New briefs for today, Dictionary Building

I transcribe 2 business meetings every month for a particular client. There are multiple speakers but there is one speaker in particular who constantly uses the same phrases over and over.  You know the type. There's nothing wrong with that but it's wonderful to have a brief for those phrases. Here are mine:

with that being said,  W-BS or THABS

so, with that being said,   SWABS

with regard to  TWRARDZ  (embedded T for to) or:

with regard to  TWR-RD

with regards   WR-RDZ

with regards to   TWR-RDZ

I needed a brief for the abbreviation for number for marking exhibits:

No.  TPH*UPL

I also discovered that I didn't have a one stroke brief for Peace Corps.  Now I do:

Peace Corps  PA*EBGS

I needed a one stroke brief for Department with a capital D:

Department   TK*PLT

So, with that being said, that's all my briefs for today. 

Some steno briefs

In the course of my work I make new steno briefs nearly every day. I'm going to start sharing them here in the hopes it will help some one you. Please feel free to add your own in the comments section.
Most of these are briefs concerning health care. Some of them are quite common, others are not, depending on the work you do. These are common for me at least.

United Health Care  AO*UBG

Health Care Reform  H-RPL

Affordable Health Care  TPO-RBL

Health Service System  H*FS

Health Service Board   H-FPB  or  H-FB

Celestial Circus

Come and check out the Celestial Circus blog and become a follower. It's an awesome site.

http://celestial-circus.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=4

Candle Doily

Here is my latest doily that I designed. You are free to use the pattern for yourself or to make gifts, or to sell those gifts but please don't try to sell the pattern. Thank you!

CANDLE DOILY

by Kim Clay

I used size 3 thread and a size 5 hook to crochet the body of the doily. I wanted to use a thicker thread with the idea of putting a candle on the doily and having the thickness of the doily protect the surface from the heat of the candle.

For the edging I used a size 20 thread for the light lacy look of it. It worked out well using 2 different size threads for a doily.

1. Ch 6, join.

2. Ch 4, dc in ring (dc, ch 1) around.

3. Sl st in ch 1 sp, (ch 5, sc in ch 1 sp) around.

4. Sl st in ch 5 lp (sc, dc, tr, dc, sc in ch 5 lp) around.

5. Sl st to top of petal, ch 10, dc in top of nxt petal (ch 7, dc in top of nxt petal) around, join in 3rd ch of beg ch 10.

6. Ch 12, dc in nxt dc, (ch 9, dc in nxt dc) around, sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 12.

7. (ch 6, dc 2 previous rows tog, ch 6, sc in dc) around. Join with sl st in base of first ch.

8. (sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc) in each loop around. Join. Fasten off.

9. String 20 beads onto thread. Attach new color thread (with beads) to top of petal with a sl st (Ch 4, add bead, ch 4, sc in the top of next petal) around. Join, fasten off.

I would love to hear your comments if you make this. Let me know if you find any errors.

Also feel free to share your photos.

Stenomaster/Magnum Steno Update

To answer a few emails at the same time here is an update on my studies. I finished learning my theory in August. What a thrill. I'm working on building my speed now.

I've gotten as high as 120 so far. When I go back down in speed the lower speeds seem so easy now. :D

I study at the library several times per week or more if I can get away. My best study times are at the library and also early in the morning while the house is still quiet, the dog isn't begging for treats (yet) and the coffee is brewing. Love that first cup! It's the best.

I use my CD drills from courtreportinghelp.com They are so good. I recommend you check out their website. You can try out some lessons for free. That is what sold me. And they are not expensive.

I review, review, review my theory. When I get tired of all of this I put on some music (slow music) and try to keep up while transcribing it. I started out with some slow tunes by Pasty Cline and now I'm using Beatles music, some Wille Nelson, Queen, James Taylor, just a nice mix to keep me interested and wanting to practice some more.

I hope to some day soon be good enough to sign up for the lessons at Mark Kislingbury's Magnumsteno.com

Please stop by there if you get a chance. Mark is the man.

Thanks to everyone who writes to me about this wonderful and fun craft. I love it. Keep those letters coming as I love to hear from everyone as it keeps me motivated.

Kim

Stenomaster Update

I've been asked by a few of you for an update on my StenoMaster studies. For those that don't know me, I'm a student studying Mark Kislingbury's StenoMaster Theory. (Now called Magnum Steno)

Since there is not a school near me or online that uses this theory I have little choice but to learn it on my own. Mark has been very helpful to me answering any questions I may have.

I'm happy to report that I'm now on chapter 29 of 33 chapters! This chapter is called 1800+ Common Words that are not obivious to write! There are 22 pages in this chapter and I'm on the 6th page.

I don't worry about how long it will take me to get through it. I just chip away at learning each page, a little each day. I also study past chapters to keep everything fresh in my mind. And I have recently begun to practice basic sentences and phrases using a Magic Drill CD which can be found at courtreportinghelp.com. They also have free drills that you can download and try out. If you do that I'm sure you will be buying their CD's. They're awesome!

When studying court reporting you have to find the theory that works best for you and then throw yourself into learning and studying that theory with all of your heart. I recommend the StenoMaster Theory a.k.a. Magnum Steno because it teaches you to write short which means less strokes which equals faster speed. It just makes sense!

No matter what theory you decide to study you will do yourself a service if you stop by CSR Nation and join the Magnum Steno Fan Club. You will find a lot of talk about the theory, briefs and tips galore. You will find Mark there as well as he is always willing to help his fellow reporters with his wisdom and advice.

Leave a comment here if you have any questions. I'll be glad to help you!

Update on the Stenomaster Theory

I made to Chapter 21! Yeah! These last 2 chapters have been the most challenging so far. All in all I'd say that learning this theory has been easy for the most part.

It is so well written and has clear cut instructions making learning a breeze.
Don't get me wrong, it's very hard work. But if it's fair to say that this work is fun then that's what I have to say. I am really enjoying it.

I peeked ahead to the next chapter and it's all about numbers. I look forward to the next challenge.