On your mark, get set...

GO! So this is the general pace of life chez Wall (both the Philadelphia and the Ohio editions). Academic life is keeping both mdw and mtw busy, challenged, and satisfied. mdw's birthday was last week - and warranted a weekend together in Philly - well mostly in Philly, mdw had to work all day Saturday for an Arts and Humanities Symposium at Princeton, and mtw was gracious enough to join her, and even accompany the class and activities.

We have no pictures to post from the weekend because we were too busy living it, but here are the highlights:

Italian dinner with my neighbors on the actual birthday - fun stuff, that.

Lots of "Happy Birthday" renditions from friends and family, especially the Tolks who called three times!

Sushi dinner on Friday - very yummy.

Many birthday gifts, including...drumroll please, Wii (the gift should reflect the giver, right?)!

Hiking with the dogs in Washington Crossing State Park in NJ, and along the Schulkyll River in Philly - both beautiful autumn outings.

Seeing Jodie Foster's new flick, "The Brave One."

Brushing up on logistics to call upon congressional representatives for advocacy.

All in all, a fantastic birthday weekend. The only thing missing was banana cake with orange frosting!