Coffee Cup Overflowing

I met with a friend yesterday morning at a new, independent coffee shop (my favorite kind) in the Bridgewater Falls area of Hamilton. It's called Coffee Cup Overflowing, and they've been open since February.

I had a cup of oatmeal and mug of coffee, and enjoyed both. They are connected to JoJo's Cupcakes, so their baked goods were appropriately tempting, though I survived. They seemed to be doing a good bit of business for a Thursday morning (I was there from about 8 a.m. to 9:40 or so), despite being a turn or two off the beaten path (they're sort of in front of Home Depot at Bridgewater, at 6544 Winford Avenue. I hope they thrive. Give them a try. 

Romeo and Juliet in the Park

Last Tuesday, the lovely Robin and I took in the free performance of Romeo and Juliet (ever heard of it?) at Oxford's uptown Martin Luther King Jr. park and amphitheater. The seven actors of the young company of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company (which we have long loved and supported) presented the play in a contemporary setting (and a superhero theme for the costume ball scene). Their efforts were enthusiastic and entertaining, though the young leads (Kyle Brumley and Petrea Whittier) struggled at times, it seemed to me, to strike the right notes of gravitas and pathos (and probably several other Latin and Greek words, for all I know) for which their roles called. However, the weather and venue could not have been better--nor the company--and of course the guy who wrote the script did a darn good job. Whatever his name is (what's in a name, though...really?).

The Shakespeare in the Park performances of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream continue through September 4. The schedule is here.

Family Retreat at Camp Wonderland (WI)

I had a marvelous time this past weekend at Camp Wonderland in Wisconsin, speaking at The Salvation Army Metro (Chicagoland) Division's Family Retreat. 

Upwards of five hundred wonderful people gathered for the event, which was extremely well-organized and well-executed by all who participated. My little contribution was far outshined by the enthusiastic worship, multi-lingual Scripture readings and prayers, testimonies, recognitions, presentation of new cadets, and a sacred dance piece on Sunday morning that just plain blessed my socks off. 

I got to reunite with several old (and boy, do I mean old!) friends like Major Joe Tamayo, from way back in the day, and make new friends that I hope and pray to see again often, and real soon. 

Warren County Fair, Lebanon, OH

It has taken me a couple weeks to post this brief summary of my first-ever visit to the Warren County Fair in Lebanon, Ohio, as I've been keeping even busier than my usual frenetic pace.

I attended at the behest of the lovely Robin, who (with some of her coworkers) spent a couple evenings that week "manning" the booth for her counseling agency, Access Counseling Services of Middletown. That's her on the left, of course, and her coworker Joanne.

I was surprised at how small the fair was. Though (as I said) I had not previously been to the Warren County Fair, I expected something on the order of the Butler County Fair (next door, where we live), to which I had taken a couple grandkids a couple years ago. But it was much smaller, in every way, I thought. 

Nonetheless, we had fun. I especially enjoyed seeing the prize-winning display (above) of an intact  ticket for Game 2 of the 1940 World Series, in which the Cincinnati Reds (everybody say, "Yea!") defeated the Detroit Tigers in seven games.