Mail Call.....

This came yesterday afternoon.

It Is Official: Scott Has Graduated

Way back in May 1993 when I was graduating with my double major Bachelors, Sandi was pregnant with Scott. Now, here in December 2019, the grades have finally come in and Scott has graduated with his Masters in Criminology. His cumulative GPA for seven years at UTD is 3.385. The kid did good.

Spring 2019 Grade Watch: Official Results

The grades are finalized, in the system, and official. Scott finishes with an A in each class.

This means that he will take two more classes this fall and is on track to have a December 2019 graduation with a Masters in Criminology from The University of Texas at Dallas.

The UTD Walk

Each week after Scott comes from his class to Green Hall (where I sit when I can’t sit outside at the Patio) we come out the backside of the building and make this walk headed to the Student Union. While the library is off to the left of the plaza, the Student Union is over to the right. That is where all the food places are as well as the steps up the side of the Student Union building for those far more mobile than I am. Next to those steps to the right (you can’t see them in this picture) are numerous risers where students congregate to eat, talk, scream at somebody they know hundreds of feet away, and get blasted by music when the speakers are set up.

Each evening on campus we make this walk in the semi dark with plenty of company on foot, bikes, and skateboards. In three weeks when Daylight Savings Time starts up again, this walk should be in the light though it will not be anywhere near as bright as in this picture posted by UTD on twitter last night.

While sitting in Green Hall is nice as they have eight sort of recliners there, I much prefer sitting outside at the Patio outside the Pub when the weather is better. Especially now that the smoking ban on campus is actually being enforced. The open area has overhead lights for after dark and a number of large metal tables with plenty of chairs. Getting outside  has always been a much needed part of my self-care since I was a child and though I can’t go walk/hike or visit a state park these days, sitting outside at UTD does help. It also gets me away from loud groups of congregated young adults that clearly are having way more fun at their age than I ever did at any time in my life.

My preferred table is in the right corner just off the edge where I can put my back to a large planter area and contemplate whatever I am reading as well as the interesting smorgasbord of humanity as it flows by. In fact, if you look closely in the far right you can see some of our stuff from a couple of years ago when we were out there and Scott took this picture. 

Scott, Facebook, and the Picture

Scott has a cellphone. He has become used to taking my picture shortly after we arrive on campus at UTD. He usually gives me some warning, snaps the pic, and then posts the picture to FB. This week I received no warning. There was simply a flash out of the corner of my eye just after I had sat down and started digging in my computer bag. Thus, the picture below was generated.

The picture generated a lot of amusement over on FB during much of Wednesday and into Thursday. It also generated a couple of questions. The primary one was with regards to the edge of the mural seen on the left side of the picture.

The mural is a painting that goes along for several feet on one wall of the Student Union. It faces as outdoor seating area next door the "The Pub" which is the bar on campus. We both like to sit out there as the open space is somewhat protected from the winds that snake through the multi story buildings on campus and is usually far less crowded than other areas on campus. The picture below shows most of the mural as well as our table and my laptop on the far right side.

Scott and the GRE

Scott does not drive as we have no funds to pay our overdue bills or utility cutoff notices, let alone buy insurance and driving lessons for him, so I spent much of the afternoon in an office tower lobby in North Dallas near the hospital, while he took his GRE for graduate school. He graduates in December and wants to go back to UTD for his Masters in Criminal Justice starting in January. The program "recommends" a score of 300 or higher to be considered for entrance.

Because the majority of the test is computer taken he already knows that his combined verbal and math score was ...... 302. There are two essays that humans must read and score for a total of six points. So, when everything is all said and done he will have a GRE of 305 or a little more.

Then it is up to the committee to determine if they will let him into one of the coveted slots.

A Little Good News

Despite working the past six weeks plus in a desperate attempt to keep us afloat, Scott has finished the semester with 3 A's and 1 B. He is taking the summer off to work as much as possible and is currently scheduled to finish his Senior Year in the fall before the December graduation. Whohoo, Scott!

Market Call: Reunion: The Dallas Review

Reunion: The Dallas Review will accept submissions from September 15 until December 15, 2015. Reunion features poetry, fiction, nonfiction, visual arts, translations, and drama. We are seeking fresh, well-crafted, professional quality work from across the nation and abroad to publish in our large format, full color annual publication.  

·         Fiction: one story, up to 5,000 words.

·         Poetry: 3-5 poems. Longer poems will be considered, but shorter poems are desirable. Please submit poems as one document.

·         Creative Nonfiction: up to 5,000 words.

·         Translation: 3-5 poems, or up 3,000 words of prose, can be an actual translation and/or a scholarly essay on translation. Please obtain all necessary permissions prior to submitting your piece.

·         Drama: one play or screenplay, up to 5,000 words.

·         Visual Art: at least 3 distinct images, including drawing, digital, other 2-dimensional formats, and photography. Please submit your files in high-resolution TIFF format of between 5-8 mbs, 300 DPI.

For more information and complete submission guidelines please visit our website at

utdallas.edu/ah/reunion or write to reunion.editorATgmailDOTcom.

The Grades Are In

From the infrequently appearing good news file---Scott's grades are in for the Spring semester. We are proud parents. 4 A's and 1 B is where he finished. The B would have been an A for want of one

more point.

The boy did great again this semester despite the chaos and stress around these parts. He is doing one heck of a job at The University Of Texas At Dallas.

If the rest of his very much needed financial aide comes in he will be going to summer school starting the day after Memorial Day. Hopefully it will so he can stay on track to graduate next summer.

Our Latest.....

Sandi had her appointment with the endocrinologist yesterday. As expected, the dosage on her twice daily insulin shots was bumped up a little bit. Things seem to be progressing in the right direction so the plan is to leave her alone for now.

Scott took his last final for the fall semester. He is now on a break until mid January. All teh grades are not in just yet, but it looks like he will finish the semester with 4 B's and an A. Pretty damn good for our Criminology Major.

So, not only do I get the break from hauling Scott to UTD, if things go right, Sandi and I get a break from the doctors and hospital stuff till the middle of next month. Having spent the holidays in hospitals before we really appreciate the fact that this year we should not have to do that.

Knock on wood.....

Registration is Complete!

Scott is now registered for the fall semester at UTD. One step down, lots more to go.

Day Two

This is day two of Freshman Orientation and later this afternoon Scott will be crossing the moat to the lair of the guidance counselor to receive the secret scheduling code scrolls. Hopefully it will all go well.

Class of 2016

At this hour Scott is attending the first hour of a two day orientation at The University Of Texas At Dallas. Things have changed a lot since I went to school there. Not only has the campus dramatically expanded, but now it takes two days to orientate the Freshman students. Back in my day you just went around to various offices getting signatures, registered and got on with it.

The class of 2016 will spend all day on Campus today before concluding with some sort of dinner tonight. Then tomorrow it is supposed to be a little bit shorter day with more things leading up to finally registering for classes. Scott's college experience has begun and I hope it is much smoother than my own.


Kevin
UTD-93