College Tour

I should remind you that I work in Higher Education and love visiting college campuses. I try to stop and visit noteworthy campuses as much as I can when traveling (Pepperdine has been the most impressive thus far). 

I went to a wedding down in Roanoke this weekend and on the the drive back yesterday we drove (a touch out of the way) to visit Virginia Tech. I have never been to Tech and figured I’ve lived it’s VA for over 3 years it’s time. After about 2 hours at Tech we made our way north with another stop at UVA. 

The visit to UVA (the “flagship” public university in the state) got me curious just how many flagship campuses I’ve been to. Thanks for the list wikipedia (note that Texas as 2…of course they do). I’m shocked I’ve only been to 8/51 (bolded). Looks like I have a new life goal! 

Strengthening My Network

Back in early June I went to a mid-level managers conference/institute sponsored by one of the professional associations in my field. It was very energizing and helped me push through my current work slump.

I’m hoping to relocate to Southern California at some point this year, I had hoped to already be there by now, but I can’t force big life changes. So I’m still applying and keeping my eye out for opportunities, but I also realized I need to make the most of my time here. 

I’ve set up a series of informational meetings with some various higher ups at work. I had one lunch meeting last week and one coffee meeting today. Both have been very invigorating. I know I have a lot to offer and I’m better than the work I’m doing. I want more. I want to manage multiple full time staff members, I want to make big decisions. So by meeting with some power players at work hope to perhaps get invited to some of their tables while I’m here. 

Great day hiking Old Rag with the Project Peak crew. We enjoyed our lunch on the summit and had a little photoshoot. A baby brown bear decided to join the summit party, but we didn’t stick around for fear of the mama we glimpsed not far behind! (at Shenandoah National Park)

2/71

Yesterday I ran (2/71) at 8pm again to get in my 3 training miles. I was extra motivated by all the tumblr love you showed me yesterday, THANK YOU! 

This morning I was supposed to get blood work to keep my low health insurance premium, so I fasted – which always makes me cranky. Get to the lab clinic and find out first I don’t have the right paperwork (false). I called my HR department a month ago to verify what I needed to do/bring since I had such a headache last year. I call HR and are told a bunch of noise. I plead with the receptionist who calls someone else at my HR dept who apparently HAS a brain. I find out since I got blood work last year I don’t need to do it again AND that the process I did last year isn’t even the same process for this year. WTF I CALLED ABOUT THIS IN MAY! So even though I fasted and wasted an hour, the good news is I didn’t have to have any blood taken and I get to keep my premium. 

Today is run 3/71 – another 3 miles. Then I’m heading to Williamsburg VA to go to Busch Gardens tomorrow (we’ll see if mother nature lets that happen).