Sarah IMG_0441 played the wicked role at the seder and then we caught the chocolate seder plate IMG_0443 and various views IMG_0444 IMG_0445 IMG_0446 of the fruit plate Ben made to compliment the kiwi we had already seen. After a few false starts IMG_0447 IMG_0448 we were ready to experiment on this 10 dollar bill IMG_0449 IMG_0450 IMG_0451 IMG_0452 with Peter's elegant pen IMG_0453 that let me pretend to be Larry Summers and memorialized our 3rd cup of win IMG_0454 so that Pesach could be suitably celebrated.

On Wednesday (April 7) I met with Margaret Miller IMG_0455 Andrew Gossen IMG_0456 and Leslie Jennings IMG_0457 from the alumni office to discuss their proposed alumni travel program. ON the way home, I met Vivek's new (actually not so new) baby IMG_0458 and Aravind and his friend IMG_0459 who were out for a jog. Then, on Thursday, I had a visit from Val Smith IMG_0460 and another from Daniel Sieworek IMG_0461 before Phillip Pettit IMG_0462 came by. In the afternoon, the Schmidt's came and their daughter and her friend (who happens to be Don Dixon's daughter) posed IMG_0463 as Wendy IMG_0464 took their picture before I got pictures of the 3 Schmidts IMG_0465 the four Californians IMG_0466 and the 2 Schmidts IMG_0467 and then a self portrait IMG_0468 to complete the collection.

On Friday, we celebrated that our new E-Z Pass IMG_0469 worked IMG_0470 as we made our way through this gate IMG_0471 to park the car IMG_0472 and walk the lot IMG_0473 past the trains IMG_0474 and the obligatory phone booth picture IMG_0475 until we could enter the train station IMG_0476 with its imagined IMG_0477 and real trains IMG_0478 and get our tickets IMG_0479 to wait in line IMG_0480 while walking past the vendors IMG_0481 outside the station IMG_0482 through a self portrait IMG_0483 a picture of the gang IMG_0484 and a not too bad profile IMG_0485 before the rules of security IMG_0486 became clear and we waited to clear the line IMG_0487 to get to the boat IMG_0488 with tickets IMG_0489 that would let us board IMG_0490 and accompany the 152 people from the Y in New Hampshire IMG_0491 on the crowded boat IMG_0492 that seemed to distress Ben IMG_0493 as I looked to the distance IMG_0494 but the family IMG_0495 didn't move as we got closer IMG_0496 and could see the Lady IMG_0497 who came even closer IMG_0498 until we disembarked at the sign IMG_0499 and took the requisite photos apart IMG_0500 and together IMG_0501 at the Ellis Island sign. Once inside, we bought tickets from this man IMG_0502 for a play that didn't allow photography and then headed to the over priced, under quality cafeteria IMG_0503 where the servers IMG_0504 sold us this food IMG_0505 and the pigeons IMG_0506 waited to see what we would leave.

Next we rented headphones and made our ways IMG_0507 IMG_0508 past the suitcases IMG_0509 to march IMG_0510 eventually to the big hall IMG_0511 and pace IMG_0512 and look at the ceiling IMG_0513 and head to the windows IMG_0514 where we could look at the hospital IMG_0515 and the rest of the island IMG_0516 and the city beyond IMG_0517 before getting tot he menu IMG_0518 in many languages IMG_0519 and pausing IMG_0520 to look below IMG_0521 and above IMG_0522 before seeing the tight cots IMG_0523 and the sinks IMG_0524 used by those who stayed.

I particularly liked these posters IMG_0525 IMG_0526 IMG_0527 IMG_0528 IMG_0529 IMG_0530 IMG_0531 of songs in many languages they had in the exhibit on immigration. As our tour wound up IMG_0532 IMG_0533 we headed for the gift shop IMG_0534 and then waited outside IMG_0535 IMG_0536 IMG_0537 as Ben took a few pictures of the other buildings IMG_0538 the grass and a cherry bomb IMG_0539 Suzanne IMG_0540 and our gift bag IMG_0541 before the boat IMG_0542 pulled all the way in IMG_0543 and we headed back tot he line IMG_0544 and took many pictures IMG_0545 IMG_0546 IMG_0547 IMG_0548 as we waited to board.

Once on board, there was the lady IMG_0549 and us IMG_0550 and the lady IMG_0551 and us IMG_0552 and the lady IMG_0553 and the skyline IMG_0554 and more pictures of the lady IMG_0555 IMG_0556 IMG_0557 interrupted by us IMG_0558 and then the lady IMG_0559 IMG_0560 IMG_0561 IMG_0562 IMG_0563 IMG_0564 IMG_0565 as we got closer and eventually docked at Liberty Island where we received a phone call and I chatted IMG_0566 as Ben watched IMG_0567 me chat further IMG_0568 IMG_0569 and Ben watched IMG_0570 and then went incognito IMG_0571 as I finished IMG_0572 but Suzanne talked IMG_0573 as the boat sailed on IMG_0574 and Ben could watch IMG_0575 as the phone call was finished IMG_0576 and we could head to our next destination.

Next we stopped to buy these shoes IMG_0577 from this man IMG_0578 as we got ready for dinner but had to take this collection sign IMG_0579 at the restaurant where my salad IMG_0580 and pasta IMG_0581 sans flash IMG_0582 accompanied Ben's spaghetti and meatballs IMG_0583 and Suzanne's fish IMG_0584 and Suzanne IMG_0585 and Ben IMG_0586 were more enthusiastic than it seems about the dessert IMG_0587 that came.

The next day, we went to Waterfront Park IMG_0588 where Ben IMG_0589 Suzanne IMG_0590 and I IMG_0591 got our seats and then went to get food IMG_0592 as the first pitches IMG_0593 were thrown and the umpires caucused IMG_0594 so that the game could happen after which we visited the more permanent fans and Ben IMG_0595 IMG_0596 then Ben and I IMG_0597 IMG_0598 IMG_0599 posed with them as the stadium IMG_0600 beckoned Suzanne to join me IMG_0601 to salute them.

On our way home, we stopped at this air station IMG_0602 and Ben showed off his Chase hand IMG_0603 and Yankees basketball IMG_0604 as I bought my air IMG_0605 for 50 cents so that we could venture forward to the mall where Ben IMG_0606 looked down on this booth IMG_0607 as we waited for Suzanne IMG_0608 to emerge from Macy's so that we could overlook this booth IMG_0609 before going to the game store IMG_0610 and the video store IMG_0611 where our purchases were made IMG_0612 and we looked down IMG_0613 before Ben IMG_0614 and Suzanne IMG_0615 decided that we could head home. Sunday morning, Ben put on his new shirt from Old Navy IMG_0616 which made him able to move faster than the camera but Suzanne posed IMG_0617 and we captured this picture IMG_0618 of spring and these pictures of the Easter egg hunt IMG_0619 IMG_0620 at Trinity before marching past the wedding IMG_0621 at the Methodist church on our way to the carousel IMG_0622 where Suzanne IMG_0623 and Ben IMG_0624 enjoyed their meal though we wished that Zorba and his wife IMG_0625 had kept one of their restaurants open for us.