Island Update Ending July 24, 2005

Hooray, this will finally get us caught up. We started the week out with enough fog that fog horns were sounding when we woke up. The day, while not hot, was super humid which discouraged one from doing anything too active, so we didn't. Nice breeze though. Mom was up before dawn to get on line, which she did, but boy does that start the day early. We did go walking with Denise (remember the name because it will probably come up often this summer) who is Portland's Director of Senior Recreation here on the island. After lunch Mom went up to Marge's and Dad did a bunch of things associated with the 5th Maine and required puttsing around the island in the golf cart. He could have walked, but it was more fun driving.

Tuesday started with fog so thick we couldn't see any of the boats moored in front of the house. A relatively quiet day. Dad did docent duty for a couple hours and then we had a terrific thunderstorm around 1700. Not long after that Dong showed up to store his ladders for a couple weeks while he works in town. Very warm and humid tonight.

Last night, today being Wednesday, was the first using a fan in the bedroom at night this year and tonight will be the second. We were off on the 1045 boat to meet Jeanne and Dick for lunch and of course the market. We first went to visit our friendly computer guy Robert at Pierre's. Jeanne dropped off her computer to be fixed and we arranged to have Robert come to the island to work on ours and make it work. Mom and Jeanne did some shopping while Dick and Dad had coffee at one of the coffee houses on Exchange Street. Then off to the farmer's market and lunch at David's, outside, at Monument Square. Mom and Dad had to take off to get groceries and supplies, then meet Robert and catch the 1735 boat home. We think we now have the computer working and getting on line like it should - a bad modem. I hope that is the end of our problems. We still have to get Word on it which Greg is bringing, plus one other program from home that Cindy is sending.

By Thursday we evidently were really tired because we didn't really wake up until 0745, too late to catch the 0815 or even walk with Denise. Anyway, we caught the 0945, went to the Exchange and Commissary in Brunswick, had lunch at the Bowdin Mill overlooking the river, desert at the Dairy Queen and then headed on home. We ended up with enough time to drop off our old Selectric II typewriter to see if it is repairable. Were hoping the catch the 1630 ferry, but it broke down at Peaks so we ended up on the Bay Mist (usually a party boat) which was late because they had to get a crew for it. We had never been on that boat before. We did make it back with 2 very full and heavy carts of groceries. Comfortable tonight with a light breeze, but hot today in town, but not nearly as hot as yesterday, officially 89, but the car read up to 95.

Friday, the car ferry is still out of commission so they are running the Bay Mist which fouls up the schedule some because it is slower so as the day progresses the boat gets later and later. The 1215 brought Andrew, Will and Matt. Andrew and Matt flew up to see Will who is going to the Community College in Bath this summer. They were all starving so we had hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch and spaghetti for supper. Dad took them on his tour of the island for an hour or so in the afternoon with a few stops so they could explore. They caught the 2045 boat tonight. We had a fun and interesting visit and they all seemed to have a good time.

Another busy day on Saturday with the weather back to normal, cool, dry and comfortable. We woke up to see that the car ferry was back in operation. At 0830 we had the Peaks to Portland Swim and of course we were there to see them off. The Bracket Church had their Fair which we attended and then we went of this year's house tour. They had four houses and one garden. Very interesting houses this year which can only be described in person. The rest of the day was rather routine.

Finally Sunday has arrived. As usual we were at the 0815 Mass followed by Dad's breakfast and much reading of the newspaper, such as it is on Sunday. Mom worked around the house and Dad worked out in the yard. Dad also visited with Richard, but he is at such a point that he doesn't even know Dad now. Chicken BBQ for supper, a little Spite and Malice (Dad won 9 cents) and now it is off to bed.

More next week with a new cast of characters.

Love, Mom and Dad

PS Sometime this week we picked up Dong's van in our parking lot along with his ladders.