Cameron is a grad-uit

... even though he still has classes and final exams ahead in the next two weeks.

Sunday's commencement ceremony at the University of Hartford made me and Ralph proud. Our son is a graduate and ready to move on to a career working in the computer science field. 
 

 
We were pretty far back in the audience. I wish I had a telephoto lens and a better camera, but I did catch Cam shaking hands with one of the Deans or somebody important!

He will get his diploma in the mail next month.

 

 Allegra is proud of her "little brother." 

And here are the three of us after the ceremony.

Ralph and I have already shared photos on Facebook, but I wanted to write a short blog post as well to let Cameron know how proud we all are of him. ;-)

College days are winding down...the future beckons

~ My guys ~

Ralph, my mother, and I went to a parents' weekend BBQ lunch Saturday at the University of Hartford.
Cameron is rather tired of school food and didn't even eat with us. He's graduating in less than two months so he won't have to deal with it any more.

At least the weather was with us. It was a gorgeous afternoon.
 
That name tag looks dopey where I pinned it on Ralph, but it is what it is!   

Haha. He is a good sport!
   

Sepia scenes

[Please click on photo to enlarge]

I snapped this picture of Scarborough Street Sunday in Hartford, Ct. I took it through the windshield as Ralph was driving.

The boulevard is lined with beautiful mature trees and features lovely, classic-looking mansions which seem like they may have been built in the 1920s. We travel down the street when we are on our way to nearby University of Hartford.

See many more sepia-fied photos at Mary T's Sepia Scenes.

Hartford through the windshield...

and the driver's side window.

We took our son, aka Kid Two, back to school at the University of Hartford yesterday. It was a quick week off for spring break..I hope he got enough rest (and food!)

Kid One was already there because she had had a three-day vacation traveling with the pep band and women's basketball team to North Carolina. She had a lot of fun with her friends, and enjoyed touring the campuses of Duke and University of North Carolina.

Unfortunately our team lost to Louisiana State University, but the women did a great job this season that qualified them to play in the tournament.

Regular readers know I take photos as Ralph drives, and yesterday afternoon was no exception.

There was an emergency of some sort that forced us to take a short detour, and I snapped three photos of sights I wouldn't have seen if not for the detour.

City scene ~ not sure what that building is in the background.

We traveled down Farmington Avenue and I was lucky to catch a photo of part of the stately Mark Twain House through the driver's side window as we passed by. It's a beautiful mansion. Twain lived there from 1874 to 1891. I visited twice on field trips when I was a kid and remember being impressed. Kid One and I plan to visit there someday.

I spotted this interesting-looking tree trunk as we were stopped at a light. Do you know what kind of tree it is? I do - "old."

ha ha

Hope everyone has a great Monday.

Busy, busy

Ralph drove home his new, modified-for-the-wheelchair mini-van Thursday and the two of us have been so busy we didn't even take a picture or blog about it. It has really low mileage on it and should last a long while. And only 71 more monthly payments to go. ha ha

And this morning it's pouring out, so I'm not sure I feel like taking a photo!

Later he will be doing a bit of highway driving and getting used to it - he is picking up our son for spring break. I can't wait to see Cameron. Mama misses him!

Our daughter is staying because there is a big basketball game tonight and she is in the pep band. If the women's team wins, they may be going on a trip. Two years ago she went to Louisiana with the group. She saw some of Baton Rouge and New Orleans and had a great time.

Hope everyone has a happy Saturday ~

Ruby Tuesday

It's Howie Hawk! The University of Hartford basketball teams' mascot, wearing numero uno. And he has lots of red on him!

I took this at a game Feb. 27 that the women's team won. The women's conference record is undefeated. Yay!

Go see many more photos containing a little or a lot of the color red by visiting our hostess, Mary T, at Work of the Poet.

Welcome to the capital city

of the Nutmeg State

This sign greets you as you exit the highway. The thing in the left-hand corner is part of the van.

I snapped this Saturday through the windshield as Ralph was driving us to the University of Hartford. I was happy that it's not too blurry.

In the background you can see the shiny dome of our state Capitol. I wonder if it's real gold?

This is why we were on our way to Hartford: to see daughter Allegra playing in the pep band! She is the flutist on the left. Our son plays trumpet but he was busy with another activity with the college TV station, so we didn't see him.

Before the game, which the undefeated women's team won by the way, we were treated to lunch for donors. We can't afford the tuition (read student loans, parent loans, scholarships and grants) but at least we can make a small donation to support the university. This is the second annual lunch and we had fun.

We had another chance to chat briefly with the university president. Allegra was in a history class he taught last year, and he told us she is a very good student. Proud parents we are!

This is about half the band. I took this from a distance and had to zoom in on daughter and crop. Sorry to the kids I cut out. But they won't be reading this so it's OK.

Ruby Tuesday

Here is Allegra watching a basketball game at the University of Hartford last week. She plays the flute in the pep band, and her little (6'3") brother plays the trumpet.

Ralph and I are proud parents.

Visit our hostess, Mary T, at Work of the Poet, to see many more pix featuring a little or a lot of the color red.

Photos from the passenger seat (again) and some others

Have driver, will snap photos. That's my new motto.
I've posted about the Colt building before, but this blue, onion-shaped dome always catches my eye as we approach downtown Hartford. Saturday was an absolutely gorgeous day here in Connecticut. You can see the temperature was 59 degrees when I took this. Woo hoo!

One of the entrances to Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford.

I like the perspective I got on one of Hartford's old churches as Ralph was stopped at a light.

OK, now the remainder were not taken from the passenger seat.
I originally was going for a Ruby Tuesday photo when I saw the red bleachers below, then the adorable Smart Car, the different lines of the parking lot and the tall lights for the field caught my eye. It was perfect weather, especially after all the snow we have had this winter.
The parking lot wasn't empty, it just looks like that from this angle. Parents were having tailgate parties before a Lacrosse game. Ah, spring.


















Here are mother and daughter before the women's basketball game. I was happy even if my expression is weird.

Ralph and I were given T-shirts at the lunch and celebration beforehand, the only catch was we had to put them on over our clothes.


And here I am with Cameron, Kid Two, who wasn't playing trumpet in the pep band like he normally does. He was doing some behind-the-scenes work for the college TV station. He told Ralph he had been there since 8:30 that morning (for a 2 p.m. game). Working hard!
I thank my Airhead 55 for snapping these family photos. I must admit I forgot to reciprocate. He isn't in any of them.
Next time I promise to do better.

Having fun is good

Yesterday we did something out of the ordinary, and had fun. Yay fun!!

We drove our daughter (Kid One), our son (Kid Two), and Kid One's cute boyfriend to the University of Hartford, where coincidentally they are all students. And even more coincidentally, where they are all members of the pep band.
Unfortunately I forgot the camera. (insert sad face)

We watched the men's basketball team defeat the University of Albany, 64-54.
Since Ralph uses a wheelchair, we sat at a table on the floor, right behind the basket, and right in front of the pep band.
The ball came right toward us a couple of times, but we didn't get hit in the head or anything. We came back in one piece.

Since it is winter break, the band had just a small group of dedicated members who showed up to play. Unfortunately the bass drum player was not among them. But they sounded great!

On the way home we stopped at the Olympia Diner, which has been on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington, Ct. since the early '50s. Retro, baby!

Everyone was pretty hungry at that point, and we enjoyed our diner food and our conversation. I spilled half 'n half on myself, which amused my companions. Guess you can't take me anywhere.

When we got back, the boyfriend still had to drive another hour home to NY. Our house is conveniently located half-way between his home and college. Such luck, for all concerned. Am I right, Allegra? ;-)
I know I am.