The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: university

  • Homesharing

    Every once in a while, you stumble upon an absolutely brilliant idea that makes you wonder why no one has thought of it before. It just makes so much sense on so many levels that you know it’s meant to be. That was my thought process when I saw this video. Imagine this: a 95-year-old…

  • Why College is Still Worth It

    I have three degrees, and not one of them has helped me get a job. I’ve never worked in any of my fields of study. Never. If that’s your only yardstick for measuring a college education, then yeah, for me it was a monumental waste of time and money. But I still maintain that college…

  • Senior Assassin

    Recently I joined a private social network for people who live in my neighborhood. It’s called nextdoor.com, and if there isn’t already a group for your particular neighborhood, it’s really easy to start one. What’s really cool is that I get informed about favorite local haunts and best kept secrets, recommended area service providers, current…

  • On Living Like a College Student

    Lately I’ve seen the inside of several people’s houses, and it makes me wonder if I’m an exception to some rule that I’m not privy to. I don’t have a single room in which all the furniture matches. I never have. I don’t have a color scheme per se. I also don’t have a television…

  • Academia

    Recently I had the pleasure of walking through the gorgeous campus of the University of Washington here in Seattle. (Go Huskies!) It gave me butterflies. Not only did the stately brick buildings make me feel like I’d stepped into Hogwarts, but also I got that old familiar feeling. Call it academic fever if you like.…

  • Throw Me a Bone

    I just finished training on the University Drawbridge. That’s two Seattle bridges under my belt. So if you count the three bridges I was qualified on in Jacksonville, Florida and the one in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, that’s 6 bridges I’ve operated, and that includes all three main types of bridge (bascule, lift, and swing).…

  • Walking Between Cultures

    One of the things I love most about the virtual world of Second Life is that you get to meet people from all over the world. One friend, C.N., is a young man who is an amazingly talented artist from Vietnam. I met him just as he was finishing his secondary education and applying to…

  • Ljubljana, Slovenia: Here there be Dragons

    Another delightful tourist destination that you rarely hear about is Ljubljana in the heart of Slovenia. I have no idea why. If for no other reason, it should be a part of your itinerary simply so that you can say Ljubljana. It rolls off the tongue in a whimsical way. (Listen to it here.) Not…

  • Back to School at 46

    A couple of years ago I decided that my life had hit a dead end and that what I needed was a massive “do-over”. So I quit my job, sold my house, and went back to college to get my third degree. The first time around I was straight out of high school, and it…