We Are Soaked!

We are soaked but not with money but with rain. Sunday Dulles Airport got seven inches of rain and that's on top of four more inches of rain last week. We exited the Bender Arena at AU with driving rain pelting us and we were soaked by the time we reached our car in the parking lot. And yes, we had a difficult time driving home from the graduation Sunday night. Water lying deep in the roads and rain coming down hard. It took us almost two hours to go 45 miles. When we turned to go into our community we noticed that Carolina Road to Haymarket was blocked with flares because of high water across the road. We learned that state route #15 was totally shut down between north Haymarket and Leesburg, VA. Last night the local TV media reported on road closings, power outages, sinkholes, toppled trees, etc. And one home in McLean, VA was condemned because the foundation shifted because of the rain. Today we are due for even more rain. I swear our world's weather is getting violent and extreme. I have lived in Virginia for over 28 years and I can never remember so much rain in so short a period of time. Last night the media said that we broke a record here---the most rain in May in 60 years! And this is only May 13'th. Hmmmm---is it time to build a new ark?

What We Liked Best About the Commencement

What Jack and I liked best about the commencement at AU (outside of seeing Jeanine walk across the stage to get her diploma and shake hands) was seeing and listening to the American University MacMillian Scottish Bagpipe Band lead the processional and recessional of graduates and faculty. It was like a bit of old Scotland in D.C. In this photo you see the seven bagpipers up on the commencement platform and the six drummers below the platform. Jeanine's cohort in the School of Cummunications was #16 so that is why in some of the photos of the previous post you see the number 16 on the graduation caps. One girl also added to her cap Baby On Board since she was pregnant and another added Marines since she is a Marine officer.

Go to the following link to hear the Scottish bagpipers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Trf6Lt53nw

American University Commencement 2008

American University was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1893 and was founded under the auspices of the United Methodist Church. Today it is an independent coeducational university with more than 12,000 students. The campus is in northwest Washington D.C. at 4400 Massachusetts Avenue.

Click on the photos to see more clearly. (We were in the nosebleed section of the basketball arena.) You can see the MacMillan Scottish Pipe Band in one photo and our daughter Jeanine shaking AU President Kerwin's hand up on the commencement platform in another. Plus glimpse what people in Jeanine's cohort attached to the top of their graduation caps.

We Are Tired-We Will Post Later

We are very tired. Yesterday's graduation at American University and the torrential rains have Jack and I sleeping in today. We will write more about graduation later today. In the meantime you can look at Baby Jack in Jeanine's graduation cap.

Graduation Preparations

On Saturday we had a pre graduation barbecue dinner in honor of Mothers Day and in honor of our daughter's upcoming graduation from American University.This Sunday afternoon Jeanine will receive her masters degree from American University in Washington D.C. Jeanine was the guest of honor but Baby Jack kept stealing the spotlight. Especially when he practiced walking by holding our hands and when he checked out Aunt Jeanine's fresh pedicure. Jeanine tried on her graduation cap and gown and of course we had to get a photo or two or three of that special moment. We were delighted that Jeanine's roomie in Alexandria, Maria, could join us for this party. She is one of Baby Jack's honorary aunts. We just wish that Jeanine's boyfriend, Bryan, who is serving in Iraq with the VA National Guard could have joined us for this special occasion in Jeanine's life.

Jeanine, Get Off The Phone!

Jeanine, get off the phone with Bryan and finish your thesis. Mom and Dad hope everything goes well and that you finish your thesis by this coming weekend. Then graduation in May! Yeah!!!!! Now get off the phone and get back to your computer.