Paying Homage to my Alma Mater and Visiting the Parks!

I couldn't think of any better place to start my journey out West for graduate school than right where it all started - The College of William and Mary. I drove to Williamsburg this morning and paid visits to some, but certainly not all of my mentors, colleagues and friends on campus. I had a chance to see George Greenia, Geoff Feiss, Chon Glover, Deb Boykin and the Residence Life staff, Sam Sadler, Ginger Ambler, Chris Ladnier, Mark Constantine and Anne Arseneau. I made sure to grab Cheese Shop for lunch, which I enjoyed in the Wren Yard, had coffee at The Daily Grind with some students and alumni friends, and visited the Bookstore and Campus Shop.

It was nice to be on campus for the day in the beautiful Williamsburg Spring weather and to spend time with the people and in the community that inspired me to go to work in higher education.



After my visits on campus, I drove out to Charles City County to see Charlie and Sarah Park and their girls - Lucy, Kate and Frances. The girls are growing up so fast and I don't see them, Charlie and Sarah often enough, so I was so happy to be able to visit with them and have dinner at the house. Lucy fitted me with Tinkerbell wings and fairy dust and taught me 'how to fly' and by the end of the night I had become nothing short of a human jungle gym. I had a great time there! I was worn out after just a few hours, but it was worth it!

More Tornado Photos... From NBC 12.

Tornadoes!

So I was kind of worried about driving across the Midwest during the tornado season, but I didn't much think I had to be worried about tornadoes hitting while I was in the Richmond area this week.

This afternoon a tornado was confirmed in Colonial Heights and overturned a ton of cars and injured at least 18 people in the Target parking lot. You all know the odds are pretty good I would have been at Target, especially with not much else to do.

In the photo above, just behind the grey car in the top of the photo, is Sam's Club - site of two prior tornadoes (an F2 and a really bad F4) when the Wal-Mart was located there.

The storm - and by all counts, the tornado - were last reported heading East toward Williamsburg and Glouchester Point. I hope William and Mary and VIMS aren't hit! I am heading out there Wednesday.

Photo credit: The Progress-Index

A Day at Kings Dominion with the Fam!

I took everyone to Kings Dominion for our birthdays today. Since I am only back here for a few days, I thought it would be fun to go to the amusement park like we used to do every summer growing up. I had gone in 2006, but the rest of the family hadn't been in a few years. We were a little worried that the weather forecast was calling for afternoon rain and thunderstorms, but the storms only just started around 8 pm and we were already back home by then.


We had a great time. The threat of rain seemed to keep the crowds down at the park, so we got to ride as many rides in a few hours as you might ride in a whole day any other time - A mix of newer rides and some of our old favorites. Some of the rides we went on were Drop Zone, the Rebel Yell, the Hurler, the Grizzly, the Berzerker, the Crypt, Volcano, and the Avalanche.

If nothing else, a day at the park was a MUCH welcome alternative to the several days of packing I did this week!!!

GOING TO VEGAS!

So I just talked to my grandfather on the phone... And we're going to Las Vegas with my Aunt Susie for Memorial Day weekend on my way to California for AIDS LifeCycle! YAY!

I'll be posting from SIN CITY that weekend! Vegas here I come!!!

My Last JRs Showtunes Night (for now)...

Paul and I went to Showtunes for the last time last night... Truly the end of an era, even if both of us stopped going on a weekly basis a couple years ago. Lonnie came along and we saw lots of the familiar faces we used to see week after week.


I'll miss it, but in the spirit of Showtunes Night... "WE'LL ALWAYS BE BOSOM BUDDIES! FRIENDS, SISTERS AND PALS!"

Keep the beer cold, guys. I could show up again anytime!

Cooking Lessons at the Judy Harris Cooking School

Paul and I went for Italian cooking lessons tonight at Judy Harris' Cooking School in Alexandria. It was a great time! We were in charge of making the Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Black Pepper Cream. In my opinion, it was the best course of the meal. ;)

We also had Spaghetti Putanesca, Asparagus, Chicken Marsala, and a delicious almond cake.

Judy has classes all year round. Schedules are at www.judyharris.com.

My Super Fabulous Going Away/Birthday Party at Freddie's Beach Bar

My friends are the best! Paul planned a great party for us at Freddie's! We had a buffet, beads, the largest margaritas you ever saw, KARAOKE, rainbow-frosted birthday cake, a Rob Lowe look-alike... It was a great time! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to say goodbye! I am going to miss you all!

Because I am a nerd and I LOVE Google Maps...

So, I have created a Google Map of my trip - including the stops along the route for my AIDS/LifeCycle ride in California. I will TRY to update this from the road with the route and notes/photos from each spot.

Fun, no?


View Larger Map

Westward Ho! - The Tentative Itinerary

I am trying to get the details of my trip out West settled so I don't have to be stressed out over it anymore. Here's what I am thinking...

04.24.08 - Depart Washington en route to Richmond, VA.
04.30.08 - Visit The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.
05.02.08 - Depart Richmond, VA. Visit and overnight with friends at Ash Lawn Highland in Western VA.
05.03.08 - Depart VA en route to Madison County, IA.
05.04.08 - Arrive in Madison County, IA.
05.10.08 - Depart Madison County, IA en route to Kansas City, MO and Lawrence, KS.
05.11.08 - Josh Ritter concert in Lawrence, KS.
05.12.08 - Depart Lawrence, KS en route to Denver, CO. Two days in Denver, CO.
05.14.08 - Depart Denver, CO. Visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument and camp overnight in Pike National Forest.
05.15.08 - Depart CO en route to Santa Fe, NM. Camp overnight in Santa Fe National Forest.
05.16.08 - Overnight in Santa Fe, NM.
05.17.08 - Depart Santa Fe, NM en route to Albuquerque, NM. Attend Collin Ramsey & Joshua Barnes wedding.
05.18.08 - Depart Albuquerque, NM for Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces, NM. Camp overnight in Las Cruces.
05.19.08 - Depart Las Cruces, NM en route to Tucson, AZ. Visit Saguaro National Park and camp overnight in Coronado National Forest.
05.20.08 - Depart Tucson, AZ for Phoenix, AZ.
05.21.08 - Get moved in!
05.25.08 - Depart Phoenix, AZ for Big River, CA. Visit Grandpa Maxey Memorial Day weekend.
05.27.08 - Visit and camp overnight at Joshua Tree National Forest.
05.28.08 - Depart Joshua Tree National Forest for Los Angeles, CA. Drop off bike for AIDS LifeCycle 7. Depart Los Angeles, CA for San Francisco, CA.
05.29.08 - Explore San Francisco, CA.
05.31.08 - AIDS LifeCycle 7 Orientation Day.
06.01.08 - Depart San Francisco, CA (on my bike!) for Los Angeles, CA.
06.07.08 - Arrive in Los Angeles, CA. Depart Los Angeles, CA for Phoenix, AZ.

That's a pretty good draft of the trip. We'll see if it works out this way. =)