Visits, Golf, and Southern Hospitality

UPDATE - September 2 - September 8

-- Monday Was Labor Day - Good Day for Visiting

Baby Olive with Patti

Labor Day was a special day because we had our first visit from Baby Olive. Only weeks old, she was prepped and ready for travel. In anticipation of her first visit, we had installed the playpen so that changing her and letting her nap would be as comfortable here as at home. Naturally, there was a lot of opportunities to take pictures, which we certainly did.

Nana Patti enjoyed the privilege of feeding Baby Olive and assorted other tasks including diaper changes and the sort. For the most part,
I reduced my role, to taking pictures and entertaining Lucy to some degree so that she wouldn't feel left out from all the attention.

Lucy has been assuming the role of big sister in very enthusiastic ways. She frequently offers to hold the baby and to teach her to crawl. I believe Olive will appreciate the attention from big sister soon enough.


-- Golfing for Tee Up for Tots Charity

New Bike for Lucy

The annual fundraiser on behalf of the newborn intensive care unit at UMass Memorial hospital was held on Tuesday, September 4, this year at the Charter Oak Country Club in Hudson, Mass. This is a private club that has been used over the past few years as the site for this charity event. Patti usually is part of a ladies foursome that is sponsored by the physicians in the unit. I made my donation and helped form a foursome to compete on the men's challenge.

Part of the fun includes buying raffle tickets for a wide array of prizes and this year was no different. Patti selects which prizes to go after and she followed my suggestion that we try for the two-wheel bike that looked to just the right size for Lucy. Much to our surprise, Patti had the winning ticket for the pink bike with training wheels! I can't wait to surprise Lucy with this.

The event used to be hosted by the UMass Foundation, but in recent years, one of the grateful families who had a baby cared for in the NICU has been coordinating the annual event. The Wright family (no relation to us) organizes the event, recruits the volunteers, and runs the whole show. It's well-organized and everyone seems to enjoy the day.

The Tee Up for Tots Tournament was Sold Out Again This Year

-- Southern Hospitality

Had to borrow a pot

We got the rare chance to experience true southern hospitality, not to mention southern cuisine, when Patti's scuba-diving friend from Louisiana visited - towing a cooler filled with shrimp and crawfish from back home. Terry and Patti spent a whole day cooking the food in preparation for the family gathering that took place on the weekend. Needless to say, we all ate too much, and we may have convinced a lot of folks that southern cuisine is delicious.

It became necessary for Patti to borrow another pot from a neighbor as we just didn't have enough of the cookware needed to get the job done.

-- Weekend Family BarBQ and Louisiana Crawfish and Shrimp Boil

Marna with Olive

Lily with Olive

The early guests on Saturday settled for hamburgers and hot dogs, but those with patience also got to try some real southern cuisine. Starting around Noon and running until the evening, the grill and the stove were in constant use. The combination Bar BQ, Fish Boil, and Meet Baby Olive was a big event. Brother Steve, his wife Marna, and the twins, Lily and Paige all visited and as expected Olive was the center of attention for everyone. Other guests included Patti's brothers and sister, traveling in from Maine and Connecticut. Other guests were Nephew Andrew and his wife Irina, also from Maine.

Reading Update: Although it was a busy week, with overnight guests and family events, I had a chance to finish a couple of books I have been reading. The first was Strategy for Defeat by Admiral U.S.G. Sharp. This autographed copy of his book was written in 1978, which gave enough time since the conclusion of the Vietnam war for him to put his perspective on the gross failures in use of air power and the consequent loss of the war. I was in the service at the time he was trying to get our national government to understand that the air resources were being wasted in Vietnam. My blood boiled during the years I was in college after being in the Air Force as I watched our military stumble in its mission to win the war. If you don't want to win; that's fine. But, don't handcuff the fighting soldier, sailor, or airman and pretend you want to win. The book is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.



The other book I just finished was Three Days in January by Bret Baier. This provocative book, written last year, looks at what Baier describes as "Dwight Eisenhower's Final Mission." He refers to the challenge Ike felt to prepare his successor, John Kennedy, for the role of President of the United States. Ike gave a speech three days prior to Kennedy being sworn in and Baier reviews the years Ike was in the White House as the proving ground for Ike's concern for what he coined the phrase as "the military-industrial" complex and the plague it represents to peace for humankind. The book adds a dimension of understanding to the Ike story that has not been told so well before. 

Weekend at Samoset in Maine

UPDATE - August 26, to September 1, 2018

-- Samoset Resort in Rockland, Maine

Patti at La Bella Vita

On Friday, Patti and I drove to Rockland, Maine to spend the weekend at the Samoset Resort. The weekend was a gift from my employer on the occasion of retiring from The Hope Group. It was a very special choice as it was one of the favorite locations chosen over the years for the company employee recognition night. Over the years we have had a chance to visit the resort often and have always found it a fun place to vacation.

As soon as we arrived, we toured the grounds, visited the pool cabana area and had some drinks while we made plans for dinner. We agreed that we would stay right at the resort and have dinner at the La Bella Vita, the fine dining choice in the hotel. I won't offer a review here (it was great), as I generally enter my reviews at Trip Advisor. I have more fun with writing reviews there and have been doing so for many years.

-- Owls Head Transportation Museum

We made a side trip to Owls Head, Maine to visit the Owls Head Transporation Museum. This is a place we wanted to visit for a long time and we finally got the chance this visit. The museum has a wide collection of brass cars, race cars, historic cars, and lots more. It also has an amazing collection of antique aircraft, each with an impressive story about its origin, its restoration, and its significance in the world of aviation.

Simulated Wing Walker on a Biplane

-- Golf at Samoset along the ocean

The golf course at Samoset Resort winds along the water's edge and is constantly in view. There are only a few interior fairways where you lose sight of the water. As hot as the temperature was that day, the cooling ocean made it bearable. While water intimidates us as golfers, the ocean did not. It was a part of the landscape but really did not affect play.

Patti and Richard at Somerset

--Saturday Night at Archers on the Pier

We had really enjoyed dining at the resort on Friday night, but on Saturday, we decided to go into town and try one of the waterfront seafood restaurants. I had Chipinno on my mind. We got to Archers on the Pier and it turned out to be just what we were looking for. The menu was extensive and we each found something we wanted. For Patti, it was the swordfish. For me, it was the Chipinno. Both meals were great. We enjoyed being out on the deck, watching the sunset over the harbor and were glad we made the choice.

The View from Archers on the Pier

Reading Update: I have a special fascination to read about famous, infamous, obscure, and often misunderstood individuals. Whether it's an autobiography or biography (authorized or not) I find well-written books about real people are infinitely more exciting and satisfying than fiction. I have read several books about famed performing artist, Glenn Gould, best known for his being a child prodigy and later a total eccentric "lonely" genius. In Glenn Gould, A Life in Variations, author Otto Friedrich explores in revealing detail the talent and the emotional torment that surrounded Gould until his untimely death at age 50 in 1982. 

Gutters, Golf, and Quesadillas

UPDATE - August 19, to August 25, 2018

-- Let it Rain

Leak-Free Porch

We've been in Jefferson for 11 years and I can't imagine that any other home would suit us better than this one. Naturally, there are always maintenance issues such as cleaning dryer vents, filters for the furnace, etc. But, the only exterior issue has ever been cleaning the gutters.

The gutters work fine and for the most part, don't require a lot of attention, but the gutter off the side of the front porch was clogged and during a recent downpour, created a large pool of water against the foundation. I didn't like the look of that, so I put the ladder up and climbed up and cleaned out the debris I found. It rained again the next day and I can report that everything is flowing again.

-- Death of the "Playpen"

Not a Playpen

Patti said she wanted to install a Graco Pack n' Play, so that when baby Olive visited we would have a safe place to change her and for her to sleep. I agreed and we began to look around for a good deal. We found one and ordered it. But, during the process, I realized that the word "Playpen," which is what I've always called these things is dead. No one still calls it a playpen. Maybe they don't like the inference of the word, "pen?" Anyway, the units are called play yard, or play center, or playard, but not "playpen." Anyway, it arrived by Fedex delivery and I decided to assemble it in the garage. With the exception of installing one of the parts upside down at first, things went well. When it was completed I discovered it would not fit through the door that led to the kitchen. It also would not fit through the door that led to the hallway that opens to the living room. The "Play Yard," was 31 inches wide and the door was 30 inches wide. I managed to tip it on its side and wormed it around to get into the house and found that the doorway to the Master Bedroom was 32 inches and allowed easy entry.

-- Fun at Quail Hollow Golf and Country Club

Lush Quail Hollow

Monday was a perfect day for golf, so Patti and I played at Quail Hollow Golf and Country Club in Oakham. It's not an overly demanding course if you just look at its length, which is 5,809. But, don't let that fool you. It's laid out to challenge you on every hole. Patti got off to a great start with a par on three of the first four holes. I never caught up.

She went out the first 9 holes with a 42. I was a few shots behind. I could tell we both got tired as the morning went on, but it was a totally enjoyable day. The course was a bit boggy, which is what we have found everywhere for the past month or more, but we still had a great time.


-- Lunch at the Black & White Grille in Spencer

Here's to Johnnie.

Only 15 minutes from home is the Black & White Grille in Spencer. It's a minor detour upon returning from Quail Hollow Golf and Country Club and we often stop here for lunch. In our many visits, we have never been disappointed. Today, Patti had a wrap sandwich and I got the Chicken Quesadilla. It was great. As usual, Patti had to sample from my meal as well as her own. I'm sure she will get a Quesadilla the next time based on her reaction. Also, the bartender was our server and when Patti asked for a gin and tonic, he suggested we try his special cucumber-laced Hendriks drink. As Hendricks is Patti's favorite gin, he got a definite yes on his offer. I settled for my usual Johnnie Walker Red on the rocks.


-- Finding Film Footage is Failing

Finding Film Footage 

I have reels of old 8mm movie film, some of which my family shot when we were kids and some that I shot up through my hitch in the US Air Force. Tuesday was spent sorting the reels and mostly struggling with finding a projector that works properly. Our original projector is destroyed. The bulb overheated, melted and has made it unworkable. I bought a projector on eBay, which turned out not to work either. I bought a Bell and Howell machine that works, except that you have to manually push the take-up reel, as the wire-drive has failed. So, as the machine runs, I have to keep my hand on the take-up reel, coaxing it to wind up. It's tedious and not a good long-term solution.

I'm a bit on the spot as I mentioned to someone at the recent air show that I had footage of the original arrival of the C5A when it landed in 1970 at Kelly Field in San Antonio. So far, I have failed to actually find that few minutes of footage. I have lots of footage of the field, of my fellow airmen, and lots of other aircraft. But, not the footage I really need to find. I'm on the spot because it turned out that the person I mentioned it to is a retired Colonel and her husband is the current Colonel in charge of the C5A's at Westover. Oops! I better find that footage.

Some of the film footage I did find included our TDY team leaving our barracks at Kelly Field, hanging out on the tarmac, while our C-130 Hercules was being loaded. Later footage that I took has me in the jump seat in the cockpit taking pictures of the pilot and co-pilot and the landscape out of the window.

Lucy and Olive

-- Olive Continues to Gain Weight

Big Sister Lucy continues to be fascinated with new baby sister Olive. Lucy wants to help with all aspects of her care. She talks to her and asks her mother when Olive will crawl, or roll over, or be able to play. As expected, Olive lost weight for the first few days at home but reports are that she has gained much of it back and will reach her birth weight shortly. All signs are good that she is doing well. With Lucy on guard, we can be sure everything will be alright.




-- Busy Week reading Omarosa, Comey, and The Stowaway by Laurie Shapiro

I spent some time reading some interesting books, two of which were about current affairs. The third was a look back to the 1920's and the heroics of several stowaways on Admiral Byrd's adventure to the Antarctic.

Failed Loyalty

The first book was by Omarosa Manigault Newman, the woman who was unceremoniously fired by General Kelly on behalf of the President. This, after she spent 15 years being his cult-slave. She admits she was complicit in her denial of what she could see with her own eyes. But, as she was tossed out on the sidewalk, she began to realize what kind of unhinged President we have and felt obligated to share her story. I guarantee that whatever you think you know about her and how things are in the White House; you are wrong. You have to read it to believe it. If you need a copy I will loan it to you.

For me, I can't tell you which was more horrifying - the Omarosa story or the Comey story. They have nothing in common and yet both collided with the President, when in fact, there was no need for Comey or Omarosa to have that outcome. The only difference between Omarosa and Comey is that she moved forward with a career within the Trump influence and Comey made his career totally outside of Trump's influence. (They both learned about LOYALTY in a manner they had not anticipated.) However, both crash-landed at his feet basically for the same reason - his total unhinging over the past 15 years.

On a more cheerful note, the story about the young Stowaway that jumped onto Admiral Byrd's boat on its way to Antartica was very uplifting. Laurie Gwen Shapiro wrote the book about the true facts of his adventure (and Byrd's) and it reads as breathlessly as any fiction you have seen. But, it's all true and therefore all the more extraordinary. (By the way, any book I report on or recommend is in my library so if you want to read it, let me know.)

Honest Loyalty 

Reading Update: You can read about Omarosa's book in the above text. The other two books were A Higher Loyalty by James Comey and The Stowaway by Laurie Gwen Shapiro. Comey's book carefully and thoroughly puts the whole episode in the context that we have never gotten from the general media. That includes the media that is not supposed to take sides but offer detailed, accurate, unbiased presentation of facts. We simply have not been getting that. Comey shares his background so that you can understand his own failings and place them in context with events. Unless you read the whole book - you will continue to be lost on what really happened when Trump decided to fire him. 



For a change of pace, The Stowaway is a story that I think I should have known about. It

Seeking Adventure

seems so much to be the kind of story that would have grabbed interest, as it did to some degree, and maintained it over the decades. Instead, it faded out and was probably going to be lost except that Shapiro rescued it. Frequently, when we think of a stowaway, we think of someone running away. A few years ago, some individuals, mostly young, have sought to jump into the space of the landing gear on airlines as a way to "stowaway" in the modern age. Again, mostly they were running. In this case, young Billy Gawronski, of New York City, was running "toward," something. He wanted to be with Admiral Byrd and he wanted to get to Antarctica. Because he was seeking and not running, it made him a more sympathetic character and the Admiral, the sailors, and eventually, the world agreed that he should be allowed to make the trip. It's a great adventure - and all true.

The Wonder of Baby Olive

UPDATE - August 12, to August 18, 2018

This was a week everyone has been looking forward to for months. Patti's daughter, Corinne, was about to deliver her second child, Olive, this week. On Sunday, Patti and I spent time shopping for the things every modern baby must have: Too Much.

We shopped a lot of places and found someplace called Backstage, which is a discount corner inside Macy's. It was new to us and seemed to have a lot of things that suddenly seemed of great value to us with a new granddaughter on the way. We also visited Kohls where we found even more things that we must have for Olive. As for me, the lunch at Bertucci's was worth all the wandering around shopping. Among things purchased were sheets designed to fit the combo Playpen/Changing Station that Patti had ordered online. That was due to arrive any day now, so I'm looking forward to finding out how hard it will be to assemble it and not have too many leftover parts.

-- Lucky August 13th! Welcome, Olive!

The plan was for Corrine to arrive at the hospital Monday morning, get induced and have the baby

Nana and Baby Olive

arrive within 24 to 36 hours. She arrived Monday morning and Olive was born Monday afternoon! There was no reason, apparently, in her mind to wait any longer. Olive Helen Parras arrived and we got to visit and meet with Mom, Dad, and the baby. Even older sister, Lucy, got to meet Olive and welcome her.

Corinne has decided to take two or three months off from work to stay home and care for Olive. Nana and I plan to continue taking care of Lucy on Tuesday's and helping out whenever we can with Olive. My first challenge is the Playpen assembly. The box has arrived and now I have to assemble it. We'll see.

-- Home Delivery on Wednesday

Papa was recruited to pick up Baby Olive and mother at the hospital on Wednesday, including

Lucy welcomes Olive 

installing the new car seat. The pick up was smooth and the arrival in Northbridge was routine. The household, once everyone got inside, was a bit hectic. Lucy wanted to "hold" the baby, teach the baby how to "crawl," and to help change diapers. She's taking being a big sister very seriously.

-- Thursday at O'Connors

My friend Ray met me for lunch at O'Connors, which has been a traditional pastime of ours for years. It's a time to step away from the routines of our daily lives and catch up. Ray spends most of the summer on the Cape, so when he breezes through town, we get together. It's been years since I could rely on the Quiche at O'Connors. For some reason, they dropped it off the menu. So, now I get the crab cakes. Ray continues to eat things that have a lot of leaves and assorted greens. It's an homage to good health I think, but maybe not.

-- Golf at Holden Hills on Friday

Patti and I got an early tee time at Holden Hills Country Club, to stay ahead of the recent heat wave. We were paired up with two senior fellows, who it turned out we didn't know but had a lot of connections with. Mike's wife was a nurse at UMass and it turns out they knew each other. Dan, it turns out, used to work at WTAG, where my Dad worked for 33 years before he retired. So the local connections were pretty thick that morning. My golfing was not as thick, as I couldn't break 90.

Reading Update: I enjoyed the biography of Carl Sagan, a Life in the Cosmos, by William Poundstone as I view Sagan as one of the gurus of our time pointing to the real reality of where life came from and not the fake reality of false prophets and other jabberwocky that serves as intellectual gibberish for the ill-informed. He wasn't afraid to be out there challenging the conventional thinking about extraterrestrials and the notion of how the universe was formed outside of religious constraints. His early life was very traditional in the sense of seeking a research approach to scientific exploration but it was his move into popular science through television and the force of his personality that intrigues me more. The book confirms my every instinct that I would have enjoyed knowing and learning from Carl Sagan. We could all benefit still.

Life in Jefferson - Grads and Appalachian Trail

UPDATE - August 5, to August 11, 2018

Paige - Starring in Guy and Dolls

My brother's twin daughter's, Lily and Paige, have graduated from high school and are beginning their college days. There have been a few celebrations so far, and a final one was held at their home on Sunday. I arrived early and got a few minutes to chat with the girls, which is a good thing because as the day went along and the crowd swelled, there wasn't much luck in getting face time with the girls. Between family and lots of friends, the house was overrun. It's a good thing they had a large backyard and a deck to accommodate the overflow.

Paige has been accepted to Anna Maria College and has asked for and received permission to delay entry for a year. She will take some college courses in the meantime, but didn't feel up to starting just yet on a full-time basis. Lily was accepted at several schools but elected to go to my Alma Mater, UMass-Amherst, where she will enter as a Commonwealth Honors Program participant. She's majoring in music appreciation and perhaps has intentions to teach music some day.

Lily ready for Prom

Both of these young women seem content with their choices for schools and plans for the future. I recall as a high school graduate that I wasn't sure going to college would be right for me, so I joined the Air Force instead. As it turned out, going into the military for four years was a benefit to me when I elected to go to college after my hitch. I was able to focus on the academics and it turned out just fine. Because the schools are both close to the family home in Worcester, it means I will be able to see them more frequently than if they accepted enrollment at far-away schools.

On Monday, Patti wanted to do some shopping in anticipation of the new granddaughter arriving next week. We went from shop to shop and apparently just looking at the baby items was enough for Patti as we didn't really buy anything. When we found ourselves near Corrinne's office in Westborough, we called and convinced her to let us buy her lunch at  Not Your Average Joe's. We like the restaurant and we know she likes it too. She met us there and we had a good time talking about plans for the new arrival. The name hadn't been settled on yet, but Olive was a front-runner from what I could determine. I like the name Olive and I hope it's the one everyone settles on. We'll see.

-- If it's Tuesday - It's Lucy Day

Tuesday rolled in hot and heavy. The humidity was high and it looked like a difficult day to try any outdoor activities with Lucy. She arrived and was immediately ready to have fun. We spent the day building "castles" out of pillows on the couch in the playroom downstairs; playing hide and seek, with a suitable amount of screaming and laughing when one of us was "caught"; and a balance of reading books and watching Peppa Pig on TV.

-- If it's Wednesday - Let's do what we planned for Thursday

Closed on Wednesdays

On Wednesday, about mid-morning, I got a call from my brother, who was hiking along the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut. We had planned that on "Thursday," I would meet him in Falls Village, Connecticut, to pick him up from his current trail hike. But, as he moved more quickly along the trail, he was going to hit Falls Village a day early. He called to see if I could come today, instead of tomorrow? That was no problem, as I had cleared both days in case it was necessary to make the pickup.

So, off I went down the Mass Pike all the way to Exit 2 and then down Route 7 into Connecticut. Falls Village is off the beaten path, but it was easier to find than Mt. Washington, Mass., (the town in Mass., not the mountain in NH), which is the most recent place I picked up Steve from the trail. Unfortunately, the little rest stop, Toymaker Cafe, in Falls Village was closed on Wednesday, so we didn't get to sip some tea or get a sandwich. We just hustled back past Sheffield into Great Barrington where we stopped to get a Big Mac and a Fish Sandwich at you know where.

-- Tacos and Margheritas in Auburn

The Jeep is towed behind the bus.

I was able to devote Thursday to working on my film project and my editing. Patti worked and it gave me some free time to make some progress on my various projects. On Friday, we visited with Jim and Joyce in their motor home in Auburn. This large rolling homestead is brand new. They had it built, with custom features after having lived with a previous unit for a few years. This bus is enormous and when I sit inside of it, it's hard to imagine that it can just roll out the driveway and down the street. But, to listen to both of them, it's quite easy to drive and to maneuver.

Patti was in the pool before we got to the Motor Home.

Joyce had prepared a taco lunch for us and Jim made his famous Margueritas, which complemented the tacos perfectly. Joyce shared her recipe, so we will try it ourselves when I get a chance. It was a very hot day and the pool was a real treat. Patti spent quite a bit of time floating around, keeping cool, while I hid in the shade.

Reading Update: Keeping up with the recent theme of books that I have been reading by

and about Charles Lindbergh, I enjoyed Anne Lindbergh's autobiographical book, Hour of Gold, Hour of Lead, which consisted of the diary and letters she wrote between 1929 and 1931. This was the period when she met, married, and suffered the murder of her first child, with Charles Lindbergh. She was a true companion with Lindbergh, becoming a pilot, a radio operator, an explorer, and a supporter of his evolving role in aviation and in issues affecting the country and the world. She was a remarkable woman. 

Life in Jefferson - First Week of August 2018

UPDATE: July 29 to August 4, 2018

Tri-Color Pasta Salad

The last weekend in July went like the first weekend in July. My continuing interest in Barbeque stylings focused on chicken again. I'm still getting familiar with how to make the best use of the tools and the techniques to give us what we want. Again the macaroni salad was a featured player, courtesy of Patti's ability with the multi-colored pasta.

I also spent a good amount of time working on the sorting and categorizing of Dad's columns. There are some definite themes developing which may help in the full catalog making some sense.

-- Pride Park Discovered

Reflecting on Oneself 

Each Tuesday brings another adventure with Lucy, the four-year-old granddaughter. This week we discovered Pride Park in West Boylston. It has all the features that we look for in a place for a couple hours of outdoor romping with minimum danger of disaster. There is nearby parking. There are picnic tables to spread out the snacks. There is shade for some moments out of the sun to cool off and relax. 



Rock Climbing is a Must

Lucy in action

Naturally, it's important that the climbing apparatus include various items such as swings, teeter-totter, and assorted animal or fantasy "hobby horses," as we called them in days long gone. This park had a nice assortment for Lucy to try. The Puffin was a hit, as was the dinosaur, but the "rock wall," (suitably sized) was a favorite too. Naturally, she was attracted to the landing area highlighted with a mirror (see photo). She's always ready to pause and primp.


-- Bookstores are always a part of the vacation

Nonesuch Bookstore

Reading Update: I'm always on the lookout for bookstores, so it was good luck that I found Nonesuch Books and Cards in Biddeford. It was a large, bright store with a wide range of books, including a section offering new titles at about one-third the listed price.




I bought The Flight, by Dan Hampton, which is the most

recent, and most thorough review of the flight made by Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic to Paris. I finished the book this week and am pleased to add it to my growing collection of titles that are about the famed aviator. His is one of the most interesting stories of the 20th century, in my view.
         

Life Begins in Jefferson July 2018

UPDATE - Life Begins in Jefferson: July 2018 -

Patti and I hosted a family picnic at our home in Jefferson on the first weekend of July 2018. It was the first weekend after retiring from my career as a marketing manager. The previous Thursday, one of the executives of the company acknowledged me with some comments at an awards ceremony and presented me with a gift. The next day, my last at work, the company hosted a luncheon and again some nice words were spoken and a gift received. After 33 years, my time with the company was over and now my time will be in Jefferson.

The first day of July 2018 was spent golfing at Holden Hills Country Club. As soon as I returned home from the golf course, I had to drive out to Mt. Washington, Mass., (the town - not the mountain in NH) to pick up my brother who was hiking the Appalachian trail. He had decided to cut short his route and needed a ride home.   

-- Beach Tent for Lucy 

Picnic in new Beach Tent

The temperatures were so high the next day that all Patti and I did for entertainment was go out to dinner. It was too hot to grill in the backyard or on the deck. But, Tuesday was a great day, as granddaughter Lucy came, as usual, to spend all day with us. The highlight for Lucy was discovering that we had bought a beach tent and installed it on the lower patio. She was thrilled with it and held an immediate picnic for her stuffed animal friends. She also took advantage of the shade and enjoyed a nap in her new playground.

For the next few days, which were oppressively hot, I worked on editing my current book, Worcester's Winter Hill Farm. The book is finished, but I need to select the images and do some editing to overcome some rough spots. On Friday, Patti and I went to one of our favorite local places, Finders Pub for fish and chips. Patti had to work the weekend, which gave me more time to work on editing my other project, which is the cataloging of my Dad's newspaper columns. This is an enormous task as it's two decades of twice-weekly commentaries that he wrote for the Worcester Evening Gazette. It may take at least a year before I can publish this project.


Reading Update: This week I read an autobiography of Frank Capra, The Name Above the Title, which was a fascinating look into the early years and later triumphs of the Director that brought us It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Deeds goes to Town, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Lost Horizon, and You Can't Take it With You. But more than the films, it's a view inside who Capra was and what motivated him to be the best - and deserve his name above the title.     

UPDATE: Week of July 9-14

Monday, the 9th was a great day. First, we played golf at Holden Hills Country Club and then we visited with friends who had just returned from the mid-west where they had picked up their brand-new, custom motorhome. This unit is 44 feet long, has two bathrooms, and an awning on the side that sets enough canvas that makes me think it could get the bus airborne. We enjoyed some of Jim's famous frozen drinks and caught up on the many adventures they had all year driving across the country. This is the tenth year on the road since Jim and Joyce retired and they seem to be having more fun as each year passes.

Tuesday was Lucy Day, as usual, and just like last week, it's always important to have a surprise ready for Lucy. When it occurs to her, she calls out for a "surprise." It's best to have something ready when this happens, as she often becomes adamant. Today, I had on hand six new books that I had bought and set aside for her next visit. I only showed her three of them, so that I could keep a few in reserve. I stated I had six "new" books, but in reality, they were used books. I visit the local library each week to see what bargains I can find in the basement used bookstore: The Cellar. It's a treasure-trove for me as I can find books for less than two dollars and often less, such as children's books at three for a dollar.

Patti Coaches the Pilot

-- On Lake Webster

On July 11, a Wednesday, Patti and I went aboard the paddle-wheeler, Indian Princess, on Lake Webster as part of an outing hosted by the newborn intensive care unit at UMass Memorial Hospital. The physicians in charge of the unit hosted the event, which included a sunset cruise around the lake and "passed" Hors d'oeuvres. It was quite a lot of fun. At one point, the Captain of the ship asked Patti if she wanted to take the helm, which she agreed to immediately. General panic swept the ship as her co-workers learned that Patti had taken over the Pilot House. The call went out to count how many life preservers were on board.

For the next few days, I spent time sorting my film reels to determine how many, if any, of the original footage I took while in the Air Force, was still around. I found a lot of family 8mm movies, but have not found the USAF material yet. I will keep looking. In the meantime, I found the projector and it seems to be working, so I will get ready to preview the footage to see what I still have on hand.

-- Westover Air Show

USAF Thunderbirds

Saturday was a great day. We went to Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee to see the air show. As usual, it was incredibly hot and on the tarmac where the planes were on display, I can't imagine it was less than 100 degrees where we were standing. Fortunately, we found the Budweiser display and it turned out to be the perfect place to watch the show and not pass out from the heat. The USAF Thunderbirds were the last show of the day and they did not disappoint. We have seen them before, along with other aerial display teams, but it was thrilling to see and hear those jets overhead. I'm ready to go to the next one.

Reading Update: This week I read Thomas Cahill's Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea - Why the Greeks Matter. It's a fascinating, intellectual tour of the legacy of the ancient Greeks, and how it still has it's effect on us today. Cahill describes how the Greeks "set the foundation and framework for our intellectual lives. They are responsible for our vocabulary, our logic, and our entire system of categorization." He makes his case well. 

UPDATE: Week of July 15-21

-- New Independent Bookstore Opens
On Sunday, I went to Weathersfield, Connecticut to visit "That Book Store," which was having its soft opening. I had read that a new independent bookstore was opening, and I wanted to be there for its first day. It turned out to be a very nice shop and the owner seems really committed to being a resource for the local area. This is why I'm such a fan of independent, local bookstores. The place was immaculate. The stock was still a little low, which is to be expected at the outset, but as the inventory grows, it will take on a much stronger presence. I bought a few books and chatted with the owner a bit to find out what her plans were for the coming year. The formal opening is set for August 3-5 with a ribbon cutting on Thursday. I wish them good luck and plan to visit whenever I'm traveling down near Hartford.

Big windows make it bright.

Lucy visited on Tuesday, so she got to play with a new pal, Pete the Cat, a stuffed animal. The book and the stuffed animal became big hits because she had seen them before elsewhere and said that she wanted a Pete the Cat book. The bonus of a large, stuffed cat, put her over the top. Later, during the day, she asked, "Papa, can I take Pete home with me?" And, of course, I told her that Pete the Cat was hers to keep. She gave Pete a big hug and took off to set up a puppet show with Pete and her Teddy Bear. "They are the same size!" she said.

-- Good Golf Day at Woods of Westminster

Stay in Shade 

What makes a good golf day is a birdie. The birdie on the 18th hole, on Thursday, made a visit to the Woods of Westminster the best golf day in weeks. I hadn't played the course for 10 years, and it played much harder than I thought it would. But, that birdie proved I could do a lot with the course. The play, the cart, and the lunch were a reasonable package price and we certainly will add it to the round-robin of courses that we plan to play often.

-- Dining Lakeside

On Friday, we decided to seek out a waterfront spot for lunch. We settled on the 308 Lakeside in East Brookfield. We had been there before, and today looked like a perfect day

Patti in Cool Shades at 308

on the outside deck overlooking the water. The food was great and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. The restaurant has a friendly bar area and a large inside dining room. But, the best features are the two outdoor spaces. The first is an elevated deck that provides a sweeping view of the lake. The second is a patio space on ground level that has a sheltered area. On any visit, we find all the spaces quite busy; it's that popular.
I continued working Saturday on the film shorts with the hope of finding the old Air Force footage and right in the middle of previewing some film, the bulb burned out. A quick check on Google showed a new bulb was $49 and would take a week to 10 days to arrive. I had no choice but to order one. On Sunday, I watched the Open and the race at Loudon. When Patti got home we went to the Wong Dynasty for some Lo Mein and Chinese beer.


Reading Update: The more I read about the great writers of mid-20th Century, the more I learned about Ford Madox Ford. So, I finally got time to read his greatest book (he wrote over 80), The Good Soldier. It's not an easy read in this day and age, but definitely worthwhile to understand his time. For those who know me, I generally confine my reading to non-fiction, particularly biographies and memoirs; but, great literature has its place on my bookshelves as well.





UPDATE: Week of July 23-28

Arrival at Johnny's in OOB.

Patti had planned for us to spend a week in Maine, so today was organize, pack, and make plans for our trip. We left in the afternoon and arrived at her brother's home in Old Orchard Beach where we would be guests for the week. The trip up from Jefferson takes about two hours as long as there is no heavy traffic, so it's really a convenient place to vacation. The Old Orchard Beach area has a lot of waterfront dining, great beach bars, amusement parks, and close access to a lot of great golf. 

-- A Visit to Maine means Golf

Almost broke 90 with 4 pars

On Tuesday, we golfed at the Biddeford-Saco Golf Course, which is only a mile down the road. In the afternoon, I took some time to visit four of the nearby bookstores, and made some notes for changes to my travel book about rural independent and used bookstores. Naturally, I picked up some great books while browsing. We also golfed the next day as well. Johnny took the day off from his work at the Bath Iron Works to play too. It was another fine day on a great course. 

Joseph's by the Sea

-- Dining is Important

Thursday was a great beach day. Patti spent a lot of time soaking up the sun. I spent more time soaking up the music at the Brunswick. We had breakfast at Josephs by the Sea and then dinner at the Fairways Restaurant, a part of the Dunegrass Country Club. On Friday, we played the Dunegrass course and discovered it had changed a lot over the years. They have been making some improvements, but it still has a long way to go to be fully finished. Patti had time on the beach again today. 

-- Love a Car Show

Classic Road Runner

Downtown Saco hosted a car show Saturday morning, featuring classic cars, hot rods, specialty cars, and a few rat cars. It was a lot of fun. We had early breakfast at the Golden Rooster Diner, where Patti said my pancakes were the best she had tasted for a while. The service was fast, the prices were fair, and the portions were generous. It was a great week in Maine, and just before we left, Johnny's daughter-in-law, Irina, prepared a late afternoon dinner featuring some of her Russian recipes. We were home by 8 o'clock, arriving just before sunset.

-- Barbeque on Sunday

Grill marks are important

Sunday, July 29, I practiced cooking barbeque chicken on the grill. It came out alright, but I have to work on getting better grill marks on the chicken breasts. It's not easy when you cook skinless chicken. But, I think I can do better next time. In addition to the chicken, Patti made her famous macaroni salad. It's famous because she only knows how to make a batch large enough for a dozen or more people. That's okay for me because I get to eat leftover salad for days later. 

Reading Update: I finished Lindbergh Vs. Roosevelt, by James P. Duffy, and it was all that I expected. Duffy was highly critical of the way Roosevelt treated Lindbergh during the lead-up to WW II and it's a shame these two patriots couldn't have found a way to avoid their unnecessary rivalry.

As much as I admired how Roosevelt handled the lead-up to WW II, it always struck me odd that he hated Lindbergh. The book helps clear up how the feud started and why Roosevelt would not relent in his bashing of Lindbergh.