cherry blossoms...

Sunday, we lunched at Old Ebbitt Grill where we met George, the Presidential Tailor, and  he graciously let us have his seat at the bar. After our lunch we strolled along the tidal basin admiring the cherry blossoms. The cherry trees were past their peak, but not to be disappointed Stella & Joseph had a wonderful time catching & collecting the petals dropping off the trees. But even with the trees past their peak and our good camera being repaired the photos are still pretty awesome. 

ole ohio....

My alma mater is playing in the sweet sixteen this evening and before you say big whoop dee do dah, let me tell you this is pretty heady stuff for the "Harvard on the Hocking." Interestingly enough voted by Princeton the number one party school in the United States. Still not quite sure how it's the number one, but I guess we'll take Princeton's word. Playboy states we are number five and I'd say Playboy would know the number one party school is they saw it. But I digress. What I'm trying to say is Ohio University is not usually nationally recognized for our athletic prowess. But Ohio University, as the cliche goes, made me who I am today.

courtesy of Ohio University

In the Fall of 1989 I sobbed for the entire drive from Akron to Athens, which is ironic because after my campus tour there was no doubt in my mind this is where I wanted to be.  Subconsciously, I must have already known how this little scenic town would change my life forever. I was one of a few from my high school attending Ohio University, because most became Buckeyes. But I wanted something different. I've always been the one who wanted something that no one else had. 


If I were to start a list of ways in which Ohio University changed my life I know there's the usual college memories; embracing the arts, learning to live without parents, fighting the Freshman Fifteen, realizing professors don't care if you show up and how to live off no money during the week and yet still manage to have enough for the weekend uptown. Which sometimes just meant a couple winks at the right gentleman. (Clearly, my college years pre date, the date rape drug.) 


And how can I forget the Treudley fourth floor posse? What was more fun than harassing those returning home after a indulgent night uptown? Not much. Unless it was playing euchre for hours upon hours. Well, unless it was sunbathing on Boyd Beach.

Treudley 

But if you'd ask my what was the most important event that happened to me was. It would have to be meeting my husband. Can you imagine my mother's audible gasp when I announced that I was dating my golfing instructor?  Lucky for her, the boys on the golf team taught the golf class. Ironically, I did take the class to meet boys, I just never fathomed  it would be the instructor.


Years later while researching our family genealogy I discovered that my grandmother had also met my grandfather here. My Grandpa Patterson was in a mounted cavalry unit that practiced on the campus on weekends. She eventually dropped out to marry him. 


The family tradition continued. Three of my younger cousins, Suzi, Katie and Jessica, also graduated from Ohio University and Jessica met her husband, Devon, at Ohio University as well. 


There are so many Athens tales to tell I could write a book, but what I really want to say is...


Stand up and cheer

Cheer loud and long for old Ohio
For today we raise
The Green and White above the rest

 Our team is fighting,
 And we are bound to win the fray
 We’ve got the team,
 We’ve got the steam,
 For this is old Ohio’s day!

     Go Bobcats!

potus

That's right, I said potus.

The President of The United States of America. 

Last week we had the chance to travel to eastern Virginia to listen to President Obama speak. Ironically, Mr. Hubs could not go even though we were invited by his employer. Luckily, a friend was available to play with stelli while I accompanied Joseph to Petersburg. So it was a mother son day. Not really sure the last time Joseph & I had a whole day together. 

It's been awhile since I've attended a political stump, but I hadn't forgotten that we could travel this far only to be in the nosebleed section. Therefore, I quietly plotted my front row strategy during the two hour early morning bus ride from Reston to Petersburg. Of course, I never shared this information with Joseph. After going through the security scanning, we quickly had a light snack and high tailed it to scope out our spot.

Our first spot pretty far back until I spotted a friend who could weasel Joseph upfront. (And by weasel I mean I had to say I was married to someone else.) And it's much easier for a ten year old boy to jump two barricades then a forty something year old  woman. The sacrifices I have made for my children are endless.... 

That's Joseph right above the "J" in his name. (photo courtesy of msnbc)

President Obama greeted Joseph with, "Good afternoon, young man." Joseph was too gobsmacked to reply, but he did get a handshake twice. Once on the way in and again on the way out.  Oh, and he is impressed with how shiny President Obama's shoes were. Joseph maintained that he was never going to wash his right hand again for a good fifteen minutes. Pretty sure when he realized all the other people that had shaken The President's  hand as well- he mighta even been a tad grossed out.

Pretty sure he was just talking to me.

President Obama spoke for about twenty minutes to the crowd. Apparently, he also taped his weekly address there and took a factory tour while we waited for him to speak. After he was done speaking we were ushered back to our bus where we inhaled our lunch. Joseph at first said he was never going to wash his hand again, until it was lunch time. And then again more waiting. President Obama had lunched at a local diner so we were not permitted back on the only road out until he was through. Joseph was very impressed with the Presidential motorcade. I'd have a photo, but my camera's battery had died by now.


Cannot believe I really debated not going. 
You know how there's some days you just never forget? 
Yeah, that... 

good fortune...

I love reading juicy novels on my iPad but, I will never rid myself of physical books. There’s my beaten up Little House on the Prairie series that was given to me by my late grandparents. My thrift store deal of a 1971 first edition of the USLTA Official Encyclopedia of Tennis. The Shel Silverstein stack.  All these loved books are sorted out by color on our family room bookcase. I border on  obsession on how to arrange said bookcase. Bring on the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday, and I wanted to add some good luck charms in our house without appearing too four leaf clover. There are so many amulets that can bring you good fortune without appearing like a leprechaun is your personal interior decorator. Some marvelous inspiration…

Angelika Taschen's bookcase complete with elephant & Buddha via The Selby

added tortoise shell for instant good fortune

1. brass cricket $24.99 barnes and noble 2. elephant bookend $40 moma store 3. turtle paperweight $25 farfetch.com 4. seven $14 pottery barn 5. reed and barton ladybug music box$64.99 barnes and noble 6. 3D elephant puzzle $12.50 muji.com 7.bamboo price & location varies 8. dragonfly bowl $43 Kate Spade  9. elephant teapot $110 by jonathon adler for nordstrom’s 10.antique horseshoe price varies 11. yoga frog $40 pier 1

Have fun inviting good fortune into your home. I know I could always use some more bamboo. But first I am going to go bake some shamrock cookies, because I really am irish so kiss me.

Christine

photos here and here…