Let's Go Hokies!

Last weekend I sprinted home to see Brother #1 graduate from Virginia Tech. My textiles block project prevented me from attending the big ceremony in Lane Stadium, but Mom and I made it to Blacksburg in time to see him receive his degree in mechanical engineering.

It was Mom's first visit to the campus, and my first in two years, so we were both struck by the peaceful beauty of the mountains on our drive. Of course, one you get to VT, the most impressive thing is the scale of the campus. My college world at W&M was much smaller - my entire graduating class fit into the basketball arena floor, whereas just VT's college of engineering took up that much space.

It's been a long time since the April 16 shootings my brother's freshman year, but that event continues to bond and define the Tech community. It was very touching that the college of engineering granted posthumous degrees to the parents of students killed on April 16. The whole arena gave them a standing ovation. Brother #1's class is the last one to remember that day; for next year's undergrad student body April 16 will be a story but not a memory. A memorial on the drillfield ensures that VT will never forget. Still, it will be interesting to see how April 16 is commemorated when Brother #2 attends one day.

The Final Lap

This is it folks. My last week of class. By Friday I will be done with my first year of grad school! In the meantime I only have to live through the next four days. Here's what my hellish schedule looks like:
Tuesday morning: Turn in Metals project on wrought iron toasters
Tuesday night and Wednesday morning: work like crazy on two projects
Wednesday afternoon: thesis topic meeting and phone interview with a curator in Indianapolis
Wednesday evening: resume work like crazy
Thursday: Turn in paper on vestment fragments in our collection, attend guest lecture, work like crazy
Friday morning: Give presentation about and lead class in discussion of postmodern design
Friday afternoon/evening: Hightail it to Virginia for my brother's college graduation.

After Friday the craziness continues, but it's fun craziness. Oh well, for now I will take up my cross and pay my dues for the education I want. I'm having flashbacks to that last week of undergrad when I had 4 papers due in 8 days and saw the sun rise from my dorm lounge several times.

"And down the stretch they come" - Even more fun in Delaware

Cordelia..wailed when Sebastian appeared in a tweed coat. "Oh Sebastian, you can't come out like that. Do go and change. You look so lovely in hunting clothes ... It's so bad for local prestige. If only you knew how unsmart the Strickland-Venables are this year. They've even taken their grooms out of top hats." (BR p. 159)

I should have posted about this last weekend, but I was still recovering from a day in 90 degree heat. Every year the museum where I study hosts a steeplechase event, and so of course the beau and I went. Although we students may have arrived via yellow school bus, we all fit the fancypants dress code in sundresses, ties, and big hats. Most of the day was spent re-applying sunscreen and snacking at one of my classmates' parents' tailgate spot, which was literally the best one there. Seriously, they won a prize!
I also saw antique cars, fox hounds, horses, a carriage parade, and a guy get arrested for trying to jump the racecourse fence. All in all a fabulous day, and a much needed break before the final week of projects began.