Jules - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Folks I don't know well are sometimes shocked to learn that I have quite an adventurous spirit hidden beneath my rather calm facade. I enjoy word play (stupid puns and witty come-backs especially), hard physical labor, and mental challenges. I seek solace in solitude, and am most at home in the high mountain ranges of Montana, days from civilization. At the same time, I care deeply about people and get a great deal of satisfaction from helping them soar to their full potential.I received my Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (with a focus on Learning Assessment / Systems Performance) from the University of Oregon in 2007 and work as a researcher and teacher in the Educational Leadership and Administrative Licensure programs at the University of Oregon.Before coming to the U of O in 2002, I taught high school in California for 12 years, a source of incredible inspiration.

My Interests

Writing, reading, backpacking, working with horses. I run marathons (very slowly), lift weights (in the winter when I'm not running so much), and can't wait to cycle around Ireland again sometime soon.

I'd like to meet:

People who know their hearts and live their message, who strive at all times to live with honor and integrity.People who are 'real', whether met in a virtual world or through in-person interactions.

Music:

Although I enjoy music, it is not a huge part of my life (probably the result of growing up in a family that didn't own a radio and had only two records (yes, I'm that old)... Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues and Elvis's Greatest Hits. I may not know the words to any Elvis tunes, but I can sure belt out the lyrics along with the man in black -- can't help myself, actually, when one of his songs comes on the radio. Let's see...other trivea related to music and my life: In high school I broke up with my boyfriend when he insulted John Denver, told me I should listen to 'real music' and popped a Suzanne Vega tape in my car stereo, cutting me off right in the middle of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy"... wrong move, apparently. I like to think I'm a little more tolerant now, but I haven't been tested in quite a while.

Movies:

I'm a sucker for A River Runs Through It, The Last Samurai, Spy Games, and Pride and Prejudice. Out of Africa always leaves me in tears... yes, I admit it: I'm a hopeless romantic.

Television:

CSI: Miami is a definite favorite. Other than that, I don't watch any tv.

Books:

I enjoy a good tale well-told more than 'literature'... much to my former English professors' disgust! I grew up on Louis L'amour westerns (where the hero always has integrity and always wins) and am still quite fond of happy endings.

My Blog

Art on the Hoof

Probably as long as humans have worked with horses, black stallions have held a place in mystic lore. Andalusians, in particular, have long been the subject of art as well as tales of heroic deeds.El ...
Posted by Jules on Thu, 22 May 2008 05:33:00 PST

Armani’s Colt

Early this morning (about 1:40, I believe) we welcomed a new foal to the family. He doesn’t yet have a name, but he has tons of personality... and his sire definitely put his designer touch on h...
Posted by Jules on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:29:00 PST

Over the Road

Sometimes, you just have to say 'to heck with sanity' and jump in with both feet. Most of you know that I raise Andalusians in addition to working at the University. I've been slowly building my herd ...
Posted by Jules on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:08:00 PST

The prehistoric sites of Aire

When I think of Ireland, as I often do, the images that first come to mind are a mixture of deep green fields and dark grey stones: neolithic monuments from a bygone era.The word 'mystical' is often m...
Posted by Jules on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:17:00 PST

Ireland planning

In a few weeks, Mom and I will board a plane and head to Ireland, a place I've grown to love since I first visited in 1989. We'll spend fifteen days wandering the isle, the nights nestled under down c...
Posted by Jules on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:38:00 PST

Andalusian National Championship Show

Just a few photos (rather blurry; sorry...low light and fast moving horses) from the show in Texas... these are all demonstration riders rather than competitors. Some pretty cool costumes and ho...
Posted by Jules on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:00:00 PST

Belonging

First, an apology: this is a long, rambling blog... it's processing on the screen and may not be interesting to anybody besides myself.Last night, as I was sinking into sleep, I had an epiphany. For t...
Posted by Jules on Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:10:00 PST

Greek life on campus

I remember it like it was yesterday: the conscious decision in picking out the college I wanted to attend to use as one of my selection criteria the proportion of the student population belonging to s...
Posted by Jules on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 07:12:00 PST

Oregon rainfall

If only I had the ability to capture the sound and feel of the rain...To convey the energy of the storm blowing across the valley,And the fresh scent of the air, crisp with fallAlas, even a camera as...
Posted by Jules on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:48:00 PST

Jefe

Born May 13, 1996 to an older Quarter Horse mare who had done her time as a professional athlete (she competed for 15 years on the National Reining Horse Circuit) and sired by a handsome Andalusian st...
Posted by Jules on Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:20:00 PST