Hosting

We've had a busy week at Casa Coalbear. Much of note has happened. Only one of those things is the fact that we've removed enough items to find the linoleum tiles in the basement. You'd really have to imagine an architectural dig, with its fascinating tale told through the strata of ages of accumulation, to understand the magnitude of that simple statement. We've rediscovered floor. This is big.

On Saturday, Joan and Katie drove to Dulles and back to collect and retrieve our guests. Chris and Debbie are visiting from England. Until this afternoon, the sightseeing was limited. They'd seen the basement, the main floor, the computer room, and Columbia Mall. Now they've also walked the loop of Hunt Ridge and Triadelphia Road and are being taken into old Ellicott City. I'm staying home to do dishes and finish up on some other chores.

The British sense of humor is a delight. This couple has it aplenty. We've enjoyed chatting and joking and being treated to that slightly skewed perspective that brings the irony out of daily life.

Today was notable for more entertaining as well. Yesterday we assembled a new gas grill. Last night we christened it with pork chops. Today, we lit all the burners and grilled Nathan's hot dogs and Omaha Steak hamburgers. Debbie made a pineapple upside-down cake, Chris and Debbie made deviled eggs, and Mike and Cheryl, our other guests, brought a Greek pasta salad. We dined quite sufficiently, thank you.

Now, the company is cruising the local environs, Katie is shopping for shorts, and the old man is signing off. Happy Memorial Day, everybody.