How did you get so good looking?

We enjoyed a series of visitors/trips in July. First, Mike and Amelia came from Pittsburgh to celebrate the 4th of July. While in town, Mary introduced them to the wonders of bee pollen, which she purchased from the farmers' market. Mike, an ardent vegan, pointed out that bee pollen (like honey) is the product of human enslavement of bees; therefore, he righteously refused to eat it. He later confronted a beekeeper, who naturally denied the accusation. Whether or not it is immoral, bee pollen tastes bad.

Aaron, Shiloh, Jude & Michelle

Jude, Michelle and Shiloh then visited from Mississippi, which afforded Shiloh the opportunity to taste a new environment. (Her favorite past time is putting things in her mouth.) On the first day of their vacation, Mary subjected our visitors to a death march tour of the monuments. To provide relief from Mary's tour guiding, we departed for Philadelphia to visit Aaron and Jennifer. Our affable hosts kept us well fed: Philly cheese steak sandwiches (with cheeze wiz french fries), homemade pizza, blueberry pancakes, and a pork shoulder roasted in Aaron's backyard smoker. While the food was great, the highlight of the trip was a conversation that we overheard in the Italian market (read in a thick South Philly accent):

Man 1 to Man 2: Damn! How did you get so good looking?

Man 2 to Man 1: I dunno; must be the women I'm messing around with.

We also watched Aaron take 5th place in a bike race in West Chester, PA. The race took place in the old downtown on a rectangular mile-long circuit with 90 degree turns. The riders up front were incredibly fast and it was a rush to watch them take the corners.

Aaron on the Pink Bike

Finally, after Jude, Michelle and Shiloh left, I traveled home to the Twin Cities for Bo and Katy's wedding. The ceremony and reception were at Macalester; it felt like a reunion with so many former Mac harriers in attendance. While home, I also got to visit with the family and check in on Ben, Marye and young Levi. A busy month spent in good company!