It was nearing the end of another year and so it was time to take stock of the various things that hadn't been done in the year and of other things that would be fun as the year wound down. There was also the challenge of seeing how many pictures would be taken this year.

On Monday December 27, the kids and I drove Suzanne to the airport so that she could spend a few days in Pittsburgh visiting Norma. Then we went to lunch and devoured Ben's meal IMG_0477 even though the potato salad gave me indigestion for a few days. Maybe that is why Ben IMG_0478 IMG_0479 is laughing? Jane IMG_0480 cleared away her food IMG_0481 though the french (aka freedom) fries were a group effort. After Jane took these pictures of me IMG_0482 and Sarah IMG_0483 who sat on the other side, I took this artistic photo of the Marathon Restaurant IMG_0484 and we headed to the Mutter Museum IMG_0485 but there was no photography allowed there and maybe for good reason.

The next day, I turned to the new penny sculptures to see what could be done. With inadequate reading of the documentation, I was only able to fit 5 pennies in a cross section IMG_0486 and it didn't improve with the flash turned off IMG_0487 and up close the pennies blurred IMG_0488 but I could show part of the problem IMG_0489 IMG_0490 IMG_0491 IMG_0492 from various angles and then work down to a single cross section IMG_0493 where even with one post removed IMG_0494 I only fit 5 pennies as Sarah worked on the Rubik's cube IMG_0495 and I pondered further the penny situation IMG_0496 IMG_0497 as Sarah got guidance IMG_0498 and eventually moved her hands fast enough IMG_0499 so that Rubik was finally put together.

Meanwhile, on the left coast, Jacobo was demonstrating how to fit 7 pennies 115_1506 115_1509 where I had only fit 5 and growing it out with pens for posts 115_1510 115_1511 all of which made him particularly happy to pose with Bruce Arden 115_1512 and celebrate Bruce's forthcoming nuptials.

Back in the East, I picked Suzanne up at the airport and we met Lenny and Judy IMG_0500 for dinner but only took pictures after the food was consumed IMG_0501 IMG_0502 IMG_0503 which may have been an end of the year thing or maybe it's a new plan -- to capture used plates rather than fresh food. The waiter IMG_0504 was amused and with a few more tries, I was able to capture them IMG_0505 IMG_0506 IMG_0507 and then take this self portrait IMG_0508 and picture of Suzanne IMG_0509 as the desserts arrived IMG_0510 IMG_0511 IMG_0512 IMG_0513 which raised spirits IMG_0514 even as I captured this sign IMG_0515 and with flash IMG_0516 for my collection which was amusing since there were no paper towels, just grass IMG_0517 in the bathroom. The chef came by to thank us and posed IMG_0518 before we visited the leopard next door IMG_0519 and began the drive back north.

After digesting further instructions, I understood how to fit a cross section of 7 pennies in place and was able to reach almost 5 inches in height IMG_0520 IMG_0521 IMG_0522 IMG_0523 IMG_0524 IMG_0525 before needing a shoe lace for stability against warped rods. Next, I added a second shoe lace to bring it together further IMG_0526 IMG_0527 IMG_0528 at the 12.5 inch level and thanked my lab assistant IMG_0529 for her help in the enterprise. The experimenting continues and new photos will appear in the new year as we tackle the issue of the later more voluminous decades.

Then it was New Year's Eve Day and Jane and John IMG_0530 were working on their MUN position paper as Andrew IMG_0531 watched and we noted that they had gotten their licenses IMG_0532 IMG_0533 IMG_0534 the day before as Suzanne spoke IMG_0535 IMG_0536 and Sarah watched IMG_0537 IMG_0538 until Ed arrived IMG_0539 to make some progress on the puzzle and Ben IMG_0540 ate his sandwich as I finished my salad IMG_0541 and recorded the important new things -- grapple's (pronounce them correctly) IMG_0542 and the new Boynton calendar IMG_0543 to replace the old IMG_0544 as progress continued on the puzzle IMG_0545 and we dug into chips and dip IMG_0546 before taking holiday pictures of Sarah and Ed IMG_0547 IMG_0548 IMG_0549 IMG_0550 me (with hat in self portrait) IMG_0551 Suzanne IMG_0552 IMG_0553 Ben IMG_0554 and our slowly assembling family -- 3 strong IMG_0555 then 4 strong IMG_0556 IMG_0557 then all of us IMG_0558 IMG_0559 IMG_0560 as recorded by Ed IMG_0561 just as the Havurah people arrived and posed IMG_0562 in different ways IMG_0563 before heading to the comedy club IMG_0564 and on to dinner at Marsillio's IMG_0565 IMG_0566 where I knew the waiter (class of '07) IMG_0567 even as the holiday costumes came to Suzanne IMG_0568 Steven IMG_0569 IMG_0570 Peter IMG_0571 Sara IMG_0572 Seva IMG_0573 and my self portrait IMG_0574 and profile IMG_0575 IMG_0576 shots all of which made a nice setting IMG_0577 as the waitress IMG_0578 noted Suzanne IMG_0579 IMG_0580 IMG_0581 Peter IMG_0582 Steven IMG_0583 Sara IMG_0584 IMG_0585 and Seva IMG_0586 and our drinks IMG_0587 IMG_0588 chilled as I captured the glassware IMG_0589 and my last pictures of Suzanne IMG_0590 IMG_0591 IMG_0592 and Steven IMG_0593 IMG_0594 IMG_0595 in the new year. After posing the celebratory instruments IMG_0596 IMG_0597 all that was left to do was to toast 2004 and say hello to 2005.

Happy New Year to all.