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carlie vanwilligen

@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social

IR Director, Grinnell College. 2nd gig advocating for disabled. Be kind. She/Hers.

created October 21, 2023

254 followers 305 following 14 posts

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Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social) reply parent

I think it was her cemetery walk the next day doubling down on dying which her team posted for all the internets to see.

29/8/2025, 5:11:27 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social) reply parent

Between this and the disaster that is Iowa's governor deciding not to run, the future might be looking up for Iowans (I won't get too excited until I see some of the local reps stepping down).

29/8/2025, 5:05:40 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

Here we are, my once a quarter post. This absolute gem of a human being turns THIRTY today! Wishing the OG Murphy the best day! Thank you for reminding me what it means to be a good person, how good it is to make others laugh, and that the greatest joy can be found in the smallest things.

Four photos of the same man, dressed in various sesame street tshirts and engaging in different activities.
29/8/2025, 2:38:21 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social) reply parent

I don't have the Venmo, but I'd sign up and contribute if this would actually happen!

29/8/2025, 2:34:45 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

My sweet son, devoting his entire life to keeping me humble!

conversation between two people - a mother and son. This morning... Mur: mama, what is love anyway? Me: Mur: Me: well, it was a Howard Jones tune in the 1980s- Mur: mama, what is love anyway? Me: Mur: Me: well, there was a club hit in the '90s, but it was just what is love, no anywa- Mur: what is love anyway? Me: Mur: Me: listen, our relationship works because you don't ask me these deep philosophical questions I am unprepared to answer. Mur: Me: Mur (looking down at his iPad): it is OK Kathleen Cow, Telly and Lexene love you. Me (leaning over to see what he's watching): I've been stymied yet again by a Sesame Street episode.
27/1/2025, 4:35:57 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social) reply parent

University of Phoenix and University of Arizona Global Campus over 20 years, retired this past summer. Loved it, but it's a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. It takes a while to find a schedule that maintains work/life balance, I was paid for 14 hours a week with about 30 students/class.

21/11/2024, 10:04:31 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social) reply parent

I love this one too! I almost got rear-ended, I stopped so quickly to get a better look when I saw it. I, too, read A. LOT. 🙂

16/11/2024, 7:37:05 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

Favorite photo you've taken this year. Here's mine:

An orange kitten laying in a chair, stretched out with one paw over his face and other pay hanging off the chair. Very relaxed.
13/11/2024, 4:55:07 PM | 2 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social) reply parent

What a beautiful girl!

13/11/2024, 4:38:12 PM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

Introduce yourself with some jobs you've done apart from what you do now: - detassler - public relations assistant - library assistant - sales associate at a mall department store - breakfast supervisor at a fast food restaurant - college business professor

11/11/2024, 1:42:51 AM | 1 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

The Grinnell Area Arts Council put up several large scale murals around Grinnell (www.grinnellarts.org/connections-...). But my favorites are the 7 tiny cat murals located around Grinnell, one right outside my son's day program.

Small cat in a dress, and painting smock - a mural located on main street in Grinnell, Iowa.
9/11/2024, 4:02:08 AM | 9 2 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

My son Murphy, effortlessly cooler than me since 1995.

Young man in an Elmo shirt and sunglasses rolling a set of dice during a game.
17/11/2023, 6:13:52 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

Murphy's day program is having a Halloween party. He's not a big fan of costumes or dressing up, but I did convince him to wear a costume at least for a little while. Here he is - a giant bag of Cool Ranch Doritos! Costume by me, because you can't find this craftsmanship just anywhere.

Young man in a blue cool ranch doritos costume.
31/10/2023, 2:17:17 PM | 0 0 | View on Bluesky | view

Profile picture carlie vanwilligen (@carlievanwilligen.bsky.social)

Me thinks me should post something. Here is my son Murphy at his day program for adults with disabilities. They were trying on costumes, he was *so* not interested. Busted out the hats and he was all in. He extra loved the zebra print pimp hat with the fur (my name for it, not theirs 😅)!

Young man posing in four different hats.
24/10/2023, 6:32:49 PM | 3 0 | View on Bluesky | view