Denison Love for the Last week of February

Denison Love, what does that mean, Joe, job, philanthropy and so much more! February is the month of love and it has been a busy and fulfilling one!  Few highlights just from the last full week:

1. Joe- our anniversary on the 20th and his birthday two days later! Love celebrating with him in low key ways.  Love the flowers, the roses, the replication of my wedding bouquet presented to me every year! Love the two cakes on 2-22-22, one absolutely fabulous and not just in taste, but the cherished gift and delivery! Love the tradition to sing and share cake with dear neighbor friends.   Although Joe and I didn't date at Denison, we did meet at our alma mater and laid the foundation to fall in love during the returns to Granville!

2. Denison Days- Junior Day was Monday and what a treat it was! Sally played along and attended, attending a class, having lunch and dinner on Sunday with dear Friends in town with their juniors- their third children too!  I've said it over and over a part of my job I truly love is these types of connections.  Great to see some others, including a classmate back with his applying senior from Atlanta. Bonus we sat at the bar to catch-up at Broadway Pub- the bar!

3. Denison Families.  I wrapped up a big weekend, hosting our Family Leadership Council for their Spring Semester Meeting. We visited The Edge, we gathered at the Moonies with students and we toured the construction site of the Hoaglin Wellness Center.  These generous Denisonians inspire us, share important insights and are just fun!  Staff and colleagues united to make it all happen, team work indeed makes the dream work! These weekends always include time at the Granville Inn bar.  This weekend dear alum, friend and old neighbor was a happy surprise and fun interaction with visiting team families with friend connections. Granville is the center of the small world!

4. Road trip with Sally- another "love" event for me!  Taking Sally to see Miami of Ohio and OU as part of her college search was beloved time together.  We were both impressed and agree Ohio has so much to offer with higher education. She still thinks small private liberal arts will be where she ends up. She is still looking and I will savor the continued quest.)  Not Denison but college fun, higher education- it fits the theme!

5. Denison work- Economic Development Committee for the GACC. I'm enjoying all I'm learning about our community and the people that care. Important work that just became all the more important with the Intel announcement.

The last full week of the month of February was lovely, filled with love in my life on Newark-Granville Road! 

There is much to pray about and be concerned about as I post this update. Love and wishes and hopes to the Ukraine and all hurting connected to this invasion. Dear church family members continue to receive our prayers. I believe in love, the love of our Lord, the love of friendship and care and offer these prayers daily as part of my life on Newark-Granville Road.

For Love of Music to Launch February

On this Valentine's Day Eve it is good to reflect on an amazing week of music, music I love. 

1. Monday- Pop Up concert at the Denison Museum- 

https://billandthebelles.com/  preformed and it was wonderful! A young alum is part of the band and was back "home". The backdrop of the Appalachia in Focus exhibit was powerful. Take a look- come see: https://denison.edu/places/museum

2. Wednesday- VAIL CONCERT!  My advice is never to miss a Vail Concert and this proved sound advice this week.  The American Spiritual Ensemble was a concert like no other. If you can ever see them do.  https://www.americanspiritualensemble.com/We all know the arts teach, the lessons within the evening were important and poignant. Make plans for the next concert here:  https://denison.edu/series/vail

3. Friday- The playlist during David Butler's show was really good, the show was wonderful:  read about it here:  Columbus Alive @ David Butler/Amanda Love  Thanks to Amanda and all for bringing these evenings to downtown Newark! The juke box at the Draft House was a nice way to end a full work week and catch up with Joe!

4. https://www.ngsymphony.org/  Incredible to be at The Midland with an energetic audience savoring these gems: the performance, the venue, and the friends! It was extra special as we had dinner early at MCC and shared the energy of family-supporting one of the soloists!  What a treat!

5. Wrapped it up with the Broadway Musical in Columbus -  Come From Away  Everyone said I would love it- oh my- yes yes yes- I laughed, I cried, I was in awe of every one component- the story, the performance, the stagging, the impact (scholarships!!) and connections to Columbus! Seeing it with a dear friend, gifted tickets by a dear friend. The immediate jump to your feet to applaud at the end. It was something, learn more here: https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2022/02/13/dublin-woman-inspired-9-11-musical-playing-ohio-theatre/6765884001/  I'm making plans for a movie night with Joe to watch it online!! So good!

Life on Newark-Granville Road was all about toe-tapping, singing along, and being inspired and moved by the power of the arts, the love of the arts, and music.  I'm lucky to have always had this in my life and the figure eight moments keep bringing it home.

UPDATE- the love and music continue with the launch of Common Threads (Dear Friends band, Derby Party favorites) Common Thread- She Called Me Sir  Check it out!! 

January's Journeys

I am so grateful I was able to complete three out of the four planned January Journeys! Here is what I want to share: 1. Denison trip to the San Fransisco Bay area, the lessons will carry me for some time- see the earlier post. 2. Infoverity's 10th Year Celebration in Mexico. What a treat to be included, cared for and to join the celebration of this company. It was so good to engage and spend time with the wonderful people that make this company such a success! And yes it was great to get away, turn off the phone, not log into email and soak in sun, sand and sea water- Carribean Sea water! The boat ride, spa time and sunrises were highlights. Three cheers for the resort for taking on the COVID testing and allowing us to move forward with a trip like this. Joe is a special travel companion and I'm grateful for our time in the midst of Infoverity time. 3. Denison's Board meeting, similar to the above, time with these impressive leaders equips me to my work for Denison. I'm back at my desk inspired, motivated and grateful for what Denison provides. It also helps me understand the work I do in my volunteer role, the need to evolve, morph, grow in appropriate ways. The Granville Chamber of Commerce is in this place with our quest for the balance of Economic Development. Intel's announcement is an important disruption to the landscape, disruption may be too strong of word. There will be quite an impact and it requires intentional, important work and collaboration. I'm proud of the work we're doing and recognize there is much still needed. I also added vacation time and soaked in the invaluable time with friends and the sun! One of the planned trips did not happen,the Denison Everywhere event, it has been posponned. Denisonians, make the new date: Wednesady, May 4! 3 out of 4 is pretty good and probably just right! People ask me about travel, I love it. I like the pace, the opportunities it provides to meet and engage with people and places. I ate a lot of oysters this month! Coming home, home to Life on Newark-Granville Road and Denison is pretty special. This quote is great:

Welcome February, filled with its own journeys closer to home! I look forward to sharing and posting and hearing about your travels and the lessons they provide.