Dad, Robby, and Kenna
Just an ordinary day with my family
Annandale, Virginia
April, 2007
Here my dad is doing his best to feed himself while taking care of his grandkids. Meanwhile Kenna is drowning her corn in ketchup. Priceless.
My cousin, James Wyatt
April, 2007
My baby cousin has grown up so much in the last few months. You might remember his newborn photos from last September. He is now nine months old, and he’s gotten huge while I wasn’t looking!
James is always smiling and loves to pose for the camera. He’s my cousin Christine’s son, and I just love being back in the DC area where I can spend time with them both.
My brother, Paul, with his three-week-old son, Timmy
Annandale, Virginia
April, 2007
My new nephew is a beautiful, calm, and happy baby. I’m thrilled to have another child in the family that I can love as much I love Kenna and Robby. My brother and his wife are wonderful parents, and their children are growing up to be true delights. I look to Paul and Molly as models of the kind of parents that I hope Mike and I can be someday.
I’ve been very sick with the flu lately, so I haven’t had a chance to take many pictures of Timmy, edit photos, or update my blog. I know that our relatives are are eager to see pictures of the little guy, though, so here are a few. I hope to take many more when I’m feeling healthy enough to be around a newborn. Stay tuned.
Emotional students at the University of Virginia send messages to their friends at Virginia Tech
Charlottesville, Virginia
April 17, 2007
The Virginia Tech tragedy hit close to home for me and many of my friends. I didn’t go to Virginia Tech, but I grew up in an area where lots of people did. Many of the victims of yesterday’s attack came from Northern Virginia, and at least one of them went to my high school. Mary Read performed in the color guard at Annandale High School, and I was the captain of that very same color guard years ago. My friends and their friends know people who were hurt or died, and the whole experience has been a shock to our community.
My brother and I both went to the University of Virginia, which likes to think of itself as the big rival to Virginia Tech. UVA and Tech love to hate each other, but the truth is that we are more like brothers; you and your brother can bicker all you like, but if he was ever in trouble, you’d be the first one by his side. Almost everyone at UVA has a close friend or family member at Virginia Tech. Both my brother and I had high school best friends at Virginia Tech. My friend, Heather, even lived in West AJ dorm our freshman year. Lots of people from my high school went there, and some of my best friends today are Tech alumni.
When the shootings occurred yesterday, I immediately wanted to drive down to Blacksburg to take photographs. I realized, of course, that the entire world had already descended upon little Blacksburg, and the last thing they needed was yet another photographer wandering around. I decided to do the next best thing — go to UVA and see how my fellow Wahoos were reacting to the tragedy.
Today many UVA students and faculty were wearing Virginia Tech’s colors of maroon and orange. VT flags were flying where UVA flags normally would be. Thousands of people gathered at night for a candlelight vigil in support of their friends at Virginia Tech. I learned today that rivalry disappears when people you know and love are hurting. I’m so glad I was there to see it all.
My dad with his model train from childhood
Scottsville Museum, Virginia
April 14, 2007
I really love this photo of my father with the model train he played with as a child. His parents and grandparents worked on the railroad, and then my dad put himself through college and grad school by driving trains at night. The railroad has always been a big part of my father’s life, which is why this model train was his beloved toy.
Dad loaned his train to the Scottsville Museum for their WWII exhibit. I love this moment that I captured of my father with the train. You can see the happy memories on his face.
A close-up of the train
My mother, in the doorway to the museum
My dad, a lifetime stamp collector, put together this extraordinary exhibit about the WWII mail system
Me with Professor Charles Fry. Dr. Fry was my professor for two of my undergraduate psychology classes: Adolescent Psychology and Primate Behavior. He ended up being a huge influence on my life, and it’s wonderful to be able to stay in touch with him. He is a board member of the museum, so we see each other at least once a year.
Another nice shot of my dad
Mom with her museum co-president and good friend, Gwynne.
You might recognize the poster in the background as one I designed a few weeks ago. People loved it!
With my parents
I’m so sad about the shootings at Virginia Tech today. This is absolutely dreadful.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/16/vtech.shooting/index.html
WWII veteran Milton Cohen wipes a tear as Colonel John Bowers announces the names of local war veterans.
Scottsville Museum’s annual exhibit opening: “Small Town, Big War”
Scottsville, Virginia
April 14, 2007
Saturday was the opening reception for Scottsville Museum’s annual exhibit. My mother is the president of this history museum in central Virginia, and she has been working incredibly hard for months to put together this wonderful exhibit. The exhibit focused on the impact of WWII on the people of Scottsville. It featured several local veterans and families, and the opening ceremony turned out to be a highly emotional event.
Several of the featured veterans and their families attended, which made the exhibit personal and heartwarming. Even many people who were not directly involved in the war still talked to me with vivid memories of the time period, and I loved hearing everyone’s stories. My father walked through the exhibit with me, and pointed out toys and foods that he remembers from his wartime childhood.
In the picture above, the front row of the seats were occupied by several WWII vets and their spouses. When the colonel announced the names of all the local WWII veterans, there was a palpable sadness as the museum guests remembered their friends and family from this small town. It was such an honor to witness.
My two nephews!
Robby and Timmy
Annandale, Virginia
April 13, 2007
I’m thrilled to introduce Timothy William Geary, my tiny nephew! Timmy was born two weeks ago, and I met him for the first time last night. He is calm, sweet, gorgeous, and the spitting image of my brother. I also think he looks just like Robby, who has turned out to be an adoring big brother.
I have lots more pictures of Kenna, Robby, and Timmy, but I will have to post them later. It has been a long day! I’ll be in Virginia for three more weeks, so I hope to have lots of quality time with the kiddos. I can’t wait to see them again.
Well today sucked. After our US Airways debacle two weeks ago, I ended up getting screwed even worse today by United. Here’s my Thursday in list format:
1. Got bumped from my 10am flight from Denver to DC, because it was overbooked.
2. Was put on standby for a noon flight to DC, and got bumped from that flight, too. The evil lady at the gate told me that there was no way I’d get on a flight at all today, and that I had to go wait in the Customer Service line to try to get a seat on one of tomorrow’s flights.
3. Stood in Customer Service line for 2 hours and 35 minutes.
4. While I was in line, a big snowstorm hit. Heavy snowfall, with several inches of expected accumulation over the next two days. I did not want to go home and drive back to Denver in deep snow tomorrow.
5. While I was in line, I called Mike, and he found me a seat on an American Airlines flight heading to DC at 3pm. We bought it, for $760.
6. Finally I made it to the customer service desk, and the “service” person was downright rude and condescending. She wouldn’t give me the refund that I was demanding. I went postal. I won’t go into the details of what I said, because this is a family blog. Let’s just say that people were staring.
7. After 2.5 hours in line, I left customer service empty-handed and angry.
8. I made it to my American Airlines flight on time, but then they delayed the plane due to mechanical difficulties. Apparently one tray table wouldn’t remain upright, and they delayed our flight because of it. People were actually shouting out, “Just get duct tape!”
9. Finally arrived at Reagan Airport at 10:30pm. Had to drive to Dulles to get my freakin’ luggage. Got there just before the baggage desk closed at midnight.
10. Now I’m at my parents’ house, completely exhausted, still frustrated, $760 poorer, and determined never to fly United again.
