Talk about expected news...
After Decades in Politics, a Speedy Rise, and Fall, for Burris
The guy was doomed from day one. As if the Blago taint wasn't enough, he was caught lying, or at least not telling the whole story about it, more than once. Retirement is the best decision he could have made.
When you've only raised $800 some dollars in a quarter, it's time to face facts.
Palin Resigning as Alaska Governor...
Only time will tell if this was a good move for her, or incredibly dumb. It certainly will not help her cause with those who believe she lacks experience for her to have only completed a little more than half her term as Governor.
Perhaps she sensed what has been reported as growing disapproval over her spending so much time away from AK keeping her national profile up?
After 8 months, Minnesota finally has two senators.
Franken Wins Senate Battle
It's about damn time this one got settled. Who wants to bet Coleman announces for Governor within a matter of weeks?
A colleague of mine sent an email last night about a new blog project, and I was reminded I have been away from here for quite a while. I do enjoy having this space to write about my personal and professional interests, and life in general, but I have found in the past few months that I have not had a great deal of "compelling" things to chronicle.
When I last wrote, I had returned from my "grad school tour." I did make a choice, although a different one than I had anticipated. That said, I am looking forward to it with the same excitement and think I made a good decision.
I had a birthday last week. Does 25 feel different than 24? Nope.
I need to go through my sidebar and take out/add a few things. Watch for changes.
I urge you to try Southwest Airlines. I thought I would check out their new service on the trip discussed in the previous post, and I was not disappointed.
1. There are NO BAGGAGE FEES!
2. You can sit where you want on the plane.
3. Their "home" at MSP is the smaller, easier to navigate HHH Terminal.
4. Their "home" in Chicago, Midway, is easier to navigate than O'Hare, at least I have been told so by many.
5. They don't look at you funny for requesting preboarding as if to say "How disabled are you, really?" (I've had that happen if traveling without a chair or the scooter)
6. Flight crews and gate agents are cheerful and helpful...one flight attendant sang to us and offered to take me to baggage claim and ground transportation himself when my requested wheelchair escort was nowhere to be seen upon arrival in Mpls.
Ok, I'm not currently a student, so it wasn't really spring break, but I did spend the past week in Illinois visiting two potential graduate schools, the Windy City, and friends. It was a busy week, but a good one. I think I got a good feel for both the campuses and programs, and was able to interview for a bunch of GA positions.
Also did a visit to a Wisconsin school last week, that went well.
Now, two things lie ahead:
1. The waiting game to find out what if any GAs will be offered
2. The ultimate decision
I should have all the information I need to make my choices within a couple of weeks, maybe sooner.
Reached a milestone the other day by submitting the last piece of required paperwork for admission to a graduate program. It's quite the process and if anyone says it's a piece of cake, they are wrong.
For the record, I have applied to five schools in four different states. I won't say where on this blog until I have been accepted and decided where I want to go, at least not for now. I am of course hoping for multiple acceptances so I can have a choice where I end up...and even with the initial application process done, there is still follow up, assistantships to be applied for and the like. Definitely a marathon as opposed to a sprint.
So here's where I stand today...
Submitted Applications: Five
Acceptances: One
Rejections: One
Waiting to hear: Three
If anyone who happens to read this blog is a colleague or anyone interested in student affairs in Minnesota, take note:
The Minnesota College Personnel Association (MCPA) is ACPA's State/International Division of the Year, for the first time since 1984!
Read the press release.
Kudos to all my board colleagues, previous board members and anyone associated with MCPA.
I know I have been a very bad blogger. I seem to be alternating between busy with other things and being not motivated enough to write. Let's see what I've been up to the first month and a half of 2009:
Today, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. Whatever your political stripes, it is hard to deny the excitement, anticipation and history surrounding this day in our country.
Yes, Presidential Inaugurals happen every four years, but this man is not just any President. This is a man whose story, personality, and ideas have energized and inspired people in a way not seen in a long time, if ever. In only a few short years, he catapulted from the Illinois Statehouse to the US Senate and now to the Presidency.
How interesting it was to watch the transition of power play out with much pomp and circumstance today. But in the morning, the party will be over and the real work will begin for our new leader and his team.
This is a time of great concern in our nation. I believe our new President is equipped to meet the challenges he faces. It will not be easy, and things may not improve as quickly as some people would like. He is after all only one man, and not a perfect man...there will be missteps along the way. Still, I have reason to hope that the next four years will be good for America.
Well, the Bush Administration is almost over...finally. Just a few more hours, and Dubya will go back to Texas and become part of history.
It's almost sad that a presidency that could have had promise descended into such lows. He squandered every bit of goodwill he had and leaves office with a 22 percent approval rating. We're in two wars, the economy is a mess...things are just bad.
Here was a man who surrounded himself with the wrong people, and made a lot of bad decisions. Maybe he thought he was doing right...sure would be interesting to see what goes on in that man's head.
He won't go down as the worst, but certainly far from one of the best.
Happy Trails, Mr. Bush...I hope we do not "meet" again for a long time.
Had a nice Christmas. Pretty low key, but that is how we like it around here. Got a few nice gifts...a couple sportcoats, pants, a book, a calendar...mostly "functional" items.
We went to a couple after Christmas sales Friday. The mall was insane, but I did grab a $4 pair of slippers at Herbergers, and later picked up holiday cards for next season at World Market for about $4 a box...not bad.
It was an interesting week with a puppy running around...my sister's combined birthday and Christmas gift was a dog. She's had him since Mid-Nov, and he is cute as hell...sure keeps us on our toes though, especially with the cats. They are happy he has gone back to his home so they can have the run of the house again.
Two more days in 2008...where did the year go?
Posts
All Comments
