TACKLE Going Back to School at 50

Some people think I am crazy.  But for me, going back to school at age 50 is finishing something I started 20 years ago. 

From 1978 to 1980, I attended Millersville College, PA majoring in Business Administration.  I put my education on hold to move to Virginia and open businesses and raise babies.

Later, from 1990-1991, I enrolled in George Mason University and, guess what, I had more babies.  I started to wonder if the schools put a fertility drug in their drinking water.

The children are growing up fast and I am growing old faster.  This summer I decided to reapply to George Mason University (Mason).  Admissions said my file was purged, so I was concerned that I may not qualify with my old credits.  Thank goodness the decision was mailed to me quickly:  Accepted.  I didn't have time to dwell on the fact that I am 50 years old, still managing businesses and have two teen daughters remaining at home.  How would I have time to fit in school?

The $250 deposit and orientation reservation were due pronto!  The BIS program (Bachelor of Individualized Study - Communications) had an advisor available to discuss a game plan.  Ok! Ok! I'll do it!

As soon as I was locked in Mason's system, the information started to flow.  Instructions to look up my G#, sign up for a Mason email, get a parking pass and read the online catalog were sent to me.  Mason now offers catalogs only online to save the trees.

The day of orientation I was greeted by the big man on the Fairfax, VA campus:  A statue of George Mason, who is holding his draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.  The statue is the center of the 806 acre campus that enrolls over 32,562 students. 

I felt like George when I arrived at the entrance to the Johnson Center.  We were grown ups in a sea of wide-eyed, energetic students.  George was dressed up in balloons with green and gold paraphernalia.  At first, I felt sorry for George being poked, prodded and decorated.  But after studying his pleasant facial expression, I realized he liked the attention.  He was proud of his campus and the members of the George Mason Patriot family.

Moving inside the Johnson Center, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was not the only old timer.  I met a few adults re-entering the coed world.  Their reasons for hitting the books varied from filling time (empty nest), unemployment, boredom and a career change.

Scheduling classes has changed drastically since the stone ages of my college years.  Gone are the lists of classes in the dingy hallways detailing open and closed classes.  The online class registration was a snap.  Mason Ambassadors (student volunteers) jumped or danced to your rescue with any questions or inquiries to get you up and rolling.

The commute wasn't too awful from Manassas.  Forty five minutes at rush hour is manageable.  I have already thought about the weather during the upcoming fall and winter semester.  The campus has 5,389 residential students so I doubt the campus closes with snow.

I'll think about George when I am trekking north on those cold, slippery mornings in the winter.  He'll be holding court in the snow greeting the youngsters and the old fogies.

TACKLE the 150th Sesquicentennial in Manassas

It started as a normal summer day.  My office was busy with everyone complaining about the 100 degree temperatures.  I left early for a public speaking class and fought the traffic that was unusually heavy. 

It wasn't until I came home to take my evening walk that I remembered the historic events surrounding the Manassas, VA area.   

My friend and I took a walking path that leads to the school originally founded in 10/17/1893 by former slave Jennie Dean.  She chartered the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth providing a residence, academic and vocational training for African American students.

Our walk was interrupted by the sight of the school property littered with little white tents.  Camp fire smoke was looming above them.  The surprising scene reminded us that the July 21 - 24th events for the 150th Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and the Battle of First Manassas was in full swing.

                                         

Four days are packed with events mapped throughout the Prince William County area.    Civil War           re-enactors provide living history with mock battles, camps, parades, singing and balls.

All ages will enjoy the walk back in time with costumes and gear commemerating the July 21, 1871 First Battle of Manassas.  Uniforms and clothes of the period dot the streets of Manassas as re-enactors stay true to their character. 

Approximately 375 cavalry horses are expected to participate in the July 23 & 24th 150th Anniversary Battle Re-enactment at Pageland Farm, Gainesville, VA (adjacent to the National Battlefield Park).

Suffocating heat and humidity is sticking around for the weekend fesivities much like the weather during the battle in 1871.  The re-enactors wear the traditional wardrobe and must be suffering with the heat wave.

Wool coates and multiple layers of clothes were the standard dress during the day that over 5,000 young men died, wounded or went missing.   Let us never forget the sacrifices of these soldiers and their families.         

TACKLE My Moment

I have to admit that today I broke down and watched the new Rebecca Black video, "My Moment" launched on You Tube recently.


Earlier in the year, my oldest daughter posted Rebecca's goofy "Friday" video on facebook and that catchy tune stuck in my head.  Rebecca Black is a viral star.  That phrase probably didn't exist before You Tube was created in February 2005.
                                                         

Rebecca's mom invested $4000 in the song and video and it went viral March 11, 2011.  "Friday" has over 160 million views.  "My Moment" is her follow up video.  She is an adorable girl and very perky. She looks like one of my daughters.  She is enjoying her fame even though music critics listed her first video "Friday" as "the worst video ever". 

                                 "My Moment" by Rebecca Black (July 18, 2011)

                                 

Despite the criticism, she gained international popularity, had been on major television shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Glee.  She had been recognized by MTV, Ryan Seacrest and was a part of the Katy Perry video Last Friday Night (TGIF).

                               

Not bad for a young teen from Anaheim, California.   Rebecca is having fun with her fame. We all have moments when we want to sing and dance with happiness. This could just be her "moment" of glory or the continuation of a career.

The videos have a lot of dislikes but people are still listening, making Rebecca Black a part of pop culture history.  Here is "Friday" from the spring 2011, in case you missed it.

                                                 "Friday" by Rebecca Black

                                

TACKLE a Whale

A few years ago, my oldest daughter planned a family cruise to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico .  One of the highlights of the trip was particpating in a whale watch. 

The boat was large and stable, but we still freaked out when we saw these gigantic mammals peaking out of the water.

My husband showed me this video on You Tube from the Great Whale Conservancy (skip to 2:00).  It is a clip of a humpback whale that was tangled in a fishing net in the Sea of Cortez.  A few people spent hours trying to free him from the mess.  They succeeded and the whale gave them a show for an hour.

    
The sound of the whale reminded me of the fish named "Dory" from the Disney movie, "Finding Nemo", who bragged that she spoke "whale". 

I can't imagine the feeling of seeing the whale jumping and dancing like they did on this rescue.  That whale deserves a Tony Award for his performance on the stage of the Sea of Cortez.  The rescuers deserve a medal for bravery for getting the job done! 

TACKLE Cats

This was posted on eHarmony and I thought it was kinda funny in a weird kinda way.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP4NMoJcFd4&feature=player_embedded

Someone mentioned it in my writing class tonight comparing it to a Hemingway story about a girl obsessed with cats.  So I had to see what all the fuss was about.

The story goes that Debbie (the cat lover) posted a video to get matched on eHarmony.  I doubt Debbie found a date.  However, the cats may have found a home.

TACKLE the African Queen

My middle child has always been an animal lover.  The only TV network she would watch was the Animal Planet.  We have had countless living things in our home (some without my knowledge).

Her first pet was a Daddy Long Leg Spider that she found in the basement at age two.  She was giggling while it crawled all over her arms.  Horrified, I flicked the spider off of her and she started to scream.  I gently placed her friend outside.  That was only the beginning of her private rotating zoo.

During the past eighteen years we have rescued and housed dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, birds, iguanas, turtles, hermit crabs, fish, lizards and the bearded dragon. Each animal became an obsession.  She is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to animals.

She read books and volunteered with animal shelters and adoption clinics.  She took a year of nursing in high school for medical knowledge.  She developed a fascination with the Great African Elephant, an endangered animal.  She became a vegetarian and then a vegan for animal rights.  Then she set off on her quest to go directly to Africa and volunteer her services.


I remember her sales pitch very well.  The month long adventure would cost about $4,000 and the experience would be priceless.  My reply was for her to show me the money and then we would talk.

She worked every spare second waiting tables (with a full school course load while playing a varsity sport) and came up with the money.  Now I had to pay attention.

She had researched many organizations and PoD  was the best option.

 


PoD checked out to be a quality worldwide volunteer organization.
The cost includes the plane ticket and the 
lodging and the experience would be priceless. 

My next hurdle would be to educate my daughter on travel abroad.  Navigating an airport can be a challenge, especially to Africa.  She would change planes four times and she never heard of a boarding pass.  

The week before the departure I put on my travel agent hat and sat down to organize her on her upcoming adventure.

She was more worried about her hair, the wardrobe and seeing the elephants.  I worried about getting her to the destination.  Nightmares of getting lost, missing her plane and getting kidnapped plagued me and my oldest daughter. 


She packed a cheap digital camera and a tiny cheap notebook computer to communicate.  She was advised to not look like a tourist or too wealthy by keeping her valuables out of sight. 

Saying goodbye at the airport was difficult.  I kept chanting, "Don't cry" to myself.  As soon as I turned the corner I broke down and bawled.  My hubby was confident that my daughter would be successful in her travels.   





She sent me a text from each airport and bombarded facebook with pictures and messages. 

Greeted with a rainbow at the South African airport made her giddy with excitement.  

The Elephant Park is exposing her to research, animal care and meeting people from all over the world.   

She enters college in the fall majoring in Biology with a goal to become a wildlife conservationist.  This will be a stepping stone to that goal. 


My daughter; the next "Jane" of the jungle.