Saturday morning began with a few flash reflection pictures IMG_0049 IMG_0050 before I remembered that you only get pictures like these IMG_0051 IMG_0052 of the Oakland scene by turning off the flash when shooting through a window. We went down to the restaurant where this mural IMG_0053 almost woke up Jane IMG_0054 though it didn't keep Sarah's brains IMG_0055 from draining out to make room for new knowledge. Ben's menu IMG_0056 convinced him IMG_0057 that I should have coffee IMG_0058 as the girls had orange juice IMG_0059 and the chef got to work IMG_0060 making the bagel for Jane IMG_0061 the pancakes for Ben IMG_0062 and the oatmeals for Sarah and me IMG_0063 IMG_0064 with sizeable brown sugar IMG_0065 that Sarah washed down with her hot chocolate. IMG_0066 Sarah and Jane were ready to go IMG_0067 IMG_0068 so we thanked the chef IMG_0069 and the waiter IMG_0070 and headed upstairs where Benjamin tied his shoes IMG_0071 as I recorded the room rates IMG_0072 and the views from across the hall IMG_0073 IMG_0074 as Benjamin IMG_0075 and I decided to get the car and pick up the others IMG_0076 IMG_0077 by the door so we could drive by the Cathedral IMG_0078 on our way to the synagogue IMG_0079 where Katy was the main event IMG_0080 of the day.

When we returned, Sarah felt that it was important to record that this was a Holiday Inn Select IMG_0081 and not just a Holiday Inn. Somehow in the process of doing all this, the P setting on my camera was set causing a lot of photos to come out Pretty bad. I guess this is what P means. Suzanne IMG_0082 IMG_0083 didn't realize that the camera was creating a mess as she also posed IMG_0084 with her girls. The elevator pictures IMG_0085 IMG_0086 IMG_0087 were especially bad and Stan seemed in a rush IMG_0088 as he took a picture like this one IMG_0089 while Robert arrived. IMG_0090 We made our way through the crowd recording Suzanne and friends IMG_0091 IMG_0092 Sarah IMG_0093 Stan and Ann IMG_0094 someone's wine glass IMG_0095 mother and daughter IMG_0096 and some other blurries IMG_0097 IMG_0098 before setting the camera in a happier state to sit down and admire IMG_0099 the table settings and balloon decorations IMG_0100 as Sally offered her toast IMG_0101 and my salad arrived IMG_0102 to the dancing of the Chatham girls IMG_0103 IMG_0104 as the photographer IMG_0105 returned to take my picture and my main course IMG_0106 and Suzanne's IMG_0107 arrived.

At this point, it was time to take pictures of people who went to John Minadeo School IMG_0108 IMG_0109 IMG_0110 ( after all he gave his life so that others might live ) and Sam IMG_0111 obliging did so as my dessert IMG_0112 arrived so that i could record my table place card IMG_0113 to the sheer terror of Jane IMG_0114 though her spirits were lifted when Benjamin appeared IMG_0115 and they saw the diet coke IMG_0116 I was about to drink. Sam did the T shirt and tie thing IMG_0117 and then joined Jane and Benjamin for a group photo IMG_0118 as the hula hoop contest IMG_0119 continued IMG_0120 while Ben's dessert IMG_0121 didn't get finished because he was watching IMG_0122 and the folks at Sarah's table looked like conversation IMG_0123 IMG_0124 was equivalent to torture. All this activity convinced Dick Dunhoff to train Sam IMG_0125 and set him loose with the camera IMG_0126 IMG_0127 to record the event. Not to be outdone, I captured Ben IMG_0128 then Dan and Suzanne IMG_0129 IMG_0130 IMG_0131 and the dancers IMG_0132 before heading to the bathroom with Ben. Fortunately this sign IMG_0133 told us how to get back so that we didn't have to mail ourselves back IMG_0134 even over night would have been too slow. We got back in time for the hora IMG_0135 IMG_0136 IMG_0137 IMG_0138 IMG_0139 IMG_0140 IMG_0141 which really amused Suzanne, Sarah and Jane IMG_0142 IMG_0143 and brought Benjamin to the floor IMG_0144 to regroup. Suzanne was like a glowing beacon IMG_0145 in the darkness IMG_0146 as the girls talked to relatives IMG_0147 Suzanne and Benjamin had a laugh together IMG_0148 and the crowd IMG_0149 IMG_0150 continued to do the Bat Mitzvah thing as yet another dance began IMG_0151 IMG_0152 IMG_0153 and Dick Dunhoff gathered the crowds to elevate Katy IMG_0154 IMG_0155 IMG_0156 IMG_0157 while Suzanne, Norma and Sally watched IMG_0158 and Sarah and Jane sat on the sidelines IMG_0159 hoping that their matriarchs would enjoy this conversation IMG_0160 IMG_0161 IMG_0162 to Milt's amusement. IMG_0163 The kids got good seats IMG_0164 Suzanne and Norma were ready IMG_0165 Dolly was talking to her grand daughter and friend IMG_0166 and Katy was having one last dance IMG_0167 as they got ready IMG_0168 for the limbo contest. She made it IMG_0169 to the amusement of George and his brother IMG_0170 and Sarah, Jane and Benjamin IMG_0171 as the line formed IMG_0172 and the contest continued IMG_0173 IMG_0174 IMG_0175 IMG_0176 Next thing, we knew it was the macarena IMG_0177 IMG_0178 IMG_0179 IMG_0180 IMG_0181 IMG_0182 IMG_0183 IMG_0184 IMG_0185 IMG_0186 IMG_0187 the one dance we never miss. This excited Sam who took an arm picture IMG_0188 before we said good bye to him IMG_0189 IMG_0190 and headed off from a very successful party.

Next stop was Shadyside to get my new winter coat from these guys IMG_0191 and their friend IMG_0192 who forgot to be in the first picture but was happy IMG_0193 with the way I looked. She IMG_0194 sold us these postcards IMG_0195 so Jane could record vacation memories to send to her friends.

Saturday night, we reassembled at Andy's house where Ben had this sandwich IMG_0196 and Sarah had this one IMG_0197 as Milt and Stan chatted away IMG_0198 and Dolly IMG_0199 pondered her lost ear ring. Norma and Sally IMG_0200 and Ann and Suzanne IMG_0201 were probably wondering why Jane was laughing IMG_0202 as the fire slowed down IMG_0203 and Ben was amused IMG_0204 by his ability to block the photo IMG_0205 but I caught him IMG_0206 on the third try. The women chatted IMG_0207 as we caught this facial closeup IMG_0209 and this blur IMG_0210 before Milt IMG_0211 welcomed Danny IMG_0212 to the room at which point Jane decided to take some artistic (ie black and white) pictures of the books IMG_0213 and the plant IMG_0214 and the collection of chair pictures IMG_0215 IMG_0216 IMG_0217 as the fire came back IMG_0218 and Andy did the scraping of cheese IMG_0219 that Karen IMG_0220 claimed was beyond her worldly skills though George IMG_0221 seemed to not believe this. The dark pictures IMG_0222 IMG_0223 were illuminated by the host and hostess IMG_0224 and a rejuvenated fire IMG_0225 as the party rolled on IMG_0226 with balloons IMG_0227 and conversation IMG_0228 so we recorded the pony tail IMG_0229 and braid IMG_0230 in Sarah's hair as Dolly IMG_0231 Milt IMG_0232 and Ann IMG_0233 watched. Needless to say, this amused Sarah IMG_0234 IMG_0235 so we took some people pictures of Ann and Suzanne IMG_0236 Robert and Debbie IMG_0237 and David and Norma IMG_0238 while the birds had a moment's peace IMG_0239 and the food remained. IMG_0240 In the back room, Andy and Ben were on the computer IMG_0241 as Milt and Jane watched IMG_0242 and we saved Sam's Nintendo game IMG_0243 to the amusement of the birds IMG_0244 who felt we should take one last frog shirt picture IMG_0245 before calling it a night. When we got back to the hotel, we needed to record the Impala taxi IMG_0246 IMG_0247 for Claire, so she could know that a job awaited her on graduation. After the elevator picture IMG_0248 we all called it a day.

Sunday morning began with Ben IMG_0249 Sarah IMG_0250 and Jane IMG_0251 awake as the television rolled IMG_0252 and the fire extinguisher IMG_0253 protected our room so that we could head down to a brunch of drinks IMG_0254 but no coffee, rolls IMG_0255 scrambled eggs IMG_0256 potatoes IMG_0257 and breakfast meats IMG_0258 to be eaten in these nice surroundings. IMG_0259 This was my plate IMG_0260 but before I could eat, I had to give George IMG_0261 his green bag as Katy IMG_0262 Jane IMG_0263 Norma IMG_0264 Sarah IMG_0265 Milt IMG_0266 and Suzanne IMG_0267 ate and Benjamin made designs IMG_0268 IMG_0269 with his bagel. Debbie took a picture IMG_0270 but I doubt that she recorded these bottles IMG_0271 even as Lewis arrived a day late IMG_0272 but don't ask why. Ben surveyed the clothing colors IMG_0273 as I built the Honey Nut Cheerio city IMG_0274 and Lewis IMG_0275 wondered if we could add people IMG_0276 to the city. Andy and Danny IMG_0277 watched Lewis IMG_0278 take this picture of Suzanne IMG_0279 and this of Sam IMG_0280 as the city prospered IMG_0281 amidst the artistic photo of the flowers IMG_0282 and the enhanced city in black and white IMG_0283 and color IMG_0284 since Lewis' old batteries moved in. Dan recorded the scene IMG_0285 and Benjamin brought back his bag IMG_0286 and took out the Crunch IMG_0287 and dog with key chain IMG_0288 not to mention the artistic IMG_0289 pose which might be sideways. Ann and Suzanne IMG_0290 were amazed that Jane IMG_0291 would try to huff and puff and blow the city IMG_0292 down especially since Danny had made the sugar packet American flag IMG_0298 and Sam had recorded the utilities IMG_0299 access before taking this picture IMG_0300 of me. Sam stayed in place IMG_0301 the people kept eating IMG_0302 as Sarah brought her woes IMG_0303 to Suzanne's back IMG_0304 to the amazement of Sam IMG_0305 and Jane IMG_0306 while Lewis chatted away IMG_0307 Benjamin IMG_0308 seemed bored until his friends IMG_0309 IMG_0310 amused him and Carlos IMG_0311 posed for the camera while Sarah and Suzanne IMG_0312 IMG_0313 IMG_0314 posed for some mother and daughter pictures as Jane showed her Raisin Bran IMG_0315 until it was time for us to take the elevator IMG_0316 IMG_0317 back to our rooms and gather our possessions so this woman IMG_0318 could check us out.

Our next stop was Norma and Milt's where we parked in a tight fit IMG_0319 and entered the lobby IMG_0320 to call up IMG_0321 and be let in so we could take the elevator IMG_0322 IMG_0323 to 6 where we recorded Norma's wonderful New Year's card IMG_0324 collection. Norma, Jane and Milt sat on the couch IMG_0325 as Ben leaned over IMG_0326 and Sarah tried to fix the doll IMG_0327 while the Steelers IMG_0328 had their short moments of glory and we ate the cookies from the Shadyside Market IMG_0329 before Jane mailed her postcards IMG_0330 as we got ready to drive to the airport. Once at the airport, this man IMG_0331 took our Hertz car so we could ride the elevator IMG_0332 so this man IMG_0333 could give us our baggage claim checks and we could wait in this line IMG_0334 and look down at this elevator shaft IMG_0335 and up at this hanging plane IMG_0336 as we waited to board the train IMG_0337 with Suzanne IMG_0338 looking out at this IMG_0339 until we got to the other side for the obligatory phone booth picture IMG_0340 before we got to Mr. Rogers neighborhood IMG_0341 and the view of the gate area. IMG_0342 The delay in takeoff gave Jane and I a chance to meet these girls (11th and 12th grade at Rochester high) IMG_0343 who made our sandwiches for dinner. Suzanne and Jane started to eat IMG_0344 as Sarah made her fashion statement IMG_0345 and Jane showed the salami IMG_0346 Ben the turkey IMG_0347 and Sarah the chicken salad IMG_0348 that complemented my cheese sandwich IMG_0349 IMG_0350 and Echo water IMG_0351 bottle. This sign IMG_0352 warned of serious potential problems as we waited to board IMG_0353 and got seated IMG_0354 in front of the inseat phone IMG_0355 and behind the rest of the cabin IMG_0356 much to Ben's amusement IMG_0357 of the bumpy ride. Once we were in Philadelphia, this woman IMG_0358 sold this watch to Suzanne IMG_0359 so that we could record the dangers IMG_0360 and put our baggage IMG_0361 into the car IMG_0362 for the ride back to Princeton.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. For those who like motion, here are some short pieces of the action (with sound).

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