Words from Steve

Don’t get too excited – this is not Anne posting but, instead, her very first guest author – Steve (Burr’s brighter dad for those who don’t know). The Faux Brits have been touring the States recently much like the Stones and because of this Anne has not had time to blog. Something about "work" but she could have taken part of the eleven hours she was at the Outlet Mall in Gaffney last Sunday to toss us all a tidbit or two.

Since she won’t curtail her shopping I told her today I would blog for her. This is a difficult task for several reasons – first, she is wittier than we gave her credit for when we first met her but our first impression may have been skewed because she appeared tentative. Or was that not apprehension at meeting the parents after having been given the background by Burr? Was it the fear of her oyster shooter (**side note – we ate at Chophouse Friday night and Anne actually enjoyed the shooter. Batten is skeptical because he wasn’t there).

Regardless, I’ll fill you in on their plans and why you are not hearing from them. They have abandoned public accounting and are back in the states to audition for "So You Think You Can Dance."

If you believed any part of that then you need to stop reading immediately because you are on the wrong blog.

They actually are back for two important weddings (are there any other types?). Harvey and Greta got married last Saturday in Greenville. Burr had come to Charlotte earlier that week and Anne joined him on Friday. She was a trooper because she was running on fumes from an early English morning to a late night in the States.

The wedding was fabulous and Greta was beautiful. It was fun to see all of the "kids" from high school in one place (for those not in the know, Greta and Harvey were Burr’s Christ Church classmates).

A & B headed back to Charlotte (via the aforementioned Gaffney) last Sunday and worked for a week in their respective offices. Not certain what they did but if Anne was writing this I still wouldn’t know. During the week, Batten actually took a road trip to Omaha to watch Game 2 – the deciding game – of the SC Gamecocks win the College World Series over UCLA. Now, this typically would not make a blip on Anne’s blog BUT – in the really hard to believe category – Batten and Nicola actually bumped into one another and they say there’s a photo out there somewhere to substantiate the tale!

On Friday, Burr & Anne returned to Greenville for a relaxing weekend of food, pool, shopping (will Anne ever curtail Burr’s shopping binges?), and fireworks. We went to the aforementioned Chophouse dinner on Friday – it was fantastic as usual. Nothing like a food coma to begin the weekend.

Saturday morning was futbol for the fellows (the Germany Argentina game was eye opening). We went to the mountain to be with Burr’s Nana & Papa, Lynn, Stephen, James & Katie and to go to the Cliff’s Fourth Party. We spent the afternoon in the pool. Some of us went in voluntarily and then there was Anne. Burr is very fortunate because her "I am not happy" look is not difficult to interpret. In fact, other families at the pool were contemplating whether or not they needed to apologize too. Burr took it in stride, knowing full well that the genetics of Claude, my father, had caused him to dunk Anne against her wishes.

After getting the chlorine out, we headed to the Fourth of July Party at the Cliffs Clubhouse. For those who don’t know the Cliffs seems to pick a day around the Fourth to celebrate and we actually have gone on the wrong day and, while we enjoyed the elbow room of being THE ONLY PEOPLE THERE the lack of service, food, drink, entertainment and fireworks makes it worth the trouble of actually figuring out when you should be there.

Anyway, the party was very nice. The DJ was a hit and had Anne, Lynn, Lee and Katie dancing (so long as the lawn sprinkler is still considered a dance). In addition to the steaks, ribs, etc. there was also cotton candy, popcorn and other great junk as well as face painting, balloons, a unicyclist and juggler. The evening ended with a 15 minute fireworks display over the golf course. All-in-all, a wonderful evening.

Today, the fourth, is a quiet day. Anne says she is going to go shopping for a few minutes so we don’t expect to see her again. Burr actually worked this morning. I sit in amazement at why our English friends don’t take the 4th off to celebrate with us – no, wait, that was Lester Holmes on the Today show asking some Twilight actor who is British if he enjoys the 4th in England as much as he does in the States. I am not a history expert but somehow in the back of my mind I recall something about England being involved in our Revolutionary War.

They leave us Monday to go to Kansas City and then to Kacie and Kneidel’s wedding next week. The great thing for us that we head to Munich the 23rd and will catch up with them there and the five of us will be exploring Italy first week of August. Can’t wait.

OK, this blogging thing is MUCH more difficult that I imagined. Especially if you have to blog about someone else. Now, if I was just talking about me . . .