Tail Between Legs (Temporarily): So, MM, I concede that your Yankees kinda sorta kicked our tushies last night. But tonight, I proclaim, we will be redeemed...I hope.

Red Sox return to the Bronx: As reported near and far, after taking six of seven games against the Bronx Bombers in April, the Red Sox and Derek Lowe renew their rivalry with the Yankees tonight. We gotta win! (sorry Maj. Moch)

Some Days I Love This Job: As a thank you to the faculty I have arranged to speak at alumni clubs this year, I have had special mugs created. I have been hand delivering them around campus for the last week or two. Although I would love to meet the professors face-to-face (since most of them have been arranged via email, or maybe phone) most professors are not in their office or have an assistant to whom I hand the mugs. Anyhow, so today I was delivering the last bunch. One of my stops at the office of Nobel Laureate Wolfgang Ketterle. As I approached his office, I saw that there was no receptionist and he was just sitting at his desk working. He smiled as I peered in the door and kindly accepted the thank you gift. I had a huge smile on my face as I walked away from his office. Next, maybe I can meet Noam Chomsky or Lester Thurow.

A Doctor in Our Midst: A belated, but HUGE, congrats to Dr. Shelby Hyvonen on completing her Psy.D. from The Wright Institute. As we say here is Boston, she is wicked smaaaat....not to mention an amazing woman. Mazel tov Shelb!

Weekend Recap: Overall is was a movie-filled, mixed-bag-of-baseball, lots-oh-sun-in-the-sky-when-no-rain, spontaneous, productive weekend. It began with a spontaneous outing with Lauren to get her hair cut, followed by nachos and margharittas, on Friday after work. On Saturday I watch most of the Red Sox game (killed!), and two movies, both of which I recommend-- Things You Know Just By Looking At Her and Dirty Pretty Things. I also went to Curves, went on a walk, and ran out for a little bit on Saturday night but was home early for an early bedtime. Sunday was BEAUTIFUL! I went on a nice walk, and sat at the field at Tufts for awhile. (Thanks to Mandydandy for stopping by to visit me and the shirtless men/ bikini clad women.) I watched most of the Red Sox game (won big!) before heading out to meet Lauren for ice cream at Toscanini's! (yummy Hydrox!) Aside form a little incident of a homeless woman defecating in the bushes near us, it was a great mini-date. I then headed to Harvard Square to see Supersize Me. I really liked it (no more chicken nuggets for me!) but had heard about almost every scene before going, after reading many articles and talking at length with several people who saw it before me. Still a great movie. Then home to bed. Is it the weekend yet?

Huh? I walked past an SUV with the following phrase kind of stenciled on the back window... I didn't quit...(I surrendered) Any ideas what that means? There was a Harley Davidson sticker too. Thoughts?

In Other MTV News: Thanks to Eva for bringing this article (and issue) to my attention. MTV is refusing to air commercials for Super Size Me, saying the ads are "disparaging to fast-food restaurants" Still haven't seen the movie, but, as always, doesn't stop me from being indignant.

Oxygen: After MIT Reunions I reported about the absolutely exciting satellite link from MIT alumnus Mike Fincke, who had to miss his reunion because he is *on the space station*. Now is seems he is making the nation news because he lost OXYGEN on his space walk.

"Celebrity" Sighting: I was on a walk by Emily/Mandy/Amy's house yesterday and walked past a woman and her friend, who were also on a walk. As I approached them, I thought, "I have hung out with this woman or know her form somewhere...But where?" I could picture her personality and hear her voice, but who was she???? None other than Irene from Real World Seattle! Further proof that the line between reality tv, and reality, is getting more and more confusing!

Another Fascinating Woman: The other speaker was Brenda Allen, the associate provost and director of institutional diversity at Brown. Not only was her talk absolutely intoxicating (I felt like I was back at Macalester) but our break out group discussion was wonderful, talking about how we can create diversity in alumni relations, while also fostering "specialized" options for ethnic, gender, etc groups. Such a rich conversation. Then, as dinner was kind of wrapping up, I got into a conversation with 3 other people about race, our upbringings, etc. We finally looked around the room at around 9:30 and realized we were the only people left in the room! Wonderful!

Ladies, Don't Just Vote...Run: One of the highlights of the conference this week was hearing two absolutely amazing keynote speakers, one talking about the positive and negative ramifications of the recent US Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, and one about women's role as candidates. (I am simplifying these talks completely of course) The second talk was offered by Jennifer Lawless, from Brown. (Who can't be much older than me) The abstract of her paper says, "A critical void in the research on women's underrepresentation in elective office is an analysis of the initial decision to run for office. Based on data from our Citizen Political Ambition Study, the first large-scale national survey of potential candidates, we examine the process by which women and men emerge as candidates for public office. We find that women who share the same personal characteristics and professional credentials as men express significantly lower levels of political ambition to hold elective office. Two factors explain this gender gap: first, women are far less likely than men to be encouraged to run for office; second, women are significantly less likely than men to view themselves as qualified to run." Here is a link to the full paper...I am still riveted.

GMail Update: Yes, I have selected, and activated, my beta GMail account. Thanks to those of you who offered suggestions, both online and otherwise. Some of the ideas had to be scrapped because I had to have a minimum of 6 character. I now have an account that is the same as this blog. (a certain cartoon character with the number 9802 after it) Please feel free to write me there...all the better for be to figure out how all these crazy features work. For more info on what the heck GMail is, go here.

Back from Providence: I got back from my Ivy+ Conference mid-day yesterday (a conference for people who do alumni relations at the Ivy League school plus MIT and Stanford). Upon returning to the office in the afternoon, I had a kind of "traumatic" phone call (e.g. adversarial ) with my graduate alumni advisory committee (boy was I glad to come come back to the office...not!) but then went to see a play called Last Sunday in June with Miss Emily. The play was wonderful-- funny, touching, extremely well acted.

Short Blogging Hiatus: I will be in Providence from Sunday through Wednesday at an Ivy+ Conference (the Ivy League schools plus MIT and Stanford)

Help Needed: I have been offered a coveted Gmail account but need to come up with my user name. I might use kimpossible9802, but that is a lot of characters. I don't think I want to use kxxxe9802 (like my AOL account) because it contains my last name...something I don't like to give out to some people, especially for online dating (if only I had that problem these days). This is where you come in...what is your vote? Do you have an idea for what my user name should be? Use the comment section below to let me know (or email me if you are feeling shy)

Um, Yeah, I Look Like That Too: Apparently I don't give my assistant Elena enough work (kidding! She's totally awesome) because she had time to Photoshop this picture of herself at kickboxing...I mean, yeah, she always looks like this. 

Gotta Love Ellen: Click on this link to be completely amused by Ellen Degeneres...it changes every once in awhile, and never disappoints. *Grin*

Another Favorite Law Professor: The very own Ms. Emily Durand Esq will be teaching EXP-0079-F: Intellectual Property in Business and Society at Tufts University's Experiential College. Now I have two favorite law professors!

Kim's "Wishful Thinking" Friday Five:
If you could be guaranteed one thing in life other than money, what would it be?
A life partner to share my life with and with whom I would happily grow old.
If you could ensure that your children had one of your personality traits, what would it be?
Resilience in hard times.
If you could hop on a plane today and fly somewhere for the weekend, but had to be back a work on Monday, where would you go?
I think I would want to go to Spokane to see Shelby but I would spend a lot of time on a plane so that might not be as good of a weekend trip. Otherwise maybe the Twin Cities to see Jen (and her new boyfriend...oooo), Keeva, and Nathan.
If you had $1000 to spend at one store, where would you go?
Nordstroms. I would love some new clothes which I wouldn't have to worry about the price tag.
If you could have any job, for which you are qualified, what would you want to be doing?
Director of Youth Programs at one of the Boston Boys & Girls Clubs.

Update: Make sure to see another series of responses at The Angus Index.

Good news and bad news: Good news first...Fajita & Rita was great last night (especially the ritas, although we left *very* full), the ladies are absolutely fabulous, and at the movie was terrific, the beautiful tiaras that Emily brought were a huge hit, we met a seemingly biker guy at the restaurant who ended up coming over to our table (thinking it was a bachelorette party because of the tiaras) and telling us that marriage is great and this wedding was one of the best days of his life (I can't even express how sweet this man was...I asked him if he had a single brother who was as optimistic about love and marriage but he said I wouldn't want his brother). And for the bad news...the movie pretty much terrible. Oh well.

Chicken Saltimbocca: A certain someone was thinking about making this some time because they like it so much...thought I'd share this yummy sounding recipe. I might have to try it too (minus the pork).

Ladies Night: Tonight is Ladies Night, a sporadic, but highly anticipated evening, usually comprised of dinner, a movie and desert. Tonight we will be going to Fajitas n Rita for dinner and then to see The Stepford Wives. Don't know if I will stick around for desert. Movie rating tomorrow...in the meantime, you can check out the negative reviews at Rotten Tomatoes.

Note About Red Jackets: (see June 15) When an MIT alumnus reaches their 50th Reunion, they automatically become a member of the Cardinal and Gray Society. You also are allowed to buy a special red (cardinal) blazer, which is usually premiered at graduation, when the 50th reunion class marches in the Commencement precession. Now that more women have been out 40-50 years, we will have to see if they want the red jackets, or if we look to a different option for them. I am guessing they will get some sort of red blazer too, as it is a sign of school pride.

Miracles Really Do Happen: The Whybunts won!!! (my softball team) Not only that, I scored! (albeit on an overthrow at first base that sent me to second and then someone hit me home) I even got to premier my second base and home plate dances. (the home plate dance almost prevent the runner behind me to run into home...guess I need to shorten that one up a little bit if there is a runner behind me) We have so much fun playing and it was definitely fun to win. (We have already tied our record from last year, seeing as how we only won once last season.) YEAH WHYBUNTS!

My New Boyfriends: These are some of my lovely men from the MIT Class of 1944, who I spent last week with. Aren't they cute? 

A New Home for Nonprofit Managers: My dad used to work with the Mandel Family Foundation and they have now announced "a gracious gift of $6 million from Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel, through the Mandel Supporting Foundations, Case Western Reserve University will build a new flagship building for its Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations." (where I went to graduate school) The Mandel Center "Acting as a university-wide multidisciplinary academic center for education, research and community service, the Mandel Center is nationally recognized as a resource for current and potential students, nonprofit managers and leaders, faculty members, researchers and anyone who works in, supports or studies the nonprofit sector." Construction of the new Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, to be located on Bellflower Road near the intersection of Ford Drive, is expected to start in March 2005 and be completed by spring 2006.

Gotta Love a Day Off: I took yesterday off, as a comp day for working Reunions. It was a wonderful mix of being lazy and also having fun things to do. I woke up around 8:30 and went on a nice walk to Davis Square via the bike path. I went to Brooks, to buy a card for a certain older (but not old) man in my life who has a day named after him on Sunday. Unfortunately my back was *really* hurting me and I had to stop a couple times because the pain was so bad. I even had stretched! Anyhow, I got home, stretched some more and watched a little Personal TLC. I then went to the mall to buy some new undies (I know, TMI....but there is a funny story about this...I wear basically the same Victoria Secret undies all the time and some are needing to be replaced. I was lying on the couch on Sunday thinking "I wonder when the next sale is at VS because then the undies are about $2. Within 10 minutes a commercial comes on saying the VS Semi-Annual sale starts Monday! YEAH! Good karma!) When I got home from the mall I took a nice long shower which always feels nice. I then went out to Worcester to pick up Paul, who had been home for a family wedding. We came back to Boston and met Emily in the North End for yummy yummy dinner at Antico Forno...with a cannoli from Mikes. I love days off!!!

What A Beautiful Weekend: Now this is what I call spectacular weather! It has been in the mid-70s, sunny, with a slight breeze both yesterday and today. I spent several hours at Boston Pride yesterday, primarily at a picnic brunch for Eve and Brenda, who got married today. It was a huge group this year, quite mobilized around gay marraige and celebration. And a perfect day for a festival. After grabbing dinner at Uno's with Marshall, I also bought the wicker chairs I have been wanting at Pier One. (Thanks again for the help, Marsh) Today I have been fairly lazy, but I sat outside on a blanket for almost 3 hours. (yes Mom, I wore sunscreen, and I was even in the shade for some of the day) I am going to see the group Session Americana again tonight which should be fun. I get to stay out past my bedtime because I am taking tomorrow off, as a comp day for working reunions. YEAH!

This is a test of my ability to post a photo. If this works, this is Chris, me and Shelby being silly at a coffee shop in Shaker. 

This is a Test...Do my comments work? If so, please leave me a note. Thanks! Kim

Coke Through the Years: First Coke had actual cocaine in it, then there was Coke Classic, then New Coke, then back to Coke Classic, then Diet Coke with Lemon, then Vanila Coke, and now LOW CARB Coke. Am I the only one that finds this to be not only odd, but distrubing?

Friday Five: In honor of my week with the "seniors" I thought I would do a special Friday Five. Feel free to follow along if you want.
Who is the oldest person you know?
A few days ago I wrote about Yardley, who is 103, but I don't know if I would say I "know" him. I think the oldest living person I know is Paul's grandmother who is 94.
Who is the wisest person you know/knew?
I think my grandfather (Papa) Ralph. He was smart in the intellectual sense, as well as insightful and perceptive. He always would have wonderful stories, stringing together contemporary events with seemingly (to me) unrelated historical occurrence to teach a lesson, demonstrate a trend, or simply show his intellect (not in a bragging sense). I saw this trait in several of the alumni I was with last week as well. As I told several of the alumni when they remarked that I must be so bored hanging out with them, "My friends only have 30 years of story, and you have 80 years of stories. Not to mention, your stories are a heck of a lot more interesting." I am very blessed to have had 4 grandparents who were/are wonderful roles models of wisdom, tzidaka (charity), tolerance, and education.
When are you "old"?
At one of the seminars on "the aging driver" during Reunions, a professor asked when you are an "older driver". He replied "15 years older than me". I would say old is close to 90 these days! To me, the expression implies substantially declined capacity, and nearing the end of life. The wonders of science, not just medicine at the end of life, but innovations that prevent/cure/treat lots of ailments throughout our lifetimes, are making old much later.
Would you attend your 60th college reunion?
Only if my classmates are going. I don't know that I will feel compelled to go back to Macalester to see the campus, but it would be wonderful to gather together with Hilary, Eva, Keeva, Jen, Sabina, Nathan and even Grimace (don't ask) when we are 82 years old!
Are you scared of dying?
I am scared of the process of dying, not the "being dead" God willing this will be in a very, very long time after a life filled with love, health, and happiness.

For Our Next Trip to the Theatre: The next play in my mini-subscription to the SpeakEasy Theater is for Last Sunday in June, which got a good review in today's Boston Globe. The title refers to the annual Gay Pride Day and the action centers on a group of friends who have gathered in a Greenwich Village apartment to watch the parade. (which I will be attending in Boston tomorrow...let me know if you are going too.)

Scary News Out of Israel: In the same email, Janet wrote a quite a few stories from my cousin Arik, about his first few months in the Israeli Army. Here are excepts from just a few:
- It's so interesting when Arik comes back, we have dinner together every Friday and the last time he was telling us all these stories. Half the time I was laughing and half the time crying, not kidding...They have tests all the time on all the stuff they've learned. You know "the usual everyday stuff that a normal person has to know" (ha ha ), like how to kill someone with an M-l6, without firing a shot (I'm serious); like how to survive an ambush; how to enter a helicopter at night when you can't make a sound, etc.
- One of the most difficult things to cope with, of course, is lack of sleep. Even though they are required to get 6 hours, they have to get up in the middle of the night EVERY NIGHT put on all their gear, uniform, boots, etc. and go outside and guard.for about a half hour. Then when you're done you wake up the next kid...Then, during their week in the field, where you barely sleep at all, they make you do all these long treks in the middle of the night, pitch black. There's a certain technique about following the guy in front of you so you don't get lost, etc. Arik is walking behind a kid, who suddenly veers off to the right or left. Arik swears the kid was asleep while walking and Amnon and others swear to me that they've seen the same thing during their army days.
- One of the most difficult things they had to practice was surviving a gas attack. Arik was scared to death when he spoke to his friends who went through this before him, and who said it was horrible. You have to put on a gas mask and protective clothing and you go into this small room where there is an officer who releases some kind of tear gas. He suddenly tells you to take off your mask, announce your personal number (each kid has a personal army number) and then run out. It's literally a minute or two that you breathe the gas, but Arik said it was the most horrible thing he's ever experienced so much so, that he said, he now knows what it must have felt like to be in a gas chamber during the holocaust, and here we're only dealing with tear gas. Many of the kids fainted and many vomited. Arik, with his weak stomach, felt like doing both but he managed to survive it. He said it was an indescribable feeling you feel like you're literally choking to death. Great, huh?

Good News Out of Israel: My aunt Janet wrote from Israel (where she, my uncle and 3 cousins live), "The biggest news for us these days is that Karin was chosen to be the captain of the national basketball team "the cadets", which is for ages 14-16. It was the dream of her life." Karin is truly an amazing basketball player, playing on her local team, the school team and the national team (at least last I heard) Who knew, an athlete in the Harshman family?

Same Lady, Reminds Me of the Same Grandma, for Different Reason: As we were loading the buses at the end of the weekend, I was talking to Ruth. I was telling her what a wonderful time I had had with the group and that I was so appreciative of how accommodating and kind they were. I explained to her that several of my colleague were with groups that complained the whole time, threatened to withhold donations from MIT because of this or that, and were always making trouble. Ruth looked at me and said, "I have learned that I should always look up... and be positive. When someone comes up to me and complains that the bus is late, I tell them that I am having a marvelous time and am enjoying the sunshine as we wait. When someone says that the chicken had been sitting out too long at the lunch for all alumni, I let them know that I will listen to them when they have a BETTER idea of how to feed 3000 alumni at once. Kim, I don't listen to complaining. If their arm is broken, I would sit and cry with them...otherwise, I don't want to hear it." What a wonderful attitude and outlook on life. Not only do I try to do the same, I have had a wonderful role model in my grandmother who typifies optimism, looking on the bright side, and perseverance.

Story #2 in the Crass Grandma School of Humor: One evening in Mystic, several wives were gathered around looking at some photo albums from past reunions (this is an extremely close group and really are so loving and engaged). One woman remarks to Ruth (who's hair is now completely gray) that her hair was brown in the pictures. Ruth looks up and says "But my pubic hair wasn't." Gotta love it!

Story #1 in the Crass Grandma School of Humor: (I would never know of such a woman! eh hem!) The wife of the reunion chair had me laughing, and blushing, through much of the weekend. On Friday night, the entire group went to Quincy, to a restaurant right on the water. There was an absolutely beautiful sunset, which everyone was talking about. As the evening progressed, things got sillier and sillier. This woman, call her Ruth, was walking around singing songs about sunsets, encouraging the rest of us to join in. She came over to my table of 10 and asked us all to "pay her back because she paid $10,000 for this sunset". Then she asked us to all look out the window and hold hands. After well all obliged, she told us to gaze out at the sunset because what we were witnessing was a "sunset orgasm". She repeated this several times, reminding us that "this type of orgasm doesn't come very often" so we better cherish it. I love it!

So, to the stories. One of my favorites involves Yardley, from the MIT Class of 1922. Yes, you read correctly, he is 103 years old! He comes every year because he "just doesn't know if he will be around to come next year". He walks with a cane but gets himself around and is absolutely amazing. When someone was looking for a bathroom, he said "Go down this hall, turn left, and the door is on the right." He remembered this from some other year that he was in the venue! So, as I was walking back from an event one night, I ran into an alumnus from the Class of 1958 (we'll call him Fred). Fred was on campus for some events, even though his reunion year was last year. We stopped to chat and he asked if I knew Yardley. I said yes, and that I was so impressed by him. Fred told me the following story... Fred is a patent attorney, as was Yardley. When Fred saw Yardley on campus last year, he asked Yardely if he had heard about an important patent law decision that had been rendered by the Supreme Court. They talked about the case for a few minutes and Yardley asked Fred if he would mail him a copy of the decision. When Fred called a few days later to see if the article had arrived, Yardley requested a copy of the actual patent as well. After a few more days, Fred called Yardley, and Yardley had already read the article and the patent and proclaimed "I have read them both, and it is my brief that the Courts made the right decision." I don't think my mind is that sharp at 30! (and certainly could never understand the damn patent)

I'm back! Did you miss me? I returned from six days with the MIT Class of 1944 with a sore throat (from yelling into their hearing aids), tired (from joining them at the 7:30 a.m. breakfasts, their dinner dances that went until 11:00 p.m., and zillions of logistics and events in between), and filled with love, gratitude and wonderful stories. Although I couldn't do this every day, I have to say I had a absolutely delightful time with the 80 82-year olds. They were such a smart, fun-loving, insightful, close, and appreciative group of people. I have zillions of stories, but I will end up posting just a few. Suffice it to say, I was VERY well fed, well-loved, and run into the ground. One of the many highlights was dancing cheek to cheek with about 12 different 82 year old men at the dinner dance. Another reunion highlight, that didn't occur with the Class of 1944, but rather at the Tech Day event with all alumni, was a teleconference with a man from the Class of 1989. He couldn't come to his reunion because he is on the space station! He did a satellite feed to the event and we could hear each other perfectly. It is hard to explain the feeling we all had, but there were chills on everyone's arms and a huge smile on everyone's faces. Truly a once in a lifetime experience (well, at least in my lifetime...our children may look back and think "what's the big deal) Some days it is pretty cool that I work with these nerds at MIT. More on the amazing alumni in a bit...

The Insanity Begins: Today is the first day of Tech Reunions, MIT's annual reunions. I am "hosting" the Class of 1944, including joining them in Mystic, CT. I like seniors and find them to be very interesting and appreciative of your efforts (more so than younger alumni) but I am sure I will be absolutely exhausted at the end of almost a week hanging out with 75 82-year olds. Here is the outline of my schedule:
Thursday (today): Hang out at registration to say hi and introduce myself as alumni arrive, dinner at Legal Seafoods, Boston Pops concert, load people onto bus at 11:00 and go HOME
Friday: Tour of the new (and very cool but yet to be seen by me) Geary building on campus called the Stata Center, lunch on a boat cruise on the Charles River (the river MIT and Harvard are on), dinner at Siro's Restuarant in Quincy on the harbor.
Saturday: Help staff Tech Day (the day of intellectual content, about the car this year), Tech Day lunch, get in car and drive to Mystic, CT. I am getting a head start on the 40 cars filled with 82-year olds! Yikes! Reception and dinner at hotel (We are all staying at the Hilton)
Sunday: Mystic Seaport, lunch (hopefully at the famous Mystic Pizza), boat cruise on ancient steam driven vessel, Mystic Aquarium, clam bake at Seaman's Inn
Monday: Pequot Museum, Foxwoods Casino (?), Nautilus sub tour, dinner dance at hotel
Tuesday: Special breakfast, facilitate class elections, drive my tired ass back to Boston
I am tired just typing it! Suffice it to say I will not be writing in the next few days I would guess!

Adult Content Warning: In response to a question about pre-ejaculate (which the person writing to Savage Love didn't know existed and therefore Dan Savage called the writer ignorant) Dan said "Finally, WW, you can take some comfort in knowing that you and your girlfriend aren't the most ignorant and misinformed couple on the planet. According to the British news service Ananova.com, a married German couple were having trouble getting pregnant, so they went to see some fertility doctors. The docs ran tests, determined that both the husband and wife were fertile, and called them in for a talk. "When we asked them how often they had had sex," a spokesman for the clinic told the press, "they looked blank and said, 'What do you mean?'" The 30-year-old wife and her 36-year-old husband—married eight years!—didn't know "the physical requirements necessary to procreate." The couple, the report went on, were "not retarded." They had just grown up in a "religious environment," i.e., the kind of no-information-about-sex-please-we're-fundies environment that America's religious kooks want to impose on us all." See, I will always have job security as a sex educator.

BCB Trauma: "We have some disappointing news to report. Lisa has decided to leave the band and pursue other interests. As many of you know, Lisa defines multi-talented. We're all sorry to see her go as her contributions to the band over the last 6 years has been tremendous." This is absolutely horrible!

Noma! We're gunna be a contender!

More Blogging Madness: This link is posted in honor of my wonderful, funny, wicked smaaat, and somewhat geeky (not not in the nerdy sense...) college friend Eva, who has just let me know that she not only has been reading my blog, but has started her own! Yeah Eva Badeeva! (btw, I am apparently not so much of a geek...I got "Poser")

Monday: We woke up even later today (9:00). Everyone showered and packed. We went to brunch at Kelly's Diner, where we all stuffed ourselves with fantastic and highly caloric breakfast food. We stopped back at my house because we were running ahead of schedule and then I took them to Lechmere to go back to the airport. I think it was good I dropped them (and didn't take them to the airport) because they got there very fast and I heard traffic was bad yesterday all day. After I dropped them off, I went home to change to go on a walk (it was beautiful out) I stopped at Emily/Mandy/Amy's to say hi to Mandy. We caught up a bit, watched some Red Sox and then I headed back on my walk. I watch some more of the game (we got killed...Lowe needs help) while I did some laundry of towels, sheets, etc from the weekend. I paid my monthly bills (DEPRESSING! I'm broke all over again!) and straightened up some thing. I watch some TV shows I had taped and watched the DVD of The Cooler (B). I then read in bed and went to sleep! Good, busy, long weekend comes to a close!

Sunday: We woke up "late" at 8:00 on Sunday. We brought in the paper, made some breakfast, and the picked up Kevin around 10:15. We headed out to Lincoln, MA to the DeCordova Sculpture Garden. Then we went to Walden Pond, where we lay on a blanket for awhile and just relaxed. We then headed back to Cambridge to have brunch at Christopher's. YUM! We then went back to my place to rest, Mom and Dad went on a walk, and Kevin and I watch the Red Sox beat Seattle in extra inning. When then dropped off Kevin in Harvard Square to meet up with a high school friend and Mom, Dad and I went to Helmand, for Afghani food. (I told my parents they had to suspend their preconceived thoughts...and they both loved it...just like me!) I had Mourgh Challow and Kaddo, mom had veggie Ahak and something like Dolma but with stuffed peppers instead of eggplant, and dad had Salata and Dwopiaza (I think...it was lamb). We had their amazing version of baklava (they call if something different) for desert. Then picked up Kevin and tv, and bed.

Saturday: We woke up early (about 7:00!) and made some breakfast. We ate breakfast with place mats and cloth napkins at my dining room tables...I felt like I was at my grandparents' house...which felt nice. I so rarely eat in my dining room so it is always fun to feel civilized and eat in there. After getting ready for the day, we drove to Davis Square to hop on the T to Park Street (the Boston Common) It was a beautiful day (albeit a little windy) and we walked though the Common, past the State House and through the Public Gardens. Kevin had just signed a lease on an apartment right on the Gardens, next to the Ritz! We were not able to get in but we stopped by and took some pictures of the facade. We then walked up Newbury Street for awhile, stopping in several stores but mainly people watching. About 30 minutes after starting our walk up the street, Kevin called and said that he and his girlfriend Heather were also on Newbury Street so we walked a few blocks to meet up with them on the corner. We said some quick hellos, everyone checked each other out (Heather hadn't met any of us yet) and we split up again. Mom, Dad and I walked a few more blocks and we ate outside at Scoozi. We sat outside at a nice cafe table, where we had paninis and watched the people go by. After lunch we walked back down Newbury Street, through the Gardens and Commons, and walked to Fanieul Hall. The street performers were out so we watched some of them but then because to get tired so we headed back to the T to go home. When we got to Davis, Mom and I stopped for ice cream at JP Licks...I had coffee oreo and mom had half cappuccino crunch and half chocolate something. Then off we went to my place to rest a bit. After naps and "freshening up" we went to Harvard Square. We walked around a bit, including a stop in Globe Corner Bookstore for Dad, and then met up with Kevin and Heather at Henrietta's Table. (Mom bought a stuffed pig for her collection at the little store.) I thought the food was great (I had only been there for lunch before) and we ended the meal with a fabulous chocolate banana bread pudding sundae, with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream, as well as a cheesecake with fresh strawberries. Kev and Heather went to go meet up with some friends and the parents and I went back to my place. We watched the basketball game and off to bed!

Weekend with Mom and Dad (and sometime Kevin) Review: Friday night my parents arrived at Logan about 30 minutes late (because of bad weather in Boston) and seemingly quite easily took the T to Lechmere, where I picked them up. We went back to my house to drop off their bags and show them my FIRST HOME! I even dropped them off at the front door because I didn't want them to enter through the laundry room-- I parked the car behind the house and ran around to let them in through the more impressive front door. I gave the the grand tour, complete with identifying all of my home improvement projects, and then we got ready for dinner. I took them to one of my favorite area restaurants (you are going to notice a theme...I love to share restaurants) called Tu Y Yo. It is traditional Mexican-- I had the Pollo Yunkaax, dad had the special that was fish, and mom had the Spinach a la Carlos. We also had some Quesadillas and Sopas. My mom even had some sangria (rare). We then went back to my house and watched the end of the Red Sox game and some of the basketball playoffs. Then to bed.

I Don't Wanna...go back to work. Not only was it wonderful to have a three day weekend, and to have my parents (and brother) visit for the weekend, but I am now entering what is basically an eleven day work week. (more on the details of this later in the week, but basically I am working on campus for reunions from Thursday through Saturday and then going with the MIT Class of '44 to Mystic, CT from Saturday through Tuesday, and then coming into the office for the remainder of the week.)