7/6/10 8am: We arrived Love Field in time to return the car and get through security without needing to hurry. Our 1pm flight left on time and landed in Houston as planned. We picked up our car, stopped for a quick bite and headed northwest to Lisa and Trey’s house. Although we’d not seen the Lisa since 2004 (at the Sparks wedding) and Trey in 2001, we picked right up where we left off. We immediately moved into catch-up mode, the boys got acquainted and at that moment we knew we were in for a very special, slightly-less-than-48-hour visit.
7/6/10 5pm: We had a great homemade tex-mex dinner prepared by Lisa and Trey. Peter approved of the bespoke quesadillas made on his behalf. After dinner, we played a riotous game of
Pictionary with the boys overcoming their shortcomings to the adult-geared vocabulary with great confidence. The afternoon/evening flew by, and we were all in bed around midnight.
7/7/10 5:30am: Benton had swim practice early so the rest of us got to sleep in until 7 or 8. After a wonderful waffle, fruit and sausage breakfast, the group moved to the pool while I had a couple of conference calls. After lunch we played another spirited round of Pictionary and then readied for the game.
7/7/10 6pm: It was pouring buckets in Houston, yet Trey navigated busy, almost flooded roads right to a parking space across the street from
Minute Maid Park. We were through the gates at 6:40 and in our seats right after the National Anthem. The game was thrilling with Houston’s first four runs all scored by solo home runs to left field. The
home run train, got a good workout. We got to see trip favorite player Matt Lindstrom (who threw Peter a ball last week in Milwaukee) close out the top of the 9th inning to earn his 20th save on the season.
Astros 6, Pirates 3, bringing our “cheer for the home team record” to 5 and 4 overall.
7/8/10 6:45am: With final packing complete, the boys and I bid farewell to the Burnett family. This was the only way to close out a sensational trip. The visit with
the cousins was such a perfect thing to do and we had a great, fabulous, wonderful time playing, hanging out, eating, drinking, and mostly, laughing. Next time, it’s Boston!!
7/8/10 3pm ET: Changing planes in Miami; the first flight was perfect and included a great view of the BP oil spill (see YouTube clip). Now, on to the last leg, our flight to Boston.
7/8/10 8pm ET: With our last flight completed, our checked bags retrieved, and Suzanne on the curb to fetch us, we walked in the house two weeks and two days later. Home boys home, indeed.