June 14, 2008

• My husband has an MBA!

  Yesterday, Johnny graduated from UCLA's MBA program (master's in business administration). That's right, as Johnny put it, he has mastered business administration.  Johnny's parents (my lovely in-laws) came out on Wednesday evening. I worked a half-day yesterday, and we spent the afternoon swimming and hanging out before heading to the graduation. Here are some pictures -- most of the great-quality ones are courtesy of my father-in-law's awesome Pentax.

  Johnny, Jack and I before graduation

  

  Johnny in his cap, gown and master's hood

  

  Johnny holding the other product of these past two years

  

  Once Johnny put on his cap and gown, Jack found his tassel fascinating

  

  All of us. My parents were really sad that they missed the event (they're in Taiwan right now), but they were there in spirit!

  

  Soon, Johnny had to go meet up with the other MBA candidates, so Jack and I spent lots of time waiting around

  

  When the procession started, Jack and I were able to gather by the sidelines and greet Johnny as he passed by!

  

  Johnny waits for his name to be called

  

  Johnny gets his diploma! I am so very proud of him.

  

  My handsome husband and his diploma (actually, it was just a placeholder diploma. The real thing will be mailed to us later).

  

  After the ceremony, we greeted Johnny as he came through the recessional

  

  Isn't this the greatest pic of Johnny and Jack?

  

  Johnny and my very young-looking mother-in-law

   

  

  I like this pic of the three of us ... we look very happy (well, Johnny and I do. Jack looks dubious!)

  

  

  I wanted a turn at wearing Johnny's cap. Johnny said in a way, I deserved it too, for supporting him during the last two years!

  

  Jack loved wearing the cap!

  

  It was a very long ceremony. We got there at 2:45 p.m. (so Johnny could gather with the other candidates). The ceremony started at 4 p.m. By 5:45 p.m., they finally started calling each candidate by name to get his or her diploma. We did not get out of there until 7 p.m. Jack behaved beautifully, considering that I was impatient to be sitting for that long. Johnny's dad took him for a couple of stroller rides before it started. During the ceremony, Jack ate his dinner, drank his milk, went through one diaper change in the stroller, clapped after people applauded speakers, flirted with the girls sitting behind us and ate Cheerios. Whew! Yesterday he was very clingy -- only Mommy would do! It was tiring, but I was secretly (or not-so-secretly) happy because he's been more independent lately.

  Anyway, I can't believe two years have passed. It seems that not so long ago, we were worrying about the logistics of our move from New York to Los Angeles, about my job transfer, and about how we'd manage to survive through two very busy years while starting a family. I have to say that Johnny has handled business school beautifully. Not once have I felt like I was playing second fiddle. I always know that Jack and I are Johnny's priorities. That's no easy feat, because I know the curriculum has been demanding, and Johnny's been pretty involved in school. In the last 20 months, Johnny has managed to excel at school, be a great husband and father, and also land the job of his dreams. Not bad! I'm very proud of him.

  Speaking of job of his dreams, Johnny starts on Monday! He didn't want any sort of break. We'll make tomorrow, Father's Day, very relaxing for him! Now I'm off to make dinner and enjoy it with Johnny and my in-laws. Sadly, they leave tomorrow. We'll see them again soon, though, in Michigan for Fourth of July.

  Happy early Father's Day!

  • 9:34 pm
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