Island Update Ending August 28, 2005

This is the last full week in August already. It doesn't seem possible. The week started out with our usual Monday morning walk with Denise. It was a rather slow pace. Age varies greatly so it all depends on who is walking. Dad pretty much worked outside all day and Mom went to a tea at a surprise location. For Pete and Diane: the tea was right across the street from the open house we went to.

We kind of slept in on Tuesday, then had breakfast/coffee/newspaper on the porch. There was a chill wind, but not too bad. We even went down on the beach to retrieve a lobster buoy. Mom later did a huge load of laundry, at least it looked that way on the line. Dad went up to the 5th to scrub the front stair risers in preparation for painting them. He got home and saw a tractor trailer so had to follow it. The trailer was left at Ted's house, actually across the street going down to the Club. Then Dad visited with Dong who was in that general area working, come home for lunch followed by puttying the dining room windows, but didn't quite finish because he had Docent duty. Pizza for supper followed by attending a meeting up at the Bracket Church on taxation where there were 4 members of the state legislature in attendance, interesting meeting.

On Wednesday we were off to the market on the 1045 boat stopping at the public Market on the way. We then had lunch at a Chinese buffet we have been wanting to try. Sort of like the one in Fredricksburg, but the food was not nearly as nice. They did have a huge selection though. Then it was off to BJs, Home Depot and back to catch the 1630 boat. After parking the car and on our way to the boat we heard a crash and not too far beyond the pier security office, a car crossed the median strip, through a tree and into the barrier by the warhorse. Dad figures we were only 2 or 3 minutes away from where it hit! At night we went to the 5th to hear "So You Think You Know Maine," quite good. We then drove around the island in the dark. That is always kind of fun.

Thursday we were off again, this time on the 0815, on our way to Brunswick NAS. Mom got her ID card renewed (no waiting), then to the Exchange for no particular reason, but Dad did get his haircut (here again no waiting) , Shaws Supermarket and finally to the Commissary. It will be a shame to loose that when the base closes. Then it was lunch time and our old Fish and Chips has reopened as Everythings Fishy. Good meal of you guessed it, fish and chips, and the price was very reasonable. We hit one more shop on the way to the catch the 1515 with two carts of groceries. We have one to go on our next trip to town. Dad had to go to the 5th Maine Annual Meeting and yes he seems to be playing repair guy for another year. For Stephen - Don Perry, the fellow you were talking to about publicity for "saving the flag" brought it up during the meeting and the idea was met with enthusiasm from the Board. He credited it to the discussion with you on the boat.

Friday could have been a sleep in day, but we were up at 0700 for no particular reason. We did go to the Fay Garman House and Health Center dedication at noon where there were lots of people, big tent, lunch and a tour of the facility. This is a Volunteers of America Senior Housing. They did a fine job. There are 12 one bedroom apartments (1 is for a resident manager), but the rooms are quite small, 1 bedroom, 1 bath (shower),1 living room and 1 kitchen big enough for a small table. That pretty well shot the day, but Mom did do her usual laundry and Dad worked a various things around the house. A good part of his time was spend washing the popcorn popper. It certainly won't be the same, but Dad will work to get the flavor back.

We don't usually go to town on Saturday, but we caught the 0945 to go the Annual Art Festival on Congress Street. Weather was great, the quality of the paintings etc. were really good with only a handful of really poor quality stuff out of the 375 or so participants. We bought 3 items out of the zero we planned on. We caught the 1415 back and it was packed to overflowing. That got us back in time for the Official Grand Opening of the new park, the Trot-Littlejohn Park better known as the old gravel pit. By then we were pooped. Dad did follow another tractor trailer, again to Ted's, now he has 2. Later Dad went up to the 5th Maine to help in getting ready for tomorrow's pancake breakfast. He was home by 1930 or so and will be up at 0600 to go pack in the morning. Fortunately Mom had supper just about ready.

We were up bright and early again on Sunday. Dad was off to help with the pancake breakfast at 0700. There were still things to get ready for the 0800 - 1100 meal. Mom went to 0815 Mass and then came up to help also. She was a server in the food line and then helped in the cleanup. We stayed pretty busy until things were pretty well cleaned up and put away around 1230. We then went home and collapsed. Mom washed and dried all the towels and stuff from the breakfast as well as watering her plants while Dad did nothing but read parts of the paper.

And that finishes off another week. I expect next week will be much more peaceful.

Love, Mom and Dad