As facebook has informed most of you, today is my birthday. It's the big 27, and like every other day, it was a great one. Lots of emails, messages, and phone calls from friends and family, and most importantly, another blessed day in this crazy thing we call life.
I'm not usually one who gets terribly excited about presents, but this year I was particularly pumped about getting a couple of ITunes gift certificates. For those who have never used ITunes, it's basically a gift certificate from free legal music that plays on my computer and IPod. Even though my ITunes now eclipses 11,000 songs, I hate to pay for them out of pocket. So when I get gift certificates, I go crazy. I store up a wish list until I get one, and then I download a ton of songs. I'm seriously is like a kid in candy store. Well, that is until they don't have songs I want to download.
I really want to download "Able Bodied Man" by Charlie Pride. And some Bad Company. But, I quickly realize that these songs aren't available, and I'm probably one of maybe 10 people who care. I guess that is what happens when you are using a medium aimed at 20 year olds to access music that was produced 35 years ago. There's always YouTube:
The reason I share this is because there are always subtle hints in our lives that remind us that we're not as young as we used to be. Sometimes it is in the form of 49 facebook messages from friends, other times it's not being able to find songs you like in a worldwide library of 10 billion songs.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Newseum
One of the big advantages of living in the DC area is all of the cool museums we have access to. There are so many, and their exhibits often change to keep locals coming back. We're able to just hop on the metro, go a few stops, get off, and head to the attractions of our choice. This past Sunday we explored the Newseum.
The Newseum, or the Newsoleum as Steven Colbert would like it to be named, offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. It has seven levels of galleries, theaters, retail spaces and visitor services. It offers a unique environment that takes museumgoers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made. In short, it was awesome.
Here are some pictures from our day.
Be sure to check out the embedded news video. I think you may know the reporters!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Things I Never Knew I Needed
Even though Erica and I have been married for over a year now, moving out to Maryland has been the first experience where we've had to outfit our home together. We're now 99% set up, and as I sit around our apartment, I often see things that if I were not married, I probably wouldn't purchase. These aren't just any items, they're more of "utility" type items, meaning that they serve a purpose other than decorative. So here are a few such items, with a little bit of commentary under each.
This little piece of fabric retails for $15, and is called a "bathmat." It's purported purpose is to have something to stand on when you get out of the shower. Apparently the bathroom rug is insufficient, so we now have one of these. This little piece of fabric causes much stress in my life as I have to make sure to remove it from it's secret hiding place (draped over the tub, behind the shower curtain) before I turn on the shower so it doesn't become soaked with water. It is also important that I put this mat back in its hiding place after I shower.
Get a good look at these glass containers obtained from JoAnn Fabrics. They hold our cotton balls and QTips. Apparently the packaging they come in from the store are insufficient storage units. The QTip holder is especially annoying because I always fray the ends of the QTips when I try to grab them, resulting in moderate stabbings in my ear.
This is aptly named a "sham." For those not in the know, this is a pillow that lays on your bed that cannot be slept on. What purpose does a pillow on your bed you can't use for sleeping serve you might ask? Not sure. Even if you tried to lay your face on it, the beads and ruffles will char the side of your face, so don't even try. Added bonus: I get to remove these pillows every night before I fall asleep and put them back on when I get up.
Are there more coming my way that I don't know about?
This little piece of fabric retails for $15, and is called a "bathmat." It's purported purpose is to have something to stand on when you get out of the shower. Apparently the bathroom rug is insufficient, so we now have one of these. This little piece of fabric causes much stress in my life as I have to make sure to remove it from it's secret hiding place (draped over the tub, behind the shower curtain) before I turn on the shower so it doesn't become soaked with water. It is also important that I put this mat back in its hiding place after I shower.
Get a good look at these glass containers obtained from JoAnn Fabrics. They hold our cotton balls and QTips. Apparently the packaging they come in from the store are insufficient storage units. The QTip holder is especially annoying because I always fray the ends of the QTips when I try to grab them, resulting in moderate stabbings in my ear.
This is aptly named a "sham." For those not in the know, this is a pillow that lays on your bed that cannot be slept on. What purpose does a pillow on your bed you can't use for sleeping serve you might ask? Not sure. Even if you tried to lay your face on it, the beads and ruffles will char the side of your face, so don't even try. Added bonus: I get to remove these pillows every night before I fall asleep and put them back on when I get up.
Are there more coming my way that I don't know about?
The View from the Outside
As promised, here are some pictures of the house we live in. It's quite beautiful. We get the house to ourselves 5 months out of the year, which is a pretty cool gig.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Dying Locations
I came across the following list of the top ten dying cities in America. Forbes analyzed and compiled this list. Cities in Ohio and Michigan take 6 of the top 10 spots in the survey, which is based on population flight and unemployment:
* Canton, Ohio
* Youngstown, Ohio
* Flint, Mich.
* Scranton, Pa.
* Dayton, Ohio
* Cleveland
* Springfield, Mass.
* Buffalo, NY
* Detroit
* Charleston, WV
This is pretty striking not only because Michigan and Ohio are the two places I've called home over the last 26 (soon to be 27) years, but because of how much these cities' respective economies are/were dependent on the combustible engine and thus oil.
Perhaps if Jim would pick it up at Dunder Mifflin, and Michael would stop doing so many idiotic things, Scranton wouldn't be suffering as much.
* Canton, Ohio
* Youngstown, Ohio
* Flint, Mich.
* Scranton, Pa.
* Dayton, Ohio
* Cleveland
* Springfield, Mass.
* Buffalo, NY
* Detroit
* Charleston, WV
This is pretty striking not only because Michigan and Ohio are the two places I've called home over the last 26 (soon to be 27) years, but because of how much these cities' respective economies are/were dependent on the combustible engine and thus oil.
Perhaps if Jim would pick it up at Dunder Mifflin, and Michael would stop doing so many idiotic things, Scranton wouldn't be suffering as much.
Retreat Season is Upon Me
I started my assistantship last week, and I couldn't be happier. It's going to be a great fit. Although, I think I've underestimated--or perhaps even forgot--how many retreats and orientations that happen when one begins a new position in student affairs. And, I had forgotten how they are all clumped together in the middle of August. It's going to be a long haul!
I'm convinced there has to be another way to make these orientations more engaging, but I just can't figure it out. I guess there is no other way. It's going to be an information dump any way you look at it. It's a problem that no icebreaker or teambuilder can solve.
Luckily, early on in my student affairs career I attended what was easily the worst ever graduate school orientation, so by comparison, any orientation is good.
Of course, the major advantage of these retreats is to network with your colleagues. That, on the other hand, has been awesome. This has proven to be a very good decision thus far.
Our apartment is 99% set up now, so we feel pretty good about our new space. Pictures to follow soon!
I'm convinced there has to be another way to make these orientations more engaging, but I just can't figure it out. I guess there is no other way. It's going to be an information dump any way you look at it. It's a problem that no icebreaker or teambuilder can solve.
Luckily, early on in my student affairs career I attended what was easily the worst ever graduate school orientation, so by comparison, any orientation is good.
Of course, the major advantage of these retreats is to network with your colleagues. That, on the other hand, has been awesome. This has proven to be a very good decision thus far.
Our apartment is 99% set up now, so we feel pretty good about our new space. Pictures to follow soon!
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