Rumors for the Fall Book Club - Song Yet Sung by James McBride

The current rumor surrounding the fall book club book is that it will be Song Yet Sung by James McBride.

It is the One Maryland One Book selection for 2009 and as such, will be read and discussed by thousands of Marylanders in September and October 2009. Several area libraries, bookstores, universities, and high schools are participating in the program so it would seem appropriate for our book club to join the discussion!

According to the One Maryland One Book Website, Song Yet Sung, set in pre-civil war Maryland, centers around a beautiful runaway slave called The Dreamer for her ability to see the future. Her gift is amplified to mythic proportions as she escapes from a local plantation. For more on the book and the One Book One Maryland program, follow the link below.

http://www.mdhc.org/programs/one-maryland-one-book/

Add Song Yet Sung to your summer reading list and join us for the Fall Alumnae Book Club! Date TBA

April showers bring May cocktails?

Well, I'm not sure about that but it seems likely as the cocktail party is a month and a day away and it has been one of the more soggy beginnings to the recent weeks! The good news is of course that it's suppose to warm up and stay sunny for the weekend! Really, this is only fair as we endured QUITE a cold, rainy, windy winter. It's about time we all got some vitamin D.

Can you girls believe Gym Meet is almost here? I guess that means summer is right around the corner... that said, who wants to "meet" me at the "gym"? haha Okay no, of course that's not the original intention of our beloved spring showdown but you can't help but notice the coincidence that if you were to Meet at the Gym around Gym Meet, you'd really be ready for the whole bathing suit season thing... but I digress.

From what I hear, Jen Hanley Armstrong '00, (who happens to be the founder of our favorite Alumnae Blog) is planning to take the afternoon off to watch the marches from the good ol' concrete benches in the grove. I will most likely be joining her so I thought I'd extend the invitation to any alum that wants to join to come sit on the Alumnae side of things... maybe we'll get ourselves a little banner or something so we can all congregate in the same place! With Gym Meet so close, who can help but take a second and remember our favorite (or maybe infamous) moments during our four years? I think I'll always remember the "Junior Navy" from the class of 2000, "The Flintstones" from the Class of 2002, and "The 50th Anniversary Themed" gym meet from ... wow, maybe it was either the class of 1998 or 1995? Someone needs to set me straight on that. The second we saw girls marching out in their uniforms (in the 50th anniversary year of the school, no less!) we knew it was over. Talk about strategy!?! Any judge that voted against those girls that year would be voting against the 50th Anniversary in front of Sr. Shawn!? No thank you! Of course, it helped that their songs were loud, their marches precise, and everyone in their class came together no matter how cheesy they thought it was.

Well done girls. And, if someone could set me straight on that year, I'd be temporarily grateful (what, did you think I'd be eternally grateful?! You'll have to give me better information than that for eternal gratitude!!! Perhaps, the winning megamillions numbers for tonight? I'm just saying...)

So regardless of whether you join us for the Gym Meet itself - mosey on down to the castle and have a cocktail with us that evening. It's $30 well spent as we're having the event catered by Kim McCain (former Alumnae of the Year!) - and if you've ever had Kim's hors d'oeuvres, you know its not something to be missed. Not to mention the wine, beer, and signature Maryvale cocktail (oh, it's soo good!) will be flowing like dollars from the Federal Reserve! (Many thanks in advance to our gracious bartender for the evening, Greg Armstrong, husband of Jen Hanley Armstrong!) I've always thought the castle terrace is the perfect venue for a evening drink (or two, or three...) but it's something you just can't experience during your time at Maryvale (for obvious reasons eh?) So come back and have a drink with us now, catch up with the other alums, and remember - leave the hubbies, boyfriends, significant others, and postmen at home!

Well, it's time to earn a living I suppose so have a fabulous week ladies and be sure to run between the drops!

Take care,
Katie Nolan

2000