Samantha's 21st Birthday, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We planned our trip to Toronto (see below) so that we could swing through Pittsburgh to help Samantha celebrate her 21st birthday on September 27.

Samantha's first alcoholic beverage (a Caribbean Cooler) at 12:01 a.m. on September 27, 2015.

The day before Samantha and I continued our tradition of having a "Birthday Date" on a day near her birthday.  For this one, we reviewed all of the previous dates (starting when she was 6 years old). Later, at dinner, I presented her with 78 scenic postcards that friends of mine from around the world sent to me to pass on to her (as well as their birthday wishes).  

We used pictures on the computer and entries in my daily journal to help us recall the details of our Birthday Dates.

Samantha's 78 scenic postcards with 21st birthday wishes are in the box.

Candy also had been planning a special birthday gift for Samantha.  She had been regularly writing letters to her since she was about 3 keeping them in a notebook.  She presented those to Samantha on her birthday.

Samantha receives letters from Mom on her 21st birthday. 

A Quick Stop at Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

As we left Toronto and headed south, we stopped for a quick trip to see Niagara Falls.  We have been here several times, most recently in June, 2014, as we took Mallory and our exchange student, Anja, to see the falls.  However, Anja couldn't leave the USA at the time, so she didn't get to see the falls from Canada.  So, the picture below is for her benefit!

Dwayne and Candy...30 years after we were married we visited Niagara Falls by ourselves.

Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Guelph, near Toronto, Canada

On Thursday I presented a forthcoming journal article entitled: "Employee Emotional Competence: Construct Conceptualization and Validation of a Customer-Based Measure" to faculty and PhD students at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada (just west of Toronto).  The following day I made the same presentation at the University of Guelph.  I also provided some words of wisdom regarding research to PhD students at WLU and graduate students at Guelph.

Dwayne with his host, Chatura Ranaweera at the Business School at Wilfrid Laurier University.  

The day before the first presentation Candy and I took a bus tour of Toronto.

Dwayne and Candy in front of the CN Tower in Toronto.

The Toronto skyline from our cruise on the Inner Harbor

Breakfast at Cora's in Waterloo:  A chocolate crepe filled with Nutella, bananas, and strawberries, topped with whip cream!

All gone!  No problem!

University of Pittsburgh Football Game, Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Samantha is in the University of Pittsburgh Band for the third consecutive year.  This year she was named Assistant Drum Major.  So, we went to Pittsburgh to see her in action. And, in a pregame concert just outside of Heinz Field, Samantha was introduced by the band's director as the FIRST FEMALE Assistant Drum Major in the 104-year history of the University of Pittsburgh Marching Band.  As you can imagine, we are quite proud of her!

Enjoying her new position as Assistant Drum Major!

Oh yeah,..there was also a football game: Pittsburgh beat Akron 45-37

30th Wedding Anniversary, Perrysburg, Ohio

Candy and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on September 1.  A week earlier I asked her: "How would you like to go on the best 30th anniversary date you have ever been on?" She said "yes" and thus, with the assistance of students from the BGSU American Marketing Association, I planned a progressive dinner date.

First Stop: A glass of wine at Stella's.

Second Stop: Chinese food at Riverside Park along the Maumee River,catered by the BGSU AMA students 

Final Stop: Dessert at the top of  Riverside Park, along Front Street, with an impromptu gathering of friends.

Each person shared  a favorite wedding or anniversary memory.