WEDNESDAY, SEpTEMBER 1ST, 2021

Wednesday, September 1st

It is September!  For Texans that means we can go outside again, we might have a smaller air conditioning bill, and get a “life” instead of being homebound.  

Today I’m writing about travel.  My (new) computer has been sent in for repair, my old computer works - except for the I, O, and P keys!  So little research and more memories written on my phone.  

Aside, I was teaching an MBA course on technology, and one of my students was a huge iPhone user.  I asked him to write a paper about getting an MBA without a computer and only using a phone.  Basically, his analysis was “yes, you could do almost all things for an MBA on-a phone.  The research would take longer, financial calculations would be harder but not impossible, and you would probably get permanent neck strain!! I think he was right!!)

*****

Travel

I generally like travel, although it has been almost two years since I made a significant trip.  

In my academic years, I had the great privilege of paid travel. Some years I got as many as six paid travel experiences.  I traveled to the ISECON conference (except in 2005 - when hurricane Katrina took the conference out of New Orleans - and my daughter got married on ISECON weekend). I traveled to ISETL, to AIMSIS, to CONMIS (but that year it was a train ride into the NYC area).  Then a trip for an accreditation evaluation, and a summer trip to an ICCP meeting. Plus family travel - flights over Christmas break to Texas or Nebraska (out of our funds).  For two years I got to travel to Ireland to teach.  

*****

But with retirement, I haven’t gone to conferences and presented papers, haven’t been to planning sessions.  

But, today when you read this, I’ll be in my car driving to Wisconsin.  

I was told by a friend “When you’re working, such travel is a vacation, but when you are retired it is a ‘trip’”

So I’m not taking time off work, so this is a trip.  And, since it isn’t a business trip, I can decide the route and the timing.  

Before my computer went bad, it popped up random images when I logged on.  (And asks is I like the image or not).  One image that came up by random was Mount Magazine in Arkansas.  It was said to be “the highest peak” between the Appalachians and the Rockies.  (My South Dakota knowledge corrects that as Black Elk Mountain in the Black Hills is taller.  Aside I climbed this peak when it was known as Harney peak.

My brain latched on to driving to Mount Magazine on this trip.  Today (Wednesday), my plan is to get there, do some sightseeing, and get a little farther down the road.  

Yes, I could take Interstate highways with faster speeds but not this trip.  

At the other end, I want to drive along the Mississippi River- and see the amazing bluffs and take some of the back roads that I drove when I lived and taught in that area.  

I’m also thinking I can get to Charles Mound - the highest point in Illinois.  

There are 50 states and 50 highest points.  I’ve been to four of them- so why not add two more!!! (The others are Rhode Island, Connecticut, Iowa, and South Dakota).  

Oh well, the plans of men!! 

Yes, it will be fantastic to see my former students from 50 years ago -and to share old stories (I have an off the wall story to share - I don’t want to overwhelm these friends with it though) 

Tomorrow I’ll be driving through Missouri- hopefully to Keokuk Iowa (where I taught five years), and Friday get to Prairie du Chien Wisconsin.  

May God (he/she/it/the Infinite all-powerful and all-loving force), protect me (and Sparky - my new car), on this trip!! 

Love wins!!  

Look for pictures eventually!!

Karen