* * * Monday * * *

Today I had the opportunity to use the phrase, "Please explain this to me like I'm a 5th grader."  And I am soo not kidding.  I have been put in-charge of a graphing project at work and too be 100% honest with you, I really don't understand all the data.  I mean, I get the "Rainfall" data.  Not rocket science.  I get the "Million Gallons Per Day" column.  But the river elevation...well, it's based on this contraption in the river and I am not sure how high about the river it sits and how it works...but it does it's job.  And monthly, the info is collected and sent to me.  I run some calculations on the data and copy/paste it into a spreadsheet which creates a graph.  Ta-da!  Well, today I was asked to modify the info using some other data that I just don't understand where it's coming from, what it stands for, and how I am supposed to convert the old data to the new data...I was totally baffled.  Too make matters worse, the person asking me to do this doesn't have a real tight grip on what they are wanting me to do.  It was all vague.  VAGUE!  Sooo I went to my favorite and said (OUTLOUD), "Please explain this to me like I'm a 5th grader."  There's something so very humbling in that statement.  Funny, but humbling. 

Because he did not laugh at me...or make me feel like a fool, I am going to reward him with his favorite brew from Starbucks.  You see -- it's win/win.  His last comment regarding this situation was, "You really shouldn't have to be doing this.  You're the secretary."  AMEN!!!!!  I couldn't agree more!  But alas...I attempted to do what I was told. 

Did I finish the painful task?  Nope.  Am I okay with that?  Yep.  I tried.  I gave it my best shot.  We shall see what tomorrow holds...