San Antonio

I, Ack spent most of the week in San Antonio at a EDUCAUS Learning Initiative conference. Along with DoIT folks, we gave a presentation on how the UW games and simulation program was developed. Instead of giving a talk on the topic, we played a simple card game that Enage program folks developed over the last month or two. The game was a huge success as it demonstrated the process well and was fun and thought provoking.

The conference itself was very interesting and thought provoking. Attended by techies who 'twittered' away on wireless having 'backwater discussions' about topics as they were being presented by the speakers in the room. I'm surprised at the free data analysis tools available (Gap Finder, Eye Mind) and how technologies are being creatively used. Between this conference and my presentation at AMS last week (New Tools, Old Dogs) - it is clear to me that we have to change how we teach our classes to fully integrate these new communication and information technologies into student learning activities. I ponder how well we are educating our AOS majors. Are we training them to 'do well on the test' or to critically think beyond weather and climate? Why do so few AOS students conduct a senior research project? Are we instilling a sense of leadership and curiosity in them? Are they developing a strong work ethic and appreciating the rewards of working hard? Do we engage them "with big questions"?

San Antonio is an interesting place. The riverwalk is clearly designed for tourists. A walk from my hotel to the conference hotel was short and the river walk was lined with bars and restaurants along the way. The walk along the streets above the riverwalk was a bit of a different world. The streets were occupied by working class folks, many often standing waiting for buses.

Waiting for the President

Monday night, driving home from my writing workshop in Arlington, I came back into the District over the Memorial Bridge and headed west on Independence. This is a beautiful avenue along the south side of the National Mall. I was listening to the Gov. of Kansas give the Democratic response to the President's State of the Union address, not so sorry that I had missed the actual speech. She finished, the pundits started chattering, and I came to a stop at a red light near 15th, close to the Washington Monument, south of the White House.

The light turned green. We didn't move. Then I saw the flashing lights of a police car up ahead. They were blocking the intersection; the avenue was closed. And then I put it all together; we were waiting for the President.

It didn't take long - 10 minutes. At 10:44, the procession started. A helicopter flew overhead, its searchlight prowling the streets below. Then two dozen motorcycle cops, followed by 21 (I counted) vehicles. All were black SUVs except the two emergency medical vehicles and a couple of limos.

When our newly released line of traffic headed once again down Independence, I turned north on 7th to head home, crossing the Mall by the National Gallery of Art. But once again forward progress got blocked. At Constitution, a line of police cars with flashing lights got priority at the intersection. They were leading three now-empty motor coach buses away from the Capitol to the east. Who got one-way rides to the speech, I wondered.

The next intersection was Pennsylvania. We almost made it through except for eight helmeted police officers on bicycles riding two-by-two up the avenue. It looked like they had the best transport of all.

I'm usually terribly impatient when stuck in traffic; I hate the trapped feeling I get. I tend to start searching for a side road I can turn onto, even if it means driving on the median or across a lawn. But knowing that my minor delays that night were due to an historic moment, one that I was even listening to, made it bearable, even interesting.

Tuscarora Mill Resturant

On Friday we dined with Al Powell at Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg, VA. A wonderful place to eat. The building is a reconstructed mill, though you wouldn't know it unless you looked up at the huge wooden beams on the ceiling or noticed the grinding stone as you come in the entrance. There is lots of seating space. Many families were there with well behaved children, and our table of three was cozy and quiet. The friendly wait staff served delicious food - probably one of the top 3 restaurants we've visited so far. Anne had the trout and Ack the pork chop (glazed in apricot). The food was pretty, tasty and just enough to leave room for dessert - which was a good thing as the desserts were a sweet treat that didn't leave you overstuffed. If you are there, be sure to try the coffee, it has a distinctive pleasurable taste.

Celebrating the King

Among all the events held on Monday to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, I chose to attend the one at the National Cathedral. Geared toward youths, it was lively, fun and inspiring. Did you know that Dr. King gave his final Sunday sermon in the National Cathedral? Youth leaders read excerpts from his powerful speech, "Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution," from the same pulpit from which Dr. King spoke forty years ago.

The afternoon was filled with wonderful music, speech, poetry and theater. The highlight was the Urban Nation H.I.P. H.O.P. Choir's performance of Bob Marley's "One Love." It was such a perfect embodiment of the spirit of the day that a lot of us -- Episcopal priests, Teen USA queens complete with tiaras, and 50-something folklorists from Wisconsin -- started dancing in the aisles of the Cathedral!

A Week in Island Park

A great delight in living in DC this year is being so close to family in NY. Anne took the Amtrak up on 1/8 to stay with wonderful nieces Sarah and Caroline while parents Eileen and Danny celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Jamaica. Saw siblings and in-laws while there; the girls and I visited my parents in Rye on Sunday (note painting of Eileen's in the background).

I tried to go the ocean at Long Beach every day; it's a winter haven for surfers, just a short mile from their house.

Family Visit

Rosemary Downing was our first extended family visitor! She came up on the train from Raleigh with her friend Zach. They arrived on Friday night and we had a fun and delicious salmon dinner at Paddy Bowman's house. They spent Saturday seeing sites, including the Library of Congress, the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian Castle and many monuments. Ack, Anne and Alana met up with them for dinner in Georgetown at Leopold's and then we all went to the Kennedy Center (see photo) to see Shear Madness, a long running production about a murder in a hairdressing salon that includes audience participation. They spent Saturday night at Alana's and headed back to North Carolina on Sunday. A short visit but a fun one. Who will be next?

Happy New Year!

On Dec 23, Anne and Ack left DC for NY with Erin and Alana packed into our hybrid car to spend the last Christmas in the Pryor house. After 42 years at 52 Roosevelt, Anne's parents will be moving out in 2008. It was a poignant and wonderful holiday. Ack and Anne then flew to Madison to spend New Year's Eve there, a rather quiet one in our own home. Beautiful with lots of snow, Anne skied every day while Ack recuperated on the couch from a bad cold. We are back now in DC staying with good friend and delightful hostess Paddy Bowman in Alexandria for about a week until we move into our new place on O St in the District.