Memories

Cornell University 

Looking down the street where we bought our first house in 1995.

Just a short walk from our house - Ithaca is Gorges

When we moved to Ithaca there were three main roads that fed to one bridge and then went back to three roads and it was nicknamed The Octopus.  This intersection near our house had smaller roads but was still an mess so we called it Little Octopus.   

Right by the Little Octopus were a set of stairs I took when I didn't cycle to the pool.

Along the Cascadilla Glen Trail, which leads to campus except when part of it is closed, which is often enough that they have a large gate at the trailhead.  They may not have a booming economy, but sure beats the commute on LA freeways!

Ithaca Falls - I have so many pictures but I wish it were just as easy to capture the sound.

I pulled over to get a picture of the layer of fog above the lake as the sun was setting.

How can I choose one good thing of the day?  I haven't even mentioned GreenStar (the grocery co-op), the science museum, or the library.  More tomorrow!

Off to College

R. seems way too young to be touring colleges and
there was nothing officially open on Sunday morning,
but we got a map and walked around.

The Seeley G. Mudd Building, which houses math and computer science, 
looked good to R. despite this sign. 

Only one of many cool things on display in the lobby.

The physics building was open, too.  We found this great art machine.
You can learn a lot more here.

It was hard to pull ourselves away and see more of campus.
The views were great and we enjoyed the kinetic sculpture and
Stearns Steeple outside the art museum.
But onto the main attraction!

Down the road (not nearly as close as I had pictured) we found Smith College and checked in.

The girls live in houses (not residence halls) and R. has her own room, as do many other people.  And it has air conditioning!!  R. was very excited, happy to meet the other girls in the program, and was ready to say good-bye.  We aren't supposed to be in touch for 24-hours and only once a day after that (not enforced but encouraged).  So it was time to move on.

Leaving Massachusetts
Come Back Soon.

Glad to see they still have humans in the toll booth.

It was a long but beautiful drive to Ithaca.  Even though I wish I could make the trip with D., I will still have fun visiting people and places.

Not Central Massachusetts

It maybe western and not central Massachusetts, but the lack of streets signs and the way one street has three names in just a couple miles reminds me that I am in New England.

This was the scenic view, as marked on the highway.  If I stood on my tippy-toes and held the camera up high I could see the river and scenic water tower.  I was expecting something more scenic than what could see from the road, but a river and lots of trees are scenic!

We had our first airbnb experience.  It was not so different from a hostel.  It had a good view of the Fifth of July fireworks and I found a Kestrel Land Trust trail to explore in the morning.

Onward!

Fun Fabulous Fourth

This was the winning theme and the kid who wrote it got to ride in the parade.  Without his parents, he was happy to point out.

And it was fabulous.  The first event was the Freedom 5000 and I came in 12 out of 86  in my age group, which not my best and not my worst.  Then we had breakfast at our place, which is just a couple blocks from the start and finish line.

After a quick shower I volunteered a the League of Women Voters' booth.
Maybe next year I'll volunteer with the Fourth of July committee.

We put out our blanket our blankets a few days before the parade and sat in our usual spot.

First are the police and firefighters,

followed by any kids and adults who want to ride or walk.

Uncle Sam followed by the Girl Scouts

Claremont City Council (all men for the first time in ages and ages)

Live music included the high school marching band, an adult marching band,
 and this group from Pilgrim Place, one of the local retirement communities.

the final entrant

The day finished with fireworks at the track, which I didn't try to photograph.  It is great to be able to ride over there, hang out with friends, and ride home.

I hope my kids have fond memories of these days.

What to do?

Read book recommended by Catherine Newman.

Invite friend into room.

Not shown - cups of water with string taped to both cup and inside of cabinet.
Not shown - video of people shouting after getting doused.

Be sure to hide this before unsuspecting victim turns on the water.

Buy balloons.

Fill and invite friend over.

Enjoy grandparents' pool.

Ah, summer vacation!

Mileage

Every six months our car insurance requires me to self-report our mileage.  If we don't drive to work where do we go?  This summer it has been to the airport.

Trips in June (and July 1).  So far.

Pick up D. from conference in D.C.
Take J. and kids to airport for trip to Cleveland.
Pick up kids (at 2 a.m., three and one-half hours late) from Cleveland.
Pick up J. from Cleveland (only one hour late).
Less than twelve hours later take D. for trip to Idaho.
Pick up friend returning from Stockholm.
Pick up D. from Idaho trip (10.5 hours late).
Pick up sister and nephew visiting from San Francisco.
About 18 hours later take sister and nephew back to airport!

Will It Never End?

I think we are lucky to still have an odometer that rolls over.

We also still have locks that have to be opened individually and manually
(and don't forget to hold up the handle when you close the door).

"What is this for?" a passenger recently asked.

I know these aren't the norm and I am learning to live with that, but today I was in for a shock.

Do you see where the optometrist is standing?  She never stood and flipped the little levers and rotated the lenses.  Of course she still said, "One or two?  Here is one again."  But everything was controlled electronically.

What will they replace next?  Maybe a new type of windshield wiper.  Until then you can listen to Allan Sherman sing Automation.