As I looked at the headline, I couldn’t help but laugh, since it is Lent and wouldn’t it be funny if someone gave up Excel for Lent? I know some are giving up Facebook and Twitter. But Excel? I couldn’t even do my job.

But the intent was to write about Excel. I know. Seriously geeky. But I’m all tingly thinking about what I learned.

First of all, I never took an Excel class. I learned Lotus 1-2-3 from my brother, over the phone, one night back in the mid-1980′s when I needed to cram and learn it for my job. He was a great teacher. (He is so patient!) I learned the basics. Adding, counting, graphing.

I didn’t need to know anything complicated.

Over the years, I transferred that depth (ha) of knowledge into Excel. They’re very similar. (Does anyone use Lotus anymore?) Anyway, it was plenty. I didn’t need to know anything else.

But today, thanks to perseverance (and another really patient teacher) I learned how to do some of the coolest and most time-saving-ist things ever.

I am so psyched.

And I hope this new knowledge will help me excel…. (ugh, sorry)