I’m fully into vacation mode now, or at least trying to be (no I’m enjoying my time off). After getting educated at Summer TLI and enjoying time with family over the weekend, I’ve decided to embark on some road trips. The first one was up to Slippery Rock to see my alma mater and how much it’s changed.
Yes, I’ve made visits up there once a year for homecoming in the past and longed for the good old days to return. However, things have changed. I’ve since retired this annual tradition, last attending in 2018. I’ve also gained a new perspective on things since making some major changes in my life since then.
Before I made the drive up to Slippery Rock, I attended a Toastmasters meeting in Cranberry. I’m not a first time guest at Cranberry High Noon, and I believe this is my tenth visit (but who’s counting). Overall I heard two great speeches, took part in table topics, and served as the Grammarian. I also had an opportunity to share the website to my blog with a few of the members (who are also club officers). I also stuck around to hear who the new club officers and watch their club president in action, learning a thing or two along the way. This club went through some changes during the year and passed them with flying colors. I left around 1:30 and was on my way to Slippery Rock.
I had lunch at North Country Brewing in town. I had been there before but it was pre-COVID. I stayed true to my promise to stop at Slippery Rock. Here’s my small but mighty review of my dining experience Monday.
It was quiet and peaceful. To be fair, it is their offseason here as this place is usually busier when school is in session. I know, I used to go to school at Slippery Rock. It wasn’t very busy as it was mid-afternoon. From previous experience, I can say that the atmosphere is nice. Seating is a little different as I ate here for the first time since COVID.
I ate outside and the dining area reminded me of a place I’d eat at the Zoo. Service was good. I knew what I wanted for lunch. I got a Reuben since there we had plenty of burgers and hot dogs the day before at Ben’s graduation party. Overall I was pleased with the food. Overall I’ll rate my experience a 4.25.
I arrived at campus around 3pm and decided to stay for a while. Along the way I took many pictures both with my phone and my camera. I gained a renewed perspective of my time on campus. It was one of the paths I took that led me to where I am now. Did I want a do over? Many times I did. I was stuck between what I wanted to study if I ever went back to school for a second degree.
Fortunately, that never came to pass. Who knows what I’d be doing and if I’d ever be debt free? All to get out of working.
It took what seemed like forever but that phase has finally worn off. It was around 2019 when I did the right thing and made Fall Symposium my new tradition. It’s also changed my focus when it comes to Toastmasters.
Since graduating, I traveled some rough roads but things eventually got better. Without attending Slippery Rock, I would have had regrets of what I could have done. Even I would have attended until 2007, just one thing might have changed the whole trajectory of my entire path to where I am now.
Here’s some pictures from the Rock to close off today’s blog.
Stylish 🍒 