Holiday Recap

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?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone out there in the blogosphere!

No Internet=Annoying

I've determined this week just how annoying it is not to have internet and email access when you expect to. Ours has been on and off since Sunday night and we are unsure of the problem despite a visit from the Comcast guy.

It is amazing how dependent upon it I am in my daily life.

Happy Holidays...From the Coal Industry?

Hard to believe it has been more than a month since I have blogged. I seem to be in a sort of funk lately and lacking motivation to write. I think I need to get back to it, however.

Can't believe it is the middle of December already! I spent a good deal of time the last couple of days writing and sending off Holiday greetings to folks. It seems everyone is getting into the spirit--including America's coal industry. I'm not entirely sure what their advertising people were smoking when they came up with this, which I happened to see on last night's Rachel Maddow Show.

The Clean Coal Carolers

Witness to History

This post is a few days late, but it is the first chance I have had to sit down and blog since Tuesday's election. America made history that day as we elected our first African American president; as the citizens of our country sent a clear message that we need serious change to the current direction of this country.

Mom and I were there on Tuesday evening as Barack Obama gave his victory speech. Yes, we were blocks down, behind a fence, watching on jumbotrons...but we were in Grant Park to witness history in the making along with 250,000 others.

Friends in Chicago had warned it might not be a good idea...that it would be too crazy. Yes, it was crazy, but people were really nice, and well mannered. They were showing CNN on the screen before he spoke, and while people clapped and cheered when Obama took a state, there was not an outcry when McCain did. A few boos in the crowd, but nothing out of hand. No one went nuts, and no one rioted in the downtown streets.

We did agree that we'd never seen so many people in one place before. It was quite the experience.

And now, it will be interesting to watch the next steps unfold, as President-Elect Obama puts together his administration-January 20,2009 can't come soon enough.

It All Comes Down to Tomorrow...

Tomorrow is Tuesday, November 4th 2008...Election Day.

Most of us will be glad to say goodbye to the seemingly never ending stream of ads on both sides. But before we do, we must exercise our rights...






No Matter who you support....VOTE!

Remember Minnesotans...we have same day registration!

**These voting PSAs were posted by YouTube users AtheneWins and tyleroakley, respectively.

Bachmann's Big Mouth May Cost Her

Recent polls indicate that Michele Bachmann's off the wall remarks recently may cost her dearly. Both KSTP/Survey USA and MPR polls say her numbers are slipping.

Good news in my book.

Is This The Dumbest Person In Congress?

By now, I am sure most people out there have seen this clip:




Honestly, this woman is an embarrassment to the state of Minnesota. I implore those living in her district to get her out of office on November 4th.

For Inquiring Minds

I did not receive the position I interviewed for last week. Disappointing, but it is a tough job market with a LOT of people in it. I know many in the same situation as I, and in some cases we have learned we are/were applicants for the same jobs! The world is small indeed.

On to the next, a phone interview later in the week.

Another Interview...

On Wednesday. This one's out of town so I will be traveling there tomorrow...or later today, I guess, it is after midnight.

I think I have a decent shot and they will be deciding within a matter of days, so I could have a job soon.

Wish me luck!

Four Years

Four years ago yesterday, I started blogging.

Wow.

That Time of Year Again...

It's back to school time. This means that for the past week I have had a longing--a longing to be back on a college campus....as a student, as staff...as anything.

I think the longing is stronger this year, because in my original "grand plan" I hoped to be doing both by now...working on a campus, and working on a Master's. And I got close. But, as life sometimes goes, it was not meant to be.

The summer has been slow. Anyone looking for work right now knows the market is tight and there are lots of qualified people on the hunt. Makes it hard for a young professional like me, who has a lot of drive and good qualities, but not a lot of experience. A couple of interviews have been had, but I am still hunting.

It's left me thinking a lot about what my next step needs to be. There are a few options:

A) Let it ride--keep trying to get back into a higher ed. environment and worry about Master's stuff after. Probably not the best plan, as it has not worked for me to this point.

B) Give up the search for higher ed. work temporarily. Find a job doing whatever, and focus on getting into graduate school for Fall 09, preferably with an assistantship, at a location TBD.

C) Seek admission to a local program on a part time basis to start this spring. Find work either inside or outside the field. Drawback is that I would be starting at an off time and would miss the chance to go through the program in a cohort.

D) Seek admission to an online program with a cohort starting this spring. Would provide a degree of flexibility the other options would not in when/where I work while going to school. Not an option I had previously considered, but I came across a program that looks pretty strong earlier this week from a very reputable place.

There are certainly some pros and cons to each of these choices. I do know this--I need a job, and I also need to settle on a plan to continue my education. I was pretty settled on "B" but part of me itches to get back into the academic arena, knowing that many more doors will open with those extra letters behind my name, so why prolong the wait?

Decisions...

Sarah Who?

This one came from left field...

McCain Taps Palin For V.P.

The Real Deal

Quite the speech tonight!

I really don't see how McCain can match.

Obama is the real deal.

History of the Political Kind

History has been made...Barack Obama is the first ever African American candidate for President of the United States.

I haven't watched as much of the convention as one might expect. While I am interested in politics, I don't watch CNN for hours on end...except maybe on election night.

I did catch Hillary Clinton's address last night, and she seemed to do a good job of endorsing him and motivating her supporters to do the same, the message being that if they supported her because of what she stands for, then they should be on board with Obama. While McCain wants to court her supporters, the fact of the matter is very few will go for him...I know I would not vote for a polar opposite candidate out of primary bitterness.

I thought it was a good symbolic gesture that she was the one who called for an end to the roll call and his nomination by acclimation...another sign that they are trying to unify the party.

Admittedly, I don't know a ton about Joe Biden, but from what I can see he does bring a lot of experience to the ticket. And whether one agrees with him or not, after seeing his speech tonight, it's hard to argue his ability to deliver an energizing address and fire people up.

Will be interesting to see how Obama defines himself tomorrow evening.

Back to Bemidji, One Year Later

I returned yesterday from my first trip back to Bemidji since I graduated, to attend the MCPA Board meeting. While I ended up feeling icky yesterday and opted to return with my carpool instead of staying until today and taking the bus back as planned, it was still a nice return to the place I spent my college years.

We made it Thursday night in near record time, thanks to my recommendation of a shortcut well known to anyone who has done the Cities to Bemidji trip a few times...Highway 64 instead of 371. Upon arriving in town, I saw that a few things have changed, but not much....couple of new fast food places and a bank.

A few of us went out for a bit, ending up at the popular Bar 209. It was nice to get to know a few of my new board colleagues informally. We chatted about our history in student affairs and swapped a few random stories. We got to talking about finding our names on the internet/Googling ourselves, and I mentioned the time I got misquoted by the CyberIndee in Winona. To my surprise, one of them said he'd seen my blog entry...which means he must really have read my archives considering the entry was in 2005.

The meeting was good, and it was nice to be back on campus and see a couple of folks. I told one it was like being home...I love that place. I'm also looking forward to my new involvement this year. It is a good group of people, and especially nice as a way to stay engaged right now with professional discourse as I seek new employment.

I Can Relate...

I agree with Loralee...I'm a terrible texter. Yet, I do more of it lately because it is the way of things. I've even thought a couple of times about getting a smart phone so I can IM, email, and access my calendar when I don't have my computer along on trips and such. But...I don't know if I can justify the cost to myself.

Classy...

A "Dear Applicant" letter with my name spelled wrong on the address sticker.

Sad.

It's Time For Some Campaignin'

If you haven't seen the latest from JibJab, watch...it's quite funny.

Return to Routine

Well, I'm back home and back to the routine. As tiring as it is to travel back to back like that, it's totally worth it. I had a couple of very nice trips, and lots of family time. Two things I have always enjoyed are fishing with Dad and spending time with his family (My Grandparents and Aunt) in Colorado. I feel fortunate I was able to get a chance to do both this summer. Being between jobs is not fun, but when some fun things can be interspersed with the searching it keeps one sane.

And Now to Colorado...

Back from one trip and leaving on another. Heading to Colorado today to visit relatives for a few days. Happy Fourth of July!

Gone Fishing...

Headed with Dad to one of our favorite lakes for some fishing and relaxation.

See you in a week, blogosphere!

RIP: NBC's Russert

I'm sure many followers of national politics such as myself have spent a lot of time over the years listening to his commentary on NBC.

NBC's Tim Russert dead at 58

Congrats!

Big congrats to Aspen on her Master's and new job in Colorado!

Job Search: Round 2

Is going ok. Obviously, the market is tight...and even tighter in a line of work that is sometimes tight even when the market is better. I'm now back to the familiar routine of searching websites and doing cover letters, sending lots of email and snail mail, and in between doing tasks such as blogging, laundry and dishes. Today for instance, I'm running stuff through the dishwasher trying to clean it.

I have broken up the routine a bit...Friday was an MCPA board meeting, Tuesday I had lunch with some old friends, and yesterday lunch with a former coworker and attended a retirement reception for another. People seemed happy that I stopped in...there is no "bad blood" there which is a good thing.

Is this what I wanted to be doing right now? Not by a long shot. But it is part of life that sometimes things do not work out as planned. My hope is that the experience I have now, even a few months, puts me in a better position as far as being considered than I was at this time last year. All I can do is press forward.

Happy Birthday to Me

On Thursday, I turned 24.

On Friday. I was told that I am being let go from my job at the end of this week, Friday May 30.

What a great B-Day present huh?

Back to the drawing board.

Survived

Finals week wrapped yesterday, and we made it through. It went pretty well, and now things will quiet down a bit before summer classes start. Summer, predictably, will be quieter than the regular school year.

The Calm Before the Storm

I am sitting here having a quiet weekend. This is a good thing, because starting Monday, work is going to get VERY busy for a few days. Finals are upon us...well, upon the students, but it means some long days for staff in areas such as mine as well. I'll be putting in 12 hour days all week, and working on Saturday. I will be tired, but I don't mind...I want to see what it is like in our office during a finals week. It'll be interesting being on the "other side" of an exam week.

Moe Won't Seek 3rd Term in MN 4A

Yesterday, I was surprised to read on "Blue Man in a Red District" that Frank Moe, who represents Bemidji in the Minnesota House, will not seek a third term in November.

While I think he has good reasons for taking a break from politics (finishing a doctorate and spending more time with his wife), the House is losing a great public servant with his departure. He's the kind of guy who went into politics for the right reasons...he saw things he wanted to change, got energized and got involved.

As a long time student leader at Bemidji State, I especially appreciated his advocacy on behalf of the University and its students.

Even though I no longer live there, I still care about my "second hometown" of five years and many memories, and it will be interesting to see who steps up to run in his place.

Catching Up With an Old Friend

Today I took a little time to catch up with an old friend. I'd not seen him in almost 4 years. It was really nice to just take some time and visit over lunch. It's a shame we let so much time lapse between meetings, but sometimes life gets in the way. Told him we have to make sure now that we are back in the same area that our next get together is a month or two away, not years.

Keep track of good friends, they are important in life.

What I'm Up To...

• Have not enjoyed the slushy snow...the 60s can't come soon enough!
  
• Had a nice get together with some MSUSA alums last week.
• Met with a financial advisor a friend referred me to to look at the best ways to manage my money.
• Have been learning how to take on my closest coworker's duties, as she will be out a week for surgery starting Tuesday and I will fill in.
• Went through my first performance review today and it was good overall. Supervisor and I generally agreed on strengths and areas for improvement; glad we are on the same page.
• Semi-suspended the apartment search for the moment--was not finding what I wanted and realize the wisdom in holding off at least a couple more months.
• Discovered my profile on the BSU Admissions website...I am literally a poster boy.
  

The Apartment Search

I'm still here. It seems this thing is only getting updated about weekly now. So be it, I guess.

I have spent a lot of time the past two weeks beginning my search for an apartment. I want to move somewhere in Minneapolis, closer to work and the bus line, sometime in the next few months. I don't mind living at home, as I really do get along with my parents, but I think finding a place is the next step in my transition to "real life"

I can see this is going to be a challenge. I don't know of any folks looking for places at the moment, so I'm looking for somewhere alone. I don't want to go the random roommate route--It works for some, but is not something I would generally be comfortable with.

My criteria are pretty simple: studio or one bedroom, within a block or two of the busline, and semi-accessible...enough that I could bring my scooter home if the need arose and get it in the building.

Problem: Most of the buildings in the areas I'd like to live, at least in my price range, are old...thus they have no elevators and lots of stairs, including in the building entryways. That is not going to work. Mom and I drove around various neighborhoods in the city yesterday, and we noticed that was the situation in many cases. We also stopped in to see a free rental consultant who confirmed that finding a place I can afford that meets those seemingly simple criteria may be difficult...most places will meet one or two, but not all three.

I did tour one studio in a building she referred me to that *might* be coming open in June. The owner was checking availability and I have to follow up tomorrow. It seemingly fits all my basic criteria, but I am not sure I was "feeling it." The layout of the place reminded me so much of my old single with bath dorm room in Maple...it was larger, but the room was shaped the same way and I just didn't get a very "homey" vibe from it. I've got calls and emails out to some other properties as well, and am hoping to be able to set up some more showings this week or next. I want to get a better idea of what else is out there.

Wish me luck!

Spring Break

This week the U of M has been on Spring Break.

Contrary to popular belief, I have not gotten a Spring Break. I've worked this week. What does a University employee do in a student services office when there are no students around, you ask?

Clean, organize, go through old files...all good things to do, but I will be glad for a day off tomorrow!

TGI (my) F!

I Have Not Disappeared

So, I've been a bit MIA from the blog lately. I notice it has been 10 days since my last update. I've been busy with work, and distracted by other things. But, I assure you, dear readers, that I haven't disappeared and everything is fine.

Hopefully, I will have time to catch up with reading, writing and commenting in the next few days. For now, I'm preparing to leave for a quick, last minute jaunt to Grandma's with Mom...down today, back tomorrow...lots of time in the car for us.

Have a good weekend out there!

Dems Battle it Out

Well, it looks like half the 2008 presidential race is figured out. McCain clinched the Republican nod...no major surprise there.

On the Democratic side, it appears Hillary has a slight bump in momentum, but Obama is still ahead in delegates and neither is yet close to the number needed to secure their nomination.

My opinion? A McCain-Clinton match up would be far less interesting than McCain-Obama. Clinton and McCain are two "old pols" it seems...Obama may provide more contrast. It's time for a new generation in the "upper level" of American Politics.

It'll be interesting to see the rest of this race play out.

See more political coverage from CNN

Marking a Month

Today was exactly the one month mark at my job.

I'm starting to feel like it's home and I really belong there. It's a very good thing.

And, my prediction that I would run into a student I knew sooner or later came true when an old classmate from high school came in to pick up his accommodation letters. Small world.

Upgrade Time

Last night I upgraded my MacBook to Leopard.

Fun stuff.

Over the weekend, I went down to SW MN State for MSUSA's Diversity Conference. I participated in a discussion of the challenges facing students with disabilities as a presenter. It was interesting being there, at a conference for the first time since April, and as a professional "expert" rather than a student.

I feel so adult.

Starbucks...

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I like Chai latte on occasion.

Occasion used to be once every couple of months. Now I work near a Starbucks that can be accessed via underground tunnel from my office, and once every couple of months has turned into once every couple of days...which is expensive and can't be good for me, either.

Damn you, Starbucks Stadium Village!

That Thing Called "Texting"

I've blogged before about my dislike for text messaging.

Well, I may be changing my tune a bit. For the last couple of months I've been paying several dollars a month in casual text charges. I think it's time to accept that people are going to text me...and I will read them and reply, but there is no way I am going to keep paying Sprint's 20 cent fee per message to send/receive.

Now, I know I could simply add text messaging to my current plan and be done with it. But, if you know me you know why I hated texting in the first place...I type slow to begin with so pounding out messages on a regular phone keypad where you need to push a button 3-5 times to get your desired character...not so fun.

Solution: Get a smart phone or a phone with an included QWERTY keypad.

Problem with that? Even though I am eligible for a phone upgrade in April, that would require me signing a new contract AGAIN, which I already had to do in October, leaving me locked in to my current carrier until April 2010. While I have no overwhelming complaints about them, they are not faring well with customers lately and others are beginning to look more attractive.

My Options:

1) Renew in April for another two years and get a break on the phone I want then.
2) Spend $300-plus on the type of phone I want in order to avoid contract renewal.
3) Pay the $200 to exit my contract and port the number to another carrier (T-Mobile gets good reviews from some friends, and ATT is the home of iPhone, although I would not pop for one of those initially.)
4) Keep my current phone for the duration of the contract

Anyone out there want to comment on the cell phone racket, or endorse their carrier, phone or plan?

My Standoff With Wild Turkeys

This morning while waiting for the bus, three wild turkeys wandered in my direction. They decided they were going to circle me. This lasted a good ten minutes until the bus showed up...then they would not move for the bus. The driver and passengers were laughing heartily and I was dubbed "Turkey Man"

A rather strange way to begin a Wednesday morning commute in the suburbs.

What's Your Feed Reader of Choice?

A few months ago I started experimenting with feed readers to keep track of the blogs I enjoy.

First I tried Shrook.

Now I'm using Net News Wire and overall like it better. The problem? I tried synching with a free NewsGator account online and the online version says I have tons more unread posts than I actually do, and doesn't display my flagged items. Since I like to read entries and flag for later comment, I need to see those flagged items whether I'm on my MacBook, the family iMac, my iMac at the office or another machine.

Could Google Reader be worth a try?

Readers: Comment--what feed reader do you use and why?

Into Week Three...

I've now begun week three of the new job, and things continue to go well. As the days pass, I become more familiar with routines and practices. I am becoming more comfortable, feeling as though I belong and am not simply a visitor in a strange place. I am no longer mistaken for a student by the student workers.

It's a good feeling.

Why Apple Care is Worth It

The other night I was burning CDs and got a sudden error message. My drive stopped reading CDs entirely, all it did was spit them out.

Yesterday I spent an hour plus on the phone with Apple, and made an appointment to visit my local Apple Store tonight. They quickly diagnosed that my SuperDrive motor had burned out, and luckily had a replacement in stock. The repair was done in a half an hour.

As an added bonus, they cleaned my machine up and replaced the top case, which had become stained, as is somewhat common with white MacBooks.

Cost for all this? $0

Lesson? Go for Apple Care extended warranty up front, it will pay for itself when the inevitable happens and something needs fixing.

One Week In...

Well, I survived week one on the job. It was a lot of just getting comfortable there and learning the basics. But I am happy to report that I have taken care of my "new guy" stuff.

• I have email
• I have access to all the necessary department databases
• I have signed up for benefits
• I have my ID card, which also acts as my key

It's funny being the new guy just because there are so many things I don't yet know. Luckily everyone has been very helpful, including the student workers...many of whom think I am one of them until I remind them I'm actually staff. I guess it is to be expected when one is young and working in a college environment.

All in all, it's enjoyable so far, I think I am going to like it there. Now I just have to train my body not to hate the 5:30 am wake up call.

The First Day

For any who may wonder, Day One at the U went well. It was rather uneventful...typical first day stuff. I met lots of people and was given far too much new information that I probably won't remember until I do the tasks. I can't really do very much until I get all the necessary usernames and logins to access the systems--email, database, calendering app, etc. I am told that by morning I should "officially exist" as an employee--that is I'll have my internet ID, be in the online directory and be able to get a U Card.

Some things I will like about this job:

• Coworkers seem great.
• Casual dress...jeans are ok!
• I get to use a Mac!
• I will learn a LOT
• and so much more...

All in all, this is going to be a very good thing!

Working Man

Any reader who has been following my blog since May knows that I have been engaged in a search for work in student affairs and services at a college or university since graduating from BSU.

I am happy to report that after much contact with the department in the past several weeks, which I mentioned in previous posts, I have been asked to join an office at the University of Minnesota. I had an official interview yesterday morning, and had accepted an offer by 3:30 PM

The pay is decent, good health coverage, and I will be eligible for their staff tuition benefit, which will allow me to continue my education part time at little or no cost. And the people I will be working with seem great.

It's everything I could ask for in a job to begin my desired career, and it starts Monday!

Back For Another Year

Morgan is teaching another group of BSU students to love blogging, and wiki writing too!

The class is just beginning. If any of you out there are curious about what got me started blogging, check them out:

Weblogs and Wikis course site
Weblogs and Wikis Daybook

Answers

Question: What kills a seemingly healthy 22 year old with no warning?
Answer: Wilson's Disease.

If you're a reader from Minnesota, you may have noticed a story in the Star Tribune today about my friend and colleague who passed away just after Thanksgiving. Apparently he had a rare disorder that causes copper to build up in the organs, leading to organ failure.

Definitely something I've not heard of before.

My Blog's Story, Revisited

Loralee recently posted about how she got started blogging, and how the BSU Blogs and Wikis course has played a role in her blogging adventure.

Of course, this blog began as a result of that class. And nearly three and a half years and 600 plus posts later, it is still here. I took a look at my Final Reflection from back then, and while some things have changed, others have stayed the same.

Then: I posted nearly every day.
Now: I post more sporadically...a few times a week.

Then: I wrote about academics and Student Senate.
Now: I write about job searching, politics, and life after college.

Then: I practiced a degree of self censorship.
Now: I still do.

Then: I read the blogs of classmates and a handful of others.
Now: I read upwards of 100 blogs of friends, old classmates and profs, and many others. I have "blog friends." Thank god for feed readers!

Then: I contributed to multiple blogs.
Now: I still do, some public, some more private.

Then: I contemplated moving my blog.
Now: I still do...most often to Word Press, now that there is a free version.

But no matter where this blog ends up, it will still be. I love it!

Apple's MacBook Air

Today, Apple released several new products. Among them is a super thin new laptop dubbed "MacBook Air"

The laptop looks neat and is indeed ultra-portable, but I have to wonder if it will appeal to very many average consumers, at least initially. The price is significantly higher than other MacBooks, and there is no optical drive or wired ethernet connection point. So, unless you've got wireless AND a second machine to use simultaneously while installing software and etc. you're out of luck.

Cool product indeed, but I doubt it will be an instant "must have" like iPhone.

BSU Mac Project Gets Major Buzz

Last year, my alma mater began making the transition to an all-Mac campus. Some recent articles on the topic:

Apple Education-Bemidji State University

Campus Technology-BSU Standardizes on Apple Hardware for Dual Boot Initiative

Pretty cool, in my opinion.

(Note: This is the 600th post on "Berne's World")

Slow Week

I'm noticing I haven't been blogging much lately...not really much going on worth noting. It has been a slow week.

We had relatives visit last weekend, and had a nice visit. Unfortunately, mom was sick the entire time and still is. Food poisoning, we think. Not a good thing.

The job wheels are turning, albeit slowly. Hit a snag but think it is fixed now. More waiting....

Progress...

Alicia Asks:
*hopping up and down like a little kid* Any news yet? Any news yet? Anything?!(Must selfishly know...) ;P

I can now say that I have an official application in for a posted position and my contact says she'll be in touch. The wheels are turning.

In other news today:

Obama Wins Iowa: It will be interesting to see how this plays out. It's a major feather in his cap, but I think it is too early to call anyone the front runner on either side. I'm somewhat surprised to see Huckabee break the top tier for Republicans as well, but he may be too far right for most of the country.

Britney Breaks Down: Is this honestly a surprise to anyone? The woman is such a trainwreck it's not even funny anymore, it's downright pitiful.

Welcome to 2008!