Daily Archives: December 12, 2016

Early in 2015, I applied for assistance in job hunting from Vocational Rehabilitation.  By the time my plan was officially approved, I’d already been hired in my current job, but they retroactively paid for Joan, the employment specialist who had helped me.  Hank, the Vocational Rehab counselor, was available to help with additional problems.  A […]

Early in 2015, I applied for assistance in job hunting from Vocational Rehabilitation.  By the time my plan was officially approved, I’d already been hired in my current job, but they retroactively paid for Joan, the employment specialist who had helped me.  Hank, the Vocational Rehab counselor, was available to help with additional problems.  A […]

It wasn’t that profane.  It was ONE WORD profane, and it was an accidental word.  But when I work at arguably the most conservative Christian school in the country…it was kind of embarrassing.

I didn’t even notice it, and I always preach to my students about the importance of proofreading.  I remembered to proofread the e-mail itself, but clearly I forgot to proofread the greeting.  Therefore I sent it, and my e-mail started like this:

“Hell Tom,”

I didn’t even notice it until I got a one line e-mail back that said, “Hey!  Watch your language!!!!”  It also included an angry emoji.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

People – I can’t even wear nail polish at this school.  I have to wear skirts everyday.  None of my students have televisions at home.  I can’t say, “Oh my goodness” because that is too profane.  I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.  And, in that community, I just started an e-mail to my boss with the line “Hell Tom.”

I’m pretty sure a past version of me would have immediately freaked out that I was going to be fired and that this mistake was the end of the world, but the current version of me started laughing.  That’s such a duuuummmmb mistake, but clearly I meant “hello.”  I can’t get in trouble for anything other than being a poor proofreader (in which case, guilty as charged).  I also figured the fact that he included an emoji in his response meant that his e-mail was joking (and it was).  I don’t think my boss has ever used emojis, ever.  I didn’t know he knew what they were.  I sent back a quick apology and moved on.

Honestly, I would love to use this as an example of the importance of proofreading to my students, but that would include the word “hell” and would probably get me fired.  Alas.  For my readers who are teachers, go ahead and steal that example if your school isn’t as conservative as mine.

Words I will make sure to proofread very closely from now on:

Hello

Shot

Funk

Ask

Botch

Phewf!  Lesson learned (the hard way).  Proofread your e-mails, folks.

So we had our Christmas party yesterday with our Sunday School class. Eight couples in all with six kids.  Amber and Rachel kept the kids busy while we ate and talked and had fun.  They stayed about two-and-a-half hours and helped clean up before the let so they were good guests.  We played Christmas Pictionary and then had an ornament swap where we did a unwrap-or-steal game.   Some places they call it “Dirty Santa”.

We went around the room and did a talk about what God had done in our lives this year. I talked about how good I have felt this holiday season and how it feels like remission all over again. SO I gave God praise or that.  Others talked about the same sorts of things, so that was all good to hear as well.

I just turned in my final project for Forms in Nonfiction.  Hopefully it will go over well and we will see how that goes.  I sent it in early so she wouldn’t be burdened by mine coming in at the last minute as long as it is.  So I was trying to give her a break.

SO I am all through with school until next year.  I hope we can have another good class next year  the last year with some of my original classmates.  They will be graduating and I will be plodding along   But that’s okay. Gives me more time to improve and polish my thesis.