The flowers IMG_1328 looked better IMG_1329 sans flash. The evening allowed for tables outside IMG_1330 and on the patio IMG_1331 IMG_1332 as ChefRob IMG_1333 and Rissa IMG_1334 and Joe their helper in training IMG_1335 got things ready. I checked IMG_1336 and no visitors were coming which was convenient because some food IMG_1337 wasn't done and some IMG_1338 was almost ready as the kitchen IMG_1339 had food IMG_1340 in all directions IMG_1341 ready to go IMG_1342 as the drinks IMG_1343 IMG_1344 were ready at the bar.

Saturday morning, we brought this package IMG_1345 to this gentleman IMG_1346 with the letter IMG_1347 returning the coat that didn't fit before we went to the toy store and one of the triplets IMG_1348 amused Jane IMG_1349 while Ben IMG_1350 IMG_1351 moved quickly to catch up with Suzanne IMG_1352 for their group picture IMG_1353 as the toy was bought.

We left the toy store thinking we were going for lunch but got side tracked looking at sinks IMG_1354 and tubs IMG_1355 as I posed IMG_1356 then Suzanne posed IMG_1357 but the lights IMG_1358 made me have to think before getting this self portrait IMG_1359 as one final sink IMG_1360 built our appetite so that we could go to Aljon's IMG_1361 where Suzanne had this salad IMG_1362 Ben had this sandwich IMG_1363 and I dreamed of life in good old Italia IMG_1364 and so it went.

On Tuesday (March 30) Brent Tomlinson of PAW IMG_1365 came to interview me about tenure. That evening, Suzanne and Jane IMG_1366 led our way to the school where the flash IMG_1367 obscured our view of Dr. Ginnsburg IMG_1368 but we still made our way to Ben's class where he showed his project IMG_1369 which Audrey IMG_1370 Jane IMG_1371 and Suzanne IMG_1372 admired as others gathered IMG_1373 IMG_1374 IMG_1375 IMG_1376 for the demo and Audrey and Suzanne IMG_1377 needed a second take IMG_1378 to get the right picture. After more project demos IMG_1379 IMG_1380 IMG_1381 we talked with Steve IMG_1382 and then asked the fish IMG_1383 about the teacher Ms. Sanderson IMG_1384 before a few last looks IMG_1385 IMG_1386 so admiration for Ben IMG_1387 as meeting leader. We walked past Alan IMG_1388 so that Suzanne could settle IMG_1389 behind the Blounts IMG_1390 and Nathaniel and Rhonda IMG_1391 arrived and Nathaniel IMG_1392 came to sit with Jane IMG_1393 Suzanne IMG_1394 and me IMG_1395 as I attempted (first blocked by Nathaniel's hand) IMG_1396 to achieve a good profile IMG_1397 which finally worked though Jane had more problems with hers IMG_1398 as Jack and Linda IMG_1399 moved in behind us so that the kids could assemble IMG_1400 and by playing with camera settings I could get a good picture IMG_1401 or two IMG_1402 before our collection of blown shots IMG_1403 IMG_1404 IMG_1405 IMG_1406 even as we admired Kathy Klockenbrink IMG_1407 and her efforts IMG_1408 to video tape the whole event. After capturing Ben IMG_1409 in all his glory, I spoke to Mike Snyder IMG_1410 who posed IMG_1411 and then we were on our way.

On Thursday, April 1, Dave Srolovitz IMG_1412 agreed to chair MAE. I hope this wasn't an April Fool's joke. Then I admired the new paperweight IMG_1413 IMG_1414 Steve North sent from New Zealand and had a faculty lunch IMG_1415 IMG_1416 with Sankaran Sundaresan ( Chemical Engineering), Karen Bennett (Philosophy) and Daniel Heller-Roazen (Comparative Literature) seated and Ben Ellman (East Asian Studies and History), Bonnie Bassler (Molecular Biology), Sanjeev Kulkarni (Electrical Engineering) and Alan Blinder (Economics) standing.