One down,one to go

Today I finally got something to show for my three years in Minnesota. I got my MA in history following the successful defense of my thesis. I'm now half the man that Fred is!

Comprehensive pre-Germany post

So, I just got back from Deutschland, with plenty of pics to come. However, I first wanted to do a comprehensive post of what I'd been up to before then. So, here is the brief, Reader's Digest version (as my Russian teacher would say) of June and July, 2006. It includes my trip to Bethlehem, PA, a defacto minor league baseball tour, and my mid-western odessey.

Downtown Bethlehem

While in Bethlehem, I took the time to scope out some minor league baseball. This is from Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

There was a rain delay for 1.5 hrs.

Eventually, they got the game underway.

The next day, I went to a ball game in Reading, PA. On the way I stopped at a very important site in Buffalo Bills history.

The football field of Kutztown University!

I'm in the endzone where the great Andre Reed once caught TD passes!

Reading was a really cool place to see a game.

The crowd really got into it.

Scoreboard shot.

The Moravian College campus in Bethlehem.

The grave of Brother Ettwein. Many of the diary entries we transcribed were either by or about this guy. So, one afternoon I went to find his grave.

Lightning struck here in the 18th century, and scared the bejeezus out of the missionaries.

The last game I tried to go to was in Trenton, NJ

Unfortunately, it never got going.

We had Wegmans in Bethlehem!!!

Joe, this is for you.

This one too.

What would a minor league baseball tour be without the Bisons?

On the way back, I stopped in Ft. Wayne to see the Wizards.

Ironically, I got in for free because someone left a ticket three rows up behind home at Will Call. How cool is that?

This is the 90 just south of Chicago on my way back.

On my way back, I met up with Mercedes, who was staying at this historic, octagon house from the 1860's. It was in Monroe, Iowa, as rural as rural can get.

This is Mercedes. I think there was some caption I was supposed to put with this picture, but I can't remember. I suppose this is why I shouldn't wait 2 months to post about something.

Mercedes wearing the wolf hat with Snake, a stand up guy and colonial re-enactor. He's a bit hon-ry though if you ask me...

Mercedes was armed and dangerous in Monroe.

She's also got guns, so either way she'll kick your butt.

I got talked into going to a pseudo-rendezvous at a county fair in Osh Kosh, Wisconsin over the 4th of July weekend.

Mercedes - the rendezvouser

Lazy-butt

I see you

Here she's having a conversation with Greg above her.