Happy Thanksgiving!

May you and your family or future family have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving Day! Safe travels to all those roaming around the countryside and world.

Tis the season to be thankful.

Thanks to all those who have supported me during this period of change.
Thanks to all those who have been there for me through the years.
Thanks for being wonderful friends, wherever you may be know that you are a true light in my life and so many others.

Time is Flying

Wow...time sure is flying by at this point in my life. With the completion of classes today, I have three weeks of classes plus finals week to go in my first semester of grad school. It has been over a month since I wrote something personal on here so I thought I would take a moment to say hi.

The next few weeks shall be very, very busy so don't expect to hear a lot from me. Three 10 plus page papers due, budget creation, research and stat test, and one last group project for the semester. All of which have a whole lot of work left to do. Then it will be home free for a few weeks before I start probably the busiest semester of my masters career.

In the past month, I have done some traveling back to the great state of Kentucky. The first trip was a wonderful trip to catch up with college friends as well as YAACK friends at Homecoming and Keeneland festivities. A congratulations goes out to two YAACK friends Chris and Kerri on their engagement over that same weekend.

Two weeks later, I made a trip to the western half of the state to visit family and partake wedding parties for my cousin, Lesley, who is getting married this December.

This past weekend, I enjoyed a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of life to rest and reflect on life at the annual YAACK retreat. It was great to see everyone and be out in nature away from civilization. Mentally, it was a time to rejuvenate and reflect on what was happening in life. Unfortunately physically, my body decided to let the gremlins take over and I am fighting a nice head/chest cold at the moment. I am not complaining one bit about this since it seems like almost a year since I was fighting the last one and it is fairly mild compared to other episodes.

Other news, I failed to attend a Big 10 football game this year. Goal 1 for 2007 is to attend a game before graduating. I have received my IU basketball season tickets and plan on attending my first IU game this coming Friday, followed by another on Sunday.

For those concerned about my eating habits, I do not believe that I have had such random dinners as posted earlier recently. Granted this week has been fairly void of food because of sickness. (On this note, remember whatever you post will always come back up at interesting times. Thanks Laura for the reminder of my lovely eating habits.)

Since this is probably incoherent and I am getting tired, I believe I will signoff here.

KFC Visible in Space

Kentucky Fried Chicken has made their claim to fame with Colonel Sanders visible from space. Click the title to check out the press release from Louisville.

Go Tigers!!!

Quick shout out to the Georgetown College Tigers who played a hard fought game against the University of Louisville Cardinals in Freedom Hall this evening. Though the Tigers lost, a 94-92 loss to a top NCAA Division I school is nothing to be ashamed of. I hope that the Georgetown faithful were out in full support this evening of there remarkable Tigers.

Louisville fans....you better strengthen that ball team if you expect to be the Wildcats in December.

St Louis Cardinals - 2006 World Series Champions

Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals with an outstanding 4th victory against the Detroit Tigers to bring home the 2006 World Series Championship to the St. Louis crowd in the first year of the new Busch Stadium.

10th World Series Championship for the St. Louis Cardinals
1st Championship since 1982

Congratulations!!!!! Go Cards!!!!!

Saint Mother Theodore Guerin - Canonization

Today in Rome Pope Benedict XVI canonized Theodore Guerin as the 8th American Catholic Saint, along with three others from Italy and Mexico. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin was a sister with the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana. Additional information can be found at the below links:

CNN - Information on all 4 new saints.
Indy Star
CBS News
Sisters of Providence

You know you are from Louisville when:

You Know You're From Louisville When...

Your "International" airport has only one passenger flight that actually leaves the 48 contiguous U.S. states The in-state sports rivalry is paid more attention to than the national championship. You live in an area that occasionally gets considerable snowfalls, floods, and tornadoes... but has no capacity to deal with any of the above. You pronounce the name of your city different than anyone else you've heard. You think the rest of the people in Kentucky sound like hicks. When you think "Kentucky" you don't automatically think horse racing or fried chicken. You ask your doctor for an allergy cure and he tells you to "move." You've shovelled 10+ inches of snow and worn shorts in the same week. When people ask what school you went to, they don't mean Vanderbilt, Yale, or Harvard; they mean Ballard, Male, Manual, Trinity or St. X. You know what the Bambi Walk is. Your last ten vacations were in Panama City or Destin. You make an emergency run to Kroger for bread and milk at the first sighting of a snowflake. You've lived here for years, yet somehow you get hopelessly lost each time you attempt a shortcut through Cherokee Park. You're convinced turn signals are useless options on a vehicle. You hold up traffic to let a motorist you don't know into your lane. You give directions based on landmarks that no longer exist or street names that have changed, but your directions never confuse any of the other Louisvillians You have never been to the Derby, but wouldn't miss the Oaks. You call in sick to attend the Oaks and spot your boss - who also called in sick - at the next betting window. You think all the REAL hicks live in New Albany. You think the only thing Southern Indiana is good for is buying pumpkins. When introduced to another life-long Louisvillian, you spend the first part of the conversation finding out how you are connected. It's never as many as six degrees of separation - usually three will do it. You think a pervert is someone who would rather have sex than watch basketball. You've built a shrine to Rick Pitino in your basement. You can read about Rick Pitino in at least three different sections of your newspaper. You think the rest of the world knows what Benedictine spread is. You think the rest of the world knows what a Hot Brown is. You have never eaten fish that wasn't fried. You think the whole world puts spaghetti in chili. You want another bridge built over the Ohio River, just so long as it doesn't cut through YOUR neighborhood. You've experienced a "salt storm" after a two-inch snowfall. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Louisville.

Get Your Own "You Know You're From" Meme Here



More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

Thanks Lindsey for finding a nice post.

Death of the PDA :-(

Yes, I believe the Tungsten E PDA has finally bit the dust. I really have no clue what happened, but it refuses to turn on. I had it plugged into the computer and had just synched it up with my Outlook. I took it off the sync chord and then realized I had forgotten to add something to the calendar. I tried to turn the PDA on and it refused. Today at work, I found a paper clip and hit the reset button. It turned on and then almost immediately turned itself back off. I tried again with the same results. So its either totally hosed and done for or I suppose the internal battery could be bad. Does anyone else have thoughts? Should I try to replace the battery is that even possible? You know me. I am not very hardware, gadgety oriented. I suppose its back to paper, pen, pencils, and highlighers for a calendar. I was just thinking how much I was really not using my paper calendar. I suppose that will now have to change because a new pda is not in the budget.

I need a new blender before a PDA ;-) and I am sure there are other things more important than a PDA that I might have looked at once a week.

Random and Exciting :-)

A week ago, I had all kinds of ideas of things to write and share with you though at this moment I seem to be drawing a blank so I will just share about life.

- Another advance in technology, I finally put up my 19" flat screen monitor that my father finally decided I had to have. I am not going to argue. It is easier to read off of than my old monitor, which is probably a good 8 years old :-)

- A group of three women from the cohort turned in our IU Season Basketball stubs in order to obtain our grouped seats on Friday. I am rather excited to experience NCAA Div I collegiate basketball as a student and in the Big Ten. Plus I looked at UK games to see if I could per chance get to a game during Christmas break. So if you are interested in going let me know. Or if you have tickets for sale let me know.

- A week ago Friday for the first time since my trip to Lexington/Louisville on Aug 26-27, I filled up the gas tank. Therefore, I filled my gas tank only once during the month of September and it was on the 29th of the month. I made it an entire month without filling up the car though I will say the car light was on and I got very shotty gas mileage, hence the issue with driving around town all the time. I calculate the mileage I put on my car each month, which resulted in a total of 90 miles for this month. Previously 90 miles would have got me to Louisville and maybe to Frankfort but probably not even that far. Wow. I just hope my car is enjoying its nice break from constant driving and not hating the in town short driving spurts. I know I am enjoying not changing the oil every other month and filling up every other day. I am lucky to see a gas station more less put gas in the car.

- Woohoo..I survived the first week of college hell. We received an A of some sort on our group presentation and thankfully it is over now. I have two group presentations left for the semester. One is a small, quick presentation about students with psychological Disabilities and the other is a bit larger project about the Career Development office here at IU. Several research projects left to go as well as minor papers. Wow, I am calling these papers minor now after last week they were causing great stress. I feel like I am fairly prepared for the week ahead of me though several papers to write and a test to study for.

I think this has been one of the most unproductive weeks since school started but definitely a needed break. My supervisor let me have Thursday off to get some rest which I definitely needed after staying up to 2 am two nights in a row for absolutely no reason. It was nice to lay around the apartment and not worry about anything on Thursday, though it lead into a continued lethargic attitude for the weekend.

Enough ramblings for this evening. I think I am going to go catch a few more shows that I have on tape before I call it a night. Have a wonderful week!

Needed Sleep, Brain, Nourishment, and Common Sense

Not necessarily in that order, but I am definitely needing some guidance at the moment. After spending nearly 2.5 hrs trying to find a refereed (Peer Reviewed) article about Facebook, I got up from my desk for a break and there was the light bulb that I needed 2.5 hrs ago. Had the light bulb gone off 2.5 hrs ago, I would probably have a completed revised Issue paper. Instead, I must go grab some dinner, return, read, and then work on the rewrite.

The Light Bulb: Sitting on my desk, under my cellphone (I have picked up at least twice in the past 2.5 hrs), is a peer reviewed journal with an article about Facebook. Amazing enough, when I received the Journal about 2-weeks ago, I thought how I could have used that article in my paper, but the paper was already complete and I didn't want to rewrite at that time. Now I have to rewrite and can include it in my paper.

I do not know the moral of this story but if someone else sees it please share. As for me, I shall go get some nourishment and maybe the brain will start functioning properly again.

PS For those who have heard my level of stress for the week, you will be glad to know that one paper has been moved back a week so that is a point of relief. :-) I will survive, but no more blogging til more is complete. I just had to share quickly my 2.5 hr downfall.

Eating Development

To focus on what I have been learning lately, we will take this discussion as a need of development in eating, cooking attitude. I just concluded eating probably one of the lamest meals I have fixed myself ever: piece of toast with jelly topped with turkey that was fried with melted cheese. I really have no explanation for this past it was quick, easy, and used items currently in the refrig. I swear that I use to actually eat more normal meals and even cook half-way normal meals, but in the past couple of years, my eating habits have seemed to cease normality. I am struggling to obtain this normality again though I so very much want to. I constantly find myself looking in the refrig to find what is quick, non-messy, and easy. Even the thought of cooking a good staple, macaroni 'n cheese with chicken nuggets, seems to complex and timely.

Issues to resolve:
- Why the necessity for quickness? This is a carry over from the past couple of years plus the constant feel of need to study.
- Is the mess really that hard to clean up?
- Dislike of leftovers and continuously eating the same thing all week.
- Pure laziness
- Not thinking of cool things to eat and fix.
- Need to go to the grocery. (Currently, no milk or bread)
- Regain the desire to cook on a more consistent basis.

Thanks for listening at my failure to adequately nourish my body.

TV Season Premiers

Fall TV and the new season of our favorite shows is set to begin this week. So what shows are you sure to watch this year? Are you planning on checking out any new shows?

I will not be searching out any new shows this year, if something catches my fancy maybe I will check it out. Time is very limited in my life at the moment so we will see if I can handle the definite 4.5 hrs and up to 6.5 hrs. I do have one major issue. Two favorite shows, CSI and Grey's Anatomy, are on the same night at the same time, which doesn't surprise me as I am sure ABC is trying to capture people from the CSI crowd. Current solution is to be home to watch Grey's Anatomy and tape CSI, but I know that will not be possible every Thursday night.

*** Sunday Night ***
No Shows

*** Monday Night ***
How I Met Your Mother - 8:30 - CBS
CSI Miami - 10 - CBS
What About Brian - 10 - ABC (Maybe)

*** Tuesday Night ***
NCIS - 8 - CBS

*** Wednesday Night ***
No Shows

*** Thursday Night ***
Grey's Anatomy - 9 - ABC
CSI - 9 - CBS

*** Friday Night ***
Numb3rs - 10 - CBS (Occasionally)

*** Saturday Night ***
No Shows

Week of Firsts

The week has been one of study, research, fun, and a lot of firsts which recap the third week of graduate school.
- Visit to the Writing Center was first up on Monday for a first review of the Issue Paper for this coming week. Yes it is actually done already and had two reviews at the writing center. I promise nothing in the future on being ahead but this week was good.
- I received my first assignment back with an OK. Apparently we are getting okay's or needs work for the first two assignments in Research methods then for the rest will get actual grades. Mentioning of the second, I must go work on that soon since it's due on Tues.
- Went to my first Professional Association meeting for Indiana University Student Personnel which started me thinking on running for an office in late Oct early Nov. Looking at Orientation and Relations (Alumni mostly). I will keep you updated on that.
- Indiana University Basketball Season Tickets - Ordered - Waiting on Coupon to put together with other HESA folks for group sitting and actual tickets. This was a first in many ways as I have never purchased season tickets for any sporting event, never purchased student tickets to Big Ten or NCAA sporting event, definitely never purchased a ticket to watch IU play before because those against Kentucky are too expensive.
- Just finished my first loads of laundry at the complex and was amazed I only had 4 loads to do.
- Library, wow, I don't know the last time I spent so much time in the Library doing research for a project. This also means now I have four books to review through before Sunday’s group meeting for theory class. We have a presentation on Identity Development Theories in three weeks, but then it will be done thank goodness.
- Sat in (actually stood outside) on the first session of the Presidential Search Open Forum by the Trustees. These meetings are very eye opening to what the Faculty, Students, Administration, and Trustees view as important and how the Indiana University System is perceived, just that as a system not as one University. The next year or two is going to be quite intriguing as these discussions grow and the search for a new President occurs. I am very excited to be on the closer side of this search than most.
- I went into this third week of classes actually prepared with all readings completed though if I do not go into the other room now and start reading, I will not be able to say that for two weeks in a row.

Hope all are doing well! Go Cards!

When you start to feel old?

During the past day and a half as I read through the assignments for this week, I have started to feel a bit dated. The majority of the documents were published as I was graduating or thereafter. In ways, I actually enjoy reading these documents because I can relate to the findings of the late 20th Century as I was a part of these findings.

Side Note: The late 20th Century was also a part of the big shift in Higher Education with the technology boom. As I started undegrad, rooms were for the first time being fully wired with internet and telephone access. I would say that maybe 1 in 5 students had a personal computer though that may be a bit optimistic. Cell phones, if you had them, were for emergency use only though most people didn't have them until closer to 2000. Now every student has a cell phone and checks them between every break and walk to class on the phone.

Back to the subject: It also makes me think about what I would have learned about six years ago. Like the area of technology, the profession of Higher Education Student Affairs is growing and developing at fast paced rates especially with the evolving areas of technology. The number of things students face and education in general face today has so much to do with the evolving technological field. I guess I can't totally run away from technology, no matter how much I may want to.

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With the goal of getting back into shape and also the love of sports, I signed up to play on the HESA intramural volleyball team. Season doesn't actually start until late September, but five of us got together last Monday evening to get in a little practice. Within the first half hour, I had already sprained my left thumb pretty bad. I am still not sure exactly what I did. At first, I questioned whether or not it was broken, but I seemed to have full mobility and kept on playing. I new it was going to be sore and probably bruised by the next day. I never imagined my entire bottom half of my thumb being one large bruise. It wasn't sore anymore though it looked pretty bad. I had a few other random bruises on the hand as well. But as I was contemplating the status of my hand on the volleyball court, I started wandering was I too old to be out here playing with all these spry youngsters. I think the true reason for that thought is not as much age but current status of athletic ability. I am slowly but surely trying to improve this situation. I walked to campus twice this week though I did get a ride back home both days, but still it was a good 30 minute walk.

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On Thursday, I attend Mass on campus during lunchtime. I didn't necessarily feel old for being there but in talking with the Brother Patrick about the Graduate and Young Professionals group which they had recently started at St Paul’s. I asked what sort of age range were they looking to work with and he says 23-30. Wow what a small age range and it made me think about YAACK and experiences there. I really feel that the group is limiting at that age range. Especially since being in my latter 20's and having spent the last few years with people in their 30's, I enjoy the intellectual stimulation of those wiser and older than I as well as learning from the younger and helping to develop them into young adults.

Spectrum of Sports Information

Have you moved jobs lately or moved to a different city or state? If so, then you might have realized the differences in sports popularity and your personal sports knowledge. I have definitely noticed then in my last two career movements, especially this time.

Starting six years ago and continuing for almost four years, I definitely knew when and where the World Cup was being played, who was playing in it, and the status of the competition. Why? Because my coworkers were from Bulgaria and Russia where soccer more commonly known as football is the number one sport. Secondly, I kept up with UK sports especially basketball, attending my first game in Rupp Arena. Thanks to tickets from a professor. The best thing about being on staff at Georgetown was the numerous amounts of tickets available for a variety of events.

Two years ago, I learned quickly that my business casual wardrobe had way too much red and not a stitch of UK Blue. Every time I appeared at work in red, especially red and black, coworkers greeted me affirming the fact that I was dressed in UofL colors and that it looked quite nice on me. I quickly remedied that situation at least adding blue into the wardrobe. I no longer knew anything about soccer, but become very aware of both UK and UofL football and basketball programs. Also because of my long drive and enjoyment of listening to 590, I began listening almost nightly to the sports radio program. Allowing me to learn all about the ups and downs of the football and basketball programs at UK as well as how some of the other programs were doing like baseball and women's basketball.

Living in Georgetown, I also started to get familiar with football. Not growing up with football, I still no very little about the sport, though I became an avid Georgetown College fan towards my latter years of undergrad, and since I have found myself on a Sunday afternoon catching a glimpse at the Bengals or even attempting to watch some UK games, like this evening.

Now that I have moved to Indiana, I have no clue what is going on in UK sports. I feel totally out of the loop. I really had no clue what to truly expect this evening though I had my opinions. Granted I really had hoped for a slightly better showing than what I have seen thus far. As you can tell, I have lost interest in the game and decided to come write about sports than watch them. So if anyone hears any news worthy information about UK sports, please forward it on so that I can keep up. Though as I told my dad earlier, I might just have to become a Hoosier football fan, if Kentucky keeps playing this way. Then again maybe, I will switch over to soccer, since it seems to be very popular around here. Plus since I don’t drive hours a day, I don't get my daily sports commentaries so in ways seem totally out of the sports loop period.

Next time you move take a look at your sports interest and knowledge. See how it changes.

First IU Sporting Event

No I didn't go to the football game to watch IU defeat W. Michigan St 39-20 this evening. I was at the apartment working on my 7 page paper some more. Instead last night, I went to the IU vs UConn soccer game to cheer on the Hoosiers as they tried to defeat #2 ranked UConn. IU is currently ranked 12th. It was an exciting game with a bit of a nice soccer drizzly around halftime. I don't know that I have ever stood as long as I did last night. There was definitely no sitting as you watched this game. I'm sad to say this was my first ever collegiate soccer experience, but it was a great one. I was amazed at the size of the crowd, including locals and the band. Halftime score was 0-1 Hoosiers, but the Huskies came back to tie the game 1-1, which is where it ended after a double overtime.

Go Wildcats, Beat the Cards tomorrow!

What's Happening to those Reds?

A little over a week ago, I was starting to get scared about the Cardinals NL Central lead dwindling down to nothing, but now I'm worried that the Reds are trying to put themselves out of the race for the pennant. For the first time in several years, I thought the Reds were actually going to have a chance at the pennant race. I will give them credit for pulling themselves off the bottom of the NL Central. Go Reds! Just don't overtake the Cardinals in the NL Central.

First Week of Classes

What an overwhelming week? I should be writing my 7 page paper about my own development in undergrad, which is due on Monday. I keep going in circles and not sure if I am headed in the right direction or not, so I decided it was time to call it a night. There is a ton to read and more work to do. I am sure that I can eventually get it all done but I believe this week will be one of confinement in my apartment.

So what has been happening? To start things off prior to my first class, I received a syllabus and an assignment to read 2 chapters for Y520 (Stats and Research). It actually didn't turn out to be too bad. Classes started on Monday afternoon for me. I am taking three classes this semester. Each of which is a 3 hr class that meets once a week so by Tuesday afternoon, I am totally done with classes and just have 20 hrs of work to get in the rest of the week. Which today was a very odd day going back to work after having been gone since Thursday. I felt totally out of the loop with what had been going on the past week. Luckily, it didn't take me long to get caught back up and working hard. It was actually a very productive day in the office minus the trip to Burger King for a Crossanwich. I fell into the trap when my supervisor decided to go over and get herself one.

Classes are a bit overwhelming at the moment especially since my 7 page paper is not going very well at all. I really wanted to get it complete tonight but it’s only about three pages complete and I am not even sure if that is correct. There is a lot of reading and writing, which of course I knew going in. I think the bigger issue is the organization of some of the syllabuses is poor and makes it seem a bit more daunting than it really is. So once I get caught up on this weeks work, I hope to simplify things down and make it a bit less daunting.

I currently have plans to go to a Graduate Student Organization Wine and Cheese party on Friday and then to the IU vs. UConn soccer game Friday evening, though I am starting to wander, if I truly have time to do all of that this weekend. I guess I will have to see how tomorrow goes.

Well I am sure there is more to tell but it is time for bed.

Prayers and Thoughts!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Comair 5191 from Lexington to Atlanta on Sunday, August 27, 2006. It's a devastating tragedy and one that hits a bit close to home. I believe this will be one of those events which I will always remember where I was when I heard about the tragedy. I was concluding my weekend in the grand state of Kentucky, attending morning Mass at St. Michael's in Louisville, when during the Prayers of the Faithful, a prayer was lifted for those in the Lexington plane accident. Knowing nothing of the event, I quickly went back to my friends place to see what had happened. Thoughts started running through my head and continue to run through my mind wandering how many people on this plane was I acquainted with and fearing the worse. We always feel remorse and heartfelt pain for those involved in such tragedies, but it's time like this that the remorse and pain hits a bit close to home. Still anticipating the full list of passengers and praying that it will not hit any closer to home than it already has. I've spent most of the time on the computer the last 24 hours reading about the accident and searching for answers to my questions. Some I have found; others are still waiting. I know at least one passenger was a Christ the King parishioner and a man of great heart for others. My prayers are lifted to his family, the CTK community, and all those lives that he has touched here and all across the country and world. At times, all I want to do is cry in sorrow for this tragedy. I feel numb, lost, and confused. I think so many emotions are running because this tragedy hit so close to home, but at the same time, those here are not as closely touched and my support net is far away from me. God keep us all in your prayers and hold us tight, comforting us through all of life's ups and downs. God Bless!

The Loss but Revival of the PDA

On Saturday as I was enjoying spending time with a friend, I pulled out my PDA to jot down a few notes because somehow my purse was without a pen. Well the missing pen was not the only issue with taking down a few notes, my Tungsten E Palm apparently had no battery power left and refused to turn on. Thankfully my pc back in Bloomington still contained all the data previously found on the PDA. Sunday evening upon return, I plugged in the Palm really hoping that it was only a dead battery and nothing major because I don't have the funds for purchasing another at this time. After a couple hours, I returned to the Palm to find that yes indeed it was working again but was totally blank. After a scavenger hunt for the cd, I was able to reinstall all the Palm components and resynch it to my desktop. During resetting, I started hearing sounds from my Palm again, which I hadn't heard for years nor had any clue how to turn them back on. They had seemed to be on and just not working previously. I did manage to figure out how to silence them so that I wouldn't be in class on Monday with my Palm making all kinds of strange noises. So for those hoping that I would one day soon upgrade to a PocketPC, I'm sorry but the Palm is still doing its job just fine.