Not only did I get abuse from a few of my loyal readers for being lazy and "redirecting" readers to Mark & Dortha's and Darrell & Judy's blogs - then Darrell took the easy way out and tried the same thing! At least he posted some pictures to ease the abuse directed his way! OK - I give up - but ya'll will have to suffer the consequences!
As for the Maine Event - We are still having a great time! Yesterday was another beautiful day, Portland Head Light turned out to be a big hit, lunch at Buck Naked BBQ was pretty good, and the visiting/story telling is the best!
Actually - I think we are proving that you can take any bunch of full time RVers (including some of us 50 percenters), put them in the middle of a fairgrounds parking lot just about anywhere, give em some basic hookups, and some decent weather - and they will find some fun things to do, great stuff to eat, and generally have a good time!!! I'm not saying this bunch isn't a great bunch of folks - they're the best - but their attitude is what makes it work! We got a few real Texans, some "paper" Texans, a real Maineiac, some transplanted Maineiacs, a southern Belle, a Michigander, and we even have a fellow from the great commonwealth of Massachusetts. Now if that isn't diversity - I don't know what is!
Everybody who knows me is aware of my lazy tendencies. This being the case - and since Darrell and Dortha do such a great job on their blogs - I hereby direct all readers to their two blogs for the next several days. Both blogs pretty much tell the story of the Maine Event 2010.
I'll return to my pityfull attempt at blogging after I rest up from all the fun we're having. These fulltime RV'ers can wear you out!
Check out the fun at http://wanderingamericawithdandj.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.rvingwithpoppa.blogspot.com/
Those sneaky Patterson's must have heard about the really nice weather forecast for this week. They made the 500 plus mile trip to Topsham on Sunday - arriving here a day early! For a couple that doesn't like traveling more than about 200 miles a day - they sure broke that barrier! Regardless - we were glad to see them as they rolled into the Topsham Fairgrounds around 6:30 PM.
Yesterday was a pretty lazy day as we met Darrell & Judy for a late breakfast, made a Wal-Mart run in the early afternoon, goofed off in the middle afternoon, BBQ'd some ribs in the late afternoon, and then had a relaxing visit/dinner with D&J here at the house last evening outside on the deck. Not a bad day at all!
Today I need to get a few chores done but don't worry - nothing too strenuous - after-all I need to rest up for the real beginning of the Maine Event tomorrow when the rest of the gang shows up. There's liable to be some serious visiting going on then!
So that's the plan for the next few days. Visit some, play tourist some, eat some of Darrell's lobster stew, and generally enjoy ourselves.
I suppose I should feel guilty that we can take this time to "pursue happiness" - but I'm not. Somewhere along the line we worked hard enough, long enough, and made enough sacrifices so that we could do this. I don't believe that the "American Dream" is the bigger house, that huge super whamadyne TV, and the fancy go-fast car. It's all about life, liberty, and the "pursuit of happiness."
That's all WE've really got - I sure hope WE don't lose it.
Home Again - Home Again Jiggity Jog (anybody know the rest of this rhyme!)
A busy week at work and then the long drive home yesterday. I have now driven home on Saturday twice. The first time was on Independence Day weekend and I remember the traffic coming to Maine was pretty heavy. Yesterday was worse! The economy in Massachusetts must be recovering quite well because I think at least 30% of the State 'O Mass was headed to Maine yesterday and we all met at the Maine/NH border at the same time. Traffic was pretty much a crawl from the NH I-95 toll booth to the Portsmouth bridge over the Piscataqua River. Traffic moved pretty well once I got into Maine until I got about 30 miles from home. Summertime in Maine is also Constructiontime in Maine. So those of us heading up I-295 were treated to another 30-40 minute delay between Falmouth and Yarmouth.
So ... my advise to Darrell and Judy - and to Glenn and Sylvia who will be heading north to join us for the Maine Event 2010 this week - take a chill pill and enjoy the drive - don't be in a hurry to get here - we'll keep a cold one waiting! Hopefully Mark and Dortha will have a smooth ride as well as they travel here from downeast. Peggy and I are looking forward to seeing you all.
Ah yes - the highly rated and much anticipated Maine Event 2010 is scheduled this week right here in Topsham, Maine. The Town was so happy to be hosting the event that they arranged great weather for the week. Highs are expected to be in the high 70s to low 80s - lows in the low 60s at night - maybe a shower or two during the week but mostly sunny. Perfect!
I think a quiet day is in the plans for today. I think I may do a little cleaning/waxing on the Chevelle. She has been ignored for several months now and is probably starting to feel lonely. I'll see if I can perk up her spirits with some cleaning and polishing. Nothing like a "car show shine" to keep a '65 purring like a Katt.
Ya'll have a great day!
The big wedding weekend is over! And what a weekend it was. Before I get going - let me say right off the bat that we only took a few pictures with our camera - we were a bit preoccupied with other stuff and so ya'll will have to wait for the "good" pictures.
The weather was pretty warm - right around 85 degrees on Sunday - but not oppressive. We even had a bit of a breeze which was really welcome to us poor souls wearing tuxedos - complete with vests and neckties.
But let me start at the beginning ... We all met at the wedding location in the garden at Pineland Farms on Saturday for our pre-ceremony instructions. Pretty standard stuff - not many questions - and so off we went to the rehearsal BBQ at Kaj and Stacy's house in Richmond. BBQ Chicken, Burgers, and Hot Dogs - plenty of "Corn Hole" contests - kids a'plenty playing - Adults visiting and partaking of adult beverages. Yep - a good time was had by all and Peggy and I were plenty ready for bedtime on Saturday night
Sunday started pretty slow at our house. Stacy went out to breakfast with some of her entourage - and then they took off in the afternoon for the bride preparation extravaganza. Meanwhile - Peggy and I got a quiet start to the day and even took time to go out to lunch - just us - the calm before the storm.
Around 2 PM Peggy and I made the trip to Pineland Farms to the "cottage" (actually a beautiful older house on the Farm property) being rented by Kaj's visiting family and temporarily being used as the brides preparation location.
There they were - the bride, her entourage, the hair lady, and the wedding photographer. Doing hair - putting on makeup - and generally doing what brides do I guess. How was I to know that the father of the bride got to hang out with all this estrogen while putting on his tuxedo and getting ready hisself. All my previous experience was as father of the groom ... and that experience did little to prepare me for this new role.
Busy times here in Maine. Folks arriving for the wedding, visits with the grandkids, last minute shopping, BBQ here today, wedding rehearsal & BBQ at Stacy and Kaj's tomorrow, and wedding on Sunday. Then there have been the minor disasters like Stacy and Kaj having the water line to their house break and having an excavator come tear up their yard and install a new one - and then there was the bat in Eric and Jenn's house the night before last. Yup - busy times.
Peggy and I have just kinda been going with the flow, doing what we need to get done while getting our visits in when we can. Weddings are supposed to be glorious and happy times - and so far so good!
Unfortunately - we have had two cancellations for the Maine Event RV get together planned for later this month. In both cases unforeseen events came up that required a change in plans. Life is full of these events. It's what makes living an amazing adventure. We're going to miss seeing Gene & Judi and Terry & Randy at The Maine Event 2010 - but we're pretty sure we'll be seeing them again down the road - and then again there might be another "Event" somewhere down a different road. So we'll continue planning for what comes next while dealing with the detours we're presented with and the obstacles that occasionally appear in front of us.
But for now - we'll stay focused on having a great time with family, new family, and friends as the Wedding Day approaches.
Well - I did feel a little better today even if the nose is still a bit runny and I have persistent cough. At least I had a bit of energy today - better than yesterday.
First chore of the day was to check out the "noise" the truck was making. I tried - I really did - but try as I did - I couldn't make the truck make a whistling sound when pressing on the gas. I'm not saying that Peggy is imagining things - I would never do that - I'm sure I'll hear the "noise" someday - but not today.
Then I got to tear apart the faucet on the kitchen sink. It seems it was leaking at the base and Peggy wanted that fixed. No problem - take apart the faucet - take out the offending o-ring - go buy a new o-ring - and put it back together. Or so I thought ... I made it through the take apart step without a hitch. Then it was off to Home Depot for an O-ring. Nope. Then off to the real hardware store. Nope. How about Lowes? Nope. OK then - back home to clean up all the parts - reinstall the original o-ring with a bit of silicone grease and voila - it works like a champ! While I was playing with the sink I decided I might as well replace the garbage disposal that Peggy has been complaining about for some time. I must admit - it has been making some really obnoxious sounds lately. Take out the old one - off to Home Depot again - buy the new one - install the new one. Wow - I am Mr. Fixit today!
All that work wiped me out so an afternoon nap was in order. Then it was time to take Peggy out to satisfy her Frappe craving. So we made the trip to Fat Boy Drive-In for a Lobster Roll (Peggy), Crab Roll (Me), Onion Rings (shared), and 2 Frappes. Mmmm Mmmm Good. For those of you who have never been to Fat Boy's - it is an old fashioned car hop style drive in that has been operating in Brunswick for a looong time. You haven't lived till you've experienced their annual sock hop. 50s and 60s music all night long - dance floor in the parking lot - only 50s/60s cars allowed in the parking lot - and BYOB. They charge you $7 to get in and then charge 50s prices for all the food! What a Blast!!!!!
Anyway - after our Rolls and O-Rings - we continued sucking on our Frappes as we cruised out towards Harpswell to check out a few spots that may be of interest for the upcoming Maine Event. We started by driving out to Cundys Harbor and checked out Holbrooks Warf and Snack Bar (http://www.cundysharbormaine.com/) at the town dock. Cundys Harbor is definitely a small working Maine fishing village and Holbrook's looks like it might be a good place for a Maine Event outing - kinda reminds me of Big Daddy's. Then we decided to drive out to Harpswell to Estes Lobster House - we hadn't been out there for years - another nice drive out on the peninsulas east of Brunswick. We haven't eaten at Estes in many years but the parking lot was packed so somebody must like it. Beautiful views out here!(http://www.esteslobsterhouse.com/index.html)
On the way back home we talked about all the places folks might like to go and see while they're here. There's Bowdoin College, the Joshua Chamberlain Museum, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House - plenty of good restaurants, Popham Beach, Reid State Park Beach.
Wait a minute - when are they going to rest? Let's rethink this whole thing - remember our slogan ...
"Maine - The Way Life Should Be."
Summer colds are no fun. Not only was it hot and humid last week in New York - to top it off I managed to catch a summer cold. So my week consisted of work, dayquil, watch a little TV, nyquil, sleep. That's about it.
But I'm home now. Back in Maine and looking forward to a wild and busy week. Kids and Grandkids visiting, wedding preparations, and then the big day next Sunday. Stacy (and Kaj) have been planning this day for over a year so I hope it turns out great for them. So far the long range weather forecast is looking pretty good for next Sunday - 82 degrees and sunny. Let's hope the humidity goes down a bunch as well!
So - assuming I can start feeling a bit better - what's on the agenda for my week "off." Mow the lawn, check out a "noise" Peggy has heard while driving the truck (this is usually expensive), get new tires for the Vue (this will be expensive), perhaps buff up the Chevelle and take it for a trip to Fat Boy's Drive-In for a BLT, Onion Rings, and a Frappe, pick up my tux, pre-wedding parties, Stacy's wedding, and maybe work in a birthday celebration for Stacy as well. Whew - that ought to do it! Once I survive all that - I'll drive back to NY on my birthday next Monday and be ready for another week at work. I'll need that week in NY to rest up for taking the following week off to party with a bunch of our RV friends who will be showing up for the "Maine Event" RV get together here in Topsham.
Speaking of new tires for the Vue .... Our 2006 Vue has now been driven right around 47,000 miles and has been towed behind the Winne another 58,000 miles. I replaced the two front tires at about 28,000 driving miles (another 28,000 or so towing miles) about two years ago. They all still have a bit of tread left but I've thinking of replacing them for the last few months. Yesterday while driving home from NY in some pretty healthy downpours I got to experience a couple of episodes of hydroplaning that weren't all that much fun. That put me over the edge on that decision - new tires are now in the budget.
Yup - I need to get over this summer cold quick - too much to do!
Summertime made it to Maine - just in time for Independence Day. The weather has been really nice - in fact a little cool in the evenings - these last few weeks. But yesterday the warmer and a bit muggier air moved in. Not really all that bad but you could feel the difference. It looks like we are in for more of the same for the next few days.
I made it back home for the weekend on Friday and will be traveling back to NY today - but we had a fun and mostly relaxing weekend. Yesterday Stacy and Kaj & Eric and Jenn came over for a visit and BBQ. I got to use my new grill to cook some ribs and burgers, Peggy made some Potato Salad and BBQ Beans, mix that will some cool adult beverages and a little wine and we had a nice time enjoying our family on a nice day!
When did my kids grow up? It wasn't that long ago they were riding their bikes and wondering what they were going to do all summer. Now they are (almost) all married, busy with their lives, and wondering about adult things. I love it when a plan comes together and works out as planned! Not that we had a detailed plan - because we didn't - but we're proud of 'em all - including the kids by marriage!
So it's back to NY for another few days of work ... this time it looks like it will be in 90 plus degree temps ... sure hope the A/C keeps working! And then I get to take a week off for "The Wedding." Not a bad gig huh - start a new job - work for 3 weeks and then take a week off. I know ... but somebody's got to do it!
