Wed 4 Jun 2008
Surely we have some authors and readers who are going to be in Williamstown this week-end for reunion. I will be there and am eager to buy lunch for any and all. It would certainly be fun to meet such EphBlog luminaries as Derek Catsam ‘93 and Ken Thomas ‘93 in person. What about 11:00 AM in the new snackbar in Paresky on Friday morning? (I want to attend the alumni lecture from 9:00 to 10:30 on “Perspectives from the Ground and Air in Iraq.”) If not Friday, perhaps we can arrange a meet-up during the Alumni Meeting itself in Chandler Gym on Saturday morning, perhaps on the balcony above the bleachers and opposite the main stage?
Or will I be the only EphBlog reader in town?
June 5th, 2008 at 1:34 am
With cape and beret in hand, Britain, France and Germany await.
You will nigh well have great merriment with your alumni guests to feast upon.
I will await that moment in the future, when I too will seemingly find myself within the throng of that fateful time when one recounts one’s past pleasures.
June 5th, 2008 at 1:38 am
As of five hours ago, Yours truly is desperately trying to get projects finished, pick up laundry and make it to an as-yet-unconfirmed 9:30a flight. I have not read the (password protected) schedule but should be arriving around 7p tomorrow night. Would be glad to meet for lunch in the snack bar if I do not make aforementioned 9a event.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:25 am
As always, your correspondent is part of the fifth column.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:19 am
can’t do firday morning as i get in in the afternoon, but perhaps the saturday event–if i’m awake.
June 5th, 2008 at 9:53 am
DK, Ken, Frank, and Rory…all in one place?
Oh me, oh my…would that I could be a fly on the wall.
Someone please report back. An essay, perhaps?
Having never been to a grad reunion, I would love to know more about the experience.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Rerouted already!… anyone have a better idea of how to get from Hartford to Williamstown than 91, 90, 7?
June 5th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Have fun! Write home if you get a chance.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Ken:
I can’t imagine that you haven’t googled it by now, but just in case…
the most practical way looks to be 91 North to Greenfield, exit 26 onto Route 2 west…
Safe journeys, all!
June 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Ken,
there’s a backroads way via amherst, but i really don’t remember it except via by sight. While it might add 10 minutes to your drive, I personally enjoy taking 91 to route 2 more than 91 to 90 to 7. Route 2’s much more fun with the hairpin turn.
June 5th, 2008 at 11:46 am
The Williams website recommends the other way, but from a glance at the map, it seems more complicated and longer than 91N to 2W.
Besides, love that hairpin…and the view!
June 5th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
FM: thanks for routes. I’m on the tarmac here waiting for a pilot to show up from Columbus, I think– what is it about me and airline crew?
I think it’s route 2 today (which is 2 miles longer) and the backroads approach through Northampton on the way back– though both seem much better on the way to Williamstown.
Pilot here
June 5th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
… now going to track down Derek …
June 5th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
One EB reunion attendee has safely arrived!
I can just hear his footsteps on the pavement..searching for his cohorts!
Details please? What is Williamstown like right now? Are dorms made available for attendees or must they all book lodging?
And how many are expected? There are 5 year, 10 year, 15 year, 20 year, etc, on up to the 50 year alum?
So that would add up to quite a lot of people, right?
June 6th, 2008 at 2:31 am
P.S. It is raining in Williamstown right now, and though I can’t describe the details, the texture of the experience, the smell of nitrogen, the sounds… not having experienced rain in Williamstown in many years… I had to walk outside, turn my face to the sky, and absorb.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Residing in Williamstown has many virtues, but number one on my list is the high quality of the northern Berkshire atmosphere - it is always with us. From May into October my home is kept nearly wide open (primarily by way of two French doors and a screened living porch) to the out-of-doors, clean, oxygen laden, fresh air - 24 hours - rain, wind and late spring and early fall, not infrequent chilly nights notwithstanding. Inhale deeply and weep, you benighted urbanites. I was once a poor wretch like you.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I’m in town.
dcat
June 6th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Photos, anyone?
June 7th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Looking at an alumna’s blog, I see that Williams seems to have provided a photo op: a large picture of dancing cows with three holes to stick faces through. Lighten up, reunion-goers, and let us see how you look as purple cows.
FROSHMom might even give Rory a pass on the dance footage in exchange for one of these shots (even more likely if he can get dk in the picture with him).
June 7th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Well!
All I can say is, they must be havine a darn good time to warrant this kind of behavior. Once the weekend is over, restrictions shall be enforced!
Granted, Ken at least reported in that he had safely arrived…and Derek, (whom I’ve barely seen on this blog) also checked in (he was obviously raised well!)
But DK? Rory?
Grounded for sure! And purple cow photos and breakdancing videos will be the least of amends expected!!!
And Frank?
Well.. I am very disappointed that he hasn’t blogged on to report, and soothe our nerves. That is the very last time, we should trust him with the kids..um…er…bloggers.
What say you, Larry?
;-)
June 7th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Totally agree. No milk punch for those slackers!
June 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
P.S. They are probably all “well brought up” but that doesn’t mean it sticks. Sigh…
June 7th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I see Bethany McLean will be speaking tomorrow…”How Math Makes Me a Better Journalist”…
Now whaddya wanna bet they’ll all be ‘checking into’ that event? (math and journalism being everyone’s interests, after all)
Hmmmph!
June 9th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
:)
It was a long, intense, wonderful weekend with some unexpected events. For instance, using a sledgehammer to break up rocks in a field off B—– road. Making it back to the laptop just didn’t seem attractive after the first day.
WRT Bethany: suffice to say I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. My favorite part was Bethany looking a me, furrowing her brow, and asking “why do you have a ‘93 button on?” (Other participants may have had different perceptions of the event).
June 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Oh no. Emoticons are one thing, having them converted to cutesy smiley faces is quite another.
For those at Kate’s seminar, four guys from KPMG are sitting behind me at Bradley discussing cuts from the op-ed staff, costs, values, options, and the CFO from South Africa. Really.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hey Ken,
Wierd question…but did you take the Northampton route back…and is it a pretty and/or interesting alternative? (from one who will be making many journeys to W in the next few years)
And…a bout with a sledgehammer? Really?!
Bet your arms are sore. Better watch those shoulder injuries…ahem…they begin at about your age. (tee-hee)
June 9th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
WRT: injuries: oh, thanks :P (Knees and joints being a frequent topic of conversation under the ‘93 tent, as well as– in one-on-one discussions– other insecurities and flaws of the general species Rory cites, which, I am afraid, only change, and sometimes grow, at least down the next few rungs of the ‘actuarial table’ of the assembled classes.
Derek may have something to add on that, but I’m not sure.
I did take a variation of the Northampton route back by memory, taking a few wrong turns here and there but generally not being adventurous enough to try any of the more obscure backroads and ’shortcuts’ I remember. It is indeed scenic, if of a less dramatic variety that the hairpin turn.
Now if I can get two hours of sleep between here and Atlanta…