Sunday July 26th at Kool-Bee in Oakland, Maine

Hello Bogsters and Blogsterettes,

Here I am at Kool-Bee Cottage on McGrath Pond, part of the Belgrade Lakes Region.
It is 7 a.m., Monday morning here but I will describe yesterday, Sunday The 26th of July.

We got up and cleaned up and Aunt Dawn and my cousin Mary were busy preparing for the Family gathering Aunt Dawn had planned for lunchtime today. We didn't know exactly who, or how many would attend.

I offered to go into Oakland and do Dawn's, Ross's and my laundry at the Laundromat. I got packed and did that while Ross tried to get the tickets for the Weird Al Yankovic concert we were attending later Sunday night at The Maine State Pier down in Portland, about 80 or 90 minutes drive South of Kool-Bee.

When I got back, mission accomplished, Ross was still struggling with the tickets. We eventually managed to get it done together, and we also managed to get Aunt Dawn's computer and communications systems back to normal. Not simple.

Eventually, Aunt Cilla and Uncle Carl came over and started helping set up the final stuff with salads and sandwich makin's and snacks and drinks.

Then people started arriving. The people who came included: Cousins Brenda and Ray Willette, Cousin Darlene Miles, Cousin Doug Beatson and his daughter Carly, my Brother Guy and his wife Debbi, Guy's ex-wife Muffin and their daughter Jessi, with one of her twin daughters, Jacki. Also, Aunt Cilla's son and daughter Miles and Tracy, with Tracy's family, daughter Alyssa and boyfriend Jim, also, my cousins Frank Russell and his lovely wife Robyn, his sister Barbara with both her daughters April May Davis, with her fiance Kyle, and Willow Russell with her daughter Odessa
and boyfriend.

Aunt Dawn and Aunt Cilla making salads with Mary's daughter Sarah looking on.
Preparing for the big family party.

Aunt Cilla, and I with Ronnie Poirier and Ross.

My brother Guy with me and Uncle Carl.

Uncle Carl, Me, Carly Beatson and her Dad, Doug Beatson, Dawn's middle boy.

Barbara Russell's eldest daughter Willow Russell, with her daughter Odessa Russell and Willow's boyfriend.

Willow Russell's sister and Barbara's younger daughter April May Davis, with her fiance Kyle.
They are getting married Friday, August 7th and I will already have just left Maine for New York.
I gave them their wedding presents early.

Brian Richardson in the bright yellow shirt under the black jacket. In the distance, gotta get a better photo from Aunt Dawn, is Darlene Miles, Brenda Willette and Ray Willette, speaking to Carly Beatson and her pal Cameron.

After the party we loaded up for bear and headed out Portland to the Maine State Pier. We went to see Weird Al Jankovic. "Johnny B." Beatson was navigator and took us straight there. The first car park he had picked was full so he gave great directions to second best and that was fine and dandy. Walked about 5 city blocks to the Pier and sat down to watch the show, which was absolutely terrific. Ross was the ideas man, Thanks Ross! It was great fun!

Wierd Al Jankovic and Band at the Maine State Pier.

Al changed outfits plenty of times and was lotsa fun. He played videos on the big screen whilst he and his band changed costumes.

We drove home and everything was as smooth getting home as getting there. We got into bed by around 11 p.m.

End of Sunday July 26th

Lance and Ross.