Alma Mater

I was back at my Alma Mater this weekend -- I'm on the Alumnae Association Executive Board and one of the twice-yearly meetings happened.

A couple of things -- and forgive me if I brain dump, but I was up until 2:30, then slept until 4:30 and have been up since.  Athena + No Sleep = Confused, Befuddled Woman

1. apparently the answer to all questions is "class agents."  It was interesting to note how a program that was started to engage alumnae has now morphed into a whole new deal. 

2. 2 days in board meetings (on two of the most beautiful Missouri days ever) made me crazy.  All I wanted was to go outside.

3. Seeing friends was an extra-special part of this weekend and I could just about weep over it right now.  Mind you, I'm tired and easily prone to fits of tears at this point, but really, thinking about the fact that I spent *one* year with these women and within a few short minutes, we were back again as close as ever astounds me.  What an incredible college -- and that is why I'm so proud to serve.

4. I bought the cookbooks -- my college was known for the food and a big reason for that was the 5 star chef in charge of the menu. 

5. I was both encouraged and discouraged by this weekend.  I'm not sure which I feel more, which concerns me.

More later as my thoughts gel and I have more than two hours of sleep.

Back in Sunny Florida

Whoa, this has been one hell of a weekend.  I went from 80 degrees to 60 to 30 to 60 ... and returned to 60 degrees.  I drank an amazing amount of wine and promptly passed out cold (5:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. will do that to a girl).  I slept on a relatively comfortable futon.  I was able to hang out with friends.

And, crazily enough, I was treated like a rockstar. 

WTF?  I mean, I volunteered for this.  No pay.  No benefits.  No nothing, really, just a committment to serve my college for six years.

I've been on a conference call for three hours now.  You can imagine the level of my excitement.   The damn thing is supposed to last another hour.  I will not.  I am choosing to get a bikini wax instead.  This seems like more fun.

Yes, you read that right, bikini wax over conference call.  The conference call is over a grant I will be applying for on behalf of the College.  The problem is the conference call has a volume problem (and has since the beginning), the speakers are approximately fourteen kinds of boring and I wish I had just stayed in ATL yesterday to see the presentation.  I know, ridiculous, but really, it would be better than Death By PowerPoint as I am living now.

The Handy Guy is coming over for dinner.  No romance, people, don't get excited.  Just want to cook for someone and he seems convenient. 

Had some absolutely X-rated dreams about Rugby this weekend and last week.  Not sure why he popped into my head but if he's gonna do that, I think these dreams are a perfectly acceptable way.  

Headed to see Lu this weekend in Venice on Thursday night/Friday/Saturday, then off to Dad's on Saturday night - Sunday.  I totally spaced Easter. 

Yesterday I was sitting in a bar at the Kansas City Airport (shocking, I know) having a beer (even more shocking) when I start talking to the bartender.  Apparently he and his girlfriend have been together five years.  He is 33 and she is 27.  They have never lived together.  Then he says they want to get married.  I was like, hold up, stop the bus, back the truck up, WTF?  Not that I think living together is the ultimate test of a relationship (as I know many that are perfectly happy/good in their marriages without it) but I think the bigger issue is that they've been together five years with no movement towards marriage.  It was a fascinating discussion.

So in the middle of this discussion, he has to serve someone else.  I was looking at my calendar and discover, Joy of Joys, that I have Friday off.  Good Friday!  Indeed, it is Good!

With that wonderful discovery, I order another beer.  'Cuz what's a girl to do but celebrate that kind of news!

Observations from Rural Missouri

I'm back again at Cottey C, located in Nevada, Missouri.  Nevada (pronounced Neh Vay Duh, not Neh Vaaa Duh) is located about two hours south of Kansas City and one hour north of Joplin.  It is approximately ten miles from the Kansas border.

Nevada doesn't really change.  Yes, Wal-Mart is bigger these days, as is the Sonic, but some things just haven't changed.  Nevada boys still whistle at the women as they cross the street, the eastern part of town still smells like a Post-It note/Scotch Tape (a 3M factory is located here) and the legendary Cottey food is still, well, legendary. 

It is weird how this town calls people back to it.  Honestly, it is just a small town of 8,000 with a women's college stuck in the middle.  My hostess this week, T, was my "senior" (to the uninitiated, she was a year older, and thus, at a two year school, there are freshmen and seniors) and I've been camping on her couch.  Last night I passed out (yes, out) on her couch in the middle of a gathering of the Posse (a group of like-minded women all affiliated with Cottey past/present).  Never mind the incredibly good wine that was flowing nicely, it was the 21+ hours I had been awake at that point and wa-la, I was passed out cold around 2 a.m.

Two of the most incredible years of my life were spent here.  Now I've committed to a two year term on the Cottey College Alumnae Board, with potential to give six years.  If my plans hold true, I will gain my Ph.D. just about the time I leave the board.  Wow.

Tonight was dinner at Chicken Annie's, a restaurant located in rural Pittsburg, Kansas.  The food was incredible.  For T and I to have fried chicken dinners and beverages, the total bill was less than $20 with tax.  The stranger part was watching the last few minutes of the Butler game at a restaurant in rural Kansas.  You might imagine I was in the minority as a Butler fan in a sea of Kansas State fans. 


With my future aspirations to be a college president, I wonder if I'll land here. I could live here again, I'm sure of it, as this town as a certain type of charm that truly is indescribable.  You'd have to be here to believe it.

Kansas City Here I Come ...

right back where I started from ....

******

This Friday I head to my alma mater, Cottey College, to be inducted onto the Alumnae Association Board of Trustees.  I am thilled.  I am honored.  I cannot wait.

Need to up my collection of Cottey gear (some new t-shirts) and generally hang out with my lovely friends.  I have my reservation made for my friend T's couch and am just so pleased to see her.

******

Had a great weekend with Lu.  It seems she is doing better (thank God) and appears to maybe even be a little happy every now and again.  I am just so happy for her and glad she is making a place for herself in this world.

Going out with the Handy Guy again before I take off to KC.  Am pretty sure it is just friendship but one more "date" won't ruin that.  He's a nice guy.

Nothing else to report.  So looking forward to my weekend :)

Wow.

I was brought to tears tonight. 

I'm not a big crier, as I hate to cry either alone or in front of people -- I really have to be hurt deeply to cry at all, let alone in front of anyone.  I'd rather drop a cement block on my toe than cry in front of people. 

Tonight though, I did cry. 

I picked up my mail from yesterday after I returned home from a totally delicious dinner at Mary and Lee's house.  I wandered into the house, sorting it, then happened to notice an envelope from my alma mater, Cottey College.

Last week I'd received notification that I'd been appointed to the alumnae board for Cottey.  I posted this on Facebook and a friend of mine suggested that my P.E.O. friends, as well as classmates, make a donation to Cottey in my honor.

She did so.  The notice I received today was notification that she had done that. 

I am honored, flattered, amazed and just overwhelmed by the kindness.  What An Honor.

The Craziness Continues

I received word today that I have been selected to be a part of my alma mater's alumnae association board.  This is SUCH an honor and a joy I can hardly contain my excitement. 

I'll go in a month to meet the board and be inducted, then my first official meeting is this fall.

Cottey College Alumnae Board. 

Wow.