SD Public Library

The central library branch is spacious with three floors of collections. The interior is outdated and there is a large customer base of homeless people. It has both the space and clientele of a large city library, but lacks the visual excitement and professional presence that other urban libraries possess.

So True!

Stop #2 in SD

My feet were in desperate need of tlc, which I wanted to do something about before we left but never had a chance to. I usually don't splurge on a pedicure, but this was a MUST! And, surprisingly, pedicures are cheap in San Diego... like $15 cheap! What's up with that PA? Every nail salon back home charges $25 or more.

Stop #1 in San Diego

South African Deli! For meat, chocolates, and cool drinks only the South African's have. Thomas is very happy

Air Travel

A pretty view and an interesting hair color/style...

Carter Goes to 5th Grade

Carter is a 5th grader! He has a whole year to experience the joys and knowledge that 5th grade has to offer. He told me he likes his teachers and he's interested in joining choir - yay!

Irena Sendler

I'm re-posting this from another blogger's site to remind myself that it's not who you are that's most important, it's what you do and for whom you do it for that really matters most.  I try to remind myself of this when life gets a little crazy.  Irena's story is powerful and moving.

Meet Irena Sendler (1910-2008)

She was a 98 year-old Polish woman at her time of death. During World War II, Irena worked in the Warsaw Ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist. She dedicated herself to smuggle Jewish children out. Infants were carried in the bottom of the tool box she used and older children in a burlap sack she had in the back of her truck.

She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids’ and infants’ noises. Irena managed to smuggle out and save 2500 children during this time.
She eventually was caught and the Nazis broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and in a glass jar buried under a tree in her backyard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived and reunited some of the families but most had been killed. She then helped those children get placement into foster family homes or adopted.

In 2007, Irena was up for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was not selected.

Al Gore won for presenting a slide show on Global Warming.

Long Time, No Post

Summer seems to be flying by way too fast.  It seems like we have been busy all summer long doing this and that and just trying to enjoy the moment.  We are gearing up for another trip to San Diego in about another week, and throwing around some ideas for late Summer/early Fall.  Below are some pictures highlighting some of the most memorable moments we've had this Summer.

Thomas celebrates another year of life with LOBSTER!  Our friend Matt works in Massachusetts from time-to-time and discovered some cheap lobster.  We were stunned and placed an order with other people.  Matt happened to be coming back to PA from MA on Thomas' birthday, so we had a lobster dinner with some neighbor friends.  So delicious!

Carter celebrates 10 years of life with friends.  Carter must be the luckiest kid - TWO birthday parties in ONE year.  I don't blame him for wanting a summer birthday party, though.  When I was a kid I always felt like it was the bomb to have a birthday in the summer time and then another gift-giving holiday in the winter.  It was a win, win.  Yes, very self-serving, but then again, childhood doesn't last forever.

Ivy accompanied my mom, Carter, and his friends during the day on a tubing trip down the Delaware River.  I helped out after work by picking up grub, setting up tents, and just generally supervising wild kids.  I didn't know all of them very well, but I got to learn so much about each boy that night - and they are the sweetest boys.  Ivy and I got to witness their sensitive sides as well as the rough and tough demeanors.  Our favorite moment was when Liam (Carter's best friend) went up to Ben and asked if he could climb the flag pole.  I think Ivy and I both spit out our drinks at the same moment with deep laughter.  It was a moment you had to be there for to really appreciate the humor in the situation.  We are still quoting Liam from that night - too funny!

U2 concert!  Back in November of 2009 we bought tickets to see U2 live in Philly, originally scheduled for July of 2010.  But Bono hurt his back last year and the concert was post-poned until July of 2011.  It was well worth the wait!  We had an amazing time at the concert - an excellent crowd experience with no drama, which is always nice.  And U2's performance was electrifying.  They played all of their famous songs and spoke to a stadium full of people like they were in an intimate cafe.  I had the the time of my life listening to some of my favorite songs and dancing to the music.  The Claw was mesmerizing. The number of things that structure can do is mind-boggeling and looks really neat when lit up.

We went on a 17 MILE kayak trip down the Schuylkill River with two other couples.  We highly underestimated how long it would take us to reach our destination.  Needless to say, it was a 7 hour trip in total!  We stopped three times, once at length to lunch, and then twice more to just stretch and regain feeling below the waist.  Fortunately, we lucked out with the best weather.  There was a warm breeze on the water that day.  The only pics we have from that day are from Lauren's cell phone: