I'm making this post from the Denver International Airport -- thanks to a " free for a limited time only" high-speed internet connection provided by Qwest.

Denver has a variety of amenities for the traveler. The Qwest Business Center offers a series of cubicles (makes the business traveler feel right at home!), each with both a dialup and high-speed connection, good lighting and comfortable chairs. Just the ticket for "road warriors" looking to get some work done during layovers. It's nice to be able to check e-mail, directions to hotels and training sites and confirm rental car reservations while in transit.

Still no word on school for this semester. I've got until the end of the week to register for classes, but haven't been able to secure a spot in any of the classes that interest me. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to secure a spot in a course. I also intend to apply for spots in spring semester courses -- and all other semesters, for that matter -- well in advance of the registration deadlines. The classes themselves are taxing enough without the added pressure of wondering if you'll even get in!

Watch this space for progress updates.

Today I had our VP of IS ask me about blogs.

I told him that blogs would be a great way for us to build a knowledge base.

This diary has proven to me that a record of the learning process is valuable in considering not only what's been learned, but -- arguably more importantly -- how it's been learned.

Got back early this morning from San Diego, CA -- America's Finest City. This marked my the first of what I hope are frequent trips to Southern California. San Diego is a beautiful city.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of working with the staff and faculty of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education (Mission Valley Campus) of Point Loma Nazarene University -- , during a SMART Master's Program On-Site Session for the SMART Board(TM) interactive whiteboard.

I learned a lot at Point Loma -- I learn a lot each time I interface with SMART Roomware(TM) customers.

I love to learn. For instance, in San Diego I also learned that the weather was unseasonably cool [65 - 75 F -- "winter temperatures"], I'm becoming increasingly fond of cities with palm trees and Junior Seau has a great restaurant in Mission Valley.

It's back to school time.

It's been a while since I've been a returning student. I'm looking forward to getting back to it. I'm on the waiting list for one course and will have to look around if I don't get in. From my limited (2 semesters) experience -- spots become available once students appreciate what's involved in terms of work.

Colleagues in courses have stated that online M.Ed. courses at OISE/UT are two to three times the amount of work of face-to-face (F2F) courses. Some felt that there was a comparable increase in the quality of the learning afforded the student. Others felt overwhelmed by the intensity of the online learning (in this case, asynchronous conferencing with periodic synchronous chats) environment.

Bring your "A" game and course-management skills to Royal Oaks in Moncton, New Brunswick. I consider myself lucky to have carded a 107 yesterday.

At one point I carded five "sevens" -- everything from double to quad bogies -- in a row. Notwithstanding this sorry fact, I definitely recommend a round at this Canadian Maritime gem. As a "deal" or "value for your money," this course ranks up there with Kananaskis outside Calgary, Alberta. Although the course is inland, it very much looks and plays like a links course. The course is very well-designed and maintained with carpet-like fairways and greens.

Green fees of $65.00 -- what's that, about $ 22.50 (USD)? -- make Royal Oaks a "must play" when in Moncton.