#425 In the Virginia Spring

Spring is in full bloom in Virginia.  Follow along as we walk into work on Friday.

The azaleas are nearing their peak and Kelly's shirt is a nice match.

We cut through the woods and Kelly makes it successfully over the obstacle in our path.

Back out on city streets, the combined pink and white dogwood tree is blooming.

We look both ways and make it safely across the train tracks.

Sometimes we're forced to walk single file and share the sidewalk with pushy flowers.

Some of the Semester at Sea staff have moved into nice digs in Alumni Hall.  We're early, so I don't see anyone there yet.

It's a good thing The Villa is on route, 'cause we've worked up a breakfast hunger.  Notice how I forced our companions to squint into the sun!

The Aviator and Clemons Library are next door to Alderman Library.  We're almost at work.

We made it.  Kelly and I work about 100 steps apart inside Alderman Library.

My hallway is lined with old, no-longer-in-use-but-still-cool card catalogs.

Well, I'm here. Thanks for joining us on our morning commute. I better get to work now.

Yours in enjoying the Virginia spring time,
Mary

#424 In the Arena

All roads to the 2010 NCAA men's basketball championship lead to Indianapolis, so we followed them and enjoyed...

friends in the next (fast?) lane...

and friendly places to stay...

and welcome gift bags...

and friends wearing fancy blue boots...

and friends who created the fabulous Destination Indiana exhibit...

and friends at restaurants...

and friends sitting on suitcases...

and friends at the Mass Avenue Pub on Easter Sunday...

and the end of the road at Lucas Oil Stadium where we witnessed basketball magic and cheered with all our might for the bravura Butler Bulldogs. As Teddy Roosevelt said, the credit belongs to the [team] who is actually in the arena.

Check our Indy photos to see all those that wouldn't fit on this blog post!

Yours in counting ourselves lucky to have been in the arena,
Mary

#423 Mappy Oscars

Of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture, we have seen one: Up.

But even though we can't call ourselves Oscar fans, we do appreciate the worldwide settings for this year's nominees.

And for all you Avatar fans, you'll have to make your own map of the planet Pandora.  

Yours in wishing all a Mappy Oscars,
Mary

#422 Mappy Valentine's Day!

Rather than sending you a traditional paper Valentine's Day card, we're showing our love geospatially.

Google Earth zooms us to heart-shaped features around the world.

Yours in mapping the heart,
Kelly

#421 Mappy Super Bowl!

Who are you rooting for in Super Bowl XLIV...and where?



In 2005, Michael Baldwin started the Common Census project where, among other things, fans could self-identify where they lived and what NFL team they followed.  When the map was last updated in 2008, over 24,000 people had voted.  Even though the data's a bit old now, it gives us an unusual geographic view of the NFL. 

Yours in watching the map then the game,
Kelly

#420 Wild Indiana

No, we're not talking about the Colts season. We're talking about the natural wonders to be found all over the Hoosier State.

After 20 years exploring outdoor Indiana, our friend Mike Habeck has written and published Wild Indiana.

Big Hat Books, Indianapolis' independent bookstore in Broad Ripple, sells Wild Indiana as does the Indiana Historical Bureau bookshop inside the Indiana State Library with more local outlets in the pipeline. 

We've heard good reviews from our outdoor Indiana friends and it has 5 stars on Amazon.  

The book has 160 maps. I like it too.

Yours in appreciating Wild Indiana,
Kelly

#419 Digitizing the Johnstons

The Johnston family photos have been hidden away in boxes long enough!

Here are some of my favorites.

Lillian and Ira, Kelly's maternal grandparents

Glenn and Lorine, Kelly's parents on their wedding day

Kelly Gene at home with his parents who named him after Gene Kelly

Kelly's first day of school with his briefcase and fancy boots

If you want to see more Johnston family photos, check out our Flickr photo set.

Yours in enjoying a glimpse into the folks who made Kelly,
Mary