Dr Steven Patterson receives teaching award, gets dissertation accepted for publication, and has a new son

Dr Steven Patterson, Assistant Professor of History at Lambuth University, has had a “triple crown” achievement — he received the Billie P. Exum Outstanding Educator Award, presented by the Student Government Association to the faculty member who demonstrates the qualities of dedication, professionalism, fairness and good rapport with his/her students; Palgrave Macmillan has accepted his dissertation for publication in summer 2009; and he and his wife had their second son, David.

The dissertation which is to be published was written at The University of Memphis under the direction of Dr Abraham Kriegel. It was entitled “Tin Gods on Wheels: Gentlemanly Honor and the Imperial Ideal in India.” Dr Patterson received his Ph.D. in 2003.

Here is new son David with his older brother Dean:

Sun continues to shine on Italian tour by Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols

This is the Fortezza Vecchia... (Old Fort)... In the Port of Livorn

This is the Leaning Tower of Pisa... Yes, again. Since we were not able to do everything the first day we came, we drove back into town. The military base is only 10 mins from here. And this time, you will notice that there are blue skies... No rain today! We are lovin it!

This is the Pisa Duomo, from inside the cemetery.

This is the Bascilica of San Piero a Grado. This church was built where it is believed that St. Peter first stepped foot in Italy. It is here, that in Roman times, the mouth of the River Arno flowed into the Sea and it is from this point that St. Peter began his pilgrimage to Rome in 42 AD. The church standing today has its foundations dated back to 1004 to 1009. That's pretty damn old!

Started our trek thru the Cinque Terra - 5 villages that cling to the Mediteranean Sea coast. Can only get there by train or boat.

This is the village of Vernazza. Along the "Cinque Terra"

The sun shines -- a bit -- on Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols in Italy

Dr Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols had been fearing a week of rain on their Italian tour, but luck was with them today.

They also found that no matter how far away from Memphis you go, you don't really leave it behind.

Came all the way to Cortona, Italy, to find Elvis!



This is the "town hall" or Uffici Communale in Cortona. Please notice the bit of blue sky above it.... Sun is out... No rain for the time being! Woohoo!


Duomo of Arezzo, Italy... And yep... You can see it, can't you? The SUN is shining. Been a beautiful day.... Finally!

Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols send report from Siena and Assisi

May 20:
Dr Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols were in Siena yesterday and are in Assisi today. Here are the latest photographs, with the identifications they sent:


Inside the Siena Duomo


This is the ceiling of the library in the Duomo of Siena



This is one of the beautiful paintings on the walls of the library in the Duomo of Siena



This is the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi

Dr Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols continue their tour of Italy

Dr Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols are now in their second week of touring Italy. Here is the latest report:

May 19:
We are driving around today. Visited Volterra, a hilltop medieval town famous for its alabaster. Then to another medieval hilltop town called San Gimignano, this one with lots of tourists. Lovely overlooking the Tuscan hills but no Tuscan sun. Cold and drizzly which seriously impairs my photos. Rain predicted all week, but having a grand time anyway. Tomorrow Assisi.

Etruscan archway to enter the city of Volterra... Foundations date to the 6th century BC!



The baptistry at Volterra.


Entrance archway to the city of San Gimignano, a Tuscan hilltown with 13 towers.



The building is the Palazzo Publicco. It's on the town square (il campo) in Siena.

Third report of Italian tour by Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols

Boboli Gardens at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence:


Another view in the Boboli Gardens


Overlooking Florence from the Boboli Gardens, at the Palazzo Pitti


The photographs from the Italian tour that Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols are making come via Blackberry with minimal text accompanying them. The text for this one says simply: Can you say "GRANDE" in Italian? I think we get the idea.


The Duomo of Prato, Italy. The exterior pulpit in foreground, designed by Donatello:

More pictures from Jan Sherman's tour of Italy

Dr Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols have sent a few more photographs from their continuing tour of Italy. While they were in Pisa they took this shot of the back side of the Duomo from a spot midway up the famous Leaning Tower:


From Florence they sent two photographs of tombs of famous persons buried in the Basilica di Santa Croce, the principal Franciscan church in that city (and the largest Franciscan church in the world). The first is the tomb of Michelangelo and the second is the tomb of Galileo:




And here is the Ponte Vecchio in Florence:

Jan Sherman sends first reports from Italy

Dr Jan Sherman and Kim Nichols are touring Italy. Dr Sherman has sent the following messages and photographs so far and plans to send more as the tour continues:

May 12:
We are finally here--after 48 hours of missed connections. Left Memphis at 9 am Friday, arrived Pisa at 6 pm Sunday local time--noon Sunday to you. The luggage arrived much later, but we are all together now. We plan to ignore jet lag and go commune with the leaning tower today.




May 13:
Hello again from Italy. I'm again at the foot of a tower while Kim climbs. This one is in Lucca [Church of San Michele]. The center of the old city is round--an old Roman amphitheatre, now filled with cafes. We are hoping she'll get a great view of it from up there-only 247 steps. Tomorrow Florence, real name is better: Firenze.



Here is the garden in the Palazzo Pfanner in Lucca:


May 14:
Will be sending misc. pics as we journey thru Italy. This is Michelangelo's LA PIETA made in the 16th century.