It has been quite a busy few weeks in my life on NG Road. So much travel I contemplated a new blog...Life off Newark-Granville Road! A travel blog......I do enjoy travel, sharing tips and tidbits, musings. I don't have enough time to keep up with this blog, I don't need two. I will continue to integrate travel reflection here.
This week's travel fun- Chicago! Three cheers for Southwest Airlines. I was able to go up and back in the day. I like flying into Midway and taking the L to and from the city. I'm not ready for Christmas but do appreciate seeing the prep happening at Marshall Fields- the big downtown store! I know it is now Macy's but it will always be MF to me! I was flying home at 10, my meeting wrapped up at 6- I took a walk through this shopping mecca. I didn't feel like shopping but enjoyed taking in the happenings.
I also traveled south to Hocking Hills for a work retreat. What a delight to learn, connect with colleagues and soak in the quiet and beauty of this natural treasure so close home. We stayed at the Inn at Cedar Falls. This was my second visit and I enjoyed the meeting space and my food. The lodge rooms are OK. I'd like to return and stay in one of the new Yurts! The cabins look nice as well. The staff are friendly and appreciate the business. Our work for the two days was about gift planning and so fascinating. If anyone would like to learn more, talk about this I'd enjoy the opportunity. Not just gifts that benefit Denison, but any of philanthropy. The great news about gift planning is the strategies to meet your needs- donor needs and interest- beyond philanthropic, good tax sense! This trip provided two reminders......when camping, make sure there is enough scotch. Okay we didn't camp, but we were in a camping mode and the scotch did come in handy. And "smoke follows beauty" camp fire fun was part of the agenda. We laughed and enjoyed being around the camp fire. Said fire had a design flaw, but our fearless and dedicated leader prevailed and a few hours effort gave us a roaring focal point. Thanks for the memories, learning, quiet and laughs Ed!
Last week Denison work took me to the west coast and the Bay area. It was a quick trip and my schedule was full so I did not post this one on FB. Again I love Southwest- the direct flight from Columbus to Oakland is wonderful. The Denison Connecting event was very special- so many great Denionians helping one another and bonus 1990 Classmates were on hand. Great to reconnect with good guys and gal and others from our era. Bonus was a young alum who is very special- that was posted on FB! Great advice was shared in particular - failures are important, almost badges of honor! I enjoyed the time to connect with Denison parents making differences not only for Denison but their communities. Hearing updates on their young alumnus and student studying abroad was great. Travel notes: The Double Tree Hilton- Berkeley Marina is a favorite hotel of mine. I love the walking trail on the bay, connected to a park. I repeated from a past trip and treated my exercise with Tibron Toast in the hotel's restaurant. I also was able to visit Swan's Oyster Depot in Russian Hill for.....oysters! The pacific northwest half shells were like BUTTA- oh my! The clams pretty good too. What a treat. Joe and I found Swan's years ago- a Bon Appetite Chef's guide to the city pointed the way.
I took the red-eye home from LA to enjoy a vacation day! When the kids don't have school in October we've followed the lead and good sense of good friends to go to...Keeneland in Lexington, KY. We were sad not to have Clare with us, or the friend this year. Clare stayed home for field hockey practice- what a season- woo hoo and for homework. The red eye was difficult- I've never been designed for that travel. Arriving home at 6 am, I had to lay down- I needed some vertical time. This put us behind our usual routine/schedule- arriving early and enjoying the Track Kitchen. We did make it for the 2nd race and had a lovely day. Bonus was taking the country roads behind the property home- one of the prettiest drives ever. We also had some big fun wins- Clairnation- fun bet to place and more fun to claim the winnings! It wasn't perfect day- I keep it real out here. The darn big car isn't big enough for Sally and Peter. Bucket seats/Captain seats in the 2nd row- doesn't prevent the pick-pick-picking and bickering- argh. The race time was great, the drive down and back could of been better.
And that is where I've been as I've ventured off Newark-Granville Road. So much more to share or reflect about...the incredible season that finally came to and end- the undefeated season met with defeat in the 2nd round of the tournament. I'll blog after the banquet. Granville's Christmas Candlelight Walking Tour drama- sigh...Joe was surprised it was Columbus news...I'm afraid it may have made National News. Stress of kids today.....happiness tonight was telling Clare the ACT test score tomorrow really doesn't matter. I think she took it in. It will help her path and college selection journey but she is in a great place. And oh the fun we'll have on this journey....traveling off of NG Road.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Signs, signs, everywhere there are signs.....
Life on Newark-Granville Road can be very public. Many people drive, walk, bike, run by and take notice of our activities. Not surprising Joe and I are often asked to put political signs in our yard. We came to a casual agreement and policy: if the person running is a good friend or if we're working on the issue or campaign we'll put the yard sign in our yard. We also limit the number of signs- two is pushing it. If Joe had his way there would probably be no signs. In theory I'd probably put a number of signs as I like to engage in politics. The key phrase being "in theory."
I hear political signs don't work, are not effective. However the perception to the public in our area is that they do work. Better said, there is demand for signs - those running for office or leading a ballot issues are asked often for yard signs are told- they needs signs. I am sorry to miss a talk at Denison on Wed. Oct 18 4:00 pm in Knapp 204 about yard signs. Politics on Display is the title, Yard Signs And The Politicization of Socialization of Public Spaces by Anand Sokhey '03- Denison! PhD from Ohio State and now an Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Colorado Boulder. If you go I hope you'll let me know and we can discuss your take-aways. My theory is signs should inspire conversation, awareness and hopefully inspiration to vote! Not the way I will, but just to vote.
Recently I've been asked to place one sign for the November elections. Because it was a friend who asked, a friend who explained her reasons for running for re-election, we said yes. I was asked to meet with another candidate to offer insights on important issues for the community. We had a nice talk and she was very knowledgeable on a hot topic for me- sewer and water. Sewer and water access is key to our town's sustainability/ tax base and the right thing to do- our public officials need to see this as a priority. I left our meeting wanting a yard sign for this candidate. I also like the fact we're endorsing two women in this race. I admire all of the candidates running and am grateful for their service. I appreciate the two candidates reached out to us and engaged us in conversation. Consider this their reward access to our yard. I hope you'll notice and think consider for whom and why you'll cast a ballot.
I hear political signs don't work, are not effective. However the perception to the public in our area is that they do work. Better said, there is demand for signs - those running for office or leading a ballot issues are asked often for yard signs are told- they needs signs. I am sorry to miss a talk at Denison on Wed. Oct 18 4:00 pm in Knapp 204 about yard signs. Politics on Display is the title, Yard Signs And The Politicization of Socialization of Public Spaces by Anand Sokhey '03- Denison! PhD from Ohio State and now an Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Colorado Boulder. If you go I hope you'll let me know and we can discuss your take-aways. My theory is signs should inspire conversation, awareness and hopefully inspiration to vote! Not the way I will, but just to vote.
Recently I've been asked to place one sign for the November elections. Because it was a friend who asked, a friend who explained her reasons for running for re-election, we said yes. I was asked to meet with another candidate to offer insights on important issues for the community. We had a nice talk and she was very knowledgeable on a hot topic for me- sewer and water. Sewer and water access is key to our town's sustainability/ tax base and the right thing to do- our public officials need to see this as a priority. I left our meeting wanting a yard sign for this candidate. I also like the fact we're endorsing two women in this race. I admire all of the candidates running and am grateful for their service. I appreciate the two candidates reached out to us and engaged us in conversation. Consider this their reward access to our yard. I hope you'll notice and think consider for whom and why you'll cast a ballot.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
What is for dinner.....
Sunday night dinner....in church we pass a grocery list down the pew. Sally whispered during the hymn "can we have mac n cheese? " I said yes and she added the supplies to the list. I serve it with salmon cakes- a Leithauser celebratory, favorite dinner. This worked for the week's plan as we wanted to offer- smart food and salmon is brain food. Peter and Clare had the PSAT on the docket. (I read the blog from the Mom with the three kids with perfect ACT scores- she talked about serving lots of fish- legit or not, I love the concept of building confidence. We're also celebrating Clare's selection for National Honorary Society. The big splurge- wheel pasta- her favorite. To round out the meal, Graters and Jenny's ice cream thanks to IGA. I usually don't serve ice cream with fish- goes back to my grandmother- but I was in a happy place.
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Leithauser Favorite- Salmon cake, fresh broccoli, mac n cheese, with stewed tomatoes. And just to keep you posted on the real life happenings- Peter blew out another shoe...can't keep him in shoes. He even tore his sock at this basketball conditioning day- running. "Planted by foot hard and rip." Maybe my home cooking on Newark-Granville Road is the reason for his growing? |
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Big Red Weekend 2017....tired and energized.
What was all that happy energy about in Granville this weekend? Three words: Big Red Weekend! And for me- Family Leadership Council! Yes living in our alma mater's hometown gives us wonderful opportunity to connect with Denison friends returning to campus. Weekends like this take it a whole new level. Add my work with current (and past) family and parents and I'm all the more connected to the opportunity to engage with outstanding Denisonians. When they're parents and classmates- wham- all is right on Newark-Granville Road. I should be exhausted but I'm tiredly energized.
Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. I looked around the bar at the Granville Inn to see for 1990 classmates that are also P'21, three classmates back for BRW, a handful of other great alums I'm getting to know better thanks to their return to Denison as parents, and some fun alums back for affinity reunions. Add the spouses of many of these said folks and it is a recipe for the perfect night! A night that flew, a night that had me making my way around the bar doing my best to connect and soak in these opportunities. This was just one block of time that was repeated.
The whole weekend was this way. On Friday, the Family Leadership Council had fifty parents participate in important meetings. What a delight and honor to have these volunteers help the college. My role is rewarding, challenging, fun, special and one I'm lucky to have. I am resonsible for the invitation to the council and the programming. I have many partners to thank for executing a successful day. Our goal is to deepen the relationships- the relationship of the parent to the college- they are amazing Denisonians! Also to deepen the college's relationship to the parents. BRW FLC 2017 met its goal.
It actually kicked off on Thursday with two 90 era amazing alums back. We met their kids, soaked in their engagement and caught up around the table. Ahhhh! Then the weekend provided a number of settings for introductions, reintroductions, witness to parent/student bonds and processing and a fair amount of nostalgic reminiscing! Life is figure eights and BRW is full of observations and this year's convergence takes it to a new level. I remember my parents weekends so very well. How we're now here welcoming our fiends as parents, makes me smile and shake my head. We were just students. Empathetic nostalgia has surrounded me all weekend. Just walking chapel walk with students I could feel their happy anticipation of parent arrivals. Driving through town seeing the packed cars with farewell hugs took me right back to that place of meloncoly. Happy reunions and reflection of just the past few weeks and decisions to make Denison home fodder and starting point of conversations. This moved to just great talks and analysis about why Denison is in the place it is- strong, different but similar. Seeing and meeting our friends kids, good kids is remarkable and has an impact to inspire the blog post.
Of course being in relationship, being family allows us to reflect on what could improve, what is missing. Energizing is the suggestions stem from care and concern. The college knows and wants to grow and evolve the right way. Our Unlocking Potential campaign is in progress and launches publicly next week....time to rest up and regroup to prepare! Things are not perfect for all and I do my best to help. I value the trust to do so. I value the assistance of colleagues to do so.
Thanks to all who infused this state of happy exhaustion. I didn't see everyone and I needed to see everyone for more time, deeper conversation. Until next time Denisonians and until then I look forward to the week and the alums and parents returning to Denison and Granville, making my life on NG Road so very satisfying.
Make new friends and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold. I looked around the bar at the Granville Inn to see for 1990 classmates that are also P'21, three classmates back for BRW, a handful of other great alums I'm getting to know better thanks to their return to Denison as parents, and some fun alums back for affinity reunions. Add the spouses of many of these said folks and it is a recipe for the perfect night! A night that flew, a night that had me making my way around the bar doing my best to connect and soak in these opportunities. This was just one block of time that was repeated.
The whole weekend was this way. On Friday, the Family Leadership Council had fifty parents participate in important meetings. What a delight and honor to have these volunteers help the college. My role is rewarding, challenging, fun, special and one I'm lucky to have. I am resonsible for the invitation to the council and the programming. I have many partners to thank for executing a successful day. Our goal is to deepen the relationships- the relationship of the parent to the college- they are amazing Denisonians! Also to deepen the college's relationship to the parents. BRW FLC 2017 met its goal.
It actually kicked off on Thursday with two 90 era amazing alums back. We met their kids, soaked in their engagement and caught up around the table. Ahhhh! Then the weekend provided a number of settings for introductions, reintroductions, witness to parent/student bonds and processing and a fair amount of nostalgic reminiscing! Life is figure eights and BRW is full of observations and this year's convergence takes it to a new level. I remember my parents weekends so very well. How we're now here welcoming our fiends as parents, makes me smile and shake my head. We were just students. Empathetic nostalgia has surrounded me all weekend. Just walking chapel walk with students I could feel their happy anticipation of parent arrivals. Driving through town seeing the packed cars with farewell hugs took me right back to that place of meloncoly. Happy reunions and reflection of just the past few weeks and decisions to make Denison home fodder and starting point of conversations. This moved to just great talks and analysis about why Denison is in the place it is- strong, different but similar. Seeing and meeting our friends kids, good kids is remarkable and has an impact to inspire the blog post.
Of course being in relationship, being family allows us to reflect on what could improve, what is missing. Energizing is the suggestions stem from care and concern. The college knows and wants to grow and evolve the right way. Our Unlocking Potential campaign is in progress and launches publicly next week....time to rest up and regroup to prepare! Things are not perfect for all and I do my best to help. I value the trust to do so. I value the assistance of colleagues to do so.
Thanks to all who infused this state of happy exhaustion. I didn't see everyone and I needed to see everyone for more time, deeper conversation. Until next time Denisonians and until then I look forward to the week and the alums and parents returning to Denison and Granville, making my life on NG Road so very satisfying.
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