Hey parents,

I have a few minutes before my next class so I thought i would email you guys. I am aware that just one email will not do justice to how long it has been since my last but I hope you can accept my apologies and know that it has just been very busy. First and foremost I am loving college and everything is working out very well so far. I have made a lot of friends and my classes are going well. It is exactly what i was looking for in school and I am glad that I picked the right one. Aside from going to class I have been exploring the city and the things to do there. Philly is great and not nearly as bad as it is made out to be although some sketchy stuff does happen now and then. For example last night there was a huge fight in front of my dorm, a huge drunken brawl that i could hear from my room. No big deal and I was not involved however a few kids from my building did end up getting arrested. See it is just things that keep life interesting. And if nothing else the city is just that. very very very interesting. I love living in a city with so much do to and so many people everywhere, NOW DAD this isn’t to say that i don’t miss all my friends and my home, because i do. But if forced out of that situation this is a good one to be in. Thank you for all your emails and packages and stuff. They really help and I enjoy receiving them. The starbucks card was a good idea. thanks I finally got my PNC bank card and am going to deposit the money into it tomorrow. The food here is exactly what i have wanted all my life and the fact that it goes to a meal plan is even better, to eat there is basically anything that i could ask for. Sushi, thanksgiving dinners, subs, taco bell, burger king, delis, chinese food and of course the buffet thing that you guys ate at. Not only that but there are plenty of other places to eat around.

All right, time for class

hope to hear from you soon
love
matt

Here is the last chapter in the Einstein story. It’s only a minute long, and remember one reason Dr. Hausdoerffer and Dr. Mani were able to gain access to Albert is because when asked, Dr. Mani said, yes, he was a physicist.

Okay, here it is. Bill Hausdoerffer continues talking about his visit with Albert.

Diane on the Vineyard.

************

I’m fighting with youtube trying to upload the second part of Bill and Albert. It looks like I’ll have to break that last part into two.

In the meantime, K.D. Lang singing Crying

On our way to Temple two weeks ago we stopped in New Jersey to see Diane’s aunt Rose (95) and Uncle Bill (94). Here, Uncle Bill recounts his meeting with Albert Einstein. Most of the story is in this eight minute video, but there is a part two.

Locking Yourself Out, Then Trying to Get Back In

You simply go out and shut the door
without thinking. And when you look back
at what you’ve done
it’s too late. If this sounds
like the story of a life, okay.

It was raining. The neighbours who had
a key were away. I tried and tried
the lower windows. Stared
inside at the sofa, plants, the table
and chairs, the stereo set-up.
My coffee cup and ashtray waited for me
on the glass-topped table, and my heart
went out to them. I said, Hello, friends,
or something like that. After all,
this wasn’t so bad.
Worse things had happened. This
was even a little funny. I found the ladder.
Took that and leaned it against the house.
Then climbed in the rain to the deck,
swung myself over the railing
and tried the door. Which was locked,
of course. But I looked in just the same
at my desk, some papers, and my chair.
This was the window on the other side
of the desk where I’d raise my eyes
and stare out when I sat at that desk.
This is not like downstairs, I thought.
This is something else.

And it was something to look in like that, unseen,
from the deck. To be there, inside, and not be there.
I don’t even think I can talk about it.
I brought my face close to the glass
and imagined myself inside,
sitting at the desk. Looking up
from my work now and again.
Thinking about some other place
and some other time.
The people I had loved then.

I stood there for a minute in the rain.
Considering myself to be the luckiest of men.
Even though a wave of grief passed through me.
Even though I felt violently ashamed
of the injury I’d done back then.
I bashed that beautiful window.
And stepped back in.

Raymond Carver

Roy, Bruce and Bonnie

************

I’ve written twice before about George (called Georgia) who stands guard at Concord Lumber and checks to see if you’ve filled your truck with more than what you’ve paid for. He’s eighty-two and never stops smiling, unless he’s discussing politics which I avoid like road kill. He works because he likes people, and that can be a problem. There is no whizzing by Georgia – he’s a talker, and sometimes the only relief is the truck that pulls up behind mine.

It’s not that I mind our talks – they are always pleasant and he’s always cheerful, it’s just that in theory I have some other place I need to be. This morning was a little different. Not in the length of our conversation, but in content.

“How’s your sister?” I ask. (She has Alzheimer’s)

“About the same. They gave her a new drug, but it didn’t work. About the same.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“People can live for years with it.”

I thought it odd that he said “people” when we were talking about his sister.

But then he opened up on me.

“Life is fucking misery.”

“Life is what?”

“Fucking misery. You get sick, people get old, your wife leaves you, your kids leave you.”

“What are you talking about?” I knew what he was walking about, cause he was singing my tune, but his own song and dance has always been so upbeat.

“You know what I’m talking about. Life is a one way street. We all know where it ends. I never used to think this, but If you’re young and you can have a good time, have it. If you see something you want – get it. Cause it’ll all end anyway.

I picked up my black pack, put it on the side of my face and leaned down onto the passenger side seat. From under the pack I cried, “Enough, enough.”

“You don’t want to hear this? Then go nail up your plywood.”

(click)

Here are some pics from Hilary’s move in day on Sunday the 3rd for the blog. The day went unbelievably well. She has yet to be assigned a roommate, so she has the place to herself for a while. Hilary’s sisters Hannah (Hilary’s Mini Me), Allie and brother Nick were on hand to help.

Jen

(click)

Here are some pics from Hilary’s move in day on Sunday the 3rd for the blog. The day went unbelievably well. She has yet to be assigned a roommate, so she has the place to herself for a while. Hilary’s sisters Hannah (Hilary’s Mini Me), Allie and brother Nick were on hand to help.

Jen

Adam’s weekend time was limited so we got only half through our collaborative movie. However, I couldn’t remain in idle waiting to resume production, so I made my own. Here it is, titled The Last Prom. It is way over the top…of what I don’t know.

Music : “The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me,” by Gladys Knight & The Pips.

“Dirty Boulevard”