Axio Community Conference at K-State

I am writing this instead of paying attention to the current workshop I am in, but that's ok because my brain is buzzing from some of the projects I have been able to witness. Michael Wesch and Roger McHaney have specifically engaged my cerebrum. The concepts of Web 2.0 and the future of education and new models for learning needs to be at the forefront of what I am doing with our new Online Learning division at WATC.

The conference finishes up here in a few hours and I will be heading back to Wichita.

Lots to synthesize!

Busy Week at WATC

My consultant from Georgia is here Monday through Wednesday and I am in Manhattan for a conference Thursday and Friday....should be a terrific, busy week.

Art at Botanica

I just spent a few hours this weekend loading my mother's art in and out of Botanica for the Annual Art event. It was a beautiful day (both of them) and always delightful to see what my mother is working on. There were some very nice new miniatures that I liked very much. I have a terrific woodsy scene that she painted a few years ago hanging in my living room.

After joyfully hauling her work around, I am extremely thankful that she wasn't called to do sculpture!

Pax,
Paul

Online Learning at WATC

Hey....check out watc.edu to see our new online course offerings! The catalog will only grow as we continue to add courses, programs and instructors.

A New Day at UCC

My church, University Congregational, launched its fall programs yesterday with the return of the choir and the beginning of Sunday School. It was also our new Senior Minister's second Sunday on the job. We called Gary Blaine last spring and he spent the summer closing out his old life in Toledo and moving his family out here on to the plains. It was such a comfort to realize that we are going to be OK. That we are in capable, loving hands. That we were all along, but it took Gary's arrival to reinforce that for us.

BTW: Mark your calendars for "The Armed Man" on October 7th at 10:30 am and again at 3:00 pm. It's going to be powerful!

BTW: I love my family.....

I love my family too....just in a different way!

Time Away

The best thing about time away from work, the usual, school, and everything else....is the return. I have spent three days in the company of an odd assortment of people who recharge me, engage me and challenge me in the best ways. A few sad souls think that the reason we remain as close as we do is that there must be something wrong with us--we are stuck in the past or some such psycho-babble. However, as I age, I recognize the simple fact that these people are my family. Closer than blood ties, these are the people I choose to remain with in a manner that I never could with my family...an intimacy that transcends....that illuminates...that gently (and sometimes not so gently) teases and reminds one of one's past......that nudges....that feeds....that rests.....and not unlike the approaching autumn....it lingers on my heart as I drive north...to home.

Sunday in the Big D

OK....I have spent the ENTIRE day in the pool. I am not exaggerating. I woke around 8 and went for quick dip that lasted until a brief lunch and then I JUST dried off to check email and blog about 5 minutes ago. I have to drive teenagers around to various locales for a while, and then I will be BACK in the pool until midnight or later. Ahhhhhhhhhh. The Q Lagoon is remarkable. The food, as I have posted, perfect....and the company the greatest. It will be very difficult to say goodbye tomorrow. BUT, I will be back for New Years and beyond.

Sunny, Funny Dallas

I am writing this, sitting in my friend Quentin's kitchen, watching him and his brother-in-law Brian create their latest culinary masterpiece. These guys can cook! We got into Dallas about 11 last night and were met by a sirloin steak soup that was so good.....for lunch today we had steak kabobs and this amazing scallion summer salad. Brian has been accepted into a cuisine school...so we are his willing victims! Delicious...

Spent the day in the pool, so I am just a little pink...and water-logged...and very happy. I love coming down here and giving up all of my agenda and day planner and stuff....and just BEING with my good, good friends. Hey....a toast! Here's to us! Who's like us? Damn few!

This is my core group...my tribe...that I met on my first night of college at Southwestern back on that August night in 1981.....and here 26 years later we are still good friends. How lucky is that?

Damn lucky, says I!

Labor Day in Dallas

So....originally, my boss wanted me to launch my online courses on Sept. 4th,--so I cancelled all of my travel plans in preparation for THAT madness. It eventually came clear to her that it was an almost impossible task (although, I must say that yours-truly was and IS ready to launch)--but, our new website is not available until Sept. 6th and our marketing partners wanted a week to market so....our new launch date for fall online classes is Sept. 17th. When the date got pushed back, I had already told my choir director I could sing for the Labor weekend service, but was told last night (Wednesday) at choir rehearsal, that I didn't need to sing! Long story short....I am going to Dallas for the weekend and I can't wait! WOOHOO!

Director of Online Learning

Well...I was promoted last week to be WATC's new Director of Online Learning. The first week has been really quite excellent. I think I am in a position to be of great use to this college. Wish me luck!

Family Reunion

I just returned last night from a most wonderful family reunion hosted by my sister Teresa and her family in Eudora, Kansas. We ate too much, sang lots of great songs, watched the little ones play and play and play, hunted elusive coyotes and basically strengthened our relationships with one and another. It was just the tonic I needed to prepare for what is going to (hopefully) be a very busy fall semester. I interview TOMORROW for the Director of Online Learning at my college, so keep your fingers crossed!

Back from Vacation!

What is up with bad service?

It's not like there are not a gazillion restaurants in Wichita that I have to put up with BAD service.....tonight at an Old Town establishment (name rhymes with Parkspur) me and my friends had the worst service! The waitress actually rolled her eyes when I asked for a refill. Believe me all seven of us are decent guests and deserved FAR better than what we got tonight. The real shame is that few of us will eat there again...and we will be certain to inform our friends of the depressing time we had....

Biking in Riverside

The new foot bridges to the Keeper of the Plains have finally opened up and I was (I believe) the first bicyclist to cross--in the rain, early yesterday morning (Friday, April 27). It is a terrific structure and very interesting....I need to spend more time exploring it and then post some more about it.

Gentle reader....

...to catch you up.....

First blog on blogspot

OK. I have now officially entered my middle-age crisis. I have started a blog on blogspot.....