Thursday, June 21, 2007

Okay, Let's Try That Again!

I know it won't be the same. But I'll try again on the meme I lost last night. See yesterday's post if you missed it. I highlighted all of the text to make some font changes and it blipped away, never to be seen again! I'm used to Word where you can hit the reverse arrow and get it all back. I know, I know, there's probably a way, but I didn't catch it soon enough. So - here goes. You'd think you could remember what you wrote the day before, but . . .

What I was doing 10 years ago . . .

I recently found my journal from those years. One thing I was doing was not writing often enough, and knowing I would regret it, which I do. I seemed to be very tired, coming home and vegging after work. Kristen was newly working across campus from me, having had her heart broken by a really neat guy. We were in a peaceful period with Kevin and I had some good talks with him about his spiritual condition. But I said he seemed to be bitter, but searching.

In early July we suffered a catastrophic flood on campus. There was a heavy rain, but nobody thought anything of it until it hit a burm around a railroad track, stopped, backed up, and flooded a very poor trailer park behind the Dairy Queen. I drove by it every day and had never noticed it. Five lives were lost. On campus, nobody knows for sure why it happened as it did, but it covered the entire campus, flooding the basements of numerous buildings, taking out years of professors' research, books, artifacts. The library basement was destroyed, taking all of our department's books and journals among many others'. The basement of the student center was gone, floating away all of the textbooks awaiting the students' return for fall classes. It was a mess. For weeks, temp employees boxed up the library's books in cardboard boxes to be sent to Fort Worth for a dry ice process that was supposed to salvage them. It didn't really work - they still smelled like mildew.

It ended up being a $100 million project to restore everything. The unexpected benefit was that projects that were on the back burner awaiting funding for much-needed improvements were accomplished because of insurance money. A blessing in DEEP disguise.

We were not allowed back into our building for a couple of weeks, so we took turns working out of a makeshift office in a nearby building - one phone, one computer. It was a very crucial time for me, so I ended up taking calls at home. When we did return to our office, the basement was closed for a year, and the "ambiance" was anything but pleasant.

It was very hot when the students returned to classes, and the lines snaked around campus waiting for a turn to purchase books from huge truck containers parked on the patio of the student center. Reminded me of the days when I was in college - you presented your schedule to a book store clerk and they went into the storage area to bring back your books. It's not like that now - they hunt for their own books among shelves and shelves of books - very, very expensive books, I might add.

The powers that be decided it was more important to have heat back in use before snow flew, so air conditioning was non existent. It also reminded me of my days in college pre-air conditioned classrooms and dorms. Huge fans blew, making it almost impossible to hear what was being taught. Lines were everywhere. There was now only one path, instead of several choices, from this side of campus to the student center - the crowds were horrendous. Since the basement of the student center was also gone, it was not that enjoyable to go over there that year - too much close communion!

If you come to visit campus, you can see the line painted on the wall of the center as you walk down to the very-much-nicer lower level. They took all sorts of measures with landscaping and wall-building to try to avert another such so-called 500-year-flood from wreaking the same kind of havoc someday when we're all gone from this earth. I'm not sure it would work.

What I was doing 1 year ago. . .

I was sitting at this same desk, with an older computer probably. Maybe not. But I definitely was not writing a blog before I began the work day. I was working 2.5 days instead of 5 half days. I was busy working on an admission process for our Colorado Springs cohort of our program. It was very, very hot very early in the summer. I was getting less enamored of the job I have loved for years. I am getting closer and closer to retirement, at least mentally! Too many changes too often too close together.

5 snacks that I enjoy. . .

  • Peanut M&Ms
  • Dove dark chocolate
  • Well, anything chocolate for that matter
  • Cashews
  • Wheat Thins and other yummy crackers

Did you notice that baby carrots did not make the list, though I'm trying to snack on them more often.

5 songs I know the lyrics to . . .

  • This Little Light of Mine
  • Majesty
  • It Is Well With My Soul
  • Na na na na na na na
  • Moon River

And probably a thousand hymn, choruses (older ones), children's songs, and "elevator music". Can you tell I spend a lot of time in the car with kids' CDs playing??

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire. . .

  • Tithe first, of course
  • Pay off the kids' school loans
  • Buy a newer version VW bug for myself
  • Buy a Miata for DC
  • Retire, store the cars, and be a volunteer missionary in St. Croix (no kidding!)

5 bad habits . . .

  • Reading when I should be cleaning house
  • Doing anything else when I should be cleaning house
  • Making excuses for not going to the gym
  • Talking when I should be listening
  • Taking my blessings for granted

5 things I would never wear again (or at least SHOULD never wear again) . . .

  • Long straight hair
  • Skirts above my ugly knees
  • Sleeveless anything
  • Shoes over one inch high
  • Pierced earrings - ear lobe infection is not fun!

5 toys I love

  • My digital camera
  • My printer/scanner/copier
  • The cd player on my computer at work
  • My library card
  • My bike (riding with DC on these lovely cooled-down evenings)

I don't know who's done this, so go for it if you think it looks like a fun game!

14 comments:

Diane Viere said...

Dawn,

You are too, too, too funny!

I love this meme...and love getting to know you even better! Thank you for working through your futile frustration...and posting this.

It is filled with great points....skirts above our knees....ewwww! Why does gravity hit our knees so quickly!

As for long hair....should I get mine cut before you visit in July????? ;)

Love your toys! I love my digital camera too! How did we ever live without it!

Diane

someone else said...

Hey, I think I know the words to na na na na na na na na, too! Too funny.

Beth is trying to sell her classic VW bug.

Janae said...

This was a fun tag. I have been running around and reading others who did their meme. I am glad you were able to get this up:)

Kristen said...

Well, no wonder you were frustrated you lost it. Your "what I was doing ten years ago" was a post in and of itself.

I never knew you wanted a VW bug. I'll take your mini van, please.

What school loans?!?!

Susie said...

Wow that was a long post to lose! No wonder you were feeling frustrated.
I'm with you on the short skirts and low heels.
I know na na na na na na, too!
xo

Linds said...

I really loved the futile frustration post, Dawn. I know how you felt! It is great to learn more about you. I know the words to na na na na as well. And the others you listed.Isn't it amazing how much we all have in common!

Unknown said...

This was so much fun to read! Thanks for doing it twice. :-)

groovyoldlady said...

Nice meme about youyou.

I thought about doing it myself, um, about me because you already did it about you (and a lovely job you did too!) but I can't remember ten years ago.

Did I even know me then?

Sherry said...

amen to doves dark chocolate

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I know Barb @ A Chelsea Morning and I are the oddballs, but when it comes to chocolate --- neither of us cares much for it, especially dark chocolate. Give me cheesecake or pastries or fruit anytime over chocolate.

Boy, from what you wrote this time it's no wonder you were frustrated about losing the first draft of this meme. I'd have had a hissy fit if I'd lost a post this long!

I'm with you on the digital camera, printer and other computer toys. I've only had a computer for 4 years, been online for a year and a half but now I don't know how I ever did without one.

Have a great Friday, Dawn! :-)

Love and hugs,

Diane

rena said...

Great meme. I dare not read back on my journals from 10 yrs ago - too depressing! (that was before I walked with the Lord)

Enjoy your weekend.

Tammy said...

I just read this meme over at another blog, and now yours- and I love it! I may have to do this one!

Loved your answers...it's strange thinking back on our lives 10 years ago, isn't it?

(Your bad habits are mine, too!)

Midlife Mom said...

Loved this meme! I can relate to a lot of the answers! Short skirts, Oh how I wanted to wear those at boarding school but they made us wear them down to the middle of our knees.....we rolled the waistband up when we got out of sight to make them look shorter. Now I wouldn't be caught dead with them over my knees.....ewwwwwwwww!
When did my knees get flabby?

Sharon Lynne said...

I liked your toys! Those would be my favorites too!

I can relate to your "bad habits"
I'm always thinking..."I should be cleaning the house."

But you can always tell yourself...If you're not cleaning, that means your LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST!