Conference turris::womannotes-v3

>> What good things have been happening?
        
        Carla visiting New England!
        
        Dan

    Carla visiting was wonderful!! :-)
    
    Also, I've been taking dance classes (swing) in which I am doing very
    well, and I am having fun playing piano (which I've been doing for
    about 9 months).
    
    I have great plans for this spring and am looking forward with high
    anticipation for weather to warm enough for biking (both the motorized
    kind and the leg-powered kind) and hiking etc!
    
    Thanks for starting this note.  The breather is vital!
    
    D!

    I'm looking forward to a visit to my hometown, Peoria, this March.  My
    sister and her husband host an annual St. Patrick's Day party at their
    home.  It started small, and my sister cooked up the corned beef in her
    kitchen; then it grew and she prevailed upon the neighbors for the use
    of their kitchens as well.  Later, Jo had a local restaurant do the
    cooking and she picked it up; now, my niece's wedding cake business has
    expanded to include catering, and Barb caters the whole shebang.  
    
    Leo founded the local Irish society which organizes the parade.  It's a
    real "family affair".  A cash award that accompanied my Excellence
    Award enabled me to purchase the airline tickets without disturbing the
    family budget...a real bonus.
    
    grins,
    Marge

    I've got a new girlfriend. She's Scottish and drinks pints of
    Brewmaster Ale. The best thing is we went to a ten screen cinema this
    weekend, and out of all the gooey `Ghost', Mel Gibson stuff she picked
    Arachnophobia!
    
    That's my kind of girl.
    
    Tony.

	Planning on a trip to Canada in June to see my brother.

	I've already bought the tickets.


	Toronto here we come!


	Heather

    Thank you for starting this note!
    
    This weekend I went to NYC to visit some friends from college.  Had a
    great time catching up, meeting their friends and knocking around the
    City.  (Great exhibit at the Costume Institute at the Met!)
    
    My husband and I just signed papers (and papers and papers and papers!)
    on a house in Maine.  If all goes smoothly, we'll be in by the end of
    March!
    
    Looking forward to moving to Maine!
    
    
    Judi
    

    here or the I Love note??? well, here.
    
    I got myself new skis on Sat, and skied for hours yesterday.  Had to go
    out twice tho: it's not a challenge to ski with kids!  (ski 30 ft, stop
    while the kid gets up, ski 35 ft, kid pulls foot out of skiboot while
    falling, etc etc) so Bob and I just had to go out ourselves later.  The
    woods are quiet, the trails are intermediate to expert so they are fun
    The trails are pretty icy right now, since the weather has been warm
    (high 20sF), so there's not much control even with fancy bindings.
    
    WHY did I wait so long to get waxless skis????
    
    I knew I was out of shape, since I haven't skied a whole lot yet this
    year.  I'm sore in the arms and upper body, the legs could go another
    10 km!
    
    Sara, sore but smiling!

    Sorry to ruin things but I've got baaadd news. My girlfriends landlord
    is kicking her out in two weeks, as his daughter is coming to live with
    him. If she doesn't find somewhere by the end of the week she'll have
    move to back to Scotland!
    It's a vicious circle, she can't get work until she's working?!? And
    people are very sceptical about getting paid rent by the social.
    
    Lifes a bitch ain't it?
    
    Tony. 

    re .8, I guess you'll just have to let her move in with you.
    
    Maybe it was "meant to be"! :-)
    
    Lorna
    

I'm taking a train trip to visit my long distance SO in late Feb!
My kids are staying with me for 2 weeks; I've learned a couple new
songs on my guitar, and I got to see a friend's band over the weekend and
it was great to see he and the band getting better and better.

After doing a couple 360's and slamming into a snowbank (unintentionally) while
driving on icy roads in NH nobody got hurt..



Lots of other good stuff going on too.  Spring isn't far off and the days
are already getting longer!




Jim

I had a lot of fun playing touch football and drinking draft Sierra Nevada this
weekend... but boy am I sore today.

Do I have to turn in my feminist card for doing something so typically american
male - and enjoying it?

	-- Charles

    
    re .11 charles,
    
      no, you don't have to turn yours in if i don't have to turn mine in
    for enjoying yesterdays SUPERbowl game!  the beer does present a bit
    more complicated situation though. (-;
    
    re. 12  cheyenne
    
      a joint-venture coffee house?  aw-right!  i've got a couple of more
    planning yrs before i get started in my bookstore-coffee house-who
    knows what else it'll grow into business(es). i keep seeing a wmn centered 
    "complex" of sorts that has multiple business/services available.  the
    dream is grandiose, but the nuts-n-bolts are alot less definitive. {-:
    i'll start _somewhere_, and go on from there...    
    
    all i'm looking for is the perfect geographical setting.  i am fairly
    confident it isn't greenville s.c. (-;
    
    ~robin

    Drinking draft Sierra Nevada is *not* typical of American males, or
    Americans period, for you know what kind of beer they usually drink,
    Charles!  Hey Justine, did you know Charles is a lapsed homebrewer?
    He knows about good beer!
    
    DougO

> Hey Justine, did you know Charles is a lapsed homebrewer?
> He knows about good beer.

:-)

Now Doug, didn't I even have some small influence on your homebrewing? Like I
helped you and Joel get started?

Need a wort chiller? I have one collecting dust... how about some five gallon
glass primaries? A bottle washer and drying tree?

I watched the superbowl too, but I enjoyed the touch game beforehand a lot
more. And FWIW of the eight people playing three were women, and both played
well and had a good time too. I guess I won't turn in my card just yet...

	-- Charles

>                           and then we solidified our plans
>    to open a coffee house togehter YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
I started a coffeehouse with a few friends from my church. We had
our opening performance this past Saturday. It went great!

It's been a lot of work, but we've really had a good time. Feel free
to send me mail with any questions.

Kathy

    This is true, Charles, you were our shopping consultant the first time
    we went to the homebrew supply store.  And perhaps I should make you an
    offer on bunches of your supplies.  When can I come see what you have?
    
    DougO

    hhhmmmmm....good stuff?.....hmmmmmmm....*oh yeah*  I have an opening
    night coming up, and my castmates say I'm doing a good job...people
    keep asking how many babies I have had!  (*8
    
    I guess that's it...
    
    E Grace

    
    Re.8  Lorna,
    
          It looks like she may have found somewhere, so it's kosher.
    I don't move in to my Batch pad for a month or so, so that wasn't on.
    
    T.
    
     

    E Grace, 
    
    You'll have to get this on video tape for the savages in Colorado.  I
    would really like to see this act.
    
    Meg

Hi All-

Was going to say nothing great happening around here, but, then again, I am 
playing softball again after a five year rest (been playing since I was around
nine) - I love softball!

Anyway, I am taking a last minute trip to Marlboro/Boxboro this week!  I think
I will be in the area on Thursday night (unless I get a last minute change).
Would love to meet some of you if this isn't too last minute.  Drop me a line.

Barb

    
    	I am due to be an "auntie" again in a month or so.  One of
    	my best friends is due the beginning of March......
    
    	Knowing I'm headed to Canada this summer for vacation with
    	my hubby and my parents.  I've never been there.
    
    	Knowing that WARM weather is only about 3 months away....
    
    	JJ
    

    re:  .4  Tony!! I'm jealous!  am I still your 1991 valentine? *sniff*
    ;-)
    
    My good news--An unexpected change in my life has turned into a
    wonderful opportunity!  Due to some extenuating circumstances, the
    boys and I had to find a new home 6 months sooner than we expected.
    But!! We have found a home just where we wanted, for the price we
    wanted, and all of our wonderful friends are pulling together to 
    donate furniture, offer moving assistance, etc.  It feels like
    we are finally going "home".  And this should be the last move
    we make for a LONG time!!!!
    
    Kim
    
    PS--Cheyenne, congratulations!  I wish I could be a part of something
    like that...too bad I live so far away!

    	As my P_name states, John Lee Ellis will be riding the
    	Race Across AMerica (RAAM) this summer.
    
    	John's a software engineer for Digital in Charlotte, NC.
    	I'm gonna be part of the crew.
    
    	RAAM is a (more or less) non-stop bicycle race from Irvine,
    	CA to Savannah, GA.
    
    	John's yearly mileage for the last 5 years has never dropped
    	below 26,000 miles. He has ridden as much as 30,000 miles in
    	one year.
    
    	I'm already psyched and the race doesn't even begin until
    	July 27th.
    
    	Scott

    re .24    You betcha!! I NEVER said she was my Valentine.
    
    I can only handle one Valentine.
    
    Tony.

    re .26  Allright!  And the feeling is mutual fer sure.  And in that
            case, I hope she doesn't have to go back to Scotland.  In fact,
            being of Scottish descent myself, I highly approve!!!  
    
    :-)  :-)  :-)
    
    Kim

I just started a wonderful new job, where I'm actually looking forward
to coming to work in the morning.

I'm just wrapping up the first draft of a novel -- it's the third one
I've completed -- none published yet but I think this one is actually
going to be publishable when I finish with the revisions and such.  I
feel really good about it.  

And the kids and the spouse continue to be wonderful sources of friendship,
love, laughter, and insight.  Kat's still dancing, doing well in school,
talking about college; Steven's becoming a voracious reader; and David
has learned to climb.  

In fact, if it weren't for the war in the Middle East and the disgusting
behavior of the Soviets in the provinces that want to secede, life would
be perfect.

--bonnie

    
    My trip to New England was awesome, truly awesome.  A breath of
    fresh, stress-free air with loads of warm, wonderful people.
    
    I slept for 11� comatose, black, silent hours last night.
    
    I got a $24 check from my insurance company and I don't know why.
    
    Carla
    

    I did 15 minutes on the stairmaster. I jogged an equivelant of 72
    flights of stairs and my legs are not the least bit sore.
    
    I'm going skiing with the girls on St Paddy's Day. Anyone got any ideas
    for the ideal place to go for beginners? There has to be lots of
    shopping, lots of restaurants and great clubs. It has to be in Mass,
    NH or Vermont. I need a health club with a jacuzzi. I'm looking for
    a cabin/condo with maybe a kitchen that will hold 5 or 6.
    
    
    Kate

    .30 --
    try Stowe Vt.  They have all the stuff you mentioned, and great skiing
    (reputation; I don't downhill ski).
    
    Sara

    .30 
    
    I consider myself a beginner and handled Haystack mountain pretty well.
    It's right near Mt. Snow in S. Vermont.  It's less expensive, and less
    crowded.
    
    Linda

    And in between now and St Paddy's spend a lot more time on your stair
    master, your legs will thank you for it.  Adults learning to ski tend
    to discover some new muscles in their legs, so the more in-shape your
    legs are when you begin to ski, the less painful development skiing
    will force from them.
    
    DougO

    	I'll second that!  I went skiing for the first time this year,
    and I've been working out very regularly on the stairmaster since 
    October.  While my legs were a bit sore the next day, they weren't 
    nearly as bad as people told me they might be!  Other exercises
    for the quads help too!

    	amy

    Amy, 
    
    I'm about to embark on skiing for the first time, also.  I workout 3
    times a week, on the machines and I do high impact aerobics, too.  Will
    that help with skiing?  Did you take lessons?  Where?  
    
    -Dotti.

    Dotti,

    	From my experience and those of friends, working out does help
    with skiing.  I have one friend who is a big skier (used to race,
    goes almost every weekend) and he does several 30 minute sessions
    on the stairmaster several times a week to train for skiing.

    	As for the actual skiing, I went to Wachusett (Princeton MA)
    which, from what I'm told, is a good learning mountain.  I've been
    twice and took a lesson each time.  (After the second time I was
    not sore at all!)  I'm certainly hooked!

    	good luck and have fun!

    	amy

I'm looking forward to going to Steamboat Springs next week for a
week's vacation for some skiing and fun...

john

    John,
    
    My cousin used to live there. He says it's beautiful. Have a blast!
    
    Kate

    I finally got a camera last night (thanks, Manisha!) and I was running
    around taking photos of everything.  In 12 hours I have already gone
    through a whole roll of film.  I am so psyched.
    
    Not only that, but last night while discussing traveling, my roommate
    and I decided we would go to Africa this summer!  She has friends
    living in Zimbabwe, so we hope to take a month off, and using that as
    our home base, explore as much as we can!  Which means I have something
    outstanding to use my new camera on!!!!
    
    Wheeeeeee!
    
    D!

    (In my best Irish brogue [which isn't very good!]  ;-)
    Sure 'n' there's only one place for you to be skiin' on St. Paddy's
    Day:
    
    Brodie Mountain, in the Berkshires, where they paint the snow *GREEN*
    every year for the St. Paddy's Day weekend!  They have all sorts of
    festivities, as well.  It is over near the Pittsfield area, in (IMHO)
    the prettiest part of Massachusetts.
    
    Enjoy!
    
    Jack

    The "paint" the snow green?  How do they do that?  What kind of paint
    do they use?  Where does the paint go when the snow melts - into the
    earth???
    
    D!

    THANK YOU D!   Thankyouthankyouthankyou!  I was wondering the very same
    thing.
    
    E Grace

	Water + food coloring into the snow guns?

    Hmmm...what exactly is food coloring, anyway?  I know it is "safe" to
    eat in small quantities, but it is obviously chemical in nature...what
    would the effect be to the environment to dump huge quantities of it in
    the snow?
    
    This reminds me of the sort of thing that seems innocently fun, but
    turns out in unintentionally causing great harm because people weren't
    careful to determine the results.
    
    Sort of like throwing rice at outdoor weddings.  A quaint but harmful
    custom.
    
    D!

    re.44
    
    depends upon the food colouring.  Some _are_ 'obviously chemical in
    nature' ... others are vegatable-based, which is also chemical but then
    so is everything reduced to molecular and elemental levels.
    
    ... and good old un-altered rice is just fine to toss.  Bird will pick
    it up, so will ants.  just don't use the stuff from the supermarket.
    [unless  you're referring to damage from slippage and eye-contact ...]

    To D! et al - To tell the truth, I have never been to Brodie Mountain
    on St. Paddy's Day.  The one time I intended to go, there was no snow. 
    :-(
    
    I am also not qualified to suggest possible materials that the "paint"
    (which term I used loosely, BTW) may be made up of.  I would imagine,
    however, that it would be of a non-polluting type of material, or else
    conservationists would have been up in arms (and rightly so).  They
    have been doing this for a number of years (20+ ?).
    
    The best bet would be to contact the ski area, and pose these questions
    to THEM.
    
    Sorry I couldn't be more help.
    
    Jack

    Probably green food coloring (lots of it). Heck, if it's safe
    in beer...

    >>... and good old un-altered rice is just fine to toss.  Bird will pick
    >>it up, 
    
    
    annie, that's the problem.  Uncooked rice expands in birds' stomachs
    and can kill them.
    
    E Grace

    E Grace
    
    that business about uncooked rice is an urban legend. there is
    absolutely *no* harm to birds in eating raw rice.
    
    Bonnie

    I've been on a quest for the _ultimate_ Lo Mein recipe for several
    months ... I've gathered several promising candidates together and now
    that I don't have to be careful of 'weird spices and stuff' I aim to
    start trying them out!!!
    
      Annie
    
    
    re.48,.49
    
    I was about to rebut with having fed my birds brown rice for years and
    years, and none of them ever even burped, let alone exploded ...
    but BonnieJ beat me to it.

    I didn't say they exploded.  I said it *can* kill them.  That is not a
    legend.  

    I have an opening night tonight.  Yayyyyyyy
    
    E Grace

    
    They probably like it better if you throw bird seed, anyway.
    (Plain old millet would do nicely.)
    
    CQ
    

    E Grace
    
    i'm sorry to disgree with you, but nat Audobon Soc has debunked
    that story. It is not true, but has become something of an 'urban
    legend' (cf the blue star tattoo, the choking doberman etc.0
    
    and *break* a leg!
    
    hugs
    
    Bonnie

	If you really want bio-degradable snow, why nt mix spinach (or spinach 
	water) with it, you'll set all that viamin a/c/iron too!!!!


	Heather

    I ordered my graduation gown last week (it's only been 8 years in the
    making!)
    
    I took a shower this weekend in my new and improved bathroom! (Peach 
     and white, just be-oooo-tiful....I can't wait till the closet is done 
     this week!)
    
    My cat came when I called her. (Only once, but it's a start)
    
    Dee
    

    Maggie (outside cat) has lived under my little house for over 9 years.
    She has 2-3 litters a year.  I've lived in my little house about 2-1/2
    years and have fed her and her kittens since I moved in.
    
    She's pregnant again and the neighbors kids had been chasing her and
    throwing sticks at her (they wanted to play with her and she didn't
    feel like playing) and they hurt her - gash behind her ear.  So I
    brought her inside with me, and I put a litter box in the bathroom
    under the sink but she refused to use it.  First she used the carpet,
    so I tried adding some potting soil to the litter (thinking maybe she's 
    confused that it's not dirt?), then she used my laundry basket, so I 
    thought maybe it's the brand of litter, so I changed brands.  Then she 
    used my bed right after I had changed my sheets, blanket & quilt!  
    
    After cleaning up and doing the laundry, I made some tea and sat on the
    floor to rub her belly and think.  I had noticed that she would walk into 
    the bathroom and look at the litter box, then leave the bathroom, so she 
    knew what it was and where it was.   
    
    Aha!  Privacy! I moved the litter box under a table with a floor length 
    tablecloth.  Bingo!!
    
    She's happy.  I'm THRILLED!
    
    Miriam
    
    P.S.  Anyone want a kitten?

    
    	Miriam,
    
    	How wonderful of you to care for Maggie.  Some cats are so
    	picky about their privacy.  Take it from one who is owned
    	by four of the little buggers.  =)
    
    	Can I make a suggestion?  Maggie must be tiring of being
    	a mother and I would guess (from the knowledge I've attained
    	from FELINE) that it isn't very healthy for her to keep having
    	litter after litter.  Would it be possible for you to get her
    	spayed after this litter of kittens?  You can send mail to
    	Nancy Diettrich-Cunniff at CRUISE::NDC  for what's called a
    	'low-cost spay certificate'.  It's a form that's given with 
    	a list of vets who qualify that when you get an animal 
    	neutered the cost is decreased.
    
    	I'll get off my Soapbox now, but seeing as how you obviously
    	care for Maggie's welfare, I thought I'd bring up the subject.
    
    	JJ
    

    Hi Judy,
    
    Actually I'd made appointments with her twice with "Friends of 
    Animals" here in New Jersey (Shots & Spaying = $20.00) and they were
    making allowances for the fact that she was an outside cat and were
    going to do everything (exam, shots & spaying) in one day for me/her.
    
    Maggie (bold female that she is!) was un-cooperative and didn't show
    up both times for breakfast, so I had to call and cancel both times.
    At the time, I had a cat (Birdie) who didn't get along with Maggie,
    although Birdie got along just fine with all of Maggie's kittens.
    I would open the door and let them all in when it was cold or really
    raining outside and Maggie would sit by the door, Birdie would be at
    the other end watching her and playing with the kittens, but if Maggie
    moved to the kitchen, Birdie would follow her and watch. So, I couldn't
    keep Maggie inside with Birdie for very long.  But about 6 weeks ago,
    I gave Birdie away to a friend (not sure if I'm going to P.R. to live
    with my Mom now that my Dad is dying, or if Mom will come to live with
    me in which case, Mom's allergic to cats, I couldn't leave her for
    months alone in my place, and I couldn't take her with me to P.R.). 
    
    So, I'm keeping Maggie inside til the kittens are weaned (about 6-8
    weeks) and she's going directly to the vet, then I'll keep her till
    her stitches are o.k.
    
    Miriam
    
                                                                       

Re:privacy in the litter box

You might want to try a BoodaBox (not sure of the spelling.)  Those are the
covered litter boxes. We didn't think our cat, Sassy, would like it, because
she hates going into boxes and bags, and is seemingly somewhat claustrophobic.
But she loves it. And the benefits: she gets her own private bathroom, which
she likes, and we get a *total* absence of cat-box smell, which we like. :-)
Plus the fact that they are easy to change, because they come with plastic
box-liners, so when it comes time to change the litter, you just lift the
whole liner out and tie it with a tie-wrap.

D!

    I had seen those in the pet store, they have charcoal filters that fit
    on top to really make them odor free, but they were expensive!!!  So
    I got a regular litter box with that new stuff that comes in the
    plastic jugs (which was still expensive but I figure with kittens afoot
    shortly, I'll need the extra absorbency).
    
    Miriam

    I have always been puzzled trying to figure out why anyone would spend
    lots of $$ on a covered litter box to give their kitty privacy.  I
    guess I'm just cheap, but I'd get a large cardboard box, with or
    without the top, cut a door in the side, and away we go.  When it gets
    soiled, throw it out (a much better solution than washing a permanent
    one!  and it's recycling, too!).  It also contains the litter that kitties
    love to toss at the walls.
    
    The table-cloth idea is a good one though.  Contains the smell, and
    hides the box too.
    
    Sara

    I'm faced with a dilemma.
    
    I can either pick up my diploma next Sunday at a reception or I can
    do Commencement in May.
    
    Part of me wants to have a _real_ graduation with a cap and gown and all
    the trimmings.  Some sort of public recognition of a job well done  [my
    parents didn't even send a card when I finished ... they're still
    P*SSED!!!!!!! that I didn't make summa cum laude ... apparently magna
    sucks pond scum ... I don't think so myself, but then maybe I'm just
    being uppity]
    
    Part of me wants to snarf up that diploma the first second I can and
    get the sucker framed ... possibly force strangers on the street to
    read it and congratulate me.
    
    I _tried_ to tell the school that it would be just fine to give me the
    diploma now and save my seat for May.  They didn't buy it.  I have to
    choose.
    
      Annie

    
    Re: cats & litter & smell.  The new "sandy" type of litter I have found
    to be very effective at absorbing smell.  Don't buy it in pet stores
    though -- it's 3 to 4 times expensive!  In the Marlborough, Mass. area,
    you can get this stuff at either Rich's department store or the Super
    Shaw's in Hudson for $3.99 a gallon jug.  
    
    CQ

    Annie,
    
    If I were you, I'd attend graduation.  I went off to college right
    after high school, and I really didn't understand what the big deal
    over having a degree is/was.  I received my degrees at a traditional
    graduation ceremony, and my family was thrilled.  It really didn't mean
    that much to *me* at the time.  However, I am now (9 years later) back
    at school (at night) seeking my master's.  When I graduate, I *am*
    going to gradutation, and throwing a huge party right afterwards --
    for *ME* -- because I will be celebrating something I consider a
    very personal success!   
    
    Going to school at night is *tough*!  I have an incredible amount of
    respect for anyone that's worked *and* gone to school.  It's an
    incredibly slow process, and very draining.
    
    I'm proud of you.  And very happy for you, too.  You should go to the
    full graduation ceremony--do it for yourself.  Besides, what's another
    3 months out of an entire life time?  ;-)
    
    *Congrats*!
    
    -jc                   

    Annie,
    
    Take the walk. You've earned it. (It feels great too!)
    
    Kate
    P.S. Congrads

    Annie,
    
    I agree -- walk!  I also went to college the day after I graduated from
    high school.  Worse, I went for something I didn't really want.  Who
    cared about graduation?  
    
    BUT
    
    When I went back to school nights, full-time, while I worked full-time,
    I was damn proud of the fact that I was graduating, and even prouder of
    my grades!  Your parents are, IMHO, *wrong*.  What's important is that
    you, their daughter, with all your "real-life" stuff, got through, made
    it, didn't quit, acquitted yourself with honors both in school and in
    life.  (Oh, my!  o*8  From whence came *that* soapbox?)
    
    Anyway, while it may not mean much, *I* am proud of you.  And I bet if
    you wanted, you could have a whole passel of folk at your ceremony! 
    (*8
    
    
    E Grace

    Annie, maybe the school would let you take a photocopy to tide you over
    till May.  And, imo your folks need an attitude adjustment; maybe
    they'll unbend by May and even be willing to attend.
    
    *I* think you did grand!!!!!
    
    Sara

    re. all and sundry ...
    
    thank you, thank you, thank you!
    
    it's no dice on having my cake and eating it too ... I promised
    everything but the Dean's yard-work and they're not buying it.
    
    if they let me hold my diploma next Sunday, I just might manage to trip
    and fall on a photocopy machine ...
    
    my first time around with school, civil engineering at the age of 16, I
    had intended to pick up my diploma and run ... I wanted to do cap &
    gown, but an indoor basketball Coliseum at 105F and 80% humidity sort
    of dampened my zeal.
    
    the parents really _are_ a lost cause.  they find me admirable, but
    unloveable [poop!]. They _did_ say they _might_ make the trip to see me
    when I have a _son_ ... pretty cold in light of recent events, IMHO,
    but about par for the course.  Still, where there's life, there's hope
    and I would have liked them to be pleased for me [don't imagine that I
    was counting upon it, though].
    
      Annie
    
    

    Annie,
    
    Why not a party now and the graduation ceremony in May?  Heck, you
    could even invite the Dean.
    
    Congratulations on your accomplishment!
    
    
    Judi
    

    The only weirdness I had when I decided to go through with the
    graduation ceremony (yes, my family was a big reason I decided to do
    that, I had finished my degree responsibilities in March, though) was
    that I was so far behind my original graduating class (two co-ops, and
    a change of major in my 3rd year) that I didn't really KNOW any people
    in the class I graduated with.  Took away a little of the "wow we
    finally made it", but left some "wow *I* finally made it".
    
    -Jody
    

    
    
 >they find me admirable, but unloveable [poop!].
                              ^^^^^^^^^^   
    
    Well, now we know where you *didn't* get your brains, Annie!  Twits!
    
    

Congratulations, Annie! Be sure to invite a camera nut to
the ceremony!
    
Kathy

    re. Brian [.75]
    
    The school already thoughtfully provided a letter and accompanying
    transcript to me and to Digital stating that I had completed degree
    requirements as of 26-October-1990, my degree had been awarded
    15-January-1991, and that my QPA was 3.79, magna cum ... I'm pleased.
    
    It's blatant self-indulgent gratification I'm in quest of just at
    present.
    
    The school has one ceremony a year, in May; I'll be there.  I'm limited
    to three guests or my immediate family [in this case 1], whichever is
    greater.
    
    If Rick shows up [he may not be able to] he will really _mean_ to take
    my picture, but I can't hold my breath on it ... He photographed the
    reception at his sister's wedding [I was the matron of honour] and out
    of 5 rolls of film, that's 180 frames, he managed to include me in
    exactly none of the pictures.  As people go, I'm one of his favourtie
    subjects, too.
    
     

    Gee, I never had to produce a document for anybody.  I just say
    BSMSPhD and get taken for my word.
    
    Does anybody care after you have it?
    
    ed

    Annie, take the walk. It's one of the greatest morale boosters on the
    planet. You have every right to scream from the rafters. Not only did
    you get the degree, but Magna Cum Laude. WOW. I'm sure everyone in this
    conference is fabulously proud of you. I envy you. I have never been
    able to get a degree. I have never been able to really learn anything
    in the rigid enviroment of studying and learning that college requires.
    I can read and learn stuff on my own, but put me in that classroom and
    require reports and essays and forget it. I honor you and if your
    parents can't support your not inconsiderable efforts, then poop on
    them. 
    
    Congratulations,
    
    Phil