Being Thankful

Are you excited that Thanksgiving is around the corner? Going home, celebrating with family, being in your old room. Sounds lovely. I hope you all have a nice, relaxed time with your family.   I know that Thanksgiving seems like a nice relaxing time to be with your family but it isn’t always … there is a lot of work to be done. So pitch in and help your mom or dad with the cooking, set the table, and offer to help with the dishes. Yes, do the dishes – need to get that out of the way so you can watch the Redskin vs. Cowboys game as a family.

Important Dates

Today, 11/16             Last Day to Request Reschedule Exam 

Saturday, 11/17        Thanksgiving Break Begins

Saturday, 11/24        Spring Web Add/Drop Opens

Sunday, 11/25          Thanksgiving Break Ends

Wednesday, 12/13   Last Day of Classes

Thursday, 12/14       Reading Day

Friday, 12/14             Exams Begin

Thursday, 12/20       Exams End

MEPS (Materials Engineering Professional Society)

Important Information Session for Students Attending the Cocoa Beach Conference

Speakers from export control will be briefing students on responsibilities involved with working the Annual Cocoa Beach conference.  This event will take place at the next MEPS meeting on November 26, 7pm in Holden 114.  ALL STUDENTS WISHING TO ATTEND THE COCOA BEACH CONFERENCE ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THIS BRIEFING!

MEPS Meeting

The next MEPS meeting will be held Monday, November 26 from 7-9 pm in Holden 114.

Photos for Events

If you have photos of MEPS events please send them to Alexandra Egert (alexe09@vt.edu).

MEPS Logo Design

MEPS is currently seeking a new design for t-shirt and car window transfers.  If you have an idea for a design please send it to Stephanie Sparks (sas23888@vt.edu)

Steel to Students Program

Any student wishing to attend AIST chapter and/or specialty conferences is eligible for up to $1000 in funding through the AIST Steel to Students Program.  Funding includes travel, room, and food.  Visit www.aist.org for more information and the Steel to Students application.  Contact Mary Seals (mary.seals@vt.edu ) with any further questions.

Helpful Tools

If you haven’t left Blacksburg yet, you will soon.  Whether you are driving or flying, please travel safe. For those that are driving home you may need to know Virginia Traffic Information. This is the best web site for finding traffic and road conditions in Virginia http://www.511virginia.org/.

Please know that traffic on 81 is the WORST on Sunday after Thanksgiving. It can take up to eight hours, yes 8 hours to travel from NOVA to Blacksburg. Plan accordingly and be safe.

Random 

Turkeys have heart attacks. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys would drop dead.

Ut Prosim

Buy a Twinkie and save a company!  But seriously, That I Serve doesn’t take a holiday.

During this time of the year we all take stock and give thanks for what we have. Many families make a tradition of going around the table and telling what they are thankful for.  I’m not knocking that tradition; it is fun and can be heartwarming.  But not everyone sits around the table with their family for a verity of reasons. Because working in a shelter on Thanksgiving would move me to tears I have made it a tradition to give blood during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Do you give back when you are most thankful?

Sandbox

My Schedule        

Next week I anticipate being available for appointments during the following times:

Monday & Tuesday, 8-4    

MSE Undergraduate Blog Updates will return on November 30th.