Today at work... was a normal day. Lot's to do. Keeping busy. Just the way I like it.

However...

It happened to be day 91 of my password for one of the systems that I work with frequently. This particular system makes you change your password every 90 days. And today was the day.

Now, I'm sure anyone who uses any kind of technology knows about passwords. At least 23 letters, numbers or characters, with a mixture using at least two of those. One capital, one lower case. Cannot resemble in any way, shape or form any of your previous 25 passwords. So what are you left with? Something pretty darn lame, that's what!

I try to be creative. Definitely something I like. Usually something that has to do with an ongoing project in my life, or a specific person, or an event.

So what do I do this time? I have a certain 'thing' that I've been wanting to start on, just a little personal goal... and I incorporated this into my new password. I type in my old password, tab, type in my new password, tab, type in my new password again, you know, just to verify that I've got it correct, then clicked Enter. And I'm in like Flynn!

Gather and sort some info. Email on it's way. Audit. Audit. Phone call. Paperwork.

Oh goody! Another chance to log in using my new password.

(and here's where the wrench gets thrown in...)

I type in my new password, at the same time thinking about the reason I chose it (that for the next 90 days, every time I use it I will remember this particular little goal, and being my own coach as I ask myself if I'm any closer to accomplishing it, which more than likely, I am not, therefore, the real charge of the password is to inflict guilt. And as we all know, guilt builds resentment).

What? Hmmm. Okay... Type it in again.

It's not working.

I look to make sure I'm typing in correctly. Still nothing.

I type very slowly. Still nothing.

Caps Lock on. Nothing.

Caps Lock off. Nothing

And just a few more times. Very slowly. Watching my fingertips as they hit the keys, one. at. a. time.

I now email the service to see if they can reset the password. And, instead of a response, I get the email that states that they have received my request and they will be sure to get right on it. Which, in reality, means that maybe by 6:30 that night they might be able to reset, after they call and I explain the situation to them, in detail, twice.

Then a thought occurs to me. "What if I'm wrong?" Let me first inform the reader that this never happens. I always (almost always) double check myself. I pay close attention to detail (usually). I even have my kids (most of them) trained to say "Mom, you're right." (okay, none of them) (even though it's true... and they know that).

Beaten down, I go over it slowly in my head... so of all the characters, numbers and letters I have used, which ones are most likely to get screwed up?

BAM! First try!

Crap. So now I've got a new password. A password I hate. A password that's going to make me feel guilty 20 times a day for the next 89 days. Oh the joy of mis-spelt guilt!