The Monumental First Post...Jumping Off The Log

There's an old joke that goes something like this:  There are three frogs sitting on a log and one of them decides to jump off...how many frogs remain?  The answer is three--deciding to jump off and actually jumping off are two totally different things!

So, that idea begins this blog.  After a significant length of time as an educational blog and social media lurker, I have decided to jump off the log.  

When I finished my doctorate a little over a year ago from Saint Louis University (where they have a very good Ed.D. program that I would highly recommend, by the way), part of the dissertation process was to provide a reflection on my experiences in the program.  The statement I wrote at that time that still rings in my head is that I believed that the doctorate was not an ending, but only a beginning.  It represents an obligation to further contribute to the educational body of work that exists in the world.  In order to do that, I must be willing to stretch myself and go into areas (like putting myself and my thoughts on a public blog) that involve risk and might even be a little dangerous!  I believe the discourse and learning possibilities far outweigh the occasional mistakes or negative outcomes that may arise from this endeavor.

I'm not sure how often an idea will motivate me to blog about it, so I'm not committing myself daily, weekly or monthly, but I'm sure each time I post, the easier it will become.

As for the title of this blog, the derivation comes from my senior year in high school.  I was the sports editor on The Surveyor--the school newspaper at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, IA (www.crwash.org).  My final column in the last edition of that year's paper was written (with pen on paper, mind you) in the basement laundry room at home while the dryer was tumbling away.  So, when that column went to print, it went under the title of "Thoughts While Waiting For My Socks To Dry."  That article was a random conglomeration of memories and opinions about what occurred that school year of 1991-92.

Fast forward to 2013.  This blog will operate under that same philosophy.  You will see random thoughts here about education, leadership and new ideas.  You'll probably even see a sports take or two.  I'm not looking to change the world, but crazier things have happened!  I don't know if two people or two million people will read these words, but at least I can say that I'm attempting to fulfill that statement and obligation I made last year to try push myself and, in some small way, the educational world as well.

So, here I go......  (jump)