(RIGHT SIDE MY JUNE COVER  LEFT SIDE THEIR MAY COVER)

Once
a year, Babs, the Gateway social worker, has to visit all the residents
and make sure they are mentally alert--and before you say anything I
passed, but then why did I do the next thing? In a very off hand way she
asked if I would like to take over editing the Gateway Gazette
residents newspaper and without a second thought I said, "Yes"! 55 years
ago I learned the motto, "Never volunteer!" so am I losing my smarts as
I get older? Not according to the test Babs gave me!

BABS

Years
ago, when I first got my computer, (Thanks Chuck--it's all your fault!)
I was snail mailing about 20-25 people and, since I was saying
basically the same thing to everyone, I decided to make a monthly
newsletter and did for the next few years. I bought print software with
thousands of clip art and templates and would spend hours/days getting
it together. It was fun and though I couldn't do anything complicated it
was enough for me.

And
then I discovered blogging! No more newsletters and all I had to do was
print a few of my blogs and snail mail them out to the very few friends
of mine who didn't, and some still don't, have computers or C & P
them and send them in e-mails. Now all of a sudden I was faced in
putting together a 6 page newsletter with a monthly calendar and I got
buried! Since Thursday evening I have spent between 35-40 hours, (THAT'S
A WORK WEEK FOLKS! I'M RETIRED!), plus 1/4 of a ream of paper, not to
mention a complete black ink cartridge and, probably, 1/4 of  a color
cartridge. I was getting up EARLY IN THE MORNING (ME!?) with ideas or
trying to figure out how to work something out!  Not to forget my own
daily blogs!

Suzanne

Knowing,
without a doubt, that I would have some questions on Friday, I set up a
meeting with Suzanne, the Gateway adminstrator for Monday morning. By
the way, one of the problems I had was her monthly column which I got in
a 'read only' format, so I was lost right there as far as transferring
(doing a C & P) it to the Gazette. I met with Suzanne and Babs this
morning at 11:30 AM with what I thought was 4 complete pages ready to
go. There was Suzanne's column to add and the calendar to fill out plus I
had left a few empty spots to add anything I nay have forgotten. I did
get the column situation straightened out as Suzanne sent me a copy of
it as an e-mail and I can C & P but, (Shhhhh--she may be reading
this!) unless she wants to go to 8 pages I am going to have to edit/cut it!
LOL

The
first change I wanted to make was the cover. As most of you know I have
hundreds of pictures of Gateway, especially the fauna, and though it
hasn't been done before, that I can recall, I wanted to have the cover
be all pictures. I know color costs more money than black and white and I
hesitated to bring it up to my boss (Hey she is my boss now and it has
been 13 years since I have had a boss!) but Suzanne seemed to think we
could do it. Should I stop while I am ahead or start working now on
using some color inside or maybe better paper? I think I'll wait until
this issue comes out and all the accolades come in. :O)

Irene Cruz, Assistant Administrator

After
the meeting I took pictures of all the office staff because I think I
would like to do a "Meet the Staff" feature every month along with a
"Meet Your Neighbor" column. For future covers I would like subjects
such as "Dogs of Gateway", "Gardens of Gateway", etc. Whoa! I haven't
even got this issue done and I am already talking of future issues!

I
didn't do any work on the paper this afternoon--got caught up on
emails plus blog notifications and won't be working on it tomorrow as I
have to go to the dentist. Also, I wanted to get this blog written up
and let me tell you with my 'hunting and pecking' and all the typing I
have done since Thursday evening, the fingers are sore so I am looking
forward to the dentist tomorrow! (Hey, Babs said I passed the test so
I'm not crazy or did she just say I passed to get me to do the paper?
LOL)

As
usual I jumped before looking but it is something I enjoy doing and the
worst that can happen will be that I get in over my head. I think it
will be easier from here on and I already started a Gazette folder with
future ideas. Now if I can only get Babs to get me the calendar before
the weekend (hint) and she and Suzanne don't want too many changes, I
can get everything ready to be printed next Monday.