Sorry for the delay in posting. Time for writing has been limited this August. What has kept me so busy?

1) A lot of work for work. Reviewing schedules, writing reports, collecting data, attending meetings, holding seminars, holding orientations, conducting workshops, grading research papers, reviewing student papers, reviewing scholarship applications, recruiting faculty, interviewing possible student workers, meeting with colleagues, answering and writing emails, snail mail and calls;  Intervewing possible and graduate assistants. Learning new and updated elearning platforms, etc etc, etc.

2) Household items… Cleaning and supervising contractors for endless odd jobs. Glad to have the house painted on the outside. It really needed the paint. I don’t like the stain on the decks though. Looks OK from the street, but too dark and too paint like. I would have liked it more transparent. Dealing with electrical issues and some wiring that I need, outlets that don’t work, fans that don’t work and then the funny smells that I smell before anyone else. Looking forward to getting it all finished. But, I still need to clean out the basement and garage, sell, give away and throw away. But, then I have to find a sunny weekend and apply for a permit. What happened to the good ol days where you decide on Friday that you’ll  have a sale on Saturday…!!! (The best sale I ever had was one of those). The rules where I live say that you must apply a few weeks in advance, wait to be approved and then hope that it does not rain on the day you picked. And, that you can only have 2 sales a year. I understand why they do that to prevent people from running businesses out of their yards. I’ve been psyched up to this for a few years and just have not gotten to it yet due to deaths, surgeries, illness, work, puppies, etc.

3) Family issues… Support for family taking exams, looking for jobs, needing help, funerals, illnesses, pain, stress, puppy and pet sittitng, broken toes, etc, etc etc.

4) Volunteer issues… Ugh… People just don’t seem to appreciate their volunteers these days… And some people treat their volunteers as employees and expect them to work as such.

5) The Olympics… They were great! I taped them and fast forwarded to the exciting parts. I loved a lot of what I learned about China and other countries. When I have time I think I’ll seek out the words to the other National Anthems. I was impressed with the sportsmanship of the vast majority of the athletics. I was saddened by the random act of violence on the family of the Men’s VB coach and think he handled things remarkedly well. I am still disappointed about the age issue with the Chinese “women”… They look like girls to me. Maybe they should have age categories and have a “womens’ team and a “girls” team. I worry for all those who caused “embarrassment” for their countries.when they did not place or win a medal and hope they realize that they are all indeed great athletes… Just to have been chosen to compete at the Olympics!… Maybe I’ll have time to add more about this.

6) Technology that I can’t take in the pool. I am trying to get as much exercise in as possible and my laptop computers do not work in the pool. I am also typing on a perfectly good laptop at the moment. With the works! I love it. But, It is missing a lot of keys and the space bar and is held together with painters tape…Slows up the typing. I just need a new outside for the laptop. Mmmmm? I wonder if Gateway would do that?

7) Worries over the economy and the next President. And no, I’m not watching the conventions. People need to look at reality instead of fantasy.

I hate salery compression and market differentials! I could write a lot about this!

9) etc etc etc

So, there you have it.. I’ll try to do better…