The day after my graduation - we took my dad out for a Father’s Day breakfast at Le Peeps in Evanston. I picked up a Northwestern polo shirt for him.

Then we dropped off my Ate’ Gigi at Midway so that she could catch a flight back to Sin City.

For the rest of us - our flight didn’t leave until around 8ish. So, we headed downtown to take in the sights.

I suggested a boat tour on the Chicago River - a great way to see all the cool buildings and city stuff - without the headache of navigating Chicago-land traffic. That weekend - they closed down several Lake Shore Drive exits for the upcoming “Taste of Chicago.”

An hour boat tour gave us an amazing lesson about all the styles that make up the Second City - can you guess why Chicago got that nickname?

They call it the “Second City” because most of the buildings we see today were built after the great fire from the 1800’s.

“1871— The Great Chicago Fire raged from October 8 to 9th. It destroyed 3.5 square miles of the city, killing perhaps 250. The fire lasted 27 hours and destroyed 17,450 buildings.” (from http://www.corsinet.com/chicago/chicagot.html)

My dad was itching to try out his new camera - so he stayed on the upper deck with my mom. My Auntie Eveyln and Mark wanted to get out of the sun - so they went below deck….I was happy down there - they had a bar. I ordered a margarita. It tasted great.

That’s Merchandise Mart at the fork of the Chicago River.

We drank in the sites at the fore of the boat - ala “I’m King of the World”. I thought it was neat to dip under these bridges - that are used by cars and the El Train.

Sears Tower. We toyed with the idea of going up there - but the night before we had drinks and desert at the John Hancock building….so we got almost they same view of this amazing city - just a few stories down from the height of the Sears Tower.

The rival to the Chicago Tribune - the Sun-Times. The old site of the Sun-Times building is now the future spot of the next Trump real estate extravaganza - headed up by the first Apprentince winner, Bill Rancic. He’s a Chicago native and graduated from Loyola in Rogers Park.

According to the tour guide - Chicago get’s it name from the the Miami Indians.

“…the village Che-cau-gou, from the name of a small river which ran into Lake Michigan and whose source was not far from the Illinois River. Legend has it that the name derives from the odor of the wild onions that grew so prevalently in the shadow of the Great Lake.” (from http://www.chipublib.org/digital/lake/CFDChecaugou.html)

I’m surprised by how much I remembered Chicago and Evanston. Thankfully - I was able to navigate my dad - through the streets and the highways. I didn’t get us lost. Yeah! I rule.

After the tour - we wandered around Navy Pier and then walked into the sunset to the Mag Mile.

Before we left Navy Pier - my dad sat down for a counseling session with Dr. Robert Hartley. The city dedicated a statue commemorating comedian Bob Newhart’s role last July.

After the ceremony in Cahn…we headed over to the Quad for snacks, drinks and a word or two with our fellow Grad students. We walked out of Cahn with purple boxes holding our diplomas.

We took pictures according to the “rule of two or more”….basically, when one person wants to take a picture of a pair of Medill Alums - count on somebody else - friend, family, dude or chick - who wantsd to take a picture at the same time.

It was super-neat to meet everyone’s family members.

They served juice, strawberries and sandwiches at the reception.

Hi Amy!

Ethan and Chuck compare notes and catch up. Ethan’s heading back to Cambodia for a print job.

Hi Prof. Angotti! We’ll miss you!

Chuck just got back from Hong Kong. I think he’s a bit jet lagged.

Here’s my honey…we tie the knot in August….ball and chain and stuff like that. I’m grateful for his support and love that got me through my year (and then some) at Medill.

For group pictures…it takes some coordination and patience.

I think it’s worth the wait for a nice group picture. Dude…I’m short…and I’m wearing heels…next time, I’m standing on a chair.

Stacey and I pose with two of the most important people in the broadcast program. Thank you Jeff and Ivan!

Typicaly family pix in front of the Northwestern sign on Chicago Ave…across the street from Burger King.

The next day - I ran into my roommate from Englehart. Youn Ju graduated with a Master’s from the Music department. She’s a beautiful piano player.

Saxophonist Brad Wheller and the Laurence Hobgood Trio played a jazz version of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Tribune Publishing President Jack Fuller delivered a cool speech on connections to jazz and journalism and more.

The degree presenters asked everybody to hold their applause until everyone got their diplomas.

At last….we managed to graduate from Medill’s graduate program with
a Master’s of Science in Journalism. Finally. Here’s Joan helping Stacey with her collar-thing. The collar-thing kept itching me during the ceremony…but hey….it’s what graduates wear….I suppose.

Here’s Oly talking to students.

It was lovely to run into folks from the Winter 2004 Quarter….you guys rock!!!! We also had our buddies from DC - Winter 2005….good grief. This program felt like a lifetime. I’m glad I did it. Now time to get a job and pay back loans. That’s becoming a familiar theme in my life.

Thanks for the kiss Sara….memories of Paris.

Thank you Lois for all your help on the global program…. Europe rocked my world!

Suzelle and Vanessa waiting in line and catching up with friends.

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Saying “Hi” to Oly - who couldn’t stop asking “So WHAT?” about any of the stories I filed for Intro.

The Bloomberg reporter with a heart and soul. Rare…I know I’m joking Andrea! Cheers to the girl who kept bugging me to update this blog….

Kennath has an internship at ‘O’! Wowa! Soon she will be dictating styling dogma to other fashionistas.

Bahar moved to NYC! Lucky! Great town…here she is…reading the program. We did a read that program several times during the ceremony.

More waiting…there’s Jon - who employed some fine dramatic skills to illustrate sources and journalism points in our Intro class.

My parents came out on Labor Day weekend to wish us Bon Voyage. Victoria, my skating buddy, was also in town….

Mark and I bought our new baby…this beautiful cannon elph. We love it very much.

it was a tough quarter…but we were happy to be doing it…maybe it’s better than tracking down another interview for the other RPA’s.

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what do you think?

I would post these pix faster…but school get’s in the way Thanks Suzelle for your lovely pix….I need a new camera.