I was one word away from getting it 100% verbatim!!! And if I had trusted my instinct, I would have nailed it! I wrote this mistroke: KRAL. My outline for criminal is KR-L. My outline for voluntary is SRAOLT. The context was ... intoxication. At first I wrote voluntary, but then I changed it to criminal thinking that I was more likely to add a vowel than stroke the K instead of the S and forget the -T. Oh well. I am still thrilled!

Well, I've got to get to working on my bathroom remodel. (Did you say something about multitasking? LOL) I just pile a million things on my plate and never seem to actually finish anything. I'm always biting off more than I can chew. My house looks like sh*t (there's my potty mouth for ya). I've got laundry piled up everywhere. I haven't cleaned the dinner dishes yet, but I'd rather be here reading and writing messages. Have a good night.

~Kyla

Hi David thanks for the luck. I go to Long Island Business Institute in Flushing, Queens. This is my first year taking class...each "semester" it gets more challenging which is something that I like. #)
I live by cypress hills some people call it "Ridgewood" some say its "Bushwick" I say.... "what'ever" it is makes it easier !! LOL.

I just need one more 130 now. I've got my high JC and a low SM under my belt! I have to confess to you that I am going to do my CAT class final project in the 60-80 class. I am just needing something easy right now. Hope you don't think less of me.

Hey! I saw your picture in the back issue of the JCR at school!

How's it going?

Yes, you look like a normal person, though I never had any doubts. LOL I'd be glad to give you feedback on your story. Thanks for asking about my family. Hubs and kids are doing well. I have been going through a rough patch with the twins, but I think I'll spare you the details since it involves fecal matter--LOL-- I think I've got a handle on it. (And if curiosity gets the best of you, I'll share, though I doubt you'll be interested)

Paul (my husband) has to work on Saturday afternoon for a couple hours, and then he has to leave for Minnesota for business on Sunday : ( . He will be gone for 4 days, and it sucks. I am going to my mom's for my niece's birthday on Saturday with the kids. What are you going to be up to?

I did my realtime project. It was VERY easy. And the dictation was so slow that I only got five pages from about 20 minutes. It will require little, if any, editing, so I am relieved. After tomorrow I will have only one week left of classes for this quarter, and then I have 3 weeks off.

My husband wants to take my laptop on his trip, and I feel so guilty, but I feel the need to protect it with my life. He bought the dang thing, but it's like my baby. KWIM? I guess I'll just have to do some major backing up and have a little faith, right?

So when is the next CSR in your state? Here in CA, they are having it the same weekend as the convention. Weird, huh?

TTYL
~Kyla

Hey David, NY huh, just met someone who moved from there not too long ago. So how is school going for you? I think it's a blast and would be less frustrating if there wasn't so much riding on it, you know? The fact that it will be your career someday can make it stressful and kinda scarey, now if this was just for a hobby and fun, I wouldn't feel the pain, lol. I love the school part, it's getting out in the real working world sometimes that has me scared crazy. I love to learn, so it would just be kinda nice to take my time at it, but since it's not paying me and I am doing the parenting, working, schooling thing, I think just chillin isn't an option for me, and I really need to do this thing and get out for keeping my sanity stops becoming an issue and insanity becomes my reality, lol. Respect, well I know what that is, and thanks for giving me mines, I really appreciate that. At least I can't say that I have too much time on my hands and my life is wasting away, so there is a silver lining in it all, just look for it. And really I'm just grateful to get to work, to have my own place, to have a beautiful daughter who is the light within me that guides me to love, and still have the oppurtunity to better myself while getting to learn something new and satisfy my mind with knowledge and learning, while having all of these things. So sometimes while it may seem like a curse, if you think about it, it is really a blessing too be able to have so much when so many people have so few. I may not have the biggest house, but I have the biggest heart, and most love, so really I am already successful, with everything that I have and all I do, and the liscense and career is just the icing on the cake that will happen as long as you dedicate it to. Best of luck to you and us all, Charlene.

Oh, the weekend was good. The kids had fun at the party, and when I got home my husband and I went on a date : ) It was nice. I miss him! Unfortunately, I am used to doing things on my own since we are on completely different schedules. Thank God for my inlaws. They are watching the kids for me this week while I'm at school. How was your weekend?

Bummer about your CSR. At least you'll have the extra time to practice for it; right?

Yeah, I'm looking forward to reading your book. Funny there is a character named Paul. When I was in 60-80 class, fresh out of theory, we had a test from a sexual harrassment case, and the accused was named Paul. I had to bite my tongue during this part: Q. What did Paul say to you? A. He asked me if I had ever made love to a man before. Then he told me he wanted to make passionate love to me, and he touched my thigh and tried to reach farther up my leg.
My husband would NEVER use the words "make passionate love" ... way too cheeseball for him. It was one of my first tests out of theory.

It's hot here in CA today. I set the waterslide up in the backyard this afternoon and my girls are all sleeping from playing so hard. I wish I had a pool... someday, maybe after I start working...

TTYL

~Kyla

Hey, your really sweet, but I have to say, I don't think that your wife or gf is going to like you telling me I can talk to you about anything, lol. Oh so I see you are almost there, wana trade places, lol. And really that could be a dangerous thing to say to me, seriously ask my friends, lol. Most days I feel as if it will be an eternity till I get there, while praying it wont be. My daughters name is Cheyanne, I named her after me without giving her my name, so I could carry on my name and she could still have her own individuality. Charlene, Cheyanne, if you look we both start with Ch, both end in e, both have 8 letters in our name, and my middle name is ann, so my middle name is in her first name. And so that explains the wierd way i spelled her name, lol. Thank you very much, and she is adorable, even more so cause you haven't heard her sassy mouth yet, lol. Thank you for the admiration, and like I said saying I can tell you bout anything is a dangerous to say to me, lol, especially since I had a really, really bad dau]y. But I'm going to spare you that, since its really late and im really tired, and I'm not sure bout putting all that on here. And i do feel frustrated cause I havent passed a test in the last 2 quarters, lol. I would have last quarter when I was on ground, except they put my transcription hour last and Id be so tired Id just come home and take a nap before work and if i had transcribed some of those, I would of passed, I wish I had now. And switching to online just made it so much harder cause it is harder material and Im not practicing as much, i know shame-shame, but its my lil break, and too bad its almost up, and im probably going back to ground next quarter, ugggggg time to be too tired again, lol. Thanks for the support, and you got mine, so now quit playing and get your butt out of the nest and get out there and show them what you made of, and try to have fun cause if you dont then you wont want to do it anymore and itll be more like work then a career, and with all that you had to do to get it, you might as well like it, lol. Ok that bed is really calling my name, no really i can hear it, listen, CHARLENE, ya see you can hear it too, lol, so im going for now, but hope to hear from you soon, Charlene.