Crabby Office Lady

And now for this year's resolutions. Some are predictable...some may surprise you. But as usual, I'll do my best to accomplish them.

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I live where we get a lot of snow. This past holiday season we got more than usual (this should be a clue to you regarding where the Crabby family lives). In fact, after three or four days living as shut-ins with a 4-year-old in the house, I'd had just about enough of glitter-inspired crafts, being forced to make (and wear) plastic bead necklaces, of piling the same child into her snowsuit (over 17 layers of clothes) only to have to peel them all off — and fast — because she had to go to the bathroom, and of, well, let's face it, all that togetherness.

I like snow. It's pretty. It's fun. It's festive. For one — and I mean one day.

So, of course, my first resolution this year is this:

Resolution #1: Buy an ergonomic snow shovel

That's right, I injured both my back and neck shoveling the 3 feet of snow we got — the first time we got it. And that did not make for a happy Crabby (not that one would expect a happy Crabby, but it was the holidays, after all).

And so this year I resolve to go out and purchase my "ergo snow shoveler" (yes, these do exist) before the storm hits and the stores run out and the sales clerk sneers at my hobbling self. Hmph. You'd think that because I wrote this great column about office ergonomics, I would have thought of this earlier. But I didn't. Perhaps it slipped my mind because I had inhaled so much craft glitter and cookie sparkles — I can't really say.

Resolution #2: Make YOU as happy with Office 2007 as I am

I recently wrote a series of columns about some of the newer things found in the 2007 Microsoft Office system. I wrote about the new Office button, my favorite Outlook 2007 features, the mysterious Ribbon (a component of the new Microsoft Office Fluent user interface), and how to get your RSS feeds in Outlook 2007. In the next few weeks, I plan to write some more columns about this new version of Office. Expect to learn about the new graphics capabilities in PowerPoint 2007, the improved charting capabilities and ease of formatting cells and tables with Excel 2007, and more. Look for columns about those new things (and more) in the upcoming months.

I've been using Office 2007 for a while now (we get to try it out before it's released to you all) and I find that it's the the most innovative version yet. (And no, I am not paid to say that. I am paid to teach with humor, not sell you anything.) Stay tuned.

Resolution #3: Listen more closely

As you may have realized, I recently retired my crabby@microsoft.com e-mail address. There were a few reasons for this (some of which are unmentionable in this column), but the main one is that I want your input at the bottom of every column, where that Was this information helpful? tool is located. What worked for you and what didn't? Maybe you liked the column and it answered some of your questions. Tell me. Maybe you were looking for something specific and I didn't come close. Talk to me. Maybe you have an idea for a column. Maybe you have a new hairstyle idea for Crabby. Maybe her glasses need some updating. But seriously, I need to hear from you — what you tell me in the way of how you rate my columns and the comments you send have a HUGE bearing on how I proceed. I am here for YOU and no one else (well, and perhaps for my mortgage companies, credit cards, groceries, and the like). Maybe you want to introduce me to Oprah and help me make my book an instant best seller. I'm listening...

Resolution #4: Do my OWN taxes using...

Office templates, Office programs, and other Microsoft resources.

You know, I spent an awful lot of money paying my tax accountant last year. I just want to see if I can just do my taxes this time. I'll let you know next year how things turn out…

Templates

• Notice to IRS of mistaken bill
• Year-end tax plan
• Year-end tax planning calculator

Microsoft programs and resources

• Work Essentials: Finance
  From helping clients with year-end tax planning to setting up accounting books for small business clients, the Work Essentials Finance site on Office Online has everything you need to keep you organized and ready for tax time.
• Microsoft Money 2007
  As the Microsoft Money Web site says "All your finances, all in one place." I know people who swear by this product. Of course, it is NOT in the Office family of products, but still, it's kind of like one of those friends you can't believe isn't related to you...

Resolution #5: Give more

It's been a crazy year — again. On one hand  — the good hand — Microsoft released two very different, innovative, and major products: 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows Vista. Both were subjects of a lot of publicity and back and forth banter regarding what is good about them and what is bad about them. I don't know about you, but I just don't trust everything I read; I need to try it out for myself. And so, on January 30th, all of you will now be able to get an idea regarding what the fuss is all about — and you may just join in the good part of the good fussin' at that time.

In fact, did you know that Microsoft Office picked up an Editor's Choice award from PC Magazine? No? Well you do know...

OK, so that is the getting part. You're going to be getting some great new software. Now for the giving part. Three years ago, in my 2004 New Year's resolution column, my tenth resolution was also about giving. I'm going to repeat that information here, just as a reminder:

• How to donate your old PC
• Become a computer mentor
• Find out more about the Fresh Start for Donated Computers program.

Final words and resolutions

Thank you all for a wonderful year. More people than ever read the Crabby Office Lady column and many of you bought my book. This February 2007 I will celebrate my fifth anniversary as the Crabby Office Lady. My resolutions for the column are simple: Keep it fresh, keep it lively, keep it useful...and keep it coming. Have a great 2007, everyone.

"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions" — Joey Adams

About the author

Annik Stahl, the Crabby Office Lady columnist, takes all of your complaints, compliments, and knee-jerk reactions to heart. Therefore, she graciously asks that you let her know whether this column was useful to you — or not — by entering your feedback using the Was this information helpful? tool below. And remember: If you don't vote, you can't complain.

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