Summer Break

As you can tell, I've been on summer break with my blog.  Baseball season brings many commitments and challenges including scheduling travel, planning meetings and providing equipment to fulfill requests.  Beyond that there is payroll for 32 employees, contract payments to official scorers, alternate umpires and requests for reimbursement to Major League Baseball.  Throw into that a relocation of our office space just down the road -- 1,110 miles, and I'm having the time of my life! 

After visiting a cranofacial doctor, yesterday, I will be smiling more to relieve the pressure on the jaw joints.  So when you see that wicked grin, it isn't you I'm after -- it's my TMJ acting out.

Valley Forge - Martha Washington's Letter

 Dave and Susan, Frank and I toured Valley Forge.  So much has changed since we picnicked here years ago.  Model airplanes were still in flight but the roadways were redirected and the approach to the monument by car had disappeared due to deterioration. 

The excitement in Valley Forge was the newest archaeological dig behind the Potts home.  Martha Washington had mentioned in a letter about a cabin she and General Washington had shared during the Winter in Valley Forge.  The foundations were recently discovered and an investigation into the size and artifacts located on the site was being conducted the weeks prior and following our visit.  Unfortunately work had stopped for the weekend so we were not able to watch a any finds in process.

Historic Bethlehem

 Historic Bethlehem is quite that.  In 1758 the Sun Inn was established and at some point during the Revolution, General Washington stayed here.

Greenery grows out of the words above the lintel.

 Historic buildings are down every street.

Candles light the way along the path.  Not sure the emotion that the antiquities of the Revolutionary Era stir but it is indeed a pleasant, ironically "peaceful" sensation.    Historic Hotel Bethlehem was our base for the All-Star Events.  A historic bookshop across the street and a yarn shop a block to the west, couldn't have been better.

Tour Day around ABE

 First we started at Martin Guitar.  Our tour guide was first-rate but my memory is "out of tune" as to his name.  The factory tour used a receiver with ear phones for each of us and the guide had a microphone.  We didn't miss a word except when we were snapping pictures.

 Susan and I enjoyed our day together while the guys took in Citizens Bank Ballpark

The PCL umpires, Cory and John, joined Susan and I and their significant others at the Crayola Factory.  Unfortunately no pictures were permitted inside the factory which is quite a shame since I was having a very bad hair day.

Enjoying the Event

 Here is some of our peanut gallery:

All-Star Event

The annual Triple-A All-Star Game was held at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania in front of a packed house.  Family and friends were able to join me at this event and we were well entertained by groups dragging the infield!  Never saw a dance routine from a grounds crew before.

Once again the International League won the contest but it was a nail biter and a close score throughout the evening ending with a 2-1 score.  See, Lehigh Valley IronPigs Prove to Be Perfect Hosts.

It was groundhog day at Mom and Dad's.  Well actually several of the large fur balls were part of the illegal immigrant relocation program.  No animals were injured in this photograph or at any other time.