About Me

I’m almost 30, married, with one cat. I’m a Wisconsin native who misses Milwaukee, the Upper Mississippi River Valley and the beautiful shore of Lake Superior. We moved to the Great Plains a year ago and chronicled here are photos from our life for family and friends to see. Topics you’ll see frequently are: baking, pies, sustainable changes, and Friday Catblogging. Nothing too personal. In 2008 I won first place blue ribbons at the State Fair for an apple pie and an apple-pear wine pie.

As to the name of the blog:

My friend Bradley helped me pick the name. He’s a friend from college, and I don’t think he knew this was my most hated nickname in elementary school. He just thought it was a clever title (and it is – way better than water filter jokes).

You can probably guess, I was always “good” at school. I read a lot, caught on quickly and had a good memory. I raised my hand or just blurted out answers, and I was in the gifted program.

These things in themselves aren’t bad, and would have made the average 8 year old to come up with the nickname. But – and here’s what it was really about – I was a certifiable Know-It-All. The nickname burned because it was more about my attitude than knowledge.

Encyclopedia Brittanica means something different to me now than it did then. And I proudly reclaim the name. Being well-read and well-rounded is the cornerstone of a liberal arts education. Working in Higher Ed, it’s nice to know my strengths align with the goals of the college, and I can help make a difference. I hope I’m no longer a capital Know-It-All (although I might still be a lower case one). I recognize I had many advantages that helped me excel at school while others didn’t. As an adult, I can combat inequalities and help expand access to quality education.

I want students to use me as a resource. I want to be an Encyclopedia. And, I really want to be on Cash Cab. I could rock that show.