Copy Machine Certified
Last week, the Writing Center secretary (Judy) sent out an e-mail notifying us that on Tuesday, January 15 at 8:15am we'd have a training session on how to use the new copier. "Those who don't attend," she wrote, "must schedule a private tutorial with the copy expert."
Given the daunting threat of needing to schedule a private appointment, I got up early and, in 9 degree weather, trekked to the Writing Center. When I got the the copy room at 8:15, no one was in there. Strange, I thought, and went next door to the main office.
As I was asking Judy if the copier training was today, my boss (Doug) came out of his office and started laughing. "You came for that?"
I was beginning to feel a little unsettled. "Uh, wasn't it mandatory?"
Now Doug and Judy were laughing at me.
"It's mandatory," Doug explained, "for people who are actually going to make copies. You know, administrators."
Huh. I suppose that would make sense. I'm not quite sure what I'd planned to make copies of...
"But while you're here," Judy piped up, "it IS helpful information. We should go next door and get started."
I couldn't think of a graceful way to leave, given that I'd clearly come for copier instruction, so I reluctantly followed Doug and Judy next door. Once in the copier room, I looked around. The room was filled with administers, all of whom were over 40 and dressed in business attire. I leaned awkwardly against the mailbox column, in my jeans, attempting to hide my leopard-print gloves.
I tried to pretend that it was completely natural that I was here, even though I was half the age of everyone else and carrying an Old Navy shoulder bag. But, it's hard to blend in when everyone else is wearing Hillary Clinton pants suits, and you're not even wearing a bra.
"So," Copier Instruction Lady was saying, "You can all send documents to the copier directly from your office computer."
The administrators side-glanced at me.
"And," Copy Lady continued, "This machine is capable of producing 9,000 copies, if necessary, at once -- for your lectures, conferences, whatever."
This went on and on, and I kept waiting for the conversation to turn to heart burn or fiber intake or where to go to get the cheapest wheel-chair. It never did, unfortunately, but I did learn how to make 9,000 copies at once, which could come in handy one day.
Given the daunting threat of needing to schedule a private appointment, I got up early and, in 9 degree weather, trekked to the Writing Center. When I got the the copy room at 8:15, no one was in there. Strange, I thought, and went next door to the main office.
As I was asking Judy if the copier training was today, my boss (Doug) came out of his office and started laughing. "You came for that?"
I was beginning to feel a little unsettled. "Uh, wasn't it mandatory?"
Now Doug and Judy were laughing at me.
"It's mandatory," Doug explained, "for people who are actually going to make copies. You know, administrators."
Huh. I suppose that would make sense. I'm not quite sure what I'd planned to make copies of...
"But while you're here," Judy piped up, "it IS helpful information. We should go next door and get started."
I couldn't think of a graceful way to leave, given that I'd clearly come for copier instruction, so I reluctantly followed Doug and Judy next door. Once in the copier room, I looked around. The room was filled with administers, all of whom were over 40 and dressed in business attire. I leaned awkwardly against the mailbox column, in my jeans, attempting to hide my leopard-print gloves.
I tried to pretend that it was completely natural that I was here, even though I was half the age of everyone else and carrying an Old Navy shoulder bag. But, it's hard to blend in when everyone else is wearing Hillary Clinton pants suits, and you're not even wearing a bra.
"So," Copier Instruction Lady was saying, "You can all send documents to the copier directly from your office computer."
The administrators side-glanced at me.
"And," Copy Lady continued, "This machine is capable of producing 9,000 copies, if necessary, at once -- for your lectures, conferences, whatever."
This went on and on, and I kept waiting for the conversation to turn to heart burn or fiber intake or where to go to get the cheapest wheel-chair. It never did, unfortunately, but I did learn how to make 9,000 copies at once, which could come in handy one day.