Island Update Ending October 2, 2005

We start out the week with a windy day, on the cold side, overcast and rainy and our furnace is still broken. On top of that we both are still fighting colds, but I really think we are now winning. As one might expect we didn't do too much today. Dad did lots of catching up at the desk, but that was about all. By Tuesday we were blessed with some heat. Paul came through again, but of course at a price. We didn't really need the heat today as it was quite warm when out of the wind. Dad finished painting the front windows getting ready for the new storm windows due later this week. Mom did laundry as usual and started getting ready for Monday's tea. It was supposed to be a coffee which somehow turned into a tea which we all know we don't due. It should be quite an experience. Our colds are better, but we still poop out and this is not the week for that. In the evening we went to dinner at a friends house along with the Murphys. A very good time was had by all and the meal was delicious. Dad even ate some things he doesn't usually knowingly eat.

Wednesday is market day only we didn't do that today. We were off on the 1000 boat to hit a few stores before meeting Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Dick at Martha's in South Portland where Mom and Aunt Jeanne get their haircut. Dad managed to get his cut also only at a real barbershop. Then it was off to lunch at the Lobster House at Two Lights were we enjoyed our meal outside overlooking the ocean. We accomplished a couple more errands before catch the 1735 back to Peaks. That about finished us for the day.

Thursday we finally got back to walking again with Denise and a rather long walk it was too. We're not sure that we accomplished much today. We did drive around the island to check out the waves because the wind has been howling all day. The tide was out so that diminished the waves breaking on the rocks. Rather disappointing. Right after we got home the skies open up and it poured down rain. Actually the rain pretty much moved horizontally. A 5th Maine Board meeting tonight pretty much finished off the day.

Friday we were off bright and early on the 0715 boat, had breakfast at the Freeport Inn, went to LL Bean and a couple other places, to the bank in Brunswick, Exchange, Commissary, our fish and chips place in Brunswick, and back to Peaks on the 1735. At that point we were pooped and called it a day.

We were washing windows early this morning getting ready for the new storm windows. Dong brought them over on the 1045 along with a bunch of other building materials. We probably started working on installing them about noon and they were all in so we could catch the 1445 boat. Dong really works and he really had Dad hustling around during this whole process. We now have complete Plexiglas covers on the dinning room winds (4) and new regular storms windows (high quality as opposed to Home Depot stuff) on 8 of the front windows. The other 2 front windows Dad had replaced with those lesser quality windows a few years ago. We had to catch the 1445 boat because we had been invited to Dong's sister's house for dinner. We had Pad Thai (sp) and Egg Rolls which as always were delicious. It was surprising to see Dong as other than a carpenter, he was the perfect host. We went with Sharon and Kathy and we really had a wonderful time. We caught the 1915 boat back.

So what is new on Sunday? Breakfast, 1000 Mass, more food after Mass in the Rectory, a bit of visiting and back to washing windows. We will never learn that new windows must be washed with something like Glass Wax to get that oily residue off. Windex just smears things and no matter how hard one tries it just doesn't come off. We know this, but still we try the Windex. Dad had docent duty today, but that got fouled up and two docents were there. That gave Dad a chance to repair some things that he has been putting off all summer. Then he came home to work on windows again until both Mom and Dad gave up and decided we can take care of them next year. Supper was Pad Thai and egg rolls that Dong's sister sent us home with. Since then Mom has been baking cookies for the tea tomorrow and for when company arrives on Tuesday. With that it is time to quit because we have a very busy morning before tea at 1300. Besides getting the house in order Dad is going to spend the morning making scones which if nothing else will place the kitchen in disorder.

Love, Mom and Dad