Thursday, May 31, 2007

 

Not just a girls school . . .

So, my alma mater, founded as Randolph-Macon Woman's College, is admitting 57 men this coming fall. I am actually in favor of this decision, though I am sad to see the institution change so much. It came down to revising the admittance policy or going under. (The underlying issue is that we have fallen way under capacity for the past decade or more. We simply need more students and this is a good way to get them. Not just men, but women as well.) The emphasis of the curriculum is changing to a global perspective and we are adding several graduate programs in education. Who knows, I might end up back there someday!

It will be a strange next four years as these men and their classmates work out the new status quo. I had the pleasure of meeting one of them, Adam, who will graduate from King George High School in a week. I was subbing for one of his classes. We were both bowled over and unsure about how to approach the situation. But I enjoyed talking to him and officially welcoming him as an alum to a new student. It was a good feeling and it gives me hope. Still, it will be odd for him. I had hundreds of mentors in the form of alums and fellow students. Who will he turn to? It will take openess and a sense of humor, but I think we'll all be fine.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

 

Me vs. John Mayer

Who will win? Seriously, I like his music, but have a problem with the lyrics to his song, "Waitin’ for the World to Change."

"Me and all my friends, we’re just so misunderstood. They say we stand for nothin’ and there’s no way we ever could."

Whom has he—and all his friends—been listening to? Some grouchy uncle that hates him anyway? Mr. Mayer and I are about the same age, and I have never been ‘misunderstood’ by ‘they.’ I have always volunteered through church and community organizations sometimes to meet immediate needs and sometimes to work for long-term goals like affordable housing, medical care, political campaigns, etc. If I show up with a smile and a willingness to do whatever needs to be done, I am accepted. With continued hard work I earn respect and a place at the table where I will be heard and heeded.

"It’s not that we don’t care, we just know that the fight ain’t fair, that’s why we’re waitin’, waitin’ for the world to change."

News flash, John: Waiting will leave you even farther behind. Yes, we’re young. That’s why we need to be out there now, making even a small difference. Compounded over time, that makes a really big difference! It will be a while before we become ‘they,’ but if we sit around ‘waitin,’ the world will change without us.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is the last time I will write about John Mayer. I am sure he is bereft.

Friday, May 11, 2007

 

Car Maintenance 101

Forgot to mention, I changed the headlights on my car Wednesday. Woo-hoo! I had mechanic hands for about fifteen minutes. Props to the nice guy at Advance Auto ("What, you're buying something besides Hello Kitty air fresheners?"), my dad for the over-the-phone advice, my mom for cheering me on, and my car for running beautifully in spite of me.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

 

All new, all the time!


Wonderful weekend in Chicago with Katie Mac and everyone else! The picture is of Katie's husband Freddie's notes for the podcast. They let me join them and it was so much fun. I seriously didn't want to stop. When Freddie said it was a wrap I was disappointed. I'm someone who prefers to be a listener, but get me in front of a mike and I can yatter about nothing for long periods of time. Freddie also gave me the iLife disk so I could reinstall GarageBand. What could be a better way to get the girls of Mauritania interested in technology than having them do a podcast? I can't wait to get started and God do I love Mac.

First henna tattoo over the weekend, too. You can see it on the Katie Mac show site (link to the left). It's already wearing off because I've been cleaning for my job. Note: Clorox takes ANYTHING off.

And (drumroll please) I uploaded my first video to YouTube! Search on Haiti, music, and rehearsal. I've been wanting to do this for some time and I love this clip. It's from my trip to Haiti in November. Hey, it's that or my sister's birthday. :)

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