I generally don’t announce when I’m going out of town for long periods of time anymore but I’m going to make an exception this week.

I think the word is already out that I’m going to California this weekend to attend a graduation ceremony at Pepperdine.  I’ve already told all of my students I’ll be gone, so it’s not really that much of a secret now anyway.

This will be my first visit to Pepperdine since 1983.  I’m really looking forward the trip for a number of reasons, the chief of which will be getting to see one of my favorite former students, Haley Ayraud, get her diploma from Pepperdine’s graduate school of public policy.  I’m really proud of her and I usually don’t get to see my students graduate from two different schools.

And there are a few other people I want to see while I’m in Malibu as well and you know who you are.

The forecast in central Arkansas is calling for rain over the next three days.

As soon as somebody can get me a forecast for SoCal through Saturday, I’d appreciate it.

I need to know what to pack.