Oh The Places You'll Go - The Class of 2015

Congratulations! Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places! You're off and away.


You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

OH! The Places You'll Go!
You'll be on your way up! You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers who soar to great heights.


And Will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)

KID, you'll move mountains!

So... be your name Lindsay or Jack or Aiden or Bray,
Or Amira or Erica or Ariam or Jay
Today is your day
Your mountain is waiting, So..... get on your way!


And we'll be there to support you if you need it - come what may.


Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

Quotes from Dr. Seuss

Life of the Party

We survived the holiday weekend, complete with the Girls' graduation party.

A party for these three - friends since freshman year - hosted by the parents, held in our backyard.


The party scene, well before the party. I should have taken a photo once everything was set up, but I was too tired...

The tent was a must-have, and it even withstood the 40mph winds from the weekend.

At least 100 people attended, it was a great time with great food, great friends, great fun. We lucked out with the weather, as the 50% chance of rain never materialized.

I love it when you just don't care
I love it when you dance like there's nobody there
So when it gets hard, don't be afraid
We don't care what them people say
I love it when you don't take no
I love it when you do what you want cause you just said so
Let them all go home, we out late
We don't care what them people say



We don't have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I'm telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party



Together we can just let go
Pretending like there's no one else here that we know
Slow dance fall in love as the club track plays
We don't care what them people say



We don't have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I'm telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party


Come out tonight, come out tonight
There's no one standing in your way
Come out tonight, come out tonight
We don't care what them people say
We don't care what them people say



We don't have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I'm telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party



Yeah, yeah, yeah
Life of the party
So don't let them keep you down
Oh you know you can't give up
'Cause we don't have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party

Life of the Party by Shawn Mendes

Throwback Thursday - A Look Back at My Graduating Senior

My daughter finished her last day of High School yesterday and while gathering things for her upcoming graduation, we took a photographic trip back in time. It was Friday night, I was tired and I was slightly annoyed that she needed to upload childhood photos right then and there because it was all due by midnight.

Fortunately, I have a DVD full of photos I took from 1999-2003. By the time we perused the collection (over 1100 taken), I was no longer tired or annoyed at my daughter - I loved seeing and remembering all the fun times, the toys, the outfits, the friends and how they've all grown up.

Some of my favorites:





I'm pregnant with her brother in this photo.




As a little girl, I celebrated a birthday with a similar bunny cake, so she needed one, too!


Her love of horses started early and never waned.




I love the kitty cat on her top....



So now, that little girl has grown up and no longer rides little ponies. She rides big horses:

What's Happening ...

....in the back yard...

The Iris went from this


to this:


We still have visitors to the bird feeder:


Busted her (pretty sure it's a "she"), then let her continue to eat:


And I'm hoping to capture the customers spotted at the new hummingbird feeder, waiting for the peonies to bloom.

Happy Wednesday!

Campus Life

The weekend before the start of Finals plus the first real Spring like weather equals:



Oh, to be a college student again.... (OK, maybe not!)

Class Of 2015 - Prom

My senior daughter's high school prom was held this past weekend - it is so much fun to watch them in their fancy gowns and formal ware. Getting ready can be a bit stressful (read - I was responsible for braiding my daughter's hair, so that's the main source of stress), we always seem to be running late, but in the end, the kids have a great time.



The Seniors always meet at the Country Club for pre-prom photos with their classmates. It was a bit rainy, thankfully just a light on-off drizzle. It's a great time to see the parents of the kids, meet the parents of your daughter's date and catch up with those students you have known since they were little.



These two have been friends since first grade.


And these four, can't you tell they are troublemakers?

I seriously don't understand these poses, whatever happened to silly bunny ears?

A great group of friends, who will remember these times fondly.


For some reason, I love this photo - such a sign of the times, the constant capturing of the moment using your cell phone camera.



It was a busy and fun evening for everyone.

Along My Run | 15 | Spring Rebirth and Rain

Running in the Spring allows you to experience the reawakening of the earth. Each day, a subtle new twist to the landscape - one day, just slightest hint of green, two days later, a clear chartreuse lining. A week later, the burst of spring flowers pops the landscape. I can always tell which flowers are blooming, based on the perfume in the air. If I catch a whiff, I automatically look around to see where it originated from - "yes, from that Viburnum" or "oh, there's that Lilac bush".


1. Spring Rebirth, 2. High Water Crossing, 3. Limited Edition , 4. Come What May. Each Day A New Chance. , 5. Great Possibilities, 6. Pre Run Group Shot - Before The Pouring Rain , 7. Somewhere Between Mile 20 and 21, 8. We Finished It! , 9. Cherry Blue Skies - What a Difference a Day Makes., 10. A Year Later, 11. Morning Blessing , 12. Welcome Fragrance

The end of April culminates with the running of our local spring marathon, which was quite the adventure. After the marathon, I take things easy with extra rest and take a little break from running. This year, due to a nagging calf injury, I need to take more time off (even though I really don't want to).

April Running Stats:
Total Miles: 82.3 miles
Average Pace: 9:40 minutes / mile

April's stats are down, due to a respiratory illness I caught at the end of March, the taper before the race and post race rest. I purposely dialed down my pace during most of my training runs because I didn't want to stress my immune system. I'm looking forward to getting my calf healed up and getting some speed back.

This month's Running Quotes, The Marathon Edition:
The marathon is an opportunity for redemption. Opportunity, because the outcome is uncertain. Opportunity, because it is up to you, and only you, to make it happen.
– Dean Karnazes

If people were possessed by reason, running marathons would not work. But we are not creatures of reason. We are creatures of passion.
– Noel Carroll

I was going to run either way – I'm a runner, that's what I do [Thoughts that go through your head when the marathon you are running gets cancelled midway]
– Stephanie Geraghty

It’s not only about finishing, it’s about moving forward.
– Bart Yasso

Be willing to move forward and find out what happens next.
– Frank Shorter

The difference in winning and losing is most often not quitting.
– Walt Disney

When we run, we are already so exposed, often nearly naked in our shorts and T-shirts, huffing and puffing, purified by the effort. Briefly removed from the defenses and secrets we maintain in so much of our lives, we feel less need to hide our private thoughts, loves, fears, and stresses. We share.
– Amby Burfoot
I got to meet Amby Burfoot during Marathon weekend - he was the featured guest legend, the 1968 winner of the Boston Marathon - and a really nice guy. I hope I can still run marathons when I am in my 70's!

Spring at Last

the season of spring
weather seems to sing
lovely lovely days
are coming our ways



the season of spring
blooming blossoming
of nature of all kind
let roots unbind



the season of spring
an new awakening
busy humanity on earth
as if it’s a new birth



listen listen to my words
the season of spring is near
now a look into your lovely eyes
and one can see spring is already here

The Season Of Spring by Morhardt Carmen Mencita Monoi Angel

Class of 2015 - Senior Allie

I had a blast photographing Allie this weekend. She's another one of my daughter's classmates and friends.



I've known Allie since she was in grade school - how quickly they grow up!


She included her mother, father and best friend, Mason in some of the photos.




It is apparent these two young ladies have a ton of fun together:






Another smart, kind and lovely young woman, heading to the University of Illinois. It was appropriate that we took these photos on a most gorgeous Saturday afternoon on campus, on the Main Quad. You can't tell, but the place was teeming with students, enjoying the day.



Congrats on your upcoming graduation, Allie!

May 2015 Desktop Calendar - Free Download

This month's free calendar - the North Bridge in Concord, MA - where the first major battle between the British and colonial militia was fought. The veritable start of the Revolutionary War.



Here are the links to Download May's free desktop calendar, hosted by Box.com:
Free May 2015 Calendar - The North Bridge

May is going to be a crazy month - Prom, Graduation and Birthdays. I hope your May is less hectic!