Business School Dinner

I was invited to attend CU-Denver Business school's Celebration of Success dinner. It's the annual fundraising event for student scholarships and faculty fellowships. Around 1,000 people from local businesses bought seats. I was invited because I've received a scholarship in the past. I was impressed. It was held in a ballroom at the Performing Arts Complex. I had no idea the business school had support from so many Denver businesses. Each year they invite a speaker. In the past, speakers have included Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani and Mikhail Gorbachev. This year it was the former US Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich.

Flowers

I decided to try and plant flowers on my patio this summer. Hopefully to cover up my view of the construction they're doing next door.
I don't know anything about gardening; my only experience is planting flowers during volunteer activities. I'm pretty sure I planted everything too close together. I'm considering it survival of the fittest, whichever plants get biggest get all the water. I planted Begonias (white and pink), Impatiens (red) and Bugleweed (blue flowers).

Edgar Meyer

I attended a Colorado Symphony Orchestra concert. The guest soloist was Edgar Meyer. I had not seen him perform since 1993, when I spent the summer in the small town of Sewanee, Tennessee for the Sewanee Music Festival. I've seen a lot of soloists over the years at music camps, and I don't remember the name of a single one of them except for Edgar. I think it's for 2 reasons. One, bass is an unusual soloist instrument and two, he's just that good. He performed a concerto he composed himself with a percussion instrument him and a friend invented made of PVC pipe.

The CSO also performed my favorite piece - Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin.

Another reason I like Denver: I woke up at 6:30pm from a nap, took a shower and still made it downtown in time for the 7:30 show that I only had to pay $5 for a student ticket and had an excellent seat.

Another Note: Speaking of Sewanee, it inspired me to look up my old clarinet teacher, Bruce Dinkins (who was also a conductor at Sewanee). While I was in highschool he had moved from Georgia to South Carolina to be the conductor at Irmo High school. In college I met a girl that had gone to the highschool and knew him. Looks like he has moved on to a high school in Austin, Texas but is still conducting some in the summer at Sewanee. I remember that he would wander through his house during my lesson, but I never doubted for a second that he was listening because then he would holler like a drill sergeant from another room with corrections. At Sewanee in the cafeteria, he put his finger in my brownie and then asked "don't you hate it when people put their fingers in your food?". Interesting sense of humor but definitely one of the best clarinet teachers I ever had.

California Trip

We started the trip in San Francisco. On the way to the wine country we stopped at Muir Woods. Here's the family walking around the park.

The Wine Country was awesome. We visited both Napa and Sonoma. This picture is from Heitz. We also stopped at Beringer, Hall, V Sattui, Gundlach Bundschu, Buena Vista and Gloria Ferrer.

We went to Yosemite National Park. It was very picturesque.

Graduation

It's official. Nins is a doctor. The best part of graduation was that cap.

Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball)

Megan and I went to Verdi's opera "Un Ballo In Maschera". It's the story of King Gustav and his friendship with Anckarström. Their friendship is put to the test when a love triangle surfaces before the famed masquerade ball. It takes place in Sweden in the late 1700's. I hadn't seen an opera since Megan and I went to see Carmen. This one was entertaining but not one of my favorites.

Muddy Buddy

I was looking through old photos and ran across this one. Funny pics like this just need to be shared. It's from 2003 when I participated in the Muddy Buddy race. You have a buddy and throughout the race you switch off between mountain biking and running. Between each switch you complete an obstacle. At the end you wait for your buddy then go thru the mud pit together. Georgia red clay is not good mud. It was gritty and I tore up my knees. I was laughing through most of this though. In case you were wondering I pretty much threw away everything I was wearing (except the helmet). I noticed the race will be in Boulder, CO in August of this year. Something to consider.

Kelly and Harold's Travels

I mentioned back in January that Kelly was engaged and going on a year long trip through Europe, India and Asia. The trip has begun! I've added a link to Harold and Kelly's blog on the right.

Catching Up With Old Friends

Eileen and I met up with Megan at Zengo for dinner.






When Eileen and I showed up at this restaurant, the Valet asked if we thought it was a little early in the week to be needing a happy hour. I told him we were there to catch up with an old friend. Then Megan came, and he asked her if she was there with the 20 person party. Megan said she was catching up with old friends. The valet said "the old friends" were already inside.

Easter Brunch

We started our brunch with fruit and mimosas. Eileen made two different fruit dips. I made Ham puffs (ham, swiss cheese, onion, parsley in crescent roll dough in mini-muffin pan). Eileen got really creative and also made ricotta cheese pancakes. It was all excellent.

We then got to egg decorating. Eileen kicked it up a notch this year with her internet research. We were using rubber bands and electrical tape. Someone brought up the idea that putting the eggs in snow would display them best. I don't know... It was snowing.

Copper Mtn Weekend

I spent the weekend with Eileen, Joan, Ellen and Fred and Vicki were in town. We stayed up at Copper Mountain. Eileen and I got 2 good days of skiing/boarding in.

Quotes

"The thing about plans is they don't take into account the unexpected. So when we're thrown a curveball...we have to improvise. Of course some of us are better at it than others. Some of us just have to move on to Plan B and make the best of it. And sometimes what we want is exactly what we need. But sometimes, sometimes what we need is a new plan." - Grey's Anatomy

A Big Mountain of Dirt

I've had a pretty nice view for nearly the 2 years that I've lived in my apartment. Ah, but it couldn't have lasted.

They finally tore up the plot of land next to my complex. It is now a huge pile of dirt. I believe it's going to be more apartments or condos.

The Introvert Advantage

I always struggle with getting myself motivated to go out and do things. I have a million excuses why I don't need to go and then end up feeling guilty for not going.
Recent example:
I was debating if I wanted to go to a work happy hour. My internal argument was it was a Friday afternoon, I was tired, I was leaving from class so the location was out of the way, and near the end of the happy hour I can never find a good way to excuse myself and go home. I usually don't have anything I need to get to after the happy hours, but after 2 hrs I'm done and I just don't want to be there anymore. I always feel awkward leaving and never have the right thing to say to excuse myself gracefully.

I read "The Introvert Advantage" by Marti Laney. A lot of the items I have felt in the past were mentioned in the book. Indicators on the Myers-Briggs test can change over time. I took it in the 8th grade, high school, college, after college and the item that has never changed is I am as introverted as you can get.

Some interesting facts/comments regarding introverts from the book:
* Only 25% of the population is introverted
* Introverts have more blood flowing to the brain indicating more internal stimulation. And blood is flowing to different areas than extroverts - for introverts it is to the parts involved with internal experiences like remembering, solving problems and planning
* Walk around with a lot of thoughts and feelings in their heads. They often have internal dialogue with themselves.
* Can forget things they know well, might temporarily forget a word they want to use
* May not be aware of thoughts unless they write or talk about them
* May have trouble getting motivated or moving, might appear lazy
* "I enjoy social gatherings - as long as I know I'm leaving soon."
* It is often a struggle for introverts to decide whether or not to go to a social gathering. We all get caught up in what we should do, and we forget to think about what we want to do. Many introverts tend to foreshadow. They think ahead about what could go wrong, or remember how tired they felt the last time they went out.
* Phone phobia - it's an interruption that drains energy, requires losing internal focus, requires expending energy for "on-the-feet thinking"
* Tend to run cool and get chilled easily. Their normal body temperature is often below the average 98.6. If introverts feel too cold, it can be even more difficult for them to get going and leave the house.
* Are more sedentary than extroverts. They are not motivated to move as much.
* Introverts constantly evaluate what they have said.

The book offers a bunch of ways that introverts can fit into a world made up of 75% extroverts. The author also goes into scientific details about neurostimulators and what is physically happening in the body. The book combats the stereotypes of introverts being hermits or shy, as it has nothing to do with this but is rather if you get energy from being around other people(extroverts) versus you get your energy internally (introverts). It also goes into the details of introverts/extroverts dating/relationships. Generally, it helped me to understand there is a reason for my thoughts and actions and I am part of the minority which is why I usually thought I wasn't "normal".

Fast Food Nation

I finally got around to reading "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser which originally was published in 2001. Fast Food Nation seemed to me to focus on the history of fast food which I found interesting. And just the general history of franchises both food or retail.

Back in November, I watched the documentary "Super Size Me" and haven't eaten McDonald's since. I think my generation has been groomed that fast food is a way of life. Much like I have a hard time remembering what life was like before I had a cellphone or email. I used to not give it a second thought if I was hungry just to pull over and get something. After reading the book and seeing the documentary I do give it a second thought, and so far I've always decided I can do without it.

UNC Chapel Hill

I interviewed at UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday for their Master's in Health Administration program. It was everything I expected. Quality program, good professors, good networking opportunities and career direction. It's ranked 2nd for that type of program. The school I'm currently at is ranked 25th. I was upset this past fall with my classes to the point where I didn't think I could stand paying for or attending them. I'm happy to say this semester is much better but I expect only because the 2 classes I'm taking have guest speakers for every class. I was accepted into UNC. It's a full-time, 2 year program starting in the fall. The choice is now do I continue part-time and working full-time and finish in Spring 2009 or switch and have loans to pay back? If anything, it's nice to have options...of course with them come more decisions to make.

Snowshoeing

I went snowshoeing with my two aunts in Evergreen, CO. It was a great day for it. Miss Kitty enjoyed herself also and got quite a workout in.

Kerri's Surprise Shower

Kerri had a surprise bridal shower. Here she is wearing the ribbon hat made from all the gifts. Both her sisters and mother flew in for it. Based on the look on her face when she walked in the door, it was definitely a surprise.

Where are they now? (Vol 2)

I wrote my first "where are they now" entry on 8/15/06. I have a new addition, so this is volume 2. I met Kelly in middle school. In the 8th grade we were signed up to do the 3-legged race together for the "Olympics" (field day). Kelly and I actually practiced the race beforehand. I'm not quite sure why we took it so seriously. I guess we wanted to win; we did get 3rd place. This picture is of us our junior year at band camp. Yes, band camp. I love to embrace the dorkiness of this picture. Hehe. Yes, nothing beats spending an entire week out in 100 degree weather in August in the humid south.

So where is Kelly now? She's been teaching English in Japan. And she has fabulous news in that she just got engaged to Harold. After the school term ends this year, they will both be taking the year off and travelling throughout Europe, India and China.

Cute picture

Denver Pioneers Hockey

I went to a Denver Pioneers Hockey game. It's the University of Denver team; DU is actually a really good school, very small and private. Condoleezza Rice was an AXO there. People kept asking me why I didn't switch to DU's MBA program. It's known as a good school in Colorado, but outside of Colorado no one would know that. Due to expenses I decided to stick with CU-Denver (University of Colorado - Denver). DU played Wisconsin. It reminded me of how much fun I had going to all the GT Hockey games. The NHL isn't the same as college hockey fans. There were some Wisco students sitting behind us on their holiday break. Their cheers were hilarious, and they knew all the players. That's what I used to like about GT hockey; it's more interesting if you know the players. There is quite a difference between a club team versus a team that won the National Championship. I have to say Denver is pretty darn good. They won the game I was at, but the next night Wisco beat them 4-0.