The Other Side of Campus Life

I went out on campus to check on an event, but then got side tracked by the lowering of the Texas State flag for the passing of a student.  It was one of those surreal moments with so many players in the scene and so many emotions.

His family was present and clearly devastated.  I can't begin to understand their loss.  From a visual estimate, the student was likely the baby of the family.

When the tower clock chimed 10, ROTC students in uniform paraded onto the mall and performed the lowering with military precision and stoicism.  But really, they're just students too.  How do they feel knowing that they were lowering the flag for the death of someone their own age?  How many times have they performed or will they perform this ceremony?

Another student in khakis and a t-shirt stood in the far corner of the mall and at the last clock chime, began playing taps on the trumpet.  My colleague in Student Emergency Services informed me that this student first played this song of mourning a year ago when his own friend passed and a flag was lowered.  He has volunteered to play at every flag lowering since, even if that involves missing class.  When a family of the deceased paid him for his troubles, he felt uncomfortable and immediately gave the money to charity.  When he plays, is he thinking of his friend?  Was that death as senseless as the one commemorated today?

The flags are on the Main Mall in front of the Tower in the busiest part of campus.  It is a beautiful day and students are out in full force.  Candidates for Student Government elections are campaigning 50 yards to the West.  Our campus is 50,000 students strong and it seems that most of them are rushing either to or from a class.  Set up continues for the event on the South Mall 50 yards in that direction.  I take a deep breath and head that way.  The solemnity of the moment is lost in hustle and bustle of daily activities, but my heart still aches a bit when I envision that scene and know that it is far too regular an occurrence.

Moving Into the New Apartment

Here are the pictures from when we were first moving into the new apartment.  Justin's belongings were still on the road from Miami so it's pretty bare.  All I can say is that it's been five months and it definitely looks better!  I'll put up some "after" pictures soon.  Or even better, you can come see it in person!

Pocket Susan Advice: Moving isn't really fun, but it is an opportunity for a clean slate for decorating and design.  I like to look at catalogs like Pottery Barn for inspiration especially since actually ordering from their catalog isn't in the budget right now.  This last time around, I found references to their web site and helpful tips scattered throughout.  Visit potterybarn.com and depending on your needs, search the following topics.  (Disclaimer: obviously the videos encourage you to buy their goods -- it's key to take the information and ignore the sales pitch!)

To watch a video about choosing media furniture - SEARCH: media video

DESIGN TOOLS: Find the perfect sofa, create your own mix of pillows, design a room from top to bottom and much more.  Our online design tools make it easy.
SEARCH: stylehouse

VIDEOS: Get easy decorating tip for the experts, see firsthand how we design our pieces -- and what inspired us to create them -- then get the inside story on the homes featured in our catalog.
SEARCH: video

PARTY PLANNER: Learn how to throw a great wine-and-cheese party, as well as how to host five other unique parties.  You'll also find recipes, timelines and free downloadable invitations -- all designed to make entertaining at home simple, casual and fun
SEARCH: party planner

ONE SMALL SPACE 5 WAYS: Just a few simple tricks can bring comfort, style, and easy living to the smallest of spaces.  Watch how our designer transforms one compact room into five warm inviting retreats.
SEARCH: 1 room 5 ways

MEASURE FOR WINDOWS: To learn how to measure for window coverings
SEARCH: measure for windows

Winston and the $ilver Mining Plan

Why has it been so long since I have written on this blog?  Some of you have asked and I have answered that work has consumed my life.  This is true.  Of course, I would have a difficult time explaining what it is that I do all day.  And it varies from week to week, day to day, and even hour to hour.  Like this fine example from a few weeks ago:

I was wrapping up some student organization consultations (normal work) and walked out to our administrative associate's desk area.  Jose was talking to a man who was carrying a stack of flyers.  He looked to be about 60 years old and my initial reaction was that he was homeless.  (After a year of riding the bus to work every day you start to get a sense of who needs to get somewhere and who really needs a warm place to sit.)  The man was telling Jose that he wanted to meet with Mary Beth who is my boss' boss and Jose was trying to explain that Mary Beth's calender was booked solid.  Now it's true that if someone who is not a UT faculty, staff, or student is on campus and refuses to leave the building we can call UTPD to escort them out, but we do try to avoid that whenever possible.  Jose was frustrated so I stepped in, introduced myself as an associate of Mary Beth's and asked if there was anything I could help him with.

His name was Winston.  He was 64 years old.  He proceeded to tell me all about his $ilver Light Mining Plan ($ change his).  You see, the $ilver Light is a whole new untapped area that can produce our American economy with billions of dollars and take us out of debt.  Winston's flyers were recruitment posters for employees for the company.  If you signed up to be one of the first 200 employees of the $ilver Light Mining Company you would receive a free t-shirt and safe bus transportation to Memphis for just $15.  In Memphis, you would attend Winston's speech to reveal to the world his plan for $ilver Light Mining and announce the release of his book, which would unveil the truths proving that he is the next Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Oh yes, that's right.  The next MLK, Jr.  It turns out that in addition to being an entrepreneur and an author, Winston believes in reincarnation and in conspiracy theories.  And I got to hear them ALL.  For an hour.

I finally managed to send Jose an iChat begging him to interrupt and say that my next appointment was here just so that I could send Winston away.  He left me with two flyers; one for Mary Beth and one for UT President Powers, because we're close.

And that is what I do with my life.  That is the story of Winston of the $ilver Mining Plan.

AKA  You know you really want my job.

AKA  What I did with my master's degree today.

AKA  You can't make this up.