It’s all good: No News is…News?

It’s all good: No News is…News?

I like this blog a lot because it has a nice “tone” — somewhat carefree yet serious and pointed at times as well. There are some thoughtful posts to be read here. This particular post really resonated with me because I’ve come to the conclusion that I am one of the people who fits the following description:

So if you want innovators in your team look for people with some particular bad attitudes — the ones with rebellious, contrary and divergent views. These are people who some might label as troublemakers. They are not negative or cynical — on the contrary they are passionate about their ideas. They do not defer to authority, they are dissatisfied with the status quo, they are impatient for change and they are angry about the obstacles put in their way.

Some who know me will likely laugh at the thought that I’m rebellious. Outwardly I don’t seem rebellious at all. I’ve had several discussions with my boss about this issue. He told me, in effect, to just get used to this reality, to realize that I will likely always be an outsider who doesn’t readily fit in. He told me to accept it. I’ve tried ;-) but it still is hard. In fairness to him, he also tells me that he likes that aspect of my personality. He is glad that I try to “push the envelope.” I’ve struggled with feeling content and wonder why I’m the only one — seemingly — who sees the negatives, who isn’t satisfied with the status quo. I wonder sometimes if I’ll ever be satisfied in a particular job situation. It’s what I long for. Maybe if I can someday complete a PhD. in library and information science and then teach at the graduate level, which is my dream, then I will feel more content.

Illini make Final Four

SI.com – 2005 NCAA Basketball Tournament – Late rally sends Illini past Arizona into Final Four – Saturday March 26, 2005 11:48PM

Having been ill all weekend, I missed some really exciting moments in the NCAA Tournament. I am especially happy that the Illini got into the Final Four. It was simply icing on the cake that Michigan State got there, too. I’m not a fan of Michigan State but it’s great that two out of the four teams are from the Big Ten. I think that should silence, at least for a while, the many critics of the Big Ten. Here’s hoping that MSU and Illinois make it to the title game.

Travails, er, Travels

Well, we’ve had quite a time of late. First of all, Michele and the kids were gone all last week, staying with her parents in the Chicago area. I drove up there Good Friday to stay the weekend and then drive them back home. Michele had another seizure or trembling episode the night before, this time, pretty severe.

Saturday evening, I started feeling sick. I began throwing up a lot, and spent the rest of the weekend mostly in bed with nausea, a severe headache, and general weakness. I’m feeling better now but only about 50% of normal. Thankfully, we made it home ok today. Michele had another episode on the way home, and I was still not well the whole trip. When we got home around 3p local time, I lay down for a while and woke up feeling a bit better.

I’m thankful that I have this week off of work, for Spring Break. Hopefully we’ll do better this week than we did on Easter weekend!

Wonders of technology

Tonight I proved the wonders of technology. I video chatted (is that a word?) with my wife and kids in the Chicago area, then video chatted afterward with my family in east central Illinois. All of this done from the comfort of my own couch at home in Indiana. Made possible by iChat AV and iSight on my PowerBook G4.

Remember me?

Remember me? Yeah, I’ve not been blogging here for a long, long time. Life has been quite difficult of late. Michele and the kids have been sick for much of the past three weeks. Michele’s health in particular is concerning because in addition to getting through the cold/flu situation, she has been having inexplicable seizures. The most severe episode lasted more than two hours and left her pretty much incapacitated for a long time. I have not been at work for most of this time — thank goodness I have that flexibility.