John & Anne Wiley

2010/06/16

More Flying Things

Filed under: Flying,Happiness,Has Photos,People,SB Region — John @ 05:51

We thought today would see us flying at least briefly around SB, but our hearts were too heavy. Instead we did a few errands and spent more time looking at photos. So here are a few more from Sunday’s ceremony, and it’s been therapeutic in our adjustment to Molly being in Paris rather than here so tomorrow it’s more likely we’ll get airborne.

There were two categories of things we saw flying Sunday. First was the beach ball so often seen at graduation ceremonies, as if to get us singing along with the speeches.

7007 Bouncing Ball

7007 Bouncing Ball

I have to add another gratuitous photo of Molly, this time during the introduction of her award.

6987 Molly Exalted

6987 Molly Exalted

This was the one glance I caught her taking toward her thrilled family, clearly moved by their joyful tears and cheers.

The second flying object category came at the end when there was a brief cloud of tortillas that apparently take the place of those expensive caps, and as was pointed out they also may be useful in case of extreme hunger.

7046 Flying Food

7046 Flying Food

2010/06/14

Molly Walks & Flies

Yesterday our precious god-daughter Molly “walked” at UCSB. That’s the term students use to summarize donning the traditional black cap and gown with various garnishments signifying special achievements. I’m proud to note that her uniform additions included a special sash and braid. Her walk was amid the faculty and administrators, and her seat was on the stage where she was introduced and given an award before she walked again for the diploma.

6935 Humble Excellence

6935 Molly is modest, unassuming, sweet, kind, patient and considerate

It was inspiring to hear the speeches and see the grads getting ready for the next phase of their lives. The ceremony was especially moving for us, since she flew out of SBA headed for Paris only a few hectic hours later. Oh how we will miss her!

As you might have noticed on the aerial photo, the audience included people watching from outside the seating area.

6963 Overflow

6963 Overflow

Some couldn’t get seats, and maybe others wanted a head-start on the massive end of ceremony exodus.

All over Isla Vista, both before and after this one among the series of many ceremonies, students were moving out. At the same time, new students were scoping out the logistics of moving in. Grads were selling furniture that incoming students were buying. With such a massive turnover of residents going on, I.V. was some combination of a bizarre swap meet, curbside estate recycling, hellos, goodbyes, and transcendent stress; all flowing in an easy dance of worry and compassion.

Having also attended the Masters Degree award of precious niece Erin a few years ago, UCSB has been forever transformed for us. Flying over, bicycling or strolling the area evokes strong memories and feelings, along with the stunning beauty of the place.

6013 I.V. & UCSB

6013 I.V. & UCSB

2010/06/10

Laura D @ UCSB

Filed under: by Anne,Has Photos,People — Anne @ 18:56

I (Anne) took this photo of Laura at UCSB as she went to her meeting of potential hires. She looks so professional, which of course she is!  I like her stride.

0783 Laura UCSB

After her experience she had critique of how UCSB handled the event and said she could ‘so help them’ if they’d ask, as she has experience with other schools that did it better.

So sweet to have Laura with us 🙂

2010/06/09

Dad’s Visit

Filed under: Flying,Has Photos,People,Random,SB Region,Tripp — John @ 23:20

Our flight to and from San Diego to pick up Dad for a visit was Plan B. We’d meant to fly him up to Lake Isabella, but the ferocious winds there nixed that. We did fly him to Santa Ynez to pick up our car, parked there in case of fog at SBA when we got home from getting him in SD. I flew home while they drove the somewhat dangerous Hwy. 154.

0889 Evening IZA Takeoff

0889 Evening IZA Takeoff

I worried about them on Hwy. 154, and they worried about me driving home from SBA in our old mini-pickup that’s not equipped with airbags.

Once we all arrived safe back home and had a delicious homemade pizza dinner, we went for a sunset stroll and were surprised at the sudden change in weather. It had dawned foggy with low clouds that cleared in the afternoon for our flight. Now clouds were forming out of thin air over Cathedral Oaks, and it would have made for an entertaining time lapse video.

6719 Cloud Eruption

6719 Cloud Eruption

Looking back toward Hope Ranch, we could see the solid layer pouring over the mesa there and eerily mingling with the darkening trees.

6731 Fog Flood

6731 Fog Flood

By now we were in a somewhat magical mood, and stood for several minutes watching some quail on a rooftop. Amazing that they stood so perfectly still. Were they freezing in place to be invisible because we were watching them?

6737 Roof "Quail"

6737 Roof "Quail"

As you might be able to easily see from this zoomed photo, they were some sort of roof fixtures. In the dim light at a distance, we enjoyed them as canyon wildlife. Until I snapped this and we looked at it zoomed on the camera display.

2010/06/05

In the Garden

Filed under: Happiness,Has Photos,People,Random,Relationships,SB Region — John @ 06:20

Today was idyllic in the Rose Garden. Families at rest and at play, with raging colors and aromas all around.

DSC_6670 Running In Roses

6670 Running In Roses

Is it because of all the rains and crazy winds this Spring, or is the start of Summer always so intoxicating here where the seasons all overlap?

DSC_6671 Catch

6671 Catch

How many generations have played here, and how many more will follow?

A tall tree stands guard as if to keep the low clouds off the distant shore from engulfing this garden of delights, but will allow the mists to approach in the night to nourish and refresh.

6667 Sentinel

6667 Sentinel

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