The Nutcracker

We took Audrey to see the Nutcracker Ballet performed live at the large auditorium we have in Corpus Christi. It was very exciting as it was family night - no live orchestra so lots of kids and 'audibles' were allowed, to an extent. Audrey reported liking the sword fight the best - she is not into princesses. Also, on Monday, when I tuned in to the Nutcracker on the television and asked if she liked ballet, she gave me a very curious look. "Ballet?" "Yes Audrey, Ballet. Dancing like they do for the Nutcracker."

(Audrey didn't miss a beat...) "That's not ballet. That's yoga!"

Christmas Giving

I admired this necklace that a friend had on at church on Sunday - we're both in the choir, so we see a lot of each other. After my remark, she promptly took off the necklace and placed it around my neck. She explained that she always wears two - and whenever someone compliments the necklace, she takes one off and shares it. Now, she said, she would go back and purchase another. What a great idea! Such good friends in the choir. It's like a second family in many ways.

Life is full of so many blessings!

Speaking of Santa...

Audrey's first visit with Santa occurred recently. This Santa was awesome - the real deal including beard and belly. I think he's a relative or at least decendant of the North Pole resident. Audrey required no prompting. She didn't ask for a thing. She just wanted to hug Santa to death, and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Did I mention she didn't ask for anything? Experiencing life through a three year old is a joy and reminds us all of the reason for the season!

Santa's either early or...

I've been in the same apartment since coming to Corpus Christi in December of 2005. They're old, but wonderful. Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, fireplace, huge rooms, covered parking, about 1800 sq. feet...but they were built in the 1960's as townhomes so they have some wear and tear. So do a lot of the residents who have been here for 20+ years but that is another story. Age brings some problems - plumbing is one example. Several leaks have come and gone, a commode that literally blew up one weekend when I was not home - but as a renter, you don't care as you don't have to pay for repairs. And, it sure is nice to call and have them come fix things and not worry about cost. The pic is a leak that is being investigated in my entry way - they have had to take out sheet rock in the ceiling to locate the leak. Again, no worries as far as I was concerned. But Audrey was quite surprised when she walked in and saw the hole. She looked,she frowned, looked puzzled, changed her stance and looked again. She finally asked me, "Momma, did Santa try to get in?"

Yeah, poor Santa. He missed.

Thanksgiving 2009

Lots to be thankful for - SO much to be thankful for! Among my many blessings are the following Thanksgiving moments and memories. The day started by JP, me, Annie, John and Audrey participating in the Corpus Christi Roadrunners Club Turkey chase - three to four miles depending on whether you take the short cut :)

Pretty table and flowers compliments of JP! Love them!

So much fun being three years old and no one wants the turkey leg!

Can you find Four Happy Turkeys?



Cheers for Turkey Legs!

Cute couple!

Apres Thanksgiving dinner nap on Grandmomma's bed....

Just in time for Christmas

You may remember this post. The Corpus Christi Cathedral choirs spent many hours for a week practicing with orchestras and solists to produce this CD. Now, it's done. It's for sale. And friends, it is EXQUISITE. I can't believe how extraordinarily beautiful the production turned out to be - all singing Our Lord's praises. The CD includes both Christmas favorites, sacred hymns, and pieces that will move your soul. The cover (pictured) is of our cathedral in 2005 when the Christmas snowstorm hit Corpus Christi. How beautiful is that! I bought many copies for friends and family! Currently, you can get a copy via me or order them from www.msrcd.com. As a matter of fact, click here and you can hear some of the audio as well as read lots more about it!!!Very, very proud and humbled to be part of such a beautiful project! We are so blessed with SO much talent!!!

Fall Means School Pictures

In a red polka-dot dress and shoes that I found on sale for her, holding an apple, the prettiest 3.5 year old on the planet. She sings many different songs, tells me stories, says the Pledge of Allegiance and talks about super heroes and her friends at school. Her Mommy is her favorite and I run a close second. She is the light of my life - Audrey Anne.

Halloween 2009

Annie is Hermione (Granger) from Harry Potter, Audrey a pink Bat Girl. BOTH are in seventh heaven. I was asked to make Annies lined cape - I had a blast sewing again! It's been decades as I used to sew my kid's clothes and doll clothes and my clothes -- have missed it! Now I have Audrey's measurements to sew her a beautiful Christmas dress. And Bat Girl spent the night with me - insisting she put her costume back on after her bath as she wanted to sleep in it. She had sweet dreams for sure!

working with good folks

Seems like all I've been blogging about lately is work, but that is because that is all I've been DOING lately! Here's a pic from this weekends Ninth Annual Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Symposium - put together by moi. Third and last year in a row to do this monster. It's a plethora of details that need to be tended to from ordering the food, scheduling the venue a year ahead of time, getting the program and abstracts organized and printed, gathering judges (its on a Saturday - who wants to work on a Saturday??) and ...oh gosh. Even the boards that the student's posters are displayed on have to be literally put together every year. And this is around the REGULAR stuff I'm supposed to be doing every day. Anyway...here is me, my colleagues Dave Grise (biology professor - does team learning in a lecture hall of 200 students - awesome), Suzzette Chopin (many, many biomedical and research programs under her direction - just won the President's Award for Mentoring Students - one of eleven that were given across the U.S. this year), Deb Overath (genetics professor, married to Dave, has successfully beaten stage 3 breast cancer) and Dan Solis, Chairman and CEO for the National Organization of Mexican American Rights (superman without a cape - he is AMAZING - you can check out their website here). We are involved in sending undergrads through their National Park Service program.Probably the best thing about my job aside from my students who I sincerely love are the faculty and people I get to work with. Amazing. And the view of the beach from my office isn't too bad either! Back to work....

My Favorite Grant

The TAMUCC STEP (Science Talent Expansion Program) grant - 1 million dollars over 4 years. I am in charge of the mentoring aspect - my 12 lovely undergraduate students are selected and trained by me to tutor and mentor freshmen in biology, chemistry and math courses that are taught in an interdisciplinary fashion. It is a HUGE success, we are in our 3rd year and things are clicking. National Science Foundation, our funder, has already hinted at STEP Phase II. I am so proud of these colleagues and students as we create cutting edge curricula and implement new teaching and learning strategies. Meet my friends and students as we all contributed to make the promo video that is now on the TAMUCC website and also on You Tube. You can see it by clicking here.

My job is a blessing. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have been given.

Recognition

I gave a presentation last spring with two colleagues concerning my work with Family Learning Events at an international conference. I didn't know it but the editor of The Hispanic Outlook In Higher Education - a monthly magazine affiliated with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE)- attended our session. The result was much interest in our work which led to many phone and written interviews. The article was just published in this month's issue. I am so pleased that our work is receiving international recognition and know the ripples are affecting other schools and students! Such a blessing!!
You can see a pdf of the article by clicking here. Note the title runs across the two top pages: Dialog & Conversation on Latinos in Higher Education: Implementing Culturally Relevant Curriculum for Math and Science.

Meet Loki

Loki the dolphin was on board a helicopter this week - Jen was the pilot. She was in charge of transporting Loki to another location. She sent me this pic from her iphone and of course I had NO idea why! It turns out that Loki, and 3 other of Loki's comrades work for the Navy. They are marine soldiers. Jen said it was the only time in her career that she didn't want to fly - she had so much fun petting the dolphins as they waited, listening to them cackle and smile at her and they chattered the whole way. Of course, the dolphins are sworn to secrecy on their future assignments. You can see more about the Navy Marine Mammal Program here. Jen made four friends that she will never forget!!

Vacation in Cancun Mexico!

Sun, fun, great food, nice people - I love the Mexican culture and the native Mexicans. Some pics of the trip ----

I KNEW the trip was a good decision when I looked out the window after touchdown and saw a pelican painted on the tail of the plane next to ours. Pelicans are sorta my alter ego - you can read more about that here.

Here are several views of the resort where I stayed - I could not get enough of looking at the beautiful, clear, navy blue Carribean:





The resort was "all inclusive",meaning that all food and drinks were included in your stay. The food was FABULOUS. Especially the fruits and vegetables!! Going to dinner:


Fresh Sea Bass and salad with goat cheese:
Using my primitive Spanish I managed to take a bus and go into town for shopping and had a blast. The malls are outdoor and include many Western stores as well as native shops. A surprising factoid: all the stores open at different times!



Another day I went scuba diving off the coast of Isla Mujares - Island of Women. Its off the coast of Cancun - you have to take a ferry there. I LOVED this island. It's still Mexican in culture, is quiet and the biodiversity has been preserved. The reefs were not in great shape - two hurricanes in 2004 did a LOT of damage. Still, it was great to dive, to see the marine life and be in the tropical, clear waters of the Carribean:


I saw a lot of interesting critters including sea turtles - the Hawksbill is my favorite - rays, many colorful fish, dolphin that followed the ferry, taking a look at us. Also saw puffer fish, some cool invertebrates, the proverbial sea cucumbers, corals and sponges. It was great. I can't wait to go diving again!

Mexico has, sadly, become very Westernized - I was disappointed to see natives hawking cotton candy and trinkets up and down the beautiful beaches. But then I am reminded that they are so poor and the only way they can really make any money is off the tourists.

I had a great time - and can't wait to go to another destination next summer!

Heading to the Yucatan

Class syllabi for Fall semester are ready, NASA grant submitted, laboratory supplies ordered; mask, fins, snorkel and suntan lotion packed; shorts, bathing suits, flip-flops and passport packed too. I'm on my way - have found a good dive shop and will be getting wet at about 60-100 feet deep in blue water in about 32 hours. Staying at an all inclusive resort - that means all food and drinks (including alcoholic ones!) are taken care of! To say I'm excited is an understatement. I went through my diving logs last night- over 1000 hours logged all up until 2001 which was a life altering year. None since then, not one. That's going to change, big time. This is the first of many more trips I plan to take to our disappearing coral reefs. I love them and all the marine life that is associated with them - I can't wait to say hello.

We'll catch up later ----

170 voices, an orchestra and over 24 hours of recording...

...gives an Emmy award winning production company enough material to produce a two CD set. Yes, for 1 day and four nights last week, we were all in that (small) choir loft. Two talented directors and many talented people. It was hard, hard work. Many passages had to be sung over and over until the producer was satisfied. When I heard the voice over the speaker say "take 27", I knew I wasn't the only one who was tired and running out of patience. It was an awesome experience as we sang Christmas music with 106 degree temps outside, and the other CD is sacred music. I am so thankful to have been part of it - and glad to have my day job :) The CD will be coming out prior to Christmas. Stay tuned!

Sweetness at 3 years old

Audrey in my mother's backyard -- totally entranced by flowers and a fountain. Her hair, her little body...there is nothing sweeter. I love you Audrey Anne!!

Fishing Pole and Tackle Box - Coming Right Up!

This is very exciting -- I've ALWAYS wanted my own fishing pole and tackle box. However, work keeps me pretty darn busy. But now, work will involve said fishing pole and tackle box!!! The Sea Grant that was funded involves taking high school students out fishing and capturing oyster predators (spotted drum, redfish and others)and placing them in the cages with the oysters. Since the kids will need to learn how to fish, I've been told to start practicing!!! The grant's funds will provide yours truly with a brand new top of the line fishing pole and fully appointed tackle box!!! I can't wait! Dr. Mac is going fishing!!!!!

Who knew??

There was a newly hired professor who taught biology and did research on oyster reefs. One day he walked into the office of the newly hired science educator. He had an idea - she thought it was a good one. It involved having his graduate students, undergraduate students and 'at risk' high school students help with the research on the oyster beds, present their findings at professional meetings, and along the way, find out,"how did this experience change their thinking about science." You see, he knew all about oysters but nothing about how to measure learning, changed conceptions, etc. She knew lots about learning and conceptions in science, but the only oysters she ever saw were fried and covered with tartar sauce. So together they wrote a proposal. They submitted it - along with over 100 proposals that came from the A&M system, and no telling how many from other universities. This was pretty darn competitive....NOAA is the funder. They don't mess around. "No way", said the science educator. But the biologist remained optimistic.


You see that yellow dot located on the bend in Texas? That's the Coastal Bend. That's where Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is located. Our Sea Grant proposal was selected! Yes, we got it!! Two new professors with a crazy idea got the funding from NOAA. Now, the work begins. I think I'm gonna have oysters for dinner tonight - covered with tartar sauce.

SUPER SUPER SUPER EXCITED!!!!

IRB for Dummies

No joke, this is a process that NO ONE likes to fool with. However, I was lucky in that I had the hardest time EVER ON RECORD getting an IRB done as a doctoral student at UT Austin. Let me explain...in order to do research, you have to get permission to collect data and publish that data. Well, when you are doing research on students (gasp - MINORS!), you have to get a TON of permission and go through hundreds of hoops with school districts, the university you are working with, parents, guardians...consent forms in English and Spanish, research protocols carefully written and include every detail... it's a huge deal. It took me seven months, yes SEVEN months to get this done through Austin Independent School district. In the meantime, I waited and waited and could not do a thing as far as research was concerned until it was - FINALLY - approved. It was hellacious.

So, when a colleague (biologist) walked in yesterday and asked if I knew anything about IRB's, I was torn...do I say "yes" and take on this monster? Or reply., "never heard of it" and let him find another dummy? I said "yes"... very, very hesitantly. This reply, it turns out, got me on a grant proposal of over a million bucks if I wrote the IRB and ran it through the hoops:



Today, I started. It turns out since I had the world's worst school district to deal with in Austin (as they have the United States' largest research university in their backyard!), this one was, by comparison, a piece of cake. Yes, much simpler and much shorter. Oh happy day! I think it will be done tomorrow and we can collect some data next month!!!!!! Yes sir, it does pay to do your homework and learn. I am very thankful!

Finality in a Resting Place

I went to Dickinson to see family this past weekend - of course, it was a blast. There is nothing like your family to remind of what is really, really important. Here is a link that I've added to my Dad's blog. Dad would be so proud of his family. I know that I certainly am.

Super Proud Momma

This is my (very handsome!) son Scott. He starts classes on Monday at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He's made this happen on his own. Going back and repeating courses that he didn't care about in college to raise his GPA. Literally locking himself up for five months and studying for the Medical College Admissions exam (MCAT) - a hugely competitive process and very, very difficult examination. He's a veteran, was a Marine stationed in Iraq and slept in the sand during his tour there - discipline is not a problem. He will be Dr. McCollough in four years, God willing. That makes three Dr. McCollough's in our family. But this is my son...I can't believe it. I am so proud and so thankful - and just the thought of graduation brings tears to my eyes. I love you Scott - you have made your Momma so very, very proud!!!