A long day, but it's all good

Today, at work, we had a leadership retreat for student leaders on campus.  It was kind of a continuation of a retreat we do with this same group of student leaders in September.  We had about 90 students - Resident Assistants, student interns in my office, multicultural affairs, career services, health services, student government officers, and others from other student organizations.

Our focus for the day was diversity and acceptance.  We did an activity called Boxes and Walls, where students acted out different situations in rooms for the participants that depicted a variety of situations that portrayed privilege, language barriers, disabilities, LGBTQ issues, etc.  After participants went through the rooms, we had some time debriefing them in small groups and in the large group.  Then, they got into their working groups and came up with actions steps that will allow them to take what they have seen today and influence others on campus.  

The theme we had been using in Sept. was a quote from Robert Kennedy: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope..." I was on deck for closing the day and trying to tie everything together and I was able to use this quote, as well as some more from the same speech that this one came from.  I think it turned out pretty well and students afterward were saying that they thought it was really good.  

We had a few glitches in the morning that were small organizational types of things, but overall things went very well.  I'm super exhausted, but it was a good day.

25 Random Things

I got tagged on Facebook on that 25 random things deal that everyone is passing around lately.  You're supposed to write 25 random things about yourself and tag others so they share too.  Here are my 25 random things.

1. I watch way too much television thanks to my DVR - my current favorites are Chuck, Lost, Fringe, Big Bang Theory, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives.  Reality TV guilty pleasures - Confessions of a Teen Idol and Sober  House on VH-1.

2. I'm not religious, but I do believe in karma or the power of positive thinking or something along those lines. (Unfortunately, the higher power might be part of the Dharma Initiative.)

3. I am addicted to my iPod (which right now is actually Mark's cuz mine died) and all the various podcasts that I listen to on a regular basis. I can't sleep without it.

4. I often think I don't do enough.

5. While I do enjoy sharing stories about me and things we did in the 80s, I am a much better person today than I was then.

6. Red Robin has always been one of my favorite restaurants.

7. My friends are my family no matter  how far away they may be or how infrequently I see them or talk with them.

8. One of the best old TV shows is The Odd Couple and my sister and I can quote entire scenes to each other.

9. I wish I had the time and money to visit friends and family more often.

10. I am counting down the days until April 12 when I can get an iPhone.

11. I wonder why kids don't like Bugs Bunny like they did when I was a kid. I remember watching those cartoons with my brother, sister, mom and grandfather. Everybody loved them!

12. I love to visit big cities, but I'll never live in one again.

13. Our dog Mickey is 9 (I think) and the vet said he's geriatric the last time Mark took him for a check-up. He's a miniature schnauzer. And, if he's geriatric, what does that  make us?!

14. My favorite hobbies are reading novels, cross-stitching and scrapbooking. I don't have enough time for any of them.

15. I owned a 1972 Ford Pinto in high school. It's the only car I've owned that wasn't a Honda.

16. I love Pullman, WA and all the college experiences I had there.

17. I enjoy making new friends through online communities.

18. My dream vacation would be in an RV driving through and staying in Yellowstone National Park with my family (that's Mark and Maranda, not everyone else...that's too many people in a very confined space).

19. The older I get, the more I appreciate alone time.

20. I've voted for the democratic candidate in every election since I was 18 - even in Nebraska when it felt like my vote didn't really count.

21. Everyone I know can recognize me by my laugh.

22. I have never thought of myself as thin, but I sure wish I could've appreciated myself at the weight I was at back in the day.

23. I love having friends and family over to our house - for a meal, a day, or a week.  It's great being able to share food, togetherness and laughter.

24. One of my favorite things about work is having students just come in and start talking to me about random things - if they need help with something or just want to talk.

25. It scares the crap out of me that my husband just said, "Okay, I just built the Polaris I want online." (It's a snowmobile and, no, we can't afford it!)

Something fun to do

I got this in an email the other day from a friend. Here are my responses that I sent back and forwarded on to some other friends. Thought I'd share with everyone. :)

***
45 ODD Things about you!
FILL IT OUT and pass it on and also back to the person that sent it to you! Learn 45 things about your friends, and let them learn 45 things about you!  If you answer these somewhere else, put the link in a comment. :)

1. Do you like blue cheese salad dressing? not really
2. What's the furthest place you've traveled? furthest from where? where I grew up? where I live now? I guess it would be NYC (I've never left the continent)
3. Do you own a gun? I don't, but Mark does
4. What's your favorite drink at Starbucks or other specialty coffee shop? at the coffee shop across from campus, my favorite is a Honey Latte w/soy milk
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? not usually
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I like them. They're best from over a campfire. I try to ignore how they're made.
7. Favorite Christmas Song? Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Diet Coke (I'm betting that most of you could have answered this one for me) :)
9. Can you do push ups? I have no idea. I don't plan on trying.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I have a new necklace from a Lia Sophia party that I really like
11. Favorite hobby? Scrapbooking
12. Do you have A.D.D. ? I might
13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself? that I need to lose weight
14. Middle name? Lane
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I'm hungry, I have to go to the bathroom and how much longer til it's time to leave
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink: Diet Coke, flavored & sweetened water and Fresca
17. Current thing you worry about now: Working on my dissertation
18. Favorite homemade meal: spaghetti and meatballs (just got my Italian grandmother's recipe over Christmas)
19. Favorite place to be? under a warm blanket reading a trashy novel
20. How did you bring in the New Year? at home with the fam and a couple of Maranda's friends
21. You like to travel? I love traveling, but do prefer the road trip. It's even better with the camper.
22. Name one person who will complete this. Well, Jennie already did in my yahoo email account :)
23. Do you own slippers? Yes, but I never wear them
24. What color shirt are you wearing? blue shirt with black sweater
25. Like sleeping on satin sheets? not really and right about now flannel sheets are way better
26. Can you whistle? sometimes
27. Favorite color? green - any shade
28. Would you be a pirate? no...the way they talk is annoying
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? none
30. Favorite girl's name? Maranda (duh) :)
31. Favorite boy's name? Christopher or Joseph
32. What's in your pocket right now? These pants don't have pockets
33. Last thing that made you laugh? an internet post
34. Best bed sheets as a child? all my sheets as a kid were plain ol' white. I had cool ones in college with the Boynton cartoon cat
35. What's the craziest thing you've done? table dancing in college :)
36. What church do you attend? I go to Common Prayer on campus during the school year
37 When was the last time you went camping? last summer, but my camping isn't like other people's camping. I bring along the A/C, my kitchen and a bed.
38. Who is your loudest friend? I'm not sure who is louder than me? haha ummmm....maybe, Shelby
39. How many pets do you have? 1 dog and a 20 gallon tank of fish (I have no idea how many are in there)
40. What's your biggest fear? being yanked underwater by some unidentified creature and drowning or being ripped apart by giant, rabid dogs
41. Worst injury you've ever had? 4 staples in my head on the Fourth of July in 2007 (that was the repair, not the injury)
42. What is your favorite candy? Good N Plenty or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
43. Favorite Sport? softball - Maranda's team. I don't watch many other sports
44. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Watching this week's episode of How I Met Your Mother
45. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? Damn, it's cold!

Happy New Year!

I don't normally do New Year's Resolutions. Why? Because I don't normally stick with them. Why bother when you know that they're arbitrarily set and then not completed? And, generally my life runs on the academic calendar so new goals, etc. get set in June/July as I think about the next school year starting in August. Well, I need to set some goals for the calendar year of 2009.

The most important of them is to complete my dissertation. Now using this terminology might lead one to believe that I'm part way through my dissertation. No. I'm not. I've begun research and reading articles/books/etc., but no writing as of yet. I'm hoping to use the blog to help hold myself accountable for this goal. It absolutely must be complete by December 2009. I must get more motivated!

The second thing that is becoming more and more important is that I need to lose weight. I feel like this is pretty cliche to decide on this at the beginning of the year when it seems that everyone else is making a resolution like this. But, it seems like every few weeks I'm putting on a pound here, two pounds there and it just keeps adding up. I'm the biggest I have ever been in my entire life. I weigh more now than I did 13+ years ago when I was admitted to the hospital to give birth to Maranda. And, I had gained 70 pounds during my pregnancy! This is ridiculous. My clothes (even my "fat" clothes) are starting to not fit and I can't be healthy at this weight. So, I'm considering joining Weight Watchers. I've got to do something and I need to do something that I'll stick with. I think I'm gonna try out a meeting and see what I think. If that doesn't work, I still need to figure out a way to lose weight.

Connected to this second goal, is my goal to start doing some sort of exercising. Even if it's just forcing myself to climb the stairs every morning at work instead of taking the elevator, I've got to start somewhere. The hard part is all the ice and snow (and below zero temperatures) keep me from going for walks outside. But, I need to figure out a way to ensure I spend time everyday getting in some sort of exercise.

My fourth and final goal for the new year is that I need to spend some time figuring out a way to be more motivated at work and with my work. I haven't felt all that motivated lately. I'm sure it's because of all the changes that are going on, but I feel like I haven't been the supervisor my staff needs. And, I'm wondering if I'm even cut out to be supervising our department. I don't know if it's just a lack of self-esteem or confidence. Or, if I really need to spend some time examining my strengths and applying them to what I should be doing. But, I need to address the issue.

So, hopefully, I can accomplish these things during this new year - 2009. Any suggestions, thoughts or encouragement would be greatly appreciated (and not just today as you read this, anytime). :)

I hope you're able to reflect on some of your own goals for 2009 and start a great new year!