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Some Sentiments About 20 Years at Stevenson
*** Last week I received an email from human resources about celebrating 20 years at Stevenson University. And I used to think the 13 years I spent at the Baltimore Orioles was a long time. When I taught my very first semester at Stevenson in January of 2000, I was pregnant with my son, Matthew, and was hired as an adjunct professor. Now, Matthew is a junior in college. When you look at it through that lens, a long time has passed. I moved into full-time teaching in 2008, when Stevenson changed its name from Villa Julie College to Stevenson University. Prior to my time at Stevenson, I began teaching…
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Reflections on 2131 after ESPN Aired the Game Last Night
* Last night as I was grading papers and preparing a lecture for online delivery, my husband called me into the family room. “ESPN is airing the full 2131 game,” he said. He was referring to Cal Ripken’s historic night at Camden Yards with the Baltimore Orioles when he surpassed Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak record, a record we will most likely never see broken again. The quality of the video wasn’t good, and my husband and I watched Mike Mussina on the mound. A wave of nostalgia came over me. I was on the field that night, as an employee of the ballclub, executing my duties. That was a…
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The Case for Gelato
The first gelato cart appeared between the years of 1920 and 1930 in the northern Italian city of Varese. Legend regarding the actual incarnation of ice cream is vague, though history suggests the idea of ice cream started in Sicily, ancient Rome, and Egypt when frozen snow was preserved underground and flavored. A man by the name of Francsco Procopiio dei Coltelli made the first usable ice cream machine in 1686. To all of these innovators of gelato, I thank you. I’m not sure my life would be the same without gelato in it. Gelato means ice cream, and it starts out with the same custard base, but it has…
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Take a Trip to Ladew Topiary Gardens
* Last fall, my husband and I had time all to ourselves during the week while the kids were in school; I was on fall break and my husband took a day off. We spent the day at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Maryland, just 29 miles north of Baltimore in Monkton. It’s a great way to enjoy “together” time, as you stroll the gardens and see the blossoms and collection of plants. Additionally, the topiary gardens are sculpted beautifully. We did go in early autumn, but springtime and summer must be glorious as well. And the weather was so spectacular, that we ate lunch on the patio outside the small…
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BOOKISH — Sunday Book Festival and Monday Book Talk on the Docket
Tomorrow begins Day One of the Baltimore Book Festival. Book lovers in Baltimore—there’s a lot to rejoice. The lineup of authors is terrific, and local authors and speakers will be there as well sharing stories about writing and publishing. I’ll be in the Author’s Tent on Sunday, September 27 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. with books in hand, bookmarks, and an opportunity to win a prize. As well, I’ve been invited to speak from 1:30 – 2 p.m. in the Author’s Tent. I hope to see you there, and if you can’t make it on Sunday, please stop by whenever you can to see this well-planned and well-orchestrated Festival…
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Baseball, Baltimore & Boisterous Real Fans: Well Worth the Wait
As I sat in the Club Level at Camden Yards on Thursday night, excited for Game One of the ALDS to begin between the hometown Baltimore Orioles and the visiting Detroit Tigers, I basked in the atmosphere. The ballpark hummed. Why, it was only a few years ago when it was devoid of Orioles fans while intruders, fans of the successful Red Sox and Yankees, took over the seats during non-glorious seasons. Thursday night was a different story; Camden Yards was cradling 48,000+ energetic fans donned in orange and white and black. The ballpark was smiling. Two gentlemen in their 20s sat down in front of me. They were both…
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PhotoScrapbook From The Baltimore Book Festival
If you couldn’t make it to this year’s Baltimore Book Festival, you missed out. What a great day it was! I got to connect with friends, both old and new. There were books, food, demonstrations, live music, a kids area, book talks, and so much more. The weather held out for us until about 5:45 p.m. when the rains came. We can’t complain, though. It was a terrific day, and I hope to be there again next year. All photos taken by Jennifer Scott Bumgarner. More about the experience, the authors, and a great reconnection story to come later in the week…For now, nighty-night. I’m pretty tired.
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I’m Off to the Baltimore Book Festival!
* * * I’m just about to walk out the door and head to the Baltimore Book Festival. It’s a gorgeous day here in Baltimore, and one you may enjoy spending in the Mt. Vernon are of the city. There are lots of great things happening at the festival today: my friend Ann is presenting at 3 p.m. in the Romance Writer’s tent, and I’ll be in the Author’s Tent from noon – 7 p.m. I hope you’ll come out and visit local and national authors today. There will be treats at my table. BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE and I could use your support! See you later!
