We toured campus, Mimi prepared (with some help, but really it was Mimi all the way) some tuna burgers, spicy potato salad, three bean salad, deviled eggs, and, the crown, some all-vegan lemon cupcakes . . . mmm.
Amelia with "Nana"
Before dinner, we took a short tour of the public face of John Deere, based just down the road in Moline. Dave ("Paw-paw") and Braxton seemed especially excited, but we all enjoyed the up-close look at some giant (new) and slightly smaller (antique) farm equipment.
Braxton and "Paw-paw" in a tractor
close-up of "Paw-paw" and Brax in the tractor
Magen in, yes, a cotton picker
cotton-pickin' close-up
big truck
big tire
big scoop
Amelia, Magen, and Braxton, who, after pushing his bubble-blowing mower for about a mile along the Mississippi, was tired enough to ride on the stroller, but insisted on hanging on to the mower . . .
Sunday was Augustana's graduation. I suited up in my (mostly rental, but the hood is mine) regalia and marched with the other faculty members. In fact, since they march in order of ascending rank, I led the procession. . . . Never felt more like a college professor.
Ceremony was good overall, though it ran three hours (they read all 575 names, one by one). Good speech, though (by a Rev. Gomes, from Harvard).
My favorite quote from the commencement address: “Besides some real estate and badly brought-up children, what will you leave behind?”
Oh snap. (Are people still saying "oh snap"? I feel so out of touch here in The Quads (as Senator Obama calls the area). . . . Whatever.)
Story here.
Can't really see me in any of them, and there's some weird copy-protection stuff on the images, but there are a few photos online here.
If you want to see me, though, here's some shots at our place:
Please enjoy the lining of the hood: KU's crimson and blue.
