On Nov. 1 we went to the UE vs. USI basketball game. What a disappointment. For those of you that don't know, USI is UE's cross-town rival. The games have always been close and there is always a great crowd.
Issues this year:
1) the crowd was not into the game or very sizable
2) the ticket price went up so it was about $25 for a couple to go
3) refs called a million fouls and wouldn't let them play (both hit double bonus far from the end of each half)
4) both teams played horribly and neither of them deserved to win
5) the UE pep band did not sound very good... I know it's a basketball game, but sheesh (I can say that because I was a loyal member for 3.5 years)
Happy moments:
1) the game went into double overtime which made the end very exciting
2) UE was victorious!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Fall 2008: Engineering Classes
Starting in August, I am taking 2 engineering classes at Ivy Tech to work towards my Associates Degree in Engineering.
1) Geometric Visualization (Intro to Auto CAD and solid modeling)
2) Vector Mechanics: Statics (first course in Engineering Sciences)
I have really enjoyed thse classes, but they have become a slight burden with work really heating up... see "Nov 3: Analyst Migration" post.
The Geo Visualization class is alright - Auto CAD is really useful. We are basically learning how to put things we see into the computer.
The Statics class is the best. We are basically learning why things don't move - bridges, trusses, concrete roads, anything. It is fascinating. I'm not sure if I will take more classes next semester yet.
1) Geometric Visualization (Intro to Auto CAD and solid modeling)
2) Vector Mechanics: Statics (first course in Engineering Sciences)
I have really enjoyed thse classes, but they have become a slight burden with work really heating up... see "Nov 3: Analyst Migration" post.
The Geo Visualization class is alright - Auto CAD is really useful. We are basically learning how to put things we see into the computer.
The Statics class is the best. We are basically learning why things don't move - bridges, trusses, concrete roads, anything. It is fascinating. I'm not sure if I will take more classes next semester yet.
Oct 30: Phi Mu Family Dinner
I had my whole Phi Mu family over for dinner! It was a lot of fun - we played some Wiiiiiiii!
Little: Stacey Cloum
Little Little: Dinah Bailey
Great Gran Little: Theresa Tuttle
Great Great Gran Little: Rachel Vaughn
Little: Stacey Cloum
Little Little: Dinah Bailey
Great Gran Little: Theresa Tuttle
Great Great Gran Little: Rachel Vaughn
Oct 28: Magic Johnson
We went to hear Magic Johnson speak at The Centre. He was such a great speaker - mostly spoke about how to rejuvinate inner cities in the US. He has the only joint venture with Starbucks (all other stores are 100% company owned) and his stores' average transaction per customer is higher than the total Starbucks average!
It was also really neat to hear him talk about his basketball experiences (including about Larry Bird) and the four greatest shots he ever saw.
It was also really neat to hear him talk about his basketball experiences (including about Larry Bird) and the four greatest shots he ever saw.
Oct 24-25: Knoxville
Kenton and I drove down to Knoxville, TN, (about 5 hours) and met my parents at Penny Sampson's new house. It was a really fun weekend. I got to meet Penny's two grandkids who were SO cute. Penny can see four sets of mountains on a clear day from her sunroom! We also learned how to play a domino game called Mexican Train which was a ball!
Penny's amazing view from her back porch
Kenton and me on the front porch
Penny and the grandkids
Penny's amazing view from her back porch
Kenton and me on the front porch
Penny and the grandkids
Penny's cute house - beautifully decorated, of course
Oct 24: Great Great Gran Little
On October 24 I got a Phi Mu Great Great Gran Little... Rachel Vaughn! She is wonderful! Downside... reminds me how old I am in Phi Mu Land.
Oct 20: Health Clinic Volunteering - FSSA Modernization
I went to this event at the Women's Hospital here in Evansville and found out about an issue facing our community. The Family and Social Services Administration has been completely modernized to its detriment (this is where people apply for Medicaid, food stamps, etc.). Modernized... they put the application system online and through a call center... only problems are that the people who need theses services the most (the elderly, disabled, mentally ill, children) do not have, do not know how to use, cannot get to a computer AND/OR do not have a phone that is not a prepaid phone (uses minutes even for an 800 number).
Effect: local people are not getting the support they need to survive (e.g., 120 newborns whose moms' were on Medicaid are not getting insurance and hence no well baby treatment after birth)
On Oct. 20, Kenton and I were trained to have appointments at this clinic for those with no or inadequate insurance each Monday from 5pm-7pm to help people fill out these applications. THEY ARE NOT EASY. It is amazing that the state government has done this without thinking through the ramifications. They expect someone with a severe mental illness, barely able to get out of bed in the morning, to be able to fill out this application on their own. Don't get me wrong, I believe in Capitalism and that people who are able should pull themselves up. BUT, I do not believe that we should abandon those who CANNOT pull themselves up.
So we've been volunteering each Monday and when we don't have appointments, we have been doing clerical things at the clinic. It has been very rewarding and eye-opening. Once you talk to someone who had a job, is recently disabled, lost their job, doesn't have insurance, has less than $500 in a savings account, and over $300,000 in medical bills, you feel blessed.
Effect: local people are not getting the support they need to survive (e.g., 120 newborns whose moms' were on Medicaid are not getting insurance and hence no well baby treatment after birth)
On Oct. 20, Kenton and I were trained to have appointments at this clinic for those with no or inadequate insurance each Monday from 5pm-7pm to help people fill out these applications. THEY ARE NOT EASY. It is amazing that the state government has done this without thinking through the ramifications. They expect someone with a severe mental illness, barely able to get out of bed in the morning, to be able to fill out this application on their own. Don't get me wrong, I believe in Capitalism and that people who are able should pull themselves up. BUT, I do not believe that we should abandon those who CANNOT pull themselves up.
So we've been volunteering each Monday and when we don't have appointments, we have been doing clerical things at the clinic. It has been very rewarding and eye-opening. Once you talk to someone who had a job, is recently disabled, lost their job, doesn't have insurance, has less than $500 in a savings account, and over $300,000 in medical bills, you feel blessed.
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