June in Meechegan

On the 14th we flew to Michigan to spend a few days with Dad and for Dan to attend and present some new research at the Omohundro conference at the University of Michigan. (GO BLUE)

On our first day there Dad and Dan went out to Seva for lunch while I met up with my friend Jenn for lunch downtown. Before lunch I stopped by Sonic Lunch where I hung out briefly with Becky and Hannah.

Hannah, May, and Beck at Sonic Lunch downtown

My Pedicab Driver

Since it was such a hot, humid day I decided to take a pedicab ride to the Washtenaw Dairy where I ordered a kids cone of Mackinac Island fudge. I walked home through Wurster Park enjoying my ice cream treat.

Later that evening Dan went to a dinner party at his old advisor's house while Dad, Becky, and I went out for dinner at Cafe Zola downtown to celebrate Father's Day early and take advantage of the Restaurant Week menu. We had a delicious meal and then we went to the Beer Grotto where an old tennis buddy was playing with her band. We enjoyed the music and sitting outside.

Mary and Beck at the Beer Grotto

Then Becky and I met up with some friends of hers at TOP (top of the Park). The band that night was Mariahi Flor de Toloache, an all woman mariachi band formed in 2008, whose bio boasts that they made history as New York City's "first and only all-female Mariachi group". While this is great and all, Dan and I attended a performance in September 2015 by the Mariachi Divas, a West Coast, two-time grammy-award winning all-female band founded in 1999. Take that Mariachi Flor de Toloache! Who new that there were so many all-female mariachi groups - WOMAN POWER!

The beautiful music reminded me of Kevin and Aline's nuptials in Puerto Vallarta in March of 2015 when the mariachi came marching into the hacienda after the bride and groom were wed!

At 10pm (when it was finally dark) the outdoor movie,"Ghostbusters", came on and we headed home, but not before running into the Stay Puft Marshmallow man (who remembers him?) and the Ghostbusters!

Mary and the Stay Puft Marshmallow man and the Ghostbusters

On Saturday while Dan was presenting at his conference Dad went for a bicycle ride then Ruth was kind enough to take us to the Huron Valley Swim Club for a dip!

Ruth, Dadoo, and Mary at the HVSC entrance

The pool was deserted and the water was great. In case anyone is curious about who won at water basketball . . . let's just say that it wasn't Kevin McG. :)

High dive and low dives

Later that day I strolled through campus and the diag.

GO BLUE!

I also peeked in the William L. Clements Library which is a rare books library that recently underwent a 2.5 year $17 million renovation and expansion, so I was interested to see the changes.

Stone carving on the outside of the Library

The main reading room has remained the same with the added improvement of reading space for scholars. During my time at U of M (and Professor Dan's) scholars were directed to the basement to do their research and reading. Now they can read the rare books and manuscripts in the light of day in the stunning Great Room.

The Great Room at the Clements. Photo by Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography

That evening Dad and I joined Dan and his conference for a reception in the League. We enjoyed talking with Dan's colleagues and the selection of refreshments and nibbles! After the reception we invited some of Dan's colleagues to join us at Dominicks! Becky and Carolyn also joined us. Carolyn remembered fondly the time she went to Dominicks with our Michigan buddies before her first date with Andy (her now husband).

Mary and Carolyn in Dominick's back garden

Annie had a wonderful stay with her friends at the Heavenly Pet Resort while we were gone, but she was happy to see us and is enjoying kicking off the summer fun!

Annie always takes time to stop and smell the roses