December 31, 2015 at 06:12AM
lancebrussell@gmail.com
Wednesday, 30 December 2015
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Lance's Blog from Blogger
September 24, 2015 at 09:53AM
lancebrussell@gmail.com
Saks On Fifth BC Mtg Discussion of Managers Report: Maintenance of Pool and Spa Claudine brings up problems including time for set procedures for maintenance of pool and spa equipment. Suggestion to set up scheduled maintenance. Geoff did not commit to scheduled items of maintenance. Take photos of hot and cold water meters on first day of each month. that way you can fight false value bills. Urgent job to repair leaks from planter boxes into rooms below, including toilets, pool equipment room and gym. Gym Equipment and Servicing: Geoff suggests quarterly or half-yearly maintenance of gym and gym equipment. Repair rower and sell stepper on gum tree. suggest pedestal fan to be placed into gym. Meeting start around 9 am, and finished at around 11 am. AGM Body Corporate Meeting 9 a.m. September 24th 2015. Geoff, Joe and Claudine, Evelyn, and two new owners. Discussion of cleaning of drive way and car park. High pressure water cleaning. LBR suggests that Geoff write a job description for a couple of quotes for this job perhaps to be done yearly or twice yearly. Discussion of AGM 2015 Document. Try to obtain this document.Check mail. Discussion of Building Maintenance budget, and some issues were discussed, including maintenance and repair of walls. excavation of garden beds and resealing with water proofing could be 30000 dollars. yet to be decided on. Discussion of Garden Bed excavation and possible impact on BC Fees due to effect on BC Meeting October 15th . 9 a.m. Discussion of Garage Door being on the docket.
lancebrussell@gmail.com
Saks On Fifth BC Mtg Discussion of Managers Report: Maintenance of Pool and Spa Claudine brings up problems including time for set procedures for maintenance of pool and spa equipment. Suggestion to set up scheduled maintenance. Geoff did not commit to scheduled items of maintenance. Take photos of hot and cold water meters on first day of each month. that way you can fight false value bills. Urgent job to repair leaks from planter boxes into rooms below, including toilets, pool equipment room and gym. Gym Equipment and Servicing: Geoff suggests quarterly or half-yearly maintenance of gym and gym equipment. Repair rower and sell stepper on gum tree. suggest pedestal fan to be placed into gym. Meeting start around 9 am, and finished at around 11 am. AGM Body Corporate Meeting 9 a.m. September 24th 2015. Geoff, Joe and Claudine, Evelyn, and two new owners. Discussion of cleaning of drive way and car park. High pressure water cleaning. LBR suggests that Geoff write a job description for a couple of quotes for this job perhaps to be done yearly or twice yearly. Discussion of AGM 2015 Document. Try to obtain this document.Check mail. Discussion of Building Maintenance budget, and some issues were discussed, including maintenance and repair of walls. excavation of garden beds and resealing with water proofing could be 30000 dollars. yet to be decided on. Discussion of Garden Bed excavation and possible impact on BC Fees due to effect on BC Meeting October 15th . 9 a.m. Discussion of Garage Door being on the docket.
Tuesday, 11 August 2015
Wednesday, August 12th at Novatel Brighton Beach Hotel
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes,
The sun is coming up brightly over the bay looking out to the main runway of Sydney Intl Airport.
It is exactly 6:52 at the moment and the sun came up about ten minutes ago. This is a sharp contrast from Maine and NYC where the sun-up times were a wee bit earlier.
We got into Sydney yesterday at just about exactly the scheduled time of 6:20 a.m., after a very long 15 hour flight. Ross did not sleep like a baby on the flight. By that I mean, he didn't cry and wet himself every three hours; in fact, normal for Ross, he probably slept 10 hours of the 15 hours flight time. He had on his new green Eddie Bauer rain jacket with the hood up and looked like a peacefully sleeping Eskimo for the most of the time I saw him. He was across the isle from me.
It took us about an hour to get through Customs and Immigration, with lots of poor service, broken machines, poor signage and confusion over the poor directions.
Then a fairly easy transfer to a cab and to the Novatel Brighton Beach Hotel.
Then we got lucky and we were able to get straight into our room after check-in at about 9 a.m.
We got a phone call from our friend Frank, who was going to pick us up and take us to lunch.
We hustled through the shower and got into fresh clean clothes. Frank was waiting down in the lobby.
Frank took us to Manley for brunch at about 10 a.m.
We had a delightful breakfast or brunch. We got all caught up with Frank and his travels and family situation as well as his health issues, which Ross and I could both identify with. Frank is older than Ross and I but has a new little girl about 22 months old or so. Frank looks great, so Holly, the new daughter obviously is keeping him young.
We did a walk around Manley after brunch and checked out the beach. There were lots of surfers and a few swimmers, as well as many runners along the beachfront. Manley Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world, but not as good as Burleigh Beach, of course.
Frank and I checked out the Specialized Bikes at Manley Cycles while Ross shopped in a Lifeline Shop (sort of Salvation Army Used Clothes). Frank and I particularly liked then $10,500 mountain bike but didn't purchase it at this time.
After the tour of Manley, Frank drove Ross into town and dropped him off at the museum. Then he drove me back to the hotel, where I went out and got some groceries and laundry detergent and dollar coins. Then I did my laundry and finished yesterday's blog.
After these domestic duties, I got a call from Dave Collins and arranged a game of golf for Friday. Then I took a sleeping tablet and went to bed around 5 p.m. Also got a short "welcome Home" phone call from Barry Scott. Then I was taken by the land of nod and didn't wake up til midnight. Ross hadn't woken me when he came in after his evening in Sydney town.
I read for a bit and then was able to get back to sleep and woke again briefly a couple of times and then couldn't get back to sleep at just past 4 a.m.
I quietly got through the shower and shave, got into clean clothes and went down to the business center, where I unsuccessfully tried many times to on-line check-in with Virgin Australia. We will need to physically check-in at the airport.
After checking emails and Facebook, I headed upstairs to Level 3 to the restaurant for breakfast.
Buffet breakfast and coffee. Finished this here blog that you are reading. Now it is exactly 7:18 a.m. and I am about to head back to the room to see if Ross can be levered out of bed.
We need to grab a taxi to the airport by about 8:30 a.m. Check-in by 10 a.m. for our flight VA517 that leaves Sydney airport at 11:10 a.m.
Our good friend Graham Hopkins is picking us up at Coolangatta Airport at 12:30 p.m. Good on ya Graysie!
New photo of me in the fabulous and huge Golden Gate Park in Northeast San Francisco, near , what else, The Golden Gate Bridge. I am near a grove of very large Eucalypti Trees. Very huge and impressive.
That's my last Blog for this trip! Hope you enjoyed it. Ross and I certainly had fun on the trip and there are a lot of highlights but all recorded in these, what is it?, 45 blog posts?
Lance and Ross blogs over and out.
The sun is coming up brightly over the bay looking out to the main runway of Sydney Intl Airport.
It is exactly 6:52 at the moment and the sun came up about ten minutes ago. This is a sharp contrast from Maine and NYC where the sun-up times were a wee bit earlier.
We got into Sydney yesterday at just about exactly the scheduled time of 6:20 a.m., after a very long 15 hour flight. Ross did not sleep like a baby on the flight. By that I mean, he didn't cry and wet himself every three hours; in fact, normal for Ross, he probably slept 10 hours of the 15 hours flight time. He had on his new green Eddie Bauer rain jacket with the hood up and looked like a peacefully sleeping Eskimo for the most of the time I saw him. He was across the isle from me.
It took us about an hour to get through Customs and Immigration, with lots of poor service, broken machines, poor signage and confusion over the poor directions.
Then a fairly easy transfer to a cab and to the Novatel Brighton Beach Hotel.
Then we got lucky and we were able to get straight into our room after check-in at about 9 a.m.
We got a phone call from our friend Frank, who was going to pick us up and take us to lunch.
We hustled through the shower and got into fresh clean clothes. Frank was waiting down in the lobby.
Frank took us to Manley for brunch at about 10 a.m.
We had a delightful breakfast or brunch. We got all caught up with Frank and his travels and family situation as well as his health issues, which Ross and I could both identify with. Frank is older than Ross and I but has a new little girl about 22 months old or so. Frank looks great, so Holly, the new daughter obviously is keeping him young.
We did a walk around Manley after brunch and checked out the beach. There were lots of surfers and a few swimmers, as well as many runners along the beachfront. Manley Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world, but not as good as Burleigh Beach, of course.
Frank and I checked out the Specialized Bikes at Manley Cycles while Ross shopped in a Lifeline Shop (sort of Salvation Army Used Clothes). Frank and I particularly liked then $10,500 mountain bike but didn't purchase it at this time.
After the tour of Manley, Frank drove Ross into town and dropped him off at the museum. Then he drove me back to the hotel, where I went out and got some groceries and laundry detergent and dollar coins. Then I did my laundry and finished yesterday's blog.
After these domestic duties, I got a call from Dave Collins and arranged a game of golf for Friday. Then I took a sleeping tablet and went to bed around 5 p.m. Also got a short "welcome Home" phone call from Barry Scott. Then I was taken by the land of nod and didn't wake up til midnight. Ross hadn't woken me when he came in after his evening in Sydney town.
I read for a bit and then was able to get back to sleep and woke again briefly a couple of times and then couldn't get back to sleep at just past 4 a.m.
I quietly got through the shower and shave, got into clean clothes and went down to the business center, where I unsuccessfully tried many times to on-line check-in with Virgin Australia. We will need to physically check-in at the airport.
After checking emails and Facebook, I headed upstairs to Level 3 to the restaurant for breakfast.
Buffet breakfast and coffee. Finished this here blog that you are reading. Now it is exactly 7:18 a.m. and I am about to head back to the room to see if Ross can be levered out of bed.
We need to grab a taxi to the airport by about 8:30 a.m. Check-in by 10 a.m. for our flight VA517 that leaves Sydney airport at 11:10 a.m.
Our good friend Graham Hopkins is picking us up at Coolangatta Airport at 12:30 p.m. Good on ya Graysie!
New photo of me in the fabulous and huge Golden Gate Park in Northeast San Francisco, near , what else, The Golden Gate Bridge. I am near a grove of very large Eucalypti Trees. Very huge and impressive.
That's my last Blog for this trip! Hope you enjoyed it. Ross and I certainly had fun on the trip and there are a lot of highlights but all recorded in these, what is it?, 45 blog posts?
Lance and Ross blogs over and out.
Monday, 10 August 2015
Tuesday August 11th in Novatel Brighton Beach Hotel
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes,
It is exactly 2:12 p.m.Tuesday, August 11th here at Novatel Brighton Beach Hotel in Sydney Australia. Ross and I are happy to be back in Australia, after over 5 weeks of living out of our suitcases.
First, though a description of our last day in San Francisco.
The Hyatt Regency San Francisco was definitely the best hotel we stayed in. It was great. I got up way early, as I mentioned in my last blog, and had coffee down in the Atrium Cafe, The Swiftwater Cafe. After I finished the blog I went and got showered and shaved and headed back down for the buffet breakfast.
The Swiftwater Cafe is named for the lovely waterfall right next to my table. Lovely background music.I read my Kindle Books on the mini-iPad and waited for Ross to awaken and join the living.
Eventually, he did and we got him a buffet breakfast as well.
Our last day in San Francisco was a fun day, with Ross having a great idea, a self-guided tour on Segways. We went to a Segway Hire co., up on the corner of Balboa and 30th Ave. and had 15 minutes instruction from two young San Franciscan teenage girls. They did a great job, and were very calm and clear with us. Ross has been on Segways a couple of times before so he needed less instruction, although not much since I am a well-known gifted athlete.
No tour group, just us two. We decided to take a 2 hour cruise. We went through part of the Golden Gate Park, which was fun and they had some magnificent old huge trees, including some nice Eucalypt trees.
Then we went around the park, through the Bison Herd enclosure and headed out onto the beachside path and went towards Golden Gate Bridge and Lands End Park.
The Segways were remarkably easy to manage, although it did strain your calf muscles; mine are still sore. They are also a little tricky to get off and a little tricky over side hills and rough terrain. Still, lots of fun and at top speed a bit faster than a human can run. Slowing down and turning was easier than I feared.
We rode along the beach, travelling roughly North. The beach was wide and sandy, although a darker sand than we are used to. Intrepid swimmers braved the cold water. Lots of surfers were doing their thing as well.
Eventually we arrived at Lands End National Park and explored on a smaller trail some of which was sand or dirt. Quite fun to negotiate really. I liked the Segway very much; I want one. Here's a photo of the partially fogged in Golden Gate Bridge from our Lands End Park lookout. Lots of tourists doing the same and we were trying not to collide with any of them. We kept our steeds well under control and hit nobody.
Ross found he could even operate the Segway one or no handed and take photos whilst on the machine. I felt more comfortable getting off to take my photos, for the most part.
We traveled about 10-12 miles or so on Segways and had a ball. Through the beautiful Golden Gate Park and the Lands End National Park, then back down the road to Fulton Street which was took along the foot path until we hit 30th Ave. crossroad, then went up 30th Ave til we hit Balboa and the Segway Hire Shop.
After returning the Segways, we got on the bus that went a long way down to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.
The Ferry Building built in 1915, one hundred years ago.Nice gourmet food shops and kitchen shops and restaurants and bakers in there.
Ross found a lovely specialist fungi shop. Very beautiful fungi displayed including , surprisingly, Australian Truffles, which retailed for $75 US per ounce!
The Italian Truffles were cheap at only $33.75 US per ounce!
More beautiful mushrooms. You have to take away and cook them yourselves, however.
Then we had a great all-beef hot dog (The Budhist kind; one with everything) at the American Eatery.
Beautiful hotdogs on a lovely fresh sour dough roll. We had cheese, sauerkraut, american mustard and fried onions on ours. Yummy.
Then we walked down Market Street, and visited Ross's second favorite Hardware store on 4th Ave, Coles Hardware, "Coles is good for the Soul" off Market South of Market (SoMa district).
Then continued up Market at a leisurely pace and finally got to the giant Westfield Shopping Center again and had a iced coffee and rested our aching calfs and feet.
Finally went straight to the BART Station and out to the airport station, then to the hotel, picked up our luggage and then back to the airport to check-in and have a Mexican Dinner before boarding at about 9:30 p.m.
The jet took off at about 10:30 and we got into Sydney about 15 hours later or about 6:30 a.m. local time Tuesday morning.
Tomorrow's flight to the Gold Coast is VA517 with Virgin Airlines. We leave at 11:10 a.m. and arrive at Coolangatta at a projected 12:30 p.m. Thanks again Graysie for accepting the task of picking us up. Looking forward to a couple of days of napping and resting once I get back into good old Unit 34 Saks On Fifth in Burleigh Heads.
Ross and Lance's Blog
It is exactly 2:12 p.m.Tuesday, August 11th here at Novatel Brighton Beach Hotel in Sydney Australia. Ross and I are happy to be back in Australia, after over 5 weeks of living out of our suitcases.
First, though a description of our last day in San Francisco.
The Hyatt Regency San Francisco was definitely the best hotel we stayed in. It was great. I got up way early, as I mentioned in my last blog, and had coffee down in the Atrium Cafe, The Swiftwater Cafe. After I finished the blog I went and got showered and shaved and headed back down for the buffet breakfast.
The Swiftwater Cafe is named for the lovely waterfall right next to my table. Lovely background music.I read my Kindle Books on the mini-iPad and waited for Ross to awaken and join the living.
Eventually, he did and we got him a buffet breakfast as well.
Our last day in San Francisco was a fun day, with Ross having a great idea, a self-guided tour on Segways. We went to a Segway Hire co., up on the corner of Balboa and 30th Ave. and had 15 minutes instruction from two young San Franciscan teenage girls. They did a great job, and were very calm and clear with us. Ross has been on Segways a couple of times before so he needed less instruction, although not much since I am a well-known gifted athlete.
Then we went around the park, through the Bison Herd enclosure and headed out onto the beachside path and went towards Golden Gate Bridge and Lands End Park.
The Segways were remarkably easy to manage, although it did strain your calf muscles; mine are still sore. They are also a little tricky to get off and a little tricky over side hills and rough terrain. Still, lots of fun and at top speed a bit faster than a human can run. Slowing down and turning was easier than I feared.
We rode along the beach, travelling roughly North. The beach was wide and sandy, although a darker sand than we are used to. Intrepid swimmers braved the cold water. Lots of surfers were doing their thing as well.
Eventually we arrived at Lands End National Park and explored on a smaller trail some of which was sand or dirt. Quite fun to negotiate really. I liked the Segway very much; I want one. Here's a photo of the partially fogged in Golden Gate Bridge from our Lands End Park lookout. Lots of tourists doing the same and we were trying not to collide with any of them. We kept our steeds well under control and hit nobody.
Ross found he could even operate the Segway one or no handed and take photos whilst on the machine. I felt more comfortable getting off to take my photos, for the most part.
We traveled about 10-12 miles or so on Segways and had a ball. Through the beautiful Golden Gate Park and the Lands End National Park, then back down the road to Fulton Street which was took along the foot path until we hit 30th Ave. crossroad, then went up 30th Ave til we hit Balboa and the Segway Hire Shop.
After returning the Segways, we got on the bus that went a long way down to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.
The Ferry Building built in 1915, one hundred years ago.Nice gourmet food shops and kitchen shops and restaurants and bakers in there.
Ross found a lovely specialist fungi shop. Very beautiful fungi displayed including , surprisingly, Australian Truffles, which retailed for $75 US per ounce!
The Italian Truffles were cheap at only $33.75 US per ounce!
More beautiful mushrooms. You have to take away and cook them yourselves, however.
Then we had a great all-beef hot dog (The Budhist kind; one with everything) at the American Eatery.
Beautiful hotdogs on a lovely fresh sour dough roll. We had cheese, sauerkraut, american mustard and fried onions on ours. Yummy.
Then we walked down Market Street, and visited Ross's second favorite Hardware store on 4th Ave, Coles Hardware, "Coles is good for the Soul" off Market South of Market (SoMa district).
Then continued up Market at a leisurely pace and finally got to the giant Westfield Shopping Center again and had a iced coffee and rested our aching calfs and feet.
Finally went straight to the BART Station and out to the airport station, then to the hotel, picked up our luggage and then back to the airport to check-in and have a Mexican Dinner before boarding at about 9:30 p.m.
The jet took off at about 10:30 and we got into Sydney about 15 hours later or about 6:30 a.m. local time Tuesday morning.
Tomorrow's flight to the Gold Coast is VA517 with Virgin Airlines. We leave at 11:10 a.m. and arrive at Coolangatta at a projected 12:30 p.m. Thanks again Graysie for accepting the task of picking us up. Looking forward to a couple of days of napping and resting once I get back into good old Unit 34 Saks On Fifth in Burleigh Heads.
Ross and Lance's Blog
Sunday, 9 August 2015
Sunday, August 9th San Francisco to Sydney
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes,
Everything is copacetic here in the Grand Atrium of the magnificent Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel.
It is exactly 4:44 a.m. here and I can't sleep any more. I was able to get free coffee at the registration desk and now I am sitting in the atrium on one of the Swiftwater Cafe tables but the cafe isn't open yet.
There's a big waterfall feature that contains a lovely waterfall sound and gives the name to the cafe.
The atrium is huge and has lots of 20 foot trees in it. Magnificent.
I am at a lovely table, under a tree, by a waterfall.
Noice!
Ross is, of course, sleeping in upstairs in our lovely room. He did a good job and snuck in without waking me last night. When I woke up finally, at 3:45 or so, he was snoring quietly and I never heard him arrive to the room.
I think he has set his alarm for 7:30, a little over 2 1/2 hours from now. And to think some people say to me, "When do you find time to do this blog?". As slow as I type with two fingers, I can still write quite a bit in 2-3 hours in the morning, before he gets up. Or before the rest of the world catches up to my early starts, I guess would be fairer to say.
I tried to Check-in online for our SFO to Sydney flight leaving at 10:20 p.m. tonight but they wouldn't let me because of a passport issue. Since I am travelling with both my USA passport and also my Australian passport, this presents difficulties as well as creates opportunities in some instances. Now they see I came in to USA on my USA Passport and they want me to have obtained a visa for flight to Australia. I can't get around this on-line, so I have to actually go to the United Airlines Counter sometime this morning to straighten it all out.
I have found out that Ross and I have been assigned reasonable seats, and I have paid for my extra checked bag, so everything is good that way, I just need to sort out the passport issue. No biggie.
Ross has organised a Segway Tour for us today, so that will be fun. Looks like we may take them down to Fisherman's Wharf and roam around for an hour or so.
The Cable Car wending it's way up Powell Street from it's turnaround terminus at Market and Powell Streets, right across Market Street from the main entrance to the extremely huge and magnificent Westfield Shopping Center, where Ross and I met up yesterday. The cable car goes just about straight West over two huge hills and eventually ends up at it's western turnaround terminus at Fisherman's Wharf.
Continuing on up Powell, the cable car will pass by Saks Fifth Avenue on the right as it starts to climb it's first great hill. Ross tried to get Lee some "Merch" as he calls it, at Saks Fifth Avenue, since, as you know, the 36-unit condo complex we live in on Fifth Avenue, Burleigh Heads, is called Saks On Fifth. Unfortunately, they didn't have anything nice. We'll have a last look and our last shopping opportunity today. I still have about 5 or 6 kilograms available in my second checked bag, may as well use it up.
Walking the city we came across this fancy men's fashion wear store made out of shipping containers. They have racks of clothes on mechanized moving conveyors there as well, giving you a constantly changing view of the merchandise. Very cool. I liked it very much. This was a little area surrounding a park with a very unusual sculpture made of plywood. There was a cafe/restaurant made from shipping containers as well. Sort of a park theme I guess.
Magnificent plywood sculpture, looking somehow a little Indian, the Eastern Kind not the American Western kind. "Native Americans I meant.
This was near where we ate lunch yesterday, and near a shop called Timbuk 2 , which is a bag shop, where they hand make all the bags right here in San Francisco. Ross got a few small items. They make great bags but are a bit pricey. I was attracted by a very nice green leather and camo canvas laptop bag but resisted temptation gamely this time.
We passed by this Street-side Emergency Fire Alarm on the corner of Gough and maybe Oak??
I have never see one of these break the glass and pull the lever for alarm thingys outside of buildings like school hallways. Weird because later, when walking, we saw (and HEARD!) two fire trucks heading this way and wondered whether any passerby pulled the alarm.
Another cute cafe/bakery that we passed by on our walk. This place had huge coffees in great big bowls like huge soup bowls. Great French atmosphere and decorations.
My only company this morning, so far, is a little old lady cleaner, who is wandering around cleaning tables and vacuuming, wondering what the heck I am doing, hours before the cafe opens. It is 5:34 a.m. exactly now, so there should be a bit more action soon, as I am sure breakfast must be served by 6 a.m. at least, one would imagine.There are about 4 designated eating areas in this Grand Atrium, as well as The Grand Ballroom entrance off it. One of the eating areas is the "Historical Sports Bar" Knuckles, where I had dinner last night. A cheeseburger with home fries and a couple of Blue Moon beers with orange slice. It was good. Unfortunately all the relevant baseball games had been played earlier, as it was Saturday, and the big screen in front of me had a "Judge Judy" TV Show playing, which I ignored. There was a goog sound track of 60's and 70's rock and roll playing, however, with some of my favorites like Bob Seger, The Band, Donovan, Led Zeppelin and a few more.
The Grand Peninsula Ballroom, to the left of where I am sitting right now. This was taken yesterday afternoon, when there were people up and around.
Chefs and waiters are now appearing to set up the buffet breakfast. I am at a distant table, out of the way, however, so no probs.
Since 6:00 a.m. is fast approaching, I might go back to the room, have a shower and shave and get all dressed for the day and make my final pack for the big flight back to Sydney.
We will leave our bags roped off in the lobby, under the watchful eyes of the concierge.
I need to remember to check into the United Airlines desk on the way out to the city via the BART. Otherwise we will be delayed as I will have to do it this evening. Hopefully, the passport thing can be resolved quickly and easily.
Bye for now.
To all my Gold Coast Family and Friends, I will see you soon.
Apparently my mate Graham Hopkins is going to pick us up at the airport at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Thanks a lot Gray!
Lance and Ross's Blog
Everything is copacetic here in the Grand Atrium of the magnificent Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel.
It is exactly 4:44 a.m. here and I can't sleep any more. I was able to get free coffee at the registration desk and now I am sitting in the atrium on one of the Swiftwater Cafe tables but the cafe isn't open yet.
There's a big waterfall feature that contains a lovely waterfall sound and gives the name to the cafe.
The atrium is huge and has lots of 20 foot trees in it. Magnificent.
I am at a lovely table, under a tree, by a waterfall.
Noice!
Ross is, of course, sleeping in upstairs in our lovely room. He did a good job and snuck in without waking me last night. When I woke up finally, at 3:45 or so, he was snoring quietly and I never heard him arrive to the room.
I think he has set his alarm for 7:30, a little over 2 1/2 hours from now. And to think some people say to me, "When do you find time to do this blog?". As slow as I type with two fingers, I can still write quite a bit in 2-3 hours in the morning, before he gets up. Or before the rest of the world catches up to my early starts, I guess would be fairer to say.
I tried to Check-in online for our SFO to Sydney flight leaving at 10:20 p.m. tonight but they wouldn't let me because of a passport issue. Since I am travelling with both my USA passport and also my Australian passport, this presents difficulties as well as creates opportunities in some instances. Now they see I came in to USA on my USA Passport and they want me to have obtained a visa for flight to Australia. I can't get around this on-line, so I have to actually go to the United Airlines Counter sometime this morning to straighten it all out.
I have found out that Ross and I have been assigned reasonable seats, and I have paid for my extra checked bag, so everything is good that way, I just need to sort out the passport issue. No biggie.
Ross has organised a Segway Tour for us today, so that will be fun. Looks like we may take them down to Fisherman's Wharf and roam around for an hour or so.
The Cable Car wending it's way up Powell Street from it's turnaround terminus at Market and Powell Streets, right across Market Street from the main entrance to the extremely huge and magnificent Westfield Shopping Center, where Ross and I met up yesterday. The cable car goes just about straight West over two huge hills and eventually ends up at it's western turnaround terminus at Fisherman's Wharf.
Continuing on up Powell, the cable car will pass by Saks Fifth Avenue on the right as it starts to climb it's first great hill. Ross tried to get Lee some "Merch" as he calls it, at Saks Fifth Avenue, since, as you know, the 36-unit condo complex we live in on Fifth Avenue, Burleigh Heads, is called Saks On Fifth. Unfortunately, they didn't have anything nice. We'll have a last look and our last shopping opportunity today. I still have about 5 or 6 kilograms available in my second checked bag, may as well use it up.
Walking the city we came across this fancy men's fashion wear store made out of shipping containers. They have racks of clothes on mechanized moving conveyors there as well, giving you a constantly changing view of the merchandise. Very cool. I liked it very much. This was a little area surrounding a park with a very unusual sculpture made of plywood. There was a cafe/restaurant made from shipping containers as well. Sort of a park theme I guess.
Magnificent plywood sculpture, looking somehow a little Indian, the Eastern Kind not the American Western kind. "Native Americans I meant.
This was near where we ate lunch yesterday, and near a shop called Timbuk 2 , which is a bag shop, where they hand make all the bags right here in San Francisco. Ross got a few small items. They make great bags but are a bit pricey. I was attracted by a very nice green leather and camo canvas laptop bag but resisted temptation gamely this time.
We passed by this Street-side Emergency Fire Alarm on the corner of Gough and maybe Oak??
I have never see one of these break the glass and pull the lever for alarm thingys outside of buildings like school hallways. Weird because later, when walking, we saw (and HEARD!) two fire trucks heading this way and wondered whether any passerby pulled the alarm.
Another cute cafe/bakery that we passed by on our walk. This place had huge coffees in great big bowls like huge soup bowls. Great French atmosphere and decorations.
My only company this morning, so far, is a little old lady cleaner, who is wandering around cleaning tables and vacuuming, wondering what the heck I am doing, hours before the cafe opens. It is 5:34 a.m. exactly now, so there should be a bit more action soon, as I am sure breakfast must be served by 6 a.m. at least, one would imagine.There are about 4 designated eating areas in this Grand Atrium, as well as The Grand Ballroom entrance off it. One of the eating areas is the "Historical Sports Bar" Knuckles, where I had dinner last night. A cheeseburger with home fries and a couple of Blue Moon beers with orange slice. It was good. Unfortunately all the relevant baseball games had been played earlier, as it was Saturday, and the big screen in front of me had a "Judge Judy" TV Show playing, which I ignored. There was a goog sound track of 60's and 70's rock and roll playing, however, with some of my favorites like Bob Seger, The Band, Donovan, Led Zeppelin and a few more.
The Grand Peninsula Ballroom, to the left of where I am sitting right now. This was taken yesterday afternoon, when there were people up and around.
Chefs and waiters are now appearing to set up the buffet breakfast. I am at a distant table, out of the way, however, so no probs.
Since 6:00 a.m. is fast approaching, I might go back to the room, have a shower and shave and get all dressed for the day and make my final pack for the big flight back to Sydney.
We will leave our bags roped off in the lobby, under the watchful eyes of the concierge.
I need to remember to check into the United Airlines desk on the way out to the city via the BART. Otherwise we will be delayed as I will have to do it this evening. Hopefully, the passport thing can be resolved quickly and easily.
Bye for now.
To all my Gold Coast Family and Friends, I will see you soon.
Apparently my mate Graham Hopkins is going to pick us up at the airport at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Thanks a lot Gray!
Lance and Ross's Blog
Saturday, 8 August 2015
Saturday, August 8th, NYC to San Francisco
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes,
Everything is copacetic here in Room 5112 of the Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel.
I wish we could afford to stay all of our hotel nights in Hyatt Regency Hotels. Nice!
The day for me started in the Comfort Inn JFK, not the Hyatt Regency by a long shot, but sufficient.
I woke at 3 a.m. and got all packed and showered and ready. Went down to the Business Centre and printed out my Boarding Pass. Got on the Shuttle Bus at about 4:00 a.m. and got to the terminal about 4:45 a.m. Then got through the long line to check my two bags. All checked then I went and got breakfast and a cup of coffee. Then back to the gate to board at 5:35 but unfortunately, the baggage handling machinery was on the fritz, and we were delayed by 40 minutes sitting on the tarmac.
Finally wheels up at 6:45 or so. 6 hours flight time, so we got into San Francisco at 12:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, which was 9:45 a.m. Pacific Time.
I worked my way through baggage claim and then found out where I had to go to connect with the free shuttle bus to Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel. (Which was level 3 of the complex system of concrete levels and pathways and bridges that surrounds San Francisco Airport (SFO).). 25 minutes later I was at the hotel. Fortunately they had a suitable room available early and I checked in and moved my luggage up to the room.
Beautiful desk and comfortable desk chair, as well as a nice reading/lounge chair and the room is much bigger than we are used to. Could swing two cats probably.
Organised to meet Ross at Westfield Shopping Centre at Powell and Market, downtown San Francisco. I got back on the free shuttle, then on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), basically the San Francisco Subway System. Got there around 12:30 p.m. or so. Ross and I walked a couple of kilometers up to a nice little cafe in a trendy suburb and had coffee and lunch. I was hungry, breakfast was at 4:00 a.m. and 12:30 Ross time was my 3:30 p.m. time.
I had a very nice Greek Lamb Hamburger with spicy salsa and a cup of Coconut and Corn Soup, with two strong cups of coffee to keep me awake.
After lunch we went shopping, as you do, and Ross got Little Lee a special yoga orientated gift and I got T.Y.Ty a gift of a new Boston Uniform Cap with a San Francisco Giants Lids Special Hat Case, good for the storage and shipping of up to 6 caps Ty! You'll be the only kid on your block with that!
Then we picked up Ross's luggage from his downtown hotel and we travelled out to the SFO and thence to the Free Shuttle and the Hyatt Regency, where you see above, Ross became quite comfortable in the lounge chair.
Ross probably got up at 9 a.m.(which was 12 noon for me, and I got up at 3 a.m.) so he is fresh as a daisy and ready to Rock n Roll, whereas by that time, about 5 p.m., which was 8 p.m. bodyclock time, I felt like I had been hit with Rocks and rolled down a sharp gravel road.
I am about to attend our conveniently attached Legendary Sports Bar, "Knuckler" for dinner and a couple of beers which should put me nicely to sleep well before Ross returns. Try not to wake me Ross. Good luck with that because I would give The Princess from The Princess and The Pea, a good run for her money. A very light sleeper in other words.
That was Saturday. Tomorrow we spend the day in San Francisco and Ross has booked us into a Segway Tour. Should be fun. We need to check out before we go into town and store our luggage here and then pick it up at about 7 p.m., get the shuttle bus and check-in and check bags for our flight to Sydney by 8:20 p.m. We leave San Francisco at 10:20 p.m. About 15 hours of flight time after a long day in San Francisco. I don't think I will be functioning very well when we hit Sydney at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday August 11th. I am going to try my sleeping pills this time. I'll let you know how they work. Crossed fingers.
Ross and Lance back together...
Blog On.
Everything is copacetic here in Room 5112 of the Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel.
I wish we could afford to stay all of our hotel nights in Hyatt Regency Hotels. Nice!
The day for me started in the Comfort Inn JFK, not the Hyatt Regency by a long shot, but sufficient.
I woke at 3 a.m. and got all packed and showered and ready. Went down to the Business Centre and printed out my Boarding Pass. Got on the Shuttle Bus at about 4:00 a.m. and got to the terminal about 4:45 a.m. Then got through the long line to check my two bags. All checked then I went and got breakfast and a cup of coffee. Then back to the gate to board at 5:35 but unfortunately, the baggage handling machinery was on the fritz, and we were delayed by 40 minutes sitting on the tarmac.
Finally wheels up at 6:45 or so. 6 hours flight time, so we got into San Francisco at 12:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, which was 9:45 a.m. Pacific Time.
I worked my way through baggage claim and then found out where I had to go to connect with the free shuttle bus to Hyatt Regency SFO Hotel. (Which was level 3 of the complex system of concrete levels and pathways and bridges that surrounds San Francisco Airport (SFO).). 25 minutes later I was at the hotel. Fortunately they had a suitable room available early and I checked in and moved my luggage up to the room.
Beautiful desk and comfortable desk chair, as well as a nice reading/lounge chair and the room is much bigger than we are used to. Could swing two cats probably.
Organised to meet Ross at Westfield Shopping Centre at Powell and Market, downtown San Francisco. I got back on the free shuttle, then on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), basically the San Francisco Subway System. Got there around 12:30 p.m. or so. Ross and I walked a couple of kilometers up to a nice little cafe in a trendy suburb and had coffee and lunch. I was hungry, breakfast was at 4:00 a.m. and 12:30 Ross time was my 3:30 p.m. time.
I had a very nice Greek Lamb Hamburger with spicy salsa and a cup of Coconut and Corn Soup, with two strong cups of coffee to keep me awake.
After lunch we went shopping, as you do, and Ross got Little Lee a special yoga orientated gift and I got T.Y.Ty a gift of a new Boston Uniform Cap with a San Francisco Giants Lids Special Hat Case, good for the storage and shipping of up to 6 caps Ty! You'll be the only kid on your block with that!
Then we picked up Ross's luggage from his downtown hotel and we travelled out to the SFO and thence to the Free Shuttle and the Hyatt Regency, where you see above, Ross became quite comfortable in the lounge chair.
Ross probably got up at 9 a.m.(which was 12 noon for me, and I got up at 3 a.m.) so he is fresh as a daisy and ready to Rock n Roll, whereas by that time, about 5 p.m., which was 8 p.m. bodyclock time, I felt like I had been hit with Rocks and rolled down a sharp gravel road.
I am about to attend our conveniently attached Legendary Sports Bar, "Knuckler" for dinner and a couple of beers which should put me nicely to sleep well before Ross returns. Try not to wake me Ross. Good luck with that because I would give The Princess from The Princess and The Pea, a good run for her money. A very light sleeper in other words.
That was Saturday. Tomorrow we spend the day in San Francisco and Ross has booked us into a Segway Tour. Should be fun. We need to check out before we go into town and store our luggage here and then pick it up at about 7 p.m., get the shuttle bus and check-in and check bags for our flight to Sydney by 8:20 p.m. We leave San Francisco at 10:20 p.m. About 15 hours of flight time after a long day in San Francisco. I don't think I will be functioning very well when we hit Sydney at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday August 11th. I am going to try my sleeping pills this time. I'll let you know how they work. Crossed fingers.
Ross and Lance back together...
Blog On.
Friday, 7 August 2015
Thursday August 6th at 229 Brewer Lake Road, Orrington, Maine
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes,
Everything is copacetic here at 229 Brewer Lake Road, Orrington, Maine, 04474.
It is Thursday morning, 9 a.m. exactly. After my last blog I did get back to sleep and managed to get another 3 hours of sleep so I feel fine, quite rested.
Dad didn't have that great a night sleep. He got up to go to the bathroom and looked in at the computer and there was a message from Microsoft asking "Are You Ready", i.e., are you ready to install Windows 10?
He should have known it would take a while, after I took over an hour during the previous day, but he couldn't help himself; He was READY! Two hours later he was all set up. Dad is quite techno-savvy, and is pretty good on the computer. He has good problem solving skills, which is essential for computer work. He might need an afternoon nap, however, remembering that he has to take me to the Bangor International Airport at 4:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. Yikes! I am hopeful that I will be able to wake him up.
The new car, right outside Room 122 of The Vacationland Inn.
Everything is copacetic here at 229 Brewer Lake Road, Orrington, Maine, 04474.
It is Thursday morning, 9 a.m. exactly. After my last blog I did get back to sleep and managed to get another 3 hours of sleep so I feel fine, quite rested.
Dad didn't have that great a night sleep. He got up to go to the bathroom and looked in at the computer and there was a message from Microsoft asking "Are You Ready", i.e., are you ready to install Windows 10?
He should have known it would take a while, after I took over an hour during the previous day, but he couldn't help himself; He was READY! Two hours later he was all set up. Dad is quite techno-savvy, and is pretty good on the computer. He has good problem solving skills, which is essential for computer work. He might need an afternoon nap, however, remembering that he has to take me to the Bangor International Airport at 4:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. Yikes! I am hopeful that I will be able to wake him up.
The new car, right outside Room 122 of The Vacationland Inn.
Friday August 7th at 229 Brewer Lake road, Orrington, Maine
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes.
Here is the golf shark again, with his weapons of destruction. Today, I played very well, but couldn't beat the old-timer. We both shot 88 and our pal Spenser Greaterex shot 91. I did finish with a birdie 2 on the last hole, a par 3 hole.
......
Now it is Friday morning, 8:09 exactly.
I am writing this right in front of Gate 45, Reagan National Airport. Washington D.C.
I've been to Washington, D.C., and I have just purchased the T-Shirt that proves it.
My flight U.S. Airways 2133 leaves at 9:00 a.m. set to leave on time and arrive into La Guardia Airport in New York City at 10:30 a.m. I plan to take a cab from there to my hotel, Comfort Inn JFK Airport.
Hopefully, my two pieces of checked baggage will be awaiting me from baggage collection at La Guardia. It has been easy so far. both flights are about 90 minutes in duration; that I can handle.
The planes I am travelling on for these two flights are the smallest I have ever traveled on. One isle, two seats on each side of the isle.
This is da plane. Very small . Oops boarding my flight gotta stop here.
Thanks Dad for the ride to the airport at 4:15 a.m. this morning.
Good luck learning all the neat new tricks and features of your new Subaru Forester.
Bye for now....
Now it is 11:23 a.m. exactly, I am sitting in my room at Comfort Inn JFK. Unfortunately, it is a long walk to anywhere interesting. That's OK, I think it may be time to read, relax and maybe have a nap before the 6 hour flight tomorrow to San Francisco. Taxi from La Guardia took 30 minutes and cost $40. The shuttle bus I checked on would have been a longer wait and was to cost $60 so I'm ahead there.
I checked in and they had a room for me early. Great! On my way up to my room on the 4th floor, in the elevator a guy about 40 years old says to me, "Did you play masters baseball for the Alleygators?". Apparently he played against me 3 or 4 years ago. I didn't remember him.
Small world Ross says.
The hotel has a free shuttle bus that goes to JFK every half hour. I need to be on tomorrow morning's 4:25 a.m. shuttle. United Airlines flight UA 415 leaving at 6:00 a.m. and getting into San Francisco Intl. Airport at 9:20 a.m. I have booked an exit seat with a little more leg room. 6 hours and 30 minutes flight time.
Lance
Thursday, 6 August 2015
Wednesday August 5th in Vacationland Inn, Brewer, Maine
Hello Dear Blogsters and Blogsterettes,
It is 3:02 a.m., Thursday morning here at The Vacationland Inn. I just woke up and realized that I had left the phone in the car and that it would soon be out of charge, so I went out and got it and plugged it in, but I am now wide awake, of course. Maybe I can blog for a while and it will allow me to sleep in when I get back to sleep.
Yesterday was a quite and peaceful day compared to the two before, so full of excitement with the new car purchase and the getting rid of "The Beast"
The Beast; 2001 Ford expedition 4WD. Leaking Transmission fluid like a sieve and has lost it's tough metal gas tank guard underneath. 12 miles to the gallon of fuel. $60 to fill. Radio and cassette player!
The New 2016 Subaru Forester AWD. 26 MPG, Reversing Camera, Mag Wheels and Roof Rack, disc brakes all around, Fancy stereo with CD player and USB and Mini Stereo plug AUX Input,
brand new with a superb maintenance plan within the $199 per month leasing package.
The new car looks similar but is much lower to the ground and way easier to get into. Sandy had great difficulty getting into the old Beast and had to use a stool to get up into it, with much trouble anyway. The new car is easy for anyone to get into and the seats adjust every which way as well as the steering wheel adjusts up and down and telescopes in and out. All the electrics are fancy on the new car and the wipers and wiper water jets front and back are superb.
Dad's been singing sad country songs about his old truck all day, but it is such a huge improvement, it's remarkable. They'll save half the monthly lease in reduced maintenance and reduced fuel costs.
The room I am in right now, writing this blog. Has a nice table to set the computer up on, a fridge and microwave, and a TV which sits on a bureau that could hold unpacked clothes if you wished to do that. I would forget the clothes and leave them here so I don't do that. The TV gets a lot of channels including the NESN Red Sox games.
I watched the end of the Red Sox vs. Yankees game with Steven Wright, the knuckleballer pitching for us, for 30 minutes or so before I went to sleep. Wright looked good. We were ahead by a run when I nodded off.
Dad and I played golf again yesterday, he shot 85 and I shot 91. He has beaten me all three games we have had so far. He doesn't hit the ball too far, (just about the same length drive as me, however, about 160 yards, but he hits so straight and he has been putting very well. He chipped in from 40 yards away on the tenth hole yesterday!
We had a beer and a Buddhist Hot Dog ("Make me one with everything.") after golf in the clubhouse, served by Jenny, who has been very nice and friendly and welcoming to me.
Later, Sandy's son John came over and had a chat and then he brought steaks and cooked the steaks on the grill, Dad and I had gone out to deliver the Title Papers to the Beast to Quirks Subaru Dealership, and I got a couple of salads to go with the steaks for dinner at the big supermarket Hannafords. Also some caffeine-free diet cokes.
Had a chat with John and upgraded the laptop to Windows 10 before John went outside to man the grill for the steaks. Windows 10 took about an hour or so to upgrade into. Everything went pretty smoothly. I am liking the changes so far, but it will take some getting used to. I couldn't get the speech recognition program, Cortana, working yet. Lots of time to set that up after I get back home.
After we used it for a while we tried to upgrade to Windows 10 on Dad's desktop, but there is a queue for set-up and when we tried it said they weren't ready for him, they will email or send a message when it is his turn. Microsoft reckons they will set-up 1 Billion computers with Windows 10 in this period of set-up time.
After dinner we set up a DVD and watched a movie called "Walking Tall", with "The Rock", Duane Johnson, and Johnny Knoxville. Not bad, but I got tired and had to head back to the Hotel Room at just before 9 p.m. Tried to watch some baseball, but nodded off. Now it is 3:50 a.m., Thursday morning. I will attempt to get a short nap in a few minutes.
Golf again today, with Spencer Greaterex, Dad's old pal and ex-work colleague, joining us for the golf. He is supposed to be at the club at 10 a.m. Hopefully, dad will let him win again. Spencer doesn't win very often and gets a kick out of beating Dad when he gets a chance.
Dad is a cruel man, he hits so straight and is good on the greens so he shoots a good score all the time. Tough to beat.
That's just about all the news that's fit to print and ain't too hard to spell for the Wednesday, August 5th.
Lance at exactly 4:00 a.m., Thursday, August 6th.
It is 3:02 a.m., Thursday morning here at The Vacationland Inn. I just woke up and realized that I had left the phone in the car and that it would soon be out of charge, so I went out and got it and plugged it in, but I am now wide awake, of course. Maybe I can blog for a while and it will allow me to sleep in when I get back to sleep.
Yesterday was a quite and peaceful day compared to the two before, so full of excitement with the new car purchase and the getting rid of "The Beast"
The Beast; 2001 Ford expedition 4WD. Leaking Transmission fluid like a sieve and has lost it's tough metal gas tank guard underneath. 12 miles to the gallon of fuel. $60 to fill. Radio and cassette player!
The New 2016 Subaru Forester AWD. 26 MPG, Reversing Camera, Mag Wheels and Roof Rack, disc brakes all around, Fancy stereo with CD player and USB and Mini Stereo plug AUX Input,
brand new with a superb maintenance plan within the $199 per month leasing package.
The new car looks similar but is much lower to the ground and way easier to get into. Sandy had great difficulty getting into the old Beast and had to use a stool to get up into it, with much trouble anyway. The new car is easy for anyone to get into and the seats adjust every which way as well as the steering wheel adjusts up and down and telescopes in and out. All the electrics are fancy on the new car and the wipers and wiper water jets front and back are superb.
Dad's been singing sad country songs about his old truck all day, but it is such a huge improvement, it's remarkable. They'll save half the monthly lease in reduced maintenance and reduced fuel costs.
The room I am in right now, writing this blog. Has a nice table to set the computer up on, a fridge and microwave, and a TV which sits on a bureau that could hold unpacked clothes if you wished to do that. I would forget the clothes and leave them here so I don't do that. The TV gets a lot of channels including the NESN Red Sox games.
I watched the end of the Red Sox vs. Yankees game with Steven Wright, the knuckleballer pitching for us, for 30 minutes or so before I went to sleep. Wright looked good. We were ahead by a run when I nodded off.
Dad and I played golf again yesterday, he shot 85 and I shot 91. He has beaten me all three games we have had so far. He doesn't hit the ball too far, (just about the same length drive as me, however, about 160 yards, but he hits so straight and he has been putting very well. He chipped in from 40 yards away on the tenth hole yesterday!
We had a beer and a Buddhist Hot Dog ("Make me one with everything.") after golf in the clubhouse, served by Jenny, who has been very nice and friendly and welcoming to me.
Later, Sandy's son John came over and had a chat and then he brought steaks and cooked the steaks on the grill, Dad and I had gone out to deliver the Title Papers to the Beast to Quirks Subaru Dealership, and I got a couple of salads to go with the steaks for dinner at the big supermarket Hannafords. Also some caffeine-free diet cokes.
Had a chat with John and upgraded the laptop to Windows 10 before John went outside to man the grill for the steaks. Windows 10 took about an hour or so to upgrade into. Everything went pretty smoothly. I am liking the changes so far, but it will take some getting used to. I couldn't get the speech recognition program, Cortana, working yet. Lots of time to set that up after I get back home.
After we used it for a while we tried to upgrade to Windows 10 on Dad's desktop, but there is a queue for set-up and when we tried it said they weren't ready for him, they will email or send a message when it is his turn. Microsoft reckons they will set-up 1 Billion computers with Windows 10 in this period of set-up time.
After dinner we set up a DVD and watched a movie called "Walking Tall", with "The Rock", Duane Johnson, and Johnny Knoxville. Not bad, but I got tired and had to head back to the Hotel Room at just before 9 p.m. Tried to watch some baseball, but nodded off. Now it is 3:50 a.m., Thursday morning. I will attempt to get a short nap in a few minutes.
Golf again today, with Spencer Greaterex, Dad's old pal and ex-work colleague, joining us for the golf. He is supposed to be at the club at 10 a.m. Hopefully, dad will let him win again. Spencer doesn't win very often and gets a kick out of beating Dad when he gets a chance.
Dad is a cruel man, he hits so straight and is good on the greens so he shoots a good score all the time. Tough to beat.
That's just about all the news that's fit to print and ain't too hard to spell for the Wednesday, August 5th.
Lance at exactly 4:00 a.m., Thursday, August 6th.
Wednesday, 5 August 2015
Tuesday August 4th at Vacationland Inn Motel, Brewer, Maine.
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes.,
Here I am Tuesday night at Vacationland Inn.
A busy day today. After spending yesterday afternoon at Quirks Auto, on the Hogan Road, Veazie, up near Orono, we finished with offers for The Beast in trade-in and offers on a 36-month lease of a 2015, brand new Subaru Forester. We went with all our Car Lease Offers from Quirk Motors down to the next nearest Subaru Dealer in Ellsworth, a 40 minute drive East towards Bar Harbor.
Met our new car salesman, Blaine. He gave us a good offer on a 2016 Subaru Forester. It was $2000 down payment, $1000 trade-in on The Beast, and $210 per month over 36 months.
This compared to Quirk's offer of 2015 Forester with exactly the same details except $208 per month payments.
The 2016 had a few new gimmicks that looked like improvements, as well as a luggage rack and mag wheels. We feel the extra year newer is worth a thousand bucks as well.
We spent about three hours there and finished with the offers and headed to lunch and then back to Dad's house where we got a check from Sandy for the down payment and the first monthly payment.
We decided that unless Quirk and Dad's golf friend Keith Dean, could do better than Blaine at Ellsworth we would go with them and drive back down to pick up the car this afternoon.
In the end Keith made us a better deal and although he didn't have any 2016 Foresters yesterday, today he had two, a white one and a brassy brown color one. After more than an hour we determined that he could give us a little better deal than Ellsworth so we decided to go with him. Partly this was because Keith was a friend from golf at Pine Hill, and also because Bangor is so much closer for any repairs and maintenance to be done. We spent about 2-3 hours there at Quirks, but we did drive the new car home. So about 7 or 8 hours of car shopping altogether, but we got it all done and have the new car. Did have a nice road trip to Ellsworth and back, through pretty scenery.
We ended up same amount down payment and same trade-in value, but only $199 per month for 36 months on the 2016 Forester in Crystal White. Good for us.
The cleanest engine we will ever see. Only one dipstick; for the oil. Doesn't even have a transmission dipstick so I guess we won't need to buy any more transmission fluid.
The white color looks way better than the brassy brown! Sandy came out and sat in it, didn't need her stool to get "up into it". She slid right in and I think she likes it very much. A great car, because Sandy didn't like to even ride in "The Beast" and Dad didn't like to ride in Sandy's car. When they have to get back to having just one car, this will be great because they both like to ride in it.
The two John's at Dad and Sandy's house Tuesday afternoon after the triumphant return from Quirk's Auto with the new car. Left is Sandy's daughter Julie's husband John, and right is Sandy's eldest son John, who has been doing a great job with them, doing a lot of the shopping and cooking. He is a fantastic resource and lives close. He is a very nice guy as well; both Johns are. I am very glad that they both live quite close and that they stop in so often and help out the old folks.
I shouldn't get carried away with the "Old Folks" stuff, of course, because I am playing golf with Dad this morning, (It is now Wednesday morning at 5:45 a.m.) and he will undoubtedly beat me soundly. The three times we have played this year he has scored 89, 78, and 85! My scores were something like 89, 90 and 101. Yikes! Golf is doing him a world of good, I hope that he keeps himself in better shape over the non-golfing winter, however.
This is a photo of the Ted and Ethelyn Russell clan that I visited with Aunt Dawn Sunday afternoon.
This is the answer to the favorite Russell game "List Ted and Ethelyn's children in order."
Well, I will get through the shower and get ready for a great Wednesday. Just one more day in Maine after today. I leave before the crack of dawn on Friday. At the airport at 4:50 a.m.!!
Lance
Here I am Tuesday night at Vacationland Inn.
A busy day today. After spending yesterday afternoon at Quirks Auto, on the Hogan Road, Veazie, up near Orono, we finished with offers for The Beast in trade-in and offers on a 36-month lease of a 2015, brand new Subaru Forester. We went with all our Car Lease Offers from Quirk Motors down to the next nearest Subaru Dealer in Ellsworth, a 40 minute drive East towards Bar Harbor.
Met our new car salesman, Blaine. He gave us a good offer on a 2016 Subaru Forester. It was $2000 down payment, $1000 trade-in on The Beast, and $210 per month over 36 months.
This compared to Quirk's offer of 2015 Forester with exactly the same details except $208 per month payments.
The 2016 had a few new gimmicks that looked like improvements, as well as a luggage rack and mag wheels. We feel the extra year newer is worth a thousand bucks as well.
We spent about three hours there and finished with the offers and headed to lunch and then back to Dad's house where we got a check from Sandy for the down payment and the first monthly payment.
We decided that unless Quirk and Dad's golf friend Keith Dean, could do better than Blaine at Ellsworth we would go with them and drive back down to pick up the car this afternoon.
In the end Keith made us a better deal and although he didn't have any 2016 Foresters yesterday, today he had two, a white one and a brassy brown color one. After more than an hour we determined that he could give us a little better deal than Ellsworth so we decided to go with him. Partly this was because Keith was a friend from golf at Pine Hill, and also because Bangor is so much closer for any repairs and maintenance to be done. We spent about 2-3 hours there at Quirks, but we did drive the new car home. So about 7 or 8 hours of car shopping altogether, but we got it all done and have the new car. Did have a nice road trip to Ellsworth and back, through pretty scenery.
We ended up same amount down payment and same trade-in value, but only $199 per month for 36 months on the 2016 Forester in Crystal White. Good for us.
The cleanest engine we will ever see. Only one dipstick; for the oil. Doesn't even have a transmission dipstick so I guess we won't need to buy any more transmission fluid.
The white color looks way better than the brassy brown! Sandy came out and sat in it, didn't need her stool to get "up into it". She slid right in and I think she likes it very much. A great car, because Sandy didn't like to even ride in "The Beast" and Dad didn't like to ride in Sandy's car. When they have to get back to having just one car, this will be great because they both like to ride in it.
The two John's at Dad and Sandy's house Tuesday afternoon after the triumphant return from Quirk's Auto with the new car. Left is Sandy's daughter Julie's husband John, and right is Sandy's eldest son John, who has been doing a great job with them, doing a lot of the shopping and cooking. He is a fantastic resource and lives close. He is a very nice guy as well; both Johns are. I am very glad that they both live quite close and that they stop in so often and help out the old folks.
I shouldn't get carried away with the "Old Folks" stuff, of course, because I am playing golf with Dad this morning, (It is now Wednesday morning at 5:45 a.m.) and he will undoubtedly beat me soundly. The three times we have played this year he has scored 89, 78, and 85! My scores were something like 89, 90 and 101. Yikes! Golf is doing him a world of good, I hope that he keeps himself in better shape over the non-golfing winter, however.
This is a photo of the Ted and Ethelyn Russell clan that I visited with Aunt Dawn Sunday afternoon.
This is the answer to the favorite Russell game "List Ted and Ethelyn's children in order."
Well, I will get through the shower and get ready for a great Wednesday. Just one more day in Maine after today. I leave before the crack of dawn on Friday. At the airport at 4:50 a.m.!!
Lance
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Monday, August 3rd at Vacationland Inn in Brewer
Monday, August 3rd is just about over.
Dearest Bloggers and Bloggettes,
.
Everything is copacetic. I have just returned from Dad and Sandy's house to Vacationland Inn Motel where I have booked for Mon through Thur nites.
$82 per night.
I drove up this morning from Oakland and Kool-Bee. Left there at around 7:45 a.m.
I stopped at Pittsfield to get petrol and also to put in a quart of AutomaticTransmission Fluid and also a quart of Stop-Leak. The Beast is leaking transmission fluid like crazy. I also checked out the school Lee and I worked at when we stayed in Maine for the 1981-1982 year.
This was Maine Central Institute. A "Prep School", where grade 13 students repeated year 12 so as to improve their grades enough to get into the college of their choice. At MCI, these students were either Football Players or Basketball Players. Easy to tell which was which, the Football Players were stocky and white and the Basketball players were tall, lanky and black.
Lee and I were Dorm Masters, and I taught Junior Science and was Track Coach and Assistant Basketball Coach.
This is the building where the Prep Students lived and Lee and I were Dorm Masters.
This was the Science Building I taught my science classes in. These were Grade 9 science classes.
The MCI Directory with Campus Map.
After my nostalgic but quick visit to MCI I got back on I 95 headed North to Bangor-Brewer.
I stopped at one of the Moose Warning Signs to take the photo below. Cars and Trucks wizzing by at 70 miles per hour. The noise through the air of some trucks was interesting.
Finally arrived in Bangor-Brewer and then off I 395 to So.Main St, Brewer, and then to Orrington and visited Dad and Sandy.
Dad's next door Neighbor from across the Street came over. I have met him before, his name is Doug. Dad and Doug and I had a nice chat about cars and whether or not Leasing a new car was a good idea. Doug had recently upgraded both his and his wife's car and leased them both so he had some details we were interested in, considering the Beast has to be put down soon.
The boxes you see are clothes that I sent back yesterday at the post office to make more room in my duffle bag. They should take 10 days to get home and I should be home in 8 days so I should beat them home easily.
After the visit from Doug, Dad wanted to go out to the Hogan Road, up near Veazie and Orono, to visit Quirk Subaru Auto Dealers. Dad and Sandy and I loaded into the Beast and off we went. We saw a golfing friend of Dad's Keith Dean, and he explained all the options for us in buying and leasing. In my opinion, leasing for three years is the best option. In Dad and Sandy's situation, they will probably only need the car for three years and if they buy one outright they will need to get a car loan and the monthly repayments will be much larger than the lease payments.
We went to nearby Denny's Diner for lunch afterwards. Very filling food, in a style set out to look like a 50's -60's rock n roll diner.
Dad at Denny's. It was nice. Nice atmosphere (except for noisy little girl who couldn't get her way near by). and good food. Massive choice on the menu.
When we returned to 229 Brewer Lake Road (Dad's house), I left them to go send my boxes at the Brewer Post Office, and then check in to The Vacationland Inn Motel , which was next door to the Post Office. Got a very similar room to the one Ross and I stayed in about two weeks ago. Very familiar. Now, without Ross, I can spread all my luggage and dunnage out on "His Bed". Ha!
Sandy at Denny's Restaurant.
After I returned I found visitors at dad and Sandy's; Sandy's daughter Julia and her husband John. John has an upcoming operation for Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms, and I tried to explain what was involved and assure him that it was a pretty safe and simple operation.
It was good to see them again and we had a lovely visit. I tried to get them to stay for Take-Away Chinese Food for dinner, but they wouldn't be convinced.
I went and got the Chinese Food after Sandy ordered it from the menu over the phone.
Then we watched a movie, out of a bunch I have purchased second hand at a music shop called Bull Moose down in Waterville. This was a favorite shop of my late brother Shawn's. He loved it, Music and Books. Also a lot of Comic Book stuff and gaming stuff. Very good shop.
We watched the movie made from a Michael Connelly book called "Blood Work", with Clint Eastwood as the star. Jeff Daniels , of "Dumb and Dumber" played a big part, and Sandy first figured out that he was the surprise Serial Killer. Well done Sandy.
Then I rode off into the sunset back to my bed at Vacationaland Inn.
End of Monday August 3rd, 2015.
Thanks for listenin'
Lance
Dearest Bloggers and Bloggettes,
.
Everything is copacetic. I have just returned from Dad and Sandy's house to Vacationland Inn Motel where I have booked for Mon through Thur nites.
$82 per night.
I drove up this morning from Oakland and Kool-Bee. Left there at around 7:45 a.m.
I stopped at Pittsfield to get petrol and also to put in a quart of AutomaticTransmission Fluid and also a quart of Stop-Leak. The Beast is leaking transmission fluid like crazy. I also checked out the school Lee and I worked at when we stayed in Maine for the 1981-1982 year.
This was Maine Central Institute. A "Prep School", where grade 13 students repeated year 12 so as to improve their grades enough to get into the college of their choice. At MCI, these students were either Football Players or Basketball Players. Easy to tell which was which, the Football Players were stocky and white and the Basketball players were tall, lanky and black.
Lee and I were Dorm Masters, and I taught Junior Science and was Track Coach and Assistant Basketball Coach.
This is the building where the Prep Students lived and Lee and I were Dorm Masters.
This was the Science Building I taught my science classes in. These were Grade 9 science classes.
The MCI Directory with Campus Map.
After my nostalgic but quick visit to MCI I got back on I 95 headed North to Bangor-Brewer.
I stopped at one of the Moose Warning Signs to take the photo below. Cars and Trucks wizzing by at 70 miles per hour. The noise through the air of some trucks was interesting.
Finally arrived in Bangor-Brewer and then off I 395 to So.Main St, Brewer, and then to Orrington and visited Dad and Sandy.
Dad's next door Neighbor from across the Street came over. I have met him before, his name is Doug. Dad and Doug and I had a nice chat about cars and whether or not Leasing a new car was a good idea. Doug had recently upgraded both his and his wife's car and leased them both so he had some details we were interested in, considering the Beast has to be put down soon.
The boxes you see are clothes that I sent back yesterday at the post office to make more room in my duffle bag. They should take 10 days to get home and I should be home in 8 days so I should beat them home easily.
After the visit from Doug, Dad wanted to go out to the Hogan Road, up near Veazie and Orono, to visit Quirk Subaru Auto Dealers. Dad and Sandy and I loaded into the Beast and off we went. We saw a golfing friend of Dad's Keith Dean, and he explained all the options for us in buying and leasing. In my opinion, leasing for three years is the best option. In Dad and Sandy's situation, they will probably only need the car for three years and if they buy one outright they will need to get a car loan and the monthly repayments will be much larger than the lease payments.
We went to nearby Denny's Diner for lunch afterwards. Very filling food, in a style set out to look like a 50's -60's rock n roll diner.
When we returned to 229 Brewer Lake Road (Dad's house), I left them to go send my boxes at the Brewer Post Office, and then check in to The Vacationland Inn Motel , which was next door to the Post Office. Got a very similar room to the one Ross and I stayed in about two weeks ago. Very familiar. Now, without Ross, I can spread all my luggage and dunnage out on "His Bed". Ha!
Sandy at Denny's Restaurant.
After I returned I found visitors at dad and Sandy's; Sandy's daughter Julia and her husband John. John has an upcoming operation for Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms, and I tried to explain what was involved and assure him that it was a pretty safe and simple operation.
It was good to see them again and we had a lovely visit. I tried to get them to stay for Take-Away Chinese Food for dinner, but they wouldn't be convinced.
I went and got the Chinese Food after Sandy ordered it from the menu over the phone.
Then we watched a movie, out of a bunch I have purchased second hand at a music shop called Bull Moose down in Waterville. This was a favorite shop of my late brother Shawn's. He loved it, Music and Books. Also a lot of Comic Book stuff and gaming stuff. Very good shop.
We watched the movie made from a Michael Connelly book called "Blood Work", with Clint Eastwood as the star. Jeff Daniels , of "Dumb and Dumber" played a big part, and Sandy first figured out that he was the surprise Serial Killer. Well done Sandy.
Then I rode off into the sunset back to my bed at Vacationaland Inn.
End of Monday August 3rd, 2015.
Thanks for listenin'
Lance
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Sunday, August 2nd at Kool-Bee Part Two
Well, Blogsters an Blogsterettes, it is indeed Sunday morning at 7:23 a.m., here at Kool-Bee, on McGrath Pond, in the Belgrade Lakes Region.
Everything is copacetic here and I have had a lovely stay. Unfortunately tonight will be my last night at Kool-Bee as tomorrow, Monday, August 3rd, I head back to Dad's house in Orrington, and back to the Vacationland Inn Motel on Wilson Street in Brewer, for the last 4 days of my stay in Maine.
I fly out VERY EARLY Friday morning and just stay one overnight at The Comfort Inn JFK, then fly to San Francisco Saturday Aug 8th and overnight one night at The Hyatt Regency at SFO. Then Ross and I fly back to Sydney, leaving at just before midnight on Sunday, August 9th and arriving in Sydney very early on Tuesday August 11th. Then back into Coolangatta about noon time on Virgin Airlines Wednesday August 12th.
It was great to catch up with so many family and I am sad that I didn't get to see many more friends and Family. Hopefully, my next trip back to Maine won't be too long away.Gotta get my Crystal Ball out.
Last night we had a beautiful dinner made by Aunt Dawn. Brady and Johnny B. and Uncle Jack and Aunt Dawn and I out on the picnic table on the porch. Yummy food and a great desert featuring John's garden fruit produce. Then John and I decided to go out on the town and catch a movie in Waterville. We saw Antman, which is in the Marvel Comics Studios of Production. I thought it was very good. Quite light-hearted , funny and quirky with good writing and a very strong and good part played by Michael Douglas, as the original Antman, who was seeking a young man to take on the role.
Today, I will spend most of the day here at Kool-Bee but I may take a short visit over to Winslow to see cousin Ronnie Poirier again, as I would like to give her the photo I got from Guy of Grammie DesVeaux with all 7 of her girl children, including my mother Agnes May Jeanne DesVeaux.
It's a beauty. I have posted it on Facebook, and included it in my last blog yesterday.
Bye for now, I'll complete this Monday morning...
Everything is copacetic here and I have had a lovely stay. Unfortunately tonight will be my last night at Kool-Bee as tomorrow, Monday, August 3rd, I head back to Dad's house in Orrington, and back to the Vacationland Inn Motel on Wilson Street in Brewer, for the last 4 days of my stay in Maine.
I fly out VERY EARLY Friday morning and just stay one overnight at The Comfort Inn JFK, then fly to San Francisco Saturday Aug 8th and overnight one night at The Hyatt Regency at SFO. Then Ross and I fly back to Sydney, leaving at just before midnight on Sunday, August 9th and arriving in Sydney very early on Tuesday August 11th. Then back into Coolangatta about noon time on Virgin Airlines Wednesday August 12th.
It was great to catch up with so many family and I am sad that I didn't get to see many more friends and Family. Hopefully, my next trip back to Maine won't be too long away.Gotta get my Crystal Ball out.
Last night we had a beautiful dinner made by Aunt Dawn. Brady and Johnny B. and Uncle Jack and Aunt Dawn and I out on the picnic table on the porch. Yummy food and a great desert featuring John's garden fruit produce. Then John and I decided to go out on the town and catch a movie in Waterville. We saw Antman, which is in the Marvel Comics Studios of Production. I thought it was very good. Quite light-hearted , funny and quirky with good writing and a very strong and good part played by Michael Douglas, as the original Antman, who was seeking a young man to take on the role.
Today, I will spend most of the day here at Kool-Bee but I may take a short visit over to Winslow to see cousin Ronnie Poirier again, as I would like to give her the photo I got from Guy of Grammie DesVeaux with all 7 of her girl children, including my mother Agnes May Jeanne DesVeaux.
It's a beauty. I have posted it on Facebook, and included it in my last blog yesterday.
Bye for now, I'll complete this Monday morning...
Saturday, 1 August 2015
Sunday, August 2nd at Kool-Bee
Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes!!
It is Sunday, August 2nd but I will start my blog with Saturday lunch and afternoon/evening.
I had lunch with family at Big G's Deli in Winslow yesterday (Saturday). Muffin Russell, Shawn Russell and Katy Russell along with Lance Russell. A quartet of the Russell Clan. It was lots of fun and we all tried to memorize all the news that everybody came up with. Katy has her MBA and has a great job at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Dover N.H., which is only 16 miles from her house she is renting in York, Maine. She has a lovely fiance, Jake, who played baseball and they are getting married in the near future.
Shawn has almost graduated from UM Farmington, with a Business and Economics degree. He is working 2 jobs; one at Days Country Store in Belgrade Lakes and one as a camp counselor at Rangeley Lakes. He is an expert snowboarder and works for Saddleback in Rangeley in the winter as a snowboarding instructor.
Half of the sandwich was all I could manage. BIG SANDWICHES!!
I stopped at Guy's house to pick up some old photos from my mother's estate earlier. Some of them are terrific, including my Grammie Desveaux with all 7 of her girl children. What a treasure.
On the way to Big G's I stopped at Benton Station to see if I could identify Meme and Pepe Desveaux's house. I think I did that, but I have to get Ronnie and Johnna and Cinnie and Lisa to check my memory.
Is this The DesVeaux house in Benton Station?? It's on the right going down the hill towards the Benton-Fairfield Bridge.
It is now painted blue, but I think this was it. I checked on it in relationship to the Benton Grange Hall, which I remembered to be up the street to the corner and about 100 yards left down the cross street. This was exactly where I found the old Benton Grange Hall, just as I imagined it, so I think I am right about the house as well. Nope, Ronnie corrected me later in the day, when we stopped off at her place at around noon. The old DesVeaux house was across the street from the Grange Hall and has been knocked down.
The old Benton Grange Hall. Lots of dances were held here. Maybe my Uncle Carl mingled with the big DesVeaux clan at these dances.?
This is a photo of the Seven DesVeaux girls with their Mother, Meme DesVeaux.
I am saying Standing is: Molly, Jean, Dolly and Blanche.
Sitting is Louise, Nancy, Meme and Lucy.
How did I do Ronnie and Johnna and Cinnie and Lisa??? Am I correct? Ronnie says I was all correct here.
Now it is 3:30 and I have returned from Visiting The Russells of Pine Hill Farm and also Ronnie Poirier.
Here are three of the children of Ted and Ethelyn Russell (Ted was the son of my Grandfather's brother Clyde Russell). Andy, Bonnie, Steve and me, of course, at the old White Farm of the Pine Hill Farms, whereas our farm was the Red Farm.
The White House that goes with the White Farm. Uncle Clyde and Aunt Doris used to live here. He was partners with Wendell A. Russell, Sr., my Grandfather. Then Clyde's son Ted with his wife Ethelyn and now Bonnie Russell lives here.
Now the Farm is an Organic Dairy Farm where my cousin Steve runs the business, although he has recently battled with a form of leukemia, so his son Barrett has taken over, at least in the short term.
Andy and Bonnie are older than me and Steve is younger than me. It was great to speak to them and have a good long chat. I was very curious about how their lives were going and gained a lot of very interesting knowledge.
After this visit Aunt Dawn and I dropped in at Ronnie Poirier's house at 43 Cushman Road. We had a lovely short visit and looked at photos and chatted about genealogy of the DesVeaux s in particular.
I gave Ronnie the two nice big photos of all the DesVeaux girls with their mother, and also what seemed to be an wedding anniversary photo of Meme and Pepe DesVeaux. I'm guessing 50th Year Anniversary.
A painting of Ted and Ethelyn with their first three children, Bonnie, Frank and Andy. I remember Ted very well, although he died quite young, maybe at 60 years of age or so. He was a very nice man. I liked him a lot.
We drove back to Kool-Bee and chatted to Johnny B for a while. Then I went into Waterville to fix up my phone. I had bad coverage from AT&T and also my month was up so I would have had to add $30 for another month. Instead I changed to T-Mobile, which I was assured had better towers.
I went to Staples (USA for Officeworks) and they said they couldn't sell pre-paid sim cards. Neither could T-Mobile itself, or Verision phones. They said try Radio Shack, went there no luck. Then Walmart. Eureka! Got changed over for $40 for the month. New number is +1 207 313 6497. Take note Ross. I will text you so you can get the number down easily.
Sad tidings time at Kool-Bee now that I am leaving to head back to Australia. I'm not good at this part. Very sad. Good-Bye to Brady, Aunt Dawns youngest, he is the baby as you can clearly see.
Then later Bye to Johnny B. Very sad.
John has been such a great friend, I will miss him very much. I hope that I can return soon.
Tomorrow morning bye to Aunt Dawn. Very difficult.
Lance
I had lunch with family at Big G's Deli in Winslow yesterday (Saturday). Muffin Russell, Shawn Russell and Katy Russell along with Lance Russell. A quartet of the Russell Clan. It was lots of fun and we all tried to memorize all the news that everybody came up with. Katy has her MBA and has a great job at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Dover N.H., which is only 16 miles from her house she is renting in York, Maine. She has a lovely fiance, Jake, who played baseball and they are getting married in the near future.
Shawn has almost graduated from UM Farmington, with a Business and Economics degree. He is working 2 jobs; one at Days Country Store in Belgrade Lakes and one as a camp counselor at Rangeley Lakes. He is an expert snowboarder and works for Saddleback in Rangeley in the winter as a snowboarding instructor.
Half of the sandwich was all I could manage. BIG SANDWICHES!!
I stopped at Guy's house to pick up some old photos from my mother's estate earlier. Some of them are terrific, including my Grammie Desveaux with all 7 of her girl children. What a treasure.
On the way to Big G's I stopped at Benton Station to see if I could identify Meme and Pepe Desveaux's house. I think I did that, but I have to get Ronnie and Johnna and Cinnie and Lisa to check my memory.
Is this The DesVeaux house in Benton Station?? It's on the right going down the hill towards the Benton-Fairfield Bridge.
It is now painted blue, but I think this was it. I checked on it in relationship to the Benton Grange Hall, which I remembered to be up the street to the corner and about 100 yards left down the cross street. This was exactly where I found the old Benton Grange Hall, just as I imagined it, so I think I am right about the house as well. Nope, Ronnie corrected me later in the day, when we stopped off at her place at around noon. The old DesVeaux house was across the street from the Grange Hall and has been knocked down.
The old Benton Grange Hall. Lots of dances were held here. Maybe my Uncle Carl mingled with the big DesVeaux clan at these dances.?
This is a photo of the Seven DesVeaux girls with their Mother, Meme DesVeaux.
I am saying Standing is: Molly, Jean, Dolly and Blanche.
Sitting is Louise, Nancy, Meme and Lucy.
How did I do Ronnie and Johnna and Cinnie and Lisa??? Am I correct? Ronnie says I was all correct here.
Now it is 3:30 and I have returned from Visiting The Russells of Pine Hill Farm and also Ronnie Poirier.
Here are three of the children of Ted and Ethelyn Russell (Ted was the son of my Grandfather's brother Clyde Russell). Andy, Bonnie, Steve and me, of course, at the old White Farm of the Pine Hill Farms, whereas our farm was the Red Farm.
The White House that goes with the White Farm. Uncle Clyde and Aunt Doris used to live here. He was partners with Wendell A. Russell, Sr., my Grandfather. Then Clyde's son Ted with his wife Ethelyn and now Bonnie Russell lives here.
Now the Farm is an Organic Dairy Farm where my cousin Steve runs the business, although he has recently battled with a form of leukemia, so his son Barrett has taken over, at least in the short term.
Andy and Bonnie are older than me and Steve is younger than me. It was great to speak to them and have a good long chat. I was very curious about how their lives were going and gained a lot of very interesting knowledge.
After this visit Aunt Dawn and I dropped in at Ronnie Poirier's house at 43 Cushman Road. We had a lovely short visit and looked at photos and chatted about genealogy of the DesVeaux s in particular.
I gave Ronnie the two nice big photos of all the DesVeaux girls with their mother, and also what seemed to be an wedding anniversary photo of Meme and Pepe DesVeaux. I'm guessing 50th Year Anniversary.
A painting of Ted and Ethelyn with their first three children, Bonnie, Frank and Andy. I remember Ted very well, although he died quite young, maybe at 60 years of age or so. He was a very nice man. I liked him a lot.
We drove back to Kool-Bee and chatted to Johnny B for a while. Then I went into Waterville to fix up my phone. I had bad coverage from AT&T and also my month was up so I would have had to add $30 for another month. Instead I changed to T-Mobile, which I was assured had better towers.
I went to Staples (USA for Officeworks) and they said they couldn't sell pre-paid sim cards. Neither could T-Mobile itself, or Verision phones. They said try Radio Shack, went there no luck. Then Walmart. Eureka! Got changed over for $40 for the month. New number is +1 207 313 6497. Take note Ross. I will text you so you can get the number down easily.
Sad tidings time at Kool-Bee now that I am leaving to head back to Australia. I'm not good at this part. Very sad. Good-Bye to Brady, Aunt Dawns youngest, he is the baby as you can clearly see.
Then later Bye to Johnny B. Very sad.
John has been such a great friend, I will miss him very much. I hope that I can return soon.
Tomorrow morning bye to Aunt Dawn. Very difficult.
Lance
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