Leaves and Lectures

Hello all,

Hope this finds you well. I have been spending a good deal of time as of late taking in the breathtaking views that come with the changing of the leaves. Though I have spent the majority of my life in this region, I am still awed by the beauty of the area when fall arrives. For those of you who have just arrived at WCU this fall, I would suggest setting aside a day to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway if you get the chance. You won't regret it. You may even see some elk! Or, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge are very fun places, and the drive there is majestic as well. Just a few thoughts.

Our own David Earnhardt of the CSP Program has been organizing an executive speakers series. I attended last night's lecture, in which Mr. Brad Bradshaw, a WCU graduate and former VP of Marketing for Nissan discussed his career in the business world. I found it fascinating, and would suggest attending one of the four remaining lectures between now and the end of the spring semester.

For those who didn't make it to the intellectual discussion led by Dr. Chris Cooper and Dr. Gibbs Knotts, I found it quite interesting. Thanks to Mel for organizing this event, and should any such programs emerge in the future I would strongly urge your attendance.

Good luck with all that school throws upon you,

Jason M. Coggins

Halloween

Hello everyone,

Wells Gordon and Tiffany Lamb continue to do a great job playing jazz at Guadaloupe's Cafe on Monday nights. The company and conversation are almost as good as the music. You guys should come out.

What are you doing for Halloween?

There is a destination a little off campus, set in the woods along the Tuckasegee River. The people who live there call it "The Blue House." It's a neat two story wooden home where college students reside. The atmosphere is terrific. If I were to film a movie about a Halloween party, this is the house I would choose as the setting. I am lucky in that I have been invited to attend a real costume Halloween party there.

Last night, as I stood on the porch of "The Blue House" looking out toward the river, I thought about where I was on Halloween last year. I stayed out late- past 11 pm- but I was working instead of having fun. I delivered mail and packages on my second route of the day, getting curious looks from "trick or treaters" and scowls from some irate customers. This was in Washington, DC, and delivering mail past 11 at night was not unusual for me or the station. I had to be back in at work at 7:30 the next morning, November 1. Days like those are what made me decide to come to graduate school. Life is just too short.

So, on Halloween I could be delivering mail in Washington, DC. I suppose if the draft were still in effect I might be in Iraq trying to dodge bullets and IEDs. But this Halloween weekend, I intend to be at "The Blue House," in costume, and having a royal time. To paraphrase actor Morgan Freeman: When you are given the opportunity to have a happy and fun life, you have the moral obligation...to live it!

The party is this weekend, but on October 31 itself, there is a CD release party at the Fine and Performing Arts Center (FPAC) on campus by Matt Williams, a student here. The party will award prizes for the best costume, and it runs from 7:30-9:30. If the information told to me is correct, this is the first time a student at WCU is being allowed to use the main auditorium at the FPAC. It is important to have a good turnout so that future requests from students will be considered. So come on out. I plan to be there as well.

WCU is one of the great places on earth, isn't it?

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

Fall Colors

Hello everyone,

Look around at the trees. Today is the first day you can see some significant color changes in the leaves. This year should be beautiful if the weather stays dry, and I want to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway soon. I haven't traveled all over the world, but I've been to many places in the U.S. From experience, I can say that leaf changing season in the Appalachian Mountains is one of the grandest sights in nature.

Homecoming is this weekend. You can vote for the King and Queen today. There is a parade on Main Street in Sylva on Friday, and of course a home football game on Saturday. The GSA will be tailgating, so I hope you stop by.

I don't have much time to "blog" today. A 10-15 page paper due on Friday takes precedence.

Everyone be safe.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

Life at Western

Hello all,

I am enjoying the unseasonably warm October weather. This is truly one of the happiest times of my life, and I hope other students realize how lucky they are to be here. As a graduate student, I feel privileged to be back at WCU. In many ways I am being allowed to go back and live life like I wished I had done as an undergraduate. How many people can say they were given that opportunity- to do college again while you are still young but a little more mentally mature?

Quite by serendipity, this week on campus I discovered a piece of open ground covered with chipmunk burrows. I saw a chipmunk on his hind legs look at me at then dart into his hole. Walking over the ground, I spied three more chipmunk heads peeping out of their holes at me. I won't disclose the location so that the chipmunks can hopefully live in peace.

If you notice, butterflies are still out and about. I've seen some black and blue winged butterflies feeding at small white flowers on bushes. Perhaps I will ask a biology grad student to identify that type of flower that blooms in October.

Fall break approaches. The campus will become quiet for a few days, but I plan on being here to study and write papers. Believe me, there are much worse fates. This time last year I was lifting heavy crates for 10 or 12 hours a day. Writing a paper is luxurious compared with that.

Everyone be safe traveling over the break.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn

Happy Hour in Asheville

Hello guys,

I hope to see you all at the Asheville Brewing Company, 77 Coxe Avenue, on Friday. A group of us is meeting at the Bell Tower at 6 pm to carpool, otherwise you can meet us at the restaurant at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome. Our last happy hour at Soul Infusion in Sylva was a lot of fun.

Mountain Heritage Day was a huge success. A big crowd came out to enjoy the festivities, and I saw some WCU alumni for the first time in years. A traditional game of stick ball played by Cherokee Indians entertained us, and the Cherokee fry bread was a memorable meal.

Life at Western is grand.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn