Elizabeth!

My niece was born today! Tom has a digital camera, so hopefully I'll be able to get a glimpse at Elizabeth soon. I spoke with my sister on the phone for a little while - she's blissfully happy! More information will follow!

Back from Maine!

Given that there is an eight-day interval that divides Summer Session II from the Fall Semester, I've decided to refer to this eight-day break as my "Summer Vacation." Currently, I am in the middle of my summer vacation, as school starts up again on Thursday.

Before I tell you all about my new economics text book, I'd like to share some pictures from my recent trip to Maine!

Exhibit A: View from Cadillac Mountain

This is the view from Cadillac Mountain in Mt. Dessert Island. You can actually drive to the top, and walk around. I imagine that most of my readers would scoff at the idea of not *hiking* to get to the summit, but due to time restrictions and the Briggs family knee, 2/3rd of us were unable to attempt any serious hikes this year. However, we did come to Acadia from 1987-1993 and always went on numerous hikes during that period. So there.

Exhibit B: Bass Harbor Head Light

I don't know who these people are - they sort of darted out ahead of us. I think the photo is funny b/c you can see the blonde taking their photograph, and it almost looks like the boy is taking a photograph too, although I believe he is simply shading his eyes.

Exhibit C: Tidal pool at Wonderland

That's my Dad in the center, wearing the big, fluffy hat. We actually watched a frenchman dig a live crab out of a tidal pool nearby, walk 50 feet with it, and bring it back to his daughter to look at in a shallow pool. Very sweet, but unfair to the crab! Also, keep in mind that Wonderland is the name of a trail (I know it sounds like an amusement park).

Exhibit D: Southwest Harbor Pier

Our Inn was located in Southwest Harbor, and if you ever plan on visiting Mt. Desert Island, you must stay in this town too! Bar Harbor is the best-known town on the island, but it's very touristy. SW Harbor is perfect - it's quiet, quaint, has an internet cafe(!) and has the best lobster shack on the island: Beal's.

Beyond this, we also went on the Ocean walk, took in Bar Harbor for a few hours, went to the Reel Pizza Cinerama (very cool), saw an Agatha Christie play at the Acadia Repertory Theater (in Somesville, another cute harbor) and had lunch at the Jordan Pond House. The only item that we didn't have time for was a boat ride out to Islesford. Maybe next year.

Perhaps in my next posting I'll tell you about my economics text book.