Wednesday Words: The Art & Science of Management

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For my class on Human Resources Management this semester, we had to break up into teams of 4-5 for various group assignments and a huge collaborative term paper. The catch was that out of a list of about 8 topics, none of them could overlap (not the team topic nor our individual topics). So, with a team of five, that left little wiggle room for selections. At any rate, I ended up with Compare & contrast: the art & science of management.

We just finished our term paper in the last couple of days, which means now I can focus almost totally on my own paper. (We do have one more group assignment due in a week, but I opted to write the conclusion, so I don’t have to fret about it just yet.) I normally would begin working on term papers much sooner than now; in fact, I worked out a detailed schedule after the holidays in an effort to stay on track this semester. As it turned out, though, I made great headway on my assignments for my other class, so  I focused on finishing those early, rather than trying to do papers for two classes simultaneously. So, now I have less than three weeks to write 20+ pages.  O.o

I’m looking at perspectives on philanthropy from the “art” and “science” angles. Specifically, I’m exploring some management models that I think can be helpful for nonprofit organizations as they try to adapt to new technologies, which can impact their fundraising efforts. If you’ve followed my research at all (and I totally don’t blame you if you haven’t, even though I find it fascinating), then you know that I’ve been looking at emerging technologies and how they are used in charitable giving. For a paper that I originally thought might be a waste of my time, I’m now realizing that I might be able to approach it from an angle that will aid my future research!

So far, I just have an outline and one page of the introduction … I need a few thousand more words …

Monday Musings: Basketball

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I didn’t write a poem for you today, but I thought I’d share some musings that have been on my mind. The year I started working at Baylor, the Lady Bears began a dynamite basketball season that would result in their claiming the National Championship title the following spring. It was a thrilling time; the whole university rallied around the team!

Tomorrow night, the Lady Bears have the chance to not only reclaim the National Championship title against Notre Dame, but if when they win, then they will be the only team in NCAA history – men or women! – to go 40-0.

It’s good to be a Bear.

Courage when we need it most (Prayer Devotional for the week of April 1, 2012)

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When outdoor playtime results in someone coming back inside crying, I usually ask two questions: “Are you bleeding? Are you broken?” If the answer to both questions is no, then I encourage the kiddo to dust it off; he’ll be ok. Sometimes, though, you can’t just dust it off. Sometimes, he needs a little more TLC, or a bandage, or a trip to the after-hours clinic. When a kid is hurting, he needs to know that someone will fix his booboos and dry his tears.

We aren’t much different as adults, aren’t we? When we feel broken-hearted, grieving, confused, betrayed, hurt … we need a bandage for our spirits. We need to run into the arms of the One who knows just what we need to make it better.

This is the week leading up to Good Friday, and ultimately, Easter Sunday. Up until this point in the Gospel story, the disciples had been with Jesus day in and day out, but they were about to face their biggest challenge yet. The person they had always run to, the One who healed aching bodies and hearts, the One who spoke truth and shared meals with them … would be gone.

How do you find courage when the emotional pain is so bad that it hurts to breathe, cry or even think? How do you dust it off and get back up when your eyes are puffy and your nose is running from oh-so-many tears?

The dark Fridays & Saturdays we experience in life may leave us feeling broken and irreparable, but our burdens are only temporary. Take heart – Sunday is coming, friends!

Paul reminded the believers in Corinth, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong,” then he added, “Do everything in love” (I Corinthians 16:13-14). That timeless message still holds meaning for us today. There will be times when we get knocked down, spiritually speaking, but in Christ, we can have courage.

Adventures of an end-user

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Dear Nathan,

I wish I could pick up the phone and call you. I wanted to tell you that I am replacing the power supply on the boys’ computer (yes, that means I opened the tower case & removed it myself! Hooah!), and I bought myself a new laptop. I researched the specs I wanted & didn’t let the guys at the shop talk me into anything else.

You can make end-user jokes all you want, but I know you’re proud of me. 😀

Love,

Your big sis

Foodie Friday: Stir-fried eggplant with tofu

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In case you didn’t know this already, eggplant is my favorite vegetable. I could eat it several days a week, and I am on a mission to discover a variety of ways to prepare it.

The thought occurred to me recently that eggplant would make an ideal man:

  • It’s versatile and flexible. It can be dressed up fancy or down-to-earth.
  • It is culturally apropos, whether the choice is Italian, Asian, etc.
  • It is hearty and comforting, but it can also be spicy. 😉
  • It is unique, yet it fits in with a variety of venues.
  • It has a firm exterior, but it is soft on the inside.
  • The short and plump variety are just as good as the tall and skinny variety; appearance matters little.
  • It can be bitter if you don’t know how to treat it.
  • It is good for you.

Without further ado, allow me to share my most recent concoction of stir-fried eggplant with tofu. It is so delicious, I ate it for lunch and dinner. 🙂

  • Approx. 1/3 of one medium-size eggplant (or, if using the banana-shaped Japanese eggplant variety, use about 1/2 of one)
  • 1/4 of one tub of firm or extra-firm (some packages say “hard”) tofu
  • 2 Tbsp oyster sauce (hoisin sauce is also scrumptious, if you prefer)
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • dash of salt, to taste (but not too much, b/c soy sauce is already salty)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil

Cut the eggplant and tofu into strips about 1/2″ thick. (Even firm tofu is delicate, so slice gently if  you want strips instead of chunks.) Pan-fry the eggplant strips in a skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat until it begins to brown. Turn, as necessary, to brown both sides. Scoot the eggplant to the sides (so it doesn’t overcook), as shown above, and add the tofu strips to the middle of the skillet. Cook until toasty-brown, flipping as needed.

Drizzle oyster sauce and soy sauce over the skillet and gently (<<see above reference re: tofu fragility) stir the dish until the eggplant & tofu are coated. Remove from heat and serve immediately. Serves one as a main dish or two as appetizers/side dishes. Enjoy!