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| These wearable butterflies were created with standard balloon fantasy flower techniques by Carol Fields. |
The monthly BHQ column usually isn't too difficult to pull together. Something will happen in the balloon-world, or the technology world, that will be obvious column-fodder. Sometimes, though, life gets busy for both Larry and me at the same time... no matter what interesting things are transpiring in the land of latex. Then, it's time for rock-paper-scissors or coin flipping or mutual guilt-tripping.
Larry is busy these days gearing up for Balloon Manor. Since he wrote the August column and worked with John to provide coverage for Summer Camp (while I went on vacation), it's most definately my turn to write the column. But, I'm busy myself lately... taking a graduate level college course on top of work, teaching dance classes, and other life tasks. ...not to mention workmen cutting a pipe out of the hallway just outside my office door as I type this... I haven't been thinking about balloons that much. My brain is focused on Data Curation.
There's a lot of writing involved with my class, including a series of short (3 paragraph) critiques on the class readings and discussion for the week. This course is a bit different in format from others I've taken, as it's 100% on-line. All students sit in front of their home computers from 6 to 8pm each Thursday and listen while the instructors give a lecture and push slides (html pages). There's an accompanying chat environment; we're expected to participate during the class session. The chat moves fast, though. Sometimes drafting a response yields a paragraph of thought rather than a quick one-liner, but the class is already on some other point. By the end of week two I realized that my weekly homework assignment was almost writing itself. As the class discussion provoked thoughts, I could post some right away and save others for the meat of my assignment. "This is just like writing a BHQ column." I thought to myself.
And that was it, my column topic for September. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we're always happy to have new columnists. If you find yourself inspired to draft a lengthy post on some topic, consider morphing your content into a column submission. Could your post benefit from a few related pictures? Did you think of some other piece of information you wish you had included? Are you getting lots of praise from your peers? Those are all situations where you've already done the bulk of the work to write a column. All you have to do is polish it up and turn it in! (and no, I don't think it's cheating after all :)
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| Butterfly costume |
Nico Fric of Slovenia's portfolio is full of amazing creations. From balloon costumes to vehicles to human figures or giant flowers, Nico's unique creations will inspire you. Look for his smiling face throughout his professional portfolio.
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