Living with Purpose

My department has nominated me for a really cool teaching award. There will only be fifteen winners across colleges in the great state of Texas, so I don't think I have a chance of winning, but being nominated shows they think I'm doing a good job of teaching - and that really means a lot to me. I have to complete the nomination forms, and the writing is extensive. One part asked for evidence of my teaching philosophy. Being a huge supporter of recycling, I went through old computer files and found the teaching philosophy statement I had to write for umpteen thousand applications several years ago. I used parts of that and added some new things.

Next, mail came to the office. The stack contained a letter of recommendation I had asked an esteemed colleague to write as five letters are required. I read the letter...and I cried. You see, the VERY THINGS she mentioned I was doing in the letter were EXACTLY the things I had written years ago in my teaching philosophy statement. It's coming full circle as I prayed it would -- what I wanted to accomplish, and what is being accomplished. She never knew what I wrote - only what I was doing.

My statement - then and now - began with this: "The future is not some place we are going but one that we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination."~John Schaar.

I could not be more thankful.

The Air Blade - the COOLEST!

JP and I had dinner at one of our favorite places in Big D last night. I have to tell ya, the company was awesome (as always!) but a trip to the restroom revealed something that was TOTALLY awesome! The Dyson Airblade: Here is video created by the inventor and manufacturer. Dyson engineers and scientists took 3 years to create an entirely new type of hand dryer. This cool machine blows clean, unheated air through an opening the width of an eyelash at over 400mph (640kmph) to hygienically wipe hands dry in just 12 seconds. It uses up to 80% less energy, too, so it's better for the environment. Now for the cost: $1399.00. I love it when people take things that we use every day and make them significantly better through technology. Awesomeness.

I'm going back today to Gloria's - not so much for the food - but to go play with the Dyson Airblade!

Building A Mommy Legacy

The days are so busy I can hardly keep up with my own schedule. Today was no different. Back-to-back meetings interrupted by class. There was no break, but I have to say, while exhausting (and a bit tedious as I am fighting a cold and have laryngitis!), I loved it. At 2:30 I left my domain and crossed campus from the Science and Technology building
and headed to another. There, sitting in a chair with notebooks askew, was Annie. Today was her last clinical test. And I was the 'patient'. She was nervous. Last night during our rehearsal (accompanied by two cats and a 2 year old) she seemed a bit overwhelmed. Today was no different.
We went through over one hour of tests - I can't tell you all the things she did in front of the (very sweet)clinical nurse with the checklist. She looked at me many times, in my eyes -- you know -- THE LOOK -- and I looked back to tell her "you are doing fine. Keep smiling." She did. She passed -- all 160 tests (that is not a typo). She missed 11 things. She REALLY passed.
Very soon, 12 hour hospital shifts will comprise the next phase of her training. Audrey's comings and goings will be of great concern and yours truly will be taking up the slack - and happy to do so. What to do about travel, late nights at work, choir gigs, social things...I don't know. We will figure it out. One thing I have learned -- when things are meant to be, they do work out. Don't worry--it's a waste of time. THEY WILL work out.

I had lunch at 4:30 - followed by some more meetings. But all the while, I could only think of how far Annie has come.

Some day Audrey will be writing a story about her Mommy. I can't wait to read it.

Brush with Greatness

Courtney Pauroso came through town recently. She's on her way to Los Angeles as she is an aspiring - and extremely talented - actor. Annie's known Courtney since they were in high school. Since then, Courtney has graduated from Tulane with her fine arts degree in acting, and has been in several plays in the DC area and has had some awesome reviews. She's gonna be very famous, but we knew her when. We love you Courtney!

Audrey in her favorite Wall-e shirt


Audrey LOVED riding the motorcycle!

Courtney will be famous someday ... mark my words.

Nurse Annie

Sometimes I think about leaving Corpus Christi - job offers that look pretty darn good, living closer to JP, not dealing with hurricanes---but then there are days like today. Annie is completing the 'book' phase of nursing school (which is right down the hallway from my office btw!) and is getting ready to enter the hospital phase of her training. She is doing her clinical exams in front of a nursing instructor and being tested. I'm her volunteer 'patient'. Last night, she practiced oscillating and otoscoping and working with pen lights and tuning fork --- while Audrey did the same thing to her toy Woody (from Toy Story) doll. You will be glad to know that Woody has good skin turgor - at least, that's what Audrey said. It was a blast.

So today I hopped over to the 'examination room' and Annie went through a physical assessment in front of a very nice nurse instructor. I tried not to make funny faces and be very serious while sticking out my tongue and stuff. It was not easy, but I succeeded. Section by section, her big smile, blue eyes and black high heels continued to ask me the right questions and run the stethoscope and other instruments where they belonged. A few little errors - just enough to show her human-ness and make me smile at the thought that soon she will be in scrubs doing these things on strangers -- who I know won't be able to miss her big smile and blue eyes. She passed with flying colors and made an A! We now start practicing muscles and joints and stuff - Phase Two as they call it.

Walking back to my office a car full of young women who took my class this summer drove by, waving and hollering "Dr Mac!" I realized, for the millionenth time how lucky I am...how incredibly blessed to get to watch and see and experience all that I do.

Annie and Audrey - the latter in utero - were there when I defended my dissertation and officially became Dr. McCollough. She - I mean they - helped to run my powerpoint for me in the conference room surrounded my committee members. Today, the tables were turned. I couldn't be more proud.

I love you Anne Marie. You are going to be an outstanding nurse, and already are an outstanding mother.

Big Day!

As you can probably surmise from the illustration, today was a big day for Miss Audrey. Yes indeedee, after her Mommy sent her in with reading material and promises of chocolate and stickers, Audrey came running out of the bathroom shouting, "I did it! I did it!". A big day. Oh! - To not have diapers to deal with anymore .... a very big day! We love you Audrey Anne!

Perfectionism in a Sunday

Sunday was a perfect day today because:

• Annie and Audrey came to church today. We had lunch afterward.


• A hymn, full of jubilation and beauty was sung so beautifully by the choir today that Annie commented, "it gave me goosebumps".


• Trying to sing while holding back tears of joy and thanksgiving was an unforgettable feeling.


• Today was my deceased father's birthday, and our parish priest, Father Joseph's birthday. It's comforting to know that there are people supporting us in heaven and on earth - and these are some of my most favorite people.


• It was wonderful hearing that JP is settled into his apartment, reading the paper on the patio after hooking up his washer and dryer. Contentment has been very elusive for him lately.


• My place is clean, laundry done, refrigerator filled and ready for new work week.


• HEB had ribeye steaks on special and Honey Crisp apples are in!


• We are singing with a symphony for a special mass on Wednesday evening. The attorneys and judges from surrounding counties have a special mass once a year to bless their work. How awesome is that?


• My bills are paid.


• I donated 6 huge bags of clothing - most of it business suits and dresses that don't fit anymore (too big) - to the local charity who is pleading for donations for the hurricane victims.


• There was time for a nap today.


• I graded papers in my office at work while listening to today's mass...http://www.goccn.org/mass.cfm


• Audrey told me that she loves me. :)
  
  
  

Corpus Christi Pontifical Choir Member

I've been practicing with this group of about 80 people for three weeks, three hours on Thursday evening after a full day of work and teaching. Weekday rehearsals are held in a room with linoleum floors and steel folding chairs - the school and church, while beautiful, are very old. There is a piano. And a very, very gifted choir director/organist who is, quite literally, world renowned. I have never practiced singing like this before - we never sing the whole piece! We tackle about 10-15 different pieces and go in and do parts with the men in one room and women in the other. We do parts of the pieces - the hard parts. And then go to the next piece and do the same. The last 30 minutes is when the men come back in and we sing some of it together, but still, never the whole song. It's laborious, but the people are so nice, so lighthearted and the director keeps things moving along. I have to tell you it's exhausting, difficult, and I really wondered if this was going to be worth the work.

The last hour on Thursday, I received my choir robe. And my brand new music notebook with my name on it. We left the rehearsal room and went into the church, and up three flights of stairs to the choir loft. I helped a lady with bad knees and I figured this must be pretty special if she was willing to do this climb. She mentioned she had been in the choir for 17 years and she loved it.

When we got upstairs, there is an AWESOME view of the church. I had to hold back tears. It was AMAZING. Then, the director started to play the organ, and we sang - the whole piece. All 80 voices with the magnificent organ accompaniment, and the hard parts went without a hitch. I cannot tell you how my heart was so full, the sound so glorious, I KNEW this was worth it. I was in awe.

I can't wait for Sunday - our first mass as the choir takes a break from July - September and the mass is televised every week for those who cannot attend. I just cannot wait! I am so thankful to be part of something so very, very special!

Gearing up for GEAR-UP!

You know how you get phone calls/requests you avoid because someone wants something and you don't have the time?? I finally accepted the call - and went for an interview. Gear-Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a Dept of Education funded program that involves collaborative efforts between colleges and other entities to prepare our students for college. Specifically, those students in underserved (minority) populations. Someone recommended me to be a "faculty fellow" for this program and I've been avoiding her calls...until this week. Now, I am super excited. Yes, this is EXACTLY what I have wanted to do since beginning my teaching career - it EXACTLY matches what I wanted to do when I completed my education and training as a doctoral student, and is EXACTLY why I wanted to come to south Texas. The work involves driving 90 miles to a struggling middle school in Falfurrias Texas. I will be helping the science teachers teach science with creativity and energy and never even MENTION the TAKS test. Help the students get excited about college and see it as a real possibility rather than an unreachable dream. I've been talking to a lot of people, trying to figure out how to squeeze this time into an already overloaded schedule, but...I plan to involve my students in this effort as they learn to teach science as well! How cool is that? I think I've got it worked out - I'm talking to my Department Chair tomorrow. I can't tell you how excited I am at the prospect!! I am so joyful as the possibilities are limitless, and I do love middle school students - this is where I earned my first experience as a science teacher. Ohhh my goodness! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!