Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Weekend Home

This weekend I went home in order to see my grandparents who were in town for a short visit. Honestly I was surprised to hear they were coming as they don't make it to Minnesota much anymore. After all, it is a long driving trip for folks in their 80s. (They don't like flying anymore and prefer to take a few days in the car).

They were completely surprised to see my sister and I...parents had not told them we'd be down so they were completely floored and VERY happy. I am glad we got the chance to visit.

Also had a chance to see Brent, Derek and Sadie, which was very nice and I am happy to see that she's enjoying the "city life."

Monday, September 18, 2006

Clarification

To all who commentend with shock at my decision to step away from my role as a voting Student Senator:

-We are not full
-I can still participate in debate
-I am still a member of the body
-I'll get used to not voting

I chose to go this route in order to "ease out" by gradually reducing my role over the next year as opposed to going from as involved as I have been to flat out being done...if that makes any sense.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Still on Senate, No Longer a Senator

Today I did something I never thought I'd do...I resigned from my Senate seat. No, I am not giving up Senate, but I took a nonvoting position as Special Assistant to the Cabinet. Essentially I'll be a consultant and work to impart my "institutional knowledge" to younger folks as I gradually prepare to move on. This is, of course, my final year.

This will be the perfect way to finish out my "career." However, I must admit it will be a tad odd to participate in discussion and then not chime in with a vote for the first time since I've been in the organization.

Monday, September 11, 2006

I Live in My Email Box

Just for kicks, I counted the number of emails in my Sent folder from today.

There were 20. And I use Gmail, so that's 20 "conversations," many with multiple messages back and forth each.

Yeah, I am a creature of Email.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Something For Literature Fans

On AIM/iChat at the moment, one person on my Buddy List has the following Away message:

"Beowulf was a bad ass"

Saturday, September 09, 2006

My Head is a Star?

I went to see Gubenatorial candidate Mike Hatch speak on Thursday and my head made the news...a shot of me from behind was in the paper and apparently a side view of me was in video on the local news.

It's not everyday your head makes the local media.

LOL.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

My Blog is 2 Years Old

Today is officially the two-year mark for this blog. It was "born" on September 3, 2004.

Gateway Laptop For Sale

Since I've now joined the "Cult of Mac", my newer Gateway Laptop is up for sale...

USED GATEWAY LAPTOP
7322 GZ

System Info:
• Intel Pentium 4, 2.80 Ghz
• 512 MB RAM
• 60 GB HD
• 15.4 inch widescreen
• 4 USB Ports
• 56k Modem and 10/100 Ethernet
• Wireless Card installed
• CD/RW and DVD ROM


Programs Installed:
• MS Office 2003 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Outlook Express
• Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox
• Quick Time
• Adobe Reader 7.0
• Windows Media Player 10
• Ad-Aware
• SPSS Student Edition 11

Laptop is 1 year old, recently serviced, in good, clean condition and virus free. The extended warranty (Best Buy) is transferable and valid through May, 2008.

Will include a laptop case and Microsoft corded USB mouse.

$650.00
or best offer

If you're interested, comment or email.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Back on Mac

Yes folks, it's official. I am now a true "Mac Stud" as opposed to the "Gateway man" I was in the early days of this blog. After contemplating the purchase of a MacBook since their release in May, I got a deal I couldn't pass up and brought home my shiny new laptop yesterday.

What promted the switch?

  • I used Macs until 10th grade and have always liked them.
  • I realized I don't do anything on my computer that can't be done on a Mac.
  • I worked on Mac on an almost daily basis for 2.5 years in the Ed Lab.
  • I am friends with Cody, Bob, and John...all of whom have told me of the virtues of Mac.
  • I've been selling them to people since January...once you've pitched the ups and downs of Mac vs. PC you start to develop an idea of what you believe to be the winner.
And...they're solid products that are just plain cool.

Monday, August 28, 2006

And We're Off!

Day One of Fall Semester 2006 went a little bit like this:

8 am: Arrive at Computer Store and for the next 3 hours take more calls and assist more customers than I usually see in a week....ok maybe an exaggeration but it was busy.

11 am: Supposed to leave for lunch before class, still with a customer. Tell another person where to find MS Office deal before closing a nearly $2k laptop and iPod sale.

12 pm: Pro Teacher

1 pm: World Lit

2-4 pm: Back to the store. More people to help.

4 pm: Stop in Superlab to print Senate applications since office printer is not up and running.

4:30 pm: Stop in the office to do paperwork. Notice it is coming together well.

5:15: Back to Maple

Busier days lie ahead...

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Move In Day...

The freshmen are in.

Sights and sounds of the school year slowly return to campus.

Academic year 2006-07 is only a day and a half away.

Is everybody ready?

Friday, August 25, 2006

Information Sharing

This evening I got a visit from my new RA. At the same time as he introduced himself, he also advised me of the new tuition payment policy...pay within five days of class starting or be dropped. That would have been well and good, a friendly reminder. But then he proceeded to tell me that based on information he had been given, he knew that I hadn't paid yet. (Waiting for arranged course paperwork to go through so I know what I actually owe)

Something's wrong with that:

1) Don't feel like you have to advise me of my status with regard to policies I knew about before you even did.

2) What business is it of yours who has and has not paid? I have to wonder what Residential Life was thinking giving that kind of info to student staff. My account status is between me and the Business Office.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Internship Over, Back in Bemidji

On Friday, I finished my tenure as an intern in the MSUSA office. It was, all things considered, a very good experience...I feel like I got to help the organization in a number of ways, really get into things. I felt like a part of the office...I think it comes from the fact I've worked with these folks a long time and know the organization, so I was no doubt more involved and my opinion sought more than if I had gone and worked in some big office where I didn't know anyone.

Some things I worked on:

  • Chronicling files
  • Chairing the DC Summit Task Force
  • Getting bids for things-lots of them
  • Setting up computers and troubleshooting technology-becoming the temp IT person, in a way.
  • Participating in the hiring process for new staff-reviewed resumes, sat in on some interviews
  • Helped with Summer Conference and the Golf Scramble
  • Helping with the website move, saving a ton of $$$
At my "Goodbye" lunch (Hardly goodbye, as I am still going to be Campus Rep and the organizer will be in town 24 hours from now) I was asked to sum up my internship in one word. Instead, I gave five--a little bit of everything. I really did do a wide variety of stuff, which I enjoyed because I became more familiar with different facets of the organization.

I was also asked what my favorite part was. I responded that I enjoyed the opportunity to work every day with our officers and staff. They joked that I was kissing up, but it is true...they are a really great group of people, both working hard and having fun, and it is apparent they truly do care about the work they do. Knowing what the association has been through in the past couple of years I am glad to know that it is in a good place. I may have said it in the past, but this is a better, stronger, happier MSUSA .... with our students and staff, great things are to come.

And now, I'm back in Bemidji preparing for my fifth and final year of undergraduate exitement. We'll see what develops!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Berne at the Golf Course

Yes, you read that right. I don't golf, but I did spend the day at a golf course, helping out with MSUSA's Penny Fellowship Golf Scramble. It was a nice day, and luckily the rain stayed away.

And I even won a free iTunes card in the raffle. Fun stuff.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Busy Summer for the Folks in "Berne's World"

In the past week, I updated my sidebar...fixed broken links and etc. If you are reading this and were taken off the list, it doesn't mean anything except that you haven't updated in a long time. Here are just a few highlights...new arrivals and updated old favorites.


I'm not the only one keeping busy this Summer...these people all rock!

Monday, July 31, 2006

100 Degrees!?

Yes, according to the Weather Channel website, and the radio earlier today, it is 100 degrees here in the Twin Cities. Last time I checked, this is Minnesota, right? It is simply not supposed to get that hot here. The other night we even went to stay with friends to escape the heat in our un-air conditioned bedrooms.

Rain and the 80s will feel awfully good tomorrow.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Getting Out More

I have long said I needed to get out more. This summer I have somewhat surprised myself, as I am actually doing so. In the last week, I've had two dinners and a lunch with different friends, one of whom I hadn't seen in a year. All of these were quite enjoyable.

Having a social life is a good thing.

Monday, July 17, 2006

A July Conference in Moorhead...Hot, Hot, Hot!!

This weekend was the Summer conference in Moorhead, complete with 100-plus degree weather. It was a good weekend, and Bruce and I held our own as the tiny Bemidji delegation of two. It was interesting to wear two "hats," as a proxy and an intern. Got to present a couple ofb things to the General Assembly, so it felt like I was talking a lot more than usual.

Despite a lack of quorum in GA (hey, it's the summer, who goes to these things in the summer?) we had some good discussions and between that and the board meeting set some good general direction for the year.

I see more positive things on the horizon.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Old Friends

A couple of days ago I ran into two high school friends while walking into a restaurant. Student Council colleagues from Senior year. I had not seen them since graduation. Both are doing well and are still a couple after 5 years--always a nice couple and wedding bells in the future would not surprise me in the least.

The next night I talked on AIM with another friend I don't believe I've spoken with in about 6 months.

It's good to catch up with folks.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

The Reason I Haven't Been Posting More

Two words:

Dial - up internet. That's all we've got, and it has been driving me nuts. Slow is the operative word.

I have off the next couple of days. One of my projects will be blogs:
1. substantive update
2. template update
3. catch up on reading and commenting