Some things you just can't make up. For example, a nation's regulations regarding flying witches.
http://dailycaller.com/2013/05/17/african-country-prohibits-witches-from-flying-higher-than-150-meters/
Wow. Just wow.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Stormy Weather
There is nothing like a tornado to focus the mind. You are sitting in your recliner, watching television, when the Emergency Broadcast System interrupts the programing. The announcement is that a tornado has been spotted. People in the vicinity should seek shelter. Really? Shelter? I'm not from here. Define shelter. Define vicinity.
A community on the other side of Fort Worth was hit badly. Six people were killed. A tornado is a scary thing.
Since then I have been researching storm shelters that can be installed in the back yard. I don't know anyone who actually has installed one of these bomb shelters, but right now it seems to be a great idea. The only spot in my house that fits the definition of "shelter" is a closet under the stairs. Frankly, I've got six well fed adults living in my house right now. All of us in that closet would be like putting 10 pounds of dirt in a five pound bag. Additionally, from the news footage of the damage done by the tornado, I didn't see any closets still standing. All I saw were slabs of concrete.
I don't recall being this concerned about the onslaught of 20 inches of snow.
A community on the other side of Fort Worth was hit badly. Six people were killed. A tornado is a scary thing.
Since then I have been researching storm shelters that can be installed in the back yard. I don't know anyone who actually has installed one of these bomb shelters, but right now it seems to be a great idea. The only spot in my house that fits the definition of "shelter" is a closet under the stairs. Frankly, I've got six well fed adults living in my house right now. All of us in that closet would be like putting 10 pounds of dirt in a five pound bag. Additionally, from the news footage of the damage done by the tornado, I didn't see any closets still standing. All I saw were slabs of concrete.
I don't recall being this concerned about the onslaught of 20 inches of snow.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Summer Vacation
I've booked my flight for my summer vacation. I have a hotel reservation. I was even able to use my Holiday Inn points to save some money. I'm going to the Adirondack Mountains. The hiking there is wonderful. I will likely do very little hiking. However, I will likely do a lot of sitting in the hotel lobby reading a book, as it is a wonderful hotel and I really like their lobby.
To fly from Dallas to the Adirondacks you do not get a direct flight. The best I could do was to fly to Burlington, Vermont. To do this I must first fly to Houston, then to Chicago, then to Burlington. From there I will need to rent a car, take a ferry across Lake Champlain and then drive on narrow roads to Lake Placid. By the time I arrive I will need several days to rest.
In Lake Placid there is a great bakery, run by a German fellow, who thinks one of my friends is Mike Myers. It doesn't get us a discount. After all, the man is German. There is also a fairly good steak restaurant. Other than that, not much. Oh, there's a movie theater. I'm certain I'll catch up on the summer block busters.
Vacations confuse me. I hesitate to leave my house, for which I have paid a pile of money, to stay in a room in another city, at great expense, where my stuff is not located. However, this will be a week for me to catch up with some old friends. Without a doubt we will get on each others nerves.
It will be great.
To fly from Dallas to the Adirondacks you do not get a direct flight. The best I could do was to fly to Burlington, Vermont. To do this I must first fly to Houston, then to Chicago, then to Burlington. From there I will need to rent a car, take a ferry across Lake Champlain and then drive on narrow roads to Lake Placid. By the time I arrive I will need several days to rest.
In Lake Placid there is a great bakery, run by a German fellow, who thinks one of my friends is Mike Myers. It doesn't get us a discount. After all, the man is German. There is also a fairly good steak restaurant. Other than that, not much. Oh, there's a movie theater. I'm certain I'll catch up on the summer block busters.
Vacations confuse me. I hesitate to leave my house, for which I have paid a pile of money, to stay in a room in another city, at great expense, where my stuff is not located. However, this will be a week for me to catch up with some old friends. Without a doubt we will get on each others nerves.
It will be great.
Interview Questions
Interview questions for an entry level financial aid
administrator:
Are you insane?
Did you read the job description?
Again, are you insane?
Have you ever been diagnosed with an Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder?
Are you
taking medication for that disorder?
If
offered the position, are you willing to reduce or quit that medication?
Do you enjoy working in an environment where your
questions will usually be answered with the statement "it depends"?
Do you enjoy reading the Federal Register?
If yes,
again, are you insane?
Do you know anyone who has aspired, as a child, to work
in a musty basement with poor lighting, explaining to young adults that they
are not likely meet their educational goal of being a brain surgeon,
considering they have a cumulative GPA of 1.6?
Are you
that person?
How do you feel about earning less than someone who
stands at a table handing out publications and explaining why the school's
tennis team is outstanding?
Do you love your family?
Do you
want a believable excuse for not seeing your family?
Interviews with me can be fun.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Five X
My professional association, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, is selling t-shirts to raise funds for a scholarship fund. The sizes go up to 5x. I wonder, what does that say about us as a profession?
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
High School Life
I spoke today to two classes of high school juniors. The topic was the college financial aid process. I am reminded once again how un-hip I can be. I want to be clear. The students are fine. The teacher was great. I, however, do not translate well to the 14 to 17 year old cohort.
To find the school I had to use Google Maps. This is a school in the same community as the college which employs me. I should be embarrassed. At least this time I asked in advance for the school's street address. The last school I visited I assumed there was only one high school in Garland, and that its name would be Garland High School. I was wrong. So wrong.
On the way back to campus I stopped at Whataburger and picked up a large diet Dr. Pepper and an apple pie. I don't usually leave campus during the day. In fact, I don't usually leave campus when the sun is up. It was nice. I should do that more often.
To find the school I had to use Google Maps. This is a school in the same community as the college which employs me. I should be embarrassed. At least this time I asked in advance for the school's street address. The last school I visited I assumed there was only one high school in Garland, and that its name would be Garland High School. I was wrong. So wrong.
On the way back to campus I stopped at Whataburger and picked up a large diet Dr. Pepper and an apple pie. I don't usually leave campus during the day. In fact, I don't usually leave campus when the sun is up. It was nice. I should do that more often.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)