Posts tagged as:

Summer

Revisiting Bedford County: Shawnee State Park and the Ship Hotel

by Jenny 20 July 2009 History

Bedford County, PA still looks pretty much the way I see it in old pictures and in my mind. At Shawnee State Park, the little swing still sits in its secluded picnic area at the top of the hill overlooking Shawnee’s lake and beach. I have a 30-year-old picture of that same swing set, with me and my sister and my dad posing in front.

Tagged as: American History, American Studies, family, History, Pennsylvania, Summer, Western Pennsylvania

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Anybody Need a Hug? They’re Free Now.

by Jenny 5 July 2009 Outdoors

I like to collect free stuff when I go to special events. Even when the admission to a festival is free, there is usually a parking charge, plus the expense of food from usually overpriced vendors. I somehow feel better about the entire outlay when I bring home things that I didn’t have to pay any money to obtain.

Tagged as: Hugs, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Summer, Western Pennsylvania

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Ghosts of Fourths of July Past, Part 2: State College, 2003

by Jenny 4 July 2009 History

My Grandma Gaffron and my Aunt Sue had a prime piece of real estate. At least, they had use of it for 24 hours, time enough to watch of the State College Fireworks in 2003. A new hotel had been built on the edge of town, less than a year previously. Gram and Aunt Sue had rented a room on the side that would face the massive fireworks celebration that was to take place that night. Since the hotel was so new, we could not be assured of our vantage point for the show, but it looked promising.

Tagged as: American Studies, family, Pennsylvania, Summer, Travel, Western Pennsylvania

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The Ghosts of Fourths of July Past, Part 1: Pittsburgh, 1987

by Jenny 4 July 2009 History

I was about ten years old the first time that I celebrated the Fourth of July in Pittsburgh. Back then, my late maternal grandfather was still a city motorcycle patrolman. My sister Katie and I were staying with my grandparents that week, and I remember my grandfather dressed in his police uniform, returning in the late afternoon to the house in Carrick where my grandparents had raised six children.

Tagged as: American Studies, family, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Summer, Western Pennsylvania

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Get Your Wal-Mart Flip-Flops Now

by Jenny 2 July 2009 House and Home

If you are planning on buying Wal-Mart flip-flops, you should probably buy them now. Another week, and your size (not to mention preferred color and style) could very well be gone, not to be seen again until next March. How do I know this? I’m an expert because I worked in the shoe department of a Wal-Mart during the summer of 1999.

Jenny at Age 21: My First Post-College Job

Tagged as: American Studies, Career Moves, Pennsylvania, Summer, Wal-Mart, Western Pennsylvania

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Trip to Santa Fe: Part II: Religious Tourism

by Jenny 21 June 2009 History

Two weekends ago, Jonathan and I watched our friends John and Mari pledge their faithfulness to each other in a stucco-covered adobe church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Congratulations, Mari and John! It was a beautiful Orthodox Christian wedding. The church itself is Antiochian Orthodox, one chain in the lush emblazoned tapestry of culture and faith that is Santa Fe.

Tagged as: American History, American Studies, Catholicism, History, New Mexico, Religion, Summer, Travel

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Trip to Santa Fe: Part I: How Isolated Is It?

by Jenny 21 June 2009 History

Hi, again. This is Jonathan’s wife, Jenny. Jonathan is currently on the way home from our friend Charlie’s ordination as a priest at the cathedral at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Congratulations, Rev. Charles Cortinovis!

Anyway, since Jonathan has been busy and will continue to be busy in the upcoming week, I am going to start blogging my perspective of our trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico for another friend’s wedding.

Tagged as: American Studies, Johnstown, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Summer, Travel, Western Pennsylvania

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