It's been a neat morning

Got an IM (instant message) from my brother late yesterday afternoon asking for some information for my nephew.  My nephew was going to be on campus today for the enrollment/orientation process, and my brother was needing some information on various locations.  Due to the late signup for the enrollment, my brother wasn’t going to be able to attend the day with his son.  During our conversation, I offered to ‘hang out’ with Chris, and make sure he got where he was supposed to be, after clearing it with my CIO.  Needless to say, my brother took me up on the offer.

I met up with Chris and his girlfriend a little after 8:00 am, and made sure he was parked in the right place (in case the parking nazi were on patrol).  We got to the registration area and started the day off right.  Without getting into a lot of detail, the morning went fine, and was a good “bonding” time with my nephew.  It was also good, in the idea that this will remind him that Uncle Ron is around on campus, in case he needs any help, or just needs to talk.

Right now Chris is in the actual Enrollment process, where he will be talked through enrolling in his first semester, then we may go over an introduce him to one of the faculty members in the major he is looking into.  After that is a tour of the Residential Life housing options.  Looks like it is going to be a full day of “information overload” for him today.

Who knows …. I might even have to miss one of my meetings this afternoon …..  :-(

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The "Lost Liberty Hotel" project

Weare, New Hampshire (PRWEB) Could a hotel be built on the land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter? A new ruling by the Supreme Court which was supported by Justice Souter himself itself might allow it. A private developer is seeking to use this very law to build a hotel on Souter's land.

Justice Souter's vote in the "Kelo vs. City of New London" decision allows city governments to take land from one private owner and give it to another if the government will generate greater tax revenue or other economic benefits when the land is developed by the new owner.

On Monday June 27, Logan Darrow Clements, faxed a request to Chip Meany the code enforcement officer of the Towne of Weare, New Hampshire seeking to start the application process to build a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road. This is the present location of Mr. Souter's home.

Clements, CEO of Freestar Media, LLC, points out that the City of Weare will certainly gain greater tax revenue and economic benefits with a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road than allowing Mr. Souter to own the land.

The proposed development, called "The Lost Liberty Hotel" will feature the "Just Desserts Caf�" and include a museum, open to the public, featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Instead of a Gideon's Bible each guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."
    Complete Article

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How To Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay them.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
   (Note: not original ... but certainly worth sharing!)
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AudBlog 23Jun2005 - Swimming

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My Father's Day

I had a wonderful Father's Day .. many thanks to those readers/friends which sent me messages.

Highlights of the day:
At church, Henry shared a wonderful message to encourage/uplift the fathers, and at the end, had all the fathers come to the front to be prayed over. After the service, the church has a big cook-out, with pies as the desserts. A few weeks ago, all the fathers were asked to name their favorite pie, so that all would get at least one slice of their favorite (mine was Pecan Pie).

After church, we went home and I got my Father's Day presents. Hope gave me a picture with her footprints on it, and a small book she illustrated. She drew pictures on each page, while a friend caligraphied her 'reasons' for loving her daddy:

I Love my Daddy
• I love my daddy because he goes to work for use and gets money for food and clothes
  
• I love my daddy because he plays tickle with me and Sarah
  
• I love my daddy because he takes my family camping

Sarah read the following to me:

Dear Daddy, What If...
What if I didn't have you, dear Daddy,
To walk just a little ahead;
To show me all the turns in the road,
So I am rightly led?

What if I never sang a song
That my Daddy had taught to me?
What if no one was there to teach
What I've learned about at your knee?

What if you never made me laugh
Or wrestled me in the floor?
What if I never watched the stars
With a Daddy I adore?

Take me along, dear Daddy.
For, I watch every step you take.
I try to follow your footsteps.
So, make them plain, for my sake.

When I see you on bended knee, dear Daddy,
When I hear you say my name in prayer...
I know what makes you so big and so strong.
And, I pray you will always be there.

No wonder my Mommy loves you.
You're the apple of her eye!
And, I see you looking at Mommy -
Like you won the world's greatest prize!

I thank God every night for you, Daddy.
I'm the luckiest kid in the land.
For I know that you practice, in earnest,
The life of a Godly man.

When I say my prayers, dear Daddy,
I always ask Jesus to bless
My Daddy, my helper, my hero...
Who always knows what is best.

You remind me so much of Jesus!
How'd you get to be so much like Him?
I know, if I walk in your shadow,
The Way will never be dim.

I'd like to thank you, dear Daddy.
I'd like the whole world to know
You're the best Dad a kid can come home to.
Dear Daddy, I love you so.

One day I'll be grown, dear Daddy,
Might have a child like me;
And because of your ways, dear Daddy,
I'll be the best I can be.

So, teach me your ways, dear Daddy.
Teach me the Savior's love.
Let's walk hand in hand, dear Daddy,
Toward that wonderful land above.

Can it get any better than that? Yep, cause Renee got me a gift certificate for a one-hour massage from Total Rehab .... now I just need to schedule an appointment :-)
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AudBlog 17Jun2005 - What a show!!!

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AudBlog 17Jun2005 - Waiting for the show to start

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Coming to a theater near you! - Part Two

After talking with Sarah about her part, it is a little-big part. She has no lines, but she will be on-stage the entire time! She is one of the trees in the forest, which are supposed to be "bad guys", but are more humorous in nature: as different characters talk about objects or experiences, the trees will act out (via mime) what is being discussed (without the actual character's knowledge, of course)

Sarah is really hyped about this ... and it looks like it will be a fun show!
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AudBlog 13Jun2005 - BBall

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Coming to a theater near you!

Missoula Children's Theater came to town today in preparations of producing a "Snow White" play this weekend. From MCT's website:

The Missoula Children's Theatre International Tour Project is the largest touring children's theatre program in the U.S. The concept is based on a week-long residency during which a team of two staff Tour Actor/Directors develop and produce a full-scale musical with 50-60 local children as cast members. Auditions, intensive rehearsals, workshops and finished performances for the public are all part of the residency. The plays are updated versions of classic fairy tales and children's stories such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz and Rumpelstiltskin. Each production comes complete with professionally designed scenery, costumes, props and makeup, as well as sound and lighting equipment. This season MCT will send out 27 teams to put on approximately 900 residencies, which include over 55,000 young performers in all 50 states, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia.

Sarah went this morning, auditioned and got a part. It's not a big part (which she really didn't want, I don't think), but she got a part. She will have intensive rehearsals this week, but come Friday/Saturday, she will be in a 'professional' production.

When I stated this out with "Coming to a theater near you!", I meant if you are in the Stillwater area :-)
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Tablet Review - First time to show the VP

Showed up for my 11:15 meeting with Dr. B to cover the use of the Tablet PC. Dr. B called in Gen G and we got busy. First thing to do was to turn off the bright overhead lights in the office because "that darn glare is so bad!" (direct quote). While I was going to pitch for the Lifebook, after they informed me of the limited use of the product, I was beginning to show the Motion tablet as the stronger of the two products (considering the needs of the intended user).

After about 10 minutes, Dr. B stated that the user actually just needed what he had stated carrying within the last week ... a Siemens SX66 Pocket PC Phone, a very sweet, but pricey, phone that would allow for syncing with the user's Outlook account, have wireless (802.11b) as needed, and an SD card slot for 'external' storage. If this is actually followed-through with, Dr. B indicated I may need to acquire one so that IT can provide a support posture for the user. That has both good and bad sides to it: GOOD: I might just get a cool/productive toy. BAD: I have to support this particular user?

More to follow.......

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Director Review .... part 3

This morning's 'interview' was very informative and invited questions from almost all in attendance. The range of questions was far greater than the previous two interviews, but the interviewee had answers that were 'spot on' and didn't need a lot of time to think about them. It was obvious that he has spend numerous hours thinking about the needs of our area, and was prepared to share those thoughts with us today.

All the members of the TS area have been invited to share their input with the CIO. I just submitted my three reviews via email to her Admin Asst. Time to sit back and wait for the big announcement!
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Document Imaging has become 'my world'

Like it or not, Document Imaging (DI) or Elecrtonic Document Management System (EDMS) had become my own little world to live in here at OSU. While I may have small little side projects assigned to me as Manager of Special Projects, my main directive right now is the Document Imaging project for the OSU system. As such, I am starting to learn tiny tidbits of knowledge that only a geek would remember, or try to figure out how to work into a conversation.

Examples:
According to International Data Corp (IDC), "Each day, this nation churns out 600 million pages of computer printouts, 234 million photocopies, 76 million letters, and 24 million documents. This comes to an estimated 45 sheets of paper for every worker. And, 95% of all information is still on paper."
---- AND ------
The average cost to fill and maintain a single, four-drawer filing cabinet is over $6,200 per year. The same cabinet can be scanned for less than $1,500.

Keep an eye out for future DI tidbits!


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Director Review .... part 2

Today's 'interview' didn't go bad, considering 90+% of the interviewers currently report to the interviewee (and the other work with him some way or another).

The reason it went ok was the fact he has inside information as to the 'health' of IT, and knowledge of what needs to be done. All in all, it was an informative, but not suprising, experience.
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Learn the ways of the farm

Somebody (or somebodies) with way to much time on their hand put together a well thought out parady of Star Wars, but with the battle between Organic and non-Organic produce.

List of Characters: Chewbroccoli, C3Peanuts. Tofu D2, Obi Wan Cannoli, Cuke Skywalker, Lord Tater, Princess Lettuce and Ham Solo

Can be viewed at: http://www.storewars.org/flash/
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New Director for my (sorta) area

I added the "(sorta)" in the title above, because it is still up in the air whether I am officially a member of the Technology Support group of IT, or reporting to the CIO. When speaking with her last week, there were talks about my physically moving to a different location and working closely with the other Project Manager (what a thought!). Anyways....

The Director of Technology Support(TS) position has been vacant for quite a while, and was recently opened for applications. I turned one in, but didn't make the final three (no sour grapes ... depending upon who is hired). Thursday of last week, members of TS received an email from the CIO's Admin Asst indicating the final three, and the upcoming interview process for them. The first order of business for each of the three is a meet-n-greet meeting with the staff of TS at 8:30am.

Today's meeting was with candidate #1, MB. His first impression went over well, partly because of his effort and some because of prior knowledge of one of the other three candidates. MB's interaction with the staff was informative, and he was hit by some pretty deep questions (I started the day off with a bang ... no reason to waste a perfectly good 45 meeting with fluff!). He also shared some of his goals, not only for this position, but for his personal future. I would give him a 4 out of 5 stars.

Next candidate's meeting is Wednesday morning. I will be busy all the rest of the day, so it may be Thursday before I report on that meeting (which won't be a positive review ... I already have a history with this guy)

Note: MB, you said you did your homework quite thoroughly .... did you find this blog? Leave me a comment or send me an email if you did.
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Update on Tablets...

Just got out of a meeting about the tablets, and left with an exchange for the Lifebook. Since it was underpowered in the RAM area, the new one has 1.24GB. That might just make a difference!
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Got a couple new play toys (temporarily anyways)

Yesterday, during a trip to Oklahoma City with my CIO to visit a vendor, we talked about tablet PCs and I mentioned I would be more than willing to test drive a tablet if the need arose. As we returned to Stillwater, she mentioned how her next meeting was with (vendor name deleted) to discuss tablet PCs. I reminded her of my offer, and joking replied that if the vendor left one behind, I would test it for her.

Imagine my suprise when she walked into my office about 45 minutes later with, not one, but TWO tablet PCs for me to evaluate. One is a Motion Computing M1300 (slate only, 997 MHz with 1GB of ram) and the other a Fujitsu Lifebook T series (convertable, 1.4 GHz with 256MB of ram). Both are older units, having been in use at other locations, but you gotta start somewhere.

I have (translation: get) to evaluate both of these PCs for the President's office, and a few other areas, and then provide my recommendations. I was advised that at least one more, maybe more, may show up on my desk before long. Now I just have to figure out how to get one to stay at my desk.....


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