Oct 26, 2011 - A Visit with the Nittany Lion

From Ohio we headed east to Pennsylvania, even though we had spent quite a bit of time there in the spring. There were still some places I wanted to see, prime being Penn State in State College. When Buzz and I were at Syracuse, Penn State was a huge rival; they were even the team we often hosted during Homecoming Weekend. Unfortunately the Penn State Football Team rapidly outpaced SU’s team but the our interest in the school remained, fueled mainly by a niece who spent 4 wonderful years there and a former boss of mine who had played...

Sep 13, 2010 - Visiting an Old Friend

We could have spent days and days exploring all of the Finger Lakes, but time was not on ouro side, so we headed on. As it was, we had stayed two days longer than we had intended. The reason for that was that we were going to State College, PA, to visit a long, lost friend and he wasn't available until Monday, the 13th, so we had to delay our time in NY. We left Ovid on the 13th and it took us much longer than expected to get to the State College area. Part of the delay was caused by road construction and part was just the distance we had...

Jul 9, 2010 - Aunt Linda's

Our last destination before home was a quick visit to Dean's sister, Linda. Her husband, John, was at their beach house in Old Lyme and Linda was headed there right after we left on Saturday. We arrived around 7 p.m. and had pizza for dinner. Then it was to bed as all of us were exhausted. We left right after breakfast on Saturday so it was a very short visit but an enjoyable one just the same.

May 15, 2008 - Very excited!

Well, it's finally sinking in that I'm graduating from college... I've spent most of today packing up some of the larger items in my apartment where I've lived for the past two years. The commencement ceremony for the college of engineering is tomorrow at 8p, and I've got a lot of family coming in, which I'm very happy about. The four years have really gone by faster than I ever expected, and there's still so much to do ahead: this trip, house hunting, my career... it's mind-blowing, really. As far as the trip is concerned (since that _is_...

Aug 23, 2007 - Bellefonte KOA - State College, PA

It was a long, long ride to get to PA, partly because of an unplanned stop, but I will tell you about that after a quick summary of the previous week at my parents' house. Sunday's Mass was wonderful, about how our lives should be Eucharist-centered; that it is a priveledge to take part in it and not something to take for granted. Not much else happened until that evening. My mom had planned a large party for my dad's side of the family, but everyone got sick, so no one came. Michelle rallied her troops, and enough of her friends were able...

Jun 3, 2007 - Day Thirty Two

Well left College Park, MD around 11:00 AM today. Crossed into Pennsylvania at 1:05 PM. Wow were we in the country. Bill swore we would NEVER see any Amish driving buggies with horses because they just don't do that anymore!! Well, first we came up on a young couple going the other way and I didn't have the camera. So, then we go on and pretty soon come up on two buggies going the same way we were, but as they were in a dip in the road it was to late to photo them and I would only have had their backs. And I didn't have the camera then...

May 10, 2007 - The Start

John and Jan Fish, our traveling buddies arrived on Upas Ave at 8:30 with a problem with their windsheild wipers which had to be replaced. Barb left her jacket in Ruth's car and had to go get it. We took picturs of Flat Stanley and also had a potential stowaway in the driver's seat. Kaithlyn wanted to come along. We finally left for Alaska at 9:33 am. We traveled through the rain to Bellefonte, Pa near State College and set up in the rain. But the weather cleared and Tom and John went fishing. Barb walked around the campground and saw...

Sep 27, 2006 - Alexandria, PA

My dad was born and raised in Alexandria. This is the first time that we have been back in about 40 years and we are really enjoying it. It has been fun to reacquaint myself with this delightful town that I visited often with my family in the 1950s. Aunt Shirley, my dad's youngest sibling, her husband, Allen, and their two sons, Doug and Denny are all here (photo). We also had a chance to spend time with Denny's wife, Elaine and my dad's brother Austin, who we always called, "Uncle June" for "junior". We parked the See Ya in the front yard...

Jan 22, 2004 - Getting ready

Preparing for the trip has been an involved process. I wouldn't have wanted to attempt it without the technology of e-mail, the help of the US National Arboretum, the support of the Stanley Smith Trust, the experience of Tony Aiello, and the encouragement of Green Spring and Park Authority staffs. Each made the process easier, even if some were baffled by the idiosyncrasy of it. After a 2 hour train ride, 6 hour flight, and an hour and a half drive on the wrong side of the road we will arrive at our first destination, the private...