What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 06/05/15

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Geek-and-proud  

Here's what was going on in my world this week:

I just started checking out this British series on Netflix the other day and have watched all of it (there's only six episodes). It's an intriguing, dark, dystopic, near future science fiction drama centered around the idea of seeing where different aspects of our technology obsessions and proliferation would possibly take us. Some examples include terrorism, augmentations that record every second of our lives, our indulgences in voyeurism and humiliation, as well as our digital afterlife. There is also just some cool future technology in the show that is pretty creative. I've been wanting to watch the series for a long time and it has definitely been worth the wait. Check it out if you're interested. It's an original look at ourselves through sci-fi, just like all the best entires in the genre.

The impossible sixth season of Community has come to an end. It has been a wonderfully weird ride this past season. The apparent creative freedom the show's been given at its new home on Yahoo has been awesome and I've enjoyed the show now as much as I ever have. I don't know if this is really the end now (we still need that movie!), but even if it is, I'm happy to have been able to watch it for as long as I have. Even so, I could always go for more! #CommunityLivesOn

  • Boston, Redux

So I'm heading down to Boston again this weekend to visit my partner who is working there in the area this summer. We went down together for her birthday back in April, and I'm excited to go down again. We did a lot on that trip and there is still plenty to do this time around. We want to visit more college campuses, take in more local food, and possibly check out some sites like museums, aquariums, and all that good stuff. It's a great city and I could definitely see myself living in that area. I'll be sharing photos and thoughts on the social medias, so connect with me there!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I Was Geeking Out About This Week - 05/29/15

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Geek-and-proud Here's what is going on in my world this week:

  • Vacation

I took some time off last week since my first year as a professional was complete and it was my 26th birthday, so the timing felt right to get away and relax. I went down to Delaware and New Jersey to see my brother, some friends, and meet more of my partner's family that lives around there. It was a lot of fun, I ate a bunch of great food from the area that I miss (bagels, pizza, diners, etc.) and was able to unplug (mostly). I didn't blog much while I was away and just kept tabs on my email. It was nice to have quality time with my partner before she left for her internship in Boston and to just be out of the office. I'm taking another trip next month to Chicago to see a friend and then I'm sure July will have something fun in it as well, keeping my trend of a trip a month this year.

  • Work

I'm back to the office this week and it's already jarring having the students gone, especially after the whirlwind of closing and my trip. It's too quiet but thankfully the summer (as it always is in student affairs) is a time to plan and prepare for the upcoming academic year. I have a lot of little projects in my queue (including some personal ones) so I'm stoked to get working on them and make next year even more successful. I feel pretty good about how last year went (more on that in a separate post) but there are always ways to improve our systems and procedures (here at my institution especially). Stay tuned for more reflections on how my first year as a professional went.

  • Summer

So I've already talked a lot about summer goings on, but I am pleased to have gotten to this point. The weather has warmed up, the sun is out, I have time to spare for things I care about and some of the positive feelings that were missing during this long, hard winter have dissipated, leaving behind optimism and eagerness for the potential of this summer season. I want to get better about working out, see more of the nature here in Maine as well as some of the institutions here in my home state. I'll let you know how it actually goes, since I'm sure I won't get to everything but that I'll have some salient thoughts from what I do get to.

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What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/15/15

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Geek-and-proud

Good day to you!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

  • The Flash

Flash's first season has been amazing. It's pretty much everything I could want from a weekly superhero show; fun, action, good characters, and an expansive universe. It's been more entertaining than Arrow's frustrating third season (which is tough since season 2 of Arrow was so awesome). Next week's episode is the season finale and I'm excited for what they'll tease for season 2. They've already laid out a lot of groundwork for things to come, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

  • Agents of SHIELD

This past week was the season 2 finale for SHIELD, and this has been an interesting ride for the show so far. It feels like it has gone in a really intriguing new direction with introducing the Inhumans and focusing a bit more on superpowered people while still holding to the basic premise of the show; being about ordinary people in an extraordinary world. While it still doesn't hold up as well to some of the other comic book shows I watch (Flash and Arrow), it is still an awesome companion to the ever expanding (and fun) Marvel Cinematic Universe. I foresee it playing an increasingly important role to the films, filling in gaps and establishing backstory to the events of the films. The show is definitely worth looking into if you're a fan of the MCU.

CBS recently released an extended first look at their new superhero series (check it out above), which does a great job of showcasing the background and vibe of the show. Going for a more fun, lighthearted feeling, Supergirl looks like it is going to stake out its own place in the growing crowd of comic book shows on TV right now. I'm looking forward to seeing something different and am happy to see a female led superhero show come to the fray and hold her own with the likes of Arrow, Flash, SHIELD, and the new Legends of Tomorrow. Her and Agent Carter are important role models and are just awesome shows (or at least look like they should be in Supergirl's case).

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/08/15

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Geek-and-proud

Good day to you!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

We got some more details about the first Phase 3 movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe recently, as production began on Captain America: Civil War. We found out some of the notable folks who would be in it (some expected, others not) and got the synopsis of the film as well. I look forward to seeing this movie next year, as this ideological struggle is one of my favorite storylines in the comics. Check the link above for more details.

I was saddened to hear the news that Fox cancelled this show after three seasons. It was a pretty good network comedy and was one I enjoyed watching with my partner. It grew on me and stuck a bit better than it's spiritual sibling, New Girl. We may have some hope though, as Hulu may pick it up and continue it's run. I hope they do, since Hulu is hurting for a killer show in their streaming lineup.

I've been hearing a lot of random, sporadic rumors about this show, so I'm happy that now it is going to be an actual thing, and that thing is going to be called Legends of Tomorrow. Brandon Routh's ATOM seems to be leading the charge for this super-powered team up show with a time travel (!) element to the proceedings. No premiere or episode order has been set but it will be awesome to further explore the expansive DC universe on television, interestingly way before the movies get anywhere near the same depth. I'm a big fan of this DC TV Universe so I'm hopeful more is better when it comes to this new series.

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What I Was Geeking Out About: April 2015

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Geek-and-proud

Hey there! Here's what was going on in my world last month:

There was so much to geek out about last month, and to help you sift through it all, here's my monthly wrap up of all the stuff that was on my mind in April:

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 05/01/15

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Geek-and-proud

Good day to you!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

  • Seinfeld

I love the show Seinfeld. It is a classic television sitcom that stands the test of time. As such, I was pretty excited when it was announced that Hulu will be bringing the complete series to their streaming service beginning in June. I feel like I still haven't seen every episode so I definitely plan to slowly burn through them all to relive my favorite moments and appreciate the series as a whole. If you haven't seen the show before, definitely check it out on Hulu when it's released.

  • Summer!

The end of my first academic year as a full-time professional is drawing close, and as such, I've been thinking about how I want to spend my summer. I'm sure it will be a mixture of work and fun (as I tend to like for my down time) but I want to take in all that I can while I have the opportunity here in Maine. That means trying to venture out to Canada, seeing more of New England, and continuing to appreciate the local offerings here in Maine as well. I hope I can get to it all while also planning and preparing for the next academic year. I have high hopes but I believe I can do it!

  • Sustainability

I've been working with our campus-wide sustainability committee here at my institution, and it made think about how we make change happen at a institutional level. My perspective on it is that it really can be difficult and time intensive, which needs to be acknowledged, but the efforts of committees like ours need to be strongly supported in more than just lip service and pats on the back to make us all feel good. We need broad support and we need financial support to make things happen. We can do a lot with changing behaviors to make a difference, but for sweeping, lasting change, we need to reform a lot of infrastructure, which costs money. While making sustainable changes gives the opportunity for a return on investment, the initial cost needs to be made, and I feel stifled by that concept most times. I also am impatient and have a sense of urgency for fixing the problems that surround us everyday (that I feel may not be shared by others at times). These are just some stream of consciousness thoughts I've had after going to these meetings for a few months.  We have just started this work on our campus, and we feel very far behind already, and then it feels like we can only move at a snail's pace. It's frustrating but I know you have to start somewhere, so I'll do my best to be patient for now.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 04/24/15

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Geek-and-proud

Hey there! Good to see you!

Here's what is going on in my world this week:

I moderated this past week's daytime chat about designing your environment to support productivity and student success. I hadn't moderated a daytime chat in some time, and it is always a lot of fun seeing all the professionals engage on a topic and facilitating the conversation. I moderate the chats every once in a while but it is usually an odd evening chat, which isn't as lively (yet). While there was an interesting (and fair) discussion surrounding a post about the value of the chats and their lack of "discussion", I still think it is one of the best ways for student affairs folks to interact and learn from each other.

  • Adulting Update

So I went to try to register my new car the other day and it was a frustrating bureaucratic nightmare. I ended up not being able to that day and needing to get more paperwork. It was not this hard to do the same thing in my home state of Delaware (obviously different beasts) but my main point is that this is one of the few things (so far) that I haven't enjoyed about my early adventures in adulthood. I wish things like this could be easier (and not as expensive) but alas, such is existing as a adult and doing the things you need to do.

  • Travel

I booked my next travel trip recently; I'm going to fly out to Illinois to visit a good friend of mine from graduate school that I haven't seen since about the same time last year. I'll be going in late June for the weekend to see him, his campus, and Chicago (which I've never been to before). I'm excited that each month this year has had a different trip and stay, even if it is just for a weekend. I've been able to explore new areas, see old friends, and spend quality time with my partner. It's great and big change from my earlier years where I did no travel whatsoever. I'm grateful for the opportunity now to travel and I hope it continues to be the trend.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 04/17/15

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Good to see you! This is my week in geek!

Here's what is going on in my world:

Netflix's newest original series is an unprecedented collaboration with Marvel Studios, which continues to explore the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The focus on a smaller story, centered around Hell's Kitchen in New York City and the man trying to save it, pays off very well. Matt Murdock (aka Daredevil) is just starting out in this first season as he is pitted against Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin). I'm almost done with the first season and it is wonderful, brutal, real, and fun. I can't wait to see how it ends and I am now even more excited for the rest of the Marvel/Netflix series to come in the near future.

I've been watching each of the weekly episodes so far of this season on Yahoo Screen, and I have been very happy with it. The show's new home on Yahoo and the freedom it seems to have given them has allowed for them to go into full on weird territory and it is great. The show feels fresh and new while still holding on to the core parts about what has made it so awesome for the past few years. I look forward to watching the rest of the episodes as they come out!

Parks and Recreation is one of my favorite comedies of all time. It finished it's seven season run recently and I have begun to rewatch the show from the beginning if I just want to have something on that I know I'll enjoy. I find funny nods to something that pays off later, appreciate the start of running gags, and just appreciate the special qualities of the series more as I watch it all again. I know I've found a cherished show or movie when I can watch it multiple times and enjoy it just as much (or more) each time.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 04/10/15

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Geek-and-proud

Greetings and salutations!

Here's what is going on in my world lately:

I binge watched the first season of this show with my partner over this past weekend after hearing a lot about it not too long ago. It's the first breakaway Amazon Originals hit that has paved the way for some of their other shows to shine. The premise surrounds a family of adult siblings as their father begins to transition to being a woman late in his life. We learn about the three siblings and their relationships with their father, both as children and as adults. Everyone is a little self-centered, confused about who they are, broken, and ultimately looking for something they can't seem to find. I appreciated how raw and real the show felt. I look forward to seeing more of the show, which I hope is soon to come.

  • Wisdom Teeth

So my partner recently had two of her wisdom teeth removed. I didn't really know what to expect with this, and I tried to do some research about it but I think it is just something that is a little different for everyone. I've been helping her recover from the surgery for the past few days and she has started to get back to normal. She's been having her fair share of pudding, Jell-O, ice cream, and mashed potatoes. I might have to get mine out sometime soon so this is helpful for me to prepare with. Also, it is experiences like this that make me appreciate being able to be here for her to help out with this recovery.

  • Boston

My partner's birthday is next week so we've decided to go drive down to Boston for a long weekend getaway. I haven't been and I believe I've talked about going to Boston before but I'm really looking forward to it now as it has drawn closer and closer. We've started to make some reservations for restaurants, have our Air BnB booked and prepared, and are looking up other local attractions to check out (we'll be doing the Sam Adams brewery for sure, of course!). I appreciate having the opportunity to travel and see new places with my partner. It's nice to have the break and to get out of the bubble of the ordinary day-to-day. I'm sure I'll be processing the trip on here in two weeks after I get back (next week I'll be there so I'll share details the week afterwards).

Thanks for stopping by!

What I Was Geeking Out About: March 2015

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Geek-and-proud

Hey there! Here's what was going on in my world last month:

There was so much to geek out about last month, and to help you sift through it all, here's my monthly wrap up of all the stuff that was on my mind in March.

Thanks for stopping by!