March 18: Starbucks Line

There was a funny hashtag at the conference #failedNASPAsessionproposals in which people would joke about session proposals that were submitted (but weren't) that were rejected.  For example, How to survive the Starbucks line at a conference.  The funny (or not so funny) thing about this is the truth in this statement.  Yep, here's a picture of the crazy line.

 At lunch I met up with a former colleague from Baylor.  We had lunch at little Italy and I had the best cannoli.  I don't even really like them, but we stumbled into this little place (that apparently serves the best in Baltimore) and it was wonderful!

 

November 14: ASHE Conference

The Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) holds its annual conference in November (usually closer to Thanksgiving).  Two years ago, the conference was in Charlotte, NC and Kristin came home with me for Thanksgiving.  Last year, the conference was in Vegas, so I stopped over in Denver for Thanksgiving with Kristin.  This year, since the conference was so early, we won't be spending Thanksgiving together, nor doing our traditional crafts.

Getting to the conference in St. Louis was a feat.  I had only had three hours of sleep (why am I ALWAYS up late before a trip?!), got up at 3am to leave for my flight, and when I got to the airport I realized I had left my credit card at home.  Yep.  Fun times.  This is problematic because I use my credit card as a debit card.  Meaning, I pay off my bill monthly and the money left over (if there is any) goes into savings.  Therefore, my bank account was looking pretty slim and I needed to pay for gas, transportation, food, and the hotel.  

Things worked out…I have gracious parents and friends who all offered to help cover me until Monday when the funds could be transferred back to my checking account.  

This conference is 'paper' conference.  In other words, three people present papers about current research and then a discussant gets up and provides feedback for each paper.  I presented last year and found it both terrifying and encouraging.  One of the first sessions was my favorite because every paper dealt with my dissertation topic.  I learned a lot, but was also confirmed that I'm doing good work that will contribute to the field.

I also got to hang out with a bunch of Baylor people for dinner on Thursday night.  Unfortunatley, I forgot to get a picture of all of us.  But Tiffani (who is at UCLA), JT (who is at Indiana University), Matt (who is a pastor in St. Louis), and the Bullards (who recently moved back to Oklahoma from Cambridge) were all there.  It was a fun time to catch up, meet the babies, and talk about life.

Don't Buy Flight Insurance

Unless...you plan to book your ticket to Texas for a weekend you have to be in Georgia. Then by all means, purchase the flight insurance.

I made a blunder and purchased my ticket for a time when I have to be at training for my trip to South Africa.  It's a bummer, mainly because I had to pay a change fee (did you know they charge $150 to change a flight?!)...and it means I won't be seeing my Tehas friends for a little longer.

Anyway, I will now be visiting Texas at the end of April.  It may actually work out better, because I'll be done with most of my semester, so I can truly enjoy the time...without distractions.

Promised!

My sister has been hounding me for the ... oh since before Christmas to update my blog.  She didn't like that I changed the theme of my blog to look Christmasy, with no posts about Christmas.  Thus, I promised her that I would post some updates this weekend.

And that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Because...hey, there's a wonderful thunderstorm outside, a Baylor basketball game (soon) on inside, and...because I promised her I would. 

Stacie & Andre's Wedding

I met Stacie back at Baylor, many many years ago.  And it was a joy to see her walk down the isle and marry Andre.  The weather in Florida was perfect, and the ceremony was wonderful.  I pray they honor each other and bring glory to God through their union.  Many blessings hoped for them!

Here are some pictures from the wedding.  I love watching the groom when the bride walks in, he had tears in his eyes :).

The ceremony was officiated by Stacie's friend Kelly.  "Out of 7billion people in this world, you two chose each other."  Chose, I love the purposefulness of the statement, of love, and of the ceremony.

I LOVE this picture as they walked down the isle as husband and wife.  :)

The first official announcement as they entered the reception.  

Some of you may have known, but just a two weeks before the wedding, Stacie's dad was hospitalized and in lots of pain.  After loads of tests, they didn't think he would be healthy enough to travel from Pennsylvania to the wedding in Florida.  Prayers went up around the country, and the world.  Just a few days before the wedding he was cleared to attend, and although he was in pain, he was determined to walk her down the isle and dance with her.  Even now, my eyes are filling with tears thinking about this.  As I was taking pictures as the wedding I began crying while they were dancing.  Her family are very precious people and I know how much it meant to Stacie to dance with her daddy.

Below is a picture of Christy, me, and Amy; all Baylor folk who were able to make it to the wedding.  Christy, Larry, and I actually drove down to the wedding together and stayed in a wonderful condo while in Florida.  Amy and her husband live on the other side of Atlanta, although I don't see them as often as I wished.  We had wonderful times laughing at the wedding and enjoying each others company.  What a great reason to all get together...only miles and miles away from home. 

 The Tietjen's with Stacie.

 Love my friend Stace!

 And last, but not least, the Correll-Hughes'

Again, the wedding was lovely and I pray their marriage will overflow with love, joy, and laughter! 

While we were down in Florida, I also got a chance to visit with Jennifer.  We went to Disney World, yep that's right.  And by Disney World, I mean Magic Kingdom

More to come.

T is for Thankfulness

And T is for Texas.  I spent a wonderful week in Texas for Thanksgiving this year.  I could  have never imagined five years ago, that I would be happy, even excited to return to Texas...but that's another blog post.  

I arrived in Texas early Saturday morning (almost a week before Thanksgiving).  A few of my former students were up in Dallas celebrating a birthday, and offered to pick me up.  It was such a blast to hang out with them all day! 

Gretchen, Allison, and Kalie...the three musketeers.  Their friendship began last year on staff and I was not only excited to see them, but to experience their craziness again! LOVE them!

We had a wonderful time in Dallas, until a few of us got sick from lunch.  It was less than pleasant.  That night I met up with more Baylor friends at the football game.  Unfortunatetly, I am beginning to think I'm the bad luck charm.  Baylor football began winning when I left, and UGA football began loosing when I came.  :/

Anyway, it was a great time to catch up with some of my Baylor peeps. 

Lisa, Ryn, and me

Sunday was church with Lisa, and then Cafe Cappuccino with Sarah and Tiffanie.  I LOVE the two of them, and LOVE Cafe Cap!  My favorite, banana pecan pancake, yumm.

Sunday, was fairly low key and spent time hanging out with friends, watching movies, and just being in the presence of people who really, really know me.  What a wonderful thing for my spirit!

On Monday and Tuesday (day) I spent time at my favorite coffee shop, visiting with friends over Common Grounds coffee. :)

Monday & Tuesday (night) I went to the Baylor Basketball games (men & women).

 Sarah and me at the women's game.

Shelton and me at the men's game.

I spent Thanksgiving day with my favorite Ecklund family!  I have missed this family and their friendship, tremendously!

Selah (above) enjoyed her frosting covered cookie!  And as an early Christmas gift, Gianna and Selah got pink, glitter, Toms from their grandparents.

They are growing up so fast, but it was such a delight to spend Thanksgiving with this wonderful family!

Friday morning, Ryn and I decided to tackle black Friday (again).  We arrived five minutes before Target opened (similiar to last year), however, this time the line wrapped around the building and snaked back and forth.  It was almost twice as long, and Target opened an hour earlier this year.  We hit a few other stores after Target, then breakfast, then nap time.  It was fun to share this memory with Ryn again!

Ryn and I braving the cold.  When I arrived in Waco it was almost 80 degrees.  Then Thursday, a cold front came in...just in time for Thanksgiving.  It actually made it feel a bit more like a true November.

Friday night I was on the plane headed back to Georgia.  Although there was part of me that was ready to leave (simply ready to be sleeping in my own bed), all of me was thankful for the amazing time I got to spend with such dear friends!

Goodbyes

I've always known it's harder to leave than to be left. I said my first goodbye tonight.

Goodbyes suck.

Baylor Memories...

Office Hours

It's hard to hold normal office hours when your office looks like
this. I can't take much more of the chaos. I don't know about you, but
I'm one that if my home (and preferably also my office) are organized
and clean, I can take on the world. But right now, I'm fighting the
disaster...and it's winning.

Bucket List...of sorts

Awhile ago I began thinking about what all I wanted to do, or things I hand't done before I left Texas. A couple weeks ago during a candidate dinner, a few of us were chatting about the list. They began deeming the list...the bucket list. Someone kindly reminded them I wasn't dying, but rather leaving Texas. I suppose some die hard Texans would equate those two. Anyway, here is a list things I want to do before I leave this grand state.

Take pictures in the blue bonnets (check)

Take pictures around Baylor (I really want to create the word remember from pictures of things around Baylor that will remind me of these last 5 years...if you've ever seen these done, they're pretty neat)

Tortilla tossing

Visit Independence, Texas

Eat in Brooks College Dinning Hall (I haven't done that this entire year)

Visit Mozarts...again

Picture with the random gorilla on Austin Ave

Picture with the catfish truck on MLK

Eat at Viteks, although I don't know that I can do a gut pack...eeeewww

Kayak the brazos

Paint a coffee mug at practically pikaso

But I'm also taking suggestions...anything else I should add to my list?

Packing (stage I)

Well, it's begun. In July I will transition to Georgia to begin my PhD (stage III (ish)). But for now I begin stage I, packing to move to my temporary Baylor apartment. On May 16th I will be moving I to a temp spot until I leave in July. This is necessary in order to start construction for the new faculty in residence apartment and other renovations. So why am I starting to pak already, you might be asking?! Here is a run down of events leading up to the end of the school year.

May 11th: end of year celebration that my committee has programmed
May 12th: building closes at 6pm for student not graduating
May 13th-16th: perform end of year closedown responsibilities
May 16th: move with assistance from Baylor movers hopefully :) and
make sure all closedown items are done!
May 17th: leave for Cabo!

And no I'm no joking about Cabo. :) it's going to be great. However,
there are so many things o do in closing down a building AND
additional things to do because of the construction that I'd like to
have all my personal packing done by May 10th.

Anyway...here's a picture from the beginnings of stage I.

The Baylor Line

Every home football game, prior to kick off, the freshmen charge the field and line up to cheer the football players onto the field. This is known as running the Baylor Line.

During the last home game of the season, seniors can also run the Baylor Line one last time. Well, since I've been around for a few years, I've never run the line. Now, I know what you are thinking, I'm not a student and never was...but, how fun would it be to run the line?!

On Saturday, Ryn and I ran the line. After trading our tickets out for student tickets, borrowing a couple line jerseys, sneakily showing our IDs as we passed through security, and waiting in line for 42 minutes, we were able to run across the field and cheer on the Baylor Bears!

It was an adrenaline rush. I'm not sure if that was because we were sneaky and ran 'illegally' or if it was the rush of running the field with thousands of people watching and yelling.

Check me out in my Baylor Line jersey. The back says, SWIMDUDE...thanks to my former CL, Jason, for letting me borrow it!

The back of Ryn's said, POOH, one of my students let her borrow it...yay. And I need to remember to ask her why she put pooh on the back. ;)

Getting ready to run...the band is currently on the field.

I thought about trying to run with my camera. However, between holding my purse and trying not to trip in my flip flops (not the wisest choice), I figured I'd be sure to fall if I also tried to video the run.

However, I did get a shot of the Baylor players running past the line.

What a fun memory! I'm really glad we jumped through all the hoops in order to run the line, I would recommend it...at least once!

Homecoming 2009

This year was the 100th anniversary of the first homecoming at Baylor University.

Homecoming at Baylor is a wonderful production of events scattered throughout the weekend. The traditions begin with freshman mass meeting on Thursday night where the story of the immortal ten is told. From there, the freshman take the eternal flame to founders mall. Here the freshman use to guard the flame until Friday evening when the flame was taken and the bonfire was lit. However, due to events over the last few years, the tradition of guarding the flame was replaced by the building of the bonfire. Pigskin is offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and is the top six acts from Sing (the largest off broadway production in the country). Friday evening is the bonfire and concert. Saturday is the longest collegiate parade in the country and is followed by the homecoming football game.

This year they had a fireworks show, being the 100th anniversary and all. The show had 12 minutes worth of fireworks packed into 3 minutes. I LOVE fireworks! Megan, Sarah, and me at the bonfire (above) and Tiffanie, Lisa, and Monica (below).

I love that there are so many APU people at Baylor. Adam, Em, and I were in the same cohort and Monica and I were RAs together (although I don't remember her...ooops). She just finished the APU program (in higher ed) and is now working at Baylor. Sarah is the odd ball here, but we love her the same, even though she didn't go to APU.

Left to right: Me, Adam, Em, Sarah, and Monica
Reintroduced a few years ago was the residence hall decorating contest. Halls decorate the outside of their building based on the 'theme'. This year, the theme was Baylor through the years (past themes have been Baylor traditions...it's time they get a little more creative).

Anyway, the winner gets a trophy and major bragging rights. This year, little Allen/Dawson WON! This achievement is announced at the bonfire. My students made these impressive 8x4 foot picture frames that outlined the last 100 years of Baylor's history. They made honorable mention signs that lined the way between the giant signs with other random traditions or things that happened within the decade.

I am so proud of their hard work. AND, I'm glad we won!!!!

Here are the pictures of their work and the giant 'frames'.

Yep, that's right, the first African American to play in the Southwest Conference was at Baylor.

Yep friends, Baylor was good at football...back in the 80s and 90s!
Now I know this is stunning, but true. The first woman was not allowed to run in the Baylor line until 1993. Prior to 93, the women would participate in the 'Baylor sideline' where all the women would cheer from..you guessed it, the sideline.

**The Baylor Line is 'run' during the home football games. All the freshman line up with their jerseys and rush the field into line formation and then cheer the football players on as they run onto the field. It's a remarkable site, most of the time.

And here is our living art. Baylor will continue through the years because people like them! :)

The judges come around to each all and although 'spirit' is unofficially judged, it doesn't hurt to have your students out yelling and cheering ;)

Ps this is a great showing considering we were planning on the judges arriving an hour later...yikes.

Oh...if you made it through this entire post, congrats, treat yourself to something nice, it was a long one! :)