Thinking Outside the Box

"Each student will be provided with a portable chair to facilitate moving classes outside when feasible." -- Villanova University COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

Admittedly, there isn't much to smile about these days. The image of a few thousand college students zipping around campus with their matching navy blue Villanova University camp chairs, ready to convene outdoors at a moment's notice has provided a rare note of levity to our lives. Tim, who enjoys a bit of quirky, is delighted about his portable chair -- can't wait to see a picture, hopes it is sturdy enough to last well into the future, plans to bring it out to sit by the campfire with his own kids someday. He went so far as to consider sending a message to the university president, suggesting the the person who came up with the portable chair idea should receive a large and immediate raise.

There are pictures floating around Facebook of 1918 pandemic outdoor classrooms of elementary students, so the idea isn't new. But, students today are of much less hearty stock, and perhaps lack a willingness to both be outside in cooler temperatures and to carry around the extra weight of a chair. Tim, however, is ready to bundle up and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine right through the winter. To be fair, he did attend nature based preschool in Minnesota, where half the time was spent outside every single day. It's all about layering!

We aren't the only ones excited about the chair. Apparently, the Villanova Portable Chair has its own Instagram. Really.

They Might go Back to College . . .

We are looking forward to welcoming students back to campus as scheduled in the fall.

Freshman in the Honors Program move in date, August 16th.

The University is paying close attention to state guidelines.

The University has convened a task force.

Your room assigment is . . .

Orientation will now be held virtually.

Decisions about the University Fall Semester will be made by June 30 . . .

July 1 . . .

After New York State provides additional guidelines . . .

July 15 . . . 

Please fill out this additional online form regarding university housing options.

Marshall Hall will now be the designated quarantine building, please be aware that your room assignment has changed.

Students willing to opt out of their housing contract, click here.

Financial Aid awards will be communicated by July 2 . . .

July 15 . . .

Before your first bill is due . . .

After we determine what funds are available . . .

Honors Program orientation has been canceled.

Kirk Douglas Hall will now be the designated quarantine building, please be aware that your room assignment has changed.

Your move in date range is August 14-16

August 20-22

August 23-25

Please sign up for a move in slot.

Your move in slot will be assigned to you.

If you need to change your move in time, please do so as soon as possible.

Changes to move in times will not be permitted.

All students must take a COVID-19 test 5-7 days prior to arriving on campus, and provide results on the student portal.

A COVID-19 test will be mailed to your home, please take it immediately and provide your results.

All students will be tested upon arrival.

No students will be tested unless showing symptoms or have had a known exposure.

Please consider getting a COVID-19 test before arriving on campus.

Based on current state guidelines, students will now be tested upon arrival.

The University will provide quarantine facilities for all students.

Quarantine facilities will provided, at a charge of $100 per day.

The University will provide all students with one reusable mask.

Two reusable masks.

All the masks students need.

The University will not be able to provide masks.

Please bring enough cloth masks for at least a week.

Student workers can wear their own masks.

Student workers cannot wear their own masks.

Please purchase a clear mask for your American Sign Language class.

Minnesota is now on the New York State 14 day quarantine list.

Minnesota has been removed from the New York State 14 day quarantine list.

Your new room assignment is . . .

You will receive your new room assignment on July 20.

Please fill out a housing form on July 20, then your new room will be assigned.

You will receive your new room assignment August 5.

All students must sign a campus pledge to follow all health guidelines.

We are confident that students will help us keep our community healthy.

We hope all students will follow the guidelines to protect our community.

Follow the guidelines to protect our community, or you will be asked to leave campus.

Your move in date is August 15 . . . August 22 . . . August 24 . . . we will notify you of your move in date on August 7.

No off campus visitors will be allowed.

One person can assist each student with move in.

You will be allowed one person to accompany you to campus, but they will not be allowed in the dormitory to assist with move in.

You may have two people help with your move in.

University students will only be allowed in their own dormitory.

Students may visit between dormitories after the first two weeks of the semester.

Please do not travel off campus.

Travel off campus is permitted within St. Lawrence County.

All fall breaks are canceled.

Students may remain on campus through the Thanksgiving break and finals.

All students must leave campus at Thanksgiving break, and complete the semester remotely.

The semester will end at Thanksgiving break.

Spring semester will begin on January 4 . . . January 11 . . . January 18 . . . January 25 . . .

Masks must be worn at all times when outside your room.

Masks can be removed for eating, as long as social distancing is maintained.

You can create a family unit in which you do not need to wear masks if social distancing is maintained.

Your family unit may include . .  .your roommate . . .your suitemates . . . single rooms sharing one bathroom . . . up to ten select individuals . . . your freshman seminar . . .

Please be aware that at any time during the semester, the University may be required to move to fully remote learning and all students will be asked to leave campus immediately.

If the University moves to fully remote learning, room and board will be partially refunded.

If the University moves to fully remote learning after 60% of the semester has been completed, there will be no refunds of room and board.

Decisions on refunds for room and board will be determined on a case by case basis.

Campus gatherings will be limited.

Clubs may continue to meet in small groups.

Parent's Weekend will be a series of exciting virtual events.

Homecoming will look different this year.

Reunion Weekend will be a series of exciting virtual events.

The rescheduled graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 has been canceled.

Athletic events will look different this year.

No decision has been made about University athletics.

Intramural athletics have been canceled.

The University is committed to providing the same quality education you have come to expect, it will just look a little different.

We are looking forward to seeing students back on campus for another great year!

It's been a Minute

It's a good thing I'm not writing this blog for cash, huh? Things being what they were here in MN at the end of May and throughout June, it just felt terribly inappropriate to bring humor to all the trauma. Curfews, overheard helicopters, boarded up buildings, sadness and anger made it an overwhelming time. With all that comes a sense of inertia, and anxiety, and a feeling of dread that we will ever move forward with real change -- in ALL the areas that need it. Which is not to say we've been sitting here doing nothing, just that there hasn't been a strong spark for me personally to write about it. It is definitely a time to listen, learn, and absorb.

That being said, we're still here. All of us. The house has not gotten any bigger, and the temperature seems to get hotter every day, so we are feeling the pinch. If she could figure out a way to add air-conditioning, I'm pretty sure Caroline would pitch a tent in the yard, just to have her own space.

Not to worry, just because you weren't hearing about it, doesn't mean we don't have stories with which to entertain. Linnea still lives here, after all!

Blatherskite, continued

Linnea has a summer school class that started this week. Because her school is in New York State, the 9:00 AM start time is 8:00 AM here in Minnesota. Monday through Thursday, for six weeks. Linnea is not thrilled, mostly because she has decided, sensibly, that she needs to go to bed a bit earlier. As she shares a room with Caroline, who goes to bed later, we were able to get a full report of a recent conversation.

Linnea: "I got you something."

Caroline: "Oh, really? What did you get me?"

Linnea (exasperated): "I'm talking to Mom."

Caroline: "Oh. What did you get Mom?"

Linnea: "Ummmmmm . . . a flower."

Caroline: "Is it a pretty flower?"

Linnea: "Yesssss . . ."

Caroline: "What color is the flower? Is it purple?"

Linnea: "Ummmmm . . . I don't know?"

Caroline: "You don't know?"

Linnea (now wide awake): "Why are you talking to me?"

Blatherskite.

Calendar Trivia

Tim -- "Here is the next trivia question to ponder -- What is a blatherskite?"

Mom -- "Hmm . . . that ite ending suggests something geological to me"

Sabine -- "That's what I was thinking, rocks in caves, or something. Maybe a mold or growth."

Caroline -- "No, no no, here's what it is . . . some kind of disease where you talk too much. Like Linnea has!"

Linnea -- "Hey! How is it always pick on Linnea day?"

Dad -- "I was looking at blather, too, and thinking it might be talking too much."

Linnea -- "Thanks, Dad."

Dad -- "I didn't say anything about you!"

Linnea -- "Uh huh."

Mom -- "Well, what about looking at blather and kite? A giant mouth shaped kite that looks like it is talking when it is flying?"

Everyone -- "No. Definitely not that."

Mom -- "Well, I'm usually wrong, I'm just trying to be creative. I'm sticking with geology."

Sabine -- "Me, too."

Tim -- "It's probably something gross, like a weird wart."

24 hours later . . .

Sabine -- "Any more guesses for blatherskite? No? Okay, here is the answer . . . huh. Look at that."

Mom -- "Well? What is it?"

Sabine -- "Blatherskite: A person who talks too much, often without making sense."

Caroline (with fist pump) -- "YES!! I was totally right!!"

Mom -- "No, you said it was a disease."

Caroline -- "Whatever. I totally said it was Linnea."

Linnea -- "I hate you all."

Mom -- "Really?"

Linnea -- "Wellllllll . . . no . . . I do talk a lot . . . but I usually make sense!!"

Caroline -- "Not in your sleep . . ."

10 Influential Albums

Those of you on Facebook may have seen or participated in the listing of ten albums for ten days that influenced your life, musical growth, general outlook, or just have pretty album covers that you like. Being the musical people that we are, the Kralls had to jump on board. Since only three of us are on FB, and we could never wait ten days to see our lists, we just laid it all out at the dinner table last night.

Linnea: "Wait, I'm not ready!! Did I know we were doing this tonight?"
Mom: "I'm pretty sure I reminded you three times."
Linnea: "I was BUSY!" -- grabs a Post-it and begins to scribble frantically, while mumbling

Caroline: "You guys wrote yours down? Mine is just in my head! You can't just remember all ten?"

Tim: "I have five Honorable Mentions . . ."
Sabine: "FIVE?!? I thought we weren't allowed ANY! The list is limited to TEN!"

Sigh.

Without further ado . . .

Anneke's List (in no particular order)

Sesame Street's Grover Sings the Blues
Broadway Recording of Annie Get Your Gun (Ethel Merman)
Manheim Steamroller - A Fresh Aire Christmas
Air Supply - Greatest Hits
Clannad - Past Present
Great Performances - Romantic Favorites for Strings
Bette Midler - Bathhouse Betty
Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 3
Tracy Chapman - New Beginning
Mindy Smith - One Moment More

Andrew's List (by decade?)

Rush - Signals
Yes - Yessongs
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same
Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
Grateful Dead - Reckoning (live acoustic set)
Gordon Lightfoot - Gord's Gold
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Beck - Sea Change
Ella Fitzgerald - Live in Berlin
Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory

Tim's List (Ranked 10th to 1st, with Honorable Mentions. Five of them.)

Honorable Mention -- Celtic Tides, Jagged Little Pill, Reckless, Heartbreak Weather, Best of Daughtry

Real List
10. Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory
9. Taylor Swift - 1989
8. Mindy Smith - One Moment More
7. Creed - Greatest Hits
6. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
5. Nickelback - All the Right Reasons
4. Tracy Chapman - New Beginning
3. Nickelback - Dark Horse
2. Heart - Essential Heart
1. Paramore - RIOT!

Caroline's List (Earliest influence to current. Flawlessly listed outloud with no cheat sheet.)

Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory
Beach Boys - Endless Summer
Taylor Swift - Fearless
The Beatles - Revolver
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Bruno Mars - Unorthodox Jukebox
Boyz II Men - II
Guardians of the Galaxy - Awesome Mix Volume 1
Five Seconds of Summer - Youngblood
Day 6 - The Book of Us: Entropy

Linnea's List (Written and modified at the dinner table, while listening to other lists, possibly adding albums as they were mentioned by others.)

Child's Collection of Songs
Celtic Tides
Peter Paul and Mary - Peter Paul and Mary
Simon and Garfunkel - Greatest Hits
Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory
Jay Sean - All or Nothing
Vitamin String Quartet - Lady Gaga
Backstreet Boys - This is Us
Chopin - Nocturnes
Dvorak - New World Symphony

Sabine's List (After Tim's five Honorable Mentions, she felt compelled to add three herself!)

Honorable Mention -- Jagged Little Pill, Celtic Tides, Night Visions

Real List
Kenny Loggins - Return to Pooh Corner
Sara Barielles - Little Voice
dvsn - SEPT. 5TH
Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw
Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Maroon Five - Songs About Jane
Taylor Swift - Fearless
Nickelback - All the Right Reasons
Grey's Anatomy Original Soundtrack Volume 2

Tim and Sabine would like to note that they don't need to hear any complaints about Nickelback. They know that everybody hates Nickelback. They love Nickelback. Deal with it.

Please feel free to comment, agree or disagree (except for Nickelback, see above), and provide some of your own favorites.

Now What?

Over the weekend, the final papers and tests were submitted. Spring Semester 2020 is in the books!

Now what?

Summer jobs -- all on hold. Tim's awesome internship -- moved to summer 2021. Caroline's research will still happen here in St. Paul, but let's be honest, we don't see much of her during the day anyway. How different will it be to have her in her room doing research instead of watching YouTube? Linnea has big plans to train for another marathon, but with no set date for a race that will probably not be as intense as it could have been.

Swimming pools? No. Movie theaters? Probably not. Museums and the zoo? I don't think so. The Mall? Amusement Parks? The State Fair? Highly unlikely, and we wouldn't be able to go anyway.

Obviously, there are house and yard projects, but really, how often do you have to mow the lawn?

Once a week. Less if there is a heat wave.

This could get ugly real fast. I may have to teach them all to knit.