Fall Conference and Some Time Home

Spent the weekend in the cities at MSUSA Fall Conference. It was an odd feeling being in the audience and not being a delegate.

Unfortunately the Board election did not go my way. While I'm happy for the winners, I am certainly a bit bummed that neither Nicole or I got a seat. I didn't even care which of us, I just wanted one of us in there. Oh well, there is always Spring. I will say that I did receive a lot of compliments, which reminds me that there are people there who value me even if I did not win.

We also had a little bit of fun. Mom did a Halloween themed dessert social for our group on Friday, and everyone had a good time...scared the hell out of Julie more than once, it was great :) It was nice to have the chance to introduce the 'rents to more of the Senate crew, plus we were joined by Brandon and Brent and Derek, which made for a good time.

Oh, and the pic above is of some of the group "crashing" a wedding in costume...apparently they were a hit.

I'm Who?

So I couldn't resist this quiz....


You are Scooter.
You are a loyal, hardworking person, better known
as a doormat.

SPECIAL TALENTS:
Going for stuff.
LEAST FAVORITE MOVIE:
"Go For Broke!"

QUOTE:
"15 seconds to showtime."

LAST BOOK READ:
"300 New Ways to Get Your Uncle to Get You a
Better Job "

NEVER LEAVES HOME WITHOUT:
Coffee, clipboard, and Very Special Guest Stars.


What Muppet are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Not sure what's worse...that I'm apparently a doormat or that I've never heard of this muppet.

Change of Seasons

A sure sign of things to come. I finally had to break down and switch the clothes in my closet. The warm weather polos are now in a tote under the bed, replaced by sweaters and long sleeve shirts.

Ugh. I hate the onset of cold weather.

A Good Week...and I'm Number 1

Well, yet another few days have passed without a blog update. This has actually been one of very few times thus far in the semester when I can say I've had a stretch of very good days.

Tuesday I returned to classes and the office with stories from Monday at the high school, which almost made up for the lackluster response to my Methods paper. I don't know what it is this term, but some of my writing is not at its usual level. I'm definitely in a personal writing slump. But the day redeemed itself again when I realized we had all the conference arrangements done in record-early time.

Wednesday's Senate meeting was a riot. I've said it before and I'll say it again...BSU administrators are the best in the system. The Pres. and a VP came and stayed for the ENTIRE MEETING. They'll do this occasionally, and it's great. At most schools, the Pres. rarely shows up to Senate meetings, let alone stays the entire time and seems to enjoy it.

Yesterday continued my streak of good days. I found out I was reelected to Senate. #1 with 150 votes of 401 cast. Pretty good percentage on a ballot with 24 people. It is nice to know that students recognize the work I do. The results made the day doubly awesome because I also got my Lit Crit paper back that had worried me so much...and I got an A!!

Finally, today I think I did well on my Urban Politics test. And when I went up to turn it in, Beech says "I like your new scooter. It looks like Xzibit pimped your ride or something." It was funny, and I wish more people would've heard...that guy cracks me up.

Facebook Claims Another

Nicole has joined up. Rock on.

Another Day at BHS

And certainly a good one.

More on the English Methods Wiki

I Think...

I burned out my paper shredder this morning. No power at all.
Bummer.

Low Key

We had the day off yesterday, and aside from going to the bank and grocery store, it was fairly unproductive.

Today I've just vegged out. Maybe I needed "Fall Break" to recharge.

First on CAL, Now Facebook

Last year, I posted about meeting Nicole after reading her posts on CAL Dialogue. Just yesterday, the same thing happened with someone on Facebook.

You see, there's this thing with Facebook. Anybody can add anyone else to their list of friends. I have all kinds of people on my list, from good friends and colkleagues I see every day to those who I've met only a few times. Of course, there are a couple who it took me a moment to "place"...as in I know I know them from somewhere...but where?

Yesterday, I received an email. "BW has added you as a friend." Of course I clicked confirm and noticed he was a Maple resident, so that's how we were connected.

Last night, following hall council, I checked my mail before finishing my Lit Crit paper...which I'm not very happy with by the way. As I did so, a guy approached me and was asking some questions about Senate. I KNEW I had seen him before, and I've likely talked to him, but I am terrible with names and it takes me a few encounters to recognize a face.

Me: "Remind me of your name again?"
Guy: "BW"
Me: "Ohh...from Facebook!"

It was quite funny...maybe you had to be there.

Catching On to The Wiki Way?

Could it be that wiki use at BSU is catching on beyond Morgan's courses?

Case in point: Liberal Education Task Force

Kudos to this group for an attempt to use technology in their work.

A Nice Evening

Yesterday my parents visted after the Senate retreat, and we went to dinner. It was very nice and somewhat unexpected...I had found out late Friday night. Generally they don't get the chance to visit together because of work schedules.

Today, I slept late and just finished shredding the pile of old mail they brought. Now, I think I ought to do a little template updating, read, and get crackin on that Lit Crit paper. Exciting.

I'm a P-I-M-P!

Today I spent the afternoon observing a ninth grade English class at BHS as part of my Methods practicum. It was fairly enjoyable, since when I teach, I want high schoolers. Of course, a lot of kids were wondering who I was. After my introduction came the quote of the day from one of the boys in the class:

Student (to teacher): "That's my new buddy." (directed at me).
Teacher: "How come?"
Student: "Because he's got a pimp cane!"

So there ya have it folks, I'm the class pimp.

The Union

Saw the following quote linked on a couple of other blogs:

"walking through the union is like driving on the interstate.

you have to keep up with traffic and cut people off. there are people with trailers (briefcases/backpacks on wheels). if you miss your exit, you're screwed."
-From Truth

Darn right. Try riding through at peak lunch hour on an electric scooter!

Change in the Weather

Sunday, when I last blogged, it had been a fabulous fall weekend. Yesterday, while on a conference call, I listened to people in southern MN rave about it being 85 and sunny. Today...wind, rain and 40s. Tomorrow and Thursday... snow forecasted.

It's October in Minnesota.

Homecoming

A pretty low key weekend for me, as I am not a big game or party freak. I did enjoy being at the carnival, and watching people get plates of whipped cream in the face at Senate's "Pie" throwing booth. It was an absolutely beautiful October Saturday, which was great.

Today I did absolutely nothing, which to some would sound like a great day, but I am having way to many of them recently. Especially weekends...I have no motivation.

It's time to change that.