I have posted some pictures on my Webshots account - here's a link:
Webshots Pictures
I'm hoping that someone else decides to come and visit so that I can see some more of the sights!
I have the cutest kids EVER!
14 years ago
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Graduation
June 4th was Harvard graduation this year. The Extension School graduates showed up to 51 Brattle Street at 7 AM to get ready for the processional to campus. We stood around for a while, and then they fed us breakfast and handed out our class symbol - the lamp, indicating that we had been burning the midnight oil, and gave each of us sheaves of wheat to carry. As the time to march approached, we lined up, stood around some more, and finally were led by a bagpipe player as we walked the few blocks to campus. I was okay until the music started, and then I got a bit teary, thinking about how my dad loved bagpipes and wondering what he would think of all the ceremony. After we got to campus, we stood around some more while the other colleges arrived. We finally marched to our seats in the Yard, where we were able to sit for a while.
The ceremony started with the "Lord Sheriff of Middlesex County" opening the proceedings by pounding his staff 3 times and shouting the traditional greeting. There were 3 student speeches, one entirely in Latin, which was amazing. A number of honorary degrees were presented - the only person I had ever heard of was Winton Marsalis, who also played the Star Spangled Banner and "When the Saints go Marching In" on his trumpet. Then they presented each college and class and pronounced them graduated. Finally the Lord Sheriff pounded his staff 3 more times and declared the proceedings closed.
The Extension School graduates were feted at a buffet at the First Unitarian Church, where we then lined up in alphabetical order, stood around some more, and were finally taken inside the church and up into the balcony. It was a very warm day, and of course, heat rises, so we were pretty wilted by the time all of the ceremony was over. We were presented one by one to receive our diplomas and get our pictures taken, and then returned to the balcony. After the ceremony they lined us up in the front of the church and we stood around again until they took our class picture.
Robert was kind enough to pay for a limo so that we didn't have to worry about parking in Cambridge. Thanks a bunch, honey!
Here are a few pictures of the day.
Graduation
The ceremony started with the "Lord Sheriff of Middlesex County" opening the proceedings by pounding his staff 3 times and shouting the traditional greeting. There were 3 student speeches, one entirely in Latin, which was amazing. A number of honorary degrees were presented - the only person I had ever heard of was Winton Marsalis, who also played the Star Spangled Banner and "When the Saints go Marching In" on his trumpet. Then they presented each college and class and pronounced them graduated. Finally the Lord Sheriff pounded his staff 3 more times and declared the proceedings closed.
The Extension School graduates were feted at a buffet at the First Unitarian Church, where we then lined up in alphabetical order, stood around some more, and were finally taken inside the church and up into the balcony. It was a very warm day, and of course, heat rises, so we were pretty wilted by the time all of the ceremony was over. We were presented one by one to receive our diplomas and get our pictures taken, and then returned to the balcony. After the ceremony they lined us up in the front of the church and we stood around again until they took our class picture.
Robert was kind enough to pay for a limo so that we didn't have to worry about parking in Cambridge. Thanks a bunch, honey!
Here are a few pictures of the day.
Graduation
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Indianapolis
Did you know that Indianapolis has more monuments than any city in the country except for Washington DC? (I know, some people are aware that DC isn't really in the country :)
After the sessions at 350Flex I went for walks in the city and took pictures of some of the monuments and parks.
After the sessions at 350Flex I went for walks in the city and took pictures of some of the monuments and parks.
 | This is a shot of one of the many horse drawn carriages |
 | This fountain is in the park near the War Memorial. |
 | The War Memorial is a building dedicated to the men and women who served in the world wars. |
 | A shot of the State Capitol Building |
 | This is the monument in the heart of town. This monument also appears on the Indiana State Flag. |
360Flex in Indianapolis
This year I was able to participate in the 360Flex conference held in Indianapolis. For the uninitiated, Flex is a programming language developed by Adobe to make fancy internet applications. The conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the heart of the city. The hotel is also a working train station, and has 13 Pullman cars that have been restored and refurbished and are used as rooms and suites. I was in the Jean Harlowe room, in car 26. There are fiberglass ghost people around the hotel picturing people who would have been in the train station at the turn of the century.
The main sessions of the meetings were held in the Grand Hall of the Union Station. It is an awesome space, with stained glass windows at each end and intricately detailed walls.
Because it is a working train station, there were times in the evenings and mornings when my room would start to vibrate as a train arrived or left. It was a bit disconcerting at first, but added to the ambiance.
I'll post some of the technical Flex stuff at my other blog, AllThingsRIA.blogspot.com Oh, and I actually won a prize - I got an advance copy of the new Flex 3 Professional - only the 2nd time in my life for winning a door prize!
The main sessions of the meetings were held in the Grand Hall of the Union Station. It is an awesome space, with stained glass windows at each end and intricately detailed walls.
Because it is a working train station, there were times in the evenings and mornings when my room would start to vibrate as a train arrived or left. It was a bit disconcerting at first, but added to the ambiance.
I'll post some of the technical Flex stuff at my other blog, AllThingsRIA.blogspot.com Oh, and I actually won a prize - I got an advance copy of the new Flex 3 Professional - only the 2nd time in my life for winning a door prize!
Spring in Billerica
Spring took a long time getting here this year, but once it finally came the flowers and trees started to bloom. I've never seen lilacs like we had this year, and the flowering trees and bushes were spectacular. My daffodils and tulips are in their 4th year, and have spread and multiplied - I'll probably have to separate them in the next year or so.
Our house faces to the south-east, so we get lots of warm sunshine and reflection off the siding, which means that the iris plants at the front of the house are first to bloom. The ones along the fence should bloom within the next week or so.
Our house faces to the south-east, so we get lots of warm sunshine and reflection off the siding, which means that the iris plants at the front of the house are first to bloom. The ones along the fence should bloom within the next week or so.
My Thesis is Finished!
I received final approval on my thesis and got it published and submitted, so now all that's left is graduation on June 4. Here's a shot of the Harvard Red binding. Anyone who wants to read it - just let me know!
The Rains in North Carolina
We flew to Charlotte, NC, to spend the weekend with Chris and Holly and family. Emma's baptism was the main reason for going, but we got to take walks, play at the park and see soccer games too. The azaleas were at their peak and really beautiful this year. It was nice to leave cold New England and travel to a warmer place for a bit and lots of fun to see kids playing soccer and to get to know Eliza and Thomas.
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