iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

TFW you are at Purdue Volleyball on Toy Story Night

Video board in Volleyball gym shows a graphic of an etch-a-sketch with the word "kill" scrawled on it. Scoreboard reads 22-10 in favor of Purdue.

Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Saw Richard Marx in concert tonight and it was *so much fun*! Like a frickin' time machine. I was excited to go, but it was WAY better than I thought.

Richard Marx sitting on a stool, playing a guitar. He looks as good as he ever did, but with better hair.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

My first time to see the northern lights! They came right to my backyard in Indiana!

A sweep of magenta across a starry night sky

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

...what are we going to do? What supports are we going to construct? What barriers and systems are we going to tear down? This is NOT rhetorical, people. I'm looking for some answers and some solidarity. Help me out, please!

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Being at the #UERU conference in DC in the 1st days of the new administration (not to mention a similar governor back home) has been...unsettling. Here's a slide from Terrell Strayhorn's plenary talk. And it has me wondering, as we see orders to tear down inclusion, science, basic rights...

Drawing that evokes the familiar equality/equity outside if a baseball field. The message says there are things we need to *construct* (supports) and things we need to *destruct/destroy* (barriers).

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

I had such fun with this Christmas gift!

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

And continue... (Not pictured: the baked potato bar from earlier in the evening)

Homemade funnel cake dusted with powdered sugar, topped with bacon pieces, maple glaze, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving to all who observe! I'm thankful for my lovely hubby who made most everything you see here.

Plate filled with mashed potatoes, turkey, & dressing, all covered in gravy, plus macaroni & cheese, candied yams, and cranberry salad.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

My 12yo took the lead on this one, with supervision from my husband.

A fresh-baked, homemade pecan pie sitting on a stovetop.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 08/10/2024

People say Indiana is a Red state. Republican supermajority. Ya know what? 36% of REGISTERED voters DID NOT VOTE in the 2020 presidential election. As Destiny Wells (candidate for AG, check her out!) says, Indiana is a purple state with a turnout problem. Talk to everyone! Get out the vote!

In the 2020 Presidential election in Indiana...
36% of registered voters voted Republican
26% voted Democrat
1% voted Libertarian
36% DID NOT VOTE

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 22/09/2024

I'm usually landlocked, so I enjoy @awesomebiota.bsky.social's floaty boaty posts vicariously. But for a few days, I have a view of the big boats!

A huge cruise ship in the Mississippi River in New Orleans, with city buildings in the front and a large bridge behind.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 17/09/2024

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #943,291! Woo hoo! First 10%

Bluesky is celebrating 10M users. I was #943,291

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

11yo is making a fancy cake today to deliver to the person who bought his baking in the church auction. White cake, Raspberry filling, buttercream frosting. 100% from scratch!

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 14/02/2024

My husband's Valentine's Day tradition is to make a heart-shaped meatloaf for dinner. Today he one-upped himself by serving heart-shaped mashed potatoes, too! 😍

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 11/02/2024

8yo had an idea for Superbowl Sunday treats. He even improvised a song: 🎶 We're making a chocolate buffet...that melts into memories 🎶

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

11yo is preparing for a bake sale at church on Sunday. Scotcheroos in progress tonight. Butterscotch cake & red velvet cookies coming tomorrow. Things are smelling good in my house this weekend!

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 01/02/2024

Revenge is mine! sayeth the Boilermaker.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 24/12/2023

Tried something new (for me) in the kitchen tonight -- stuffed acorn squash. Delightful!

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 18/12/2023

The annual airing of the Sound of Music is on, & I am in my happy place. He sings, he dances, he stands up to Nazis. Is it any wonder he was my first crush?

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 07/12/2023

OK, Bluesky: back in the beforetimes, on Twitter, I would share family baking adventures, especially the work of my oldest, who recently turned 11. Time to restart my old habits and show you 11yo's cookies in progress: sugar cookies with an inlaid Christmas tree design.

A log of cookie dough in the process of being shaped

A log of cookie dough, seen from the end. A green Christmas tree shape is in the middle, with plain cookie dough around it, and red cookie dough around that.

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Jen Dobbs-Oates @jendobbsoates.bsky.social · 26/09/2023

Still new here & not in the habit of posting yet. But I do want to say I'm having a great time at #SEE2023, my favorite conference event of the year!

Jennifer Dobbs-Oates holds up a frame for a photo opportunity at the conference of the Society for Experiential Education

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