Friday Afternoon Meeting Style. . .

My program had an increasingly common Friday afternoon workshop yesterday, so I made the rather atypical sojourn into campus after lunch to attend. Since I was one of the facilitators (although NOT the person ultimately responsible for the day/time) and, amazingly, now one of three senior faculty teaching in the program, it seemed like a good idea to put in an appearance. An interesting 90 minutes on fostering improved information literacy among our students, sure, but who on earth schedules these for a mid-afternoon on the Friday of Homecoming Weekend?

Sigh.

In any case, a transitional combination here. Thought about corduroy pants but it wasn't quite cool enough yesterday afternoon, so went with a slightly heavier pair of olive green chinos that have been in the rotation for a dozen or more years. The cotton over-the-calf socks don't quite work given the difference in shades, but overall it was not an offensive combination of items, so I snapped a couple of quick shots with the ol' iPhone before changing into the usual corduroy jeans, a Rugby jersey, and chocolate suede camp mocs (sans socks) once I was home again about 4:30pm.

The mustard yellow knit wool necktie is a Land's End number that I've had for 20 years, and its muted tone is perfect for fall, winter, and early spring with tweed and flannel sports jackets. One of several items I added to the professional wardrobe in my first teaching position after grad school. A time when the Grand Duchess (on a Fulbright-funded research trip to Germany at that point) and I were planning our future together via email and overseas telephone calls, so the year-long position at the small college outside of Minneapolis-Saint Paul was coming to an end (for yours truly at least) as I packed up my apartment and prepared to join her in Illinois once the semester in question concluded in December 2004. I always think of that time whenever I select this particular tie.

Otherwise, a sunny extended weekend in our little corner of Central Michigan, perfect for a little lawncare, winterizing flower beds, and storing the porch furniture. Now, I've gotta come clean with you here. I've already had a few cross-country skiing dreams, so you can tell where my subconscious is headed. And I must follow. Planning to learn the rudiments of skate skiing this year while continuing to perfect the classic diagonal stride technique. The ultimate aim is to gain Level One certification as a ski instructor at some point in the future. It's always a good idea to work toward goals of one kind or another.

But before any winter fun can happen on the wooded trails of Mid- and Northern Michigan this season, the Young Master has a 15th birthday to celebrate in one week. Where in the world has the time gone?

-- Heinz-Ulrich

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