THE END!

What a fitting end to my Residency
& start of my Outreach Position!

*

My Pursuit of Employment in the New Millennium
article was published!

*
*
I've searched for the perfect smiley face to express my excitement but
the above one was just classic.
*
*

Thanks for playing!
Signing Off
The Librarian-in-Excellence!!

Tah Tah

ALA Annual

Dear Diary,

I finally returned from ALA's Annual Conference.
RefWorks executives told me they enjoy reading my BLOG. Ha!

I learned about this interesting Marketing blog.

We finished our Emerging Leaders poster session
*
*And I met Nikki Giovanni.

South Bend Tribune Photo

Dear Diary,

Unbeknown to me, a photographer took a photo of me and my BFF. We were celebrating her receipt of a lovely bouquet of flowers from an admirer. This was an "AWWW How Sweet" head nudge.

And apparently the photographer snapped our picture and published it in our local newspaper the South Bend Tribune. Ha!

I am going to be famous yet!

BFFs

Great Minds Think Alike...
even down to the exact same shoes!

Cat Lovers

Dear Diary,

I love cats more than anything in the world, yes more than people. I have an incredibly low tolerance for pain and would never even consider giving birth to a human child and going through labor etc....but after watching this SNL clip...I thought "Hmmm... maybe I would give birth if I could give birth to a kitty!"

My favorite clip (giving birth to a cat) is at around 3 minutes into this clip. Also my BFF got the most beautiful flowers from an admirer delivered to work, and when I went in her office for my daily dose of free candy, I started imitating Penelope in this SNL clip. Someone in her office gave me a really nice Notre Dame lunch bag and so I tried bragging "Well I got candy and a bag, so I guess I'm better than you, cuz you on;y got flowers, so-o-o-o." Ha! Watch the clip then you'll get the joke.

RUSA Appointment

Dear Diary,

I was appointed to the RUSA Access to Information Committee. YAY!

Just 'Cause It's Friday

Human Skin Book Cover

Dear Diary,

Yesterday during my Pirate Class for the Upward Bound students we toured Special Collections. We saw cool artifacts from sports, such as signed boxing gloves from Smoking Joe Frazier, and sequin covered wrestling gear. Ha!

But the main attraction by far had to be the book covered in HUMAN SKIN!
Yuck!

Web Layout Design Tutorial

I'm teaching web layouts tomorrow using this interactive Web Design & Layout Tutorial.

Notice this tutorial does not work in Firefox.

Citation Cop - Test Embedding

RefWorks Citation Cop

Jaime O'Hare the Faculty member who teaches FYC classes brought in her Upward Bound Students today. What a lively group they were. Jennifer our newest librarian sat in on my Pirate class. Jaime explained how she uses Blogger for the students to post their assignments for her and she explained how to EMBED YouTube videos instead of just providing the links. Yay!

Shout Out From Korey!

Dear Diary,

Today I met a few more of the IMLS student workers and Korey by far is the most ugh...umm..how shall I put this...ugh SPECIAL! Ha! Ha!

I only had a chance to chat with him briefly but look forward to him joining my mentee Andrea and one of last year's IMLS workers, Tarrez at lunch next week. Tarrez actually knows him so this promises to be a blast!

Korey created his blog.
Even though he thinks I'm crazy, he gave me a Shout Out. Hey, Foreal Tho'
http://truelifeofkoreyjackson.blogspot.com/2007/06/felicia.html
*
*

Oh yes and I had another request
for ...you guessed it
the PIRATE TEACHER.

*
*
I told my manager, it could be worse and she agreed saying "Yes professors could be saying Keep that Pirate away from my class!" I told her one of the main reasons I created the Pirate was to create a minor stir on campus and get people talking about and interested in the class. Oh well, the phrase "Victim of your own success" comes to mind.

Oh my, Korey say my RefWorks Commercial, but I am sure he knows nothing of the Pirate. He'll really think I'm crazy then. Ha!

GRAND FINALE: JAWS Published!!

Dear Diary,

I wrote this article during my very first rotation
as a Resident in the Law Library in Fall 2005.

It seems most fitting to have it be the final substantive publication of my Residency Summer 2007).

This article took the most creative ability that I possess. Luckily the editor believed in it from the very beginning and therefore it has survived the countless iterations.

She challenged me to add more quotes and develop my theory deeper and always always more statistical justification for my opinions and premises.

But finally it is done and it is a million times improved.

So without further ado my pièce de résistance is now available for your viewing pleasure!
I present to you J.A.W.S: a Historical Perspective!

Curriculum Mapping

Dear Diary,

I am working with some faculty to introduce Curriculum Mapping as on Outreach project. There are many components to Curriculum Mapping but the part I am focusing on is

• To help identify opportunities for integration among disciplines.

Engineering Classes

Dear Diary,

I taught my first few Engineering classes this week. I am convinced now there is nothing I cannot teach. Phew!

I was PEEPed as a result.
Privately Eyeing Excellent People nomination (PEEP).

My first time ever being peeped. Aww Shucks!!

Down Under

Dear Diary,

I was honored to receive a most gracious email from an Information Science student in Australia who read my Spiritual Literacy article and sent very flattering remarks. Aww Shucks! I was most impressed with their paper that they emailed me at my request.

One quote that stood out from their paper was

" Information literacy is the perception, reception and expression of information in all its dimensions with the intent of affecting and changing those to whom the information is expressed."

It's a Small World After All

Dear Diary,

In my continued attempts to move this Blog project along, I found a blog with similarities to what we want. So I emailed the library to ask some technical customization questions and was stunned to get a reply from a former professor from Library School. YAY!! She was one of my three favorite.

She reminded me of what I have heard since I embarked on my library career, "It is a SMALL LIBRARY WORLD!"

Blog-Mania

Dear Diary,

I have had my fill of blogs today. I created a real Blogger blog for Electronic Resources to see if it really works. Naturally it does not allow me to add categorized lists, and you know how we librarians love our classifications. Although one team member said they would not browse a blog using "Categories" but the other team member said they would ONLY browse a blog that provided categories. Naturally!

So just when I thought today would be the first day of the rest of the life of my work blog...we decided to try yet another software--WordPress.

Luckily, WordPress allows for a
DIRECT IMPORT of other blogs.
YAY!!

So it took maybe 5 minutes
to import my Blogger content directly into WordPress.

And I still had ample time
to climb down off of that ledge! Phew!

MySpace Led to Job Loss

Dear Diary,

I am working on Privacy Issues with my Emerging Leader team and we are presenting a poster at ALA's Annual Conference next month. So I have been getting lots of information about MySpace and Facebook. Some students were outraged when Facebook added a Newsfeed to notify your friends of all of your activities on your account. I just think it is a nuance.

I've heard all the horror stories of potential employers hiring students as moles to befriend unsuspecting job applicants in MySpace or Facebook and gather clandestine information that may be used against them during the interview process. I think about things I did in college out at clubs and would not want that to be used against me when looking for a job.

But after reading about this one girl who lost out on a job because of her MySpace photos, I can empathize with employers worried when laws are broken such as under-age drinking. People sent me this article because the pictures were of her as a "DRUNKEN PIRATE" and she wanted to be a TEACHER....remind you of someone? Not the drunken part, the pirate - teacher part.

The article is on the Smoking Gun, titled College Sued Over "Drunken Pirate" Sanctions.

Uncyclopedias

Dear Diary,

This is so funny. You gotta check out the Notre Dame Uncyclopedia. Much like Wikipedia, it informs the public that "Notre Dame was founded by God at the Dawn of Time in South Bend, Indiana. When the final stones of the campus were lain down, angels proclaimed its eternal glory. Notre Dame is a University for Real Christians only (catholics), which means that the Lord defends it with his own shield and sword. If you go to Notre Dame, you are automatically going to heaven." HA!

I am getting closer to finalizing my Electronic Resource News Blog. I fully intend to have a version up and running by mid-June if all goes as planned.

Marketing Program

Dear Diary,

Me and Leslie presented on Marketing at today's May Institute. My program was developed after two successful marketing campaigns I worked on to bring attention to library services.

Marketing efforts targeted the entire Notre Dame community, including students, employees and peer institutions. Specific marketing was done for students making use of popular media such as YouTube for both the Pirate and the Police campaigns. YouTube was used to both show videos already created as well as to spread a video created by the library.

Positive reinforcement (bribery) was used such as treasures, candy grams, and raffle prizes. Faculty marketing methods include the use of more traditional direct marketing techniques such as newsletters and emails. This program ended with take-away tips for putting these simple principles into practice today!

I reinforced the most important principle of marketing in my opinion -- Identify and admit when you have a bad idea and make necessary changes. I asked "What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Gummi Candy? -- Exactly--RATS. BAD IDEA!" Ha!

I gave away more than 30 Gummi Rat Candies to serve as a gentle reminder. Some gave them back because they were gross. Others said their kids love them. To each his own. Ha! They liked our commercial the best. I showed them the other two:

University of Wisconsin's and
the Original Arizona State's

Good Times

Dear Diary,

I am finalizing my presentation for our library training May Institute tomorrow. My topic is "Marketing the Library: Pirates & Police Oh My!"

I have been talked into wearing the Pirate Costume. Ha! Ha! I am actually looking forward to it. I have learned a lot over the last few days. Especially our evolution toward being "Curator of Content" instead of more traditional roles. Yay!

Let The Sunshine In

Dear Diary,

I got an unexpected reaction to my lovely poetry I wrote to use for the clues in our Caching project. I was reading some aloud and some co-workers in adjacent cubicles started laughing as did the student who was doing our card sorting usability test. So after not one, not two but three people looked at me as if they were sizing me up for a straight jacket, I decided I'd go back to the drawing board. Ha!

In fairness one of the cubicle neighbors offered to give me a microphone and set me up inside of the ladies restroom so I could perform my poetry, ala the street preachers in Chicago. Hmmm...maybe that is a good option for a captive audience. Ha!

Oh well it is sunny and Friday and the students are finished with finals and preparing to leave.

Anywho, I stopped by for my daily visit to our Administration office. I go there to mingle with the lovely staff...for some reason they think I only come for the free cholocates in the candy dish. Ha! Really I think I go because they always greet me, thusly, "Hello SUNSHINE!"

Yes, Sunshine, I am that!

This is Why I'm Hot!

Dear Diary,

I attended a presentation on Second Life (SL) , hosted by the Kaneb Center. The presenter kept jokingly referring me to as his Ringer. While I have only played around with SL, I was actually able to answer some questions from the audience that he was not. Obviously I learned a great deal from him, so it worked perfectly. I managed to impress my manager who was there. She actually said that she was very proud to have me in her department. Aww Shucks.

"Second Life" is a multi-user online virtual world with nearly six million registered users; at any given time you can expect to find 30,000 people there! Its primary use to date has been as a social gathering place, but more and more universities are actively exploring the possibilities of Second Life as an art gallery, library, business venue, virtual laboratory, immersive language environment, and more. If you would like to see a demonstration of Second Life and participate in the ensuing discussion

Not only was I able to answer questions, I provided information about the CyberOne class that Harvard conducted in SL. That has been added to the SL resource page, already.

***Bonus, I am officially one of the select few to be part of Kaneb's Center Faculty Learning Communities (FLC) for their upcoming SL project. YAY! FLCs consist of a multidisciplinary mix of five or more faculty members. FLCs focus on specific instructional issues from technology to ethical behavior. I am going to join them at at Conference in August discussing Second Life and we are going to work with a speaker coming to campus to discuss their University class in SL.
*
*
I have finished my Marketing presentation for the May Institute.
*
I am beginning to work on our Caching in at the Library project wherein the students use GPS to locate hidden objects in the library. I will write the clues in prose. It should be a lot of fun.
*
I am still working on my ERSA blog. Our Aystems Administrator added a WYSIWYG editor to Drupal which has added tremendous functionality for me. He removed the teaser module. It was not appropriate for our needs. I am finalizing our Measure of Success for a meeting with Systems that I have to lead in my manager's absence.
*
I joined ALA's Reference and User Services (RUSA).
*
I completed my first round of Card Sorting Usability testing today. Now I"m off to rest.

Meeting of the Minds

Dear Diary,

I had another fabulous day at work. We met with the Business Library and discussed shared marketing interests. I got an official tour of the Business Information Center and had a chance to marvel at all they do. We viewed some Librarian Trading Cards which we agree is a cool idea.

They seemed receptive to my "Info 4 Life" marketing idea. I introduced my idea for an Information Circus of sorts or a Notre Dame County-Fair type extravaganza. Perhaps use the circus "freaks" such as the bearded lady to introduce relevant branch libraries such as Life Sciences. Ha! I'm fleshing out the details but that is the initial thought. My co-resident has the attached cartoon on her door...even though she said it was not discussing me...I can't shake the feeling it does. Just Kidding, or am I? Ha!

ERB-avore

Dear Diary,

I have written my first ever Committee Charge. Yay! I am the Chair of the Electronic Resources Blog (ERB) Committee. We are at the stage in the process where we are evaluating the overall effectiveness of the Drupal Software. We are deciding if it is the best method to meet our goals. I have written the rough draft for the content and located corresponding images.
*
I also received a copy of the Library's Access Newsletter featuring my photo and the article about me as an ALA Emerging Leader.

24/7

Dear Diary,

I've been swamped as of late and have not had the time nor energy to update my blog. I am feverishly working on my Electronic Resources Blog, the content and terms for the links and playing in my newly created Drupal Sandbox. But hopefully we will be able to launch what we have within a week or two.

In preparation for my Outreach Librarian duties, I have created my very first ad, for the Spectrum Scholars 10th Anniversary booklet, that was approved and sent off to production within a 24-hour turn around. One of the new people I will be working closely with, suggested I slow down, since the deadline was not soon. Ha! She will learn that in my mind the deadline is always near. I like to think I am completion oriented. Yes, that is the nicest way to say I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

I am working on the poster session for my Emerging Leaders team to present at ALA Annual and I am also preparing for a presentation, Leslie and I are doing for our library's May Institute. The topic is Marketing which should be very fun. And of course there is my WPIT (Web Presence Improvement Team) Committee work.

Additionally, I have been conducting lots of card sorting usability tests which are time consuming. One day this week, I did usability testing in the morning, then went to a faculty meeting and was getting computer upgraded and there was an honest-to-goodness line outside of my door, at least 3 or 4 people were waiting to get in to talk to me. When the last one left they asked if I wanted me door closed? Yes, please or I would not have gotten any work done other than meetings. So I returned from a faculty meeting. I had literally 30 minutes free on my Corporate Time Calendar so while at the faculty meeting one of my teams requested I squeeze them into that 30 minute open time slot. Done. We left the faculty meeting 5 minutes early so I had 5 whole minutes to try to get some work done, and int hat 5 minutes my phone rang with another of my teams asking for that free 30 minutes. Ha! Ha! I told them it was already snatched up so they were kind enough to wait until my final meeting ended which was technically the end of the work day but they waited and we were also able to meet. When the staff person was upgrading my computer she said "When I looked at your calendar and saw you were booked solid every day, I thought it was a mistake...but now I see." She has agreed to vouch for me as she witnessed the line outside my door and the simultaneous phone conversations. It is all about Multi-tasking. I laugh when I think back to comments made to me by patrons, that "They wish they got paid to just sit down and read all day!" I wish I did too!

24/8

This sums it up nicely!

Welcome Boiler Makers

Dear Diary,

I had quite an exciting day today. Leslie, my co-resident invited the Library Residents from Purdue to campus for a network opportunity. It was really great. They said they learned a lot from all of the librarians who offered advise and we shared our common experiences as Residents. It was a beautiful day outside and we spent a lot of time in the restaurant which is always a crowd pleaser.
*
*
I left the lunch to attend a forum provided by G. David Moss whose speaker described an almost indescribable existence wherein she said there are roughly a million people in a square mile and there is no sanitation and this leads to what t is known as Flying Toilets. There is an interesting article on flying toilets available by clicking on that term.

*
*
But then I returned in time to spend the rest of their time here with the residents. I briefly attended a lecture on God, the Government and the Ghetto. I met a fellow NEW Outreach Librarians from Purdue and I am looking forward to starting what I will call the Outreach Librarian Association (O.L.A.) Yay! We are both the first ones in these roles and have similar target audiences and similar ideas of community outreach we are interested in. I told her I'd been trying to find Hoosiers doing Prison Outreach and she was interested. I told her so far I've only talked to one who is at the Indiana State University, Dr. Laura Bates.

In Wabash Valley Correctional Institution in Indiana. The "Shakespeare in the SHU" (Security Housing Unit) program was highlighted in an MSNBC Investigates report on the prison that aired last year and repeats regularly. Dr. Laura Bates founded a program whose purpose is to have a segregated population there "come to terms with their crimes" by reading, discussing, and rewriting Shakespeare. At the time of the documentary, the prisoners were working on Macbeth, which one inmate describes as exhibiting "parallels that correlate with urban life." These segregated prisoners rewrite the play, and then observe and comment as another group of prisoners enact the revisioned text. It seemed an intriguing approach.MSNBC Investigates"Lockup: Inside Wabash"Narrator: John Seigenthaler

Under the guidance of Laura Bates, assistant professor of English at Indiana State University, inmates from the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility at Carlisle will perform scenes from the Shakespearian tragedy "Macbeth," time-honored tale of the politically ambitious title character and his strong-willed wife and co-conspirator, Lady Macbeth.


The program is designed to improve vocabulary and reading skills, improve self-esteem, increase awareness of emotional health, and increase respect for others and a growing awareness of the benefits of honesty in communication. Along with Bates, Diane Kondrat of Interaction Theater, a non-profit organization that develops interactive theater programs for at-risk youth and adults, has been working with the inmates as facilitator for the dramatic portion of the play.
*
*
So, now I need to develop my outreach ideas but since technically I don't start that position until July 1st, I need to focus on my current work load which is far from waning. I love Notre Dame! I learn so much being here. Speaking of which, I need to get back to work.

From My Sister & Nephews

Not Bad For FRIDAY the 13th
:-)

Love This Poster

I am NOT tense.
Just terribly,

terribly alert!

Egyptian Blogger Arrested

Egypt arrests another blog critic

Police in Cairo have detained a blogger whose posts have been critical of the Egyptian government.

Rami Siyam, who blogs under the name of Ayyoub, was detained along with three friends after leaving the house of a fellow blogger late at night.

No reasons have been given for Mr Siyam's detention. The other friends were released after being questioned.

Human rights groups have accused Egypt of eroding freedom of speech by arresting several bloggers recently.

BBC Arab Affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says blogging in Egypt is closely associated with political activism in a culture where democratic freedoms are severely restricted.

In recent weeks, bloggers have been exposing what they say was the sexual harassment of women at night in downtown Cairo in full view of police who did not intervene.

Mr Siyam's host on Saturday night, Muhammad Sharqawi, was detained for several weeks earlier this year.

The most recently detained blogger, Abdel Kareem Nabil, was detained in Alexandria on 6 November and was charged with disrupting public order, inciting religious hatred and defaming the president.

Amnesty International says Mr Amer appeared to have been detained for expressing critical views about Islam and Egypt's al-Azhar religious authorities.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6164798.stm

I Have Arrived!

Dear Diary,

I accepted a job at Notre Dame!!!

It is a newly created Outreach/Marketing position in order to keep both Residents.
YAY! I am so glad to get off of that Job Hunting Roller Coaster Ride!
*
*
*Bonus: I got 2 articles Published today as well:

“Pirate-Teacher.”
Click here to access the Journal of Academic Librarianship, v.33, no.2, March 2007.

&

“Games for Teaching Information Literacy Skills.”
Click here to access it at Library Philosophy and Practice v.9, no. 2, April 2007

Ready for My Close Up

Dear Diary,

Today was the best way to spend a Friday. I attended a demonstration of teaching innovation and tools in the new Jordan Science Building and ran into my former co-star from the RefWorks commercial who was one of the presenters for the new WebCT Concourse. There were snacks and it is great weather out so that was nice.

Then I returned in time for my Photo Shoot for an upcoming article in our library newsletter, Access about my participation in the Emerging Leader program. It was in the library concourse during lunch time so I got a lot of co-worker attention. I wonder if they think this is really how I spend all of my time. Either shooting commercials or article photos. Ha! Ha!

Now I'm off to a retirement party filled with the most beautiful daffodils and more treats.

I really should stop eating so many snacks...
if I am going to continue being
America's Next Top Library Model.

Gutenberg offers 'In your home' support

Introducing the book -- Gutenberg offers 'In your home' support

Technical Service Help Desk for the first books. Too Funny!

Once and For All

Dear Diary,

I usually try to view all situations in a positive light. To that end, I have been trying to convince my mentors of the merits of my latest "IDEA." I am sure it is a direct result of my exhaustion, but I am also trying to make the numerous interviews I'm conducting more EFFICIENT. So I propose instead of doing 3 phone interviews each day, perhaps I can create a webcast of a sort of Audition Tape. I am applying for similar library positions with similar requirements. I only apply to those that I feel I am qualified for. And as hard as this may be to hear, libraries are not that dis-similar. Neither are their interview questions. Unfortunately, the do differ greatly in the topics I have been required to present on during my campus interviews. It figures.

But I digress. Like I was saying, I can create a recording to be viewed at the interviewers' leisure. No longer would we have to coordinate schedules for 4 or 5 people for a phone conference call. Instead, I can answer some of the basics that they all ask:

1) What interested me in their position/ university?
2) What makes me qualified?
3) What is my approach/philosophy to instruction/reference?
4) Do I have good communication skills?
5) Am I innovative/creative?
6) Am I a team player, but am I also able to work independently?

Now imagine a body answering those same or slight variations of those same questions over and over and over and over, in the span of about a month. Not just on weekdays, or during work hours but continuing on weekends and evenings.

Now I ask you would it not save all parties involved considerable time to have those questions pre-recorded and they can view it and then if they have more questions or wish to continue they could contact each other after that time saving measure?

Just think of it, the possibilities are endless. I could don my pirate costume and do a demo. I could use this as an example of my innovative ideas and creative ability. My managers don't think it will fly. But oh well...

Tech Support for Gutenberg Era

Dear Diary,

A brilliant man whom I admire immensely sent me this and for some reason it reminds me of him. Ha!

Technical Service / Help desk for the 1st book

http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2007/introducing-the-book-p1.php

Notre Dame Interview

Dear Diary,

I finished my 3 days of interviews at Notre Dame this week. I think it went really well, we should know within a few weeks hopefully. It is a strange situation, not only being an internal candidate, but having the only other candidate be my co-resident. This is pretty awkward for most of our co-workers who have explicitly stated that we are both great but just extremely opposite from each other, whatever that means? But at least, this is a win-win because at least the tradition will continue of the residents having the option to stay.

I worked incredibly hard on my presentation. And thank God, it went off without a hitch! No technology snafus or mishaps. I half expected the audience to begin tossing Rose Petals over my head, at the end of my presentation. But of course, I ALWAYS expect my audience to toss rose petals in fact I expect perfect strangers to do that when I walk pass, as well. I have been at times concerned that I have an over-inflated self ego. Ha! Ha!

I have gotten really great feedback about my presentation. I got some helpful questions afterwards that actually helped me convey a more definitive explanation of my example of class activities. I actually pulled up my Pirate Teacher class slides and went through them and heard a lot of "Ohs and Ahs." I don't think until that moment that I realized the potential for people to misconstrue my instruction sessions with little more than glorified play time. So when they realized the level of detail and content that is involved in my class, I think that strengthened my overall presentation. One of my co-instructors for my Pirate Teacher class was in attendance and he vouched for me, but I had not appreciated that the majority of the others only see me walking around in a Pirate Costume with a screaming sword...so they would have no way of knowing that I cover the same if not more content as all other instructors. So that worked out.

Some people were unable to attend my presentation, so I vowed to go to anyone's office who did not attend and RE-DO my entire presentation in their office. And so I did just that. I think people believed I was kidding and that was an idle threat. They know better now. Ha! Ha! And while I am not usually a supporter of FORCIBLE INSTRUCTION...sometimes it cannot be avoided. I can't imagine why people think I am slightly insane. Ha!
*
*
But seriously, I was thinking about that car insurance commercial wherein the speaker gives someone some bad news but adds, "The good news is that I just saved up to 15% on my car insurance!" Well, I think even though I have been somewhat, just a wee bit stressed out with juggling work projects and interviews...the good news is that I just saved 50% on my THERAPY bill!"

I love Notre Dame for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is the people who I work with. I have been blessed to have the most absolutely incredible mentors here. They not only challenge me professionally but they are always always there for me personally. And it is more than just a couple so it is a really wonderful support network. In addition to my work and interview and of course my publishing responsibilities, I have been steeped in personal and family crises. they never fail to keep my encouraged and always listen and give me a genuine smile and a big ole hug when needed. Aaawww Shucks!! I told them I can't imagine being somewhere else and not having them all within a few feet of my office. But we will see how this whole thing plays out.

I'm Back

Dear Diary,

I'm back. YAY!!

I've been off conducting
back-to-back campus interviews.

I'm utterly exhausted from:
traveling and interviewing
and doing presentations.

All interviews required I do very specific and very different presentation topics.

Naturally, all of the cities I visited shared the same weather as Notre Dame. Ha!

Did I mention that I still have a full time job? Oh well. It is just truly refreshing to be back home and have a few days before I fly out again for the next round of campus interviews in the first and second weeks of April.

I've been able to refine my selection criteria and have begun declining campus invitations which is pretty scary since I do not have an official offer. But "Leap of Faith" right?

Okay, time to catch up on my work.
Tah Tah For Now.

I'm on Vacation...

Up, Up & Away!

Dear Diary,

My Upward Bound Presentations went very well, especially since the first one was plagued by technical difficulties. My original big closing was derailed since I could not get sound on the computer which defeated the purpose. But I have suffered enough Technical Deaths to know how to be Reborn with a low-tech contingent plan.

So I had to rely on my quick thinking and so I piggybacked off of the wonderful keynote speaker points and ended with a powerful motivational poem by Les Brown called "Live Your Dreams." The keynote speaker was Attorney Cleo Washington.

One facilitator form Purdue said I need to make a recording of my presentation because it was so dynamic and I have an amazing personal story to share. So I invited him to follow me around with a video camera and we can make my life into a Reality TV show. Students asked me "How do I keep myself so motivated?" And I told them it is a daily struggle. I strive for balance because I tend to be an extremist, so I may watch Flavor of Love or some other "Mindless Entertainment Production." (Mindless Entertainment is actually the name of the company).

But for every hour I spend not using my mind, I double that amount of time spend doing something mentally challenging.

The keynote speaker spoke about Plato's Cave Analogy and tunnel limited vision. He also talked about the "Road Less Traveled" by Robert Frost.

My evaluations were very good and the audience reaction was overwhelmingly positive. I am on such a high. There is no comparable feeling than that of "Giving Back" to future generations. YAY!

This was just the boost I needed to get me over the hump for the intense few weeks that start in 18 hours.

Como Se Dice?

Dear Diary,

I just learned that a co-worker was awarded a research leave to study the Catalan language publishing industry.
I sure need someone to help translate Catalan, b/c when I visited Ibiza and Barcelona I noticed signs everywhere in graffiti that read:

"No volem autopista"

I was so saddened that the poor citizens were not allowed to have Autopsies.

Until my friend explained that "Autopista" means "Expressway." Doh!

But my friend got her new nickname on that same trip, My Banana!
Of course she later explained to me that they were calling her "Mi Hermana" which we all know means, Sister. But I decided I like Banana more. So there! Ha!

Refworks Commercial ... FEVER

Dear Diary,

I am proud to report that a few people have expressed interest in using our Citation Cop Commercial.

Even the company RefWorks may showcase it as a marketing tool idea for other customers. I have gotten a few flattering comments directly on YouTube.

In fact we are in talks right now with a librarian in another country who wants to use it in their library.

Aww Shucks!

Wabash Correctional Facility Book Donation Project

Dear Diary,

I am personally interested in doing an outreach project to correctional facilities. I don't have the time now, but I can donate, in the mean time:

The Black Cultural Center library at Purdue University accepts books for donation to the Wabash Correctional Facility.

The project is a collaborative effort between the Wabash Correctional Facility and the Black Cultural Center in response to inmates’ desire to have access to material relating to the Black experience.

In addition, the Center makes its collection available to the facility via Interlibrary Loan and donates withdrawn items from its collection to the facility.

You may send donations to the : Black Cultural Center library, Purdue University, 1100 3^rd, Lafayette, IN, 47906.

Clearly state that the donation is for the Wabash Correctional Facility to avoid confusion as possible donation to the Black Cultural Center library.

Trio Day Presentation this Saturday

Dear Diary,

I am still preparing for my presentation at Trio Day. I'm almost done, I've printed all 100 handouts and have rehearsed my presentation. Just adding some finishing touches. Below is an announcement that was on Notre Dame's Homepage today:

Upward Bound to host area students for Trio Day conference

The Upward Bound program at the University of Notre Dame will host students and parents from the local community on campus March 10 (Saturday) for a conference titled “Trio Scholars Embracing the Future.” In celebration of national Trio Day, which honors first-generation and low-income students who have successfully achieved a higher education, the leadership workshop will feature a keynote address by former state Sen. Cleo Washington.

High school and college students, including participants in Notre Dame’s Upward Bound program along with students from Purdue University Calumet, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Indiana State University, Vincennes University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, the Robinson Community Learning Center and the 21^st Century Scholars program, will attend with their parents.

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Joseph Donnelly of the 2nd District of Indiana, South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke, and Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., will be present at the conference.

In addition to the address by Washington, a Notre Dame Upward Bound alumnus, activities will include a college fair, an awards luncheon and workshop sessions designed to help students and their parents embrace college life and their future. All events will take place on campus at McKenna Hall, with the college fair beginning the day at 8:30 a.m. Registration information and a detailed itinerary are available on the Web

A federally funded Trio initiative for enhancing postsecondary educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged young people, Notre Dame Upward Bound has been serving students from the South Bend Community School Corporation since 1966. Other Trio programs at Notre Dame include Educational Talent Search and the Ronald McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program.

Organization & Flexibility is Key

Dear Diary,

I am doing what feels like the world's greatest juggling act. I need a personal assistant to help me keep straight my schedule. I try to cram all my job-hunting activities into the few hours before or after work or over my lunch. So between scheduling phone interviews and next week beginning in person interviews, and refreshing my memory about each specific position and institution, in addition to my committee work, instruction, and blog project, it is quite a task.

I appreciate the variations in approaches to these interviews. One group was kind enough to forward me the list of questions they plan to ask in my phone interview. That was much appreciated.

*

Another phone interview was held in the most unconventional manner ever. It took some scheduling ping-pong back and forth so once we had a time and date, I was reluctant to re-schedule due to my Strep Throat. But I was getting worse so was actually still out running errands and trying to get my prescription filled during my interview. They were willing to postpone it but I figured it is just an opportunity to showcase how good I am at multitasking. Ha! Ha! Not recommended.

Because the next problem was my cell phone started breaking up so I went outside. Total strangers were considerate enough to voluntarily come get me to say they were calling my name to go get my prescription, but of course when I got to the counter, my name had not been called. The entire process lasted about 30 minutes and we managed to get through the interview just fine. They were actually very flexible and it was just funny once I look back on it. I did thank them for being "with me" while I was in the doctor's waiting room. It was actually quite comforting. My dad used to go and sit with me during long waits at the doctors so they made me feel as though I was not there all alone. Ha! Okay, so I can blame the medication for any lapses in judgment.

An extra fun interview was with a person who had to interview me during the evening because of my hectic schedule. They too were at home and had to referee a fight between their cat and dog. Ha! They have 4 cats. I am a cat-fanatic and of course I am terribly allergic. But I really enjoy living vicariously through people who have kitties! Awww. On the bright side, I am not hating these late night and weekend interviews. I have free nights and weekends, so it doesn't reduce my monthly minutes. I've had more and more scheduled after 7pm and on Friday and Sunday nights.

I am hoping that I am not a victim of my own success. By that I mean, it is becoming increasingly more complicated to schedule campus visits. One person told me during the phone interview they were afraid I would not be able to fit them into my hectic schedule. Luckily I have the best-EST managers in the world and so they have been incredibly flexible. But even that has just about run into it's limits. There are only so many days in a week to move meetings and classes to.

Oh well...I know...I know...There are worse problems to have. It is all pretty exciting. I just could really use a personal assistant, but then again who couldn't. I could also use a maid and a personal chef and a massage therapist and ugh...umm... well you get the idea.

It is funny because some of the people I interview with have either called me back when they meant to call the next candidate, or emailed me using another candidate's name. I point it out and they all apologize. But I totally understand how easy it is to make those mistakes and I pray to God that I do not get mixed up when communicating with potential employers. But we are only human right?

Time Travel

Dear Diary,

Today I experienced the closest thing I ever have to time travel. Lately I have been spending a lot of time with the time and date.com website. I've had interviews with people in all different time zones and it is rather confusing because we tend to schedule in our personal time zones so there have been many clarifying emails specifying the times and the time zone.

Our Corporate Time electronic calendars had to be reset manually due to the Daylight Savings Time so I've just about had enough of time zones.

But on a more interesting note, today I had my first ever Video Conference.
It was so amazing. I love technology!

I interviewed with a potential employer in another country! WOW!! It was amazing because not only are they in a different time zone, but because of the time difference they are actually a DAY ahead of me.

So while I had an interview Thursday afternoon, it was actually Friday morning for them. Which makes me wonder: Were they interviewing me or my FUTURE SELF?
Whoa! That is profound! You have to think about that. Ha!

I do have a confession to make. The video conference was very cool, but can be fraught with pitfalls. I admit, I am truly vain and I enabled the "Picture in Picture" feature. This allowed me to see myself inside of the screen showing the interviewers. So at some points I found myself fixing my hair instead of giving my undivided attention to my answers. Doh!

I'm very much interested in Chakras and time-space continuum theorems, Black Existentialism, and other metaphysical principles etc. So I had an interview in another country on a future date at the same time I was in my office today. Well, sort of.

I am so honored that people in other countries are interested in me.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined I'd have these experiences.

All this while battling Strep Throat. I hope I'm not hallucinating as a result of the medicines I'm taking.