The last day - Friday, Aug 8

Oh no, how did this happen?  The last day is upon us.  We all awoke very hopeful about the chances of sun.  Bill and I took a long walk this morning out around the Nubble and down to Long Sands for breakfast - not the speediest service, but the food was good.  By the time we headed back to the Beach House the rain was pouring down, but warm, and with the humidity so high our degree of dampness was not much greater than usual.  No big plans today - my cousin Pam Burke drove down from Concord for a visit - good laughs and memories, and she (having been an educator and still involved in a consulting business for educators) and Tina had lots to talk about with Tina being a teacher.  The sun did come out gloriously for a bit and we all buffed up our tans. Off to town for a few last minute errands and back for dinner at the Cape Neddick  Lobster Pound.  This evening 8/8/08 we all watched the opening ceremonies for the Bejing Olympics.

Relaxing by the beach - Thursday, Aug 7

Took a walk on my own this am while Bill slept in - the morning air is always delightful - of course stopped to get my hazelnut coffee for walk home, as well as the newspaper from Garfields.  Took time to walk barefoot along Short Sands down by the water.  A gray overcast, but there is always hope. Ron and Tina are off to Freeport this morning to the home of LL Bean.  Sam,  Chloe, and I all drop everything to run outside for a bit of sunshine whenever the clouds part.  I had not been to town yet! - so off for Goldenrod Kisses and Nana's fudge.  Tonight is Bill's BBQ chicken, fresh greenbeans from a Rumney garden, and sugar corn from Maine.  For dessert - Jumbleberry pie from Pie in the Sky - the best!! We are going to watch "21," tonight. 

ADDENDUM: We had hoped to have Jean Leavitt, our longtime next-door summer neighbor who lost her dear husband, Fred, this past winter, over for a glass of wine this evening, but her social calendar was already booked for the next two nights!!  However, Marcia Blecker, another longtime next-door neighbor came over with daughter, Betsy, aka prosecuting attorney for NYC, now stay-at-home Mom, and two grand-daughters, Isabella and Chloe (ages 5 and 3).  Too much fun.   One other hilarious moment - Ron and Tina picked up a new set of dishes for the beachhouse at LLBean.  We decided to pack up the old ones and donate them.  Unfortunately I was holding the loaded box of old dishes ,when the bottom gave way and nary a one was in fit shape to donate!! (See pic).

A trip to Rumney - Wednesday, Aug 6, 2009

Definitely not a good beach day today!!  Pouring cats and dogs.  We rented another car and caravaned up after picking up lobster rolls and pie for our picnic lunch with Roger and June.  Even in the rain the mountain was gorgeous and peaceful as we sat and watched hummingbirds, goldfinches, and woodpeckers from the big bay window.  Roger looked great!! He is still on continuous oxygen, but has gained some weight.  We talked about the "old days" and family members and June got out some picture albums of when we were all there (including Sam, Chloe, Pam, and Nami) when John was a babe in arms.  Dallas the black lab of course was very happy to see us.  Roger had the large round striped beach rock we sent him last Christmas (per his request about what we could bring him on our next visit) sitting on the window ledge.  Rog then took us out to the sugar house and explained how maple syrup was made and presented us with two large jars (one for Ron, one for Robin) - Yum!!  After a fond farewell we trekked back home to the beach house and had Parras Pizza and Greek salads for dinner.  Some of us then watched International ghost hunters (great TV viewing right before bed).  We are still hoping for some sunshine!!  Almost forgot, on the way back down from the mountain Bill and I stopped for coffee at the take-out at Johnson's Dairy Bar in Northwood (a childhood great ice cream stop).  Of course we decided to get a small homemade ice cream - I have to remember to order kiddie size if you really mean small - it was a huge "small dish," about 3 scoops worth - but delic ice cream still!

Bill and Robin spotted at lighthouse

 Hello from the lighthouse via nubbel lighthouse webcam via Tommy's laptop in Bellevue. (Life in geek world)

Yes indeed the two in the foreground are Billy (on cell phone) and Robin in the white shirt. The pic is quite fuzzy but it is from the webcam at the nubbel lighthouse. Great to see they are having fun and yes Billy and Tommy get to have their geek fun.

Tuesday August 5, 2008

G'day all from York.  Slept in a bit this AM, then another great walk to the Nubble and back into town, this time solo, as Bill really slept in.  Sam and Chloe made it in safely in time for dinner last evening - Bill and I did a great scallop pasta basil dish, salad, and raspberry torte for dessert for the troops.  Great to reconnect - Sam is totally enjoying MED school - loves the learning, the environment, and plans to be an ER physician.  It is now officially confirmed that Sam and John and Brooke and Jason are marrying on the same date next year, May 16, 2009.  So sorry to not be able to attend Sam's wedding, but all due to timing, as is Brooke and Jason's.  We will definitely plan to go to Sam's graduation 2 weeks later.  Chloe is in the midst of a job search and possible change in vocation, but is in good spirits.  No definite wedding date set at this time, but she does have a beautiful engagement ring!!

Today was a bit overcast, but still wonderful to be here.  Bill made great blueberry pancakes after we all walked/ran (the younger ones in the crowd).  A generally nice relaxing day - read, ran out to be in the sun when it briefly appeared and planned dinner - seafood night - lobster, fresh fish, muscles, fresh corn, salad and baguette - Yum!!  Also, Brown's ice cream this afternoon - i so hope I won't be ill after eating McCandy Peppermint Ice cream with an elephant logo after it (which I did not notice) vs Baracky Road with a  donkey logo after it!!!  Dinner was delicious!!  Tomorrow we are off to see Roger and June.  Another night of falling asleep listening to the waves (oh, darn).

Revelry - 5 am Day 1

Missed Tom and Joe for sunrise, but a beautiful one!  Arrived in Beantown yesterday am -  Ron met Tina's flight and then picked us up for the ride north.  Tina is wonderful - very down to earth and fits right in.  Bill and I took an afternoon nap to the gentle roll of thunderstorms.  Dinner last night at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound - I had my first lobster roll - yum!!  Then out on the front lawn to to a rousing display of fireworks at Short Sands in culmination of York Days.  Early to bed, early to rise!  Bill says he is actually enjoying his morning and for Tom to check out www.foxslobster.com for a live webcam of "Nubben" lighthouse.  Sam and Chloe arrive this afternoon and we are all looking forward to that - next year, all you DeLeo kids (we can hope).  Well, off for a morning strut out to the Nubble and then breakfast - oh, it's so tough to be on vacation in Maine -----

GREAT You made it

Great to hear your air travel is going so smoothly. And thanks for Blogging. Just wanted to remind you if you get up to catch one of those beautiful York Beach sun rises keep your eye out for Joe. If you are lucky enough to spot him take a him cup of coffee for me and say Hi!! Billy get out there and enjoy enjoy enjoy! Also I want a picture of Bill standing on "The rock" .

Have a blast!!
Uncle T

Lo and behold - - - we are on our way!!

After a pat on the head for Sparks, we arrived early at Sea-Tac and settled in for our first try out on passes to Dulles on the red-eye Saturday night and then on Boston.  Much to our delight we got the last two seats in first class across the isle from one another.  We have now gone from late birds to early birds at Dulles - it is 6 am and our departure is at 8:11 - looks like we should get on.  The plan is Ron is meeting his new squeeze, Tina, in Boston at 11:15 am and we will hitch a ride north with them.  Looks like we have a few thunderstorms in the forecast throughout the week, so should be interesting!  Ah-h-h time for Starbucks.  Catch you later!

Maine 2008

SEA/ORD
ORD/BOS

 

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2/25/08

Aloha! Last day in Paradise. Worlds of difference for typing since Uncle T. sent instructions for disabling touch pad on laptop - thank you!! Breakfast at Keoni's - then called Twobrothers Kyaking and got the okay for a day of Kayaking and snorkeling!! can hardly keep my eyes open - so in brief great day - fun adventure, and nice peops we hung out with. Bill and Robin did a tandem kyak, with Donna and Noel from Connecticut each in singles, along with Gabrielle, our guide. Van picked us up at hotel this am and took us to Kailua to snorkel shop. We then were taken to canal to meet our guide. we were given instructions and then off we went down the canal out to the beach. The Island we were going to was a mile off shore. The water was a gorgeous blue color and Bill and Robin tried to synchronize their strokes - saw one baby turtle poke its head up on the way out. The waves had picked up a bit and there was backlash around the island so waves would meet in the middle right where our entry point to the beach was - waited for a lull in the sets and then went hard for it (felt like Moses with the parting seas)- fairly thrilling, but made it. The island is a bird sanctuary. Gabe gave us a history and geology lesson using rocks and sand about the past and future of the Hawaiian Islands - very informative. We walked around to the back side, looked in tidal pools and then had lunch, which they had packed for us. Then another parting of the seas to get off the island - two kayks in front of us not in our group capsized -Bill and Robin teetered precariously atop a wave but managed to stay afloat and ran the gamut. Then across back across the water to a gorgeous white sand beach with many coral reefs. Beached the kyaks and snorkeled - saw a needle or stick fish that was pretty cool. Then back in Kyaks to return - Donna and Bill and Robin all chatting gregariously, feeling pretty cool about their trip and how they handled it when they nearly ran over an oblivious swimmer doing laps along the shore - a very near miss - the guy never knew he was within a hair's breadth of being hit - when we couldn't stop the forward motion of the kyaks, Bill yelled - Stop paddling and hold your breath! and it worked. We collapsed into gales of laughter.

Then back to the hotel, hot showers for some tired muscles, and over to the Moana Surfrider for a farewell MaiTai by the banyan tree overlooking the beach. Dinner at Cheesecake factory. Very early to rise for return trip tomorrow.

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2/24/08

Up early as usual and off to services at the Kawaiaha'o Church in downtown Honlolulu, the worshiping church of the Royalty of Hawaii since 1842. Took the bus and arrived early - the welcoming committee gave us such a warm welcome. The service was offered in both Hawaiian and English. Great choir. A side note, Robin has begun to notice the shoes the clergy wear in services beneath their flowing robes - in Pullman, WA, at John's church it was Birkenstocks (She immediately liked the pastor). At this church beneath white flowing robes bedecked with leis, bare feet were noticed. Again, the humility was greatly appreciated and a very charismatic young Asian pastor led the service enthusiastically. Our first rainy day here - ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise for an early lunch (the grilled mahi sandwich was excellent! Rained hard for a bit - beautiful surf. Bill napped, Robin shopped, and they rendezvoused for sunset on the beach - first day with no swim. Dinner this pm at Keo's - delicious Thai cuisine and nice setting. Hope to go snorkeling tomorrow if weather holds.

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2/23/08

2/23/08

Breakfast at Eggs N' Things - mmm. Then decided to walk to Ala Moana Shopping Center - beautiful mall if you like that sort of thing - almost every sort of store imaginable. While in Borders picking up a little more reading material Glenn Mervine called and invited us up for a visit to his home(s) on Diamond Head. Kind of fun - he picked us up in a sweet little BMW from the dealership where he works. Drove us around some of the neighborhoods - gorgeous and nice because many different types of architecture - not all new modern. The house they now have on the market was an absolutely charming cottage type that was decorated as only Lisa has a knack for. We would have bought it immediately, except for one thing - the price tag. Their new house is just six houses away with a much larger yard, larger square footage, a pool and once again backed up to lava rock and with a cave or two. Can't wait to visit in a couple of years and see what magic Lisa has worked. Great to see Lisa and meet Salvo (their 8 year old African parrot) and also their 20 year old cat.

Then back to the beach for a delightful swim late afternoon - and of course a rum cocktail and sunset on the beach to watch all the skim borders. Dinner at Chili's - and struggled to stay awake until 9pm!! All this fresh air, walking, water, and sun. Aloha -

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2/22/08

Another beautiful day in paradise (except for the tourists - oh ya we are also!) Beautiful morning walk, breakfast at Cheeseburger in Paradise (okay, time to take out stock in this place!) Then, take 2 on Hanauma Bay - this time made reservations with a snorkeling co. - they picked us up at hotel in a van, provided fins, mask and snorkel with return for less than we could do it on the bus and rentals at H.B. Great fun - saw some beautiful fish - Bill was a little more adventurous than Robin, but a great day - what a feeling to be so buoyant and like you could glide anywhere. Met some fun peops on the bus, and yet another Cougar fan -third one plus a whole airplane on this trip so far - (Bill did not even have his WSU shirt on, nor did we mention we had a son going to school there!!) Decided we needed to improve on the sunset cocktail, so switched to guava, passion, and orange juice combo with rum and lime - da kine! Another wonderful sunset on the beach. Dinner tonight - takey outy on our balcony.

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2/21/08

Lovely morning walk towards town on beach - cut off beach at Ft. DeRussy through park to our destination Eggs'n Things -great value, delicious!!  Bill naps after walk back, Robin to beach - nice to rent a chair in alley next to Royal Hawaiian - delicious water and sunshine - weather has been perfect.  Decided to build our own sunset cocktails - bought rum and diet coke and limes.  Today was laundry day - just about a block or so away around corner from Ohana  East on Kuhio. Back in time to take cocktails in Starbucks frappachino cups to beach for sunset. Another favorite time of day - many gather to watch the sun set, take the last dip of the day, etc.  Dinner tonight at Keoni's - great breakfasts in the morning - wonderful Thai food in the evening.  Glenn Mervine, our old friend from Half Moon Bay, CA, joined us for a beer.  Terrific to see him - it has been at least 15 years since our last meeting. He still has the same great laugh.  Early to bed, early to rise

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02/20/08

Aloha! - Very much on Hawaiian time now - Walked this am on beach (almost our favorite time of day).  Then breakfasted at one of our new favorites on Kalakaua - Cheeseburger In Paradise.  Took a very full bus out to Hanauma Bay - beautiful, relaxing, but no snorkeling as did not bring Credit card needed for collateral to
rent fins and snorkel.  Actually got to sit on bus on way back - talked to lots of nice peops.  Late lunch/early dinner at Cheeseburger Paradise again - great burgers.  Robin showers and makes it over to beach for sunset.  Bill relaxes in room after big day out (sun, fresh air, and early rising does make one tired!).  Have figured out 2 meals a day works great!

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Hawaii Trip 02/17/08-02/26/08

02/17/08

Yes, we are really on our way after many last minute details such as making sure Sparky is well attended to during our absence. An auspicious start - a beautiful morning as we left the estate on the Key Peninsula at 0900. Although seeing red on UAl travel we actually made it to SFO in first class seated together on our first try. Robin had listed us on an early evening departure as it was in "green" vs an earlier connection, and thus checked the bags accordingly. We arrived in SFO only to find that the immediate connecting flight as well as the one we listed on were now both in red. Sooo- we opted to try the immediate connecting and both got on - 1 in first, in coach - there were not two together - Bill very graciously gave the 1st class to Robin. We were so happy to have arrived in HNL, that neither of minded the two-hour wait for our bags (thanks to Robin). Bill read his Robert Ludlom novel, Robin read Frommer's Hawaii, planning their trip. So engrossed were we that we almost failed to notice the baggage arriving and were two of the last ones to pick up our baggage. Very happy to arrive at the Seaside and collapse into bed.

02/18/08

Aloha!! Okay, way too wordy for a laid-back Hawaiian vacation - nitty-gritty time. Transferred today for the remainder of our stay to the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani . Had a great breakfast overlooking Waikiki . Great to be back at the SPK - Brooke and Robin had come here for a spring break when Brooke was at the UW. Great room overlooking pool, partial ocean view - as Bill considers this an extended layover during which he generally spends most of his time sleeping - great to be in a nice room with a view (for Robin's sake). Gorgeous day - beach time for 1 hour 15 minutes in front of Ala Moana Surfrider -only a little pink on Bill, as he was too engrossed in book to rotate. Water is delicious!! Robin cannot get enough of it.

02/19/08

Terrific walk along beach toward Diamond Head this am. Yum, banana pancakes for breakfast. Bus to Lyon arboretum a little bit to interior of island - delightful!! Click HERE to See pics. Rob to beach for late afternoon swim - also delightful. Bill obliges Rob to a sunset Mai Tai on the beach. Wonderful day. Both relaxing into Hawaii time. Hanauma tomorrow for snorkeling - stay tuned.