Matsu’s World: The One Less Traveled

This week I have been in British Columbia, Canada. I was attending the annual CCCU Technology conference with two of my colleagues (well, there were a LOT of colleagues, but just two of them work with me — Bert W., and Don H.).

This year Trinity Western University hosted the conference. Steve M. and his helpers did a wonderful job. It was a great trip where lots of fun and professional development took place.

I woke up at 4:00am this morning to begin the long trip home. One of the airline flights ran late, so the trip took longer than expected. I will give a more complete post with a summary of things I learned after I’ve had some sleep. In the mean time, let me say how great it was to see Steve M., Gary H., Rick D., Chris M., Gary F., Judy D. (yup, another shout out to Whitworth!), and so many other friends and colleagues from other CCCU schools. It was also wonderful to make some new friends and welcome some first-time attendees. I hope they got as much out of the conference as I did.

Oh, and before I forget, let me say how much we all missed our good friend and colleague, Scott T. from CBU. We are all glad you are getting better and look forward to seeing you in perfect health, again. You remain in our thoughts and prayers!

Now, I’m off to catch up on some much needed sleep.

I live in central Kentucky (USA). Today a winter storm went through the state (well, it’s still going on right now, so it’s not through, yet).

I just noticed that one of the school cancellations at the bottom of the television screen is for the Kentucky Beekeeper School. I had no idea that beekeepers had their own school.

I learn something new every day. I wonder what the bees do when the beekeepers take a day off.

Over the weekend I listened to a segment of NPR’s Weekend Edition with Scott Simon and Daniel Pinkwater. During the radio show each week they have a recurring segment on children’s books.

Last weekend Daniel Pinkwater reviewed a children’s book of poetry called, “Flamingos on the Roof” by Calef Brown. After hearing them read just a couple of the poems I knew I had to order a copy. I really connected with the author.

After seeing the cover and hearing the reporters describe the illustrations, I knew I would like the art as much as I did the poems. So, I ordered a copy of the book right away.

If you are curious and just want to hear a couple of poems from the book, you can go over and read about this segment of NPR’s Weekend Edition and see for yourself why that got me hooked. On that web page you can click on the “listen now” button to hear the recording of that broadcast. Enjoy!

Some of my regular readers may remember this post, so this news will not be a surprise to them. But, the rest of ya who may have stumbled across this blog should know that today, September 19th, is International Talk Like A Pirate Day! So, do your part and start talking like a pirate.

You would not believe the commotion the new iMac “Slim” created in my department when the first shipment arrived yesterday. (Do you call it iMac Slim or iMac Silver?)

I was in the conference room working when one of my staff walked in hugging a largish brown cardboard box. In tow was about 10 of his fellow IT guys and gals who knew what was in the box. They had come down to unbox the new iMac where they could all see it and experience the moment, together.

Recognizing the magnitude of this historic moment, I reached for my digital camera, but I had taken it out of my laptop bag the other day, so I swooped up my cell phone and snapped this photo of the team of Apple fans as they posed with their new best friend.

I should also point out that Chris J. Davis is standing to the right, just outside the frame. He did not want people to know he was part of this event. I thought about drawing him in with a pencil, but decided to grant him his wish and leave him out of the photo so nobody would know he was there.

(Note: I decided to make the second photo a black & white pic. It just looked better without color.)