After-party-shock

Success! The weather was mostly gloomy, but nothing unmanageable. We just put everyone in the garage instead of the backyard.













Also, there was a good turn-out. This photo was somewhat of an after-thought, as Zoe and Donna and Nancy and Judy had left at this point...so I guess these are the younger set.

















Jessica and Mike made an appearance, but that wasn't until later, so they are (obviously) absent.









On Monday, Jessica, Callie and I made plans to get together for one last hurrah in Appleton. We ended up at the Stone Cellar, which has a very nice beer garden...perhaps something I can look forward to? More beer gardens, that is; not lunches at the Stone Cellar.








After lunch, Callie and I made our way to Main Hall to drop in on some of our professors at our old Alma Mater, Lawrence University. We weren't necessarily expecting to do so, but I'm glad we did, because it was great to see them all! Last fall, Callie's health was...um, how shall I put this? Troublesome. She is doing so much better (so much so that she is planning to come visit!!) and still as full of life as ever. Since her health problems began last May, right before graduation, it was definitely a good thing to show everyone at Lawrence how well she's doing.

A Confirmed Guest

I discovered yesterday to my great JOY! that Jean Marie will be in attendance! She is coming out from Minnesota to spend the weekend. I am so excited, because I have not seen Jean Marie for over a year.


Callie will also be joining, as will sister Sam (who just started her sophomore year at Eau Claire). Mom & Dad are driving up to Eau Claire to get Sam, and Callie's plans are to drive from Wausau. My party is going to be so fun!

Except for the fact that it is supposed to rain all day on Saturday...arrgh! Why, whenever I want to plan a party, is the weather crappy? That is, perhaps, not entirely true, but it seems like the last few parties I've planned have turned out this way. Although, I invited way fewer people to this one than we did to Sam's high school graduation party last year, which is the saving grace.

So long, Farewell

I am planning a "going-away" party!

When I studied abroad in school, I never really felt the need for one of these. I actually don't really care for going-away parties. They seem so self-promotional and egocentric. But, as has been said to me by a number of people (who shall remain nameless...mostly because it's been said quite a bit and I can't actually remember who exactly said this at what exact point), I need to get out more and be more social.

So, here I am, throwing myself a going-away party. I even put up a Facebook event (which is apparently how it's done now) and invited everyone I could think of, and even people I know won't be able to attend. Why is that? Well, being a stickler for Emily Post and other such fuddy-duddies, I know that it is more polite to invite people you a) can't stand and b) can't go anyway if you know they will hear about it somewhere and feel slighted by not being asked. There you go. Never assume that just because someone can't attend, or is not very close to you, does not mean that they will not feel unduly disliked, ignored, etc., even if they (were they able to attend) have any inkling of a desire to actually go. People do things they don't like to do all the time, just to feel included. People are funny that way.

Also, no gifts. That makes things easier (not that anyone will think of buying me anything anyway) and not just because I have no space whatsoever in any of my baggage. I've been packing and repacking trying to squeeze everything in, and it is just no use. Amanda, the woman at my bank, when I came in to tell her that I would be in Europe (so that she would not freeze my account), allowed me to borrow a mattress pad she used when she backpacked around the world in college. How absolutely generous of her! I am so very grateful; and yet, there seems to be no room in my luggage for anything that large, considering I can only take one "free" suitcase (thanks, Aer Lingus) and that is already loaded with crap...clothes, appliance converters and so forth...which I apparently need. Well, I am going to be in the Alps over winter. What do you want?