MUSH'S HOMEPAGE
Yes, my last name really IS Mushrush. I'm Christopher Eric Mushrush, born in '72. I originally came from the Onarga, Illinois area. I married Sheri Miller on June 21, 1997 (click here for a photo of us at the wedding reception). Our lives really changed in the early morning hours of December 19th, 2002, with the birth of our first child, Aaron. Eric came 2 years and 9 days later (I guess March was a good month for us).
I am currently a graduate student at Illinois State University where I majored in economics. I am currently in Doctoral work in the Educational Administration discipline, with a concentration in higher education. I have been employed as a non-tenured faculty member in the economics department for over three years now, teaching such things as Principles of Economics, Individuals and Social Choice, Social Science Reasoning using Statistics, Managerial Economics, and Money and Banking. My ultimate goal is to work as an administrator while still teaching once or twice a year. It seems that the biggest complaint between faculty and admin is that many faculty feel that administrators are "out of touch" with the academic side of the university. I firmly believe that higher-level administrators should be required to teach at least one class a year to keep current with the students and their needs.
In the past, I was involved with the Student Government at Illinois State. I have served as President, the VP, the Treasurer, and the NAGPS liaison to the Graduate Student Association, and I have also served on ISU's Academic Senate at the University. My experience with NAGPS was bittersweet, but I won't rant and focus on just a couple items. Though I started out as a just a liaison to the organization, I soon found myself on the NAGPS Board of Directors. I rotated on and off the BOD until August of 2003. During that time, I took part in several lobbying efforts for graduate and professional education in Washington, DC. I got to spend some time in the Senate Gallery during the Clinton Impeachment trial, and got to see a couple of the final votes. Lobbying is an eye-opening experience, to say the least!
I was formerly a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy but voluntarily left before I finished my Junior year out there. I majored in Computer Sciences and was shooting for a slot in pilot school. I must honestly say that the Academy was one of the most thrilling experiences in my life so far. I did my fourthclass year in the Dirty Dozen and my remaining time in Wolfpack 5. If you don't believe me, I can still give you Schofield's quote, and I can finish "FAST. NEAT. AVERAGE..." While I was there, I sang on the Protestant Cadet Choir (bass).
Most people ask why I left when I was almost all the way through it. The full explanation takes too long -- I had some personal differences with the military in general (not the Academy...the military). Instead of simply staying in, graduating, and getting out after 6 years (and using over $250,000 in taxpayers' money in the process), I chose to leave when I did, incur only a 2 year commitment, and get on with my life. Still, I will always hold a place in my heart for the Academy and for those who attended it.
I spent 4 months at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS in the 335th Training Squadron. Though I was only there for 4 months, I was fortunate enough to become one of the fastest airmen ever to attain the rank of "red rope" for the squadron (from start of school to red in just over 2 1/2 weeks). I then served out my commitment at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE. I served as a systems controller (AFSC 3C2) and worked behind blast doors underground maintaining voice and data networks. To get an idea of what I actually did, you can view my final letter of evaluation.
Fairfield...You mean the hotel?
Well, not quite. Over our 2002 Spring Break, my wife and I went to Vegas. I came down with the flu while out there, so it wasn't one of the more memorable experiences (I was too sick to gamble, THAT'S saying something). Before I got sick, though, we were walking through the Rio when a gorgeous model of a woman stopped me and asked me if I wanted to receive free tickets to a show. After picking my jaw up off the floor, I said "Sure!!!" (of course, my wife just rolled her eyes). In order to get the passes to a show, we had to listen to a sales presentation on a timeshare company. This was something that we've done before (got 1/2 price tickets for hopper passes at Disney World when we toured the Orange Lake Country Club Resort in Kissimmee, and we didn't have to buy anything). We thought we'd endure the pain of a presentation in order to save some money, and we, like 97% of all other people, decided before the presentation that we would not even consider buying whatever it was they were trying to sell (famous last words). We got to the meeting place (Harrah's resort/casino), had breakfast, and started the meeting.
Thus began our introduction to Fairfield Resorts. Here we are, 28 years old (then), listening to a spiel on timeshares -- usually associated with retired life or wealthy folks. Why would we ever even seriously think of doing this? We're too young! Then the idea of essentially forcing ourselves to take a vacation every year starting sounding good, especially with our hectic lives. Before we knew it, questions started popping in our heads, trying to find the catch. Were we stuck using one week (the same week) every year at the same location? Nope! It's not one week...the same week? No?! We have points instead of weeks....hmmm...keep talking. How's the quality of the resorts? That was the big question that we were worried about. We took a short drive to the resort (the Grand Desert) and were completely blown away. Words really can't describe what we saw.
After going back to Harrah's to continue the meeting, we we able to preview other resorts that Fairfield owns. We were amazed at what seemed to be the same quality across the board, and we both started unconsciously planning future vacations. As we were doing that, Sheri and I both started doing some calculations in our heads (I'm an economist, and she's an accountant...it's in our blood). If we go on vacation and use a hotel, it will cost us $XXX, which is actually pretty close to what this resort would cost us in terms of monthly fees. Once we had the deed paid off in about 7 years (which we can deduct the interest from our taxes), we're actually pretty much even, and the quality FAR exceeds that of most any hotel I've stayed at. We could have guests use the resort (good idea for Christmas or wedding presents), can will our share to our children, and can "bank" points for future years in case we want to take a HUGE vacation. WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!
We snapped back to the present...this costs money. How strong is this company? It's owned by a group named Cendant? Will all of this be around in 20 years? The doubtful side of me (a.k.a. the economist in me) started wondering about long-term. A little research showed that Cendant is a powerhouse that isn't going to leave anytime soon. Besides, quoting the renowned economist John Maynard Keynes, "In the long-run, we're all dead." So let's live a little. Besides, we'll have it paid off long before most people our age have even considered buying a timeshare. Remember what we said about 300 words ago...we went into this presentation without ANY inclination of buying.
We bought.
For verification, I joined a message group of fellow owners, and I have learned sooooooo much from this group that I would highly recommend it to anyone considering owning. For more information, head on over to the Fairfield Timeshare Yahoo Group. I am currently one of the folks behind the scenes for this set of Yahoo groups (I help with membership approvals). I also belong to the Timeshare Users Group (aka TUG). More information about TUG can be found here.
After a little over a year of ownership, are we satisfied with our decision? Yep! We've been to Branson several times for short weekend getaways and Sevierville, TN for our first weeklong vacation as a family. We've given out points as Christmas presents, and my in-laws fell in love with a resort in Pagosa Springs, CO. We've been to Nashville in early 2004 and had planned on heading to Orlando at their newest resort, Bonnet Creek, but we found out that we are expecting our second child at the same time, so I don' think Mickey would like to deliver a baby on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Now, if you might be interested in timeshare ownership, let me know (drop me an e-mail), and I can forward your name on to the folks at Fairfield for a tour of one of their resorts. They have some minor requirements, but most people should be able to take the tour. Even if you don't buy, it's a chance to get away for a few days to a nice place!
I also spend a little free time online doing what I had dreamed of doing since I was in grade school --- flying. I have a combined 20 hours of flight time in a glider and in a T-41 (modified Cessna 172) while at the Academy, with solo flights in both. Since I cannot afford to fly in real life, I do a little (okay...a lot) simulated flying. Officially, I have logged around 250 hours of flying with "virtual airlines" and have certification to control virtual pilots online with both text and voice (don't ask...I'm a geek).
When the page is finally up, check out my flying page.
I am
also a huge Jimmy Buffett fan! I
tend to live and thrive under stress, but Buffett's music is one of the few
things that really calms me down. I've made it to a few of his concerts
and actually bring him into my teaching. Maybe one of these days he can
stop by the lecture hall and help me out.
WARNING!!!
THIS PAGE IS PERMANENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
© 1999-2007 cemushr@ilstu.edu
Last Updated on
04/15/2007
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