Vote for Tiger Band

Don't forget to vote for Tiger Band for the ESPN Battle of the Bands........


http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/indianajones/voteBand

Seven schools are not only on a quest for the crystal championship trophy, but they are also on a quest to win a $25,000 donation from Paramount and Lucasfilm Ltd. in the Battle Of The Bands.

Cast your vote for your favorite performance of the Indiana Jones theme song and you could win a VIP trip to the ESPN Bowl Game of your choice* or a copy of the Indiana Jones DVD box set signed by Harrison Ford!

Random Acts of Kindness

“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you” – Matthew 7:12

This is taken from my personal website I haven't updated since I had a house fire in 2005, but it never looses purpose. And today a friend called me because she did a RAK and thought of me and my challenge, therefore I thought I would reissue the challenge

Have you ever seen someone having a bad day and you and you wish you could do something to make it better? You possibly could…with the smallest effort. Have you ever been shopping and saw something that would be perfect for someone you know? If you have a few extra dollars… buy it… give it to them… it may just make their day.

I truly believe that there are simple pleasures in life that can make a difference in someone’s day. If you have ever wanted to focus your life in a positive direction…If you just want to make someone’s day brighter… If you would like to receive the satisfaction of joyous smile or a simple thank you… I challenge you to take part in "LizaCorrine's Random Acts of Kindness Challenge". If you ever need inspiration for the simple things you can do for someone, watch children.

One of the things that my friend Denise and I have said is that we wanted to randomly purchase someone's groceries for them, ask them to do something nice for someone and walk away. Today... she did... and called to share with me. Isn't it wonderful to serve as such an inspiration for friends.

My Birthday Wishlist - 08.08.08

For those of you who know me I like to say that I am celebrating my birthday for the entire week but this year my birthday is so unique that it is cool all by itself(08.08.08). I am constantly asked, “What do you want for your birthday?” So I have developed the following Birthday Wishlist for my blog…

>Gift Cards to
o Wal-mart
o Bed Bath & Beyond
o Olive Garden
o Bi-lo
o Ingles
o Bloom
o Regal Cinemas
o 356 Sushi Bar (Clemson)
o Ebay
o Chadwicks
o Soluna

>Sterilite or Rubbermaid 22Gal Lataching Tote Storage Containers
>Sizzix Die Cuts
>Sizzix Die Cut Case
>Cash

VACATION DAY! HA! Dunkin’ Donuts Grand Opening(Clemson) – Computer & Car Issues

So we arrive in Clemson at about 4:30, get our stuff out and my parents and grandmother are on their way. Kris then remembers me talking about Dunkin’ Donuts opening at 5AM July 28th. So we get the keys and run to the car … to a dead battery… I then suggest walking so then we have an excuse to eat whatever we are about to consume. Kris agrees and we are off! We walk down the street to this (please see picture below)… college students, locals, children and parents, all in line. We began laughing and get in line.

Now what is funny and you must understand is that we were going because Kris ALWAYS asks for bagels in the morning and there is nowhere in Clemson where we can go grab a fresh bagel so he has been talking about the opening of DD since we read in the paper that it was on it’s way… so we arrive not knowing about the “free stuff”… we ended up getting two free breakfast each, a magnet, and registered to win whatever else they were giving away (which I personally didn’t even read). They simply said put your name and number on the back of your receipt and stick it in a box. We did so, went outside enjoyed our bagels and were off home. About noon I get a call from DD Cooperate telling me I had won two tickets to the Clemson/Citadel Game! I just started laughing and hope I said thank you!

I go to use my computer and remember the motherboard being replaced well… in this transaction I have lost the wep key to get into my own network AND the Clemson wireless network! UGH! And remember the car… yeah…. The battery died and well.. let’s just say THANK GOD KRIS & MY DADDY. Kris and I got it jumped off today and my wonderful Daddy who is going to try to take it to the dealership tomorrow while I go to work…. What a way to spend my vacation day working on my computer and car…I will be taking another…I just have meetings and things to do tomorrow! But at least I won tickets & got to hang out with my family and baby!God is GREAT!

Checkout & The 25th Gholston Picnic

Well, checkout was MONSTEROUS! This hotel was VERY understaffed especially for this weekend! I looked at my receipt briefly and then went on a mission to find my parents a cart (OH MY GOODNESS). Need I remind you again, three family reunions, a Christian conference (where all attending appeared to be dressed to the 9s meaning LOTS OF LUGGAGE), and White Sox/Tigers fans!. There MAY have been three people at the front desk if that… so between everyone asking me 10zillion times if I knew how to get to the picnic (after I told them as long as the place has an address and we have VZ Navigator all would be fine), figuring out the tricks of how to catch an empty elevator, and getting the car pulled around I didn’t look at my receipt again. We get to the picnic with no trouble, enjoy our time there (See pictures below), took Davida to the airport, and were on the road again.

Mowtown, Canada, & Gholston 25th Banquet

My parents and grandmother went with some of our Detroit family riding and to their home by the time Kris, I, and Davida where ready to roll.

EXPLORING
Since there was no schedule of events listed for us besides the banquet that evening we then decided to go on our own adventure which took us to Motown where we did the tour of Motown, which was AWESOME!. Loved the music, loved the tour, loved the heritage… it was fun and informative for all of us. We then decided to go to Canada for a bit (this is where the getting late to the family meeting came in). Let’s just say below are pictures from our adventure and if you would like to know more talk to me, Kris, or Davida:




THE BANQUET…




Going out again...
VICENTE & GREEKTOWN

We went out for salsa and had just missed the lessons, therefore had a few drinks and then headed to Greektown because Davida didn't get to go with Kris and me the night before. Here is where the second funny part of our day came in...we agreed all to bet only $10 each... I recall Davida showing me a ticket for $6 she won and another for $9.23... well... the next thing I know I see Davida with no tickets and no cash and I was like what happened to your ticket... "The machine took my money"... my response... "What do you MEAN the machine took your money... do you mean it was a mechanical error or your lost it?" she responded that it "took her money" so Kris tells her to take us to the machine... luckily no one had sat at it. What she had not realized was it was in a bonus round that called for her to participate in a touch screen portion of the game. So she and Kris sat and touched the screen. To make a long story short when we got to the machine she was down to like $1.20 and when they were finish touhing the screen she had won a little over $150!...lol...

Live from DETROIT!

So we arrive in Detroit a little afternoon with Daddy and Kris doing most of the driving. Thank goodness I am a Starwood Member because otherwise we may just have to TKO someone. So my room was ready when we arrived, but not my parents. Now technically check in was not until 3:00 pm but service at the front desk was slow and annoying and YES I DO write customer reviews. They need to be better staffed. There were like 3 reunions, a Christian convention, and people who were visiting for the Tigers/White Sox games. Needless to say the hotel was PACKED! In the meantime trusty VZ Navigator took Kris, Daddy, and I to DTW to pick up Davida. When we returned everyone was trying to check in and the parents’ room was finally ready. We move all my parents, and grandmother’s luggage down to their floor and nap. Later that evening Kris and I were a little late for the family meet and greet at the firehouse across the street from the hotel. (IMPORTANT because we think we catch all details but miss some key ones  ) . Kris and I then walk my mama and grandmother back across the street to the hotel and are off adventuring. We find a restaurant called Vistente Cuban Cuisine where we enjoyed tapas and a beautiful city view from our street side dining. While there we hear that they offer Salsa lessons Friday and Saturday evening and make plans to return for the following evening. We return the hotel where we meet musicians and engineers on the Angela Winbush tour. They were a lot of fun. Hope to get a video of Preiester showing my sister to play the drum he was carrying around on facebook later., but I may face some censorship from my sister.

Is it Friday Yet?

Overview of the day…

 Cleaning until 5AM
 Emails and computer 730AM
 Library Meeting 9AM
 Pass off Laptop 10:30
 Office work 10:30 – 11:25
 Ambassador Lunch 11:30 – 1:30
 Office work 1:45 – 3:00
 Conversation with TD 3:15-3:25
 Picking up my lap top THANK GOODNESS 4:25- 4:45
 Picking up rental 5:00 – 5:30 (don’t ask)
 Working on Newsletter 7:30 – 11:30
 Leaving for MI 1:00AM

Vote for Clemson in ESPN's Helmet Clash

Please take a moment and vote for clemson : http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?page=helmetspennstclemson

Live from Austin, TX!

I am in Austin at the Library Development Officer's Conference, ALADN. I arrived on Saturday and have met some great people with great ideas since. This year I also felt that I could share what I am doing, which also made me feel good to be able to contribute to the conversation. The 1886 cafe that is pictured to your right is where President Johnson proposed to Lady Byrd.


I am staying at The Driskell Hotel where we had a wonderful tour guide that has only been at the hotel for 6 months. Here are some pictures of things that he showed us on our tour:
Here are original pieces of crystal from the hotel remaining intact expected to be Waterford
Original War Issued Guns now lights around the Driskell Bar

President & Mrs. Johnson's paintings as you enter their suite
Maximillion was sent to Mexico as the Ambassador when he arrived he called hiself emporer and was overthrown and killed in two months. He had the head of his new 17 year old bride skulted to the top of each mirror he had made in her honor



Today we went on a boat tour of Lake Austin. Pictures below are from my trip thus far:







Check Facebook for more photos!

The Liz Murray Story...Inspirational & Motivational!

This evening's blog is taken word from word from a fellow blogger ENTERTAINMENT ONLINE BLOG. I had just watched the movie Homeless to Harvardand I felt it was exactly what I had hoped to share and even had a photograph of Liz.

Liz Murray (born September 23, 1980 in The Bronx, New York) is an American whose success story has spread around the world. She is known for being the homeless girl wandering the slums of New York, who eventually turns her life around once she realizes she is not doomed to experience life on the streets. Determined and confident, she strives for and succeeds at becoming a student at Harvard University. Her story was told in an Emmy-nominated Lifetime TV movie Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story.

Murray, whose life was chronicled in the Lifetime television movie Homeless to Harvard, was the keynote speaker at Bryan's back-to-school convocation at Central Baptist Church.

"The greatest challenge really came not in my circumstances, but in believing in what I did," Murray told more than 6,000 Bryan school employees Friday. "No matter what the circumstances were, I had a choice."

By age 15, Murray's mother had died of AIDS and Liz was homeless - living on the streets, riding on the subway all night, and eating from the dumpsters. While a majority of us would have given up on life, amidst the pain, Murray always imagined the her life could be much better than it was.

"I started to grasp the value of the lessons learned while living on the streets. I knew, after overcoming those daily obstacles, that next to nothing could hold me down."

Determined to take charge of her life, Murray pulled herself together, enrolled in a charter school in New York and completed all four years of high school in just two years. This was all done while Murray was still homeless. At the encouragement of a mentor, she went on to earn a scholarship from the New York Times and entered Harvard University in 2000. Although she began her college career at Harvard, she eventually transferred to Columbia University to be closer to her father who is dying from AIDS.

Murray narrated how she and her older sister had lived in a trash-strewn, filthy apartment in the Bronx. Their parents were drug addicts, and when the welfare check came at the first of each month, the family of four would go to the "drug spot" and her parents would buy cocaine and heroin, Murray said.

To know more on the extraordinary story of Liz Murray and her movie " Homeless to Harvard , inlcuding Movie quotes . Click here
To read Liz Murray' inspiring message of truth in her own words,click here

Find Cheap Gas in YOUR area!

Happy Monday Morning to all! As many of my friends and family know … I am “cost conscious”. Hence the focus of today’s blog. As I work on my schedule for my job for the coming year and prepare to do more travel I am trying to be cautious of gas prices weather I have to pay for it or not. Also, because gas is so expensive and I like to go! I accidently came across this site this morning that I think everyone will appreciate in your own respective areas. You can enter your zip code

Click Here to find the Cheapest Gas Prices in your area

Alia Sabur - AMAZING 19 year old!

Today's Blog is brought to you from The Today Show and written by By Bob Considine

Perhaps in Alia Sabur’s wildly advanced studies she came across a famous quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

“Knowing is not enough. We must apply,” the German writer once observed.

That could serve as explanation for what prompted the 19-year-old to become the youngest college professor in history.


Armed with prodigious wisdom, Sabur told TODAY’s Ann Curry on Wednesday that knowledge is power — especially when sharing it.

“I really enjoy teaching,” said Sabur. “It’s something where you can make a difference. It’s not just what you can do, but you can enable a lot of other people to make their changes.”

Sabur, from Northport, N.Y., has clearly been ahead of the learning curve since an early age.

She started talking and reading when she was just 8 months old. She had elementary school finished at age 5.

She made the jump to college at age 10. And by age 14, Sabur was earning a bachelor’s of science degree in applied mathematics summa cum laude from Stony Brook University — the youngest female in U.S. history to do so.

Her education continued at Drexel University, where she earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering.

With an unlimited future ahead of her, Sabur directed her first career choice to teaching. She was three days short of her 19th birthday in February when she was hired to become a professor at Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea.

This distinction made her the youngest college professor in history, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, beating the previous record held by Colin Maclaurin in 1717.

Maclaurin was a student of physicist Isaac Newton. Sabur said she is merely gravitating toward putting what she has learned to good use.

“I really feel I can help a lot of people,” she said.

At Konkuk University, Sabur said she will take part in classroom instruction, but will also focus on research into developing nanotubes for use as cellular probes that could help aid in cures for diseases.

Although she doesn’t start until next month, Sabur has taken up teaching math and physics courses at Southern University in New Orleans, which is still struggling from the devastation left in Hurricane Katrina’s wake in 2005.

“Some people come and they do Habitat for Humanity and they build houses, but I don’t think I would be very good,” she said. “So I tried to do what I’m good at. I was particularly interested in this university because they are still in trailers after Hurricane Katrina. And I thought it could be something I do to help.”

In New Orleans, Sabur is old enough to teach, but not to join her fellow professors in a bar after work. In Korea, where the drinking age is 20, she might have more luck. In traditional Korean culture, children are considered to be 1 year old when they are born, and add a year to their age every New Year instead of their actual birthday, so in Korea Sabur is considered 20.

Varied interests
On top of her unprecedented academic achievements, Sabur has a black belt in the Korean martial art of tae kwon do and is also a music prodigy. She has been playing clarinet with orchestras since her solo debut at age 11, playing with recording artists Lang Lang and Smash Mouth.

“You can reach a lot of people with music,” Sabur told Curry. “It’s never been really a hobby to me. It’s always been on equal par with my academics.”

So is there anything Sabur can’t do?

Well, apparently she struggles with basketball and with long writing and admits to sometimes being absentminded.

In fact, sometimes she forgets just how special she really is.

“Well, I know that what I’ve done is special and I think about it,” she said. “But sometimes I forget, because I’m used to it and I don’t think about it all the time. Actually, sometimes it takes other people to remind me a little bit.”

I found her story truly amazing and though she is an extremely blessed and gifted person I believe this is a point of inspiration for many young people. I hope you enjoyed.

She is not only book smart but muscially gifted as well. She plays the clarinet & is a black belt in the martial arts of TKD. She is absolutely amazing!

I have found other websites so you can read more about Alia:

- Alia Sabur Website
- Clip from today Show on Jezebel
- Wikipedia
- ON EDUCATION; Reading at 8 Months? That Was Just the Start : January 2003

Happy 41st Anniversary to my Parents

My parents are two of the most awesome people you ever want to meet. I know that a lot of children say that about their parents but for me... mine are. Today they have been married for 41 years and I admire them for that among many other reasons. No things are not always perfect, nor always happy, but God knows there are many smiles, laughs, and joyous times I have with those two. I would just like to take a moment to congratulate them on 41 years of marriage and I pray for them many more and hope to live up to their example.

Will add then and now picture later.

Have you ever had a start over day?

Have you ever had a start over day? I do not wish times away which is why I don't want a "hurry up and pass day". Each moment is precious and important which is why I would like a start over day today. Starting over does not mean EVERYTHING is going wrong but just enough to annoy...Today is one of those days that my blog is simply a vent of my feelings.

- I must have turned my alarm clock off when I thought I hit snooze
- I have misplaced my work phone
- I couldn't find a parking place to drop something off to my boss...
> so I parked in a service parking (POSITIVE: didn't get a ticket)
- I went to deliver packages to people who couldn't participate in the race this weekend & stop by the foundation office...a project that should have taken 30 minutues tops
> get to drop off one and there is a parking enforcement professional parked in one of 4 - 30 minute spots WHY?
> drop off two... just no parking
> drop off three... the foundation has nice parking POSTIVE:)
> drop off four.... athletics has nice parking :)
-sometime during this process I have being having throat burning like I do when I have an allergic reaction... but i haven't eaten anything... ugh... this feels horrible
-I want to get something metered but it cannot be done until someone does something
to a machine... now they wonder why I don't like doing things the way they suggest OFTEN inefficient (not a bad of those who run the machine... a annoyance of the powers that be

General Vents
- If they are going to take parking away on campus they should replace some logical spaces (i.e. you had 30 minute spaces why wouldn't you include at least ONE in the redesign)
- If you are a parking enforcement officer stopping to ticket and you can park what is known to the normal driver as illegally WHY WOULD you take up a 30 min?
- granted our university has ample parking that is FAR away from most locations, I would suggest that if there is going to be parking in far away places there should be something out there (a shop/snack stand) SOMETHING
- if you have that you are in and out of your office frequently there should be special parking or parking passes for those individuals when parking is available but a hike away

Not all bad... just one of those days to vent... not negativity but providing and sharing suggested solutions to problems ...

Feedback welcome!

The Way to Happiness - A Pretty Place

This weekend Kris and I stumbled upon a place that he hasn't visited since high school. Once he realized how close we were he wanted to share with me this beautiful place... It is called "A Pretty Place" a chapel at Camp Greenville. It was absolutely beautiful and we could not have picked a better day or time of day to go. One one of the plaques in the front was a poem... The Way to Happiness.... I loved it and would like to share it with my readers.

The Way to Happiness
Keep your heart free from hate,
your mind from worry.
Live simple, accept little, give much.
Fill your life with love.
Scatter sunchine, forget self, think of others
Do as you would be done

Take these words with you and share them with others. Do your best & Enjoy life! Have a wonderful week! Be Blessed!

Day 4: Course Completion, Bay Cruise, & Slide, Inc.

Hello everyone… today was my last full day in San Francisco.

Fundraising School
Fundraising School was a blast! I met great people and learned A LOT. I will not be able to go and start a planned giving program from scratch BUT I don’t have to…one already exists at my institution. With a little more reading I will feel even more confident. The instructors were great, they kept the class interesting and held my attention 97% of the time without even thinking of being sleepy. Today I received my certificate, which will be framed when I get home. Not only was the class great but I met some great people too.

Site Seeing 101
Well if you haven’t noticed from my previous blogs I have been trying to get in as many “activities” daily as possible after classes, and today was no exception. I am one who can get a lot done in a short amount of time and feel accomplished. As soon as I was handed my certificate of completion from the course I shook one of my instructor’s hands and ran to the Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise the last one of the day, and the last one that I would have been able to even try to get on. I hopped right in line and I am sooo glad I made it. It was a 90 minute tour that wasn’t too crowded. I met a nice lady from Costa Rica who insisted her cousin translate to tell me things. They were so sweet… we went toured the Bay… saw both bridges and went under the Golden Gate bridge, which I might add is ORANGE…even San Francisco sports the Clemson Spirit! (That is for you Newell). .. the tour also sailed close to Alcatraz. After finishing with the tour I walked around Pier 39 for souvenirs and just looking.

When I returned to my room I called Adora to see if she wanted to still have dinner and so I can take a picture of her AT WORK. She is so awesome! I will certainly be back to visit her! We went to the Thirsty Bear Brewery a few blocks from her job. We had a fabulous talk about the minority experience at Clemson.
She then took me back to Slide, Inc. to show me around their office. It was soooo cool to see a start up business that is so well known in action.

Tomorrow…
I will probably write the day after tomorrow and if not the weekend. I hope to get up early enough to ride the cable cars (which I have not done) and possibly walk to Ghirardelli Square but we will have to see. To all my classmates, instructors, and random people I met on this trip it was a pleasure meeting you . To my baby… I miss & love you too!!! Until next time…

Today's Pictures...
The Overachievers...lol

Today's Lunch at Neptune....

Alcatraz a little closer

The Golden Gate Bride up close and personal

Adora posing with the Slide Sign... because I asked her to :)

Vote for THE TIGER for the cover of NCAA Football '09 for the Wii

EA Sports is going to put a mascot on the cover of NCAA Football '09 for the Wii. They are letting the fans vote. Let's see if Tigernet can do any damage and maybe get the Tiger on the front. Let's get Clemson on the cover!

Here's the website to vote. You can vote once per day until March 14.

Click Here to Vote !

Day 3: Fundrasing School, Lucus Films, Aquarium, Union Square, & Top of the Mark

Again up at 7/8AM EST… so I get up working… emailing and doing a little research… sad I know. Nevertheless, today in fundraising school I learned more tax law. I could contribute on a knowledgeable basis because our last topic covered before lunch was, endowments, which is something I have asked enough questions about & could even share my library endowment page.

Then off to catch a cab to visit two Clemson Alumni here in California that work for Lucas Films, James & Chris (hence the picture in front of the Yoda fountain).
Hopefully you will see this picture in the Clemson World and or on the Alumni Page. They were AWESOME hospitalble, cool, wonderful, hosts, and I took me to see a lot of very cool things on the LucasFilms Presidio campus. (Sorry my adoring readers, I couldn’t take pictures in the facility). It was a very unique experience that I felt honored and previledged to be shown. Of course they could not let me see things that are in current production but it was just awesome. I am going to have to watch some movies again to see some of the stuff I got to see. I cannot express what wonderful hosts James and Chris were. They help to serve as proof to the value of a great Clemson education and networking. I truly believe that they would be great mentors for students in our Computer Science and Digital Programs. I caught the bus back to the hotel and was then off to my next adventure.

In order to save money I had purchased a City Pass which I would highly recommend to people visiting the city. It is good for 7 consecutive days. It had a 7day muni/cable car passport, one cruise on the blue & gold fleet, one general admission to the Aquarium of the Bay, one general admission to deYoung Museum/Legion of Honor, Exploratorium, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Asian Art museum PLUS a number of discounts. The hotel is in walking distance for a lot of these attractions.
Since I have been and will be in class for most of my stay I will not get to enjoy most of the attractions, but nevertheless if I need to get anywhere it is a GREAT deal. Today, as you can see form pictures... I toured the aquarium.

In the evening we(Newell, Courtney, Denise & I) caught a cab to Union Square and dined at Daily Grill San Francisco. We had a fabulous time (sorry there aren’t a lot of pictures from the evening). After he Grill we went on a hunt for a place to have a drink… first stop really nice hotel… but spooky 70s atmosphere and very few patrons… then Courtney recalled going to Top of the Mark on a pervious visit. .. so then we were off… now little did we realize we were on a 4 block 45 to 50 degree walk which was hilarious all by itself (man am I terribly out of shape). By the time we go to the Mark we had to take a break out front so that we would not be out of breath when we entered…however when we sat down at our seats the view of the nighttime city was absolutely beautiful (which we all recognized between our pants of air…lol) … Denise and I called it a night after that and took a taxi ride home… while Newell and Courtney are still exploring San Francisco as we speak.

I must let Kris & Ed know that we love and miss you (Kris, my boyfriend and Ed, Denise’s husband). We are having a spectacular time and cannot wait to see you. To my parents … I love you, miss you and thank you for raising me to be the lady I am today! To my sister, yes you… Love and miss you too… Friends and other family hope to hear from you soon… leave a message on the blog to let me know you stopped by.

PS To C... L may have been on to something :) hehehehehehe

Today's Shots of the Day...
Self Portrait on Pier 39


Saks Fifth Avenue Union Square... can you believe I didn't shop AT ALL
The ENTRANCE to Top of the Mark

Day 2: Fundrasing School, Pier 39, & Chinatown

The day started with a 8:00 registration for the fundraising school. We had a continental breakfast which was all the food they were/are providing. I learned alot today about tax and planned giving terminology, learned good things to share with my ambassadors and others interested in planned giving for the library. I learned a simple way to help discover a number of potentially unknown planned gifts, and much more. Honestly I am learning alot in this class and the instructors are awesome. I truthfully wasn't sleepy at all during the session. During Day 1 at my table was Courtney(Texas), Denise(Colorado), Leslie (San Luis Obispo, CA), & John (CA).

For our lunch break Courtney, Denise, Newell (IN), and I went to Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant on Pier 39. It was good however our server was having serious issues separating our checks (bless her heart). You can see some of the pictures from our view at lunchtime of Alcatraz, seals, and the city...

Okay and so no nap, but hey... I called more Clemson Alumni...got to talk to a really nice mother and left a few messages... we will see what happens.

For dinner Denise suggested that we go to Chinatown... so we talked with the concierge, got ideas and were on our way. We first said we were going to take a taxi but it was so nice out that we simply walked. We had a glass of wine at IDEALe Ristorante Bar. Then were off to Chinatown to enjoy dinner at House of Nanking. At House of Nanking the waiter asked if it was our first time dining and when we responded no (however it was Denise's 2nd time) he took our menus and said... trust me... and walked off (which Denise warned us he would do). It was great we had a little of a lot of things and we enjoyed them thoroughly. Well that was it for day 2... come back tomorrow for Day 3...

Pictures below are taken from today...







Here is Coit Tower which I thought it only appropriate to include since I am here at a planned giving conference...The following is from http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casfmenu/a/coittower.htm

Built to fulfill the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who left funds to be used to beautify the city she loved, Coit Tower is an icon on the San Francisco skyline, a simple tower crowning Telegraph Hill overlooking the San Francisco waterfront.
Coit Tower visitors come here mostly for the views: sweeping waterfront vistas from the parking lot and observation deck, and for cityscapes best seen from the small park behind the tower.

Not to be missed are the murals decorating the lobby, considered to be one of California's best examples of depression-era public art. Part of a Public Works of Art Project, they were painted in 1934 by 25 artists. Done in Diego Rivera's social realism style, they are sympathetic portrayals of the daily life of working class Californians during the depression.

Because some people felt the murals were subversive and depicted "Communist" themes, the authorities delayed the opening of Coit Tower for several months. Already outraged by the shooting deaths of two strikers during the Longshoremen's Strike of 1934, the working community was upset even further by this delay, adding to the general distrust of authority.

The lobby murals continue behind a door next to the gift shop, up the stairs and around the second floor. This area is closed to the general public, except during free guided Coit Tower tours given by City Guides.

You'll often hear tour guides and others claiming that Coit Tower is supposed to look like the nozzle of a fire hose, but designers Arthur Brown Jr. and Henry Howard always denied it, and in fact, it looks more like the towers at London's Battersea Power Station, completed one year earlier.

Despite the fact that Coit Tower has an elevator, it is not wheelchair accessible because of the steps at its base and a short staircase between the elevator landing and the observation level.