Scarpetta by Patricia CornwellMy review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
View all my reviews.
21 December 2008
Something Going to Plan?
While I fully looked forward to the Christmas plans that I outlined in my previous post entitled Snuggling through the Holidays, I didn't really believe down deep that it would happen. While I'm a strong driver to my own destiny, my karma isn't always in agreement with my plans. A storm promised to blow through the midwest right out to the Atlantic, and although we left four hours early to stay ahead of the storm, I didn't really expect it to work.
But it did!
After happily settling into the resort condo in Provincetown with an appropriate array of Christmas delights surrounding us and a fire blazing, the first flakes of a foot of snow started pouring down. Thankfully, this is the north and they understand how to handle snow, so we aren't imprisoned.
We drove since no plane on Earth would accept all the packages that we wanted to take with us; therefore my parents left their place in Ohio in timing with our being close so we could tag team if needed over the 17 hour trip. We managed quite well and it wasn't until the damned New Jersey turnpike (I really really hate New Jersey) that we got stuck in traffic just west of the GW bridge that we noticed them behind us. I found it very amusing that we can travel 800 miles only to find ourselves next to each other in a typical NJ/NY traffic jam. It turned out that somebody had the audacity to have their car burn up, so it was shoved into the Hudson and everybody moved on quickly.
That's the theory anyway.
But it did!
After happily settling into the resort condo in Provincetown with an appropriate array of Christmas delights surrounding us and a fire blazing, the first flakes of a foot of snow started pouring down. Thankfully, this is the north and they understand how to handle snow, so we aren't imprisoned.
We drove since no plane on Earth would accept all the packages that we wanted to take with us; therefore my parents left their place in Ohio in timing with our being close so we could tag team if needed over the 17 hour trip. We managed quite well and it wasn't until the damned New Jersey turnpike (I really really hate New Jersey) that we got stuck in traffic just west of the GW bridge that we noticed them behind us. I found it very amusing that we can travel 800 miles only to find ourselves next to each other in a typical NJ/NY traffic jam. It turned out that somebody had the audacity to have their car burn up, so it was shoved into the Hudson and everybody moved on quickly.
That's the theory anyway.
18 December 2008
A Commonwealth of Thieves: The Improbable Birth of Australia by Thomas KeneallyMy review
rating: 4 of 5 stars
View all my reviews.
Snuggling through the Holidays
Picture this with me...
A warm (and real!) fireplace blazing with you in front of it wrapped up on a blanket and thick snuggly socks while munching off a smorgasboard of cheese, hot toddy's, and creamy thick soup. Mere miles away gives you estate bottled wine and in town the most amazing lobster bisque is served at an assuming family restaurant. Meanwhile it's pouring snow outside over the cold Cape Cod Bay. A stack of books and DVDs sit next to you ready for days of entertainment.
That will be me in 20 hours for the next 10 days.
A warm (and real!) fireplace blazing with you in front of it wrapped up on a blanket and thick snuggly socks while munching off a smorgasboard of cheese, hot toddy's, and creamy thick soup. Mere miles away gives you estate bottled wine and in town the most amazing lobster bisque is served at an assuming family restaurant. Meanwhile it's pouring snow outside over the cold Cape Cod Bay. A stack of books and DVDs sit next to you ready for days of entertainment.
That will be me in 20 hours for the next 10 days.
16 December 2008
15 December 2008
6 Years...
...of marriage to Eric does seem like six years. I can remember the first time he approached me to "car pool" to a party together for New Year's Eve like it was yesterday. He had that scent that any girl could smell that reeked of "this is my foot in the door! I'm being so insanely coy about it too!"
I will never let him live it down that he asked me out on our first official date over email. Granted, we both had established a very good online conversation setting up to this point, but seriously!
I actually start getting queasy when I realise how close I came to losing him at the very beginning when I set up two dinner dates for Valentine's Day only two months after that car pool suggestion of Eric's on NYE. You have to understand that Eric and I were not considered an "item" yet, and I still felt free to take advantage of the maximum number of dates I could juggle. Unfortunately, the first dinner ran later than I anticipated, and unable to contact Eric, I almost seriously flubbed it. I remember seeing his face upon arriving and I though, "oh shit, I've got to make this good."
Thankfully, Eric is the most forgiving person on the planet, not to mention patient!
It has led to eight crazy, fun, turbulent, loving and supportive years. (We have to count the year of dating and the year of engagement.)
Happy Anniversary Sweetie!
I will never let him live it down that he asked me out on our first official date over email. Granted, we both had established a very good online conversation setting up to this point, but seriously!
I actually start getting queasy when I realise how close I came to losing him at the very beginning when I set up two dinner dates for Valentine's Day only two months after that car pool suggestion of Eric's on NYE. You have to understand that Eric and I were not considered an "item" yet, and I still felt free to take advantage of the maximum number of dates I could juggle. Unfortunately, the first dinner ran later than I anticipated, and unable to contact Eric, I almost seriously flubbed it. I remember seeing his face upon arriving and I though, "oh shit, I've got to make this good."
Thankfully, Eric is the most forgiving person on the planet, not to mention patient!
It has led to eight crazy, fun, turbulent, loving and supportive years. (We have to count the year of dating and the year of engagement.)
Happy Anniversary Sweetie!
09 December 2008
Thirsty Developer published Eric Willeke!
I was really proud when Thirsty Developer published a podcast of Eric discussing a summary of his presentation to IndyNDA of Silverlight.
Please don't misunderstand that I actually track Thirsty Developer or understand all this Silverlight buzz, but I do know enough about publishing and podcasts through my world of education to know that this is really cool for Eric.
Good job baby!
Please don't misunderstand that I actually track Thirsty Developer or understand all this Silverlight buzz, but I do know enough about publishing and podcasts through my world of education to know that this is really cool for Eric.
Good job baby!
30 November 2008
PhD in Education
While my dream of obtaining a PhD by 30 will not come to pass, I can happily say that I will have started my PhD before I'm 30...exactly 7 days before I turn 30 in fact! March 2, 2009 I start my PhD in Education specialising in curriculum, instruction and assessment from Walden University. The courses are taken online with several residencies required at certain milestones. The program is such an amazing fit into my current position and for my goals down the road.
I AM SO INSANELY EXCITED!
It pays to wait until the right program is found. I've searched in vain for a program that leaped out, grabbed me by the shoulders and said "Here I am!"...until I found this one. Will this take a lot of work and sleepless nights? Oh my God yes. However, I believe that doing a program that inspires you is what keeps you going through the darker times of exhaustion and frustration in that will occur in any quality program.
I AM SO INSANELY EXCITED!
It pays to wait until the right program is found. I've searched in vain for a program that leaped out, grabbed me by the shoulders and said "Here I am!"...until I found this one. Will this take a lot of work and sleepless nights? Oh my God yes. However, I believe that doing a program that inspires you is what keeps you going through the darker times of exhaustion and frustration in that will occur in any quality program.
11 November 2008
Halloween Party
I love Halloween, most likely because the only requirements for the holiday is to enjoy yourself and step out of the box. Nobody cares on Halloween if somebody sticks a box on their head, punches two holes through it for the eyes, then puts "Free Mammograms" on top with a thick pen; however, this activity is not suggested for any point in time other than Halloween.
This year's fun and games involved a contest of setting up the creepiest Halloween scene based on the props available. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a picture of everybody's costume. This was greatly impacted by the amount of beer and cocktails present.
Below are the pictures that were captured.
Another fun thing we did was write a story throughout the evening - each line added having to include a word pulled from the pumpkin. It's a very strange story that must be shared. This story developed across several hours of drinking and involved many authors...one line at a time.
It was a dark and stormy night. The clouds swam like souless beasts on their hellish rounds. The large man, with his haunted eyes, prowled the yard outside the house. As he raised his goblet to his lips...and screamed as the eyes of the glowing pumpkins met his. He had a stormy surprise in his pants. The banshee grappled his haunted trousers. A woman would have to be drugged to be interested in that! But this woman had mixed up just the right batch in her groovy cauldron. And so she spoke the incantation and began her twisted ritual. As she pulled out her silvery dagger, he realized that she was a witch. He then wished to share the grave with the children of the dead. The witch stabbed with her dagger, and he began bleeding profusely. She shrieked and said "get the hell away from me!" Meanwhile, Wolfman had a surprise in store that he was planning. His latent homosexuality wasn't the only skeleton in his closet.
The Very Weird and Scary End.
This year's fun and games involved a contest of setting up the creepiest Halloween scene based on the props available. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a picture of everybody's costume. This was greatly impacted by the amount of beer and cocktails present.
Below are the pictures that were captured.
 |
| Halloween Party |
Another fun thing we did was write a story throughout the evening - each line added having to include a word pulled from the pumpkin. It's a very strange story that must be shared. This story developed across several hours of drinking and involved many authors...one line at a time.
It was a dark and stormy night. The clouds swam like souless beasts on their hellish rounds. The large man, with his haunted eyes, prowled the yard outside the house. As he raised his goblet to his lips...and screamed as the eyes of the glowing pumpkins met his. He had a stormy surprise in his pants. The banshee grappled his haunted trousers. A woman would have to be drugged to be interested in that! But this woman had mixed up just the right batch in her groovy cauldron. And so she spoke the incantation and began her twisted ritual. As she pulled out her silvery dagger, he realized that she was a witch. He then wished to share the grave with the children of the dead. The witch stabbed with her dagger, and he began bleeding profusely. She shrieked and said "get the hell away from me!" Meanwhile, Wolfman had a surprise in store that he was planning. His latent homosexuality wasn't the only skeleton in his closet.
The Very Weird and Scary End.
10 November 2008
Beating the Monday Blues
Feeling physically much better than last week, I was remiss to see that while my mood was positive for making something healthy and special for lunch, there's nothing in the house. No bread means no breakfast because my mind cannot register eggs without breakfast and my mind also cannot register breakfast with no eggs except for biscuits and gravy. My supplemented breakfast of some sort of greenish sludge that supposed to be insanely good for me helped for a mere hour before the need for lunch. Unfortunately, the cupboards are bare. There's dinner items, but nothing that I could really eat for lunch. My lunches are pretty light...in fact, you could call me the woman of many light lunches. I'm the classic user of elevensies, lunch, onsies, mid afternoon snack and tea.
I don't care for Mondays a whole lot because it's the day that I feel like I need to get a TONNE done in order to have a good week. No productivity on Monday means the week is trashed. This is possibly due to high expectations each week, but it's the best way for me to get that much done and not die throughout the week. Thus, I am happy to report that I have fulfilled lunch without wasting money or fat cells on fast food, or time going to the grocery store...via wine and chocolate.
There is some level of guilt for popping open the $25 bottle of zinfandel from our Kentucky wine trip to Equus Run just to have for a no-name lunch on a no-name day, but it's really good, and I console myself that it is now a special day due to the appreciation that will be bestowed on the wine. Besides, with the dark chocolate specifically noted to match well with the zin, aand my new German smoked Basil cheese (sorry, honi, all gone), life couldn't get much better. Unless of course I was sitting on a mountaintop surrounded by flowers and goats on a nice summer day.
I don't care for Mondays a whole lot because it's the day that I feel like I need to get a TONNE done in order to have a good week. No productivity on Monday means the week is trashed. This is possibly due to high expectations each week, but it's the best way for me to get that much done and not die throughout the week. Thus, I am happy to report that I have fulfilled lunch without wasting money or fat cells on fast food, or time going to the grocery store...via wine and chocolate.
There is some level of guilt for popping open the $25 bottle of zinfandel from our Kentucky wine trip to Equus Run just to have for a no-name lunch on a no-name day, but it's really good, and I console myself that it is now a special day due to the appreciation that will be bestowed on the wine. Besides, with the dark chocolate specifically noted to match well with the zin, aand my new German smoked Basil cheese (sorry, honi, all gone), life couldn't get much better. Unless of course I was sitting on a mountaintop surrounded by flowers and goats on a nice summer day.
07 November 2008
Jobs to Careers to Specialities
I'll have to admit, as the country in general seems to be in a mild panic over the economy, I've often thought, "I wonder why it hasn't impacted us." Granted the investment end has taken a bit of a beating, and my nose is stuck to the markets more instead of the previous spot checking, but overall, we've been extrodinarily fortunate in the sense that we have job security. After reading an article in the New York Times this morning that provided figures of 1+ million jobs disappearing this year alone, any person in any job would be motivated to pause and consider their own position.
However, I think there is an obvious answer that Peter Weddle points out so well. Specialised positions aren't threatened. In fact, these "privileged workers" seem to be soaring up. This explains how Eric's specialties in the software architecting world don't seem impacted, and how my efforts in the instructional design of online studies don't seem affected. In fact, the demand for work in each of fields is in higher demand.
So, concerned about your job? This technological world doesn't allow for any excuses to not become specialised if you are motivated at all. Don't ditch your career or field, just become an expert in it, or even better, specialise in a specific point within your field.
I believe that while our economy is experiencing a recession, it is easy to blame the economy for how the career methodology has changed. There is no ladder anymore. Go where you want. Just as Peter says, it's an opportunity that each of has that was not there in the days of career ladders. We just need to recognise it and grab our seat in this special and chased class of workers that is completely free to join!
However, I think there is an obvious answer that Peter Weddle points out so well. Specialised positions aren't threatened. In fact, these "privileged workers" seem to be soaring up. This explains how Eric's specialties in the software architecting world don't seem impacted, and how my efforts in the instructional design of online studies don't seem affected. In fact, the demand for work in each of fields is in higher demand.
So, concerned about your job? This technological world doesn't allow for any excuses to not become specialised if you are motivated at all. Don't ditch your career or field, just become an expert in it, or even better, specialise in a specific point within your field.
I believe that while our economy is experiencing a recession, it is easy to blame the economy for how the career methodology has changed. There is no ladder anymore. Go where you want. Just as Peter says, it's an opportunity that each of has that was not there in the days of career ladders. We just need to recognise it and grab our seat in this special and chased class of workers that is completely free to join!
28 October 2008
Too much STUFF....
As Christmas draws nearer, I am reminded just how much STUFF everybody has in this country. All right, maybe not everybody, but definitely the majority of the population. The crazy amounts of things may be plastic instead of wooden, but the bottom line is that all the social-economic levels except extreme poverty have items with too many additions to it (in the USA).
For example, in the children's world we have Toys R Us providing the flamingo pink plastic dollhouse with basic machine stamped accoutrements, Pottery Barn Kids providing the basic wooden dollhouse with cute little wooden accoutrements, on up to the Smithsonian's collection of at least 10 very small metal handpainted accoutrements per room. Even the dolls have a huge amount of "support gear." I'm not kidding when I say that I had less stuff for Elle than most doll sets.
As I looked through catalogues of options for Elle, I loved the ones that had a nice concept with a few pieces to it...versus the insane Fisher Price catalogue that gave me a bigger headache every time I turned the page. I honestly think that I would have avoided playing with most of the toys as a kid just to avoid having to pick it all up afterwards.
I think there is an important psychological point here. When we have this much STUFF, do we appreciate it?
This past summer I went through and easily got rid of 50% of our possessions. Now instead of walking through each room with blinders on, I tend to look around and even stop to look at something that means a lot to me.
I think people are making a mistake in having our kids go down the same materialistic track where they have so many things that appreciation for what they own diminishes.
For example, in the children's world we have Toys R Us providing the flamingo pink plastic dollhouse with basic machine stamped accoutrements, Pottery Barn Kids providing the basic wooden dollhouse with cute little wooden accoutrements, on up to the Smithsonian's collection of at least 10 very small metal handpainted accoutrements per room. Even the dolls have a huge amount of "support gear." I'm not kidding when I say that I had less stuff for Elle than most doll sets.
As I looked through catalogues of options for Elle, I loved the ones that had a nice concept with a few pieces to it...versus the insane Fisher Price catalogue that gave me a bigger headache every time I turned the page. I honestly think that I would have avoided playing with most of the toys as a kid just to avoid having to pick it all up afterwards.
I think there is an important psychological point here. When we have this much STUFF, do we appreciate it?
This past summer I went through and easily got rid of 50% of our possessions. Now instead of walking through each room with blinders on, I tend to look around and even stop to look at something that means a lot to me.
I think people are making a mistake in having our kids go down the same materialistic track where they have so many things that appreciation for what they own diminishes.
27 October 2008
No phone for a week?
Is it possible? In this world of taking mobiles to the toilet with you (please note that I do not feel quite that attached to my phone), our mobiles seem to be our lifeblood. I remember when my iPhone had a spider web cracked face; I shipped it to Iowa to iresq.com and discovered that 3 days without a phone was a little bit of heaven. Now the glue is not working right and they have to fix it, so I get a whole week of mobile communication freedom.
It's really hard to not be twitchy for constant checking of email and other apps when it's with you, but when it's simply not available, there's zero concern because I'm unable to do a single thing about it. I'm not saying they aren't helpful and necessary, but breaks from them are just as important as holidays away from the home.
It's really hard to not be twitchy for constant checking of email and other apps when it's with you, but when it's simply not available, there's zero concern because I'm unable to do a single thing about it. I'm not saying they aren't helpful and necessary, but breaks from them are just as important as holidays away from the home.
Working from home...pleasure and discipline
Working from home has been the best choice for me since I tend to like my fingers in a myriad of issues, topics, and efforts. Also, the office environment drives me absolutely beserk. I know some offices are more professional than others, but I never cease to be amazed with the need for walking about talking to other people who are trying to work, the endless gossiping conversations, and the general lack of productivity. In my opinion, you have to have more discipline in an office environment (especially cubeland) than at home.
However, there are other issues faced with working from home, and I wanted to share the blog below that really helped define methods for top notch productivity in the home environment. Honestly, if you work in an office, but still do a lot of different activities at home, there are still some excellent tips in this post. Granted, not everything listed is for everybody, but there's enough here to pull something away for the positive.
A List Apart: Articles: Working From Home: The Readers Respond
(Also note the four most recently shared blog posts in my Shared List on the left for more interesting tidbits found in blogging land.)
However, there are other issues faced with working from home, and I wanted to share the blog below that really helped define methods for top notch productivity in the home environment. Honestly, if you work in an office, but still do a lot of different activities at home, there are still some excellent tips in this post. Granted, not everything listed is for everybody, but there's enough here to pull something away for the positive.
A List Apart: Articles: Working From Home: The Readers Respond
(Also note the four most recently shared blog posts in my Shared List on the left for more interesting tidbits found in blogging land.)
23 October 2008
My new ethnicity...
I was very much complimented last night when I was standing with a group of my teenagers at Tae Kwon Do and they were complaining about some annoying white people. For reference, you should know that 90% of my school are Black kids. It may sound rude to not say African American, but they always seem annoyed when somebody refers to them as that instead of Black. They'll make a sing-song voice and repeat African American as they roll their shoulders and eyes. So, I just say Black.
Anyway, I piped up when I heard their minor mockery of "some white dude" with a reminder that I was white - and that hopefully their opinion of me was not in the same sarcastic vein. They turned to me with a slightly surprised look in their eyes and said, "oh no, you're half-Black." I asked how that could possibly be as I held out my very pale arms. Observing this, they reconsidered. "OK, you're all Black with white skin. Kinda like an albino Black."
Coming from them, that was an eye watering compliment that I very much took to heart. After working with them for several years, they knew that I wasn't just some instructor that was coming in to teach and go home. I was there for them and their future.
Anyway, I piped up when I heard their minor mockery of "some white dude" with a reminder that I was white - and that hopefully their opinion of me was not in the same sarcastic vein. They turned to me with a slightly surprised look in their eyes and said, "oh no, you're half-Black." I asked how that could possibly be as I held out my very pale arms. Observing this, they reconsidered. "OK, you're all Black with white skin. Kinda like an albino Black."
Coming from them, that was an eye watering compliment that I very much took to heart. After working with them for several years, they knew that I wasn't just some instructor that was coming in to teach and go home. I was there for them and their future.
20 October 2008
A baby-free week each month
The concept might sound cold, but I'm betting that the larger percentage of the parenting population would drop their jaws with the excitment of having a baby-free week every month. I love my baby unbelievably, but it's important to have personal space. Maybe I require more than the usual, or maybe I'm just spoiled, or maybe I don't require it and it's just an awesome gift of fortune to have parents fully supporting that.
While it's true that once you have a child, they never completely leave your mind. However, the insistent thoughts of "where is she", "when did she eat or drink last?", is she lonely", should I take a break now or later to play with her", etc. aren't so vivid because, well, she's 200 miles away and those questions become moot.
Also, there is the recognition of not needing to acquire a babysitter for even quick things like getting hair styled, nails done, massages, out for drink, etc.
Both of us being an only child has it's downsides on occasion also. She wants to watch a DVD, but so do I. I want to play the piano, but so does she. She wants to read, but I'd rather read something above a popup book (even there are some really cool popup books out there!). I want to settle into the couch for nice little lunch of tea, wine, and risotto with the Smithsonian, but she wants to eat at the same time on my lap. There are some time jealousy issues of when I need to work that make it difficult occasionally too, although she's getting much better at that now that she has concepts of time.
Don't get me wrong, this is all great stuff, and the fact that she enjoys what I enjoy and that we do so much together is really cool. I'm just excited to not have to take turns for a few days :)
While it's true that once you have a child, they never completely leave your mind. However, the insistent thoughts of "where is she", "when did she eat or drink last?", is she lonely", should I take a break now or later to play with her", etc. aren't so vivid because, well, she's 200 miles away and those questions become moot.
Also, there is the recognition of not needing to acquire a babysitter for even quick things like getting hair styled, nails done, massages, out for drink, etc.
Both of us being an only child has it's downsides on occasion also. She wants to watch a DVD, but so do I. I want to play the piano, but so does she. She wants to read, but I'd rather read something above a popup book (even there are some really cool popup books out there!). I want to settle into the couch for nice little lunch of tea, wine, and risotto with the Smithsonian, but she wants to eat at the same time on my lap. There are some time jealousy issues of when I need to work that make it difficult occasionally too, although she's getting much better at that now that she has concepts of time.
Don't get me wrong, this is all great stuff, and the fact that she enjoys what I enjoy and that we do so much together is really cool. I'm just excited to not have to take turns for a few days :)
18 October 2008
Heartbreak
There's always something sad about losing pet(s), but there are two species that affect me so terribly when they pass. Rabbits and birds. After my bout with Mazi and Peter, I knew I couldn't handle having a rabbit for awhile, so I switched to three gorgeous and lively spice finches. Somehow birds lift my spirit and encourage my soul with their song and twitter. I think my soul cracked when I found two out of the three spice finches dead in their nest. The third just looked at me as if to say, "see, you should have been paying better attention, and now look what happened."
Granted, the crack is healable, but it will take time. It's worse knowing that I simply got distracted this past week and they didn't get the exercise or water that they needed. People often compliment my discipline and achievements, but my perception is that I am possibly the most undisciplined person on the planet, causing unnecessary pain to sweet little birds who do nothing but make life happier.
I have the audacity to lecture others that our careers are always dispensible, especially specific jobs, but then I let a couple of unexpected emergencies kill off the song that always makes me smile.
Granted, the crack is healable, but it will take time. It's worse knowing that I simply got distracted this past week and they didn't get the exercise or water that they needed. People often compliment my discipline and achievements, but my perception is that I am possibly the most undisciplined person on the planet, causing unnecessary pain to sweet little birds who do nothing but make life happier.
I have the audacity to lecture others that our careers are always dispensible, especially specific jobs, but then I let a couple of unexpected emergencies kill off the song that always makes me smile.
17 October 2008
Layout Upgrade
I've been distantly aware that my blog layout is somewhat from the Dark Ages with it's austere black background with no design. I prefer simplicity over bling-y colour constrasts that make you wonder where to start reading first, but mine was depressing and needed some subtle facelifting. This background template was perfect for my goal, and I eagerly made the changes as I kept reading "your widgets won't be lost" and "your old template will be saved".
Uh huh.
I just spent the last hour putting back my widgets and adding code to the template. I would like to note that my old template was not saved and I got the enjoyment of going back to Goodreads, Google Reader, Amazon, and zcounter to retrieve all the appropriate code I needed.
While I'm excited about my new layout, I'll always think "but you didn't save the old template!"
Let this serve as a reminder to never depend on technology and to manually copy/paste anything thought to be necessary regardless of promises for easy retrieval.
Uh huh.
I just spent the last hour putting back my widgets and adding code to the template. I would like to note that my old template was not saved and I got the enjoyment of going back to Goodreads, Google Reader, Amazon, and zcounter to retrieve all the appropriate code I needed.
While I'm excited about my new layout, I'll always think "but you didn't save the old template!"
Let this serve as a reminder to never depend on technology and to manually copy/paste anything thought to be necessary regardless of promises for easy retrieval.
21 September 2008
07 September 2008
The Art of Diverse Travelling
I accidentally learned that it's cool to travel in different ways. I was pretty sure that any methods besides a resort would pretty much suck, especially if it involved the outdoors; however, I really enjoyed the cabin in the woods on the mountain method. Truthfully, I was envisioning bears, bugs, poison ivy, and smokey campfires. I was proud to try and rough it with my Burt's Bee's lotions, cream, soap and shampoo, as well as natural makeup (lots of applications to last through the day), but I didn't pin a lot of hopes on it.
Instead, I learned a scientific method to identify trees, finding over 10 types of trees. Maybe not a lot in other people's perspective, but a possibly an entire forest for my perspective. The first question is if the leaves grow alternatively or opposite, and then you determine if the leaves or compound or simple. There's a whole slew of questions that follow, requiring the little book to be glued to my person. Unfortunately I had no time to investigate the identification of ferns, although I have a book for it now.
The mammal stalking didn't go as well, but I DID saw a wolf! Yes, you can laugh at me and explain it was a German Shepherd, but I SWEAR it was a wolf. I checked the mammal book and got a really good look at it. It loped, instead of ran like a dog, and it didn't really look like a dog...not really. Whether it was or not, I will always believe it was a wolf. It was an awesome moment. I also found that three miles hiking in the mountains is nothing to sniff at, and there is more than one kind of fungus. In fact, there's lots of very cool fungi, including massive orange ones that experienced several moments of camera glory.
I will admit that the best part of the trip was finding out that the nearby town of Lewisburg had a most excellent wine shoppe with a cellar full of wine for sale upwards to $500 a bottle. The front of his store had the 'cheap' wine that had no truely cheap or overly marketed wine (The wine 'Yellow Tail' comes to mind when I refer to overly marketed). He had a '93 Dom and several interesting Italian varietals with older vintages in his cellar. The town had lovely antique shoppes as well that I really thought were fun. A couple stores had stogy items, but the Catholic confessional was the best item in the town. Unfortunately it's not for sale as it's the antique dealer's "pride and joy", although I'm not sure what I would do with it anyway. The horse drawn hearse was pretty awesome too. Again, not sure what I would do with it, but talk about a conversation piece.
[in home with antique horse drawn hearse]
"Here, have a drink! I'm glad you could make it to my cocktail party."
...
"Oh, the carriage in the corner? Yeah, that's a horse drawn hearse. Picked it up over West Virginia."
Maybe not.
Anyway, it was cool. I saw a tonne of Halloween potential.
I accidentally learned that it's cool to travel in different ways. I was pretty sure that any methods besides a resort would pretty much suck, especially if it involved the outdoors; however, I really enjoyed the cabin in the woods on the mountain method. Truthfully, I was envisioning bears, bugs, poison ivy, and smokey campfires. I was proud to try and rough it with my Burt's Bee's lotions, cream, soap and shampoo, as well as natural makeup (lots of applications to last through the day), but I didn't pin a lot of hopes on it.
Instead, I learned a scientific method to identify trees, finding over 10 types of trees. Maybe not a lot in other people's perspective, but a possibly an entire forest for my perspective. The first question is if the leaves grow alternatively or opposite, and then you determine if the leaves or compound or simple. There's a whole slew of questions that follow, requiring the little book to be glued to my person. Unfortunately I had no time to investigate the identification of ferns, although I have a book for it now.
The mammal stalking didn't go as well, but I DID saw a wolf! Yes, you can laugh at me and explain it was a German Shepherd, but I SWEAR it was a wolf. I checked the mammal book and got a really good look at it. It loped, instead of ran like a dog, and it didn't really look like a dog...not really. Whether it was or not, I will always believe it was a wolf. It was an awesome moment. I also found that three miles hiking in the mountains is nothing to sniff at, and there is more than one kind of fungus. In fact, there's lots of very cool fungi, including massive orange ones that experienced several moments of camera glory.
I will admit that the best part of the trip was finding out that the nearby town of Lewisburg had a most excellent wine shoppe with a cellar full of wine for sale upwards to $500 a bottle. The front of his store had the 'cheap' wine that had no truely cheap or overly marketed wine (The wine 'Yellow Tail' comes to mind when I refer to overly marketed). He had a '93 Dom and several interesting Italian varietals with older vintages in his cellar. The town had lovely antique shoppes as well that I really thought were fun. A couple stores had stogy items, but the Catholic confessional was the best item in the town. Unfortunately it's not for sale as it's the antique dealer's "pride and joy", although I'm not sure what I would do with it anyway. The horse drawn hearse was pretty awesome too. Again, not sure what I would do with it, but talk about a conversation piece.
[in home with antique horse drawn hearse]
"Here, have a drink! I'm glad you could make it to my cocktail party."
...
"Oh, the carriage in the corner? Yeah, that's a horse drawn hearse. Picked it up over West Virginia."
Maybe not.
Anyway, it was cool. I saw a tonne of Halloween potential.
28 August 2008
Travelling Pleasure
This has been a great summer for travelling, both for business and relaxation. We kicked off the Spring season with North Carolinian beach time, and then we got to spend time on the lake in Michigan and the Old Mission Peninsula wineries over July 4. There's a special secret microbrewery in Bellaire too that offer over a dozen fabulous crafted beers. Even better...they had no caring whatsoever that Elle was at the bar with us. Michigan isn't nearly as uptight as Indiana and other states.
Seattle was not cool in my opinion because I wasn't there, so we'll just skip discussing that other than Eric had a good conference.
Toronto in early August was another conference, but I am very capable of entertaining myself. I found a few good places to eat in Little Italy and the Dirty Dancing broadway show there was one of the best broadways that I've personally seen. I'd have to say Chicago is staying on a pretty high pedestal though. We finished out our August trips in Boston, which was a lot of fun celebrating a marriage and enjoying the North End.
One thing I have to say about cities. The definition of a real city to me is the presence of public transportation. I love to drive, but only on driving trips. Jumping in the car to go downtown, for example, drives me beserk. Not because I dislike it, but I'd much prefer jumping on an underground transit system.
The next trip should be ... interesting ... at the very least. It's a camping trip in the West Virginian mountains, just on the edge of Virginia. If you know me personally, you'll probably laugh. Let me qualify the 'camping' trip. There will be a cabin with full facilities. However, I am determined to rough it. I'm only taking my Burt's Bees lotions, shampoo, etc., and a very small makeup compact that I bought at Anthropologie. See! I can rough it. Also, all my clothes and necessities are going into one lone backpack. That's right - no crazy suitcase, just a backpack. I plan to commune with nature, studying birds, foilage, learning what poison ivy looks like, bathing in OFF, and grilling.
I will be relapsing the following week in Puerta Vallerta and living by the poolbar.
This has been a great summer for travelling, both for business and relaxation. We kicked off the Spring season with North Carolinian beach time, and then we got to spend time on the lake in Michigan and the Old Mission Peninsula wineries over July 4. There's a special secret microbrewery in Bellaire too that offer over a dozen fabulous crafted beers. Even better...they had no caring whatsoever that Elle was at the bar with us. Michigan isn't nearly as uptight as Indiana and other states.
Seattle was not cool in my opinion because I wasn't there, so we'll just skip discussing that other than Eric had a good conference.
Toronto in early August was another conference, but I am very capable of entertaining myself. I found a few good places to eat in Little Italy and the Dirty Dancing broadway show there was one of the best broadways that I've personally seen. I'd have to say Chicago is staying on a pretty high pedestal though. We finished out our August trips in Boston, which was a lot of fun celebrating a marriage and enjoying the North End.
One thing I have to say about cities. The definition of a real city to me is the presence of public transportation. I love to drive, but only on driving trips. Jumping in the car to go downtown, for example, drives me beserk. Not because I dislike it, but I'd much prefer jumping on an underground transit system.
The next trip should be ... interesting ... at the very least. It's a camping trip in the West Virginian mountains, just on the edge of Virginia. If you know me personally, you'll probably laugh. Let me qualify the 'camping' trip. There will be a cabin with full facilities. However, I am determined to rough it. I'm only taking my Burt's Bees lotions, shampoo, etc., and a very small makeup compact that I bought at Anthropologie. See! I can rough it. Also, all my clothes and necessities are going into one lone backpack. That's right - no crazy suitcase, just a backpack. I plan to commune with nature, studying birds, foilage, learning what poison ivy looks like, bathing in OFF, and grilling.
I will be relapsing the following week in Puerta Vallerta and living by the poolbar.
25 July 2008
MY Career
People ask Eric, "so what do you do?" Apparantly his job is officially 'cool' since they listen with interest, asking specific questions and trying to learn more. My opinion? It's easy enough to explain the career track of Software Architect to people while holding some mystical glamour.
They turn to me. "What do you do?" Mere seconds go by before the eyes glaze, and often as not, interrupted to change the subject. People just don't GET what I do.
So thankfully, the Rapid eLearning Blog explains it well what I do. Or at least explains a huge component of my job. I also train, evaluate and schedule faculty, but course development and evaluation is my focus and love.
Check out the well written blog post that describes perfectly my true career.
People ask Eric, "so what do you do?" Apparantly his job is officially 'cool' since they listen with interest, asking specific questions and trying to learn more. My opinion? It's easy enough to explain the career track of Software Architect to people while holding some mystical glamour.
They turn to me. "What do you do?" Mere seconds go by before the eyes glaze, and often as not, interrupted to change the subject. People just don't GET what I do.
So thankfully, the Rapid eLearning Blog explains it well what I do. Or at least explains a huge component of my job. I also train, evaluate and schedule faculty, but course development and evaluation is my focus and love.
Check out the well written blog post that describes perfectly my true career.
24 July 2008
Working at Home
People often think that working at home is the dream come true. I thought that when I designed my life and goals to be able to work from home if I wanted to work. However, that office environment has it's own special challenges that have to be addressed in order to stay sane.
One of my favourite bloggers, Dumb Little Man, found another blogger (jeetblog) that explains it well with this post.
People often think that working at home is the dream come true. I thought that when I designed my life and goals to be able to work from home if I wanted to work. However, that office environment has it's own special challenges that have to be addressed in order to stay sane.
One of my favourite bloggers, Dumb Little Man, found another blogger (jeetblog) that explains it well with this post.
21 July 2008
Life Management
Referring to the blog post yesterday in Obligations, I am happy to report that I acted on my acknowledgement.
I dropped a somewhat large hobby that had ballooned into an obligation.
I feel guilty and like I let people down, but I'm also wondering if that isn't just extreme arrogance on my part that I could possibly have that much effect on people. Regardless, I will suffer some depression this week for cutting that aspect out of my life, yet I feel a wave of absolute relief: one less thing to think about.
That just leaves me with
Referring to the blog post yesterday in Obligations, I am happy to report that I acted on my acknowledgement.
I dropped a somewhat large hobby that had ballooned into an obligation.
I feel guilty and like I let people down, but I'm also wondering if that isn't just extreme arrogance on my part that I could possibly have that much effect on people. Regardless, I will suffer some depression this week for cutting that aspect out of my life, yet I feel a wave of absolute relief: one less thing to think about.
That just leaves me with
- raising a toddler
- running an university's online program
- running a non-profit inner-city martial arts school
- maintaining a social life
- prepping and starting a doctoral program
Considering that list was much longer just six months ago, I'm extremely proud of myself for finding out what keeps me going and what keeps me happy. I always felt like I was being selfish if I just dropped aspects of my life, but I'm learning that being unhappy makes me irritable and unproductive overall, where I'm getting to the point that being happy makes me far more easy going and productive with fewer things.
20 July 2008
Obligation
I am unhappily discovering that a lot of my activities revolve around obligation, not enjoyment. That is not a suggestion that everything in life is one big happy circus, but these particular obligations started out as hobbies or fun activities, and now they are somehow integrated into a big responsibility package minus the smiles and sense of enjoyment.
Although this is very generalised statement that does not impact everybody, Americans seem to suffer from the "fun isn't really fun" issue. As I circle around and look at others, I see them stressing out over their obligation to something that was pure fun six months previously. I pitied them and said that I would never do that. HELLO! It's like a drug habit for me.
These are the stages as I look back on hobbies that have turned into obligations.
I am unhappily discovering that a lot of my activities revolve around obligation, not enjoyment. That is not a suggestion that everything in life is one big happy circus, but these particular obligations started out as hobbies or fun activities, and now they are somehow integrated into a big responsibility package minus the smiles and sense of enjoyment.
Although this is very generalised statement that does not impact everybody, Americans seem to suffer from the "fun isn't really fun" issue. As I circle around and look at others, I see them stressing out over their obligation to something that was pure fun six months previously. I pitied them and said that I would never do that. HELLO! It's like a drug habit for me.
These are the stages as I look back on hobbies that have turned into obligations.
- This is so much fun! I love it!
- Cool.
- *sigh* Busy, but I'll make it work.
- Christ, why did I do this?
- It's OK. Really. I'm just too busy at the moment.
- I hate this! I should quit, but other people are relying on me and I really do enjoy it and I don't want to cut myself off from the possibility of getting 5 minutes of excitement out of it, so I'll continue to invest hours for every 5 minutes of enjoyment since I've made an commitment and I shouldn't be a quitter.
Well, those are at least my stages. The problem with stages 1-5 is that I'm constantly convincing myself that the rest of life will change to make the hobby more interesting, and by the time I get to 6, I feel so guilty, stupid, and committed that I just blindly continue.
There, I acknowledged it.
12 July 2008
30 June 2008
We Made It!
The house is now fully ready for market. The sad thing is that we tend to fix our places up so nicely just to move. I'm learning to spend the extra money our own sense of completion - that will help us enjoy the next home so much more. There's no reason to short yourself by saying "oh well, I hardly notice it anyway." Actually you do, just not consciously. Walking around with all those little things done is an amazingly free-ing experience, not to mention everything not in current use being in storage. THAT is an /awesome/ feeling.
We're not putting it on public market yet since there's no rush to have the equity for a downpayment on another house since we're going to be travelling so much, so I'll be glad to enjoy the next few months with everything fixed before we leave it forever.
The house is now fully ready for market. The sad thing is that we tend to fix our places up so nicely just to move. I'm learning to spend the extra money our own sense of completion - that will help us enjoy the next home so much more. There's no reason to short yourself by saying "oh well, I hardly notice it anyway." Actually you do, just not consciously. Walking around with all those little things done is an amazingly free-ing experience, not to mention everything not in current use being in storage. THAT is an /awesome/ feeling.
We're not putting it on public market yet since there's no rush to have the equity for a downpayment on another house since we're going to be travelling so much, so I'll be glad to enjoy the next few months with everything fixed before we leave it forever.
27 June 2008
Important Lessons
A friend told me this story today. A fellow sought out a zen master for training, but the master never could teach him anything because the student wouldn't stop talking, chiefly about himself. Finally, the master starting pouring the student some tea as the student babbled. The tea continued to pour as the student continued to talk. Finally, as tea started running over and across the table, the student started and explained that it was more than full. The master agreed, explaining that it was just as the student was more than full, ie SHUT UP!
Such a needed lesson for the vast population.
A friend told me this story today. A fellow sought out a zen master for training, but the master never could teach him anything because the student wouldn't stop talking, chiefly about himself. Finally, the master starting pouring the student some tea as the student babbled. The tea continued to pour as the student continued to talk. Finally, as tea started running over and across the table, the student started and explained that it was more than full. The master agreed, explaining that it was just as the student was more than full, ie SHUT UP!
Such a needed lesson for the vast population.
08 June 2008
So Proud
Some friends, including us, had gathered for a dinner party in the new home of our host. After taking a look at the wonderful paint choices made, I nearly wept with pride as we had an intelligent conversation on the effects of slate blue and slate grey. This was coupled with going into the "green room" and hearing the words "it has a cumin-y brown touch for a better avacado green effect" come out of his mouth. This called for a couple more gulps of my gin and tonic. I wasn't sure if this was the same person. Later, we were sitting in the living room examining the potential new colour of his dining room. "I was thinking perhaps a desert taupe." The females in the room completely grasped this, but another male in the room stared in confusion. "It has an orange tint, but it isn't nearly as vibrant as strong orange" was the explanation.
Pure unadulterated pride.
As a computer geek, he knew there were 65,000+ colours, but he is now experiencing the ephipany of the colours having names.
Some friends, including us, had gathered for a dinner party in the new home of our host. After taking a look at the wonderful paint choices made, I nearly wept with pride as we had an intelligent conversation on the effects of slate blue and slate grey. This was coupled with going into the "green room" and hearing the words "it has a cumin-y brown touch for a better avacado green effect" come out of his mouth. This called for a couple more gulps of my gin and tonic. I wasn't sure if this was the same person. Later, we were sitting in the living room examining the potential new colour of his dining room. "I was thinking perhaps a desert taupe." The females in the room completely grasped this, but another male in the room stared in confusion. "It has an orange tint, but it isn't nearly as vibrant as strong orange" was the explanation.
Pure unadulterated pride.
As a computer geek, he knew there were 65,000+ colours, but he is now experiencing the ephipany of the colours having names.
02 June 2008
Home Sale!
It seems unbelieveable that we'd actually be taking the steps to sell our condo. It actually seems unbelievable to be moving at all, but we're excited about the prospects. If you know anybody that's interested in a private sale of a condo in Indianapolis, be sure and let us know before we officially put it on the market. A private sale is preferable to both parties over a real estate agent!
It seems unbelieveable that we'd actually be taking the steps to sell our condo. It actually seems unbelievable to be moving at all, but we're excited about the prospects. If you know anybody that's interested in a private sale of a condo in Indianapolis, be sure and let us know before we officially put it on the market. A private sale is preferable to both parties over a real estate agent!
28 May 2008
27 May 2008
Memorial Day - Very memorable
Original Plan - Head down to Cincinnati for some arts and wine, then onward to Maysville, Kentucky for a restful stay on the river at a favourite inn of ours (French Quarter Inn).
Actual Event - Eric's transmission decided to give up the ghost on a bridge in Cincinnati. Fortunately, my parents were travelling with us in their car, so it was easy enough to call a tow truck and dump the Cruiser at a local transmission place and continue going south with them. The mood, however, had soured some.
Recovery - Wineries weren't open on Memorial Day for the most part, but StoneBrook Winery, a favourite of ours on Hwy 8 in Kentucky, kindly offered to open on our behalf when we phoned ahead and begged. Being out of their Elderberry wine was bad enough, but driving right by their place and unable to re-stock was intolerable. A case of mixed wine later, we decided that our weekend had improved dramatically.
Original Plan - Head down to Cincinnati for some arts and wine, then onward to Maysville, Kentucky for a restful stay on the river at a favourite inn of ours (French Quarter Inn).
Actual Event - Eric's transmission decided to give up the ghost on a bridge in Cincinnati. Fortunately, my parents were travelling with us in their car, so it was easy enough to call a tow truck and dump the Cruiser at a local transmission place and continue going south with them. The mood, however, had soured some.
Recovery - Wineries weren't open on Memorial Day for the most part, but StoneBrook Winery, a favourite of ours on Hwy 8 in Kentucky, kindly offered to open on our behalf when we phoned ahead and begged. Being out of their Elderberry wine was bad enough, but driving right by their place and unable to re-stock was intolerable. A case of mixed wine later, we decided that our weekend had improved dramatically.
12 May 2008
Home - 30 degrees less and no ocean
I could be on the coast for a month and still be depressed that I'm home. I'm never the type to get homesick, although I distinctly remember one occasion at a rest stop when I was 9 where I was suddenly bitch slapped with homesickness. That is the extent of my homesick stories. I always say that moving doesn't solve anything - there are problems everywhere, but I'm starting to wonder at least how nice it would be to have problems in an environment I would enjoy! I really hate the mid-west.
Regardless of all that, I had to be amused with our crazy country. We stopped by the tavern across from Monticello. I thought this would be a great place to get a beer, and cool that is was built in the late 1700s. Not only did they charge you $9 a person to get into the tavern, no alcohol was allowed on the premises. More than the principle of charging us $20 to sit in a tavern relatively young by any other world standards, they don't even serve beer, a LARGE aspect of the place!!!!
So I sat outside, looking at it, and considered the joy of sitting in the first pub built in Dublin (1500s) and having a pint of beer for free (except the beer) - walking the amazing gardens at Versailles for free - sitting in front of Da Vinci's resting place for free - walking Stonehenge for free - walking the extensive catacombs in Malta for free - sitting on Palatine Hill eating a sandwich in Rome for free (except the sandwich), etc...etc...etc. Suddenly I had to laugh at the US' desire to protect these relatively young establishments and charge decently high fees to visit. I don't want to suggest there isn't good history here, but that doesn't discount the history elsewhere either.
Granted, there are expensive historical areas everywhere, but it's ironic how the US has a special knack for it.
I could be on the coast for a month and still be depressed that I'm home. I'm never the type to get homesick, although I distinctly remember one occasion at a rest stop when I was 9 where I was suddenly bitch slapped with homesickness. That is the extent of my homesick stories. I always say that moving doesn't solve anything - there are problems everywhere, but I'm starting to wonder at least how nice it would be to have problems in an environment I would enjoy! I really hate the mid-west.
Regardless of all that, I had to be amused with our crazy country. We stopped by the tavern across from Monticello. I thought this would be a great place to get a beer, and cool that is was built in the late 1700s. Not only did they charge you $9 a person to get into the tavern, no alcohol was allowed on the premises. More than the principle of charging us $20 to sit in a tavern relatively young by any other world standards, they don't even serve beer, a LARGE aspect of the place!!!!
So I sat outside, looking at it, and considered the joy of sitting in the first pub built in Dublin (1500s) and having a pint of beer for free (except the beer) - walking the amazing gardens at Versailles for free - sitting in front of Da Vinci's resting place for free - walking Stonehenge for free - walking the extensive catacombs in Malta for free - sitting on Palatine Hill eating a sandwich in Rome for free (except the sandwich), etc...etc...etc. Suddenly I had to laugh at the US' desire to protect these relatively young establishments and charge decently high fees to visit. I don't want to suggest there isn't good history here, but that doesn't discount the history elsewhere either.
Granted, there are expensive historical areas everywhere, but it's ironic how the US has a special knack for it.
09 May 2008
Fun Holiday Escapades
The great memories that I have with holidays are unplanned, but poignant events. It all started when I said, "do you remember that cute little wine and snack shop down the coast that sits right between the ocean and the sound?"
Of course nobody did, so there was a huge expedition to find this no-name shoppe.
We drive through several small beach towns. We cross a 3 mile bridge into Pea Island (mostly a dune preserve). We drive 40 miles down the Pea Island coast. We passed many cute shoppes, but none with with my description.
I knew it was before the ferry, and sure enough, 1 mile before the ferry and 70 miles from our resort, the shoppe was discovered.
Does it matter? No. But it was great fun in the process of finding it, and once we found it, we were under the impression that we had just found Blackbeard's buried treasure.
The great memories that I have with holidays are unplanned, but poignant events. It all started when I said, "do you remember that cute little wine and snack shop down the coast that sits right between the ocean and the sound?"
Of course nobody did, so there was a huge expedition to find this no-name shoppe.
We drive through several small beach towns. We cross a 3 mile bridge into Pea Island (mostly a dune preserve). We drive 40 miles down the Pea Island coast. We passed many cute shoppes, but none with with my description.
I knew it was before the ferry, and sure enough, 1 mile before the ferry and 70 miles from our resort, the shoppe was discovered.
Does it matter? No. But it was great fun in the process of finding it, and once we found it, we were under the impression that we had just found Blackbeard's buried treasure.
15 April 2008
Quacking in Unison
I am currently making great strides in realising that despite how much I want to be Superwoman and get everything accomplished, that's simply not possible. This is mostly due to the fact that balancing mother-hood, wife-hood, self-hood, career-hood, community-hood, and enjoying friendships cannot be done perfectly. I was talking to my boss about some issues we're having right now in the "career-hood" section of my life, and she made a great statement that we should all remember with humour.
"Some day I'll have all my ducks in a row quacking at the same time!"
Amen Sista.
I am currently making great strides in realising that despite how much I want to be Superwoman and get everything accomplished, that's simply not possible. This is mostly due to the fact that balancing mother-hood, wife-hood, self-hood, career-hood, community-hood, and enjoying friendships cannot be done perfectly. I was talking to my boss about some issues we're having right now in the "career-hood" section of my life, and she made a great statement that we should all remember with humour.
"Some day I'll have all my ducks in a row quacking at the same time!"
Amen Sista.
04 April 2008
New Job - More Ownership
Performing the functions of instructional designer at an university in Ohio was more than just architecting coursework for a degree program. This university did not have anything regarding an online program, so I was in at the bottom floor. There is a feeling of ownership and pride to have developed the standardization for the format, assessments, rubrics, presentation, and writing procedures from nothing into a two full blown Associate degrees. I definitely wasn't alone in this, but I was heavily involved and in many cases had to just take the initiative given the level of growth the program was experiencing.
Now I get much more ownership over the online program as a salaried employee (part time) that is additionally responsible for the hiring and assigning of writer's for new courses, the training and professionalism of our facilitators, coordinator between the online program, technology director, library, facilitator and students, as well as the always present trouble-shooter of problems that may crop up from any of those areas.
Previously I was just a contractor that earned a check when a course was complete, but now I feel that I have made a step up professionally, taking more responsibility for the success of the program as a whole, not just responsibility for the curriculum quality.
I'm really honoured that my bosses think I'm ready for this, and it's such a win/win situation for me because the flexibility remains. I imagine being 200 miles away adds to the need for the flexibility, but it's the flexible attitude of the department as a whole that makes me feel like I can fit well. Also, I'll get more satisfaction with my own goals and accomplishments than simply being an instructional designer.
Performing the functions of instructional designer at an university in Ohio was more than just architecting coursework for a degree program. This university did not have anything regarding an online program, so I was in at the bottom floor. There is a feeling of ownership and pride to have developed the standardization for the format, assessments, rubrics, presentation, and writing procedures from nothing into a two full blown Associate degrees. I definitely wasn't alone in this, but I was heavily involved and in many cases had to just take the initiative given the level of growth the program was experiencing.
Now I get much more ownership over the online program as a salaried employee (part time) that is additionally responsible for the hiring and assigning of writer's for new courses, the training and professionalism of our facilitators, coordinator between the online program, technology director, library, facilitator and students, as well as the always present trouble-shooter of problems that may crop up from any of those areas.
Previously I was just a contractor that earned a check when a course was complete, but now I feel that I have made a step up professionally, taking more responsibility for the success of the program as a whole, not just responsibility for the curriculum quality.
I'm really honoured that my bosses think I'm ready for this, and it's such a win/win situation for me because the flexibility remains. I imagine being 200 miles away adds to the need for the flexibility, but it's the flexible attitude of the department as a whole that makes me feel like I can fit well. Also, I'll get more satisfaction with my own goals and accomplishments than simply being an instructional designer.
28 March 2008
Puddling
When I have been in overdrive for as long as I have been in recent weeks, I do what I call puddling. As defined in my book, puddling is the art of falling apart after too much stress. And yes, it is an art. I actually do try and ensure that major aspects of my life have peaks at different times...Tae Kwon Do, instructional design contract, role playing...all while trying to maintain the quality of caring for Elle, home, and having a social life. However, I failed utterly in February/March.
I do take responsibility for actually thinking that two tournaments in three weeks would not be overwhelming, but as exciting as it was to get a van for Dan Shi, it was a very stressful 10 days of raising $5000! I'm so very grateful that so many people responded and we did indeed raise exactly $5000, but the stress...wow.
That was not the time for my instructional design work to blow up in my face. The university where I provide the sole instructional design support is experiencing huge growing pains, so I committed to being in Ohio every other Wednesday until summer. Not a big deal, but another thing to do. On top of that, I'm co-hosting a curriculum writer's seminar next month, so that's a huge focus right now.
Role playing - signing up for TWO Mushes (while being new at Mushing) was probably not the most brilliant time management maneuver when I already run a game and play in a game. I think now that the character creation process is done for each of them, I can play on my time now, but creating two characters in that detail at once was hazardous to my headaches.
It's all slowing down now, not stopped, but certainly slowing, and I'm officially ... puddled.
This experience has taught me some valuable time management tricks to maintain sanity:
1) Keep at least one weekend free and clear each month. If you do something socially, make sure it's short and pleasant.
2) Set aside at least one weekend a month that is either focused on fixing the house, or getting away from the house. This depends on your current state of emotions - if you're sick of the house...GET OUT. Go on a winery tour. Go to Turkey Run State Park. Go to Cincinnati's IKEA. Go to the Chicago Institute of Art. Something. If you crave to focus on your own special spot (home), then make a list of goals and get to it :)
3) Above all, make sure 1-2 hours a day is spent on you, and I don't mean a movie, which makes our blood circulate even more slowly than sitting at a desk chair for 8 hours. Do something active that you enjoy and get personal pleasure. My personal pleasure includes working out with my husband, taking my baby to the swings, gardening, and ensuring that my family does a little bit of music each evening together. I have other hobbies too, but these are active activities that get the blood pumping and different brain cells working. My whole persona improves after a week of doing this. Hang the work and responsibility for 1-2 hours a day - we have a responsibility to our sanity too!
When I have been in overdrive for as long as I have been in recent weeks, I do what I call puddling. As defined in my book, puddling is the art of falling apart after too much stress. And yes, it is an art. I actually do try and ensure that major aspects of my life have peaks at different times...Tae Kwon Do, instructional design contract, role playing...all while trying to maintain the quality of caring for Elle, home, and having a social life. However, I failed utterly in February/March.
I do take responsibility for actually thinking that two tournaments in three weeks would not be overwhelming, but as exciting as it was to get a van for Dan Shi, it was a very stressful 10 days of raising $5000! I'm so very grateful that so many people responded and we did indeed raise exactly $5000, but the stress...wow.
That was not the time for my instructional design work to blow up in my face. The university where I provide the sole instructional design support is experiencing huge growing pains, so I committed to being in Ohio every other Wednesday until summer. Not a big deal, but another thing to do. On top of that, I'm co-hosting a curriculum writer's seminar next month, so that's a huge focus right now.
Role playing - signing up for TWO Mushes (while being new at Mushing) was probably not the most brilliant time management maneuver when I already run a game and play in a game. I think now that the character creation process is done for each of them, I can play on my time now, but creating two characters in that detail at once was hazardous to my headaches.
It's all slowing down now, not stopped, but certainly slowing, and I'm officially ... puddled.
This experience has taught me some valuable time management tricks to maintain sanity:
1) Keep at least one weekend free and clear each month. If you do something socially, make sure it's short and pleasant.
2) Set aside at least one weekend a month that is either focused on fixing the house, or getting away from the house. This depends on your current state of emotions - if you're sick of the house...GET OUT. Go on a winery tour. Go to Turkey Run State Park. Go to Cincinnati's IKEA. Go to the Chicago Institute of Art. Something. If you crave to focus on your own special spot (home), then make a list of goals and get to it :)
3) Above all, make sure 1-2 hours a day is spent on you, and I don't mean a movie, which makes our blood circulate even more slowly than sitting at a desk chair for 8 hours. Do something active that you enjoy and get personal pleasure. My personal pleasure includes working out with my husband, taking my baby to the swings, gardening, and ensuring that my family does a little bit of music each evening together. I have other hobbies too, but these are active activities that get the blood pumping and different brain cells working. My whole persona improves after a week of doing this. Hang the work and responsibility for 1-2 hours a day - we have a responsibility to our sanity too!
23 February 2008
Strange Irony
I competed in my first championship since having Elle, with ironic results. I didn't feel ready for the forms competition at all - I felt disjointed and off-balance for most of my practice, but at the event something snapped together and I earned first place. I felt pretty ready for my sparring competition, going International and having been involved in my personal training these last few months...and got knocked out. Even though I didn't necessarily have expectations of the sparring win, I did not expect a black eye and swollen/bruised cheekbone. It was my impatience that cut me down (not waiting on them to attack); regardless, it was a complete switch-a-roo of my expectations for the two events. It was very disagreeable to experience my own personal first knockout as the one knocked out. I prefer the other side of the table; although neither sides are exactly enjoyable. Much learned - much more training to come.
I competed in my first championship since having Elle, with ironic results. I didn't feel ready for the forms competition at all - I felt disjointed and off-balance for most of my practice, but at the event something snapped together and I earned first place. I felt pretty ready for my sparring competition, going International and having been involved in my personal training these last few months...and got knocked out. Even though I didn't necessarily have expectations of the sparring win, I did not expect a black eye and swollen/bruised cheekbone. It was my impatience that cut me down (not waiting on them to attack); regardless, it was a complete switch-a-roo of my expectations for the two events. It was very disagreeable to experience my own personal first knockout as the one knocked out. I prefer the other side of the table; although neither sides are exactly enjoyable. Much learned - much more training to come.
18 February 2008
Not Impressed!
I never was terribly impressed with Butler University, except of course that it's an expensive school for rich kids that either weren't interested in Ivy League schools, or simply couldn't cut it financially or mentally. I've always respected their music programs though, and their support of the fine arts...until yesterday. We went to hear the student body's Wind Symphony, with very unflattering results. Nobody seemed "with it" and raw talent was definitely absent. All I could sit there and think was how amazing the children were at Purcell School of Music during a recital, and how they easily compared with professonals, then compare them to students 10 years older blatting their way through pieces.
I think partly the problem was that the modern pieces themselves were lacking the luster of the old classics, but their performance of a beautiful Bassoon piece was not much better, I'll give credit for the professor that played very well though.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh comparing 8 year old Purcell students to 18 year old "normal university" students; I just originally higher expectations. I've attended plenty of professor recitals and greatly enjoyed them. Perhaps all the student talent is off to Juilliard and the RAM :)
I try to avoid negative posts, but I'm not doing well.
I never was terribly impressed with Butler University, except of course that it's an expensive school for rich kids that either weren't interested in Ivy League schools, or simply couldn't cut it financially or mentally. I've always respected their music programs though, and their support of the fine arts...until yesterday. We went to hear the student body's Wind Symphony, with very unflattering results. Nobody seemed "with it" and raw talent was definitely absent. All I could sit there and think was how amazing the children were at Purcell School of Music during a recital, and how they easily compared with professonals, then compare them to students 10 years older blatting their way through pieces.
I think partly the problem was that the modern pieces themselves were lacking the luster of the old classics, but their performance of a beautiful Bassoon piece was not much better, I'll give credit for the professor that played very well though.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh comparing 8 year old Purcell students to 18 year old "normal university" students; I just originally higher expectations. I've attended plenty of professor recitals and greatly enjoyed them. Perhaps all the student talent is off to Juilliard and the RAM :)
I try to avoid negative posts, but I'm not doing well.
14 February 2008
Dick's Sporting Goods are full of dicks
I like to think I'm reasonable with my expectations as a consumer, but the lack of customer service, or even customer caring has pushed me to vow never to return to Dick's Sporting Goods. I was always frustrated that every visit there left me wanting...always missing the size I needed, or the ball brand I wanted. Therefore, I decided to use their web service to buy 17 mouthguards for my martial art students. Big mistake! I chose shipping that said 3-5 business days. Like a fool, I thought they meant that, so I choose it. My confirmation email said to expect it between 4-8 business days...2 business days too late for the tournament. I spend wasted time looking for any sign to contact these people since they provide no customer service number, weblink, or email in their confirmation email or their website account summary. I finally find a phone number where I was told that I would have to cancel and start over.
me: "First, let's focus on the fact that you say 3-5 business days on the shipping choice, and you provide 4-8 business days for the confirmation."
dick: "oh, it says very clearly that it takes 1-2 business days to get to our warehouse."
me: "WHERE?"
dick: "that information is provided with the product information."
me: "that is a very unhelpful place to put it. i very much need it by the 23rd, so please upgrade my shipping option."
dick: "we can't do that, i'll cancel your order and you can start over."
me: "i'll never be using your service again if this is how unflexible the company is!"
dick: "have a pleasant day."
Fine. Whatever. I'm told that I must move on to keep my blood pressure down. So I do it all over again. Please note that they were magically out of the colours I wanted because they had not returned the inventory from my cancellation, so I had to be satisfied with colours I didn't want. Then I discovered that in order to get the order within 4 business days, I have to freaking overnight it because they take 1-2 business days to send the order to the warehouse!!! I'm guessing at this point that they do not email the order, rather bike it across town by courier.
I post this in hopes that anybody that wants to Google Dick's Sporting Goods for feedback, that they'll read this and realise that it's another big business gone bad.
I like to think I'm reasonable with my expectations as a consumer, but the lack of customer service, or even customer caring has pushed me to vow never to return to Dick's Sporting Goods. I was always frustrated that every visit there left me wanting...always missing the size I needed, or the ball brand I wanted. Therefore, I decided to use their web service to buy 17 mouthguards for my martial art students. Big mistake! I chose shipping that said 3-5 business days. Like a fool, I thought they meant that, so I choose it. My confirmation email said to expect it between 4-8 business days...2 business days too late for the tournament. I spend wasted time looking for any sign to contact these people since they provide no customer service number, weblink, or email in their confirmation email or their website account summary. I finally find a phone number where I was told that I would have to cancel and start over.
me: "First, let's focus on the fact that you say 3-5 business days on the shipping choice, and you provide 4-8 business days for the confirmation."
dick: "oh, it says very clearly that it takes 1-2 business days to get to our warehouse."
me: "WHERE?"
dick: "that information is provided with the product information."
me: "that is a very unhelpful place to put it. i very much need it by the 23rd, so please upgrade my shipping option."
dick: "we can't do that, i'll cancel your order and you can start over."
me: "i'll never be using your service again if this is how unflexible the company is!"
dick: "have a pleasant day."
Fine. Whatever. I'm told that I must move on to keep my blood pressure down. So I do it all over again. Please note that they were magically out of the colours I wanted because they had not returned the inventory from my cancellation, so I had to be satisfied with colours I didn't want. Then I discovered that in order to get the order within 4 business days, I have to freaking overnight it because they take 1-2 business days to send the order to the warehouse!!! I'm guessing at this point that they do not email the order, rather bike it across town by courier.
I post this in hopes that anybody that wants to Google Dick's Sporting Goods for feedback, that they'll read this and realise that it's another big business gone bad.
06 February 2008
Important Focuses
I have discovered that it's essential to play Godsmack's Sick of Life while I grade. Why? Because these are adult students that have paid money to screw off even basic strategies to college success, such as reading the instructions on how to get into their course (online), reviewing the rubrics, and reading the student guides that tells them exactly what to do and why it's important. I support any adult student that wants to return to college and improve their quality of life and education, but many excuses that I run into are much worse than the children's excuses in my Tae Kwon Do school. Those are the people that I just want to say "you're a manager at Wendy's because you won't accept responsibility for your life, not because you don't have a degree."
I have discovered that it's essential to play Godsmack's Sick of Life while I grade. Why? Because these are adult students that have paid money to screw off even basic strategies to college success, such as reading the instructions on how to get into their course (online), reviewing the rubrics, and reading the student guides that tells them exactly what to do and why it's important. I support any adult student that wants to return to college and improve their quality of life and education, but many excuses that I run into are much worse than the children's excuses in my Tae Kwon Do school. Those are the people that I just want to say "you're a manager at Wendy's because you won't accept responsibility for your life, not because you don't have a degree."
18 January 2008
No Baby, not the Wireless!
Elle not only is attracted to anything technological (laptops, mobiles, cameras, etc), but adores the wireless box in the bedroom. Nearly daily I'm working happily on the computer then suddenly I'm asked if I want to work offline because there's no Internet access. I turn to see the giggling and smiling baby with the wires very handily removed from the box and all the lights out. Talk about being forced to learn how to get wireless hooked back together and functioning.
Elle not only is attracted to anything technological (laptops, mobiles, cameras, etc), but adores the wireless box in the bedroom. Nearly daily I'm working happily on the computer then suddenly I'm asked if I want to work offline because there's no Internet access. I turn to see the giggling and smiling baby with the wires very handily removed from the box and all the lights out. Talk about being forced to learn how to get wireless hooked back together and functioning.
16 January 2008
Chicago...and being happy where-ever I am
As I was driving to Halsted Street for a visit to the B.L.U.E.S., I thought, "Lincoln Park would be the place I'd want to live. Always hopping with life, and close to downtown, I think it would be fun to trade the 3K square feet of a condo for the 1K square feet of a flat...just a for a couple years or so."
Then I realised that I think this way every time I go to a place I know decently well and enjoy - Chicago, New York, and London are my top places I'd totally not mind trading the larger space of boredom for the smaller space of excitement! However, I thought of something somewhat profound for me: I'll probably never be completely happy regardless of my location simply because I have to be completely happy with myself before I know what I really need around me. Realising this has made me know what I feel is missing from Indianapolis - we have a little bit of everything, but not a lot of anything. I have to admit that isn't a terrible thing, and probably makes travelling even more fun.
Also, the lower living expenses helps our travelling budget quite a bit, and I couldn't stop travelling regardless of where I lived. Besides just wishing we were closer to cooler places, I think Indianapolis really isn't that bad - providing a cheap haven to come back to, and an hor d'ouerve tray of what's out there. It's just important to not get too caught up with a life just in Indianapolis.
As I was driving to Halsted Street for a visit to the B.L.U.E.S., I thought, "Lincoln Park would be the place I'd want to live. Always hopping with life, and close to downtown, I think it would be fun to trade the 3K square feet of a condo for the 1K square feet of a flat...just a for a couple years or so."
Then I realised that I think this way every time I go to a place I know decently well and enjoy - Chicago, New York, and London are my top places I'd totally not mind trading the larger space of boredom for the smaller space of excitement! However, I thought of something somewhat profound for me: I'll probably never be completely happy regardless of my location simply because I have to be completely happy with myself before I know what I really need around me. Realising this has made me know what I feel is missing from Indianapolis - we have a little bit of everything, but not a lot of anything. I have to admit that isn't a terrible thing, and probably makes travelling even more fun.
Also, the lower living expenses helps our travelling budget quite a bit, and I couldn't stop travelling regardless of where I lived. Besides just wishing we were closer to cooler places, I think Indianapolis really isn't that bad - providing a cheap haven to come back to, and an hor d'ouerve tray of what's out there. It's just important to not get too caught up with a life just in Indianapolis.
04 January 2008
Champagne Reviews
New Year's Eve had a great start with a wine pairing with each course at Oceannaire. Simply fabulous would be the description, although there was some minor embarrassment that I had forgotten glace meant ice in French. You would think that seeing vin, and knowing that meant wine, would help me deduce "ice wine", but no, it didn't. Yeesh. Anyway, everything from the pate's to the duck salad to the amazing lobster with even more amazing butter/vanilla sauce to the Baked Alaska was scrumptious.
Moving onward to Champagne tastings. Each of us bought a Champagne to taste and evaluate, so I thought I'd share the overall results.
Indiana Champagne ($15) - I wondered how Easley Winery could possibly get away with calling it that since technically the term Champagne can be applied to sparkling wine coming out of Champagne, France. Then I realised that's the wine name, with the wine descriptor at the bottom being the typical "sparkling wine". Clever! Anway, it was very sweet and smooth, probably an excellent match for chocolate, although we didn't have any at the time.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Brut 2003 ($30) - I DO know what blanc means, and I still don't understand the reasoning behind titling it "White of Whites". This is a sparkling wine from California. It was quite good, nice dryness with some complexity that was enjoyable.
Perrier Jouet Champagne Grand Brut ($35) - A product of France, this is allowed to be classified as a champagne, but they all have the same happy bubbles :) It was extremely subtle, tasting a bit like a blend. Easy to drink and smooth.
Perrier Jouet Champagne Brut 1996 ($99) - The vintage age of this champagne from the same vineyard put some complexity and kick into it. It was heavier bodied than Dom Perignon's late 90's vintages, but as a slightly cheaper competition, I could happily take the Perrier Jouet over the Dom.
My favourites was the Schramsberg and '96 Perrier Jouet, but all were really enjoyable. Having these tastings up the expense tree really helps determine how much you want to spend because honestly, people would probably get the same kind of bubbly enjoyment out the Schramsberg and save $70.
New Year's Eve had a great start with a wine pairing with each course at Oceannaire. Simply fabulous would be the description, although there was some minor embarrassment that I had forgotten glace meant ice in French. You would think that seeing vin, and knowing that meant wine, would help me deduce "ice wine", but no, it didn't. Yeesh. Anyway, everything from the pate's to the duck salad to the amazing lobster with even more amazing butter/vanilla sauce to the Baked Alaska was scrumptious.
Moving onward to Champagne tastings. Each of us bought a Champagne to taste and evaluate, so I thought I'd share the overall results.
Indiana Champagne ($15) - I wondered how Easley Winery could possibly get away with calling it that since technically the term Champagne can be applied to sparkling wine coming out of Champagne, France. Then I realised that's the wine name, with the wine descriptor at the bottom being the typical "sparkling wine". Clever! Anway, it was very sweet and smooth, probably an excellent match for chocolate, although we didn't have any at the time.
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Brut 2003 ($30) - I DO know what blanc means, and I still don't understand the reasoning behind titling it "White of Whites". This is a sparkling wine from California. It was quite good, nice dryness with some complexity that was enjoyable.
Perrier Jouet Champagne Grand Brut ($35) - A product of France, this is allowed to be classified as a champagne, but they all have the same happy bubbles :) It was extremely subtle, tasting a bit like a blend. Easy to drink and smooth.
Perrier Jouet Champagne Brut 1996 ($99) - The vintage age of this champagne from the same vineyard put some complexity and kick into it. It was heavier bodied than Dom Perignon's late 90's vintages, but as a slightly cheaper competition, I could happily take the Perrier Jouet over the Dom.
My favourites was the Schramsberg and '96 Perrier Jouet, but all were really enjoyable. Having these tastings up the expense tree really helps determine how much you want to spend because honestly, people would probably get the same kind of bubbly enjoyment out the Schramsberg and save $70.
01 January 2008
Christmas Spirit
I remember how sad I was feeling that everybody was so lacking a Christmas mood this year during my "Humbug" post, but I'm glad to report that I started seeing it people closer to Christmas. I guess it was a delayed emotion this year, but during those first three weeks of December, I had an epiphany. For the first time ever, I really was completely satisfied with giving, and had no desire for my own gifts. It's easy to say, but it's much harder to make that emotion a true reality. The amazing result? I got everything I could possibly want...things I didn't even know that I wanted, but were perfect things that I'll enjoy so much. I think that's the secret - if you have no expectations or dreams of specific things, the gifts received are extra special.
I remember how sad I was feeling that everybody was so lacking a Christmas mood this year during my "Humbug" post, but I'm glad to report that I started seeing it people closer to Christmas. I guess it was a delayed emotion this year, but during those first three weeks of December, I had an epiphany. For the first time ever, I really was completely satisfied with giving, and had no desire for my own gifts. It's easy to say, but it's much harder to make that emotion a true reality. The amazing result? I got everything I could possibly want...things I didn't even know that I wanted, but were perfect things that I'll enjoy so much. I think that's the secret - if you have no expectations or dreams of specific things, the gifts received are extra special.
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