Quick Successions: New Mexico Edition

I was in Chicago for the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) April 14-20. I have been going since 2007; this was my 8th annual meeting. The first meeting I ever went to was also in Chicago when I was still a junior high teacher. I started going because my supervisor at the university recommended that I go. I walked and walked and came home with walking pneumonia and wasn't really better until July of that year. I also bought a snow globe and forgot to put in in my checked bag and so they took it away from me at the airport (quite violently) and broke it. I tried calling everyone I knew but couldn't get ahold of anyone so I sat in the terminal crying and feeling sad. I stopped buying snow globes after that. Since that fateful trip, Brian has come with me some years and stayed home others. Hannah's first meeting was in Vancouver in 2012 when she was less than 6 months old. This was her first time not to go. The day before I left, Brian...

We were quite busy on Thursday, dyeing eggs, stuffing plastic eggs with candy. I tried a new dyeing technique this year and I think I would do it again. Basically you use very little water and paint the eggs instead of dipping them. It really let Hannah do more than sit and watch them.  Hannah liked shaking the eggs with the jelly beans in them. So much, in fact that I had to take them away and put them back on a high shelf. We also got invited to dinner and so I did what preparation I could ahead of time so I wouldn't have to get up at 4 a.m. Sunday to pull everything together.  On Sunday, the Easter bunny visited Hannah and left her some legos. Every time we get the mail and there is a package, she looks at it, shakes it, and says "Oh, I hope it's Legos." It never is. But good ole' E. Bunny came through. He also left her some chocolate peanut butter eggs. My parents also sent Hannah some Easter treats. I spent Easter morning finish...

I went to Alexandria, Virginia (outside of Washington DC) for a forum where the federal project director, the grant partners, and representatives of the center that I work for discussed research priorities. My official job was notetaker, which I did with finesse, I think, even when the keyboard wasn't working. I also minded time and asked clarifying questions. The room I stayed in was very nice. I was able to participate and look like I knew what I was talking about. Then I went back to Kansas. George Washington had his farm at Mt. Vernon, but he went to church in Alexandria. The town's other famous citizen is Robert E. Lee. His boyhood home and one from his days in the military are here. Currently the place is more of a business park. Here is the plaza outside of my hotel in Old Town Alexandria.  Here is the view from my room. The place is set up where the rooms all overlook and indoor courtyard instead of having long hallways. Reminded of me of the inside of casin...