The Tigers are finally ahead of the Royals, 2-1 in the top of the 6th.  We follow four teams:  the Yankees (oh, I miss them!), the Tigers, the Phillies and the Orioles.  It is rare that all four win on any given day.  I can watch the Phillies and Orioles on our home television, but the Tigers and Yanks are available only on MLB and the occasional ESPN.  We saw the Orioles play the Tigers at Camden Yards earlier in the month and it was fun texting with Karen, who, of course, was watching at home with Mike.  Whenever the Tigers play, we know that Karen, Mike and Ray are watching.  Feels a little like home.

We had the best Father's Day weekend in Philadelphia.  On Saturday, we saw How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and it was hilarious.  Really.  It was at the Walnut Street Theater, an historical theater, smallish and lovely.  We then went over to Vedge, a well-regarded vegan restaurant within walking distance to the theater.  We drove in, as the SEPTA regional strike had been called.  It was interesting to drive west out of the city to 1, then home from there.  Many neighborhoods of varying characteristics. 

On Sunday, we saw the Phillies lose to the Cubs.  They then went on to sweep the Braves this week, so timing is again everything.  There is something about being at the ball park that encourages happy silliness.  Unlike Camden Yards, we did not make the kiss cam.  Too bad!  As the strike was cut short, we took SEPTA from Marcus Hook, which is the much preferred way to get in and out of Philly.  After the game, we took the subway back up to Market Street, then walked over to Chinatown to eat at Xi'an Sizzling Works, which was totally yum!  Enough left over to eat it again on Monday night. 

It's been hot here all week, making the pool once again a wonderful place.  I volunteered for the early shift at the Food Bank of Delaware on Monday, and will work the CSA pick up at Cool Springs Park in Wilmington this afternoon.  I'll work twice a week at the Food Bank for the rest of the summer.  It's quite a place and I am slowly getting to understand its depth and breadth.  Other volunteers and the staff are all interesting. 

This weekend and next before our good friend Kathy comes in from Michigan.  We are planning a wealth of activities for her, then she and I head west to Kansas City for the 4th of July and Ken goes to Grand Haven to luxuriate with his Mom, Dad, daughter, sister, brother-in-law and nieces.  Nice!  We'll be back home on July 7, preparing to enjoy my favorite month - July. 

Just in case you are interested in our house renovations, Ken has been working all week on refreshing the floor in our bedroom.  We moved into one of the guest rooms and think we'll be back into our room on Saturday.  The floor looks marvelous and completes the floor redo on the 2nd floor.  There is a minor issue of the difference between the hallway and bedroom floor stain color, but Ken will deal with it, or we'll ignore it.  When you come and visit, you may comment or not.  We are getting bids on the hall bathroom, but not enough to make a decision.  It doesn't help that my thinking evolved and that the last potential contractor we saw had the most information. 

We did make a small, but high impact improvement on our deck:  a kitchen tent, which means I can sit on the deck without being constantly bitten by mosquitos.  I'd say major!  It won't be much of a protection against a big rain, but works during sprinkles.  Compared with the expense and downside of building a screened-in porch on the deck, I'd again say major! 

Cheers!