In Pennsylvania for the Holidays

I had wanted to visit my family for the Thanksgiving holiday, but money was not available for that. But, gift of all gifts -- I received an unexpected treat before the year’s end: My brother and sister-in-law paid for a round trip train ticket to Pittsburgh because we haven’t been together in three years and because I’ve been unemployed since April 2008. I was dreading the 9.5 hours voyage, but it turns out that there’s an antidote for long rides. The Internet! My plan was to do what I always do, check email, etc., and then sleep. The hours passed so quickly that there was not time to sleep. In what felt like 4 hours, I was there. I had twelve full days with my family, half with my brother, his daughter, his wife and her son and dog, and half with my sister, her son and daughter.


Some Photos of the Landscape between New York and Pittsburgh















Family Photos



The nieces, Ronda and Bryna, and the nephew, Kevin aka Kevinstein, after their aunt's calligraphy "class."







Uncle Ron vs. Kevinstein, in the basement of Ron and Sue's home.




Bryna; Tina, my sister; Kevin; Ron, my brother; Sue, my sister-in-law, all together in the basement of Tina's home.


My Brother's In-laws (and dog)







Jymmie Jack, she has Christmas, too.



Derek, Sue's son, and his cousin.



Sue, her nephew, Derek (standing), her brother-in-law, her sister.


Sue's brother-in-law, her sister, nephew, father and mother.


And for her encore appearance, Ms. Jymmie Jack.

Where does the time go? I have much more to post here, but it's getting late and I have to get up earlier than usual tomorrow. Going to an alumni affair at Columbia U -- jumbotron of the inauguration. I just took out the instruction book for a videocam that I won in a raffle; unfortunately, I need a tape, which I don't have and that I might not have time to get by 11:00 am tomorrow. I should have done this months ago, learning to operate the camera. Anyway, I'll return tomorrow to complete or continue with this post, and probably post photos from Columbia.