How Time Flies

Last month was my 5 year college reunion. Gulp. I've been out of college for longer than I was there! It's a surprising thought...it seems like just yesterday I was rolling out of my bunk bed, fumbling for my books, and running off to class in my sweatpants having stayed up way too late giggling with my dormmates the night before. Fortunately, the bond with my classmates is strong, and when we get back together, it's like we never left.


Ann (left) and Beccah were my only close friends who were able to make it up for the reunion. Ann and I stayed in one of the dorms, Alumni Hall. It's normally a men's dorm (and boy does it smell like one), but for graduation weekend, it was appointed the class of 2004 dorm. It was very strange staying with boys in the dorm - there was one across the hall from me who I had to wave hello to while walking back from the shower. I really did appreciate the single sex dorms while in college!

Although I wish more of my regular crowd had been there, I had fun catching up with those friends that I hadn't seen since graduation - particularly, of course, my fellow engineers.

Zakiya was the only other female in my major, Computer Engineering. We joke that our school surveys were never anonymous. Major + gender + ethinicity had us pegged.

I also got to mingle with some of the older classes. They do reunions in 5 year intervals, so we were on campus with the classes of 1999, 1994, 1989, etc, all the way back to those celebrating their 50+ year reunions.

Erin (in the background with her tongue out) taught the class of '94 proper slip n' slide technique on the quad.


The weekend was also a nice chance just to walk around campus free from the crowds of a football weekend.


This is part of the new law school addition. They're going a bit nuts with all the new buildings, but they've done a nice job of keeping the architectural style consistent in the last decade. (The 2008 campus plan indicates the styles are Collegiate Gothic, Neoclassical, and French Empire.)

The reunion weekend reminded me just how much I love being on campus. I'm counting the days until I go back this fall for football season!


Love thee, Notre Dame.

The Flyin Hawaiian Comes to Town

Shane Victorino, center fielder for the Phillies and a fellow St. Anthony Trojan, came to town in May to play the Cardinals. Chris, another one of the ND alums I run around with, is from Philly as is Kathleen's dad. So the three of us snapped up front row bleachers seats to go see them play.

The tickets were cheap and the view was amazing! We were feet from some of the action. When one of the cardinals was injured by running into the outfield wall, we even made it on the background of Sports Center! We had so much fun that we went the second night, as well. As it was Cinco De Mayo, we made a sign. We harassed Shane so much that just before the last inning, he tossed us a ball. I don't think I can ever sit anywhere but front row again.


A little back story: I met Shane when I was a mousy, tomboy 7th grader. He was an intimidating 8th grader who had just stolen my bouncy ball. Out of no where came a yell, "Shane! Leave my sister alone!". It was my impossibly cool and beautiful senior sister. "THAT's your sister?" was the incredulous reply from Shane as he handed me back my toy. I like to think that since then, my coolness has caught up to my sister enough that it's at least believable now that we are related, but I still rely on her to stick up for me every now and then.

Nashville!

In March (yeah, I've been a bit behind on the blogging), some of my friends from the Notre Dame alumni club and I took a road trip to Nashville. From the minute we walked onto Broadway, I was in love! The city is full of things to do, the streets are clean, and the sweet tea is that good.

On Friday we headed out to the main strip for some dinner and dancing. It's like a smaller, cleaner, safer version of Vegas.

On Saturday, we drove out to the Loveless Cafe where we had biscuits and grits for brunch. My favorite part though, was just sitting on the porch sipping sodas while waiting for our table. What else does one do in the South?

Dayna, Dee Dee, Kiki, Me, Tim (Kathleen's fella), Kathleen


After the Loveless Cafe, we drove through the suburb of Belle Meade (turns out this is Al Gore's hometown). It was one of the most beautiful neighborhoods I've ever been in. Old homes, stone walls, creeks, and trees everywhere.


Then we took a side trip to Greece to visit the Parthenon.
Okay, really, it was the full scale replica across from Vanderbilt. Still pretty impressive and it made for great photo taking opportunities!


Saturday evening was the Bluebird Cafe, a tiny hole in the wall where up and coming artists give performances.


On Sunday, we did a little sight seeing by the river before making the 5 hour drive home.
I enjoyed Nashville so much, I was scanning job opportunities there. Unfortunately, Nashville is big on music and healthcare, not so much on the defense and technology. It makes for a good road trip anyway!

More Adventures in Hoku Land

Sunday was my day to scrub the floors.

That made today Hoku's day to play in the mud.

St Patrick's Day Parade!

This past Saturday, downtown St. Louis celebrated St. Patrick's Day with the annual parade. The parade was started 40 years ago by a Notre Dame grad and now draws over 250,000 spectators. This year, I got to ride on the Notre Dame club float (last year, I accidentally slept through it). It was a great time waving to the crowds, dancing the Irish jig, and singing the fight song (over and over and over).

Eagles!

Last month, my friend Dayna and I drove up to Clarksville, Missouri for some Bald Eagle watching. Clarksville is a little antique town overlooking Lock and Dam Number 24 on the Mississippi River about 90 minutes north of St Louis. During the winter months, the area surrouning the dam is the only part of the river that doesn't freeze over making it prime feeding location for Bald Eagles. It was amazing. There were hundreds of them flying around the dam and napping in the trees along the river. Dayna and I had a great morning photographing them. Once we had enough of the cold, we headed inside to eat at the corner diner followed by an afternoon of shopping in the antique stores. It was a great little road trip!

Snow!

This is the snow storm we had last week. It's finally melted off. The forecast for this weekend is sixty degrees. It sounds down right tropical these days!