My upcoming trip to Korea

Another country, journey, and learning experience. On April 2, I head off to South Korea for a month.

Several questions probably come to mind.

• Another trip?


• During the school year?


• Do you ever work?


• Why Korea?


• Who did you black mail to get this?


• And my favorite REAL question from one of my students, “Are you in the CIA?”

I am heading to South Korea for a month with the Rotary Club’s Group Study Exchange Program. Here is the basic info on the program from the Rotary web site.

“The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.

For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.” (Link for more info)

How did I hear about the program? Once you complete one of the teacher/travel programs it’s almost as if you have seen behind the curtain of the Great OZ. A friend who I completed my Fulbright to China with wife thought I would be a good candidate for the program. Yet another friend from one of these travel programs went to India with the program last year. And last but certainly not least, Melanie, my boss at the “H” gave me the OK to apply and totally supported me going once I was accepted. It’s really cool that my boss and school support me with something like this.

While I’m in Korea my students will be engaged in role play from Brown University’s Choices program (Link).

I taught one of their programs about Mexico at St. Albans last summer and found it quite effective. The students will study the history of the Korean Peninsula in general and then specifically the history of North Korea and South Korea relations in regards to the North Korean effort to become fully nuclear. They students will role play the stake holders in the region and what should be done. (Japan, Russia, United States, China, North, and South Korea). They will then write a five paragraph research essay about their personal opinions based on research. In addition I’ll be Skyping with them the entire month.

It’s going to be an adventure. I’ll post my schedule later on and give some more details about the trip. The funny thing besides watching M.A.S.H religiously, I really didn’t know much about Korea until I began my application process. The country is fascinating. Hopefully I, and more importantly my students, learn a lot.

Side note, I told some friends that this trip is actually a very dramatic plan for weight loss, fame, and fortune. Here is the plan as it stands now;

After spending a month in South Korea our group will fly out of Seoul. Since Seoul is near the border I’ll “accidently” wander across into communist North Korea. I’ll be captured immediately. Based on previous precedent I will be sent to a prison camp or kept in isolation. Although harsh, I think that either hard labor or isolation would provide the best scenario for dramatic weight loss. After a month or so, which by then I will be done with school and extremely svelte, I will be negotiated for by one William Jefferson Clinton. He comes and picks me up Pyongyang. Then a slimmed down J. Steph and Bill Clinton could would be two guys with a personal jet on the town, imagine what shenanigans and hijinks ensue. I arrive back in the US to a hero’s welcome. I do all the talk shows. I write a memoir and go on Oprah when she chooses it for her book of the month club. Then I have Craig Brewer make the movie version of my book. I may or may not seek out a few celebrity romances. I may choose to, “Disdain the whole Hollywood scene”. That decision will be up to my publicist, former White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer. Hey, he is helping Tiger Woods.

Sadly, I have given this plan a great deal of thought.

Who wouldn't want to meet this guy?

Former Pres. Clinton has negotiated this deal before

First day of spring on the rooftop

Enjoying some coffee on the roofdeck if my condo. The Mississippi is
fantastic on this first day of spring.

I'm making a list of all the stuff I have to do before taking of for
Korea in TWO WEEKS!!! Yikes.

Breakfast on Beale Street

Back in Memphis.

As a rule I think Beale Street is WAY to commercial but I lobe Miss
Polly's for breakfast.

I'm meeting some folks for a brewer's festival and needed to eat so
here I am.

Spring Break

I love the fact that despite my advancing age I still have spring break. The first weeken was spent moving a friend and then sitting around doing nothing. It was good.

I'm sitting in the Atlanta airport on my way to visit my Granpa Kerr in Hobe Sound, FL. My cousin, on Mom's side, is there also so we all should have a good time.

The only certainties, early bird specials and spring training baseball.

Out.

Sent from my iPhone

Spring Break

Photos of a snowy downtown Memphis

Check out the photos and photo slide show below.

A snowy Trolley line outside my condo.

The Arcade

A Very Memphis Weekend

Pete has been very busy the past few weeks so it’s time to update the goings-on.

Friday, January 22nd

Since I’ve “retired” from coaching I’ve had a LOT more free time. It’s really been nice. I miss the hoops scene but since I’m not confined to the games I was coaching or other “H” related games I’ve been able to take in the Metro Memphis scene. The prep talent pool is always deep in Memphis but this year it’s insane.

White Station #4 upsets Memphis Central #2

I, joined by the Big Kat, decided to take in the White Station vs. Memphis Central game in Midtown. The match up pitted two of the top four ranked teams in the city. The place was rocking from the floor to the rafters. The crowd was the who’s who of the Memphis hoops and social scene. The Memphis Tiger coaching staff was there to check their 2010-2011 signee Joe Jackson. Rep. Steve Cohen (D), TN 9th congressional district, was also in the house. Great scene, great game.

Memphis Tiger signee Joe Jackson blurs past his defender

Link to the game recap.

After the game we decided to go old school Rhodes for a couple of beers at Zinnie’s. We could grab a few “cold, cold one’s” until the Rhodesians hit the place @10pm and we would be become the old guys that we made fun decades ago. We shot the bull and when the Rhodes kids arrived at their appointed time we left. Only problem Big Kat’s car was towed from the Laundromat next store along with every other car. Total screw job. Here was his quote the next day when he picked up his truck and paid the extortion to get his car back,

“One basketball game...$5, four beers...$17, getting towed at Zinnie's … $200, living in Memphis..., priceless!”

The sign outside of the tow place said they reserve the right to charge more money if you showed any “Attitude!” Classic Memphis.

Saturday, Jan. 23rd

After a day of reading, chilling out, and napping, I set the bar high don’t I, I headed to the Young Avenue Deli for a music show benefit to raise funds for Haiti. The concert featured Amy Levere, Snowglobe, Devil Train, and the Craig Schuster Band .The place was jam packed. My group left after Snowglobe, who was great by the way.

Snowglobe

From there we rolled over to The Cove on Broad Ave. There we caught the show of Deering and Down. Their music is mesmerizing. The lead singer, Lahna Deering, has a haunting voice. The music is a mix of folk, country, and rockabilly. If you get a chance to hear them, do it!

Interior of The Cove

(photo from www.ilovememphisblog.com)

Link to a great write-up of The Cove

In addition to the fine tunes was an artist who performed with to the music a hula hoop and also ate fire. I couldn’t make that up if I tried. Awesomeness!

Eating Fire!!!

Snowglobe in action!




Deering and Down on the Madison Hotel's Rooftop

Fino's Follow Up - Video of Craig Brewer interviewing Jo Ann

Follow up from yesterday's post.

Craig Brewer, director of such films as Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan, and The Poor and Hungry interview Jo Ann on her last day of work at Fino's.

The End of an Era – Jo Ann sells Fino’s

Jo Ann always maintained they chose Fino's because Terry was cheap to write her full maiden name on the sign, Finocchiaro

Making sandwiches at Fino’s probably saved my life.

No matter how ridiculous this statement sounds it is none the less true. I'm not saying I would be dead now but I do mean that I my life would not be as good as it today. There was period during my time in college that…, let’s just says my focus was not where it needed to be. I was letting a lot of people down, mostly myself. I worked at Fino’s all through college and then on and off after for over 6 years. I worked with some great people and worked for an even better one, Jo Ann.

How I was hired

Like most college students I needed a job. Beer and food does not grow on trees. They should by the way. A great friend, Rojo, was working at this fledgling Italian Grocery and Deli in the first floor of the Gilmore Apartments and said that the place was looking for another employee and recommended me for the job. I couldn’t come in for an interview because I was about to head to New Orleans for spring break, which also coincided with Mardi Gras. I will spare the blogosphere and not jeopardize my job by simply stating the end result of that trip, I came home from my first Mardi Gras with a full on Mohawk. It was spectacular and ridiculous.

Rojo had promised Jo Ann that I was a normal, hard working, Rhodes kid, a departure from the pool of applicants that mid-town Memphis sometimes has to offer. Now I guess I should have known that since the interview was at the P&H over beers that I didn’t need to worry a ton but I was new to the Mohawk scene and didn’t what to expect. Jo Ann and Terry were awesome and I was hired. The story of our first meeting was and will continue to be told for years.

Madison and McLean

Working for Jo Ann at Fino’s was great. I may have made less money than I would have waiting tables but the hours were regular and she always scheduled around my class schedule. My parents lived overseas the last part of college and Jo Ann was a second Mom. She nagged, supported, yelled, and really cared about who I was and what I needed to be. I may have been a lot of different things in college but I worked hard at Fino’s. I grew up around my Gma Steph’s catering business in Erie so I grew up around the food business. I later grew out because of the food but that’s another story. More than the job itself, Jo Ann played a pivotal role in my life during those times.

I spent a little time behind this counter

Fino’s closed at 6:30 each night, or like we liked to refer to as beer thirty. They let us have a beer while cleaning the place up to close it down. You see why I liked this place. On Saturdays we would often meet up for a few more beers with Terry and Jo Ann. One of these nights when a career in education was for off the radar, Terry in fact called my career. In fact he called the career for both Rojo and me.

Terry and Jo Ann are two of the reasons that I love Memphis. Terry played in a band called the Mar Kays as a drummer in the early 60’s. The band roster included the likes of Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Andrew Love, and Wayne Jackson, staples of the Stax Record label. Fans of the Blues Brothers will recognize some of those names as well. Terry spun many of yarn of music, race relations, and Memphis history. It was an education to be sure.

Jo Ann and I on her last day at Fino's

Well after nearly 20 years Jo Ann sold Fino’s. I’m sure the food will be the same but the atmosphere will not. Jo Ann knew everyone and everyone knew Jo Ann. She mingled with politicians, musicians, movie stars, directors, lawyers, college kids, professional athletes, and deli regulars with equal aplomb.

I can say without reservation without Fino’s and Jo Ann I would not be where I am today as an educator or a person.

Great new, for me at least, place to eat downtown.

Grinders, subs, hogies, samiches, and po'boys. I love them all. Truk
and Kath took me to a place called DeJaVu near downtown Memphis.

It was opened by some Katrina evacuees. It has Greg authentic New
Orleans food. They have fish, baked, blackened, and fried. I had the
blackened catfish. Their soul food sides are awesome. The peach
cobbler has about a stick a butter in it. Brilliant!

I went back on Monday for the fried ouster po'boy. I will be back.
It's near the D Canale distributer on Florida and crump.

The Memphis Tigers - Where are they now?

It's winter break so I have some time on my hands. I've been reading, sleeping, watching some basketball and surfing the web. Baruch, who just vacated Memphis after 10+ years to return to San Antonio, and I always goof around trying to recall Tigers basketball heroes and personalities from the days of the 'Round House, to their brief sojourn to the Pyramid, and finally the FedEx Forum.

Some of our favorites have been Justin "The Gimp" Wimmer, Andre "Lil' Pimp" Allen, Mingo Johnson and obviously Penny and 'Ren Wright.

Well I did some digging around the interwebs and come up with some links to where old Tigers are playing these days.

Some are overseas still cranking out a paycheck years later. Some have fallen on tougher times.

David Vaughn was sadly homeless (Story Link) for a while but seems to be making positive steps in his life.

Antonio Burks was shot at a late night craps game.

Andre Allen is out of basketball, as far as I can tell, after washing out at "Chricton College" after he washed out of "Memphis"

Those are some sad ones but then you have Chris Garner, who is still playing. He played last year in Kwidzyn, Poland where I taught English for some time in the early nineties.

There are guys who have retired like Elliot Perry, Lorenzen Wright, and Penny.

Then you have Joey Dorsey and Antonio Anderson wh are teammates yet again. Those two are tearing up the "D-League" with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Each name has a link to the best I could do for current stats and info. I even threw in guys who are still playing college after leaving the Tigers. Some are doing quite well, see Tre'Von Willis at UNLV. Couldn't find Kareem Cooper after he ate his way out of UTEP and I don't know where Matt Simpkins is. Could have used their height this year but the had quite a bit of personal baggage so what do you do.

Here are links, have fun

NBA

Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls

Chris Douglas-Roberts New Jersey Nets

Tyreke Evans Sacramento Kings

Rodney Carney Philadelhpia 76'ers

Shawne Williams Dallas Mavericks (he's not allowed near the team, really) Link to story

NBDL
Antonio Anderson Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Joey Dorsey Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Earl Barron Iowa Energy

Europe
Greece
Robert Dozier KOLOSSOS VAP

Turkey
Darius Washington Galatasaray Istanbul

Cyprus
Chris Garner Achilleas Kaimakliou
Here's a link to Cyprus League Site. It's in Greek but you can check individual game stats by clicking HERE and looking for this tema (Frederick ΑΧΙΛΛΕΑΣ) and click on the Σ next to the score for the stat sheet (What can I say, it's winter break and I had the time)

Israel
Shawn Taggart Ironi Nahariya

Japan
Waki Williams Osaka Evessa

Jordan
Sean Banks Zain

Portugual
Jeremy Hunt Porto Ferpinta

Switzerland
Duane Erwin SAV Vacallo Basket


College - Former Tigers playing with other college teams

Tre'Von Willis UNLV Runnin' Rebels

Hashim Bailey UMass Minutemen

C.J, Henry Kansas Jayhawks

Jeff Robinson Seton Hall Pirates

Great Article about New Orleans and the Saints

This is a must read for anyone who is a fan of football or the city of New Orleans. It captures the heart of the city and its relationship with the Saints. This is why NOLA is one of my favorite cities in the world.

Click th elink the below

Thompson: Saints new 'America's Team'

INSIDE THE PARKWAY HOUSE,

ONE OF THE BEST FRIED OYSTER PO'BOYS i'VE EVER HAD

Fellow members of Memphis in May BBQ Team, Maglically Piglicious, own BBQ place in the Bywater part of New Orleans

Enjoying a late night snack in the French Quarter, mmmmh Lucky Dogs

Eating in Erie, Pa

I always enjoy my visits to my hometown Erie, Pa. Spending time with family and friends, morning coffee with Mom and Dad, and runnin into old friends in town while running errands. These are are the true reasons why it's fun to go home.

Another side bonus is Erie food. When I left Erie 20 years ago I truly didn't realize how good the food was here until I got someplace else. I guess it's the ethnic melting pot that is this town. Italian delis, Irish pubs, German bakeries, the Polish market (The best homemade sausages, pierogis, and horseradish that you ever tasted). Mind you I've done more than OK in Memphis with it's food choices.

Here is the selection of rolls at Sontheimer's bakery. I may or may not have had a cinnamon almond rikor(roll).

Enjoy your holidays.

Sent from my iPhone

The Drive

For what seems like the one millionth time in my life I'm driving from
Memphis to Erie, PA. It's a trip I know well, I've been making it for
twenty years.

It's @800 miles and 13 hours. They record time was 11 hours but I
doubt I'll get anywhere close to that on this one. The tuesday before
Thanksgiving has one or two cars on the road.

Luckily I'm making the trip with my cousin Matt. With two people the
drive will go much better. That also explains how I can update the
blog while on the drive.

I can almost taste the Theresa's subs and dominick's meatball omlette
from here.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Sent from my iPhone

I'm Back

I've done things.

I've gone places.

I've read stuff.

I've visited friends.

I've taught things.

I've learned more.

I've applied to a few things.

I was awarded one of them.

I need to get organized.

I need to thank important people in my life.

I need to lose weight.

I need to exercise.

I need to get more sleep.

I need to drink less beer.

I need to eat better.

I need to be better.

Mexico, Friends, and Schools

Monday, July 6th
After crashing in Alexandria, Virginia and I sat around for a while and drank some coffee. After a relaxing and enjoyable morning I took the Metro into Chinatown to meet Norm for some Texas style BBQ at Capital Q for lunch. After some good eats (it’s still not Memphis Style) I went over to the National Portrait Gallery to get some case study prep work done.

The Portrait Gallery was totally renovated about three years ago and I believe it’s the most underrated of all the Smithsonian Museums in DC. They have an “open air” café in the center of the museum that is perfect for a quiet lunch or in my case getting some work done. One feature of the renovation was putting a wave like glass roof over the inner courtyard of the museum. It’s all natural light yet enclosed so you get sunlight and air conditioning, an ice combination for sure. I worked for about three hours prepping for a case study called, “Mexico at the Crossroads”, that contains a debate scenario component for the students. The case study was put together through Brown University’s Choices Program. The fact that it’s the first time our program has used this material coupled with my general lack of expertise in Mexican History required double my usual prep time.

After I finished up with class prep I strolled over to the fountain area of the Sculpture Garden off of Independence and 7th streets to take advantage of the beautiful day. I joined numerous others in dangling my feet in the cool water of the fountain and napped for about an hour. After waking up I walked to Georgetown, grabbed a quick beer, and took the bus back to campus. I sat in on Mr. Eagles’ econ class and then spent the rest of the evening taking care of chores and getting an early start on sleep.

Tuesday, July 7th

The class and subsequent debate went very well. After lunch I took a quick nap and then got ready for our trip to the Mexican Embassy. We were lucky enough to not only get to see the Embassy but we spent the evening with the Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan. The students were extremely impressed by his speaking and diplomatic skills. He spoke and answered questions on a wide variety of topics. The mornings’ class was perfect preparation for the evening. Both the Ambassador and the Embassy staff were gracious hosts.

Wednesday, July 8th
You know that sunny day that starts with an hour and half walk through DC is going to be a pleasant day. There would be no teaching or chaperoning duties this day. I went up to Bill and Amanda house to watch Isabella, she napped the entire time, and cook some dinner. After the two of them got back from running errands we enjoyed by hanging out and just catching up. Little Isabella “helped” me cook dinner. OK, she mostly watched and ate little pepperonis but it was still fun. I made a chicken pasta dish with pepperoni and olives with a side of prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Bragging a little here, but it was good! I ALWAYS enjoy an evening with Bill, Mandy, and their ever growing family.

Thursday, July 9th
The day was spent running errands and relaxing. I did sit on the afternoon speaker, Susan Schaeffler, founder of KIPP DC. She gave an energy packed talk about the state of public education and what KIPP schools are all about. I am relatively familiar with these schools because a good friend from college used to a principal of the first KIPP elementary school in Houston, TX(Article about my friend). Aaron, like Mrs. Schaeffler, was an alum of Teach for America. The results of both of these programs are remarkable. I feel especially proud because I have a number of former students from my SBA days that are now in the two year TFA program. KIPP is a fantastic program that is having fantastic results in parts of the country where frankly many people have sadly written off the population. It still baffles me how talent and resources are almost ignored in so many urban and rural schools in America.

The 4th July, Eastern Market, and Road House

Happy Birthday America!!!!

I spent the night in Alexandria at Norm and Virginia’s place. It was nice not waking up in a dorm. After a fantastic breakfast of Crab cake Eggs Benedict (Words cannot express how good this was, I literally made inappropriate sounds), I headed back to dorm for the late shift on the 4th.

Although in the five years that I have been associated with the program I have been able to effectively been able to dodge July 4th duty I was asked to help this year. I guess that’s fair. We packed a picnic dinner and headed to Antietam National Battle Field in Maryland for a concert by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and fireworks. Everyone enjoyed themselves. Some chatted, others played catch with the football or Frisbee, another group walked the battlefield, and I …, napped. The concert was great and the fireworks were spectacular!

Sunday, July 5th
I spent the day with Norm and Virginal. We ate lunch at the newest Matchbox location in south of Capital Hill. Their mini-burgers set the standard for all others to live by.

Afterwards we walked over to Eastern Market to shop for the fixings’ for the dinner I was cooking later that evening. The market area was incredible. So much to see, do, buy, and EAT! They have just finished remodeling the whole place after it burnt down in the early hours at the end of April of 2007.

Link to Washington Post Story about the fire

They had clothing, flowers, artwork, and all kinds of other things around the area of the enclosed market. Inside the market there was every kind of food conceivable. I had no problem picking up all of the items that I needed for the feast I was preparing.

Link to Washington Post Story about the reopening

After we returned the house I cooked up the food and we enjoyed our meal. The evening entertainment was the movie Road House starring Patrick “Pain don’t hurt” Swayze. Pure gold folks. I must have watched that movie a million times the summer after college. Dalton the Cooler (Bouncer) was part Rocky, part Buddha in a dumb movie sort of way. Long live the Double Deuce. I embedded a little Road House to wet your palette.

Update: Week of June 28th to July 3rd

I apologize to all of the blog readers, all three of you, for my lack of posts. My summer has been pretty busy and lots of fun. In year’s past I have used the blog to fill you in on the School of Public Service. Well the actual best way to keep up with that the official blog that our program keeps. It has lots of photos and background information on our speakers, activities, and case studies. (That’s one of the things keeping me busy). There is a link to it on the right hand column of this blog, but in case here is the link also.

http://www.schoolofpublicservice.blogspot.org/

Outside NBC Studios before Meet the Press

Sunday, June 28th
As always it was exciting for the students and I to watch a filming of Meet the Press. The guests for the show we watched were great. The first part of the show featured and interview with David Axelrod, then there was a discussion of the status of the Republican Party with Mitt Romney and Lindsey Graham. The last half hour featured a political roundtable which featured Dee Dee Myers, E.J. Dionne.


The rest of the day students and teachers read up for their case studies and then broke into individual groups for dinner. My group went to 2 Amy’s, a great pizza place around the corner from the Albans. We had a great meal and better discussion.

Monday, June 29th

We celebrate Sanko’s birthday at the Quarterdeck in Arlington. Blue Crabs are good lovin’! That’s four years in a row!!!!

Tuesday, June 30th

Main Hall at the Naval Academy

Our group went to the Naval Academy in Annapolis for the day. We were hosted by Dr. Wrage, who teaches Political Science at the Academy. It was a great visit, we toured the school first then Dr. Wrage led the students in a case study about Navy seals in Afghanistan. The students were great and they really seamed to enjoy Dr. Wrage’s teaching style and expertise.

Dr. Wrage giving a tour of the Naval Academy before class

After class everyone was given the afternoon free to get some lunch on their own and tour downtown “Naptown”. (Annapolis). I met up with Chris Ch. We go back pretty far, his dad and mine worked together at Int. Paper and he and my sister worked together there as well. We met for lunch at the great little Irish Pub where we enjoyed a few pints of the “Black Stuff” and a sandwich. It was great catching up. I LOVE meeting up with friends in random cities and spots. It was great catching up.

Old Town Annapolis

Arlington National Cemetery

Marine Corps Sunset Parade

Wednesday, July 1st

Spent a day in DC leisure. I walked about three miles through the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Upper NW. Then after a faculty meeting prepped for the case study that I was teaching on Friday about General Patreaus in Mosul at one of my favorite book stores/coffee shops in DC, Politics and Prose. In the evening I cooked dinner for Norm and Virginia at their house.

The greatest bookstore .., ever!

Friday, July 3rd

After a great class I had the good fortune to have my students hear from Paul Ignatius, former Secretary of the Navy, and father of David Ignatius, author and columnist for the Washington Post. He sat in on my class, I thought I was going to brick my pants when he walked in, but after class he was extremely complimentary of the students and me. It was nice to hear.

The students made their way to a Nats-Braves game and I enjoyed some R & R at Norm’s place in Alexandria. I readied the home for the impending party. It was great to enjoy a teen free evening and morning. Met some cool folks. Fran, a friend through Norm, was hosting two thru walkers on the Appalachian Trail or AT. A friend of mine had done that and it was great to hear their stories.

The first week is done already?

After the Supreme Court Visit

The first week of the School of Public Service has passed and in my opinion passed well. The students worked three case studies that ranged from scandal and mistreatment of US veterans at Walter Reed hospital to potential ethical violations by the a major TV network. They researched, prepared, and argued a current Supreme Court case (their ruling nearly mirrored the real Supreme Court Decision). The class of 09’ visited the local federal court and toured the Supreme Court with the current Clerk of the Court, William Suter. They also took a twilight tour of the monuments along the National Mall led by yours truly. They are a splendid group, who are a joy to teach and hang out with. The only downer of the week was getting rained out from an outdoor showing of “Footloose” on Friday night.

The Jefferson Memorial right before sunset

I’ve been pretty busy teaching three case studies and prepping for another one this next week. I have managed to catch a showing of Transformer 2 and catch up with an old college friend for a little night life in the district. I’ve been “busy” but being able to squeeze a nap in every day while working is still quite good.

Outside the Washing Post after meeting with Pulitzer Prize winner Dana Priest

A decent diddy by TJ.