Last Graduation Post

On Saturday afternoon, we had a graduation open house for Mom.  Except for this time, unlike the rest of them, we held it at Grandma Hazel's.  We left a note on the door of our house as plenty of people mentioned that they were coming to our house on Saturday (even though we included a map and directions to my grandma's in the invitation).  Grandma did all the cleaning, so all we had to do was decorate and get food. 

Kellyn and I went over to my grandma's around 10am on Saturday morning to decorate, and my parents went to Costco to get food.  Grandma was terrified that we were not going to be ready by 3pm, but I think we surprised her at how quick we got everything together.  Lots of friends came to celebrate and Mom had a good time.

Mr. and Mrs. Crowell, Mrs. Lidman and Noreen - they are neighbors from 66th Street

Shane, David, Beth and Lesley - all cousins

Brett, Colleen, Alex, Leila, Brittany and Grandma Lois

Bob, Bill, Kathryn, Rob and Lois - friends from church

Grandma Lois and Leila - Leila's great grandma

Dad, Colby and Randy

Kellyn and I

After the party I had a 9pm flight back to NYC.  

Mom's College of Education Graduation

Mom and the Grandma's - they did not sit with the rest of the group during the ceremony and they missed my mom's name being called and her walking across the stage.  We even went up and told them to be ready when she was getting close.  After the ceremony, they said "Did they even call Janis's name?"  

Mom with her mom and brothers

Mom and Dad

The four of us - Kyle was being sworn in as a Peace Corp volunteer that same day.  He has that documented on his blog, Honduras Happenings.

Congrats, MOM!!!  You finished!

Dinner after the ceremony at Sam's Cafe at the Biltmore

Dad's favorite part of dinner - the white chocolate tamales

Thursday in Arizona

My Thursday in Arizona (May 14th) was my one "free" day.  I still have my LA Fitness membership so I went to the gym first thing in the morning.  I then met Mikele and Miles for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.

Miles is already 3, and he entertained us by singing hymns that he learned at Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).  It was good seeing and catching up with Mikele too :)

On Thursday afternoon I laid out by the pool (I think I was the whitest person in Arizona) and then I FINALLY got to meet Brady Cripps.  He is Scott and Julie's baby and was born in March.  I think I held him the whole night :)

In my whirlwind of a trip, it was nice to have one day that was somewhat relaxing.

ASU Spring 2009 Commencement

Mom graduated last week with her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education.  She is the fifth and final member of my family to obtain a degree from Arizona State.  Dad, Kyle and I all graduated from the W.P. Carey School of Business, and Mom and Kellyn both graduated from the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education.  At this year's general commencement ceremony, President Barack Obama was the speaker.  While I don't agree with the majority of his political views, it was fun to see a president "in real life."

My ticket with the details.  Just after I took this picture, a security guard said that if the Secret Service saw me taking that picture, I would be asked to delete it.  I guess they did not want any pictures of the security lines (which are in front of me).

A shot of the security lines after entering.  On the news they were saying to plan on standing in line for 90 minutes to get through security, but we were only in line for 20 minutes (maybe shorter).

With mom at Sun Devil Stadium - you can definitely tell in this picture that I don't have the benefit of the Arizona sun right now :(

Alice Cooper performed "School's Out for Summer" as part of the pre-opening ceremonies.

Go Devils!!!

On the screen - President Barack Obama and President Michael Crow (ASU President).

Snipers.  They were strategically placed around the stadium.

This was my view of Obama with - with my zoom feature fully utilized.

This was the better view of him.

Congrats, Mom!!!!  (More to come on this subject.)

Always in a Hurry

I have heard numerous times, and have in fact noticed it when I have visited, that NYCers always seem to be in a hurry.  Everyone is always walking so fast.  You can easily spot a tourist when you see someone walking and looking at the sky (as they are looking at all of the tall buildings).  Tonight when I was walking home from work, I was trying to get past this couple who was leisurely walking down the street.  I said excuse me, and they let me pass.  They also commented to me that "they weren't from here."  I quickly clarified that I was not from here either, but had lived here for 7 months and that it is easy to get into the fast walking mode.

As I was thinking about that encounter on the subway on my way home, I have concluded that walking fast here is the same as driving fast in cities where you have a car.  If I am running late to work in the morning, how quickly I get to work is partly dependent on how fast I walk (as well as how long the train takes to come at the subway station).  In Arizona, if I am running late, I tend to be in a hurry on the freeway.  When I leave work at night, I just want to get home, and again, that is dependent on how fast I walk.  It just comes natural then to be in that fast walking mode even if you are not in a hurry to get anywhere.

If you have a trip planned to come visit me, you better keep up :)

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Dear Mom,
I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day. I wish that Kyle and I could both be with you today, as I am sure that would make your day better. 3 more days until I see you though :) Congratulations on completing college and graduating in a few days. Praying that you get a job - I am sure all your students will love you. You already have a good track record of teaching me, Kyle and Kellyn through all grades so I am sure you can handle a classroom no problem. Thank you for raising us in a home with Jesus at the center. I love you.
Kristin

Me and Mom - 1980
Lake Tahoe - 1988

San Diego - probably around 1988

In front of our old house on 66th Street - 1986

Grand Canyon - 1998

Christmas 2004

At H&H Bagels on the UES - 2008

Dad's Spring Visit to the City

Dad got here last Thursday morning for a visit.  He has been hanging out doing various things during the day while I work - like having breakfast at H&H Bagels, going to Home Depot and figuring out what A/C unit I need for the apartment, replacing light bulbs, taking a trip to Ellis Island and riding the bus around the UES (Upper East Side).  We have been trying various restaurants in the neighborhood for dinner - the favorite is still Hi-Life.  

Saturday was a nice day (it has been raining A LOT here) so we went to the Union Square Farmer's Market and then rode the Staten Island Ferry.  

On the Ferry - it was windy and cold.

Last night we saw Jersey Boys on Broadway.  It was a fun show and one that I would see again.  After the show, we stopped at Stage Deli for a piece of NYC Cheesecake - I think that restaurant is Dad's favorite.

It has been good having him here but he goes home on Saturday.  That is the hardest thing about having people here is seeing them leave, knowing that they are going to AZ.  At least for the summer I have a good line-up of people coming to visit!