Geofferson's brother and his family came to visit and so we set the table and ate a sumptuous meal and then sent a happier bunch off.

A few days later, the trustees came including the governor and so this was the security staff who were with us.

It being Ben's spring break, we decided that an excursion was necessary. Since classmates were going to Puerto Rico and Utah, it was obvious that Roadside America was the right place for us. So we drove out to the shrine and posed with the old people before going in to admire one of the greatest shrines in America which is continually being improved. These pictures tell the whole story and so there is no need to provide documentation of what you are seeing (it being obvious and all).

but Ben did pose in the gift shop wearing one of their coonskin caps which we thought might help West Virginia's fortunes against Duke in the tournament (but it didn't).

A few days later we drove to Philadelphia and parked the car and made our way past a memorial to the old Philadelphia (then Kansas City, then Oakland) Athletics and their venerable leader, Mr. Baseball -- Connie Mack before making our way into the ball park where the scoreboard was lit up and Ben and Suzanne were enjoying the game even as Suzanne made her way to the refreshment stand to add ketchup to her hot dog and mustard to her pretzel so that they could eat in happiness even as I had peanuts (but no cracker jack) and we watched the grounds crew prepare the field as the Philly Phanatic appeared and the umpires set the ground rules so that the scoreboard could announce batters who took their swings as the game played on and sadly our Buccos lost their last exhibition game of the season.

The next day was Ben's 16th birthday, cause for gifts and a celebration. Ben started with this card which accompanied his iPod touch making him happy for quite some time.

And then it was time for the celebration with sweets brought from Puerto Rico by the Straus as Alan engaged with Geofferson and then Jane arrived with a birthday hug for her brother as Jeff read Jane's thesis and Alan and Joel and Audrey wondered about the spicy pretzels as I took this self portrait and recorded Cara before we went to the set table and slowly settled into our seats as Alan Cara Joel and Ben led the way and my plate was set before the fruit and Puerto Rican sweets appeared accompanied by the sinful candy before the birthday cake appeared with candles lit which were extinguished before I could get a photo so that we had to simulate the blowing out of the candles to the amusement of the assembled even with my own self portrait. as the clutter was building on the table so that the painter could return for the never ending home rennovation project Sarah, John and Ed appeared for a discussion about how the whale was assembled and Sarah and Suzanne posed as did Ed and John and then Sarah and Ben posed for the birthday photo making Suzanne happy to see the wonderful celebration.