Autobiography

by kristendom on May 21, 2013

Today I had to update my bio for a speaking engagement, and I realized it had been awhile since I had done so. Things I needed to update:

- Years I’ve been blogging (almost 7)

- Age of my kid (7-years-old)

- Current position (web coordinator, no longer housing director)

- Previous speaking engagements (regional and national)

So here’s my completed bio (at least for this event):

Kristen has been working in student affairs for over ten years and during that time has developed a niche in the area of technology and student affairs. She has served as a consultant for her division at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in updating their online presence, as well as provided guidance to NASPA Region IV-West in creating and developing online communication strategies. Currently she is a web coordinator at UMKC where she has previously worked in the Women’s Center as well as the Department for Residential Life. She has presented both regionally and nationally on topics ranging from online professional development to blogging and social media. Kristen has been blogging for seven years, and she currently maintains two blogs (Kristendom and Kristendom Talks Tech) in addition to co-founding and editing the Student Affairs Women Talk Tech collaborative blog. She is active on Twitter as well as the blogosphere, and she is a co-founder and moderator of the #SATech weekly chat.

 

Things I did not update but could:

- Geek extraordinaire

- Books read (1,224 – not including books read to my son and 90 of which were young adult novels)

- Triathlons completed (1, by the skin of my teeth)

- Football teams coached (1 motley crew of 6- and 7-year-olds)

- Still a long-time Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan (actually, maybe I will add that – who doesn’t need to know I’m a BTVS fan?)

- Tattoos (2, with the hopes of more some day)

- Favorite hobbies besides reading (writing letters, cross stitching, playing computer games)

- Partner to a slightly-crazed triathlete

- Wonder Woman (duh)

What would be on your bio if you wrote one today?

{ 1 comment }

Magical Interwebs

by kristendom on May 16, 2013

I know I’ve talked about how awesome the interwebs are before (aside: actually, the internet is all the mechanics behind how we’re connected, the web is the content on the internet – make sense? No? These are the things you learn when you start working with computers – I’ll go back to my geekery later and leave you to imagine the magical interwebs as you were), but truly, did anyone ever imagine the connections that would/could be made online when they started this?

Did they imagine meeting someone who would not only help me plan an unconference but help me find speaking opportunities and end up becoming a friend along the way? (Happy birthday, Ed!)

Did they imagine co-writing blog posts with someone who also acts as a sounding board for my crazy ideas and book excerpts and also acts as my own personal cheerleader? (How goes the countdown, Joe?)

Did they imagine meeting a woman who provides endless support and fuel for the women around her, including me, pushing them to do bigger and better things always? (You’re truly the best, Teri!)

Did they imagine re-connecting with people from my past who have become part of my present because we have more in common than we ever dreamed? (Blogging, anyone? Emily, Dana, Laura S.?)

Did they imagine connecting with someone who shares my passion for technology and is constantly looking for ways to spread that passion to others? (Joe S., I’m looking at you!)

Did they imagine finding so many people to share a love for snail mail or books with? (Still happy to send letters if you want them – the form is on the right–>)

Did they imagine finding a friend for late-night chats that has so much in common you sometimes think you’re long-lost cousins? (Hey Cuz!)

Did they imagine finding people who are willing to talk with and support me, in mental illness and in health? (You’re amazing Kelley, Monica and Lisa!)

Did they imagine meeting the mother of one of our students who ended up being one of my favorite people because of her joy in life and sincerity? (So great to see you, Deb!)

I don’t know if they imagined any of that when they started, but I have to think that if this is the present, we have a lot to look forward to. Abracadabra, Interwebs!

{ 0 comments }

On Reading

May 15, 2013

Today, someone asked me what I was reading, and I unashamedly admitted that I was reading a trashy young adult novel – one of my favorite kinds. “Please tell me it doesn’t have vampires,” she replied. “Nope,” I said, “Just witches.” When I first started reading young adult novels, I would reply in embarrassment whenever [...]

Read the full article →

Sleeping

May 14, 2013

In the interest of sharing as much of my struggles with depression with the world as possible, I suppose it’s time to ‘fess up and admit I’ve had to be off my meds again – not by my choice this time. Luckily, I’m back on them now, so all is (mostly) right with the world, [...]

Read the full article →

MIA

May 9, 2013

I’ve had a couple of people comment to me recently about the fact that I’ve seemed to be rather quiet on the social media front – mainly Facebook and Twitter. It’s true, I’ve been quieter than usual. I’m not sure why exactly, but lately I’ve felt more serious about my presence online. I don’t feel [...]

Read the full article →

I’ve Been Reading

May 8, 2013

Tonight I engaged in one of my favorite activities – walking to the library for a stack of books. After a much more weighted-down walk back, I figured it was about time to update my book reviews. I’d recently been in a bit of a book drought, but after a couple of excellent reads, I’m [...]

Read the full article →

Throwback Thursday

May 2, 2013

In honor of my younger sister’s birthday tomorrow, I thought I’d post this little gem of the two of us. In case you hadn’t guessed it from the fact that she’s my younger sister, she’s the nearly bald one in this picture. I’m pretty sure my mom made these outfits for us, as they are [...]

Read the full article →

The Working Parent

April 30, 2013

If you’re a parent anything like me, you may have toyed with the idea of being a stay-at-home mom/dad/whatever the parents are calling themselves these days. Maybe it was right after you had your kid, and he was laying there all cute and cuddly and NOT MOVING. And you got to take naps when he [...]

Read the full article →

Throwback Thursday

April 25, 2013

So the other day when I was feeling uninspired, a friend messaged me to suggest writing about a favorite quote. This inspired me to look up my senior yearbook picture and quote (which was truly spectacular, I promise you), but unfortunately, I can’t find my senior yearbook. Instead, I found my freshman and sophomore high [...]

Read the full article →

Restless

April 23, 2013

I don’t know if it’s the time of year – or the weather that refuses to admit what time of year it’s supposed to be – or the fact that I suddenly have free time for thinking again, but I’ve been feeling restless. Like I need or want something big to change – I’m not [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries