It's hard to answer this question because...

• Question about maternity leave...sm - AJS
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I think computers are like cars in some ways, everyone has their own preferences. Since this is my first laptop and I have had it only for a couple months, I don't feel qualified to recommend any one brand. :)

I can tell you I bought a Compaq, now owned/made by HP, which is my understanding is a good thing. :) I have a Dell PC and some say they don't care for the laptops and others do. Again, I can't say if one is better than the other. I think, too, you can get occasionally get a "lemon" no matter what the brand, just like with vehicles or a lot of things anymore it seems.

Perhaps posting that question on the board would be a place to start and/or search for some reviews on various brands/models.

I hope you find something that works well for you. :)

Hospitals do not have to pay outsource folks - the 8 cpl being offered is being offered by a company who has to pay for an employee's time off, their part of the taxes and medical insurance - and probably has fewer employees than the hospital does (so the hospital has a bigger "pot" than the MTSO).  You can find some places where you can make more than 8 cents per line - but if you are asking how much a fast Transcriptionist can make (most folks really HATE it when you call us typists - anyone can type - you need to have some know-how to transcribe) then you must be relatively new to the field? 

How much you can produce will depend on how much effort you put into it, your expansion program, that every time you look up anything, you pop that information into your expansions somehow and how much time you actually work (as opposed to how much time you spend looking up things, or answering your phone or your door, getting water, going to the restroom, etc. - all those things that do not seem  like they would matter - but in production work can eat your paycheck and your "shift" up), if your platform is working, if your connection stays up, if its lightning outside, if you fought with a memeber of your family - all of those things make a difference in your lines per day - and that is why its important to have boundaries for other folks and for yourself. 

But, I can transcribe up to 300 lines an hour on a day when everything is rocking, I am doing work I enjoy and I am sticking to my boundaries of not answering phones, doors, emails, getting up a lot for coffee, to check the laundry, let the dogs in, let the dogs out - AKA all the things that you do not actually get paid for! 

When I first started it seemed like it took FOREVER to make more than the minimum wage plus 50 cents that was my hourly rate until I could produce more (and this was 15 years ago and the minimum was less than it is now). 

Sorry - that is not a very specific answer, but honestly - and you will see, its the most honest answer a person can give - not knowing what your tools, knowledge fund, etc. are like.

Good luck with whatever opportunity you pursue!

I have 2 children and did it with both of them.  I am also a nurse but after trying part-time out of the house work combined with MT-ing to stay home with kids as much as possible, I ended up strictly at home 2 years ago. 

It's not the easiest when the children are infants - but it's worth it once you get past that phase.  I actually used to type with my daughter breastfeeding in my lap!  I had some crazy, crazy days and nights.  Don't expect to get 3-4 hours straight - be ready to get an hour or 2 when you can throughout the day.  It can be frustrating, but once they reach a certain age and are sleeping well you can work at night and during naps.  (My kids did not take to naps too well, so the night was my time.)

Now my kids are 8-1/2 and 4-1/2 and it's wonderful.  I'm finally past the crazy hours and grabbing an hour whenever I can - never at the same time.  (I am fortunate to work for a company that does not require set hours.) I type while they are at school and then on occasion after they go to bed at night.  I volunteer at their schools once a week, coach my daughter's cheerleading team, and am baseball, soccer and football mom.  I had an RN office job part-time about 2 years ago that I loved, but I just couldn't take not being able to be there for their school activities, after-school stuff, etc.  Nothing beats the flexibility of MT-ing. 

Good luck.  There will be smooth days and not so smooth ones - keep in mind how lucky you will be to be able to attend everything you want to with your child - to not have to call in sick when they are, to not have to ask permission to run that lunchbox to school when they leave it in the car, etc., etc.!

I sure hope not.  I don't want to think that God would punish many for the actions of few like this either.  Probably purely coincidental. 

The sad thing is that those who demanded that these religious monuments be removed are probably not even from the south but chose that area because of the spirituality and religious folks that make the south their home.  

I personally find the removal of these markings truly abominable.  They are a simple reminder of what this country was founded on, faith, hope, and freedom. 

Southerners are devote and proud. They will get through this with time and help from the rest of us.  This is what American grit really is.  Help from others or no, we have to stick together and pull ourselves up from the muck. 

to let someone ask a question if they want.  You do not have to read it, think about it, address it, whatever.....what difference does it make that the topic was brought up at some past time?  This board is for communication and nobody is forcing you to read redundant posts. 

Just PLEASE stop making folks feel stupid.  Go onto the next post or start one yourself. 

I'm having the hardest time working today.  My best friend is having surgery at the Cleveland Clinic today.  She is only 28 and has grade III anaplastic astrocytoma.  She was only diagnosed three months ago after she had a seizure and this is now her second surgery.  She is so far away (we live in Kentucky) and I really want to be there.  To those who are reading this, I am asking for your prayers for my friend, Jenny, and her husband and two young children, that they may all be together this Christmas.   Please also pray for me to have the strength to help her and her family through this terrible time and difficult road ahead.  Thank you all.

decisions that you've made.  we all want to believe what our spouces tell us and hope that things will change but in the end it never does and in the meantime you're raising your kids in an environment that will effect them the rest of their lives.  i've been through a lot of what you're going through and there's no good or easy answer to help anyone through it.  I used to be very confident, strong and able to do anything and now I don't have the confidence to make the most simple decisions because my x was so abusive.  my family didn't believe me about the things that would happen and I was too humiliated to tell my friends.  when I finally got the courage to make him move out I was recovering from neck surgery, couldn't ambulate by myself, didn't have a full time job,  had a 1 year old, and  he had wiped out the savings.  it's been 2.5 yrs and I'm almost back on my feet.  there are state systems that can help you but be prepared for a battle there too because you will have to nag and nag to get help in a somewhat timely manner, just don't give up.  start checking into things as quickly as possible because I found out that it's usually first-come first-served type of thing.  call you local police department and ask what they can offer and what steps you need to take to keep yourself and kids safe. what I finally realized was that I didn't want my son growing up in an environment that was unhealthy and unsafe not to mention I didn't want him to think that it was ok to treat people, especially women, in the way he was seeing at home.  I'm a firm believer that God gives you what you can handle and you will be a better person once you've overcome his challenges.  I also believe that it's my job as a mother to do anything I can to protect my son for as long as I can.  no parent, not even a step-parent, should ever be jealous of their child for any reason especially health reasons and needing more attention. I know I'm on my soapbox but I believe that you can find the confidence to do what is right for you and to be stronge for your kids.   try to remember that abusers never change. (feel free to email me anytime you need to.)  there's lots of us out there that can relate to what you're going through and although there's nothing to make it easier it helps to have people just to vent to.   my prayers go out to you and your family

I set up my Linksys wireless router myself and it was pretty much self explanatory.  The Linksys help line is pretty good too, in case you run into trouble.  Might have to wait a bit on the phone depending on what time you call. 

It seems some MTs love to do them, but why do they seem so ominous? Are some harder than others? I've heard of MTs making normals out of them, thus, good money. They've just always scared me for some reason.

Thanks!

Yes, of course I'm half afraid if I leave him I won't find someone else and half afraid that I will!!  I'm old enough and had enough good and bad times with men that I really don't think it would be the end of the world if I lived the rest of my life alone.  It's maybe what I would not choose but it might have some positives in the long run.  At least that's what I tell myself when I'm feeling good, during the middle of the night is another story....

Break-ups are tough.  How do you stay on course.  You get lonely, you miss him, you doubt your judgment, you want to try again, you tell yourself maybe you were too hard on him......

I think I should go to a counselor, it's just that it's quite expensive and as I said, I'll be paying for it out of pocket.  I think they will tell me pretty much what you have.

It sounds like things have worked out for you.  I thank you for your insight and help.

but again, you should go for it.  You might love the challenge and have a really great team that will help you not have to roast over the flames.  Its always possible! 

Godspeed my friend, do it if you want to.  It really might be the best thing you ever did!  Or not, but either way, you will know for sure! 

leaving off the "jerk" comment, and recommend that people contact the MQ office they are affiliated with to see what that particular office wants them to do.

When I need to enter a NEW HEADING, I type it in, then it brings up a new box that says "type in new heading"...I finish typing it, hit OK or whatever, and it puts the new heading in my report.

BUT...it doesn't KEEP The new heading!  ARG!  It stays on the drop down list of headings for THAT REPORT ONLY but then when I do a new report, the new heading never shows up.

What am I doing wrong?  Help!! 

Does your mortgage company - the telephone company - the phone company - the cable company, etc. discount your bill if you pay on time or do they add a late fee if they don't receive your payment on time?

I don't agree you should reward a company to do something they should normally do - something that's considered a basic in good business - paying on time.  

I am currently researching keyboards, too.  I got an Ergo Flex something.  It was three separate units mounted on a metal base.  I THOUGHT I would be able to take units off base and put back on if I wanted but once those things are off, they are off for good.  It didn't matter though. I had my brother rig up a dowel for each arm chair and then fix the keyboard pieces onto those dowels.  Then I ace wrapped dowels to arms ( and that was much steadier than I expected) and off I went.  The problem was the units were fixed on the end of the dowels and they need to be on a swivel of some sort to allow for fine tuning the positioning.  Also, the units are a faily smallish keyboard, smaller than what I am using and that was an issue.  I also found that kicked back in the chair and comfy, I was almost too comfy. It seemed to slow me down. True, all of these things alone wiill slow you down, but I think even with practice, I wouldn't be as fast. I finally put them away as it was taking up alot of time and line count.

Now for the second issue.  As far as keyboards that separate completely or are connected at the top.  If you have a bit of a protruberant belly (as my doctor so gently puts it, lol) as I do, the kind that separate completely would be better.  Also, I think being able to have the units at shoulder width would be better.  I am currently using a Gold Touch which I love because it does separate an okay amount for me and like that it tents up, keeping my hands in a more neutral, hand-shake position.  I think a big comfort issue is having your hands in a hand-shake position as opposed to having to turn them flat down as for a flat keyboard.