Matthew Robinson

Jay Leno and Susan Boyle

I first graduated from FSU in 2003.  And I’ve been one of those that stayed around.  Which is a bit like many of my friends these days.  I’m not going to lie…the transition from being a college student in Tallahassee to becoming an adult in Tallahassee was not that easy. But once that hurdle was crossed, the whole growing up thing and all, it’s been “awight.”

But every Spring I lose friends.

And every Spring people graduate.

And it’s always going to be like this doing what I’m doing (work, school, church, etc.)

Even the first group of students I taught…way back when they were in seventh grade, graduate in a few days as the Class of 2009.  Many of them will jet.  And while many will stay, all will enter a new phase in their life.

Now, there is a certain degree of “refreshment” that comes in the life I lead…there’s always a marked new beginning, and it often comes just at the right time.

But in Ground Hogs Day-esque fashion, every spring comes and goes with people in my life coming and going.

We’ve lost a lot of top tier college kiddies at The Well.

Some of my favorite former students are getting new teaching jobs.

Some have completed and earned their advanced degrees.

Other friends are going new places for work, for school, and for love.

The past couple of weeks though, I’ve been able to get a glimpse at progress.  Of understanding my role, as a person/friend/professor/leader in people’s lives.  And seeing a teensy weensy bit how it just might make a difference during the times during which my path has crossed with all of these individuals.

I just hope it never completely separates.

Done with the deep thoughts…a few light hearted randoms:

-Katy Perry’s Vegas song is the one stuck in my head today…it’s a pretty good iPod run jam.

-I ran today for the first time in about 5 days..my back’s been killing me for the first time in my life, and one of my  friends who is a nurse gave me some of her ibuprofen and said “rest” so I did.

-I think I’m making breakfast for dinner at next week’s College Community Group.  Can’t wait.

-I’m a fan of home-sweet-sunny-Tampa-Bay-home.  Gotta love a visit with the family for a few days.

-I can’t wait to see the new Simmons baby just days away!!!

A Dean-ism from last night’s sermon..preach it Brother Dean!

From my girl Susan Boyle, who’s made it to the finals.

From Rwanda, a big dream that turned a reality.

From even further around the world (and downloadable on iTunes!)

From Brown U and a Jagermeister, a philanthropic tale.

And from PostSecret, my favorite of the week.

The Mascot creature for Well Kids!

Go ahead…click on him…you know you wanna…and visit the all new WellKidsOnline.com today!  This is what happens when I have time off from work! :)

One of the side effects having entered undergrad with a jabillion credits, combined with knowing what I wanted to do, was being so focused on the major classes I had to take.  If I could go back (which I can, for free, but I’m so totally not there right now) I would enroll in:

• A Geography class.  I’m ashamed to say I don’t know where most of the fifty states are on a map.
• Death and Dying.  Heard it was amazing.  Heard Dr. Karioth speak countless times, and wish I had had her for 16 weeks.
• Economics
• and Government.  (Didn’t have to do either of these high school or college, and I realized I lost out)
• Sign Language
• Religions of the World
• Intro to Music (it just might all make sense if I knew how it all fit together!)
• Circus (not to be an acrobat or freak, but to be the Ring Master)
• Some Graphic Design class so I could have learned the basics of PhotoShop, AfterEffects, and Illustrator first hand.

Best college class I took: it’s a tie.  Mark Ziegler’s Speech class, Educational Psychology with a GA who looked like SNL’s Chris Kattan.

The all-real-wood desk of my dreams is finally put together in the home office.  And no more church computer in the living room.  Thank you World Market, for helping me realize the inner tech nerd that I am…

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This is how we do it…pews, stained glass, and all.

TheWellTallahassee.com

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Dear Online Class Taker,

My name is Dr. Matthew C. Robinson.  The C stands for Charles, not as if that matters, but all of your correspondence seems to include random facts about you that you think I might be interested in, so I’m offering some of my own.

I work for Florida State University.  THE Florida State University.  Not the Geek Squad.  Here are some things I do not know:
(1)  I do not know why your Comcast is not being comcast-ic.  Unplug your modem and try again.  That’s what they always make me do.
(2)  I do not know what is wrong with your java.  I’m sure there is a Starbucks nearby.  Go ask them.
(3)  No, you can’t come by my office and have me take a look at your laptop.  I am not in the office.  The distance part of distance learning means I’m doing this not-in-near-proximity.
(4)  And no, I won’t make a diagram of exactly where on the screen you should click.  Read.  Figure it out.  Remember, you’re in grad school.

And contrary to your recently developed popular belief, I am not nocturnal.  I appreciate the email you sent me at 12:47 a.m., and the follow up, asking if I’d received it, at 6:13 a.m.  I was, wait…prepare yourself…sleeping.  It’s great.  You should try it sometime.

And finally, by the power of the great God above, please refrain from clicking on “reply all.”  Even in an online class, you’re becoming “that kid” we all make fun of.

I wish you the absolute best of success.  And I believe in you.

And I, too, am going out of town.  For, let’s say four and a half weeks.  And sure, I’ll thank you in advance for letting me make up everything I will miss because I won’t have internet access.  I mean, that’s why I took this class and all.

Thank you, and I, too, am really enjoying this class and can tell you are really nice in person, too.

Dr. Robinson

I don’t understand how it’s 94 degrees on a Sunday in Tallahassee, and on a Monday it’s 65.  Go figure, Florida.  Jeez.  I’m not sure if it’s going to start snowing out there right now or if I’m going to get struck by lightening.  I’ll take my chances either way.

There and back to Atlanta in a flash with Dean last week to support Jonathan’s Flourish Conference.  And a stop at Ikea.  Gotta love the cheap lights there.

Cirque Du Soleil’s Saltimbanco was quite magnificent.   I’ve been to a lot of events at the Donald L. Tucker Leon County Civic Center in the past 9 years.  None has left me so intrigued as this most recent one.

The Well moved.  Covenant Pres.  We worked hard not to overdue a space that has its own ambiance, while still putting our production’s mark on it.  I think we struck a perfect balance.  Chatting with Dean’s Uncle Rich on the couch-rebranded-new-segment-four-questions was fun.  He gets it.  And I could have listened to him for hours.  I appreciate a man who will ask his own questions, and answer them, too.  I’m still chewing on “do what you do very well–that’s what can make you distinct.”  Wow!

I miss the Graves.

I’m looking forward to going home in two weeks.

And I’m realizing that coming up with a new meal, that feeds fifty, every Wednesday, is going to be a more creative-stretching task than I originally thought.  How do lunch ladies do it?

Turkey tetrazzini anyone?

Got to sleep in today. On a Monday. Glorious I tell you.

Got to say goodbye for the time being to Godby last night. Our move to Covenant for the summer is for three reasons (1) to be resourceful (2) to be restful for our crews and (3) to prepare for the monstrosity the Fall will soon present. It’s going to be a bit different and a whole lot the same. I’m excited for a change!

Dean and I converse on a daily basis in a smilar manner to the conversation we had last night.  One of the perks of supporting Dean is being a boucing pad for his ideas, snippets of thoughts, and explanation nuggets as he puts his Sunday messages together.  As conversation took shape this past week, last night resulted.  It was refreshing.  And I think helped to break down, for me on stage and for all of the others “out there” where our current series has taken us and how the Four Letter Word TRUE tied everything together.  We had some hot topic updates to chat about regarding where we’ve been and where we’re headed as a church, and the alternative take to the preaching of a sermon we experienced was effective…saying “balls” three times on stage was icing on the cake, too.

Retort of the night..
me: Do I spy a Fady on the horizon?
her: Yes, but not for long!

Enjoyed a dinner at Monks and getting to hear the plans of the Fruit wedding.

And enjoyed 100cameras tonight.  If you take a look at the childrens’ pictures, I’ll let you guess which 8×10 I purchased.  Keep in mind my day job…

A fun week of plotting and planning and praying and prepping…it’s going to be a fun one!

Happy Monday.