<p>Strangely quiet....</p>
<p>I thought of coming in here to raise a glass of virtual Guinness, but life got in the way!</p>
<p>None of that green-dyed stuff for me--that's not REAL beer. ;)</p>
<p>Bump. Hope everyone is seeing signs of Spring.</p>
<p>Last summer I was trying to learn how to navigate around using second life. I learned how to get to Dublin. Don't ask me how I did it and I flew and bumped into a few walls. On St. Paddy's day I was listening to a lecture on how schools are using second life and I thought, ah let's start it up. So the program loads and there is my character standing on a street in Dublin with so many folks dancing around, wearing shamrocks. It loaded up placing me back on the street where I was the last time around. But in the summer, it was an empty street. So I kind of celebrated........St. Patrick's Day in of all places, Ireland.</p>
<p>It is kind of springy here. Snow expected in the mts though. Actually this has been the longest winter I can remember.</p>
<p>Just back from a weekend in Boston where the weather was fine but what they call "Spring" is on the cold & crisp side. Still huge piles of dirty snow in the parking lots, and in New Hampshire...still snow in the yards!</p>
<p>But back to the Alley--we celebrated at a Brasilian party by drinking rum (Pinga) out of small gourds! Whee!!!</p>
<p>Well, it looks like spring here, but it sure doesn't feel it! I'm afraid to pull up the snowplow marker stakes along the driveway -- don't want to jinx anything. But I'm ready to hit the golf course -- or at least the driving range.</p>
<p>We have forsythia & daffodils! </p>
<p>I hear in DC it's cherry blossom time!</p>
<p>And a sure sign of spring--drove by the nursery and they are full of plants and no longer have that neglected & abandoned look!</p>
<p>One of the Institutions That Shall Not Be Named apparently has a fondness for slacker skater boyz who play music, read and write a lot. TSFS is IN to one of his favorite LACs, so I'm buying a round for the gang!</p>
<p>What's the correct after dinner drink for Chilaquiles? That's what I just had.... but I still want my share of SB's celebration round.</p>
<p>Forsythia still has not bloomed here :(</p>
<p>Congrats to the SBmom and her son!</p>
<p>forsythia for the whole bar! :)</p>
<p>The forsythia isn't blooming outside, but I did some trimming and brought the branches into my dining room. They are blooming beautifully!</p>
<p>Congrats to SBMom and son!</p>
<p>Congrats Sbmom, to you an S!! I will throw some Baileys in my coffee this morning.:)</p>
<p>Congrats SBson!</p>
<p>I had some Aquavit for the first time this weekend. Pretty good stuff...flavors of anise & caraway, among other things. Very Scandanavian. Next time we'll have to have some lox or caviar & rye bread/crackers!</p>
<p>Whooot whooot for SBSon!</p>
<p>I just remembered some good news. It happened last week and then we went to Boston and drank Brazilian rum and the Aquavit and I forgot everything.....</p>
<p>Son who is a junior in college applied for & got grant money to pay for his research work for a professor! $$ this spring and $$ this summer, with probable renewal in the fall. Yay $$ !!!!</p>
<p>This is some of the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) encouragement money that is trickling down from the state level.</p>
<p>So I'll buy the next round. May I recommend the Brazilian rum (Pinga), best drunk from a gourd? Or would you prefer the Aquavit, over ice with tonic water? I believe there's some champagne left, and also some excellent tres vielle brandy. </p>
<p>....sounds like some party weekend we had....I promise I only had a little of each!</p>
<p>oh my, oh my...</p>
<p>page 4 gang!!!</p>
<p>gotta pull my peeps up.</p>
<p>Yes the bar is fully stock in anticipation of April 1 and the slew of decisions coming next week.</p>
<p>mommusic that is great news!!</p>
<p>okay sybbie, I am ready for the first round right now!! Saturday was a little scary, 3 waitlists and 1 rejection. D has 2 great choices so far, but waiting for the 31st ( as I shudder) Maybe I can just stay at the bar till then?? I think I should claim my bar stool now, as I suspect it might get very crowded come Tuesday night.</p>
<p>Wow Sybbie, I looked at page 4, 2005? I was just a youngster myself then! May I still share a cold one with you seasoned old timers? :)</p>
<p>Wow, glad this is not our year for those college acceptances! I'll just sit quietly in this booth in the back while the rest of you mill anxiously about, nursing whatever it is helps you stand the wait.</p>
<p>Son just got accepted to a summer program so at least we know what his schedule (and thus ours) is this summer. :) Trying to arrange a nice vacation, and hoping the frequent flier miles will be useful!</p>
<p>Can parent waiting for grad school decision join in? S1 to decide this week. I need some understanding company while I sit and wait.</p>