July 1

A few things about Mike and Chez.  Her name is Cheryl, but she went to school in Montreal for a few years.  The French kids had a hard time wrapping their mouths around the 'ryl' so they finally gave up and started calling her 'Chez.'  It stuck.  She first met Mike when she was in Rome with the Dept. of Justice, Immigration Service.  Mike was also with Immigration, but was in Europe on a German Marshall Plan Fellowship writing a paper comparing the EU's Treaty of Rome with the American/Canadian relationship under the pre-NAFTA trade agreement.  Nothing immediate came of this meeting, but years later, they met again and clicked.

Mike was a lieutenant in Vietnam who had a platoon in the 101st Airborne.  He and a few other guys then went into the field with MACV for 6 months.  Google it.  He came back stateside and the army put him through special forces training.  After getting his green beret, he was offered a captaincy, but after thinking about it, turned it down and got out of the army.  Went back to school and then to Immigration.  Became quite the small boat sailor when he was stationed in St. Croix.

He is retired; Chez is retiring later this year.

Had an interesting dinner.  Mike grilled lamb chops, but very thinly sliced.  Delicious, and I generally do not care for lamb.  Made an interesting corn based dish, a sweet potato dish and we had fresh strawberry shortcake for dessert.  The occasion was friends coming over for dinner.  Dad, the architect, who designed a number of buildings for the University of Vermont and for the Saudi royal family, his charming wife, their daughter who was until very recently (perhaps she still is) the principal soprano in the Bogota, Columbia opera, her husband, a Columbian guitar player, and their boy, Tomas, not quite 2 1/2, and the husband's parents, who speak no English but who seem very nice.  A very wonderful dinner.  Sarah, the soprano, is moving back to Vermont and will be teaching at the university.  Her husband is getting his green card and work permit.  Tomas is already bi-lingual.

Earlier, I took the bike to a BMW shop in a nearby town to get the front low beam light replaced.  I went in and was paying for it while a guy replaced the bulb.  I came out to find his hands all over the halogen bulb.  This is a big no-no if you want the bulb to last.  Then, after replacing the bulb with his bare mudhooks, he turns the key and immediately starts the engine to make sure the light works.  This also is a big no-no.  As the good book tells one, one is supposed to let the computer run through its diagnostic before turning the engine over.  Otherwise, one might damage the bike's computer. I am religious about this.  Mr. BMW Repair Guy, not so much.  Can't think this dealership is doing well.  Or maybe it is making a killing on new halogen bulb sales and computer replacements.

Driving through town with Mike when he spotted Rhode Island plates that I did not see.  I've been looking for Rode Island plates since May 14, and he casually spots one simply driving down the street.  It just ain't right.  I knocked off Vermont and New Hampshire, of course. But I'm thinking the Delaware and South Dakota people are all hanging out together in Area 51, 'cause they ain't bin none o' them about.  And apparently there is just the one Rhode Island guy.