Joey's Graduation from Columbia - May 2011

This was a wonderful week for us and I am so glad to share this with our loved ones. We sure missed Patsy and Stan at this one, they were there to share the last one with us.
My photo work is not the best, but you can get the idea of what it was like. Lots of people. It was really something! Amazing. I am very proud of Joey's hard work!

I think we're a pretty blessed family.

Home from Minneapolis

It has been a really long day today. I was up early in Minneapolis to get to the airport for my morning flight. Crowded plane, but finally home. So tired.

Washing clothes; packing for New York; trying to find all the information I need for the trip; instructions for where to go for the ceremony tomorrow; which train we're on; confirmation receipts for the hotel; leave check and tip for the cat sitter; remember to leave a key fob for her; The Tuesday Ceremony is just for the School of Public Health.
The Wednesday ceremony is OUTSIDE; rain or shine. That is the whole school ceremony.

So, in the morning, We're Off to Union Station then to Penn Station.

May travels

I promise I'll post some photos while I'm traveling this month.

Tomorrow, I fly to Minneapolis, Minnesota for the annual Medical Librarians Association conference. I have long and early meetings on both Friday and Saturday. Ed is begging off this time, so I'm on my own. Joey will be there as well.

On Sunday, I fly back to Maryland to prepare to leave for New York City to see Joey graduate from Columbia University. (I need a "Columbia Mom" T-shirt!) Quick - unpack -- laundry - repack...

After a quick turn around, we (Ed and I) will take the train to New York and check into our hotel near Joey's place in Manhattan. He will fly back to NYC from Minneapolis very late Monday night, as he needs to do a presentation on Monday afternoon. So I hope he makes it back to New York in time to graduate on Tuesday morning.... I am sure looking forward to the graduation.

It is the usual hair pulling around here: I'm responsible for the technical aspects, the provision of WiFi access, laptops, projectors and screens, microphones etc. I have the presentations on a thumb drive and also on a cloud, in case a presenter loses his/her presentation. I'm the back up.
It is some bit of stressful work and a bit of worry - I haven't slept well the last couple of nights and I will be glad when this is over.

I need to appear rested, calm and in charge. and social - can I remember all 90 of my peeps by name on sight? Haven't seen them in a year mostly, just virtually.
Will the room be arranged correctly in my boss' eyes?

We've been doing nothing fun lately, except trying to virtually plan Amanda's upcoming nuptials. Which I am enjoying! Sometimes I wish we lived a bit closer, but oh well.

Next month - we are really looking forward to going to Alaska! I think this is a good way to celebrate our 40 years of marriage. I am looking forward to the time off also, good practice for retirement....if that ever comes. Maybe I'll just pretend I'm retired while I'm in Alaska.

But, I don't want to blow through May by dreaming only of June...so I'll focus on the days ahead of me this time. I'm really going to focus on the NYC part of the days immediately ahead.

Just need to
Keep walking
One foot in front of the other.

And remember to breathe.