My Next House

I love my current house, but this is my next house.

For 4 years while I was student, and frequently in years since, I have driven to and from Sweet Briar via Rt. 15 which stretches from Orange, VA through Gordonsville, VA to Zion Crossroads, on the way to Charlottesville. And for the entire time I was a student and for several years after graduating, this house, set on 40 acres just outside of Gordonsville, was for sale. I've always loved looking at the house and look forward to passing it every time.



Granted, it's probably not in the best shape. I would guess it's at least 100 years old, and who knows what kind of condition its like on the inside. But I just love looking at it. I think it reminds me of "North and South." And while its not for sale anymore, I figure at some point in the future it will be for sale again and I'm buying it.

The Class of '98 - 10 years later

This past weekend was my 10 year Sweet Briar reunion. All classes that graduated in years ending in 3 or 8 were on campus reliving their college days. I have to say, it seemed like 4 years crammed into 2 days all over again. When I first arrived (after 5 hrs in the car when it shouldn't have been more than 3) I was tired and cranky. I quickly found my classmates sipping margaritas and chatted with a few before we all headed to the "Vixen Den" - a new room off the new, charm-lacking Bistro. There we proceeded to have a class meeting, over more drinks, and call a few parents so that we could break the fundraising participation record held by the Class of 1971.

I have to say, I felt like the first 24 hrs. were like freshman year all over again. I didn't like it and I just wanted to go home. With the exception of Page, my closest Sweet Briar friends couldn't attend reunion. It was good to catch up with my other classmates, but after a few minutes of figuring out where each was and what they were up to, I ran out of things to say!


Our class was in Dew for the weekend, the dorm I lived in sophomore year. It's been renovated since (the bathrooms are a definite improvement) but without all the typical things one fills a dorm room with, it seemed stark, empty and yucky. Thankfully I remembered my flip flops for the shower. Between the hall bathrooms and people coming back late, drunk and making tons of noise, I have to say I am so glad I don't live in a dorm any more! I love my nice, quiet house!


Saturday afternoon however, my mood changed. I went riding! Not a bicycle, but a horse! I have got to get back into lessons! I was a little nervous at first, having checked the box on the registration form indicating that I have been riding regularly this year. Once counts as regularly, doesn't it? It was 75 degrees and sunny and beautiful and I was on a gorgeous chestnut named Bud. I'd forgotten how beautiful Sweet Briar's horses are. They are so spoiled and pampered there. We went for a trail ride across the beautiful wide open fields for about an hour and Bud was perfect the whole time.



Saturday evening was the big event - dinner and dancing. Some of my favorite professors showed up as well as a few additional classmates. I stuffed myself silly and can't believe I have needed to eat anything else this week at all!!


Sunday morning, determining that there was no better setting for a 2 hr Ironman training run/walk, I walked/ran "The Dairy" (a 3 mile loop past the dairy barns and the stable) and some of the hiking trails. It was awesome! I wish I could do all my runs there.

After continuing to stuff myself at breakfast and lunch, I got back in the car to drive home. All in all a good weekend, but I'm not going again without Erikka, Erin, and Kim. :-)

Mittens - Adopted!

After 8 weeks of staying with us, Mittens finally seems to have found her forever home. A friend of Lori's has her on a "foster to adopt" basis, but all seems to be going well, so hopefully the adoption will be permanent shortly. And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll get her back to visit when her new family goes on vacation!

Theresa's Birthday!

Always a good excuse to party! Many thanks to Bob who stood outside in the pouring down rain to grill burgers and chicken for everyone!!

Grandmother's 51st Anniversary of Her 29th Birthday!!

May 12, 2008 was Grandmother's 80th Birthday! We had a great party to celebrate at Janet's house, with many of her friends from Helmsdale Lane. Between the old and more recent family photos we loaded on a digital photo frame for her and the memory book that Lois put together for her, we had a lot of fun remembering times past.

You know you're at a celiac event if...

There is a stampede of people who look as if they've never seen food before and have been starving their entire lives! Seriously!

I signed up for this Celiac Cooking Spree with a few other celiac friends. The gist of it was that they team up doctors, chefs, and journalists to create gluten free meals. Over 450 celiacs in the DC area attended the event at the Bethesda Hyatt. As soon as I arrived, I was ushered into the vendor room, where all the makers of gluten free brownies, cookies, cakes, crackers, etc. were there giving a way free samples. I filled a plastic bag they gave me when I arrived and then some!

Next it was over to the ballroom for the main cooking event. Each team had a table where they were giving away samples of their creations. But the lines were so long at each table that I didn't get to make it to all of them before they ran out. After the main course, Lilit Cafe of Bethesda provided an enormous selection of gluten free cookies, cup cakes, and cakes. It was somewhat reminiscent of my college days where I would go to the dining hall and leave with several pieces of german chocolate cake. Despite being stuffed, I could not resist the cake. I managed to control myself somewhat and only get 3 slices (1 coconut cream, 1 chocolate cream cheese, and 1 carrot cake) and brought them back to the table. I think we each took one bite of each one and that was all we could manage.

Then Mary, one of my friends, went up to the Wegman's table and said "Oh, I just love your food!" Naturally, they started giving it all to her (microwave popcorn, gluten free pretzels, etc.) So she came back to the table and distributed it amongst all of us.


Stuffed, I climbed back on the metro for the ride home at the end of the night, weighed down with by bags of gluten free goodies.

A Trip to the Pink Bubble

In an effort to recover from my scientology experience, I made a trip to the pink bubble last week. Well, really it was to be on a career panel for math/engineering majors, but regardless, it was such a welcome break from the DC rat race.


Jane and I were both on the panel so we drove down together on Wednesday afternoon, arriving in time to visit the bookshop to stock up on all things Sweet Briar. Even the lady working in the new cafe recognized me. She used to work in the dining hall and said she remembered seeing me come in every day. Frightening!! I just hope she doesn't remember the time I went in and walked out 2 min later with ~5 pieces of german chocolate cake...


We had dinner in the Bistro with "the happy math family." It was so awesome to see the Kirkwoods and Wassell, they haven't changed a bit. The Bistro, however, is NOT what it used to be. Gone are the brick floors and cozy wooden booths as well as the crazy shakes. The only redeeming thing is that potato skins are now back on the menu. Apparently 10 years later - Erikka's and my flooding of the suggestion box finally paid off.


I woke up early Thursday morning so that I could go for a walk around campus right as the sun was coming up. I walked down to the boathouse. It was so peaceful and quiet and calm. I could have walked for hours. I wish I'd taken my camera with me on the walk. There was a light fog over the surface of the water, the sun was shining, and I saw about a dozen deer in one of the fields.



Before heading back to DC, Jane and I drove out to the new art barns which are spectacular. It's about the only renovation I'd say Sweet Briar really did right. The new entrance is not welcoming, and the bookshop and Prothro - though very nice, lack the charm of the old buildings. They've changed the crest too - one of the students was showing us her ring and the crest is totally different. And the new pledge - what is up with that?? Part of indoctrination into the bubble as a freshman was to memorize that seemingly unending pledge! I wish I could remember it now...if you can, please email me. What a cop out the new one is!


Thank goodness reunion is only a month away and I can spend 3 whole days on campus. I can't wait. I may never leave.