Coffee Crone: Taming Coffee Blog

May 18 2008

Just a Travellin' Gal

Because I have been unable to go downstairs to my own office for or the last couple of weeks, I have camped upstairs in whatever office was free for the day. I felt a bit like Goldilocks.

I probably need to add a disclaimer here. I am just a tad nerdish and I am just a tad fussy when it comes to computer equipment. Hark, I hear a snort emanating from my sleeping husband, who, even in dreamland, knows that these are understatements.

In any case, because I am a bit, urmmm, particular, I have brought my own keyboard and my own trackball pointing device to work. They are the same as my home set-up. I also have duplicated my Firefox extensions/add-ons, downloaded little programs I simply can't do without, and adjusted my chair so it is just perfect for my 4'11" body.

Office etiquette demands that one does not alter another person's computing environment. I was good about this during my first two or three camping experiences. However, when I figured out that I would have two weeks of moving from machine to machine, I decided to get a bit more proactive.

My strategy was to surreptitiously check out my co-workers systems a few days before I would be using them, and then approach the owner ahead of time. The conversations went something like this:

"Hey, would you like a really good spell checker that works with the HOMES database?" (Who could say no to that?)

"Did you know that there is a thing called a Quick Launch toolbar that lets you open programs without using the start menu? Wouldn't you like one of those? (Sure, Taming, why not!)

One desk at a time, I tweaked my way through the office setting tab behaviours, downloading programs, introducing people to FireFox and the joys of on-line dictionaries that use the letter "u" in the Canadian way.

I am on holiday for the next two weeks (well, I have a few days in Saskatoon at a conference in there someplace). It's nice to know that as my co-workers toil on, they will have daily reminders of my recent visits.

After all, it's not as if they really want post cards from Saskatoon. And I am taking my office coffee maker and grinder with me.