His Way Is Best

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

            -- Proverbs 19:21

Many of us had a plan, dream for our lives from a very young age. I am definitely no different. Over the years, God has shown me that He is in control and He has a plan. The question is do I stop to listen and trust him or do I continue to try to interfere with His plan and not believe.

For the past several years, I have not fully stopped to listen to His calling in my life. The rush to get something done, to make someone happy, to not fill overburdened, to succeed and not fail, to make a difference, to please others, and more has consumed my life but to what failings in my own life. Therefore, the focus of the months ahead is to re-center my life around Christ. The joys of past come from the times spent with friends, students, and colleagues in dialogue, reflection, and service for Him, not from the endless hours of work, the pettiness, or trying to be successful. Our society puts so much focus on work, consistent availability, immediacy, and fails to see the destruction of everyday life, health, and relationships.

Relationships are very important in my life. Friends and family mean a lot to me, and I try to show my love and support through little things like cards, notes, and fellowship. Relationships are also one of the biggest struggles and burdens in my life or lack of them. Over the years, I have had many plans for my life mainly to find a wonderful loving man to share my life and a family. The question is not is a family in God’s plan but how do I stop and listen to God to have the peace about this direction.

With the desire for a family comes another burden and one that is hard for me to talk about, I think it is hard because it revolves around the having of children and is an odd topic for a single person to discuss. Over the years, I have followed friends who have struggled with pregnancy and am so inspired by their faith and perseverance. I seek to share my struggles with fertility that does not only affect my future ability to have children with a caring, supportive husband, but more importantly my overall health today.

A couple years ago, I was finally officially diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) though I have been dealing with it since college but ignoring the signs without anyone confirming that was the problem. In the past several years, additional research and knowledge about PCOS has come out which lead to the official diagnosis a couple years ago. Past hormone and thyroid tests were not clearly showing that I had PCOS but more recently they have realized the association of PCOS with high insulin levels, not glucose but more the insulin to glucose ratio.

“PCOS is a complex hormonal disorder most often characterized by elevated levels of insulin, LH, and androgen (“male hormones”), all of which contribute to the dysfunction of the ovaries.”  (Shannon 2009 p. 112) The high insulin and insulin resistance association with PCOS causes abdominal obesity, Type-2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes, and high cholesterol. PCOS also leads to hirsutism (a masculine pattern of body hair) and of course fertility related issues.

Therefore, you can see from the effects of PCOS that reading and learning more about fertility and nutrition can assist with not only fertility but also general health and future living.

Books reading…

“Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition” by Marilyn M Shannon (2009)

“The Fertility Diet” by Jorge E. Chavarro and Walter C. Willet (2008)

The first book’s chapter on PCOS led me to the second book. The books represent a balanced approach to dieting and healthier living. “The Fertility Diet” talks about the smooth and sustainable transition and the overall benefits not only to fertility but general healthier living. I have finished “The Fertility Diet” and am going back and reading some other chapters in the “Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition” book.

As mentioned, I have made a few modifications but nothing drastic. Still reading through the materials and thinking about a gentle but effective plan of attack. As I move forward, I will start sharing some of the changes and reasons because I found some of it fascinating and also somewhat common sense.

He has a plan for your life and mine. May we stop to listen and follow His direction.

Thanks for your support, faith, and sharing!

Healthier Living: Take 2

Week 2 -- 210.8 pounds
Week 1 -- 211.4 pounds

The week went well and I am glad to report that from my last doctors visit in October to the one this past week, I had maintained weight instead of staying on the continued progression upwards occurring since returning back to Kentucky in Fall 2010.

Walking at work with a co-worker is unfortunately coming to a stop for awhile but maybe I can motivate myself to work something else out.

Louisville Derby Mini-Marathon - No I did not participate but my friend PC did. She did a great job and while she ran 13.1 miles, I did accomplish walking about 5 miles that morning. We also had a nice walk on Friday afternoon.

Sunday was autocross day. I did quite a bit of walking around then as well. I need to take my pedometer with me to track my movements and how many miles I walk.

Though no distinctive diet changes, I am being more conscious of what I eat and the amount I eat. I finished one of the books last night and now plan on trying to put together a plan for slow, steady, but noticeable changes into my diet and routine.

Healthier living is not all about the food nutrition and physical activity, but also encompasses our self outlook, spiritual well being, career, and other components of life. All areas of life that I also need work and have been slowly making changes.

Spiritual life is one of those big areas that has fallen aside in the past 5 years and something I am really trying to change by more involvement at my new church home. Today, I made another step in that direction talking to the youth minister about getting more young adult ministry going at church and also assisting with the youth. The conversation provided positive direction and hopes for the future. I ask that you join me in prayer to discern the role God is calling me in this area and how those interested can work to provide the faith community the needed spiritual guidance and support.

Healthier Living: Take 1

Mondays are going to be the day to check in on my weight and progress of healthier living. There is a lot more to come on this, but it is necessary to start now to gain some momentum and motivation.

Before the Fall of 2010, my health was improving. Thanks to some great folks and motivation in Franklin, I had lost 15 to 20 pounds. Unfortunately, I am sad to report that those loss pounds plus have been gained. Additionally, my activity level has decreased significantly, which does not help in maintaining or losing weight. With some proper motivation, things are turning around hopefully, and healthier eating and more physical activity is to come soon. To keep me honest, I will share with you my journey and potential more information of my struggles.

I will try to be consistent in weighing in each Monday morning and posting later that night about where I am.

Week 1 -- 211.4 pounds (Scale in Apartment)
Wednesday we will learn more about how much I have gained since moving back to Kentucky. In October, I had gain 18 pounds from my first visit to the same doctor.

A co-worker and I have scheduled 15-30 mins each day to walk around the building. We have not made it every day but I believe she is motivated and so am I.

I am reading a couple books at the moment to figure out what I really need to do in terms of eating to become healthier. I have already made a few changes based on their suggestions and will be making more. Though not certain, I do believe it is making a difference. More on this will hopefully come in the near future.

Goals
Lose 60 pounds - No worries I will not try to do this overnight but steadily, starting with 15 pounds.
Run a 5K Race followed eventually by a mini-marathon -- The mini has been a goal ever since college.
General physical fitness
Create an eating plan that is sustainable and liveable

Life's Journey

Each morning, God blesses me with the opportunity to wake and live another day. The fleeting days pass moment by moment full of hopes, fears, dreams, realizations, happiness, sadness, and so much more. He never said it would be easy but promised it would never be more than we can handle.

Over the years, friends have shared on their blogs the good times, the rough times, the struggles of life. Their encouragement, sharing, and faith keeps me motivated, focused, thinking, and surrounded with wonderful people. I pray that my sharing can offer each of you some of these things as well.

First a reflection back to the beginning of this blog…
 8.5 years ago friends, especially CV and AW now AP, were very much into blogging and encouraged me to create a site. Therefore, the Analysis of Life blog was created. For privacy and other reasons, I selected a pseudonym for posting, BeNotAfraid.

BeNotAfraid has a lot of significance in my life. My maternal grandmother (Woo-Woo) passed away spring of 1992, when I was an 8th grader. She and I plus my grandfather (Paw-Paw) were very close. They both had a pure joy and love for Christ and those around them. Woo-Woo had her whole funeral arrangements planned, and I will never forget two of the songs she had On Eagles Wings and Be Not Afraid. She loved to sing and play the organ. She was buried in her choir robe with the Glory and Praise Hymnal open to On Eagles Wings, if I am not mistaken.

It’s amazing how much the song, Be Not Afraid, impacted not only my life but other’s in my family. Most of you know that I lost my youngest maternal aunt last summer, 2011. Mom called to ask if I would be willing to read at the funeral, which I agreed. I also had one other request that Be Not Afraid be song at the funeral as my aunt too loved music and was in the choir. Apparently, I was not the only niece to make this request, and it had been put into the funeral arrangements.

Additionally, the following verse from Psalm 27 has also become my anchor and keeps me going through it all.

The Lord is my light and my salvation whom do I fear? 

The Lord is my life’s refuge; of who am I afraid? 

(Psalm 27:1) 

I turn to this verse so very often in my life to remind me that God is with me. It is even engraved in the inside of my college ring for constant reminder of the Lord’s love and encouragement. 

Why Analysis of Life? 

 It really speaks for itself, if you know me very well especially 8 plus years ago. My mind to others does nothing by analyze anything and everything that is happening in my world for good or for bad. I often break down every little detail trying to understand its meaning and effect on life. Therefore, Analysis of Life seemed to be very appropriate.

Hello Out There, Anyone There .... The Ride Begins Again, Jump On

Life is unpredictable and full of twists and turns. Additionally, it often times pulls me away from writing and reflecting on life and so many other things. A year and a half later almost, I decide to pick up writing, reflecting, and sharing once again. I know many have disappeared from the roller coaster of a ride my blog provides and no I cannot promise any more than in the past to be consistent and keep things going. I encourage you to come along for the ride and hopefully it will not be as bumpy or stalled as in the past.  

Where am I…
- On a new path that focuses more on providing my soul and life the balance it seeks.
- Seeking ways to share my love of God and others through work, church, fellowship, community, and other activities.
- Finding opportunities to provide service to those who are in need of love and caring support.
- Discovering ways to share my faith, leadership, and cultural awareness with others young and old alike.
- Focusing on my health to find a balanced diet and nutrition plan and to become physically fit.  

Goals…
- Develop a healthy balanced intake of food and vitamins to counter internal body issues and lose weight.
- Become more physical active and fit by enjoying the outdoors and the creation that God has made.
- Refocus on what really matters my faith in the loving Lord and His intentions for all aspects of my life.
- Reach out to friends and family and letting them know how much they mean to me.
- Minimize the watching of TV and movies.
- Reading and writing about leadership, faith, culture, and more.

Support & Encouragement…
So many of you have and continue to make a difference in my life, THANK YOU!
- Your strength to continue on through trying times.
- Your perseverance and dedication to training and being physically fit.
- Your faith in God and sharing of that faith.
- Your witness as followers of Christ and serving others.
- The friendship you provide and the opportunities to share in your journeys.

Prayer Requests…
  - The strength to persevere and find a diet that will benefit me and provide the nutrients to straighten out my body.
- The encouragement to start slow and steadily work towards greater physical fitness and loss of weight.
- The power to stand strong and take ahold of my faith and share my love of God with others.
- The inspiration to step out of my comfort zone and to seek and participate in opportunities to share my talents with young and old alike within the church.
- The patience and ears to listen to God’s calling in my personal and vocational life.

Thanks for taking the time to read the start of this new roller coaster in life! It is great to be back and I hope you stick around.

Our Journey this New Year beginning with Advent!

Thanks to my friend, KB! My inspiration from this morning to write a post about the new liturgical year is going to come to fruition.

May God’s blessings be with each of us as we begin this new yearly journey of faith. As the Advent season begins, our journey of faith and understanding of Christ’s love will hopefully continue to deepen, but more importantly our actions and thoughts will be re-centered and focused towards being true disciples of Christ.

How can we be true disciples of Christ? How do we need to change to show God’s love to others?

These are not easy questions to answer more less follow. How many times do you find yourself thinking negative thoughts or putting someone else down in your thoughts or spoken words? How often do you get frustrated at a co-worker, student, bystander, or family member? Are there people that you struggle to be around because they have hurt someone else or you, they don’t seem to want to help themselves, or some other reason? Does your face show frustration and stress or does it show love and care?

What other questions do we need to ask ourselves in order to discern our true discipleship and calling?

How can you develop and continue to grow in God’s love and be a beacon of Christian light this Advent season forward?

My new journey of faith and Christian living will hopefully include the following:
- Stopping to reflect and spend more time with God and spend more time in personal reflection.
- Seeking opportunities to learn, pray, and be present with our Lord.
- Smile and replace negative thoughts and comments with positive ones.
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Share in the joys and losses of family and friends.
- Send notes and stay in better communication with friends and family.

What will you do to celebrate and reset your faith journey for the new year?

God’s blessings be with you this new liturgical year and Advent season.

"10 Surprising Things About Me"

My friend tagged me in her "10 Surprising Things about Me" so here goes nothing.

1. Did someone say dance? Yes though my abilities are not evident, I took dance classes for 10 years starting at the age of 3 through 7th grade. Classes included 10 years of tap and ballet, 1 year of ballet toe, and a couple years of jazz.

2. On the same subject, I also spent most childhood summers in summer acrobatics and trampoline classes. I even helped teach classes in my latter years. You might can get me to attempt a cartwheel or a wall stand, but that is about all.

3. Skiing, no...not snow skiing, but water skiing. Summers were spent out on Lake Barkley in Kentucky, water skiing, slalom skiing, knee boarding, and ski bobbing. (Ski bobs were not quite as nice 15 years ago, but there is an example of one.) Sadly the last time I was at the lake was just over 10 years ago in August 2000. By the way, I have never been snow skiing.

4. A 'C' for Conduct...yes a 'C' does appear on my first grade report card. Apparently, I was a talker in first grade. I wouldn't believe it myself if it wasn't written on the report card because I was a very shy, quiet, introverted child.

5. Perfect Attendance for all four years in high school and only need two hands to count all days absent from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Absences include: Kindergarten -- 5 days for chickenpox, 1 day sent home after getting ill during the morning Pledge of Allegiance; 4th Grade -- 2 days for the flu; 6th Grade - Sent home one day with 103 degree fever in tears not wanting to miss school; 8th Grade - Grandmother's funeral. I loved school and did not want to miss a day.

6. 10K...No not 10 carat gold, but a 10K race. I competed in and completed the Bowling Green 10K Classic in Fall 1992 as a 9th grader. At the time, I had never ran 6.2 miles in one setting and was thrilled to finish the race in less than 1 hour and defeat a fellow St Mary's cross-country runner. Goal is to not only run a 10K again but to complete a half-marathon.

7. Not once but twice won awards for artistic/creative designs. The jest of the two winnings are: Non-Smoking poster contest in 3rd grade and Air Products Safety Calendar contest, not sure age.

8. Enjoy writing my own unique style of poetry or at least my version of poetry.

9. Depending on how long you have known me it may surprise you to know that my hair is naturally curly now or that it use to be so straight that even after an attempted perm my hair was straight as a child. (Look for a new post discussing this more soon.)

10. Have pictures of myself inside a tree in three different countries: Australia, Ghana, and the United States of America.

Wow...I hope you learned some new and surprising things about me. Thanks kasclar for helping me think of unique/surprising things about myself.

Now I would love to learn something surprising about you so tag it is your turn.
Chris at Digital Wilderness
Ashlee at Clay Woman

Accomplishments !!!

Normalcy may be returning to life as things are starting to get accomplished and good things are happening in life. Or maybe things have just come to a must and therefore are being accomplished. Either way it feels good to see things coming off the list and working.

July 24, 2009: The loss of the desktop computer, data, and more.
September 28, 2010: Finally purchased a new computer, Fujitsu AH530 LifeBook

September 21, 2010: New replacement Samsung Solstice Arrives
During Thanksgiving break of 2009, I finally upgraded my phone and got the Samsung Solstice touchscreen phone. By at least June, the touchscreen was not working properly. By August, the whole left bottom corner was not working properly. Every time you hit the corner the resulting action was whatever was to right of the tap. I could no longer dial any numbers that were not already in the contacts. Resulting in actually having to pull out the old Razr until the new phone arrived.

September 11, 2010: New Tires on the Car (Definitely a Necessity see previous post)
The car has received it's fourth set of tires over 7.5 years of life. The last set just couldn't make it through the last two autocross events of the 2010 Season. The new tires may get broken in this weekend in Lexington at Applebees if interested in checking it out.

Health Update:
Though I have not been walking daily nor eating the most healthiest meals, it apparently is not all bad as my cholesterol results came in today and overall cholesterol was down 49 pts, LDL 62 pts, ration 2.4. Now HDL was also down 8 not a good thing and Triglycerides up 104. Triglycerides is probably due to the fried and sugary foods that I have been eating in excess. Not sure the status of the weight, since I do not have my usual scale nor a scale at all. I was disappointed to only be down about 6 lbs since I saw the same doctor in Louisville about 4.5 years ago.

Now off to the next set of adventures and accomplishments in life. Hope to see you on the way.

Running from Cars and Tire Destruction

Sunday started off as a wonderful day for an autocross. The sky was blue with no clouds in the air and the temperature was great. The course was full of elements and I was hopeful for a great day.

The first few hours were spent out on course to put cones back after being struck. The view from course really helps one assess their future movements in the car themselves. Corner work included scurrying for ones life not once but twice. A couple vehicles got a bit unbalanced coming through the second time resulting in a spin towards the workers and light pole. We were all up and aware of our surroundings and no one or vehicles were hurt in the process. Apparently we looked like very slow ants scurrying and we surely felt like slow ants moving from the spinning vehicles.

After a break, it was our turn to run the course. The course was great and I really was on top of my game. Unfortunately, I only got three of my five runs due to a gash in the side of the tire. It was about quarter size after the second run. After the third run it was about 2 inches of separation. Therefore I decided to call it a day and thanks to some fellow competitors, I changed it over to the donut and headed home.

Here is a picture from my phone of the tire:

3 Days, 3 Cities, 3 Major League Ballparks---1 Week, 4 Major League Ballparks, Many Miles by Car & Train

3 Days, 3 Cities, 3 Ballparks

#1 -- Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI June 29th, 2010
Houston Astros vs Milwaukee Brewers 5-7
Game: 5 Home Runs made this an exciting game to watch.
Park: A very nice park but not a fan of the dome and the very closed in nature of the park. I was very thankful that it was nice actually a bit chilly by nights end that the dome was open. I am not a fan of domed outdoor sports facilities. The sport was created for outdoor recreation, not indoor play.

#2 -- Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL June 30th, 2010
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs 2-0
Game: A very slow game with little action, probably in terms of performance the least favorite of all games.
Park: Top notch, I love the fact that Wrigley is still a traditional old style ballpark. The green wall and the old manual scoreboard makes this a great place to watch a game. It is also very open and the skyline is nice in outfield.

#3 -- Target Field, Minneapolis, MN July 1st, 2010
Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 5-4
Game: An exciting game that went into an extra inning before Tampa Bay pulled off the victory in the 10th.
Park: Another nice park with a wonderful view of the skyline and open feeling. We even got to watch the extra inning from the lower section thanks to PC's friends of friends.

#4 -- US Cellular Field, Chicago, IL July 5th, 2010
Los Angeles Angels vs Chicago White Sox 2-9
Game: 4 Home Runs and some exciting plays made this a great game to watch.
Park: A nice park but don't try to go to a level in which your seat is not. There is not wandering around besides the level in which you are assigned. We were able to talk them into letting us to the gift shop on the first level. We enjoyed a little walk around before heading to our actual seats in the upper level. Again, I enjoyed the openness of the ballpark. You could see the train drive by in the background and parts of the city.

The 1 week baseball adventure and so what are my thoughts on baseball now...How can I make it to another ballpark and another game? I loved it and knew that when at game three in Minneapolis that I was in trouble. I started asking myself then how could I get to another game and where. I was working through ideas to go to Atlanta and St Louis before the end of the season, but the whole starting a new job and moving was causing havoc in the plans. Though do not despair, I have not fully given up on the idea. St Louis, Labor Day weekend, anyone interested?

#5 (or #1 for the season) -- Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH May 15, 2010
St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds 3-4
Game: A well played game with some very close calls and a great finish for Reds fans. A disappointing conclusion for Cardinals fans but overall a great game to watch. It was a great way to start the baseball summer adventures off with some great company, CV and KP.
Park: A great view of the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky makes this a very nice park to enjoy a game. It is fun watching the steamboats and barges go up and down the river and enjoy the openness of the ballpark.

St Louis - Sunday of Labor Day weekend, interested???? Cardinals vs Reds

I hope you enjoy the adventures and the pictures.

Baseball Adventures & Goal

Over the past few years, I have been able to experience a couple different Major League Baseball parks. During this time, I decided that it would be fun to try to hit all the Major League Baseball Parks, especially the legendary ones. Therefore this summers vacation became a baseball adventure thanks to my friend PC for joining in on the fun.

It all started with a wedding in Minneapolis, MN. Not wanting to just drive or fly to Minneapolis and see very little, I kept trying to find someone to go along and something fun to do on the way, when finally it hit me. To get to Minneapolis via car, you need to go through Chicago where two Major League teams play and there is another in the Twin Cities. I then knew just the person who would probably be willing to join me on this adventure and who had friends in Minneapolis. Thankfully, she was a willing participant and the plans developed from there. She even suggested adding another ballpark.

Our adventure started on July 29th in Indiana and ended on July 6th me back in Indiana and her in Chicago for a few more days of fun. We hit three ballparks in three days in three cities. More in the next post.

New Adventures & Back to Kentucky

Six weeks ago, another new segment of life began. As most of you know on July 12, I started a new job back in Kentucky. I now work at Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY as Residence Life Coordinator in the Department of Residence Life and Housing.

Bellarmine University is celebrating their 60th Anniversary as an Independent Catholic Institution. The opportunities abound here and I am looking forward to the learning and educating of others.

My position consists of supporting three residence halls on the top of the hill by the Chapel. I have 10 Resident Assistants who support me in my efforts throughout the three buildings. In addition, I work 12 hours a week in the Student Activities Office with Registered Student Organizations and their financials. I live on campus in a nice two bedroom apartment overlooking the Chapel. These are only the start of many things that I will do and be involved in during my time at Bellarmine.

The semester is officially underway and training has concluded. Normalcy should soon follow and hopefully that will lead to more opportunities to blog and share with you. Though I look to get involved at the same time, I hope to take time out for you and my other friends and family.

Return to the Blog

Dear Friends and Readers:

Thanks for all of your support! I feel that I continue to leave you alone and not share the happenings or thoughts of life. When I return, I promise to do better but often again fail. I make no promises of the success or continued consistent future of this blog, but I do hope to write and share more this coming year after apparently a year hiatus.

Last year was a very busy and difficult year. I pushed myself hard to succeed and accomplish things and kept pushing myself and friends away. A resolution for the new year was to work on getting back to my old ways of keeping in contact with friends, sending birthday cards, and sharing personal time with those that mean so much to me. It is a continued struggle to find the right balance between work and personal life, career success and personal enjoyment, when to say no and when to say yes. I ask for your prayers and thoughts as I search for the answers of life and future.

Where am I heading is such a big question in life right now. There are so many options and the true right direction is not evident, though I feel confident that God has placed me back in Louisville and in Kentucky for a reason. Now I just need to take time out to listen to Him and seek the reasons for this placement. Your prayers and thoughts as I transition and seek out the future is very much appreciated.

I look forward to catching up with each of you and spending time sharing and rejoicing in God's love for us all. God Bless!

Dump Your Plump - Round 2 - Grizzly Fat Chunkers

10 Weeks of Controlled Weight Loss - September 6 - November 15
Goals
- Set a weight loss goal (13 lbs is my goal this time)
- Exercise a minimum of 5 days a week for 30 minutes

Current Weight: 183 (up a few pounds since the last report)

Eating healthier than the last two months will be the key to success as well as working out again. I hope to do more than just daily lunch walking but we will see how that goes as life is very busy.

Second, I am participating in a Walking Contest on campus which starts next week and last through November 8th.

Thank goodness it ends just in time for Thanksgiving, my Birthday, Christmas, and New Years!!!

Stay posted for updates as I try to shrink my stomach again after the indulgences of the last couple of months.

GeoCities Closing October 26, 2009

The internet came to life and we went out and created our first websites. The summer of 1998 was my first website attempt. The graphics and design were simple as there were no set templates to use. The intention was to create a site from one's own knowledge of html and abilities. We worked with one another to expand our html knowledge and create slightly more advanced sites.

One of my favorite options was the chat function. I enjoyed several chats with Georgetown friends as they were all across the country during the summer of 1998. The other exciting features were the counter and guestbook. Today those features are just basics to any site.

Check out the original website one last time before GeoCities closes October 26, 2009: Robin's Home Page

Do you have an old GeoCities site? Check it out and save it before it disappears.

No Free Weekends Until January

How does one's schedule get full so fast? I really don't have that much of a life. My phone never rings, emails rarely appear, Facebook conversations are minimal, IM chats only occur with a couple people, but somehow my calendar has something scheduled every weekend from now until Jan 8. You better claim the date now.

What does all this mean? Not sure that it means a whole lot because they are not all set in stone. (22 Weekends)
10 - I have to work.
1 - Work related but a trip to Stratford, Canada.
3 - I have tickets to the IU Football games. Anyone interested in watching Wisconsin or Purdue. I believe the Ohio State game is taken. I also have tickets for sale for Illinois and Western Michigan.
2 - Weekends are Holidays
2 - Weekend is my Birthday/Christmas Visiting (Not Planned)
4 - Weekends various, KY, Church, and other activities available

Well, it is time to get back to work as this is one of those working weekends. Football moved in today and lots of prep work to be completed for training.

Health and General Update

Yes once again, I have fallen off the face of the earth. If you are on Facebook and my friend, you have by now hopefully seen at least a few of the pictures from my trip. For those who are not on Facebook, I apologize for not yet posting. I wanted to provide some commentary to the pictures and the trip. Unfortunately, I ran into issues with the computer and now the new year is in full swing. I really do promise to post something soon. I know you heard this last year about Ghana. Pictures are already more organized than the Ghana ones so you should be in luck, hopefully. If anything, I will post with no commentary.

Yes, school starts on Sept 1. RA Training started last night and goes through the arrival of New Students on August 28. I will be wrapped up in RA Training, Mentor Training, and planning the four-day orientation program for New Students.

Current Weight: 180 lbs
I was at 179 after returning from vacation but have proceeded to eat unhealthy the last few weeks month and a half. I was up 6 lbs from that but now only 1 lb. I am looking forward to the return of the cafeteria and stable daily meals and some salad.

Granted if I stopped making zucchini cake, I might be in better shape.

Have a great August! I will return in September.

PS Anyone interested in IU Football? Looking to sell two tickets for the W. Michigan game on Sept 12.

Why so much work to register your car?

Today's adventure to the BMV was a bust. I went to register my car at the local BMV to find out that I had to have a document verifying my right to have the college's specialty plate. It really does not make sense to me, especially since I already have an FC plate on my car. Why would it not be okay for me to have such a plate again? I can see the reason for an initial document stating that it is okay for me to have an FC plate. This would keep anyone from going to the BMV and getting a college's specialty plate, but why to renew it.

You may be asking what happens in other states. I know for a fact and through experience that in KY you do not need any type of documentation in order to get a private college's specialty plate. Now depending on the county you live in you might need to pre-order the initial plate because they do not have a stock of them in all departments. But to renew you go in as you would for a regular plate and pay the slight extra fee that goes in part to the institution.

Fried Computer ... Now What

The computer has gone down in flames, not literally but figuratively. The hard drive has now crashed and data has been lost. Therefore with a dead ethernet card, power supply, and harddrive, I suppose this machine that is approximately 9 years old has seen its last day of life.

The question now is what to do in purchasing a new machine.
- Vista, XP, or some how wait until Windows 7 comes out
- Desktop or Laptop
- Leaning towards desktop but then do I go for brand name or more my own design.
- What is a reputable place to purchase a pc from?

Any suggestions or thoughts on purchasing a new pc would be appreciated?

Northwest Adventure - Washington State Pictures

Enjoy this link of to pictures from Washington State and the first 4 days of the two week adventure.

Washington State - 2009

Stories and more to come....

Computer Woes....

About 3 weeks ago things started to go downhill with the computer. It all started with a really bad thunderstorm. Lightning either hit the building I live in or hit very close to it.

Personally, my computer's network card was blown. Additionally, I am fairly positive that the strike turned the computer on as the green and orange light was on though the screen was totally black. I had to hard reboot the machine. The computer came back up seemingly with no problems except for the network card.

The building had issues with the card entry system and the fire panel. The office computer's motherboard was fried and a student's laptop power supply was zapped. Those are the issues I heard about prior to leaving two days later.

Upon departure for two week vacation, I unplugged all of my large items like tv and computer.

Upon return, I plugged the surge protector back into the wall. It immediately sent an electric current through the surge protector to the computer, which made a large popping noise. After that, there was no longer power being received by the computer. The monitor, printer, and phone were all still working.

Thankfully it appears that the only thing that was blown was the power supply and of course the network card still does not work. I borrowed a power supply from IT to checkout the status of the computer.

QUESTION: Any suggestions on where or brand of power supply to purchase? Is there anything in particular that I should look for in a power supply? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Computer woes also included having absolutely no network access when I returned from vacation. My computer of course was busted but the laptop did not work either. IT made updates to the network last week and the building did not take kindly to those changes. Thankfully, they finally fixed the network issues yesterday so I can access the network through my laptop.

Northwest Adventure Starts Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Saturday the adventure begins. It is 3 am and packing is done I hope. There is always time to get those things I forgot when I get to Washington.

Trip Itinerary includes
- Seattle Washington
- Ellensburg Washington and the various things to do around there (more to come once I return)
- Mt St Helen and Mt Rainer, if the weather cooperates
- 5 nights in Yellowstone, 4 full days of exploring Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
- Devils Tower
- Mount Rushmore and neighboring State Park
- Badlands
- Corn Palace
- Maybe a stop to see a friend in Milan, IL
- Franklin, IN
- Bloomington, IN for 4th of July Fireworks

Camping, hiking, and more...Oh My...at least we have campsites now :-)

Have a wonderful two weeks!

Health Update - June

Another visit to the doctor and some great news. The doctor is not ready to put me on any type of cholesterol medication at this point. Still going to see what the other medication does and how my continued weight loss improves my cholesterol.

Below is an update on my cholesterol from the last testing three months ago.

Total Cholesterol dropped another 7 points. (Lowest it has been since Oct 2004)
Triglycerides dropped 66 points. (Lowest it has been since Oct 2004)
HDL's increased 6 points to be on the border line of in range.
LDL's did not change and still a bit high.
Overall Ratio dropped .9 but still in the high range.

According to the doctor's scale, I have lost 15 lbs since February and two pounds since my appointment in May.

Current Weight 181 lbs.
Total weight loss thus far 26 lbs. Goal of at least 6 more by mid-July.

Weight was based on a reading this morning on the office scale. I was actually shocked to see the loss of 4 lbs because I had been staying steady for many weeks now. We will see how the upcoming hiking and camping adventure affects this loss/gain.

Home of Superman!

Are you a Superman fan, then you should visit the home of Superman in Metropolis, IL. There is a large Superman statue in front of the courthouse and a festival every year. I have seen Superman and actually competed many moons ago in the Superman 5K event.

Why do I bring this up because Metropolis, IL made my CNN feed today with the article For Lois Lane statue, economy may be kryptonite so I thought I would share some trivia with you.

Should I get a new sleeping bag plus other things?

Three weeks from today, the journey eastward through the west begins. The question of the day is what do I need to take with to Seattle, to buy there, to buy and ship there, etc.

Camping...never been done that I can recollect so the newbie needs some advice.
Hiking...have done but still untrained.

ADVICE WELCOMED

Thoughts...questions.......
** Sleeping bag --- Has the time come to invest in a new sleeping bag? I have a very old sleeping bag that has some sort of weather rating, but unfortunately all the tags are gone from the bag. There is nothing on the bag that tells me anything about it. If the suggestion is to buy a new bag, any suggestions on the type, brand, needs of the sleeping bag?

** Walking stick --- Is this something that would be good to have? In ways it seems like money not well used but in other ways I can see the need for a walking stick and you cant always find a good tree branch.

** Special Socks --- How important is it to have special socks? And if so, what are you looking for in such special socks?

** What are the other essentials needed for hiking, camping, etc?

All advice is welcomed no matter how simple, common sense it is.

Hiking May 30-31 Pictures

Check out these pics of the two hikes this past weekend:

McCormicks Creek, Owen County, IN

Yellowwood State Forest, Nashville, IN

Awesome Weekend of Hiking and More!

After two full days of hiking, my legs are a bit sore and thankfully the hiking boots did not create any new blisters. The new sandals created plenty on Friday.

Friday
An early departure from work provide me time to catch up with folks in Bloomington and enjoy a nice dinner at Shanti Indian with JL and KK. Though spicy, the dinner was quite tasty. Afterwards, I enjoyed a nice walk and some Jiffy Treat on the east side of Bloomington.

Saturday - McCormick's Creek
Pauline and I enjoyed a wonderful day at McCormick's Creek. The rain held off and we completed about 5 miles. The day started with a 2 mile moderate hike to see Wolf Cave and the Twin Bridges. After a brief break for lunch, we continued on to complete another 3 miles of moderate hiking in the southern half of the park. It also included a climb up one of the few standing Fire Tower's throughout Indiana.

After the hike, it was time to try another international cuisine. We enjoyed dinner at Basil Leaf. I had a Vietnamese cuisine with a Thai Iced Tea both of which were delicious. The evening concluded somewhat nicely minus the constant interruptions about the weather happening north of Indy as we watched the first game of the Stanley Cup.

Sunday - Yellowwood State Forest
Have you been to Yellowwood, if not I definitely suggest a trip. The hike is more like backcountry hiking and animals are more abundant throughout the park. I saw geese and their little ones, a frog, turtle, deer, some sort of lizard, multiple chipmunks, and squirrels.

Today's hike lead me on two self-guided interpretive trails learning about the management of Yellowwood's natural resources and exploration of the various habitat types throughout the forest.

The journey started on the Resource Management Trail (1.5 miles/moderate), which I completed 2/3 of before continuing along the Lake Trail (5 miles/moderate). The Lake Trail led into the Jackson Creek Trail (1.5 miles/easy) and then back to the Lake Trail.

Two hours into the hike, it was time for some reading and lunch. I'm currently reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. Additional report on the book will come later. Lunch was delicious. Since Subway and Jimmy Johns were not open at 9:30 am, I decided to try out Bloomington Bagel. I should have gotten two bagels because they are so delicious. I enjoyed a cinnamon sugar PB&J bagel sandwich.

Two hours later, it was time to hit the trails again. 1/2 an hour later, I ran into the Scarce O'Fat Trail (4 miles rugged). It was not time to head home and I need to get use to a lot of hiking before I hit Washington so off I went on the Scarce O'Fat Trail. The trail then ran into the High King Vista Trail (.5 mile moderate but 1/4 steep). Thankfully, the 1/4 steep hill was downhill from the direction which I came. Then there was still another 35 mins to hike along the Lake Trail to get back to the car.

To say the least, I was worn out when I got to the car and feeling a little stiffness in the right calf.

The weekend is now over and I will post some pictures soon for you too see of the weekend hikes.

Weight Loss Update

Yikes, it has been a month since I have updated the blog. I apologize. The month has escaped me.

The workout is not going so well. The daily walking Mon-Fri is still fairly on pace with a day here and there with little walking. The eating habits are struggling at the moment with no cafeteria food and constant salad. I enjoyed lots of food out this weekend but did not gain any weight so that is exciting.

Current Weight 185 lbs, which has stayed steady for a couple weeks now.
Total weight loss thus far 22 lbs. Goal of at least 10 more by mid-July.

It was exciting going shopping with LB and Pauline on Monday at the outlet malls. I actually could look for clothes in sections that were not viable last time.

One-Way Flight to Seattle, WA - Booked

What was your first thoughts when you saw the heading? It has stirred some comments on Facebook that is for sure.

Yes, the heading is correct. I purchased a one-way ticket to Seattle, WA today, which was a big step in life. It marks the beginning of what shall be an exciting, fun, thrilling two-week adventure starting and ending here in Franklin, IN.

Anyone interested in giving me a ride to the Indy airport for my departure flight on June 20? At least, I changed my flight to a 7:15 am departure instead of a 5:30 am departure.

So what happens during those two weeks is still up for debate and maybe some of you can provide some insight. Upon arrival at 11:02 PST in Seattle, my friend (SF) and I have approximately two weeks to arrive back in Franklin, IN. The goal is to celebrate America's Independence in Bloomington so if you live there look for some more info to come soon.

The overarching places we plan to see on our eastward adventure of the northwest:
Seattle - Arrival Day
Mt St Helens
Ellensburg (where SF lives)
Yellowstone
Grand Tetons
Devil's Tower
Mount Rushmore
Badlands
Corn Palace (SF found last time she drove)

Any other sites we should hit from Seattle, WA to Bloomington, IN?
Any specific places you would suggest us going within any of these areas?
Any words of wisdom at all for our adventure?
Anyone have a nice hiking backpack I could borrow for a couple weeks that works as a carry-on?

Definitely more to come about this journey and I look forward to hearing your thoughts, but for now I must get some sleep.

Getting in Shape!!!!

The new goal is to lose weight but also to get into shape. As mentioned previously, I signed up for a health assessment class here at FC. We received a workout plan several weeks ago but I have failed to engage in the program until now.

New workout plan started, Thursday, April 30 with encouragement from my student trainer.

Thursday April 30
- Warmup walk and stretch
- Approx. 10 min jog
- Cool down walk and stretch
- Dumbbell press, bicep curls, and a few other arm exercises.
- Set of crunches

Friday May 1
- Normal lunchtime walk with some definite soreness in the legs

Saturday May 2
- Dumbbell press, bicep curls, and a few other arm exercises.
- Stretching
- Walk to Masonic home and back to watch the FC Grizzly Grand Prix (Bike Race)

Sunday May 3
- Warmup walk and stretch
- Jog 10 mins same run as Thursday but went about 50 yards further.
- 5 min walk/stretch
- Jog 5 mins back to the start of the original jog.
- Cool down walk/stretch
- Weight Room - Leg press, leg curl, leg extensions, lat pull downs, seated row
- Crunches and more stretching

Goal to lift weights three times per week and jog four times per week for starters.

Weight Loss Update - Current weight 189
Goal by the time I see my family in July 175 lbs another 14 lbs for total of 32 lbs since January.

Three Things..Learn some new things about me

This is for those friends not on Facebook.

3 things: Now, here's what you're supposed to do. And please do not spoil the fun. Start a new note, delete my answers and put in your own. Tag all your friends and tell them to tag you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known things about each other.

1. Three Names I go by:
Robin
Murph
Starky (in college)

2. Three Jobs I have had in my life:
babysitter
department store cashier/stocker
campus security dispatcher

3. Three places I have lived in:
Bloomington, IN
Georgetown, KY
Paducah, KY

4. Three TV Shows that I watch:
My Boys
NCIS
Brothers & Sisters

5. Three places I have been to:
Perth, Western Australia (plus southwest corner)
Ghana (from south to north)
Stratford, Canada

6. Three people that e-mail me regularly:
Earline
Amy R.
Kerri S.

7. Three of my favorite foods:
Cheese
Dark chocolate
Egg, Cheese, and Bologna Sandwich

8. Three things I would like to do:
Mission Trip to Africa
Travel to the Holy Lands
England to find family

9. Three friends I think will respond:
Chris V.
Sarah F.
Julie D.

10. Three things I am looking forward to:
An eastward adventure of the west in June/July and going MIA
My Boys Marathon with a friend
Having a family one day

Health Assessment Class

Wow, it has been a long and rough few weeks since I last updated you on my health status.

The workout, even the walking, has drastically disappeared in the last few weeks. I hope now that my first big event is over and things went well. I can again focus on working out, getting in shape, and eating healthier. In the next few days, I will be getting a nutrition plan from my student. Until then, I will try to workout and continue the walking.

Update on the weight loss...
10-week program I lost 17 lbs to put me at 190.
Two weeks ago I lost 2 lbs but this week I have gained one of those lbs back.

How are you doing?

KYR SCCA Event #2

Results from the first autocross of the season and unfortunately, I am not sure how many more I will attend. It's amazing how fast weekends fill up.

It poured to start the day, cleared off in time to race, and rained again to finish the day off. Here are my times in order of runs:
47.206
44.593
45.052
45.621
44.798

NO CONES - The car handled a lot better than I thought it would in the rain. I am in dire need of seat time to improve.

The winning G Stock time was 41.608.
28/34 in PAX
32/34 in RAW

Top 100 Places to Live - Lexington, Columbus

Relocate-America's™ Top 100 Places to Live in 2009

Lexington, KY ranks in the top 12 best places to live.

Did you know that in 2008, Lexington was ranked as the 2nd most educated city in the U.S. behind Seattle, WA? This comes from Business Facilities.

Did you know that Toyota is apparently a major employer of Lexington? Unfortunately soon Lexington is going to eat up all of the neighboring towns into a greater Lexington area.

Check out the blurb about Lexington for some other interesting insights.

A couple other interesting cities to me and my other readers in the top 100 include:
Columbus, IN (approx 20 miles south of Franklin)
Noblesville and Fishers, IN
Columbus, OH

Enjoy the reading and finding your next location to live!

What a Weekend

First of all thanks to all of those who allowed me to visit and/or stay with them this weekend. It was awesome to see each and everyone of you.

For those I did not see especially those ill, I hope you get to feeling better soon and do not worry as this story continues, you will see I will be back maybe sooner than later.

Here are just a few of the highlights:

Congrats and Best Wishes to Dr. French! He served Georgetown proudly for 33 years and all of his fellow humans will never forget the compassion and love he showed for each of his students. By the way class starts at 9:30 Naval Observatory Time, you better set your watches appropriately. It was wonderful to see and catch up with professors, staff, and alumni.

Saturday was my first experience of Thunder over Louisville at least that I can remember. I did not actually head downtown for Thunder, but I did catch it on the TV at my friends, RJ squared. It was a lovely production and maybe one day I will venture down to the river to witness it first hand.

Autocross season is HERE. Though a very rainy, rainy day, I enjoyed my first autocross of the season and am now trying to rationalize going to EKU next weekend. Or maybe I should check out the rest of the month and rationalize another event. Either way, I really do not know if I can wait until June to race again. Also if I plan on being in anyway competitive this season, I must practice.

My overall results were not stellar today. I finished 28 out of 34 cars with my second run being the best of 5. The car was quite impressive and stayed under me plus no cones were taken out. The braking before the turns seemed to be good but the line was not all that smooth. The key to improvement is practice and driving the car approximately 300 miles a month is not very good practice.

Children, Children, and more Children The cute little ones of all of my friends was a joy to be around this weekend. I definitely had a good fill of children this weekend though very glad when mom, dad, and grandma were around to take care of the dirty diapers. :-)

Those are just a few of the many highlights from this weekend.

Please keep me in your thoughts this week as I prepare for a large event on Saturday.

12 Loads of Laundry for 1 Person

The weekend is here. I am on call for work so what better thing to do but clean the apartment. It is now 8:30 pm and the work is almost done. It all started about 12:30 pm.

12 Loads of Laundry, only 9 loads for the dryer - Seriously, Yes
I asked myself the same question earlier today and so did my friend Pauline when I told her. But after examining the contents of the 12 loads, it does not seem as crazy.

Loads Contents
2 Sheets
1 Mattress Pad
1 Blankets
1 Towels
1 Fleece Jackets/Sweatshirts
1 Sweaters
1 Reds
1 Jeans/PJs
1 Lights
1 Darks
1 Underwear/Cleaning Rags/Workout Clothes

So really only 6 real loads of laundry for about 3 weeks, which is not too bad especially since some were small loads.

Anyone want to come visit now that the apartment is clean. Everything has been cleaned though there is still a bit of clutter around the apartment.

Dump Your Plump - Conclusion - 10 Full Weeks

10 Weeks of Dump Your Plump is over and I met my weight loss goal of 7 lbs and exercising at least 30 minutes 5 days a week was accomplished. It has all gone down hill the past two weeks, but hopefully next week I can get back into the groove. This week has been really busy with work and preparing for Easter.

After Week 10 - 190 (0 lbs)
After Week 9 - 190 (0 lbs)
After Week 8 - 190 (0 lbs)
After Week 7 - 190 (-1 lb)
After Week 6 - 191 (-1 lb)
After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207

Dump Your Plump - 8 Full Weeks In

Well, I did not gain weight this past week nor did I lose. I will take this considering my eating habits over the past week. I hope to engage in healthier eating for the last two weeks and see how much I can lose after 10 weeks.

Current weight loss 17 lbs.

After Week 8 - 190 (0 lbs)
After Week 7 - 190 (-1 lb)
After Week 6 - 191 (-1 lb)
After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207

Health Update

Well as I am sharing what I am doing to lose weight and become healthy, I figure I might as well share some of the other progresses.

On March 3, our insurance did a free blood draw (actually we got $25 for doing it). The results came in today and in comparing them to my cholesterol results from early December, there is some good progress though everything is still out of normal except HDL.

Total Cholesterol dropped 29.
HDL dropped 4 which puts it on the border of being too low.
LDL dropped 10.
Triglycerides dropped 73.
Glucose dropped 6.

Overall, the three month turn around is very exciting for me. I just hope everything continues to drop except HDLs.

Update 2: I am not feeling so great about this weeks Dump Your Plump progress. Life has been very busy, not necessarily stressful, but busy. And through that I have been doing a lot of snacking and eating things that I really shouldn't be. We will see how I survive the weekend and if I can get a bit more active, this weekend.

Update 3: The pants which I have purchased in the last 8 months because the others were no longer fitting. Are now the ones no longer fitting? I am being swallowed up in them, which is exciting though now I need to check out the closet and find the old pants that now fit. I am not comfortable with the fit yet of the size lower but hopefully a few more lbs and I will be less concerned.
Thanks for all the votes of confidence and congratulations!

How are your efforts going?

Health Assessment Classes 1 and 2

As mentioned previously, I have turned myself over to the FC Health Assessment class.

Class 1 was spent getting all the necessary background information. We had to complete some forms about our history and then have several tests taken. The calipers came out to measure our body fat in three different locations and the tape measured was used for the waist, chest, thigh, and arm measurements. The students also took our blood pressure and pulse. We got on scales that not only measured our weight but also did some sort of body max index. Then there was a hand held object as well that measured BMI.

Results were not so great. My blood pressure was a bit high though nothing too concerning. My body max index is high putting me in the obesity class III category. Goals outlined previously have been defined as attainable and we will be working on exercising and healthy eating.

Class 2 tested our cardiovascular health. After a warm-up and some stretching, we walked as fast as we could for a mile around the track. Then it was to the aerobic step blocks, which about killed me. The left leg is definitely is in need of rehab. After a short period, I could no longer lead off with the left leg, which resulted in my right leg tiring out faster as well. I made it the 3 mins of stepping but it was not strong. After each activity my pulse was taking and so we will see next week what the results of my cardiovascular health is.

Class 3 will be a strength test.

Dump Your Plump - 7 Full Weeks In

The pounds keep coming off though a bit slower than initially. I cannot complain too much because my eating habits have not been the best in the last couple of weeks. The munchies are taking over as I am working a lot and just have the munchies. The bowl of dark chocolate m&m's has disappeared a lot faster within the last week to almost emptiness. The bowl will most likely be empty by the end of this week at the current rate.

Tomorrow is back to health assessment class a full report to follow soon.

Current weight loss 17 lbs.

After Week 7 - 190 (-1 lb)
After Week 6 - 191 (-1 lb)
After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207

Whats your favorite flavor of popcorn?

How many flavors of popcorn have you ever seen or had? Well if you like popcorn and would like to try more, I have just the place for you. Even if you are not a huge popcorn fan, you definitely will be hooked after a visit.

Not Just Popcorn in Edinburgh, IN has over 240 flavors. Divided into 5 categories: Premium, Gourmet, Savories, Chocolate Covered, and Chicago Cheddar.

Today I tried several including Pina Colada, Amaretto, Chicago Mix (Chicago Cheddar & Caramel), Banana Split, Root Beer Float, Dill, Mexican Salsa, Extremely Blue Raspberry, Caramel, Key Lime Pie, and more.

I left with a FC tin of Caramel because I really couldn't decide what I wanted and the Chicago Mix was a bit too expensive. It definitely is not a cheap item to purchase but something nice every now and again. The smaller bags are a lot less expensive but they would never last long enough.

There is a large variety of tins to purchase and fill with popcorn. If you return with the tin, all future fills are 1/2 the original cost.

What else can you do in Edinburgh? Head to the outlet malls and not too far out of the way on your way to Franklin you can see the grave in the middle of the road. Additionally, there are many wineries close, hiking, and an old movie at the ArtCraft in Franklin. I enjoyed great entertainment tonight and saw the all time classic "Hoosiers". So let me know when you would like to visit.

The Skullbuster Rally

Another event on last weekends schedule was a Road Rally. The first rally in several years and the skills were a bit rusty, especially at the beginning.

The Skullbuster Rally was a Time Speed Distance rally in northern Scott County, which actually went through Skullbuster, KY. G and I paired up once again to work on defeating the men's teams as well as all others. The skills as mentioned earlier were a bit rusty and sleep deprived, but that did not matter as we still finished 2nd. We defeated all the teams we really sought out and will look to improve in the future.

Definitely had some eventful moments with 2-3 missed turns and one navigator second guessing, which resulted in a couple minutes loss plus a potty break. All worked out as I was able to correct our time and purchase a time allowance to keep us inline for a victory. I try hard not to take time allowances but with a potty break there was not a whole lot of options.

Key things learned from this and past rallies:
- Remind driver to have gas in car.
- Keep driver from drinking too much before the event starts especially caffeinated beverages.
- I really need more sleep before starting and I'm definitely the nerd with the calculator and table for calculating :-)

I encourage you to try it out. If you like to drive and enjoy the country side, it can be fun times. The next event is a Gimmick rally which does not require time calculations like the TSD rallies. Unfortunately, I will not be in attendance as I have to be within 15 minutes of FC, but it should be a lot of fun. Check out the CKRSCCA website Rally Schedule.

Basketball Madness Before March

Last weekend was full of basketball.

Transylvania hosted the men's and women's HCAC Division III basketball tournament, which was great but not great. Not great because Franklin men had a chance to host the tournament had they defeated Defiance the week before. Great because I was headed to Lexington anyway that weekend therefore I could actually watch the games.

Friday at Transylvania
- Franklin women were defeated by Transy in the semifinal game during the early afternoon.
- Franklin men revenged the loss to Defiance to gain a final berth.

I enjoyed watching the second half of the game, unfortunately I was unable to leave in time to watch the full game or the women play.

Saturday Basketball
The afternoon started off with a nice walk from Transy to Rupp Arena to watch the UK vs LSU game. Reminder section 231 is a standing section, but I had a wonderful time with friends and Father. Unfortunately, the end result was not so great.

Previous post mentions the great dinner I had at Sawyers before walking back to Transy in the sleet/freezing rain to watch the Franklin vs Transy men's game, again an exciting game but one with unfortunate results. Franklin loss at the end.

March Basketball
A blessing in disguise may be at hand. With all the work ahead of me, I have not been watching a lot of basketball minus last weekend and doubt a lot will be watched in the upcoming weeks. Therefore, I will not be saddened by the fact the majority of my teams will most likely be missing from the tournament and keep on losing. I wish them all the best.

GO TIGERS!!!! They play tomorrow in the championship of the NAIA MSC in Frankfort.

Dump Your Plump - 6 Full Weeks In

A little late on this post, but thought I would share quickly anyway. Last week I had a weight loss of 1 lb though I am pretty impressed with that after last weekends fun.

Friday, February 27 was a light day but Saturday, February 28 was nothing but unhealthy eating. It was quite delicious and savoring, but not so healthy.

Saturday the enjoyment of a bacon, egg, cheese bagel from McDonalds. Lunch at Galvin's in Georgetown for a semi healthy buffalo chicken salad w/ blue cheese. The kicker comes Saturday night with a lovely, delicious famous Sawyer's burger with bacon, provolone, mushrooms, ketchup, and mustard, along with some fries and a Bass.

At least, I did get some exercise on Saturday walking to and from Transy and Rupp along with lots of standing at the UK/LSU and Franklin/Transy games more on that in another post.

Sunday included a wonderful breakfast at Alfalfa's but again not the healthiest. 3 blueberry/blackberry griddle cakes, over easy egg, bacon, and fruit. I did try kiwi for the first time. It is a very sweet fruit.

Well that is last weeks update. This weeks update will be forthcoming after Monday.

Current weight loss 16 lbs.

After Week 6 - 191 (-1 lb)
After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207

Try to forget...Duke vs UK 1992

A quick check of the latest local news in Lexington resulted in the following article New Ad Features Laettner, Pitino.

Health Assessment Class - Starts Thursday

The next item on the agenda for becoming healthier is participating in an FC Health Assessment class. They asked for volunteers to work with the undergraduate students and so I decided to take them up on the offer for a free health assessment and more.

My portion of the class starts on Thursday. TT will be assessing my health and helping me meet my goals. Here are the goals I look to set and accomplish by the end of May:
- Weight loss (Need to be advised at what is realistic)
- Increased Flexibility (Able to touch my toes without feeling the stress in my legs.)
- Run a 5K without dying.
- Improve my cholesterol and the various components of it.

I will continue to update you on these goals as well as the Dump Your Plump status. In ways they will start to overlap one another at least for the next 5 weeks until Dump Your Plump is over.

Good Luck on your health goals! Stay positive and keep looking towards a positive outcome!

Dump Your Plump - 5 Full Weeks In

With five more weeks to go, it is exciting that my large pants are starting to fall off of me and the next size is starting to fit a little less snug. I have met my initial goal of 7 lbs and hope to maintain a nice consistent weight loss for the remaining 5 weeks. I look forward to the day that I can truly fit back into my latest wardrobe and maybe eventually fitting into some clothes from the wardrobe prior to that one.

Current weight loss 15 lbs.

After Week 5 - 192 (-3 lbs)
After Week 4 - 195 (0 lbs)
After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207

25 Random Things About Me

For those on Facebook, you may have already seen these, but for those not, I thought I would share with you what the rest of the world has learned about me this past weekend. For more information about the goal of the list, read details below the list.

1. My current car is 6 years old and has 137,000 miles (22,800 mi/year). Over half of those miles (78,000) were put on within a two year span. The car currently sits in great neglect lucky to move more than once a week, but it still has great adventures to see family and friends. Most friends say I am never in one place maybe that is true, maybe it is not. I do enjoy a nice drive through the countryside.

2. The trunk of my car contains a large blue Rubbermaid container (contents: a matte black Snell certified helmet, tarp and blanket, jumper cables, air compressor, window cleaner, paper towels, de-icer, sunscreen, Sahara Sombrero, blue chalk, flashlight), two folding chairs, magnetic numbers and letters (during the summer), spare tire, and spare tire tool kit.

3. From the age of 3 through 7th grade (10 years), I took dance lessons (tap & ballet with a few years of jazz, toe, and summer acrobatics/trampoline). I know this is shocking to those who have ever seen me attempt to dance or keep a beat/rhythm because I can’t.

4. My current job is the start of my second professional career. After spending six years as a web developer, application programmer, and database administrator, I left the technology field to pursue my desires to work with young people and help develop strong leaders in all aspects of our community.

5. I over analyze everything including the creation of this list.

6. While spending two months in Western Australia (Perth), I played basketball for the Lakeside women (Western Australian State Basketball League, second-tiered semi-professional basketball league), coached an under-9 boys basketball team, learned to kick a footy, had a kangaroo eating out of my hand, worked with the youth of the church and local schools, fell in love with Tim Tams, and much more.

7. One of the weirdest/strangest things I have ever eaten was fried cow’s blood in Puerto Rico.

8. August 1993 included a 24+ hour bus ride to Denver, Colorado for World Youth Day. I saw Pope John Paul II and still have the bandana that a kind soul gave me on the sick bus.

9. Photography is a great passion of mine. I stopped taking as many pictures years ago because I always felt like people were looking at me funny. A camera use to be attached to my every move and everything was documented. To give you an idea of my crazy picture taking: Australia 600 plus film pictures in 2 months and Ghana 2,100 plus digital pictures plus several rolls of film pictures in 2 weeks.

10. A dream of mine since freshman year of college is to have my own black & white dark room. I received honorable mention for an experimental black & white photograph in undergrad.

11. I am a pack rat rarely ever throwing anything away. That is why there are boxes and boxes of items waiting to go into scrapbooks from college years to friends’ weddings and baby showers.

12. Current collections include shot glasses, postcards, key chains, porcelain dolls, UK basketball posters, bibles, and money (state quarters, pennies, foreign currency). Collections not as frequently added to these days include pencils, pens, unicorns, stamps, baseball cards, NASCAR collectibles, and books (most have not been read).

13. Christmas is my favorite holiday and winter my favorite season. (I love the beautiful white snow outside.)

14. Often times, my first experience at events will never be topped by future experiences.
First NCAA basketball game 1994 SEC Championship game in the Pyramid, Memphis, TN, Kentucky defeated Florida. We had seats about 10 rows up from the floor across from the UK bench.
First NCAA football game UK vs #1 LSU 2007 in Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY. I had seats in the end zone right in the middle of the LSU Indianapolis Alumni section. (Very nice fans to those of us wearing Wildcat blue.)

15. Would you like to catch me on IM? You probably can from any medium (ICQ, AIM, Yahoo, MSN, GMail, Facebook) you use and some may have never known of their existence. Am I missing any?

16. Summer of 1998 included the creation of my own personal website and unlike today, I had to actually figure out HTML and design the site. There was also a cool little chat feature (at the time) that I added to the site to talk back and forth with friends.

17. The one thing you will always find in my refrigerator is cheese. Yes, I am 100% addicted to cheese and working very hard to reduce the intake. There is a crisis when the refrigerator is without cheese.

18. Snooze once upon a time was not in my vocabulary or in arms reach. I truly was a morning person except on Saturday’s. Then summer of 1998 happened and 12 hour shifts at campus safety on weekends. Life has never been the same and snooze has turned into two alarm clocks.

19. I have partaken in homecoming festivities at Georgetown College every year since I started in 1996, only missing the last two Songfests.

20. So the second of the 25 in this list still has you perplexed as why I have a helmet, magnetic numbers and letters, and blue chalk in my trunk. These are all necessary things in order to autocross or solo on a Sunday afternoon. Quick: Cones are setup in a pattern in a parking lot and cars are individually timed.

21. Besides autocross, I also love to road rally and am one mean navigator. Quick: Each team is given a set of directions to navigate through the countryside at or below speed. The goal is to hit hidden controls exactly on time based on speed and distance.

22. The first thing that pops in my mind when someone talks about skiing is water skiing not snow skiing. I spent my entire childhood on the lake water skiing and finally learned how to slalom ski in college before going on hiatus for the past 9 years.

23. The conclusion and beginning of a new year of life must be celebrated to its full extent no matter the year. Therefore I love to celebrate and wish others a Happy Birthday.

24. Many are scared of the dentist but I am not as the worst thing to happen to me at the dentist was getting my four wisdom teeth cut out. (Knock on wood) I have never had a cavity.

25. If you like to play cards, board games, and other logic/analytic games, you have found a friend who will play about anytime, anywhere. But if you are interested in video games, charades, trivia, and related games, then definitely do not call me. Also I should warn you that I am a competitive individual.

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Apparently, you're supposed to write a note of 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. Then, tag 25 people. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people - in the right hand corner of the app - then click publish.)
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Dump Your Plump - 3 Full Weeks In

Wow...the weight keeps coming off to my great surprise. I am a bit concerned about the upcoming weekend and following week because I will be on call for the first time since this journey started. On-call means being up late and really not wanting to get up in the morning. But I will report back next week with an update, good or bad.

Current weight loss 12 lbs.

After Week 3 - 195 (-4 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
The Start - 207

Thanks to all those who overtime have helped motivate me! Soon I will start actually running and maybe compete in a 5K with you. Give me a target date.

For my readers or just my personal notetaking...

Do I have any readers left? I feel the answer to be no, but surely there is one or two of you still out there. My latest posts just do not seek any comments or thoughts from those avid readers :-) Maybe, I can trick myself into believing that people are reading but like me are scanning quickly and have little time to comment. Whatever it is, I hope someone is enjoying my posts.

What type of electronic device do you use as a phone?

Is it a phone, a radio, a tv, an organizer, your to do lists electronic, a camera, a calendar, email conduit? What exactly does your electronic device that was once just a phone now do? Do you really need all of that information and abilities at your fingertip?

As many of you know, I am always a stage or two behind technology to say the least. I have no huge desires to be on the cutting edge or maybe in the near proximity of it. There are various reasons for this reluctance to move to the new and leave the old: costs, needs, familiarity, comfort, costs, simplicity.

Another issue these days is not working with all of my tech friends, I really have no clue what is out there these days in terms of cell phones. So if you were to buy a new cell phone, what would you purchase and why? I currently have a 3 to 4+ year old Razr and have AT&T service. I really don't use my phone much except to talk to friends and family. I definitely need Bluetooth capabilities for headless earpiece, but besides that I am not sure I need a whole lot else.

I appreciate your advice and thoughts.

Ice, Snow, Sleet, Electricity, Phone, Gas, ......

Wow what a week was had by many. Here in Indiana, we received around a foot of snow and sleet. Thank goodness! I will take a foot of snow any day over the massive amounts of freezing rain and ice that hit Kentucky.

Thanks to all of those who have prayed for my family, who have gone out to help those throughout the state, and continue to provide support and prayers!

My hometown was quite crippled with all of the ice. Curfews were set and I even saw that liquor sales were to stop at 10:30 in the evening. Electricity went out to many on Tuesday morning and did not come back for several days. I still have some family and friends without power though I believe a majority of them have regained electricity. Phone lines are working much better now after being down for several days and then very spotty for several more days.

Communication has been an interesting task over the past week. A lot of communication occurred between family and friends outside of the area who in one way or another had contact with their family down home. The connections created by Facebook helped me know that a) most of my family was out of power b) the reason I could not contact family was because the only phone service was Verizon. Without Facebook, I would have continued to sit in the dark unknowing of what was really happening. Friends' statuses were updated all in search for any news of those back home and the situation.

The stories of the family pulling together to help one another and others sharing and providing are wonderful. May God continue to bless and keep everyone safe who need power and who are working to provide power and clean the roads.

Check out this link for pictures of the Snow of 2009.

Prayers for Baby Bailey

Baby Bailey was born Friday morning in the midst of the Ice Storm 2009 chaos in Western Kentucky. She is a beautiful little girl weighing in at 7 lbs 13 ounces. She joins the ever growing family as the 10th great grandchild.

I ask for your prayers for her and her family as she was born with an infant heart condition called "Transposition of the Great Vessels of the Heart". Basically, her aorta which is suppose to carry blood to the body from the left ventricle and her pulmonary artery which is suppose to carry blood to the lungs from the right ventricle are swapped.

She is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, February 3 to swap the arteries. After speaking with my friend DG, I have learned a lot about the process and though there are potential complications. Bailey's condition seems to be a very positive one. She has been doing very well thus far and as long as all of today's tests turned out okay we are looking forward to a great prognosis.

Some have asked if the condition was found prior or after birth. It was discovered after birth and after speaking to my friend, it is not something that can be detected in prenatal scans. The fact that she was carried to full term and is otherwise healthy provides her with a great prognosis and a quick recovery.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers! I will update you on her condition soon.

Dump Your Plump - 2 Full Weeks In

Update on how things are going with Dump Your Plump. We are now 2 full weeks in and completed the third weigh in today.

The Start - 207
After Week 1 - 201 (-6 lbs)
After Week 2 - 199 (-2 lbs)

I believe a lot of the loss has come down to portion control and what I eat because I have not really increased the exercise. I am walking 5 days a week for approx 30 mins and 2 miles.

The other key is the motivation of knowing that I have to weigh in on Monday mornings. Otherwise, I know will power would not have succeeded last night at the Super Bowl party. There are still 8 more weeks to go and who knows what will happen.

I encourage you to find a friend or a group to motivate and keep you honest about your goals for weight loss, exercise, etc. It is definitely one of the best motivators and is keeping me on task. Look for another update soon.

Dump Your Plump

The time has come to become serious about getting in shape and losing some weight. The local county has a program called "Dump Your Plump". It is a team program to encourage individuals in the community to become healthier. I have joined a team of fellow Student Affairs professionals and others. We are known as the 'Chunky Dunks'. Our first weigh in is on Monday and then we have six weeks to get fit, eat healthy, and lose weight.

Since mid-semester, I have been trying to eat healthier and get in shape. The eating healthier has gone in spurts with the Thanksgiving, Birthday, Christmas holidays being a bit tough. The getting in shape is a slightly different story. I walk a good 3-4 times a week during lunch. Currently, we walk 2 miles around the indoor track but when the weather was nice we walked around the community. In the last few weeks, we have picked up the free weights and walk with 2 lbs in each hand.

The goal is to eat healthier by watching portion sizes, eliminating desserts again, minimizing juice intake, healthier snacks, and working on more veggies and fruits. The exercise component is a bit more difficult because it is hard to motivate myself in the evenings to do things. But I hope to get the gazelle out and start walking on it at night as I watch TV. It may become a permanent fixture in the middle of the living room.

Night of Contemplation....What do you think?

What can I say? Life has been busy and I have failed to post much in the last several months. I can always say I will try better but I believe we all know now that is probably not going to happen.

So what can I say? I am definitely starting to understand why and how many of my friends are bad at communicating in any means. Schedules and life starts to overwhelm us and it does come to a point that trying to communicate with others becomes difficult.

Things that cross my mind or conflict when I want to call someone:
- Are they still at work? This can actually work in both directions though mostly if people are at work, they most likely will not answer their phone. There are a few people who I call at work.
- Are they in the middle of dinner or lunch (Sat and Sun)? People eat at all times of the day and night now days. As a child, there was a set time you did not call because people would be in the middle of dinner but now that could be about anytime from 4 pm - 9 pm.
- What time is too late to call? My general rule of thumb here is no calls after 10 pm. If they have children, no calls after 9 pm.
- Do people actually like talking on the phone anymore? Or is it a bother?
- Am I inconveniencing them calling? Should I just send an email, but thats so impersonal and not a good two way conversation?
- Does the person actually even care to speak with me? Are they just being polite or do they genuinely want to talk?
- If they never call back, do you call again? Or do you figure they don't want to talk to you?

These last questions seem to get to another contemplation of who are your friends, acquaintances, and just general people you know. How do you know that what once was a friendship is now just a mere acquaintance? How long of no communication is too long to reconnect with someone? Is the communication lacking because of the person's inability to communicate well with anyone or do they truly not want to maintain that open communication?

Those are my contemplative questions this evening. They may make sense and they may not. It is very hard to tell as sleep deprivation has set in and there is still at least another hour and half to go before my head can hit the pillow.

Tim Tam's, an Australian Biscuit, in the USA, with a KY tie!!!

Yes, you are hearing correctly. For a limited time, you can purchase Australia's top chocolate biscuit (cookie) in the United States!! And if you have never been to Australia or had the privilege of a friend sharing a Tim Tam Slam with you, then I encourage you to head to your local Target (if you have one). Once you have a package of Tim Tam's in your position along with some hot cocoa, Milo, or hot tea, then we can share in the experience of a Tim Tam Slam. If you have had prior privilege of indulging in a Tim Tam Slam, then you know where to head in order to indulge again for a limited time.

Pepperidge Farm, a sister company of Arnott's the maker of the Tim Tam, is producing Tim Tam's for the American market through March (Market Watch Story). Thanks to Ashlee and Nick for their discovery at their local Target store!!! Check out the Pepperidge Farm link for a $1 off coupon and an opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a trip to Australia.

For all my Kentucky friends:
"Tim Tam biscuits first hit supermarket shelves in 1964. They were named after a horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 1958. A member of the Arnott family, Ross Arnott, attended the race day and decided ‘Tim Tam’ was the perfect name for his new biscuit." Arnott's Website

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of my dear friends here and there!

The weather held off nicely for my drive home on Tuesday. It was rainy but luckily not icy minus that freezing on the front of the car as I drove in the wind. I saw an old high school friend on my journey at the infamous Beaver Dam rest stop. I wasn't going to stop but was not sure after a large water for lunch that I could make it the last 1.5 without making a pit stop and that is my last choice. So I stopped and on the way out, I ran into Sherry. It was great to see her and catch up quickly. You never know who you may run into on your travels to and fro. May your travels be smooth as well.

Christmas Eve was spent in the traditional manner with family lunch/dinner, Christmas Eve Mass, and time with my mother's family opening presents and eating.

Christmas Day brings more family time in the morning, followed with Christmas with dad's family, and I am sure some dominoes with the grandparents.

Have a Merry Merry Christmas!

Wow..How time flies?

Not sure what all has happened but I feel like I am getting wrapped up in the same phenomenon so many of my friends have, the phenomenon of always being busy and seeming to have little time to keep up with friends and family. Those who know me well are sure to know it is quite frustrating. If I have missed your birthday, anniversary, or just have not spoken to you in ages, I truly apologize. I am trying to get back into my previous past of keeping in touch and will try so to write more posts of worth, though we all know that blogging has never been a strong suite of mine.

It is now November. My first semester of working in the collegiate environment is starting to wrap up and come to a close. In ways, I look forward to the end of the semester minus the fact it lies on December 11. Granted ending then and not still continuing is a plus. Years in the future, we will still be in school as so many years previous.

Highlights of the Semester thus Far
- Taught my first class.
- Graded my first set of papers though quite scary the quality at times.
- Received acceptance for a program proposal at a national conference in March.

Exciting things of the last few months
- Finally looked at the first half of my Ghana pictures.
- Had my first visitor to my new home after my parents helped me move-in.
- Went hiking this weekend at McCormick Creek State Park.
- Walking in general.

Things to Blog about soon
- GC Homecoming 2008
- Georgetown vs Louisville – Nov 1
- Basketball Madness
- Gas Prices

I am sure there is much more to share so keep your eyes posted for more to come soon.

Hurricane Winds lead to rare phenomenon in Kentucky

Here is the news report from Paducah. I might try to write more on this later.

"UPDATE: David S. White, professor of Biological Sciences at Murray State University is reporting more evidence supporting our story.
White writes, "Our water monitors (taking measurements every 15 min) in Kentucky Lake actually picked up the seiche and the changes in water levels. The changes in water level perfectly match the changes in wind speed from our weather station."

Marshall County, KY - As cleanup continues from this weekend's hurricane-driven wind storm... a new mystery. Why were so many boats left high and dry? It turns out they were not simply swept away by high winds.

It is suspected that a rare phenomenon known as a seiche raised one end of the lake by several feet.
It's similar to a storm surge -- those walls of water we've all seen as hurricanes slam into shore. Except on inland waters it's called a seiche. The strong sustained winds push the water to one side of the lake and hold it there. The national weather service says it's likely that's what happened on Kentucky Lake.
Copyright 2008 WPSD-TV, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcasted, rewritten, or redistributed."

Ryder Cup in Kentucky

The past several days Kentucky has hosted the Ryder Cup. I have never been a real huge golf fan for many reasons. I don't know a lot about golf: the rules, skills, philosophy, etc. It has always seemed like a very boring sport to watch on tv. My uncles constantly watched it when I was a child, but I never fully understood it or got into it. There are other sports that attract my attention and keep me interested on tv over golf.

All that said my tv was on the Ryder Cup the majority of Saturday. Why, I kept asking myself. I believe there are a couple key reasons for watching the Ryder Cup. It is exciting to have such a big event in your home state. I was also curious how things were going after the devastation of Ike. There are still thousands of people in the Louisville area without power. The Ryder Cup appeared to go off without a hitch which is good since it was an international event. Another reason is there were two Kentuckians on the USA Ryder Cup team. I feel like I have grown up hearing about Kenny Perry and was interested to see how he was fairing. Though I watched, it was not an intense, continuous watching. I put the tv on mute several times and caught glimpses of what was going on throughout the day. It was definitely not something that peaked me interest continuously as I totally forgot that it was on again today until I was reading the news headlines and Facebook statuses.

Congrats to the US Ryder Cup Team for bringing the Ryder Cup back to the US for the first time since 1999! Congrats to the two Kentuckians for showing the world what Kentucky has to offer!

New Job, New Community...Seven Weeks Later

Seven weeks ago I started my first full-time job in the higher education field. Life is definitely interesting being back in a 40+ hour a week job with no studying or classes to take. I have a dual position at Franklin College as the Coordinator of New Student Programs and Residence Hall Coordinator.

New Student Programs (NSP) is in the process of creating a new identify and redefining some of its goals and purposes. There are four main components to the position: NSP Mentors, NSP Registration sessions, NSP Orientation, and LA 100: New Student Leadership Seminar. Mentors are selected each spring to assist with the other components of NSP and also take a leadership practicum course in the fall which I currently co-teach. The practicum course helps the mentors reflect on their interactions with the students outside the classroom as well as their role in the LA 100 classroom. There are three day long NSP Registration sessions for all new students, which is followed by a 4-day orientation program at the beginning of the fall semester. Each new student is then required as part of their liberal arts curriculum to take the LA 100: New Student Leadership Seminar course. This class teaches students basics for transitioning into college, the mission and values of Franklin, and focuses on excellence, leadership, and service. Those are the main components of that half of my job.

The other half of my job is serving as a residence hall coordinator for a hall of about 108 students. The residents reside in either single rooms with communal bathroom or double rooms with a shared bathroom making a 4 person suite of sorts. There are a couple exceptions but that is the basic layout of the building. It is a coed building with 2 floors women and 1 floor men. I supervise 6 resident assistants (RA) and am in charge of the room selection process in the spring. Of course, there are lots of other things that go along with the job, but those are the basics.

Needless to say, if you understand anything about the two positions, you will understand why I fell off the face of the earth during August. The first week was getting acquainted and attending several different training sessions. Week two was RA training from Sunday – Monday pretty much non-stop. Week three was mentor training followed by orientation. Week four concluded orientation and was the beginning of school. Therefore, weeks 2 through 4 included students moving back into the residence halls.

Overall, the experience has been great. I am looking forward to getting to know people on campus, expand the programs, and develop stronger ones. Key is not trying to do everything in the first 6 months  There are a lot of caring, wonderful people on campus.

Two months later...what has happened

Wow so much for staying on top of the blog this summer and keeping everyone informed on life. I will try again starting now to maintain a more up to date blog on life's happenings.

THE MOVE
Life became very stressful the last week of July. After receiving a couple job offers, I accepted a position at Franklin College in Franklin, IN on Tuesday, July 29. This took the move in a stressful direction because I was to start on August 4th. The POD though a great idea was potentially way to small and delivery times where not working out. I decided to check out some of the other truck moving companies and found a decent deal with UHaul, which ended up being a great deal.

UHaul Adventure....There were no UHauls of the 24' or bigger variety in Bloomington so I had to go to Greenwood to pick up the UHaul, which in the long run probably worked out well because of the great discount. Thankfully, my friend PY graciously volunteered his time and driving skills. He helped me not only pick up the UHaul, pack, clean some, drive the loaded UHaul, unload, and return it. There are not enough thanks to go around. Also, thanks to the many others who came over on Wednesday night to pack up the UHaul. We got everything packed up and away minus a few things, which I came back after on Thursday.

Late July 31...tired, beat, and moody. I moved into my new apartment on campus in one of the residence halls. It is a nice two-bedroom apartment with tons of storage space. I think I could store even more stuff :-). I won’t so you will return and help me move next time. Basically, we arrived, unloaded the UHaul with assistance from staff and students, and left to return the UHaul and return to Bloomington. Back in Bloomington, I spent the afternoon and evening cleaning the apartment thoroughly. I was a bit crabby for many reasons, but appreciate those who helped me clean and finish packing things up. I got all of my deposit back so that was good. Thanks to CS for letting me stay Thursday night as well.

Friday, I finished up some errands around Bloomington and departed not to return  The rest of the weekend was spent in my new apartment cleaning and unpacking. The parents came up late Friday and we spent into the wee hours of the morning cleaning and unpacking. They have way more stamina than I. Granted I had been running ragged for about 2 months by then. We did get 95% of the apartment unpacked and put together. The office was still in boxes and in many ways still remains in boxes to this day. It is slowly coming together.

There is the move and everything did work out as God planned. I had a job with living accommodations. The job was close and the transportation of belongings was successful.