Report on New Project

Weeeelllllllll ...  This is to be a personal information inquiry that really interests me.  Engage the process using Dr. Lamb's 8 Ws.  Watching, Wondering, Webbing, Wiggling, Weaving, Wrapping, Waving, Wishing.  Step One.  Watching: observing, be in tune with the world that surrounds me.  Brainstorm ideas, look at examples of the work of others etc. 

Over the weekend I discussed project ideas with my wife.  There were several ideas suggested.  New puppies arrived at our house but not without complications for the mother.  What should we have known before breeding?  My wife is adopted but adoption records have been inaccessible.  We would like to have any medical history available from biological parents (who may be dead by now) but red tape and bureaucracy have been insurmountable since adoption was in another state.  Local lawyers have been unsuccessful in attempts to access records.  What do we need to know about the California system to get the information we need?  My mother is 85, not an invalid, but not able to properly care for herself alone and is being cared for by my younger brother.  We have concerns about insuring her care yet protecting her estate.  How do we do that?  What are the options?  The latter are extremely personal and emotional, and while important and of interest, not explorations I am willing to do in a public forum.

Kuhlthau's ISP begins with initiation.  She describes the emotions that accompany the start of an inquiry project as apprehension and uncertainty.  I'm there.  I browsed the on-line catalog for the local public library for their resources about computers.  I have a laptop that takes forever to boot up.  I would like to fix that problem.  The solution is backup the hard drive and reinstall the OS, defrag, install software, etc.  Thought about the topic of computer care and maintenance.  Not something I have paid any attention too yet I understand is important to attend to.  I just haven't taken the time to learn the ins and outs.  So that is an appealing possibility.

I have read the blogs of classmates but need to look at on-line aids for fleshing out ideas: concept maps, organizers etc.  So, that's the current state of this sad affair and the clock is ticking.  I am supposed to be commenting on the blogs of colleagues but sharing constructive ideas, collaborating, is difficult when I can't define and refine a topic for myself.  Preoccupation doesn't do much for collaboration does it?

Ever onward.  'till next time.