Gobble gobble!

Staff Retreat 2009

Trip to Chicago

10 year high school reunion!

Need I say more? How cool are we?!?!

Go Army, Beat Navy! (next year.....)

Jason and I headed up to Annapolis to watch Jonathan play in the Army-Navy soccer game. This is Jonathan's senior year (he's called a "firstie" in West Point lingo) and we're trying to make it to as many games as possible. We met up with some friends of the Breges in Annapolis and spent some time hanging out by the water before the game. This picture (L-R: Jason, Cary, Jim) was taken before the torrential downpour began in earnest....
Unfortunately, Army ended up losing to Navy, 0-1. I won't go into details but it was three hours of rain and then Navy scored on a penalty kick in overtime. It was a heart breaker, but a good, solid game of soccer. Per tradition, both teams ate together and hung out afterwards. Here are Jonathan and Jason in Navy's soccer complex.

Cary, Jason, Jonathan, Sherry and Jim.

Hanging with Georgie

I took the train up to DC to spend the weekend with my dad and sister for his 61st birthday. I don't think anything can top his surprise 60th birthday from last year, but we had a most excellent time hanging out at Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. It was a gorgeous day and a really beautiful estate.
Martha and I figured we'd join the Washington family while we were at Mount Vernon. Here we are with George and some bronzed grandkids. Note the "other" Martha looking none-too-happy that my sister has come between her and George!

Me, my dad and Martha overlooking the Potomac.

A view from the side of the Great House (this is near the kitchen). Some of these architectural elements reminded me a bit of Monticello, but I must admit I'm partial to Mr. Jefferson's estate, even compared to Mount Vernon.

Martha and I decided to capture a cheesy senior portrait moment with our arms on the fence post. We had little success in fighting the laughter!

"Within this Enclosure Rest the remains of Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON."

What, it's not normal to hang out in period clothes by the old fashioned tents?

This picture is hard to make out, but it is priceless (and a big "no-no"). These are George Washington's actual dentures. They are made from both human and animal teeth. My dad is squatting down behind the glass so the dentures are at the same level as his mouth. Do you see it?

Martha, my dad and me, out on the town!

Labor Day weekend in the Smokies

Jason and I headed to the mountains over Labor Day weekend. We spent Saturday hiking in, slept by a river that night while the skies opened up and drenched the campsite, and hiked out on Sunday. We were also going to spent the night in the back country on Sunday night but I just couldn't take any more rain (that's not a vacation, right?). So we drove into Maggie Valley and ate BBQ and fudge, soothed our muscles in a hot tub, watched cable TV and even saw fireworks! But here are the pictures from the nature portion of our trip.
Locked and loaded and ready to go!

We hiked in about 4-5 miles the first day to get to our campsite.

It was really peaceful and serene being back in the woods and hardly seeing anyone. Here's the path we took through the trees.

The canopy above.

I took some side trails on Monday and found some old clearings with cemeteries. It was sobering to realize that many of the adults didn't live past 30 and the infant mortality rate was sky-high. But the inscriptions on the tombs were very beautiful and rejoiced in the triumph of a resurrected Christ.
Here is a pool and little waterfall in a stream where Jason fished.

I'm still playing with the settings on my little digital point-and-shoot camera. I am very seriously considering upgrading to a digital SLR to get more shots like this.

Of course, Jason did break out the fishing rod from time to time. I think he caught around 25 fish that weekend.

He's just hooked into a fish here--see the bend in the fly rod?

One incredibly interesting feature of the area where we were is that they are re-introducing elk. Evidently elk are native to the North Carolina mountains but the last one was killed off back in the late 1700's. There are two herds in the area now and they seem to be thriving.

There is a long field at the base of the mountain where the elk walk across every afternoon. People come from all over, set up chairs, and spend hours watching these majestic creatures take a stroll. What a refreshing change from my normal frenetic, fast-paced life! I could use more of that sitting, waiting and watching and doing so over the weekend was a real treat.

Elk are BIG, right?!?!

A panoramic view.

Friday night with the Durham Bulls

Well, it wasn't exactly "Bull Durham," but we had a good time with some friends at the baseball game. We reconnected with a couple we knew from Charlottesville and met a bunch of other great people, too. Don't be fooled by Jack hiding his face in his hands--we all had a blast.

Here's one of Brent, Jack, Beth, me and Jason. Beth and I started law school at the same time and both eventually ended up in North Carolina. And we found out they are Settlers fans, too.
Libby was the one who organized the whole event. Turns out she and Jason actually work in the same building and park in the same garage. The world keeps getting smaller and smaller, but in a very nice way.

In addition to gorging ourselves on BBQ and funnel cake, we were also treated to fireworks at the end of a Durham Bulls game.

TA-DAAH!!!

Mark and Katie tie the knot!

Jason and I recently went to a great wedding for two of our very dear friends. Jason works with Katie and we've all spent many lovely evenings with her and Mark, eating pizza and playing Settlers of Catan (and Princes of Florence, on occasion). This was the first wedding we've been to in Raleigh and it was a treat to get to see the Convention Center, too. Mark and Katie had all sorts of great touches, including origami cranes.

The cranes were such a hit that our table recruited other guests to bring their cranes to join the "crane train." Rumor has it that the cranes eventually made it back to the office where they might still be floating around....

Here's a picture of Jason, me and Katie. Mark surprised her at the reception with a trip to Hawaii for their honeymoon!

Funny 4th of July pictures

I drove over to the North Carolina Fairgrounds on July 4th to see what other Raleigh residents were up to. I managed to survive the horrible flashbacks I had of last summer and the bar exam (it happened at the North Carolina Fairgrounds, too, although with a lot fewer festivities). Here are a few pictures of the folks I saw.....

A sweet patriotic couple. I love it when people dress up for the 4th of July and the matching outfits make it perfect!

I call this "Miss Fourth of July."

Here's one of a mom walking her daughter. Poor thing was so hot and tired that she just sat down and cried. On her leash.

The New Year's Eve Miracle

For those of you who don't know, Vanderbilt is not a perennial football powerhouse. Matter of fact, the last time we made it to a bowl game was 26 years ago. And the last time that Vanderbilt actually WON a bowl game was in 1955. Until now.....

On December 31, 2008, Vanderbilt played #23 Boston College in the Music City Bowl. Jason and I coordinated a massive reunion of friends to all go cheer on our 'Dores back in Nashville. Vanderbilt triumphed "opportunistically" with a final score of 16-14. It was bitterly cold but well worth it all to see friends and to be a part of Vanderbilt history. We tailgated beforehand but due to the frigid temperatures and gusty wind, I spent most of the tailgate huddled in the Explorer with friends and therefore didn't take any pictures (although corn hole did prove to be very popular throughout that whole afternoon).

Here's one group of us early on in the game while it was still light outside. From L-R: me, Tanya, Andi, Ali, Megan and Mary Jane.

Me and Ali.
Tanya and Lee.

Andi, Megan and Mary Jane (she wasn't sure if she was supposed to be in the picture or not, but smiled anyway--I love it!)

Jonathan and Jim even made it to Nashville for the game (they were visiting relatives in Kentucky). It's pretty sad when a Vanderbilt football game has to count as Jonathan's "real college football experience" but we were so glad they both joined us. L-R: Jonathan, Jason and Jim.

Here is Andi's classic look of absolute joy, excitement, and disbelief as Vanderbilt intercepted BC's pass to win the game. You can still see the stunned looks of the guys sitting behind us.

Vandy's football players rushed the field after the game. BC's section was the very empty part of the stands that you can see in the picture. Not a lot of red--Vandy definitely had home field advantage being in Nashville! Also note the new "VU" sign that people are making with their hands. When you see it face-on, it does make a "V" and a "U"--how clever! I think it's cool we're finally getting some recognizable cheers and traditions.

Here's the final score and a picture of Bobby Johnson immediately before he gets doused with Gatorade. See everyone again in another 53 years?!?! We'll be the coolest octogenarians there!