Women's PGA

This was Andy's "office" Wednesday. He skipped work and is volunteering at the Women's PGA championship. This is the fourth hole. His job is to punch into a tablet which golfers are on the fourth tee so spectators can find the golfers they want to follow. The other day he sat in the men's locker room and handed out bibs to the caddies.

E went for her first shift Thursday. She took the el downtown, then got on a Metra train that dropped her off right at the golf club. Andy drove downtown to pick her up so she wouldn't be on the train by herself at 9 p.m. She was pretty excited to show off the signed ball she got from golfer Ally McDonald. E's volunteer job was a standard bearer, so she's the person standing at the holes holding a sign showing the players' scores.

Today, both E and Andy have shifts. Andy drove E downtown, where she'll catch the train to the course. Andy will work for part of the day, then drive to the golf course.

Beautiful bundt

Usually I don't have the patience to let a bundt cake cool enough before I try to take it out of the pan, but this time I did! It came right out with no sticking to the pan. It's a Banana Pudding Cake, decorated with chopped walnuts. I think it's OK; Andy said it's good. We both agreed it's really moist. It would be good for a church potluck.

Japanese temples

It's Thursday morning in Japan and B sent me these pictures of temples he visited. He said he visited the same ones when he was in Japan last year, but it can't hurt to see them again. Maybe he learned something new. This picture with the flowers would make a good screen saver.

Looks like they're getting some rain. Good thing he packed an umbrella! I think the teacher said this is Japan's rainy season.

I bet B was trying to take a picture without all the umbrellas in it, but I think it adds to the photo. Just wish he would have got a bit more of the umbrellas in the picture.

Trying a new restaurant

Andy and I went to a local wine and tapas bar for dinner tonight, and his sisters met us there. Here's Andy looking at the cheese and meat tray we had first.

Next we had two empanadas - one ground beef, one chicken. I liked the chicken one better, but both were good.

Our last small plate was a beef skewer with rice and onions. Every thing was good, but a little pricey. At least we had a Groupon. I doubt I'd go back without another one. They do have music on the weekends, though, and that would be nice.

Sisters at the table next to us.

Japan pictures!

B has been doing a pretty good job of texting us during his Japan trip. This morning, which was evening over there, he said he'd send me some pictures of a Ferris wheel ride they went on. The pictures arrived when it was 4:20 a.m. over there. Not sure if he's not sleeping or if our Internet connection is slow. Either way, I got some pictures, and they're pretty good. The two boys on the left are students at the Chicago high school he's traveling with and the other three, I assume, are their host students. B's host student is a girl but there are two girls in the picture so I'm not sure which is his host. He'll explain it all when he gets home, I'm sure. They look like they're all having a good time.

B didn't specify, but I think it's this Ferris wheel in Tokyo. (If that's wrong, I'll have to do some editing when he gets home).

According to Wikipedia, "Daikanransha is visible from the central urban area of Tokyo, and passengers can see the Tokyo Tower, the twin-deck Rainbow Bridge, and Haneda Airport, as well as central Tokyo, during their 16-minute ride. The Bōsō Peninsula and Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, can also be seen on a clear day." I'm pretty sure that's the Rainbow Bridge you can see in this picture.

Pride Sunday

A woman at church was handing out rainbow flags for congregants to display as a way to show their support for the LGBTQ community. L, of course, decided to take one so we're displaying it on our back porch throughout June for Pride Month. She also volunteered to participate in the church's Pride Sunday service today.

Here she is after asking for the offering. I motioned to her to smile.

She's very much a "you do you" kind of girl.

Andy captained the first shift of doughnut-making for the church yesterday with a local pride group and brought home some doughnuts for me.

Golf training, a potluck & a party

Andy and E went to Olympia Fields golf course this afternoon to be trained as volunteers for the upcoming Women's PGA Championship tournament. Andy's first shift is tomorrow.

This is the 18th hole. Andy was pretty excited to show me the picture. I think he liked how the clouds looked.

While they were training, I made a Pasta Caprese Salad for the church's BBQ potluck tonight. L was supposed to go to the potluck with me, but got invited to a friend's birthday party and chose that over a church outing. Can you really go wrong with pasta, tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella in a balsamic vinaigrette? Andy and E joined the party once they returned from their training.

Here are a few pictures of the night:

E visiting with her friend, A, and our youth pastor who happens to be A's mom.

The plan was to have karaoke on a screen outdoors, but it was too windy to set the screen up. Instead, they used the time to decorate for tomorrow's Pride service. Rainbow colors will be everywhere.

L isn't home from the birthday party yet; it's not over till 10:30 p.m., but she did text me this picture. She said, "RIP C's slide." Yikes. Must be quite the party.

June flowers

Chicago pizza

Andy, the girls and I went to Chicago last night to get some deep-dish pizza at Due. It was sort of a birthday celebration for B ... without B. He likes deep-dish pizza but Uno and Due aren't his favorites so he'll be OK with us going while he's living it up in Japan.

I was hoping we'd get to sit outside so I could people-watch. At least I got to sit against a wall and watch people, although nothing too exciting happened. We did get to see a couple arguing while we were stopped at a light on Michigan Avenue.

Andy and L. (Not the best photo of Andy, obviously).

Chicago is such a pretty city, especially in summer.

Happy B-day, B!

I made B some birthday brownies before he left for Japan and he indulged me and let me take his picture with the "18" on top. This is the second year he's celebrating his birthday in Japan. We'll have his celebratory birthday dinner when he returns and wants some American food.

Back at the Field

Andy and I were back at the Field Museum tonight for a talk about the Java Sea shipwreck and the many artifacts from the wreck that the museum has in its collection. The event started at 5:30 and even though he was running late getting home from work (as usual) we made it there in time to get some food and drinks. We didn't get, or expect, a full dinner, but it was nice to have more food than last time.

The talk was held in the garden room at the end of the China exhibit. It was interesting to hear how the ship was found, what they know it was carrying and why, the route they think the ship was taking, etc.

Just some of the room decoration. It's very zen, as Andy said.

After the talk, the group moved into the China exhibit to see the various artifacts, question the staff member who worked on the exhibit and see this model of the ship.

And, being the longest day of the year, it was still light when we left and we saw Buckingham Fountain spouting off. It's summer in Chicago!