I have never wanted anything more than to get to use a bullhorn.  This is my life’s dream.  A dream that almost became a realization last week when we thought a student info session might draw enough of a crowd that we would move outside.  I was promised ‘bullhorn’ duty.  I spent a good part of my morning on a quest for the great mega-horn.  I asked everyone on campus that I could think with no luck.  Then randomly I ran into the track and field head coach (a friend) who made a quick phone call and sent me to the dome to retrieve my prize.  I had never before stood on the floor of the empty dome and almost wanted to practice my Heisman pose but had more important priorities…  my bullhorn.  After a quick stop for batteries, I was ready to rock and roll.  I might have even turned it on in ’siren mode’ in the car and temporary deafened Cory. ( Sorry:( ) But, despite all of my excitement… all of my hard work… all my lifelong… I did not get to use the bullhorn and had to return it.  I wonder if my mom and dad will buy me one for Christmas, or if the end to that story will be much like the time we let Zac have an airhorn.  Nevermind.

Just purchased 12 of these (mini lightsaber keychains) bad boys for my student workers for Christmas. They are gonna be so thrilled. Now just gotta find something as equally cool for the other 30 of them who won’t be getting these.

Convincing college kids that giving up a few hours of their precious free time is not one of the easiest parts of my job. Most of the time I have to bribe them with some form of a prize or reward. With the semester almost half-way over, it’s time for student staff meetings again and I’m equipped with my fluffy chocolate chip cookies and my new favorite Dreamsicle Delights.

Dreamsicle Delights

1 cup Tang orange drink mix
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup butter
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups white chocolate/vanilla baking chips

-Beat together all ingredients, except the vanilla chips.
-Stir in vanilla chips.
-Drop by Tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.
-Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-14 minutes.

With the start of every new semester, we have a overwhelming wave of machines that for countless reasons need our attention.  Most of the time it’s the same ol’ same ol’ with each of them, but sometimes we find little surprises of joy.  There are my favorites from the past month.

PimpJuice. I was pretty proud that I knew this was a real song when no one else did and sang it to the students in true Nelly-fashion. Click To Continue Reading…

I’ll hook you up with better pics when my ‘office’ area is decorated…

Late, late, late Friday night Zac and Victoria arrived on my doorstep for a weekend full of introducing her to our favorite places in Flagstaff and hanging out with all of our friends.  Amazingly enough after her 60 hours in Flagstaff, none of our ‘eccentric’ friends had caused too much of a scene, and Flagstaff had a new fan.  Of all of the pics we took over the span of three days, these are my favorite.

Sometime on Saturday Zac asked me if I would mind taking a picture of Z and V together to prove that they had ‘dated’.  Victoria wasn’t too pleased that he had phrased the question in the past tense.  “Don’t you mean dating?” she asked.

The story behind this picture taken from inside my car involves a man stumbling across the road before passing out, my friends and I convinced he was dead, Joe playing ‘tough man’ and giving relationship advice, Zac trying desperately not to laugh, and the rest of us laughing til we cried.

Zac’s always been photogenic.  I’m not too sure Victoria was that impressed.

My new office is almost done!  Paint touch-ups, a good vacuuming, and locks on the doors and my work-sweet-home will be ready to go.  Since I came to campus eight years ago, this white board has remained unchanged  Those dry erase markers have kept their color even if they have lost their meaning after all that time.  Now that my new room has been built around it, it’s time for a therapeutic cleaning.