... and a sharp jab to the wallet

After thoroughly enjoying the graduation ceremony of a good friend at Merriwether Post Pavilion yesterday, I encountered some curious truck problems. It would start, but immediately die. That's a problem. It becomes more of a problem when one is in the midst of the recently graduated and their gathered friends and family. Especially when that midst is in sun-heated cars pointing every which way and making little discernable progress toward either exit.

I'm resourceful. I picked up my cell phone to call the local Ford dealer. Dying in traffic was not one of the features used to sell me on the truck. Thus, I reasoned this was unusual. Turns out I was right, but I wouldn't learn that until later. First, I had to settle up with AT&T. They seem to take those envelopes they regularly send me much more seriously than I had. Thanks to the magic of plastic I was able to get the communication monkey off my back and make a love connection with Apple Ford. They sent a man with a tow truck and we loaded up and got moving just ahead of a driving rain that erased the sticky white monuments of cicadas past from the windshield.

Today, I gave the nice people at the Ford dealership permission to do several things above and beyond repairing the fault. It is as if I have a new truck, but one with which I am already very familiar. Several deceased presidents have exchanged hands and we are all happy once again. Poorer. Much poorer. But ... reasonably ... happy.

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.