Everyone needs a mid-week break, and what better way to relax after a hard day's work than to enjoy food and beverage with your Penn State friends?  And so it was that 15 of us answered the call to unwind at the Fox & Hound on Tuesday, August 19, 2008.  There to enjoy the Happy Hour were Michael Anthony, Bob and Janie Gehman, Matt and Cecelia Hammond, John and Trish Hannah, Vic and Laura Rich, Lou and Marguerite Sharp, Ed and Mary Sherman, and Jim and Sally Valeri.

Hats off and a big thanks go to Trish Hannah, who handled all the details of coordinating and publicizing this event.  Trish even went the extra mile and extended invitations to our PSU alumni chapters in Cincinnati and Columbus. 

Chapter Prez Michael Anthony and Vic Rich share a table near the chips and salsa.  Michael seems to be enjoying the hot sauce piled on his plate, but we're not sure just how agreeable it is with Vic.

Mary and Ed Sherman are beaming, lost in a blissful world all their own.  Maybe they're still on an emotional high from our Freshmen Send-Off & Summer Picnic on August 6th — when daughter Meghan received one of our Carl Stravinski scholarships.

It's always a treat to have long-time chapter members Marguerite and Lou Sharp on hand.  Shortly after we snapped this photo Marguerite recounted some of her fond memories of Carl Stravinski being the driving force behind establishing a Penn State - Dayton Alumni Club back in 1971.  And, against some opposition, he also led the drive to establish the scholarship for local area Penn State students.

Some of you may remember Cecilia Hammond, pictured here with her good friend Trish Hannah.  Cecilia accompanied Trish to our Holiday Party at Wright Patterson Air Force Base last December. These two gals seem to get along admirably.

Seated across from Cecilia and Trish were spouses John Hannah and Matt Hammond.  We think Matt and Cecilia would be welcome additions to our chapter, and we hope to see them back soon.

Jim Valeri and Laura Rich agree a mid-week Happy Hour is most conducive way to unwind.  They sure seem relaxed and at ease in this picture.  As a footnote to what we wrote earlier about Marguerite, Jim also had a good working relationship with Carl Stravinski and played an instrumental role in establishing our chapter.

Janie Gehman and Sally Valeri enjoy each other's company and are waiting for Bob and Jim to rejoin them.  The two glasses of brew in the foreground are Raspberry Ale for Bob and Janie. They haven't had a taste of it since the Thirsty Dog shut down well over a year ago.  We don't know for sure where the Fox & Hound obtained it, but we're mighty glad they did. Sally wasn't convinced she should try the Raspberry Ale and went with a Blue Moon instead. Jim's brew of choice was Killian Red.

Trish composed and snapped this photo of Bob and Janie, probably because she felt sorry that "...no one ever takes his picture."  They're smiling because they're having a good time....and because the Fox & Hound has added Raspberry Ale to its beer menu.

Although our group was relatively small it's safe to say that everyone who showed up was glad they did.  Conversations ranged from predictions about the Big Ten and Penn State's 2008 football season, to observations of how well the USA was faring in the Olympics, to descriptions of colorful destinations in Italy, to half a dozen other interesting and stimulating topics.  The food and service were first-rate, and our Happy Hour experience bodes well for our coming 2008 Football TV parties.