Paul
Stories from Paul
Our romantic Thanksgiving at a little cabin in the snowy woods.
We arranged a five-day rental at our favorite little cabin at Tohickon Valley Park in Bucks County. It happened that this Thanksgiving was the year that our children were scheduled to be elsewhere with their partners. We left Wednesday morning for the park and arrived at the height of a snowstorm.
WE HAVE MOVED to Media, PA -- Everybody’s Hometown.
Quehanna Trail and Historic CCC Cabin
We march to the White House for GMO Right to Know labeling of our foods.
Arrested at Lockheed Martin (again), and now Paul’s an outlaw.
Bees, beach, and family, plus hiking and camping in New England at 101F.
Summer vacation in New England had three objectives this year. First, we visited with my Mom and family at my sister’s beach house in Niantic, CN and had a wonderful time there. My three children were there also. After that we attended a treatment-free bee conference in Leominster, MA for four days while tenting nearby. “Treatment-free” has a specific meaning – these are bee keepers who do not use chemicals or antibiotics in their hives, do not feed bees junk to make lots of junk honey, and make a point of using “natural” (not muscled-up modern oversized) bees.
Winter break in our romantic cabin at Tohickon Valley
First week of March was Villanova’s mid-semester break, and we were out of here. Reserved an isolated little cabin at Bucks County’s Tohickon Valley Park (electricity, no running water, outdoor privy) for four nights. We “hiked in” to the cabin and had the park essentially to ourselves. Cabin felt luxurious compared to the winter camping that we sometimes do at this time.
Things will be buzzing for us.
On September 11 we attended the 2010 Philadelphia Honey Fest held at the historic Wyck House in Germantown, PA. Fran and I have been interested for some time in having our own hives and producing our own natural sweetener. Bees are environmentally friendly and help to pollinate our native plants.
Backpacking the Green Mountains
We spent most of the first week of August (six days, five nights, to be exact) on a backpacking trip through the Green Mountains of Vermont. We officially began our hike at the Lye Brook Wilderness Area and later joined up with Vermont’s famous Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail.
Camping at Tochickon Creek
Fran and I went to Tohickon Valley Park for an overnight camping trip with three boys (13, 12 and 8) who were born and raised in a refugee camp in the mountain jungles of western Thailand.
Silent Retreat at St. Raphaela
For Christmas last year, William gave us a night at St Raphaela Retreat House that he had purchased at a charity auction at St. Joseph’s University. Fran and I decided to make this our own silent retreat as a couple – something that we had previously discussed but never done. Early May was an ideal time to use William’s gift.
Nana's 100th Birthday Celebrations
Family members gathered in Connecticut to celebrate my Mom’s 100th birthday on April 16, 2010. We kept her busy, with three parties in all. Events were a great success, and we all had fun.
A Tour of Woodmont (Palace Mission) with Mother Divine
When we learned that one of Lower Merion Conservancy's Winter Treks was a "Divine Saunter," a tour of the Woodmont Estate, led by Mother Divine, we signed right up.
Blizzard Backpacking
As soon as we got the news that Villanova would be closed the next day in anticipation of a blizzard, we were on our way out the door with our backpacks on. We hiked from our house into some nearby woods to our destination squat that is inaccessible to all but the stalwart or/and foolhardy We arrived at our site after a hike through untrodden snow and drifts and streams, just in time to set up our t
Good Friday demonstration
One car, two full-time jobs
Becoming a one-car family may not seem like much to write about. But it represents an intentional transition to a life style that is relatively rare for a two-income family. When our very-used 1987 Volvo died in the spring of 2007, we decided not to replace it but stay with Paul’s 2002 Ford Focus as the sole family car. There have been work-related changes for us beginning in 2009, but here is how things were at that time. We live in the Philadelphia suburbs.
PeacefulWays website
PeacefulWays blog
Retirement luncheon (Psychology)
The Villanova Psychology Department hosted a luncheon in my honor at Pond Restaurant in Radnor, PA on January 9th. There was excellent food, company, and conversation. I particularly appreciate the many tributes offered by my fellow faculty. Some were serious, some humorous, many were both. My comments similarly combined these two elements.
Villanova retirement celebration
My retirement celebration took place in the President’s Lounge of Villanova University on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. After more than forty-two years at Villanova, I have retired from my full-time tenure position and am transistioning into part-time work as a faculty adjunct. The Psychology Department
