Five Years??

While posting around here has slowed down a bit, it is still worth noting that this blog has now passed FIVE YEARS online...it was "born" September 3, 2004.

Wow.

New Mac and Snow Leopard

For about the last 6 months, I have been debating when and if to get a new laptop. See, my laptop is a huge tool for me...I am on it at least a couple of hours daily, usually more, surfing the web, writing email, reading news, chatting, and all kinds of other things. And I will be back in class this week, which means more papers, web assisted discussions and the like.

The week before last, I had to take a cab home from CSP one afternoon, and I decided to detour to the mall because I needed some pants. While I was there, I decided to pop in the Apple Store for the second time in a month to look at new MacBook Pros...and I finally caved. The combination of a free iPod Touch and interest free financing got me and I walked out with a new 13 inch, 2.53 Ghz MB Pro...and I love it.

My one complaint though, has been with Snow Leopard. I was sent an upgrade for $10 through their "Up to Date" program, and while there are some improvements, there are also flaws:

1. I spent over 45 minutes on the phone with AppleCare on Friday to solve a problem with my screen going black and the computer becoming unresponsive during installation. Turns out the install disc is designed to run with factory presets, and because I had dimmed my screen slightly it didn't properly respond.

2. My HP DeskJet will not work with the new OS. HP claims the model is supported, but Apple doesn't have the drivers available yet and rumor is it could be weeks or months before they are. Completely maddening, stupid, and may make it necessary for me to buy a new printer because I refuse to be without for that long.

So...verdict is:

MacBook Pro rules, but if your machine is not preloaded with Snow Leopard it may be to one's benefit to wait a month or two to upgrade...let them get the bugs out.

Where Did Summer Go?

Apparently, I have not blogged since July 11th. It has become a pattern that I just do not have as much time or desire to update this as I once did. Although as I enter the next stage of my personal, academic and professional life I can't bring myself to pull the plug entirely.

The last couple months have been good and things have begun to fall into place. I have been busy preparing for my first semester in the Leadership in Student Affairs Program at the University of St Thomas, and recently began an internship in Student Services at Concordia University in St. Paul. It is a challenging, fun and exciting time as I begin this new journey.

Many people have asked me recently if I am ready to be back in school. The answer to that question is really a multi-faceted one. Yes, I am ready to learn, to be taking steps to move forward on my chosen path, and to be back in the higher education environment I love. I know, however, that the rigorous schedule of work, internship, classes, studying, and attempting to maintain a personal life will take some time to get used to again. But I am ready and I embrace it.

Wish me luck!

As Expected...

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.

Gearing Up for 2012?

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?

Finally...

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?

It's Been a While...

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.

If You Are Flying to Chicago From MSP...

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.

"Spring Break" In the Land of Lincoln

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.

Grad School Update

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

MCPA Honored

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.

Happy Valentine's Day

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:

• Following current events, as always.
• Attending a couple of parties
• Cultivating friendships with new and existing friends, attempting to fulfill a goal of sorts for myself to get out more and avoid "hermit" status.
• Attended an MCPA meeting and two drive in workshops.
• Been working a lot on graduate school applications.
  

Obama Takes Office

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.

Bye, George!

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.

2009 Begins

Well, a new year is upon us. 2008 started pretty well for me, but by the end I was not much further ahead than I had been in 2007. I am hopeful that the mixed back of the past year will give way to personal and professional success in the coming one.

Here's hoping for good things in 2009!

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.