Sunday, August 30, 2009

Meeting Your Daughter's First Boyfriend

This little guide sponsored by Grape Nuts is all about how to meet your daughter's first boyfriend. Quite entertaining!

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Shadyside Arts Festival 2009

After lunch, and after watching the memorial Mass for Ted Kennedy (his sons gave moving tributes to him right before Barack Obama's eulogy) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica, I took the 71C bus to the Shadyside Arts Festival. I saw one of my former students, Rachel K., on the bus, and we chatted. I met up with Maureen and Karina, and we had a grand time there. I also took photos of the clouds, which were beauteous today, after the rain had cleared.

We stopped by Maureen's place to check the dance schedule, to search for a crucifix for her mom, and to see my blog.

When I returned home, I found out William was not feeling well, and read on the Internet the peak in swine flu cases with returning students on campuses. I decided to rest, and to forego dancing.

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Why We Need Health Care Reform

Here's one reason why we need health care reform...

There's a statement out there by Stephen Hawking emphasizing that he would not be alive today were it not for Britain's National Health Insurance. Apparently, he said that to counter an advertisement falsely claiming that he would need privatized insurance in addition to the national plan to exist.

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Saturday, August 29, 2009

Prep for New Semester Monday, August 2009

Yesterday I took a nap while it rained. After the rain ended mid-afternoon, I headed to work to pick up papers, to photocopy, to print out email attachments from Carole and Meredith, and to check out the computers for wireless accessibility (Eric helped me with that). I also stopped in to talk to Melanie.

Dinner was with Maureen and Karina at the new-to-us Thai restaurant in Highland Park. I had the noodle salad with chicken and shrimp (no mint), Maureen had the pineapple fried rice, and Karina enjoyed the duck (coconut milk) curry. We headed to Maureen's to enjoy each others' photos from this summer, to chew bubble gum, and to eat Doritos from Canada (same as the flavor in London) and Starburst Original and Baja flavor fruit chew candy. My formerly-at-My-current-work friend V called and we invited her to join us at the arts festival tomorrow at noon (as it may rain before lunchtime).

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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Joan Lippincott at the von Beckerath

Joan Lippincott performed a program of Mathias, J.S. Bach, Mozart, Copeland, Messiaen, and Widor this evening at St. Paul Cathedral. She masterfully showed off the instrument through flawless, seamless runs and selection of pieces that highlighted various stops/voices of the organ.

Karina and I spoke with Fred, Judi, Jessica, and Nancy at intermission. After the concert, Nancy, Karina, and I met Ms. Lippincott. We were thrilled by her music and Nancy purchased the latest J.S. Bach CD for her to sign. I expressed to her that I had heard her practicing yesterday mid-afternoon and about half a dozen to ten people had entered the church to pray when they were struck---held rapt---by her organ playing. We showed her our appreciation for her playing.

We circled around back to the narthex exit to talk to Doug, Judi, and Don. I made the joke William had made to me, "I'm able, so no cane!" and jockeyed around behind Don's back (because I could).

We walked Nancy to her car, and Karina and I were happy to get a ride home, too.

We had a chance to talk to Ken about their experiences sending Emily off to school.

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New Wireless Mouse, New Eyeglasses, Smoothies and Tea

Today before physical therapy I picked up a wireless mouse. After physical therapy I found parking (!) and picked up my new eyeglasses from the optical shop. I checked my email, then met Fannie and Don for smoothies and tea at a pan-Asian restaurant.

This evening I'll go to Joan Lippincott's organ recital at St. Paul Cathedral.

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Laboratory Meeting, Fall 2009

Today will be our first laboratory meeting of the school year. The beginning of the end of summer...
~~~
Thursday, 8.15am
The meeting went well; the veteran instructors met the new instructors, we all ate together while taking care of paperwork such as the office hours and substitute lists, and we prepared/inoculated the "ill" potatoes for the first lab. I spent the rest of the time in the computer lab printing out my first-day documents.

I stopped in St. Paul Cathedral for a brief respite on the way home, and the mighty von Beckerath was being played. Perhaps it was Joan Lippincott practicing before her concert Thursday (today). Many of the stops were out---the music was mighty, mighty.

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Farewell, Ted Kennedy

Farewell, Ted Kennedy: The last brother in a dynasty. His sister Eunice passed away earlier this month.

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Monday, August 24, 2009

A Monday in August 2009

I spent the morning searching for travel information for Mom and Dad on the Internet.

I walked to an afternoon appointment, and saw some friends before the appointment. I walked to the optical shop to order glasses, and walked past the Newman Center to home. I took a long nap this afternoon, and am catching up on correspondence. I am so glad that I can walk (albeit slowly) this far again!

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Toronto V, August 2009

It was great fun the last day in Toronto...Uncle Alex, Auntie Baby, Mom, Dad, and I went to the dinner theatre to see the Neil Sedaka tribute show. The buffet food was good, and the show entertaining, which was set in the Catskills. Afterwards, we met up with Lourdette and her youngest son. We spent quite a bit of time chatting with them, and then Dad drove home via Niagara and Buffalo.

This morning we received an email from Allan about the visit...we all vowed that we would not let another decade plus pass before contact from our branch of the family.

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Sunday, August 23, 2009

Toronto V, Home Again, Home Again, Jig-a-dee-jig

Ah, home sweet home!

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Toronto III and IV, August 2009

Yesterday Allan and I took Colleen to the Ontario Science Center after lunch that included sinigang and pad thai and chicken curry. We had fun on the way to KidsPark: seeing the green forest, looking and touching the minerals and rocks, riding the escalators, and coloring outside (and receiving free milk). It was a feat

to turn away from KidsPark...


to the artist's billiard ball contraption. We visited D level, then the mezzanine/Eagle's eye view and the Human Body on E level.






In the end, we returned to KidsPark and the artist's kinetic sculpture,




and visited the Space section before leaving about four hours after arriving.

Colleen had a grand time, and wants to return.

We had Greek food at Allan's home for dinner.
~ ~ ~

Today, the Lolos and Lolas drove Colleen and I to downtown Toronto, where we





drove through Chinatown,




parked, and walked through the mall with Sears.


We then attended the anticipated Mass for Sunday at St. Michael's Cathedral. We sat right by the candles for St. Jude.










We visited two Chinese bakeries for snacks before continuing on to dinner.
Dinner was with Allan, Sonia, Samantha, and Matthew; Christie and Petrie and Colleen, and the two Lolos, two Lolas, and me. We truly enjoyed the Korean barbeque-it-yourself at our tables. Colleen entertained us with songs and fingerplays; she in turn was entertained by Sam's I-pod.

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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Toronto II

Spent the morning in the Toronto suburbs at the bank (where the USD to CanD exchange rate was 1.0678, so Uncle Alex and I just exchanged small amounts of bills. I mailed Judy's and S's post cards from the grocery store, and the clerk is a graduate of UST.

We went back to have lunch at home with the girls (the two Lolas and Colleen), then we departed for the Asian Mall. Prices were not as low as at Target (for certain electronic goods) nor as at Macy's (for a daily backpack).

We stopped at the Pinoy restaurant for halo halo and banana cue (for me). I asked Colleen if she were sleepy, and she said no, that we should play and tell stories before we take a nap.

Colleen fell asleep on the way to the T&T grocery mart. Auntie Baby stayed behind in the car with her. I got Maureen some sweet chili heat Doritos for her birthday. We enjoyed sitting in the car while Dad and Uncle Alex stopped by the public library to look for DVDs of a Jessica Lange movie. (They didn't have it, mostly movies in Hindi.)

We're all relaxing now.

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Niagara and Toronto I, August 2009

Mom,Dad, and I travelled to the American side of Niagara Falls (which is a New York State Park and the oldest state park in the United States), visited the visitor center, went to the observation deck (outstanding) and to the Maid of the Mist,










where we saw the American Falls,


other Maids of the Mist, and a view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. We enjoyed our picnic lunch from the disabled parking spot, where a cool breeze blew and there were multicolored hydrangea in full bloom.

We continued on to Toronto, where Uncle Alex and Auntie Baby live. Colleen, their apo, was visiting and we had our merienda. I took a nap, and Allan, Sonia, and their family had arrived as well as Christie and her family. We all dined together on Pinoy food.

After dinner, we took group photos, and Allan shared his thoughts on what to see. I decided I wanted to see many things that are part of their life in Toronto, and some touristy sites, too.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Ambigram 2009

I got back in touch with Doug, whom I had first met at a talk in college. Among things that he and I wrote about: He updated a piece of artwork he had done back in the mid-1980's for me, and sent me a copy. It was charming, neat, and symmetrical. I was pleased.

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Haircut, August 2008

Mom and I got haircuts yesterday afternoon. We went to run errands and to go food shopping, too.

When we returned, Maureen and I went to Jo Ann Fabrics to get her organizers for her students' classroom supplies. We went to an office supply store for binder clips, and went to Eat N Park for cool drinks (milkshake and water). We stopped at Ross Park Mall for window shopping, and headed home.

~ ~ ~
Today I took an easy morning...typed a bit, then relaxed in bed. Had lunch with Mom and Dad, then after a nap joined Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon for some story telling in Squirrel Hill. The volunteer's name was Jan, and she read library books with toys and puppets to help to tell the stories. She did a finger play about five fishies, too. They enjoyed the cinnamon graham crackers, and we all went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream and sorbet afterwards.

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Monday, August 17, 2009

A Moving Tribute to Cory by Lea

Here is a moving tribute to Cory by Lea Salonga.

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Sunday, August 16, 2009

My Dancing Day

So, it was another dancing day (evening, really). I observed the class, then my mental dance card included (i.e., I danced eleven dances with):
Philip (whose mom went to Wellesley),
Andrew,
Larry (who was pleased to see me dancing again),
Frank,
(another) Andrew (to whom I explained "When in doubt, err on the gentler side"),
Adam (who was happy to see me again),
Andrew I (again),
Fred,
Philip (again),
Fred (again, this time a cha-cha),
and
Molly.

It turns out Molly arrived with my friend Marie (whom I know from the Newman Center). All three of us gals departed at the same time, after Marie had a chance to look into dance lessons...

What a fun evening!

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Saturday, August 15, 2009

Fourth Day, Without a Cane, Dancing Post-Operatively

So, I dropped off some items for Mom and Dad at the donation center, and I got a CD player to enjoy my music.

Tonight after Mass I'll meet up with Christina, Stacy, and maybe Kyle and Maureen. Wheeee!

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Friday, August 14, 2009

Third Day Without a Cane, Man on Wire

So, it's my third day without a cane. Slept about six hours last night, dropped off a little "care package" for Mom & Dad on my way to physical therapy. Dad, Mom, and I met over lunch, and then Dad and I went home to pick up my wallet, I picked up the DVD Man On Wire (for viewing tonight at the Newman Center) at the public library, then headed to Fox Chapel for some purchases.

Dad and I tried the coffee toffee chocolate Frosty at Wendy's, and I picked up a sandwich for dinner while there, too. We headed home, then I checked out my purchases, and am blogging before viewing the movie tonight with friends. This movie comes highly recommended by Jonathan.
~~~
15 August 2009
Earlier this week, Jonathan wrote about Man on Wire,
It describes the audacious attempt of a Frenchman Phillipe Petit to walk a wire strung between the WTC Twin Towers in 1974.

When Petit sends his friend Jean-Louis a picture of the towers with a wire drawn connecting them at the top, Jean-Louis says, as only a Frenchie would, “Of course. That’s why they were built. For Phillipe.”

At one point Petit says, “All right, it’s impossible. Now let’s begin working on how to do it.”

Phillipe Petit has left an indelible incredible legacy.

What will mine/your’s be?

J.


Maureen, Christina, and I watched the film together last night, and I noticed that we discussed issues of the relationships between individuals in the movie, namely:

Nous [les trois femmes] pensons que c'était dégoutant que Petit a un liaison avec une femme etrangée au lieu de sa petite amie, Annie;
et
il a un charme assez de personnalité qu'il peut faire rapidement des amis pour accomplir ses exploits, mais il a perdu ses relations avec Annie et Jean-Louis, peu après le WTC danse en l'air;
et
Il a une qualité qui est rafraîchissante et comme un enfant, qui englobe les activités du cirque ... il m'a rappelé de Michael Jackson;
et
Annie a été presque maternelle ou comme une sœur quand elle a parler de lui, comme ses autres amis.
et
En se référant à la vie après le WTC danse en l'air, Annie mentionne qu'il a devenu en proie à la gloire.
C'était mes pensées de ce film.

So, I found it immensely interesting that the female perspective on the movie revolved around the relationships between Petit and his support network, whereas Jonathan's perspective on the movie was predominantly on the feat he accomplished.

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Jonathan's BAAACK!

Jonathan returned for a visit to Pittsburgh via Chicago Tuesday/Wednesday night.

I got a ride from Mom and Dad mid-afternoon to a block away from a campus computer lab. I stayed to soon before the lab closed, then started across Schenley Plaza to pick up a DVD movie at the Carnegie Public Library. On the way, I crossed under the tent, and sat for a bit...two tables over was Jonathan, with the cell phone plastered to his ear, and his friend, Jamie.

Jamie motioned for me to come over, and we chatted for a while until Jonathan ended his call. Soon after, all three of us headed towards the Newman Center for the 5:15 Mass. We saw Br. Paul out front. Jamie departed for home, then we headed in for Mass. Fr. David said the Mass, and after Mass I left to change shoes and snaggle my camera. Maureen picked me up at 6:30, and we headed to the Newman Center to pick up Jonathan, who was chatting with others.

Maureen dropped me off at the entrance to the Hofbrauhaus, where a dozen of us gathered to celebrate Jonathan's presence in Pittsburgh. An itinerant accordian player feted us, and Linda, Jess, Maureen, Karen, Renee, Jonathan, Gabe, Judi, Betty, Nancy and her husband Tom, and I enjoyed the house beers and dinner. Afterwards, Gabe, Karen, Jonathan, and I walked each other to the parking pay stations, then to our parking spots and I got a call from Dad at 23:00.

Thus ends the second day sans cane.

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

First Day Without a Cane

Yesterday, I went to physical therapy, grocery shopping, to the eye doctor's, shopping/grocery shopping, and out for roast chicken with bacon sandwiches, all without a cane! They all required short jaunts, but there was some uphill-ish walking (grocery shopping), as well as stairs (dinner). I am SO proud of myself!

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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Parking Court, Physical Therapy, Audrey Hepburn movies

Monday I went to parking court, and to physical therapy, where I found out that C & K are engaged to be married!
Yesterday made plans for next week, etc. Also, Mom and I found a Turner Movie Classic: Summer Under the Stars Audrey Hepburn marathon. I watched the end half of Love in the Afternoon and much of Roman Holiday, which has great scenes at L'Escalier Espagne and at the "Mouth of Truth." I love the scene at the barge.

Will go to physical therapy this morning and to the eye doctor, too.

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Monday, August 10, 2009

Beatrice's Half

William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon joined Dad, Mom, and I for dinner last night. After dinner, Beatrice and I played with the multicolored 3-dimensional beads-on-wires-on-platform. I introduced the concept of "half" to her with the beads.

Solomon and Beata went to lie down with Lolo and Lola. Solomon slept for a while, until Beata's singing and storytelling was loud enough to awaken him; then he chowed down a snack of crackers and cheese and milk. When I left them to go home, Solomon was sound asleep on Lola's lap in the living room and Beata was telling Lolo a story soon after (another) "lights out."

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Sunday, August 09, 2009

Swing Dancing, August 2009

Christina and I met for swing dancing yesterday evening. There was a live band, and I danced with both her and with Ralph. I only danced ~three to four times that evening, as compared to ~five times last Saturday. We had fun, though.

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Saturday, August 08, 2009

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor Sworn in Today

Watched at ~11:05 am the "instant replay" footage of Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor being sworn in this morning.

It was refreshing to hear Kim Dozier reporting this story on the six o'clock CBS news tonight.

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Radio Information Service, absorbed

The Radio Information Service has been absorbed by Duquesne University's WDUQ. My personal finance show has been eliminated from programming. Fond memories of the station on Wharton Street, the people, and the production of programming.

I'll be looking for volunteer work closer to home soon.

-Grace

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Ukraine's Got Talent: Sandpainting

Check out this link to a show called Ukraine's Got Talent, with Kseniya Simonova sandpainting. Quite moving.

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First Friday, Japanese Buffet, Shopping

Yesterday, went to first Friday Mass with Mom and Dad. Fr. Breier said the Mass, Matt H. lectored, and Ryan provided music ministry. For lunch mom and I went to the Japanese buffet. I had two servings of ice cream, both had red bean AND green tea flavors.

Then, we went shopping and to the post office. I got a USB key/jump drive/ flash drive at a Super Mart store.

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Thursday, August 06, 2009

Pizza and Back to the Future


Yesterday, I went in the morning to physical therapy. After lunch and an afternoon nap, I met up with Christina and Rachel for pizza and a movie---Back to the Future, which I haven't seen since it came out back in the 1980's.


We noted little things about the movie, such as a cameo appearance by Huey Lewis. It bothered us that the character of Doc kept pronouncing GW (gigawatt) differently. But all in all, a wonderful movie...we were joined by Kristen and Daniel and by PJ and Joey before the end of the movie.

Farewells to Rachel ensued, as she is departing Friday for points west.

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Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Carnegie Science Center: Robots


I went with Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon to meet up with their mom's group (3 additional moms and their children) at the Carnegie Science Center this morning. We had fun at the Robots exhibit ("I think I can be strong [and see it]," Beata stated, before we even entered the museum), the miniature train exhibit (during which Solomon walked to the far side of the tracks with me, just holding my one hand), Beata and I enjoyed the Mars rock and penny well, and then we all enjoyed the toddler play area

(which has a multi-level water table with falls, river features, and a small fountain-spout; a ball-collection area;


a block area where Beata played with an older girl and her mom;
and a system of tunnels made out of storm drain pipes), where Solomon in no uncertain terms let another boy know that he did not want his hair pulled---he held his hand out to the boy's chest as the boy approached him again.

We decided at the end to go to Wendy's for lunch.

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Monday, August 03, 2009

Phipps Conservatory and Bible Study

It was great to meet up with William, Marissa, Beatrice, and Solomon for an afternoon trip to Phipps Conservatory. We even explored

the Discovery Gardens. We saw banana palms,






a maze and











mists in the garden,

the Longfellow glass figurines, Chihuly glass, and the Desert Room (don't touch anything---it's prickly!), and the Victorian Room (where there is a programmable fountain). Solomon treated every encounter with a plant as an interactive adventure. Beatrice insisted on pushing the umbrella stroller to the car by herself.
~~~~~
Went to the last summer Bible Study. We read James, Chapter 5. We also referred to James 5:16-18 when reading I Kings 17:17-24, which I pointed out and read to our group. Christina, Rachel, and I chatted with Beth, whom Christina knew from secondary school.

Went to physical therapy earlier in the day and also ran errands.

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Sunday, August 02, 2009

Mom & Dad Home

I'll be leaving shortly for the airport to pick up Mom and Dad from their voyages.

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Sunday Afternoon, early August 2009


William, Beatrice, Solomon, and I went shopping at "the Iggle" as it is called by Pittsburghers, or "Big Bird" as I call it(: William claims he knows no one else who calls it by that name). The children stayed in the cart w/ the "Little car" attached to it. William took a photo of them, together, in the mini automobile.
Afterwards, Beatrice and I, and Solomon and William went to Whole Foods to shop for lunch items. We ended up eating there. I ran into Fred G., there, too. Solomon started to fall asleep in his high chair.

Things I noticed about the two of them: Beatrice always has a song in her heart, and Solomon has a ready smile on his face.



Then we stopped by at Borders while I stayed with napping Solomon, and William and Beatrice looked for items in the store.

We met up with Marissa at their home, and she proceeded to drive the second kid (Beata) to sleep, as Solomon was already asleep next to Beata.

I headed home for a nap and the six o'clock Mass. I said hello after Mass to Vickie E, Tom McA, and to Judi, and Gabe and Kevin (of choir fame); and Ken and Liz from the loft. Fr. Joshua said the Mass and gave a great homily that mentioned at the end of it that the Liturgy of the Word is the Word of God, and the Word made flesh happens in the other part of the Mass.

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Corazon Aquino: Turning Points in Philippine History

Cory Aquino died this weekend. Her former term in office was preceded by the People Power Movement of 1986 led by herself---educated in the US, the widowed wife of Ninoy Aquino, who sought the presidency himself before being slain at Manila airport---and Cardinal Jaime Sin.

Cory, your steadfast spirit of peaceful demonstration touched the Philippines' heart and that of the world. We all promise to uphold the democratic principles for each generation.

Cory, you've worked hard, now it is time to rest. God be with you.

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Post-operative Dancing II

Met up with Rachel, Karina, and Christina for swing dancing in Squirrel Hill. I sat out the lesson (and most of the social dancing), but also danced with my friends, Andrew, Fred, and Bryan, and spoke to a number of other regular dancers, including Ralph and Larry. We all chatted with Christina's former schoolmate, Brian. We all took turns taking a bunch of photos of each other dancing, and I took pictures of my friends dancing the line dances. One of my first dances was to "I like it like that."

Christina left the rest of us ladies to go to Eat N Park on our own. We enjoyed midnight specials and I made certain that the rest of us arrived safely home.

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Saturday, August 01, 2009

Jazz Combo with Tania & Jeff Grubbs

Tonight after dinner Rachel and I went to Squirrel Hill to have some snacks and turtle cheesecake, and to listen to the jazz combo with Tania & Jeff Grubbs and company. We chatted about research journeys and other interesting topics.

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