Purdue

So....backing up to Wednesday, I wanted to share a couple of pictures from our Purdue trip. First, let me say, that our first impression was not the best. We arrived Tuesday evening to 88F and heavy rain. Coming from San Diego, we are not particularly used to high humidity. We are certainly not used to hot rain! AJ and I looked at each other, and I think we both thought the same thing...."What the heck are we doing here?"

Since Indiana is a bit further north than San Diego, it stays lighter a bit longer, so we took advantage of the extra time, and drove around campus and the surrounding area for quite some time. It was quiet, and gloomy, not just because of the weather, but the older buildings seemed to have a feeling of lifelessness to them. There were very few people around, very few cars on the streets, and it was all a bit unsettling. Before finally heading back to our hotel, we stopped at a local burger joint, which had been recently featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-In's and Dives" and grabbed a bite to eat.

We each had a good, greasy burger, and it was better than expected. Nothing like some comfort food to improve the mood!

I think we both settled in for the night thinking the same thing..."I hope tomorrow is better." Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't that it was horrible....it just wasn't at all what we'd expected.

Well, we woke up Wednesday morning, after what seemed like about 15 minutes of sleep to a whole new world. The sun was shining, the weather was cooler, the humidity lower, and our outlooks oh-so-much better!

We headed back to campus for AJ's early morning orientation and registration. It was to be a very full, very exciting and very fun day. The campus was transformed in the sunlight. The buildings, though still older, had a stately air to them now, no longer looking gloomy or foreboding.

The campus was bathed in lush greenery...


and buzzing with life.


What a difference a day makes!

AJ got through all of the important stuff he needed to for the day - and it was time for a few quick "touristy" shots before we headed back to the airport. We needed to get back to San Diego so he could actually graduate from High School!

Ah-the football stadium. He can't wait to spend a lot of time here rooting on the Boilermakers!






After a great day, and as much as I really do hate to admit it, I think he will be happy here.