2009 State of the University Address

Yeah I work at a pretty cool place!

I Hope We Fail

I recently came upon a small essay written by Jon Carroll, who is a columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle.  It strongly reminded me of a conversation I had with a longtime hero of mine, Steve Garber.  Dr. Garber  once spoke to me about the "pedagogy of pain".  This conversation took place during the end of my first year in my masters program, and to be honest after the conversation I had to run home and look up the word "pedagogy".  

I will admit that I think I barely, scarcely, timidly understood the conversation at all.  Dr. Garber told the store of a rabbi who in putting this pedagogy to practice choose not to speak to his first born son until the young man turned 13... In this the father explained that he had nightly prayed that the child would be heart broken, torn down, and met with severe failure- but only to the point that the child would come to know and rely upon God.  I'll admit first hearing this story I was confused, appalled, and -I now realize- blind to its point.  I do, however, think that this is one of those situation where time has departed some wisdom to me.  After reading Jon Carroll's article I have a deeper appreciation of failure and of its value in our lives.  I have copied the article below, and embedded the reading of it by Jon Carroll for those of you'd like to listen.  

Failure is a Good Thing 

Jon Carroll  October 9, 2006

Last week, my granddaughter started kindergarten, and, as is conventional, I wished her success. I was lying. What I actually wish for her is failure. I believe in the power of failure.

Success is boring. Success is proving that you can do something that you already know you can do, or doing something correctly the first time, which can often be a problematical victory. First-time success is usually a fluke. First-time failure, by contrast, is expected; it is the natural order of things.

Failure is how we learn. I have been told of an African phrase describing a good cook as "she who has broken many pots." If you've spent enough time in the kitchen to have broken a lot of pots, probably you know a fair amount about cooking. I once had a late dinner with a group of chefs, and they spent time comparing knife wounds and burn scars. They knew how much credibility their failures gave them.

I earn my living by writing a daily newspaper column. Each week I am aware that one column is going to be the worst column of the week. I don't set out to write it; I try my best every day. Still, every week, one column is inferior to the others, sometimes spectacularly so.

I have learned to cherish that column. A successful column usually means that I am treading on familiar ground, going with the tricks that work, preaching to the choir or dressing up popular sentiments in fancy words. Often in my inferior columns, I am trying to pull off something I've never done before, something I'm not even sure can be done.

My younger daughter is a trapeze artist. She spent three years putting together an act. She did it successfully for years with the Cirque du Soleil. There was no reason for her to change the act -- but she did anyway. She said she was no longer learning anything new and she was bored; and if she was bored, there was no point in subjecting her body to all that stress. So she changed the act. She risked failure and profound public embarrassment in order to feed her soul. And if she can do that 15 feet in the air, we all should be able to do it.

My granddaughter is a perfectionist, probably too much of one. She will feel her failures, and I will want to comfort her. But I will also, I hope, remind her of what she learned, and how she can do whatever it is better next time. I probably won't tell her that failure is a good thing, because that's not a lesson you can learn when you're five. I hope I can tell her, though, that it's not the end of the world. Indeed, with luck, it is the beginning.

I realize that this revelation to me, is probably not so remarkable to those of my readers who are older than me; however, I think often the most profound things in life we simply need to remind each other of from time to time.  I am sure that I will need to be reminded of the value of failure the very next time I fail.  I am comforted to know that even in my greatest weaknesses there rests the ability to grow my strongest.  It is in the redemptive paradox of reality that I see and thank God for his perfect Grace.  And for a achievement oriented, control freak... I am joyful to have a different perspective to view my failures.

Shows Galore

  Hey friends so my building's internet has been having huge issues this past week.  Between the network going down completely and sporadically kicking people off every 30 seconds, it has been hard to have the patients to work out a post.  Supposedly its fixed, but it's not... but I've decided I owe to my loyal readers to work through this challenge!   Today's post is to share a little about some incredible broadway shows that I've had the privilege of seeing the past two weeks.  Most of them have been work related, but I also have been getting lucky at some student rush and lottery rushes which have enabled me to get some incredible seats at super cheap prices! In particular I want to share about two shows that are distinctly different yet both breathtakingly amazing.

  Let me start with In The Heights a new musical that has received endless praise and a tony for best new musical.  This high energy show tells the true story of a young latina woman, Nina Rosario, and her family's struggle to pay for her education.  The show is packed with great actors, incredible hip hop and latin dancing, and the passionate yet honest music of today's realities.  To top it off this incredible cast has taken their success to a new high by using it to create a scholarship for deserving students to help them reach their dreams of higher education.  To help fund the scholarship the cast is auctioning off amazing prizes (even a walk on roll in the show, and dance lessons with the show's choreographer!).  Bid, apply, or find out more at www.GradutateToNewHeights.com. 

  Wicked... I mean I probably don't need to say much more, right?!  People from all walks have been shouting the praises of this show for years, but I proudly stand along side them today as I tell you this is a must see.  The story, the set and costumes, and the most incredible music that has graced the great stages of New York!  And if you haven't seen it, I encourage you to do like myself... resist the urge to you tube the best-of's, or to ask you one friend who's undoubtable seen the show 5 times already... in fact, try not to find out anything about the show.  Let this cast take you on the adventure of your life as you are taken behind the scenes of the beloved Wizard of Oz, to find out the true story of the Witches of Oz.  I guarantee you'll not only love the show, but its end you'll have found yourself awe struck, singing along, and more than anything wanting it to begin again!  This was the show that all of my students repeatedly said, "This is the best show I've ever seen!"  and trust me they've seen a lot!
  These are must sees for any of you the next time you get to the Big Apple!  And don't forget to plan your trip a little ahead of time.  While ticket prices can be expensive, paying full price should always be your last option.  Rush, Lottery, and even going TKTS in time square are all ways that the savvy show goer can see the best of what New York has to offer without breaking the bank.  Playbill.com is a great resource to find out information cheap ways to get tickets.  Oh and always invite your friends, cause that makes everything more fun!

Billy Elliot the Musical

    Even though we were held up by traffic and a bus driver who wasn't too sure exactly where we were going, we were able to get into our seats right as the lights began to dim.  Within seconds of the first note being played the crowd was completely silent.  Looking across the aisle all I saw were my students on the edge of their seats and eyes completely captured by the show unfolding before us.  

   Set in Durham, England, the set was strikingly familiar to me from my time spent living in Sheffield.  The hard edged cast with their northern english accents and coal smudged faces, snag your attention with an intensity that is literally palpable as they include you in the struggles they face as coal workers on strike desperately fighting for livable wages.  Adding to this conflict the show centers upon a family of four.  An aged grandmother who is loosing her memory, a older brother wanting to find justice while learning its true costs, a father working desperately to take care of his family alone, and then there is Billy- a young eleven year old w

ho discovers his giftedness for an art form that is completely alien to world.  All of them grieving the loss of the mother that was the family glue, embroiled in a highly political strike, money is tight, emotions run high, and from this crucible Billy discovers ballet.  

   Of course many of you have realized I'm talking about the incredible Tony Award winning Billy Elliot.  A truly amazing and inspiring story that had my laughing, crying, laughing again, and truth be told crying again too!  This remarkable story is a must see.  And if you're not able to get to Broadway or London anytime soon to see the musical, do yourself a favor and rent the movie. I fell in love with it long before the show was written.  As we got on the bus to head back home my students couldn't stop talking about the incredibly moving experience they had just had:  "That was the best show I've ever seen!"     "I want to see that again and again!"   "The dancing was great, the music was incredible, the story was breath-taking, it was the best kind of art!"   "It takes a truly good show to make me cry from both laughter and emotions!"

   And remember to be yourself in all you do, be true.  -Billy's Mom 

Life Lessons

Read about this column written by Regina Brett, a 90-year-old resident of Cleveland, Ohio the other day on another blog. In her column, Regina recounts 45 of the most important life lessons. I think they are all worth my attention, and I hope I can learn them for own life and for the sake of those around me!

1.     Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2.     When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3.     Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4.     Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5.     Pay off your credit cards every month.

6.     You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7.     Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8.     It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9.     Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

What are some life lessons you would add to this list?

Dinner at the Mesa Grill

Saturday night I was able to get my work finished a little early, so I made plans to go to dinner with Rachel.  Rachel called me and told me she had a special place she wanted to take me.  We headed downtown and went to dinner at Bobby Flay's famous Mesa Grill on 5th Ave.  We started off with crispy squash blossoms filled with ricotta and corn with a sweet yellow pepper sauce.  Rachel and I chose to accompany this appetizer with margaritas.  Rachel ordered a cactus pear margarita and I went with a white peach.  Delicious!

For dinner Rachel ordered a mango-spice rubbed tuna and I went with crispy 16 spice duck breast.  Of course these delicious main courses came with sides: pine nut couscous, goat cheese and chorizo tamale, oh and I'll never forget the Roast Corn with Smoked chilies, cojita cheese and lime!  Dessert was equally as amazing...  A Chocolate Cornbread Pudding with a Tres Leches sauce.  I tell you the truth when I say that this was a feast that was incredible!

What could top such a delectable dinning experience?  Hello, I was hanging out with one of my best friends RACHEL!  Our dinner was very good, but far better was the time I got to spend with my dear friend.  Rachel I know you'll be reading this so I take the time to thank you here for a great evening, but an even better twelve years of friendship and hopefully many, many, more to come!

Video Blog = Vlog

Each Day

Today I came across the blog of an artist named Ben Sollee.  He is a young cellist who is doing something really unique... instead of doing a super fast tour through cities that you don't ever get the taste of,  he and two of his friends are actually biking through the appalachians doing tours in several small towns while also promoting the work against poverty that Oxfam has been doing.  What's sweet about this idea is how much is happening, there's the fact that they are riding bicycles through the entire tour (over 330 miles) which is a 100% green mode of transportation.  As they are traveling through this method they end up spending time the towns they go to enjoying the people they meet, making friends a long the way and really experiencing some amazing opportunities along the way.  And then there's the promotion of Oxfam.  

Quite honestly I am captured by what the these three people are doing.  It's really simple idea, but also incredibly wonderful.  Here's this group of people who are living out loud their passions.  I am touched by it, and I am sure I'm not the only one.  Their example reminds me that each day we have the opportunity to have an effect on the world around us.  And you will, you will have an effect whether you want to or not.  The question is will you enliven that choice or choose by default.  I want to be a person who intentionally chooses... chooses to live, love, and learn.  To have a positive effect upon the world I get to live in and empowers others to do the same.  What effect will you have today?  

Check out an excerpt from Ben's Blog  "Pedaling Against Poverty"  below.  I have posted a link to his blog in the side bar under blogs I follow.  They've got some great videos that they're posting, and I haven't even begun to talk about what a fantastic musician he is!

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to give a quick introduction to this blog. Here you can find daily video logs on my bicycle-driven tour to Bonnaroo 2009. I want get away from the conventional high-speed methods of touring and really take the time to embrace each town. I hope to be more a part of the community that has invited me to share my music with them.  My cello, equipment, and merchandise will be strapped to an Xtracycle extended-frame bicycle (www.xtracycle.com) and I'll be spreading the word about the amazing things that Oxfam America (www.oxfamamerica.org) is doing to help alleviate societal and economic hardships both abroad and here at home.

I'm kicking off the tour in Frankfort, KY and then zig zagging through Appalachia for some performances at Bonnaroo. We're putting 330 miles under our wheels! If you're in the region, I'd love to have you come bike along with me and my friends Katie and Marty Benson, who are documenting, the tour. You don't have to ride the whole thing, even a mile would be fun. To get up-to-date information about our location and traveling progress, head over to Twitter and follow @bensollee.

Irvin House Wines and Firefly Distillery

Today my mom and I traveled to Wadmala Island to visit this local winery and distillery.  It was a gorgeous day and a fantastic trip!  They are the makers of Firefly Vodka along with several wines. Firefly Vodka Sweet Tea is a local favorite and well worth trying, in fact...  I think it's one of the best drinks around.  The tea is made with vodka from this distillery and tea from a local plantation too, the only thing in it not from here in Charleston is the raw sugar cane used from Louisiana.  All in all a true southern creation.  The same distillery is also a winery that uses the native muscadine grape  (in four varieties) to makes some terrific wines. Cool little fact, the muscadine grape is the only grape variety with one extra pair of chromosomes.  It is quite literally the smart grape, and as such is immune to all known grape diseases.  This means they can be grown and harvested without pesticides or chemicals. Muscadine grapes also have 8 times the amount of antioxidants and some other good for you thing than any other grape which makes this wine actually good for you!  What better excuse do you need to enjoy a wonderful glass! Check out the video below...

Celebrating 50 Years of Alvin Ailey

Last night my mom and I went to see the Alvin Ailey company's performance at Spoleto. The production was chronicling the past 50 years of his Alvin's choreography and work. It was incredibly beautiful, moving, and left the entire audience in awe. It was one of the best dance performances I have ever seen, and a true experience. I have always wanted to see this company before and they far exceeded my expectations. Check out the video clip and pictures below from the performance!

Spoleto Sand Sculptures

Hello Blog Buddies!  I'm on vacation and enjoying my time at home in Charleston so much! I got here a few days ago and spent the first couple days sleeping, tanning, grilling out, and meet up with old but still great friends.  Yesterday a famous art festival here in Charleston kicked off.  It's called Spoleto, and it is this huge festival that lasts a couple weeks. Yeah, a couple weeks cause it's that awesome and my favorite part is that it includes all different types of art: music, dancing, visual arts, sculptures, acting, and more.  Today I went over to Isle of Palms to check out the sand sculpture competition (which you probably read about on my twitter- if not follow me, my sn is travisyork).  Here are some photo's I snagged...

Best in Show, it was pretty sweet.

Best Architecture! I really liked it.

Peace

This is a replica of a light house off of Folly Island.

Corny!

The SC Quarter, very South Carolinian!

I loved this Sea Serpent! His name is Sam.

I liked the boat with the dock... it was a good idea.

I kept wanting a coke after seeing this polar bear!

My grandmother will love this one... she loves pigs, and this one's got wings!

 

Her Morning Elegance

Check out this new artist a friend of mine introduced me to this past weekend... Awesome music and an incredible video!

DAZE

     There are times in life when so much is going on that I find it hard to really enjoy each minute.  Times when I am running from one event to another, from one meeting to another, from one moment to another... and when I lie down at the end of the day already thinking about the deadlines, preparations, events, finals, and work that the next day holds.  All this spinning puts me into a daze.  

   I am thankful for the times when I hear that still small voice calling, when creation itself halts me in my tracks and reminds me just how small I am and how completely connected I am to everything else.  Those are the times when I can step outside of myself and embrace the present for what it is... A glorious opportunity to enjoy life.   To actually live the life within and around me.  Yes those deadlines are still there, my finals will still happen next week, but they'll also be over after that.  The semester is closing and there are a million things to be done, but they will also be done soon enough.  If I don't slow down enough to live through it, all of it will simply pass me by.   It will be time spent not time enlivened.  

   I find it curious that we even speak of time in this way.  Always in the terminology of currency.   Time is spent, saved, passed, lost, used, invested...   Those are all things we do with money.  I want to start enlivening my time... to view it as a chance to live and be lived in.  The ancient Greeks had a separate word for time like this... Kairos.  It's a word for time meaning a moment or an event- this is opposed to Chronos or chronological time (I always wondered how we go that term!).  A Greek statue named Kairos shows a man with winged feet who has long bangs and is bald on the back of his head.  The Greeks say this is a lesson in appreciating time, opportunities must be grabbed onto (bangs) as they come, for when they pass there is nothing to grab onto (bald).  

   Don't let your life pass you by, it's the only one you have.  Enjoy every moment.

Weren't that we had died in Egypt

These are the words of the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness and came up on the promise land.  They wouldn't return for many decades to come because their lack of trust in God's faithfulness and provisions.  The book of Numbers even reports them as saying, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt!  Or would that we had died in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?"

It isn't with judgement that I read over the actions of the Israelites, it is with sadness and empathy.  The saying hindsight is 20:20 is made overwhelmingly poignant in situations such as this.  Knowing that God would give the promise land over to the Israelites despite the seemingly overwhelming odds makes it easy for us to think poorly of them for not trusting in God.  But how often is this very theme displayed in our own life?  

God always keeps his promises, not matter what, and fortunately for us he doesn't always punish because he leaves room for repentance and grace.  God is a good father, his mercy and grace strike me to the core and fill me with awe in a way that nothing else in the world ever has, and like nothing I can imagine ever will.

A Person is a Person

Abortion is a tough issue... For some reason this issue has come up a lot in my life in conversations with other or through related media in the last six months of my life. As a result I have been forced to think critically about this issue and the complexity of the problem that exists. I say complexity because I believe that when discussing abortion there are actually two competing issues that are being addressed. 

The most prominent issue is certainly about the rights of a child vs the rights of the mother/parents. Who's rights take precedence? How are these rights awarded? Is the very notion of rights a social construction, or are they imbued or granted by an external? If they are innately a part of some one's life, then when does life begin? Does life begin at conception, does it begin at some point of consciousness, or does life begin in a theoretical way at possibility or potentiality of life? As of this issue isn't complex enough we now add another issue that is inextricably tied to this one. Despite where you come down on the issue of priority of rights, a separate question is whether or not it should be the government or public's role to limit in any way the rights of any party? In my opinion I find this question easier to tackle... and perhaps it is through first handling this issue that informs my decision on the primary issue of rights. I believe that one of the primary and most foundational responsibility of Government (and hence the public) is to protect the rights of those that cannot protect themselves. In this case, through no fault of their own by through the decisions of others a fetus is conceived. This fetus, which I believe has life at the very least at the point of conception, I believe does have rights. I believe that it is the government's job to consider how and seek to protect that life from the harm of others.

What about a mother who is wrongly taken advantage of and thus has had pregnancy imposed upon her for some reason other than her own decisions (such as rape)? We can address this in our legal system! All laws have caveats and particularities. By the way, instants of abortion related to these causes are about 1% o all the abortions that occur. This percentage is certainly manageable and not a viable cloak for others to hide behind to maintain their oppression of others.

So, back to our question of who's rights should be exonerated? I have to side with the child in this case. Clearly this is a tough issue no matter how you come at it. But I think that abortion for many has become another way for people, especially young adults or children, to disengage with the reality of their actions. While carrying a child to birth can be a very impacting process for any woman research has shown considerable damage or impact up on participants of abortion, both physical and moreover emotional. The option of adoption is certainly a better choice for all involved. I think that at this point in time there are others that can give more information and justification for this point of view... and in fact I have a short clip to show how one incredibly thoughtful and engaging twelve year old has done that. Check out her clip:

Even though you can't hear them or see them at all, a Person is a Person no matter how small.   ~ Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who

What do you think?

New Generation

Thank YOU!

Hey blog buddies! I know it's been a while since my last post when I get a friendly reminder from my mom saying that I need to post. (By the way thank Mom!) So i looked back at my last blog thinking it's probably been a few weeks. WRONG!

Yeah, my last blog was right after MLK day! Sorry I suck at keeping this thing updated. So often I feel like its not a big deal if I don't post because for some reason I think no one reads my post. But then I hear from wonderful friends who encourage me to blog more. So this Blog is really a little thank you note! I was recently talking to a friend over dinner and she and I were discussing the development of gratitude in people. She made a comment about keeping a "grateful journal" (basically a journal where you commit to writing down something your grateful for everyday. I can barely remember to pray every day, so I'm not ready to start this venture! But her mentioning did remind me of one of my professor's wives at Geneva who did this. She said it was really easy at first because there are so many big things we are grateful for like our family and stuff; but after the first month she said that she really had to think about things and then she started noticing that she was looking for things throughout her day that she was grateful for. This attention began disciplining her thought life into noticing all things in her day to day life that she was truly grateful for.

In that spirit, I would like to say that I am grateful to my blog encouragers. In an attempt to really show you my gratitude, I am going to make a bold and dangerous move by naming you: Jan (aka Mom), Danny Clapp, Christian Lorey (MFU), Rachel Menke (BT), Rachel Hundley (even though you encourage me more to reply on facebook), April Emery, and YOU! Okay, Before I go any further, please, please, please... If I have left you out, I am deeply sorry! My biggest deterrent to mentioning people directly was the fear that I would forget important encouragers like you. So, if you're reading this and thinking, "That jerk, what about me!" You are the YOU at the end of the list. And the fact that you are even reading my blog is a HUGE encouragement to me! So feel free to comment, subscribe, or just keep reading, because I am grateful for your prescence here.

Celebrating an Icon: Inspiring a Better Future

Thursday night I was honored to be able to go to a gala Penn State hosts each year to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a night that remembered not just the actions of a man who caught the world's attention; but the ideals and truth his actions were based upon. What was so special about Dr. King? How was he able to communicate so effectively to so many? What is the true measure of his impact?

He was one person. One person who realized he was called to do something beyond himself. One person who's thoughts went beyond himself and toward his neighbor. One person who decided to speak for those without voice; to act for those with out power; and to remind humankind, not of something they didn't know, but of a truth they really did. There has never been any question about how Dr. King was able to stand up to such adversity. Dr. King was sure of what he could not see, he was knew that his dreams were that of the creators and there was promise for that reality. "For if God is for us, who can be against us." (Rom. 8:31) Upon thinking about Dr. King and his gift of public speaking, I am completely captured by part of a speech he made to a group of students in 1959. A proposal that I pray I am able to give to the people in my life.

Quote comes from a speech Dr. King made to a group of students in 1959

Whatever career you may choose for yourself -- doctor, lawyer, teacher -- let me propose an avocation to be pursued along with it. Become a dedicated fighter for civil rights. Make it a central part of your life.

It will make you a better doctor, a better lawyer, a better teacher. It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you the rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man. Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.

The fight isn't over. The war isn't yet won. As far as we have come, there is still work to be done. And it is work that is too valuable to give up on. Slavery isn't dead. In fact, there are more slaves in the world today than there were during the 1800's in America... 27 million to be a little more accurate. Equal rights for all humans are not yet a reality; not even in our own country. But do not be discouraged beloved, you are a special one who has purpose. Yes, you are one. You are one person. One person who can think outside of themselves and act. One person that can speak for those without a voice. One person that can act for those without power. One persona that can change the world. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Believe in the beauty of your dreams and make a career of humanity.

Let it Snow!

Hey fans... So when I went into work this morning we had about 2" of snow on the ground from last night.

It's 5:00 p.m. we now have about 6"... It isn't supposed to stop until midnight tonight.

I'm both delighted and appalled.

New

Wow, what a holiday season! I had the best intentions of posting, thinking that while I was on vacation I would have plenty of time to do so. My family, and by family I really mean my mom, even asked a couple of times, "Have you made a new video?" But as I was thinking about taking the time to do so I became exaughisted by the idea... I really just wanted to relax and spend time with the ones I love. So, that's what I did.

Now, that I'm back into the swing of things I can blog all about it! So the quick and dirty on my vacation: Christmas at home in Charleston - AMAZING! It was 76 degrees on Christmas day and 78 the day after. Jesus was really blessing me with the weather. It had been almost a year since I'd been home and I was sorely missing the beautiful environment of my childhood. I spent mornings walking on the beach with my mom and our dog rivers, evening catching movies with my stepdad. A couple afternoons with my sister, and a whole day with my dad (which even included a mad dash to the toy store for a replacement for my little brother's gift from santa--a big deal and a lot of fun)! All in all it was so good. At the end of my time there I ended up getting sick with some throat disease, but after a z-pack and some advil I was good to go!

New Years was spent in one of my favorite cities... The Big Apple. And even better it was spent with one of my best friends. Rachel, who has just moved to Manhattan with a sweet law firm doing international law, got us great VIP tickets to an Irish pub right off time square. At 11:30 we ran down the street caught the countdown and the ball... sang Steve Wonder's "It's a Wonderful World" and then partied on. Another treat was that my uncle was in town and so I got to spend some really wonderful time with him, and even got to go hangout in the Zegna showroom. It was beautiful and there were several coats that I fell in love with! Ex.A...

So the holidays were great. I'm now back at home, back at work, and back at school. Speaking of which, I already have an assignment for my new phd course on curriculum. I'm really excited about the course, the prof is one of my favorite in the program and from the reading it seems like the class will be challenging in the best of ways! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with me~ Read. Think. Respond> leave a comment.