college reunions and national parks

The last two weekends have been busy! I'm still waiting for a phone call from my family to have to go home, as my grandfather is still hanging in there. I've done some more research and from what I've seen it can take two to three weeks. So I'm hoping it happens soon, yesterday was 2 weeks since he entered hospice. But I've been trying to still do things and hope my plans aren't interrupted. 

So last Saturday the weather was GORGEOUS, it was almost 70 and sunny. So I went over the Lorton, VA for the Head of the Occoquan regatta. My collegiate crew team was racing and since it is only about 30 minutes away it was easy to go to. So Friday night the boy and I met a few of his friends for a going away dinner and when I was thinking about going his friend G - who is is currently living with was like, hey - I'm interested too. He rowed for one of the HS that has their boathouse out of there. So G and I went and had a great day! I see G all the time but always with the boy there. So it was nice that his best friend and I get along so well! 

the women's team going by after their race

Sunday morning I was up early for a trip back to Chestertown for the day. My sorority was celebrating our 75th anniversary of being on campus. Our actual day is in April, but we did the celebration last weekend. It was fun catching up with sisters who I haven't seen in 6-10 years, many of whom were seniors when I was a freshman! We had our Foundation VP who went to our college speak, and she was also the National President in the 80s, so pretty cool! I've now met 3 of our current/past National Presidents! 

Gamma Beta sisters celebrating 75 years of ZTA at Washington College!

with 2 of my pledge class sisters - spring 2004! This spring will be 10 years of ZTA!

So one of the neatest things we have is our Chain of Chapters - all 248 chapters are a link in the chain. It  currently goes from Alpha to Lambda Kappa. It was the first time I've gotten to see it - it usually lives at our International Office but when I went to Indy to go to our International Office it wasn't there that week. There is my link - Gamma Beta! And me with the chain. The gavel you see belongs to Becky Hainsworth Kirwan - who was a chapter member and past National President, and it was her gavel as President.

And after we were able to go see the new chapter room - it has changed SO much since I was in college! They just got a re-decoration by our Housing Corporation since we don't have a house. But it is gorgeous! But not as practical as when we used it.  And here is our Charter! The collegians had it re-framed for the 75th - and it is driving me crazy it was crooked when I took the picture!

And then I met a girl who is a collegian ZTA and we walked around downtown and had a fun afternoon. We've been Twitter friends for over a year now and I finally got to meet her! It was so much fun! 

It was a quiet week this week - didn't do much after work, but relax and see the boy. I'm trying to avoid hibernating but it is easy especially when it gets dark so early (as I'm leaving work) and I'm trying not to spend money. But Saturday Patricia and I had a National Park site visit day! I had a few DC/MD area parks left to do and we did 3 of them. We went to Piscataway Park, Greenbelt Park and Fredrick Douglass National Historic Site. It was a fun adventure! 

Patricia and I at Greenbelt Park

At Fredrick Douglass House - there is a great view of DC and it was pretty cool. A hidden DC gem!

Piscataway Park didn't have a big NPS sign... 

National Colonial Farm at Piscataway Park

Piscataway Park was created in the 1960s to preserve the view of Mt. Vernon. The land was donated as an easement and it protects the view as well as the land all along the Potomac and the wildlife. I always find it interesting how the NPS gains some of the sites!

heeeey gw!

So this afternoon is for cleaning, relaxing and maybe baking? How was your weekend?

halloween

So while I wish I was writing about my fun adventures playing in Nashville after my Ragnar race, but my plans changed. Saturday I got a phone call from my dad before we finished the race that my grandfather wasn't doing well and was being moved to hospice. The week prior he went to the hospital with a lung infection, so I made the decision to leave Tennessee early to go home to say goodbye to my grandfather and be with my family. So Sunday afternoon I flew back to Virginia where the boy picked me up and I unpacked and re-packed my bags for a early morning drive. I left at 6:45 to pick up my little bro at college in Maryland for the drive home to NJ. We met my dad and went to the nursing home and spent the afternoon there. Monday was also my sister's birthday so it was nice to be home for that, even if she was only home for a few hours. Tuesday morning I was up and left to drive back to Virginia. Totally fell asleep early on Tuesday! 

So now I'm just back to usual waiting for a phone call from my dad to head home again. We were told 5-10 days until he passes. So while it is sad, it is a good thing. My grandfather has had Alzheimer's for over a decade and has been in a nursing home for 4 years. He can't move and he doesn't have a great quality of life. 

So yesterday was Halloween. My work takes it pretty seriously with a Halloween party complete with a costume contest. My friend Susan and I went as the Panda Cam! We got SO many compliments and it was super easy! 

Pretty adorbs! 

I make a cute panda! 

My coworkers going as the Government Shutdown! They are the memorials - Korea, Lincoln & Vietnam with 2 Vets storming them! Pretty creative! 

So I'm not sure what my weekend plans are - I might be driving up to NJ or I might be going to cheer on my college crew team at a regatta! Happy Friday!