"Efficient Astros win fourth straight game. Solid pitching, timely hits and alert play gets Houston to .500"....Houston Chronicle

Well, with the team we have we should be better than .500 (for the seventh time this season) but we'll definitely take it while we set our eyes on the Reds. Mike Lamb performed really well and Lance Berkman hit his NL-leading 76th RBI. Our group (Jay, Jacob, Matt, Anya, us) ate our share of hot dogs and peanuts and cheered loudly for the 'stros as our score kept climbing! Minute Maid is an awesome ballpark but the next time they decide to sell hot dogs for $1 they better bring in gazillions so they don't keep running out!

Back home on this rainy 4th of July evening, Luke, Katie, Dan, Jessie and Joey joined the six of us in consuming three pizzas, chili and fudge. Some then headed out for fireworks in Cypress, others prepared for departure to other sites. Baseball, hot dogs, the flag, family and fireworks. Much later as I curled up in my comfy chair with warm memories of the day, I thought, "Yep, that's July 4th the Texas...er American way."