Password, schmassword

I have so many usernames and passwords floating around in my brain, there is no way to keep them straight.  I know I'm not the only one that deals with this.  How do you keep up with your passwords?

I try to use the same ones (which I know is a big no-no, so I started mixing it up some...which became part of my problem.)  However, our district requires us to change our passwords every 60 days?  90 days?  whatever.  And we can't use the same password as any of the last 6.  Grrr...

Our computer screen goes to 'sleep' after 5 minutes of inactivity.  So not only do we have to log in quite often to access email, lesson plans, etc, but we are also encouraged to use many aspects of technology in our lessons.  Brainpop, United Streaming, Renzulli Learning, Shelfari, KidsReads, and these are just a few of the resources which we have access.  They all require different types of usernames and passwords.  Some require capital letters, other require numbers or symbols, still others can only be 6-8, while another one wants 8 or more.

I spent my entire lunch time today attempting to register for a test.  When I completed my degree in December, I became eligible to be a Reading Specialist.  I have the degree.  I do not, yet, have the certification.  I went to TEA's website.  I only log in there about once every five years, so of course I had to click on "forget username" and "forget password."  I have an ID number assigned to me...who knew?

I figured all that out and logged in trying to register for this test.  It took ten minutes of surveying the site to realize, they give you the certification (for a small (and random) fee of $77) but they do not oversee the testing.

I went to ETS's website.  Yes, I can take the test.  I can register, but guess what?  I need to log in to the site with a username and password.  What's that you say?  It's not the same as TEA's username and password?  Of course not...because that would be too easy.

I know all this is necessary in our 'identity theft' ridden society, but Holy Time-Waster Batman.