Lobster boat races

Sam and Courtney were hosted on Friday and Saturday night by their two wonderful aunties, but on Sunday it was time to return to the dreaded Camp Arrowsic. Papa thought it would be fun to meet for the exchange at the lobster boat races at 10 AM in Harpswell. Great idea, Papa! It rained and rained. Can you see the racing lobster boats in the picture to the left? No? Well, neither could we. At 11:40 there were finally a couple of races, not too exciting to soaked spectators. However, the tide was out and the kids played a bit on the exposed strand. Jonas, Coco, and Owen had fun throwing sand and rocks into tide pools. When it was time to go (at last!), I told the three throwers that the adults were leaving, and that they could stay for three hours and we would return to pick them up. Owen immediately climbed back to the adults, as did Courtney, who said, "Jonas, you can't stay here. There won't be anyone to watch us!" To which Jonas replied, climbing instantly to the top of the Wicked Children Chart, "That's awesome!"

Two victories

Connie and Dave were here this past week, bringing good weather and good cheer. I am happy to announce two material successes by my brother. First, he fulfilled his quest to find American-made boat shoes in Lewiston, right at the factory. They are beautifully made of real leather and will last and last. The second victory was also the fulfillment of a quest--this time for his very own blog. And now, it exists! In a few days you will find the Nattering Nabob at http://nabober.blogspot.com/. Congratulations!
Boat shoes, boat shoes. When we were on the Saronic Gulf island of Spetses in 2008, almost all of the men wore boat shoes. Like Dave's only probably from the Pacific rim. This fascinated me. But not for long.

Tri athlete

For several years Emily swam in the Tri-for-a-Cure cancer race in Portland harbor. This year she cannot, because of her shoulder. And this year her sister Molly, our survivor, has taken up the cause. Molly has practiced hard, as the photo to left shows--motorvatin' out past Koofis Isle. Note the roostertail.
We are very proud of her for doing this... but then, we are very proud of her for many many things.
Emily is doing other good things right now, in Guilford with her aunt Nancy, who is having a hard time.
What a blessing for us old folks to have two daughters who are so generous and loving. Holy mackerel, indeed!

Banzai!

The Nipponese aerial attack has come to Fiddler's Crotch. The hungry, horny beetles are out in force, to the point where the Bloggah has abandoned the satisfying "clapper" method of disposal for the time-honored bucket of soapy water. I must say, there is considerable satisfaction in the application of an open-handed vertical chop that drops dozens of the lil buggers into the suds. Sometimes there is a "click" as one ricochets off the inside of the bucket.

Ain't it great to be retired and able to focus on those things that inform and delight?

Tourism

Hannah has been here for a while and brought with her the summer. She has had lobster up the waz and has not complained about it. On Saturday we did a circumnavigation of Arrowsic with Hannah, Em, and Julie Rust. Then yesterday Hannah and Molly and I went to Boothbay. So poor old Autumn languishes no more.
On the other hand, yesterday the Whaler motor did not want to start and discharged some oily gunk. It did run, but perhaps its time is coming round at last. Hope not.
Horrible wicked hot humid weather is on the way, while Marnie is in CT with Nancy. But yesterday I installed a portable air conditioner in our bedroom. We'll see what magic it can provide.

Berry pickers

The blueberries are in, an exceptional crop. Now that much of the sweetfern has been laid low, the bushes are happy. Sun and rain have helped them produce.
This past weekend we had a good crop of people, too, as the folks from Carlisle decided to come north for Saturday and treat us to a lkobster at Five Islands.
Then on Sunday we celebrated Molly's birthday with dark 'n stormies and steak.
All in all a great weekend, followed by some rest. Whew.

Why, Google, why?

Apparently this company employs thousands of engineers. I wouldn't have thought it would take so many to make Gmail worse with every iteration. Hell, I could probably do that myself.
And "Hangouts"? An abomination replacing a very helpful and elegant web tool. Perhaps what we have here is a corporate a-whole.

God Bless America

Let's be thankful for our country and its ability ever to renew itself. Other powerful nations through history have trashed themselves, or been overthrown, by becoming ever more conservative and self-indulgent. Perhaps this is a natural trend as the stock ages and becomes self-satisfied. And of course we have a powerful drive in this direction in the US today, in the shape of a large elephant that harrumphs and farts every twenty seconds. But the freshness that is indeed "the real America" is constantly renewed, through the agency of freedom, by the young and the foreign-born in a way unduplicated elsewhere in the world. That is why, in difficult times and unpleasant hiatuses, there is always hope, and why, even in our disappointments, there is optimism about the future.