Sammy and His Fish

So it's fall, and that doesn't stop Mr. Samuel from his fishing. Actually, 20 below zero doesn't stop him from fishing, as he so kindly pointed out to me the other day. He's been going out a lot on Perch lake and bringing home pretty trout, so I wanted to go with him and catch some of my own. I did catch two, but the expert fisherman caught seven total, I think. Here he is, all cute and fishy.



The trout were furious this day, puking and pooping all over Sammy as he tried to get the hooks out. He rows for us, he baits the hooks, he casts, he removes fish from my hooks, what a gentleman! He's so sweet!



And when we go home, he cleans them and cooks them, but woe is me, I do not eat them, for I hate seafood. It must have been some bad fish I had as a kid...

My Awesome Student

In the fall of 2004, my first year as an Admission Counselor at St. Kate's, I found myself recruiting students from Park Center High School in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. And although I didn't meet her at my initial visit (I remember that day well, because I just found out 10 minutes before heading into the high school doors that I might not be able to move into my house that we had just made an offer on, and I walked into the school drying the tears from my eyes), I met her later when she visited me on campus. Her name was Azieb Kidanu, and she made herself known by the many visits she made to campus.

When I received her file for admission review, I found her resume was like a book! She was so accomplished! Her committment to St. Kate's, along with the great work that she had done academically, I knew I had to present her to the O'Shaughnessy Scholarship committee in December.

Every year, St. Kate's offers one full tuition and fees scholarship to one very accomplished student. It was up to us Admission Counselors to search through all of our 150+ students (each, some 1100 total amongst us all) to find one or two suitable to bring to the committee, and at the committee, we all had to plea our cases, much like lawyers!

Woah and behold, I presented my pal Azieb, with much confidence. She had professed a true committment to St. Kate's, and I knew she would come to us whether or not she earned the scholarship. But great news, a few weeks later, she does it!

She is the first and only student of color, out of ten years, to win the grand scholarship of St. Kate's. And now starting her junior year this fall at St. Kate's, she is still doing many great and wonderful things. She is even featured on the website for Future Doctors of Minnesota, and is one of the featured students on the home page of St. Kate's. Check her out at http://www.stkate.edu/pages/profiles/profile_azieb_k.php

Although I have left St. Kate's, I continue to keep in touch with her, for I am glad to have made a difference in someone's life, and we are all lucky in the world to have a gem like her in it.

School Has Started

It's September and I am continuously going to school. My brother told me he doesn't understand it, but I just love to learn!! What am I doing again, you ask? I am getting my master's in Liberal Studies, with a focus on literature and the arts. I'm taking two classes this semester, hoping to be done by December next year.

So far, I really like one of the classes at least, it's called Frida Kahlo, and it coincides with the grand opeing premiere of Frida's exhibition at the Minneapolis Walker Art Center in October, where a great many of Frida's art will be on display, including my favorite, The Two Fridas!! (shown right)

The other class I'm taking is called The Role of the Critic in Society. I have no idea what it's about, but I had to take it to satisfy a requirement. We'll see if I like it! I find that I learn at least something valuable in every class that I take. The semester will be over in December, but then work is going to be piling on, for we need to get everything in ok by the end of the year for taxes and W-2's. I'm a little scared, and just wish I would win the lottery so I won't have to work at all!

Birthday Shindig!

The day started out fast, we couldn't pick up the boys, I left the address at work and basically screwed myself, but we got there. And when we did, there was no parking, for it was state fair time and apparently everyone was parking at the zoo and walking to the fair. I had to park a mile away. Woohoo!



At the beginning, I didn't think anyone would show up. All that money I spent, wasted! But as the day progressed, more and more people kept popping in, even friends! It ended up turning out awesome! Thanks to everyone who came! And thanks to Sam who was the most cutest cook.