Greetings within the blog

Greetings all. Wow, it's interesting to get to know this class from a blog. Seems like such a contemporary, techie thing to be doing!

Truth is, I'm really into the whole blog thing. I've been around a while - I'm in my 40's and held a few leadership positions managing global communications in a fortune 50 company for about a decade - so when I started, there was no email and we faxed memos with long distribution lists on cover pages to get the word out! Yes, it's true. I'm from the dark ages! So as I've evolved with technology - first email, then websites, now blogs - I find it absolutely fascinating how the communication process has evolved. Translation: this is really cool stuff!

What am I doing here then? I searched a long time for a master's program that met my "real" future goals - which is to become an authentic, published writer and speaker - for me. I love writing. I'm passionate about it. Enough to have made a BIG leap to leave my company, join another one with a great role but without 80-90 hour weeks and constant travel so I could balance job, school and raising an adorable 4-year old and 7-year old in order to fulfill my dream. Some days I think I'm crazy, but I've got a lot of great support out there.

I'm really interested to hear what others are doing for their enrichment projects. I have a few ideas, but want to make sure that it truly will match with my future goals.

As for the lottery, that's easy . I would quit my job, move into my home office, and write, write, write...and on the side, open an exclusive day spa! Not like I haven't given it much thought or anything :)

Look forward to meeting everyone.

Response to Carmen

If I won the lotto and had allll kinds of money, I'd definitely pay off my student loans (past and present) first. After that I would purchase the finest equipment for my band of struggling local artists (and here comes the cheap plug - check us out at http://www.myspace.com/agreatfall). Even though my car is a '93, I wouldn't buy a new one. However, I would pay large sums of money to have the rust spots fixed, and redo the entire beautiful bright green '93 Honda Del Sol in all its ghetto fabulous glory. After that I would buy my mother a vacation in the Bahamas with Benjamin Bratt, 'cause she thinks he's hot. Yeah. That's what I'd do.

Anyone else?

Disclaimer: The above paragraph was typed by the "just got out of work and am relaxing" version of Claire Whaley. This version does not come with grammar and spellcheck. Thank you.

Enrichment Projects

Discussion seems a bit slow getting started here, so, with deference to Carmen's excellent attempt, might I suggest a topic? There's been a lot of email coming through my Inbox about the enrichment projects. I suggest that you all talk a bit about your ideas, some of which have been excellent already. We're going to be asking everyone to write something up at the residency (or bring something written up) about your project. Perhaps this disucssion will help some of you who are having trouble deciding.

Best,
Brian

inspiration?

I am a new blogger. I am not really sure what the point of blogging is. For the blogger, a journal of sorts, I guess. For the blog reader, a voyeuristic peek into the daily lives of others. My question is, how to create a blog in which conversation between collective bloggers on one united blogspot might be inspired????
I'm still curious to learn more about my fellow classmates, but not sure how to get this blog moving.....
Why am I trying to organize this? I guess it's obvious I have too much time on my hands. Luxury of riding my bike to work and working mostly at night, I suppose.

O.K., So what's going to get this group talking? Question of the day, Quotation of the day? Are you guys to busy for this blog? Maybe.
Anyway, being the natural born Aries leader that I am, I guess I'll start with the first question.....

IF YOU WON THE JACKPOT LOTTERY AND HAD AN INFINITE SUPPLY OF CASH FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT AND WHY?

Your answer might be practical, considering your commitments/time constraints etc... and/or fantastical, not taking into consideration the fact that you might have a family to think about and/or a job and other commitments etc...