The first Thursday Rundown of October is here! I would like to use it to first wish my sister-in-law, Stephanie, a very happy birthday. I hope it has been a great day for her so far. Let’s start the rundown…

Heroic Stories – Tears stream down my face when I watch some of these stories about people who performed courageous and selfless acts during the Las Vegas shooting. On Sunday night, that music festival had some incredibly brave men and women in the crowd. I know all of us like to say we would do the same thing but we give ourselves way too much credit. We have no idea how we would react when bullets started flying and people started dropping. All I can say is through my sadness I am also inspired by people who are much better than myself.

A Cougar Cub – So this is now “a thing.” When Sloan was born, her Uncle Glen gave her a Washington State onesie. Sloan has worn this onesie each time the Cougar football team has played this year. The team played its first four games on Saturday and won. Last Friday, the Cougs played a rare Friday night game and Sloan proudly wore her crimson to day care. The team won again. As you can imagine, my dad (a WSU alumnus) and brother are a little obsessive over her wearing a certain onesie on gameday.

Sloan wearing her Washington State University onesie.

New President at University of Montana – After a long and very necessary nationwide search, my alma mater recently hired its 18th president. Seth Bodnar will assume the top job at the University of Montana on January 1. He was labeled the “unconventional” candidate because he had no doctorate degree and little experience in higher education leadership. However, I welcome the skills and talents of the 38-year-old and I hope he does great in Missoula. Believe it or not, the biggest talking point on social media regarding his hiring has nothing to do with his background or his plan for UM. Rather, it is all about his looks. Apparently, he is very handsome. Ladies, what do you think?

President Seth Bodnar has “caught the eye” of the Missoula community.

Back on the Speaking Circuit – I gave two social media presentations this week. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of convening my 2017-18 #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group. It was great to chat with this year’s students about how our social media program at CCU is structured. After I finished with my presentation, they gave me valuable feedback on new trends. Today, I had the opportunity to speak with staff on campus about social media customer service. I provided them with 10 ways they could excel at digital interactions with members of the campus community. My presentation was part of our university’s Customer Service Summit, an event closely tied with our Feel the Teal initiative.

Members of my #CCUSocialMedia Student Advisory Group (photo from @ccuchanticleers Instagram account)

Sloan at 29 Weeks – The folks at day care say “Sloan likes to eat!” They aren’t kidding. I have mentioned before that we were starting to introduce baby food but now at this point in the game she is a professional eater. Sidney “cooks” up a few different dishes for her each night and she goes to town as she feasts away on bananas, green beans, rice, peaches, squash, and more. She is also starting to sit up on her own. Her two favorite toys are a ballerina doll and a circular rattle.

This is the 29 week photo collage of Sloan.

Enjoy your Thursday evening and please pray for the people impacted by the Las Vegas shootings. Don’t Blink.