Memorial Day

It's another Memorial Day I'm enjoying my day off and trying to remember the meaning of this day...thanks to all those who have served and sacrificed their time or their lives to preserve our freedom(s). It can be easy to forget that while this day for me is a paid holiday, time to relax, for many it is a sad reminder of loved ones that have been lost.

For me...it brings me back to the parades in Bethel Park...hotdogs, unlimited soda...and a celebration. This was before Viet Nam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan...............

and while I know some who have served...I am among those lucky not to have lost anyone in any of these wars.(....and I pray I never do)

There are things about this government I don't really like...but I also realize that I can voice my opinions without fear; and really...like everything else...if you evaluate what's good vs what's bad.....I thing we are doing pretty well.

Sunday

Saturday was the graduation program for Elizabeth's school/department..(.whatever)...where each individual name was announced and graduates received their degrees. Sunday was the University commencement. There were the usual speeches, honorary degrees, etc and then the featured speaker was Brian Williams.... of" NBC Nightly News"(who also received an honorary degree.)

Megan and I went downtown to see the ceremony. We met up with Ryan and Sarah...a friend of Elizabeth's. Originally they met and became friends in Virginia Beach, Sarah's family relocated to DC area...so she surprised Elizabeth and came to the graduation. Megan and Marcus were taking John to the Nationals vs Orioles game Sunday afternoon....so she had to leave early. Unfortunately for her...she basically got to see all the graduates file in...(35 minutes or so...) and then she had to leave. Well....at least she got me to the program. hahaha

She plays softball with the Embry-Riddle alumni group...they play at fields down by the mall...so she knew just where to park. It was beautiful down by the Tidal Basin. From there we walked along the waterfront and then up to the National Mall.

Megan and a very happy Aunt Elizabeth

we took turns taking pictures...hahaha

Sarah, Liz and I

Liz and Ryan...I think we just about wore Ryan out...making him take picutres with us/ of us...haha. But he was a good sport, as usual.

What a great spot for a college graduation commencement! Luckily it was a beautiful, a little hot day...since the ceremony was scheduled...rain or shine. We were happy it was shine for us...hahah

Brian Williams was a great speaker (naturally, since that's what he does for a living.) He was funny, but he also had a good message. We were pleased that much of his speech had to do with NASA and the Space Program...all we've gotten from it and what we should be doing as we move forward. I believe one of his messages was "I don't care what you do, but do GOOD....and get along!" He didn't come right out and say it...but the implication was that the folks on the hill aren't doing such a good job of that right now...I don't know if his speech is on You Tube somewhere...but it's worth a listen if it is.

Click here to video the video posted on Politico's website

After the ceremony and pictures...Ryan , Elizabeth and I walked back to their hotel...about a mile or so away.

It's so cool walking past the buildings, the statues...I love all the history.

More flowers...they were everywhere.

And it was fun to walk past Pennsylvania Ave.....knowing the president lives right down the road a ways. ....After the graduation we headed to the art show...while John, Marcus and Megan went to the game. They had nice box seats near home plate and had a blast watching the Nationals win. They all reported that new stadium is great and they were right there when Strasburg hit his first ever home run in the major leagues. The Nationals beat the Orioles so that was a plus....they enjoyed the afternoon.

Saturday party for Elizabeth (and more from the Art Show)

Saturday night we had a cookout at Rob and Shane's house. John grilled some fresh grouper that he had brought up; and we also had steak and chicken. The fish was gone first...haha

Shane had spent the day with a friend, he and his mother joined us for the party.

Rob in the kitchen...I had to crop John out of the picture...he had an expression that made it look like he had seen a ghost or something...hahah

This was an "Art Cart" at the art show...the computer seems to want to put the pictures in radomly...so what the &*^%...I'll just go with the flow. haha

We decided to check out this place for lunch.

Paul was sound asleep...with his hearing off he did not hear anything...we were joking that he looked like a mannequin...he did not move at all...if anyone happened to stop to talk to him...he wouldn't even have known it.

more activity around the booth

Flash back to the party...Liz was so excited! We were just getting started.

Megan, Marcus, his parents and Liz.

Ryan, John, Bridget and Liz. Paul and David showed up after they shut the booth down. David also invited a couple of the artists...one came...Bruce. He had some amazing photography...he did well in the show. Sunday Megan and I planned to head to the graduation..(since Sunday's program started at 9:30am) John was going to a National's game with Megan and Marcus...turns out that Marcus's parents were going to the game and so were Shane and his friend Taylor. Rob was taking it easy....and everyone else was going back to the show.

A weekend in Northern Virginia

We got back yesterday from a long weekend up in Northern Virginia. Originally we planned to go up when Elizabeth earned her Master's Degree, since the graduation happened to be in the DC area...we could also visit Rob and Shane and Megan and Marcus. Then it just so happened that it coincided with the Reston Art show that David was going to be in....next thing you know David, Bridget and Paul would also be there...so it was a plan!

We stayed at Rob and Shane's of course. The weather was BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely beautiful on Saturday and Sunday. Lows around 68, highs around 80 and everything was green, blue skies, a slight breeze and there were all kinds of flowers in bloom...ahhhhhh I loved it.

Started snapping pictures around the house and in the back yard while I listened to all the birds enjoying the day as much as I was. haha

The trees were getting bigger...the one we planted for Jen was coming along. The deck looks great...Rob got new cushions

and they reminded me so much of Jen! It's funny...he has been making updates and re decorating the last few years... to be honest some things I don't know what Jen would think...but these chairs were all Jen!

The graduation started at 8:00am on Saturday...and I love my sister...but that was too early for me. We missed Jon and Meredith who had to head back to Virginia Beach right away...but Liz and Ryan joined us later in the afternoon. Megan and I headed down to Reston to the art show while John and Rob went shopping for a cookout later Saturday evening.

Ironically the posters and sign for the art show featured an artist from Indialantic Florida! Mike Nemnich.(sp?)

Megan brought Rufus. He's adorable...and he knows his way around Reston Town Center...because Marcus's parents happen to live there. It's very "dog friendly" Every store I went into had a jar of dog biscuits for any 4 legged visitors. It was fun to see dogs of all shapes and sizes.

A view of David's booth from across the street.It's always fun to people watch! One woman bought 24 (!) pieces!

Liz arrived and checked in with David before we headed off to lunch.

Uncle Paul and Ryan

Marcus, Ryan and Megan. Oh..I almost forgot...Marcus worked Friday night when we arrived...so when our plane passed his site...we got a shout out from the flight deck. The captain came on the loud speaker and said the flight deck had a shout out for Anne and John from "apparently their son-in-law"...welcoming us to DC area...hahaha we laughed...we thought Megan and Marcus were trying to tell us something. That was fun. John called Megan and asked her if they had eloped and the shout out was their way of surprising us....the answer was no...hahah

Anne and Liz

Even the parking garage looked nice...full of green ivy!

Heading back to the parking garage (free parking garage) to get ready for the graduation celebration. More on that tomorrow.....

Another Graduation celebration

Unfortunately this is the only picture I took with Austin (the graduate) in it...and it's slightly out of focus...but here's the proud graduate and his (even prouder)...mom. Chuck and Pat have an annual crayfish party and this year it coincided with Austin's graduation celebration.

The tents covered the tables used for the food and games. In between boils...they hosed the table off and played "football"....with crayfish as the players.

Inside Pat had the Orange and Blue theme going.

Cake! and cupcakes....of course I had to have one. (I liked the dancing graduates decorating the cupcakes.) Actually cake was almost all I did eat...haha as I can't handle the spicy food...it was tempting...but I didn't have any crayfish, okra, sausage,corn, lemon, onion or potatoes. I ate some bread...hahah. But everyone else made up for me NOT having any...haha There were 5 boils...and nothing was left afterwards but scraps.

Dillon always in on the action.

Chuck and his brother cooking out back. Chuck is an LSU fan...but wore a Gator shirt in honor of Austin...he did put up his flag though..haha

Getting ready for the "Crayfish Bowl" It was the "Florida French Pinchers" against the "Mississippi Mud Hens". Eleven crayfish were set down in the middle of the "field".

The cups at either end of the board were worth points. 7 points for the center cup, 3 points for the cup on either side. The "quarter" lasted as long as there were "players" on the board. Crayfish either crawled into or backed into the cups to score points....or crawled off the board. 100 squares were up for grabs before the start of the action. $1.00 a square. John had forgotten his wallet...luckily I had a few dollars to spare...hahaha. After all the squares were signed off...Peyton and a friend randomly chose numbers from a cup and assigned them to the squares.

Lori (I think) had a "go-cam" to record the action. The crowd was going wild....in other words...we are easily amused! hahaha

SCORE!

At the end of the first "quarter" the score was 13-12...so John and I were big winners!