Some good things come to an end

Tomorrow is the last day of my part time job with the town I live in. The budget reductions finally caught up to me and several of the regular office staff. I've been working out of my home for five years doing the town's monthly newsletter (until budget cuts ended that a couple of years ago), website building and updates and producing the annual reports. It was a good gig while it lasted and one I generally liked doing. I managed to dodge the inevitable last year but money was allotted from a different budget item to get my position funded for another year. I've no idea at the moment whether I'll try to find something else, as you could well bet that I don't relish losing the addition income, especially nowadays. In spite of the situation we have planned a long vacation during July, sort of a combo family/35th wedding anniversary trip out west to see the Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks. More on that in a later blog. One upside to the job thing is that I hope to write blog posts more frequently so beware of that.

Unfinished business - a Commencement

I've been meaning to follow up with some pictures from Ian's college graduation commencement ceremony, as usual things get away from me but with my pride for his accomplishments I wanted to get this up on the blog. Ian has graduated magna cum lauda with a Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Ecology. Between Convocation and Commencement the weekend itself had it's hectic moments and attending such a large event alternated between the elation of the moment and exercising patience as part of the crowd of family and friends of all the graduates. Well worth every moment. We ended up viewing the ceremony on the giant screen inside the neighboring hockey arena as all the on field seating was taken. This turned out to be a blessing as we were able to see and hear everyone on stage and see the shots of all the students mugging for the camera, plus we were in very well padded folding chairs as opposed to the plastic stackable chairs available to all the early arrivals outside. Once everything was over we headed over to the Bugaboo Creek restaurant for a celebratory dinner and a great ending for a special day.

Lois and Jim in queue for the shuttle bus to the Commencement venue. Below, myself, Elaine and Margaret waiting with them.

This is the view we had from our location in the hockey arena. The insert photo above is to show the crowd that was there long before our arrival.

Commencement speaker was Bert Jacobs of "Life is Good" clothing line. Besides a interesting speech he threw a few Frisbees while he was at it.

Ian and his friend and roommate, Wes hamming it up.

Carol and Ian's friend Alie waiting for Ian to join us once the ceremony was over.

The graduate basking in the glory of degreedom.

Afterwards at Bugaboo Creek Ian looking over a gift from Lois.

Ian is working this summer for the US Forest Service as a Wilderness and Backcountry Ranger. In the fall he'll begin courses at the local community college in the Emergency Medical Services-Paramedicine program.