Sunday, September 24, 2006
The Weekend
I decided it would be in my best interest to take a short break from studying. I've been up since about ten. Mostly reading cases, articles and textbook material. My eyes need a rest from small print. So, I'll entertain the masses with a post of this past weekend.
Last weekend, I met up with a friend of mine. Edan works in the city so I met him for dinner down town. We ate at Continental one of Steven Star's restaurants. Steven Star is an entrepreneur who decided Philadelphia needed more flavor. He opened several trendy restaurants with different themes. Continental was a fusion type restaurant. It was a nice time down town but I didn't get to spend nearly enough time exploring the area.
This weekend some people on my floor got together to head to a different part of downtown. South St.
Here's the group (minus me)
Jacob is in the back on the right. He makes that face in every picture.
I'm starting to get use to the public transportation here. We needed to take the blue line to get downtown.
Stephen's girlfriend goes to Penn State. Penn State's campus is a few hours west of Penn's campus. She stayed for the weekend.
When we got to South Street we made our way to the World Famous Jim's Steaks.
I came...
I saw...
I conquered!
This is where everything ended up. I am a true Philadelphian now.
(that's my belly/shirt/new home of the Cheesesteak)
Someone stole my camera temporarily and took this picture. It's us going down the stairs at Jim's Steaks. The seating for Jim's is upstairs, above the line, grill and register. The building is old and like most old buildings in Philadelphia, Jim's is tall and skinny because buildings were taxed based upon the width of their street facing wall. So We had to walk up and down these steeps stairs to eat our food and leave the restaurant. We were walking off the calories.
We also went to a Psychic Palm reader downtown. She had only good news for me! I'm going to be successful, happy and die very old!
Here's Jacob and Peggy doing her best impression of Jacob.
We took the bus back to campus and called it a night after a movie in the room.
Last night we went to Penn Football's home opener.
All Penn Football games take place at historic Franklin Field.
Capacity at Franklin Field is over 52,000. Our total campus population including faculty is somewhere near 12,000. We do not fill our stadium. It is so large because Penn Relays are hosted here every year. Penn Relays is the second largest track and field competition. The Olypmics is the only event larger. Franklin Field is the country's first two-tier stadium. The first radio broadcast of a football game was a broadcast of a game at Franklin Field. The first NFL televised game was filmed at Franklin Field. The first televised college football game was filmed at Franklin Field.
Our academics and history make up for the lack of performance in the athletic department.
Stephen and his girlfriend Leah.
There are many songs that have been played at Penn football games for years. One of them has a line that says, "Here's a toast to dear old Ben!" Students in attendance at the game would raise a glass of Champagne to toast Ben Franklin, the founder of Penn. Well, the administration realized that alcohol, sports and college students are not the safest mix (especially when the home team is performing poorly) and then the federal law raised the drinking age to 21. So, naturally we could not drink champagne at the games. Instead we "toast" Ben Franklin during the song between the third and fourth quarters by throwing actual toast towards the field.
All those speckles are pieces of toast!
I bet you're wondering how they clean up the toast. There is only one answer: A Toast Zambonie!
So, that was my weekend! Back to work!
Last weekend, I met up with a friend of mine. Edan works in the city so I met him for dinner down town. We ate at Continental one of Steven Star's restaurants. Steven Star is an entrepreneur who decided Philadelphia needed more flavor. He opened several trendy restaurants with different themes. Continental was a fusion type restaurant. It was a nice time down town but I didn't get to spend nearly enough time exploring the area.
This weekend some people on my floor got together to head to a different part of downtown. South St.
Here's the group (minus me)
Jacob is in the back on the right. He makes that face in every picture.
I'm starting to get use to the public transportation here. We needed to take the blue line to get downtown.
Stephen's girlfriend goes to Penn State. Penn State's campus is a few hours west of Penn's campus. She stayed for the weekend.
When we got to South Street we made our way to the World Famous Jim's Steaks.
I came...
I saw...
I conquered!
This is where everything ended up. I am a true Philadelphian now.
(that's my belly/shirt/new home of the Cheesesteak)
Someone stole my camera temporarily and took this picture. It's us going down the stairs at Jim's Steaks. The seating for Jim's is upstairs, above the line, grill and register. The building is old and like most old buildings in Philadelphia, Jim's is tall and skinny because buildings were taxed based upon the width of their street facing wall. So We had to walk up and down these steeps stairs to eat our food and leave the restaurant. We were walking off the calories.
We also went to a Psychic Palm reader downtown. She had only good news for me! I'm going to be successful, happy and die very old!
Here's Jacob and Peggy doing her best impression of Jacob.
We took the bus back to campus and called it a night after a movie in the room.
Last night we went to Penn Football's home opener.
All Penn Football games take place at historic Franklin Field.
Capacity at Franklin Field is over 52,000. Our total campus population including faculty is somewhere near 12,000. We do not fill our stadium. It is so large because Penn Relays are hosted here every year. Penn Relays is the second largest track and field competition. The Olypmics is the only event larger. Franklin Field is the country's first two-tier stadium. The first radio broadcast of a football game was a broadcast of a game at Franklin Field. The first NFL televised game was filmed at Franklin Field. The first televised college football game was filmed at Franklin Field.
Our academics and history make up for the lack of performance in the athletic department.
Stephen and his girlfriend Leah.
There are many songs that have been played at Penn football games for years. One of them has a line that says, "Here's a toast to dear old Ben!" Students in attendance at the game would raise a glass of Champagne to toast Ben Franklin, the founder of Penn. Well, the administration realized that alcohol, sports and college students are not the safest mix (especially when the home team is performing poorly) and then the federal law raised the drinking age to 21. So, naturally we could not drink champagne at the games. Instead we "toast" Ben Franklin during the song between the third and fourth quarters by throwing actual toast towards the field.
All those speckles are pieces of toast!
I bet you're wondering how they clean up the toast. There is only one answer: A Toast Zambonie!
So, that was my weekend! Back to work!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
More Room Shots
I promise, I get out of my room. We just happened to update our walls yesterday with some new posters we got in the mail. So, we have more decorations.
Sorry the lighting on this one is not that great. If you look up towards the top there are three black and white skylines. Starting from the left we have New York, Venice and finish with London on the right. We are so cultural. It's a really nice touch.
This is a new shot of my knook. We added the water cooler, the guitar and some posters!
Two of my favorites!
Here is one of my favorites. We get to laugh at the intellectual humor. We are oh-so-college and smart and get a Bolshevik joke.
No need to explain.
This is the new view of the wall behind the Desks and TV.
I love this Hopper piece. Mr. Ginger exposed me to Edward Hopper. I like his work.
A classic Empire State Building shot.
And now on to the bed room. I made my bed especially for the pictures.
Everyone thinks this picture is creepy.
I disagree. I like it a lot. It matches the colors of the room and I like it. No matter what everyone else in the hall thinks. So there!
Here's the shot above my Head and JJ's closet.
A close up of The Gates Project in Central Park. It was an art project that went up a few years ago. I like this picturea lot too.
And in case you had any doubt, here is semi-proof I actually did a load of laundry!
To finish off: A couple of pictures of some friends.
A girl named Peggy who lives down the hall and Stephen taking pictures on my camera while I study.. Some kids just only know when to play...
Here is the entire hall outside in the rain before our convocation.
Alright, I think i'll go to sleep now.
Sorry the lighting on this one is not that great. If you look up towards the top there are three black and white skylines. Starting from the left we have New York, Venice and finish with London on the right. We are so cultural. It's a really nice touch.
This is a new shot of my knook. We added the water cooler, the guitar and some posters!
Two of my favorites!
Here is one of my favorites. We get to laugh at the intellectual humor. We are oh-so-college and smart and get a Bolshevik joke.
No need to explain.
This is the new view of the wall behind the Desks and TV.
I love this Hopper piece. Mr. Ginger exposed me to Edward Hopper. I like his work.
A classic Empire State Building shot.
And now on to the bed room. I made my bed especially for the pictures.
Everyone thinks this picture is creepy.
I disagree. I like it a lot. It matches the colors of the room and I like it. No matter what everyone else in the hall thinks. So there!
Here's the shot above my Head and JJ's closet.
A close up of The Gates Project in Central Park. It was an art project that went up a few years ago. I like this picturea lot too.
And in case you had any doubt, here is semi-proof I actually did a load of laundry!
To finish off: A couple of pictures of some friends.
A girl named Peggy who lives down the hall and Stephen taking pictures on my camera while I study.. Some kids just only know when to play...
Here is the entire hall outside in the rain before our convocation.
Alright, I think i'll go to sleep now.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Some Free Time
So, it's Monday night and I've found some free time. I hope all is well with everyone.
Some big events in my life here:
1) I did my first load of laundry! Cleaned, dried (twice because the driers are pathetic), folded and hung up my clothes!
2) I did what one can only do in Philadelphia. The Schuylkill River runs between the school and the campus. I went running along the river for two miles and made my way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to run up the Rocky steps! Then two miles back to school. It was very exhilerating!
3) We got more posters to decorate our room. I'll post them once I make my bed again and take the pictures.
4) I also cleaned the room by organzing clothes, taking out trash, sweeping, etc.
5) I spent five hours in one night doing Calculous homework.
Other than that, college is college. I'll try to get up here with some pictures. I am just really busy, so I apologize for not responding to emails quickly. I'll get back as soon as I can.
I'm enjoying everything here!
I'll be back soon!
Some big events in my life here:
1) I did my first load of laundry! Cleaned, dried (twice because the driers are pathetic), folded and hung up my clothes!
2) I did what one can only do in Philadelphia. The Schuylkill River runs between the school and the campus. I went running along the river for two miles and made my way to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to run up the Rocky steps! Then two miles back to school. It was very exhilerating!
3) We got more posters to decorate our room. I'll post them once I make my bed again and take the pictures.
4) I also cleaned the room by organzing clothes, taking out trash, sweeping, etc.
5) I spent five hours in one night doing Calculous homework.
Other than that, college is college. I'll try to get up here with some pictures. I am just really busy, so I apologize for not responding to emails quickly. I'll get back as soon as I can.
I'm enjoying everything here!
I'll be back soon!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Long Island Homes
Hey Everyone. It's Sunday night and I'm just finishing up with some homework.
I never posted the pictures of the old homes where the older generations grew up.
I'm apologizing now, I don't remember exactly who owned each house but I'll do my best.
So, this is the park where Mom and Dad first saw each other!
Mom's house growing up
This is apparently a big deal. They fixed the wall. Here's the proof.
I'm not sure who lived in these next two houses. I think one is Aphrodite (sorry on the spelling. She was mom's friend growing up) and I think the other house is a friend of Grandpa's.
they could be a thousand different people. So, I apologize now if I am wrong on the owners.
Here is where Dad grew up
This next house is where my Grandpa Anderson grew up...
...and where he now Rests In Peace...
Some more pictures of the family. The problem of traveling without a photographer is that only three people get to be in the picture at a time.
And finally, my "First day of School" Pictures. The biggest difference with college is tha tmy First class did not start until 11 am. It was a nice treat to sleep in on the first day!
A note for the observant: I am wearing the same t-shirt in the first day of school picture and in the picture at the dock in Long Island posted above. This segues into a funny story.
Early in the summer I submitted a picture online for my Student ID card. When i went to pick up the card, I was wearing the same shirt that was in the picture. It was a weird coincidence. I wear more than the same two shirts, I promise.
Tomorrow starts the first, full week of school. I'll try and get back sometime before Monday rolls around again.
Have a good week!
I never posted the pictures of the old homes where the older generations grew up.
I'm apologizing now, I don't remember exactly who owned each house but I'll do my best.
So, this is the park where Mom and Dad first saw each other!
Mom's house growing up
This is apparently a big deal. They fixed the wall. Here's the proof.
I'm not sure who lived in these next two houses. I think one is Aphrodite (sorry on the spelling. She was mom's friend growing up) and I think the other house is a friend of Grandpa's.
they could be a thousand different people. So, I apologize now if I am wrong on the owners.
Here is where Dad grew up
This next house is where my Grandpa Anderson grew up...
...and where he now Rests In Peace...
Some more pictures of the family. The problem of traveling without a photographer is that only three people get to be in the picture at a time.
And finally, my "First day of School" Pictures. The biggest difference with college is tha tmy First class did not start until 11 am. It was a nice treat to sleep in on the first day!
A note for the observant: I am wearing the same t-shirt in the first day of school picture and in the picture at the dock in Long Island posted above. This segues into a funny story.
Early in the summer I submitted a picture online for my Student ID card. When i went to pick up the card, I was wearing the same shirt that was in the picture. It was a weird coincidence. I wear more than the same two shirts, I promise.
Tomorrow starts the first, full week of school. I'll try and get back sometime before Monday rolls around again.
Have a good week!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Just a Short hello
Hey everyone,
It's the first day of classes. I just sat through my Econ class and I have a little bit of time to kill before I head off to Spanish.
I forgot to update the Pictures of Grandma's and Grandpa's houses from Long Island. I'll get to that before the end of the week. So look forward to that.
I'm not sure why the website does not load when you type in the address. If it only works on the link in the email, I'll send out an email with a link every time I update.
Off to class!
It's the first day of classes. I just sat through my Econ class and I have a little bit of time to kill before I head off to Spanish.
I forgot to update the Pictures of Grandma's and Grandpa's houses from Long Island. I'll get to that before the end of the week. So look forward to that.
I'm not sure why the website does not load when you type in the address. If it only works on the link in the email, I'll send out an email with a link every time I update.
Off to class!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Everything from Summer until Today
It's one o'clock right now. It's been raining since before I woke up at eight o'clock. Hurricane Ernesto is making college very damp.
Here are some photos from the summer:
Starting with Graduation
From New York City and Long Island for Michelle's Wedding:
This is on the escalator at the theatre playing the Lion King.
They were made for Broadway!
Newly Weds
The best part about weddings is meeting up with all of the extended family.
Allison and I took a road trip down to Sedona Arizona where we also visited the Grand Canyon.
Sedona's local animal is the Javelina which is a little hog. Every corner you turn, a new artsy javelina sculpture decorates the walkways.
This picture is from a going away party for my friend Eric. He is in the Green Shirt. Everyone in the picture went to school together in junior high.
And now, back to school. Well, just to school I guess.
Mom and Dad
This is the entrance to the Quad which is the building where I live.
My dorm room is one of the last rooms on the left down this walk way.
Welcome to the Upper Quad. This is our triangle grassy knoll.
Walking towards my dorm...
Here is the first view of our triple. There are three rooms. The Living room (below), a double room on the right and a single on the left.
This is the single where Stephen lives.
Here's a messy shot, which is actually a rare site for this room (we're very organized, schockingly), of the double room.
Allison's mom made me a beautiful quilt and two matching pillow cases.
This is my desk. A very nice desk because my parents are ridiculous. If anyone asks you if you know any ridiculous people, say, "Yes, I do." They picked up this huge tv when I asked for a little one to keep up on the news and General Hospital.
From left to right: Stephen, Alex, JJ. The college boys of Baldwin 209!
The Family!!
Now, Let's walk around a rainy campus...
We were able to go down-town yesterday. here are some shots of Philadelphia
These are a lot of people who live in my hall.
The school sponsored a Toga party in the museum on campus...
There was a guy in an ape costume, I'm not sure why.
So, that is all I have for now. Everything is going well and damp. I'm having a great time. I'll sent out an email soon enough with all my mailing information, etc.
I must be off to a couple of lectures on taxes! Who's pumped?
Here are some photos from the summer:
Starting with Graduation
From New York City and Long Island for Michelle's Wedding:
This is on the escalator at the theatre playing the Lion King.
They were made for Broadway!
Newly Weds
The best part about weddings is meeting up with all of the extended family.
Allison and I took a road trip down to Sedona Arizona where we also visited the Grand Canyon.
Sedona's local animal is the Javelina which is a little hog. Every corner you turn, a new artsy javelina sculpture decorates the walkways.
This picture is from a going away party for my friend Eric. He is in the Green Shirt. Everyone in the picture went to school together in junior high.
And now, back to school. Well, just to school I guess.
Mom and Dad
This is the entrance to the Quad which is the building where I live.
My dorm room is one of the last rooms on the left down this walk way.
Welcome to the Upper Quad. This is our triangle grassy knoll.
Walking towards my dorm...
Here is the first view of our triple. There are three rooms. The Living room (below), a double room on the right and a single on the left.
This is the single where Stephen lives.
Here's a messy shot, which is actually a rare site for this room (we're very organized, schockingly), of the double room.
Allison's mom made me a beautiful quilt and two matching pillow cases.
This is my desk. A very nice desk because my parents are ridiculous. If anyone asks you if you know any ridiculous people, say, "Yes, I do." They picked up this huge tv when I asked for a little one to keep up on the news and General Hospital.
From left to right: Stephen, Alex, JJ. The college boys of Baldwin 209!
The Family!!
Now, Let's walk around a rainy campus...
We were able to go down-town yesterday. here are some shots of Philadelphia
These are a lot of people who live in my hall.
The school sponsored a Toga party in the museum on campus...
There was a guy in an ape costume, I'm not sure why.
So, that is all I have for now. Everything is going well and damp. I'm having a great time. I'll sent out an email soon enough with all my mailing information, etc.
I must be off to a couple of lectures on taxes! Who's pumped?
