BACK TO SCHOOL BBQ

The pictures tell the story of tonight's Casa Ehman BBQ for Cup-related friends living in Alfinach/Los Monesterios or whose kids are going to school at Caxton College or the nearby American School....


A game of good-old American touch football, with Kiwi rugby player Grant "Guthrie" Davidson learning new ball-handling skills, or is that new-ball handling skills?


Quarterback Ryan Braun: ready, set, hup one, hup two....


Sis boom bah? Sideline fans.


Mike Drummond and JB Braun appear with the paella, over which they had been slaving for hours (not!).


Meanwhile, the ladies cannot be enticed away from the pool table, despite word that "deener is served,"...


...nor can the gentlemen (and lady!) be pried away from Jurassic Park...


...and the parents seem none too worried about extending the cocktail hour. Center-left (and not ID'd in other pictures), Cas Kelly.


The Porzio boys were smitted by a McLaren -- what will their father Niccolo "Ferrari" Porzio di Comprotondo (ACM's popular race ops mgr who is already in Trapani getting things ready for Acts 8 and 9) think when he sees this pic?



Leslie beavering away in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on yet another tasty dish...


...while master BBQ Chef Guthrie handles the meat.


The vivacious Kelly Braun.


Recent American transplant Hayley Braun: "This Spanish watermelon is pretty good!"


Desiree Falter, the Danish denizen of Alfinach/Monesterios -- relocation expert and good friend to us and many Cup families.


One of Meg's best new friends -- nearly next-door neighbor Christine Connelly.


Young miss Falter, Desiree's daughter Claire.


Big smiles -- nearly next-door neighbors (and long lost sisters?) Benedetta Porzio and Sally Ross.


More big smiles, and a nice face-paint job from a birthday party earlier in the day.


NATO neighbors Jim and Marge Connelly, and Desiree.


Josephine and Matthew "Mugs" Ulvr-Green on either side of Leslie.


Executive Committee of the AC 32 Spouses Commission? On left (and not ID'd in other pictures), Brenda Davidson.


Teams meeting? Clockwise from left: Alinghi's Ed Baird and Hamish Ross, BMW ORACLE's Grant Davidson, Sally Ross, Debbie Smith (wife of Luna Rossa's Alan Smith), and Alinghi's Mike Drummond.


The gentlemen plotting their next movements. Angus Ross, second from left, was also celebrating his 12th birthday.


Cup veteran Lisa Baird. We are all fortunate to have wives (and kids) as tolerant and well-adjusted as Lisa and Leslie are to this "modernized AC" madness -- all the travel, to say nothing of the relocation(s).


At the end of the day, it's about the kids. Win, lose or draw, for them I think this AC experience in Spain is going to be very cool.


Coda: The clear, dry, warm "San Diego" weather made for as nice a day and evening as any of us could remember anytime, anywhere in the world; and, despite sitting outdoors with the house wide open until well past midnight, not a single mosquito.