Lake George Vacation 2013
14/09/13 06:41
Good morning. It's Tuesday, September 2nd, 2013, and the first day after Labor Day. My fingers are doing the best they can to get adjusted to this keyboard so we'll leave that alone. But we're here on Lake George vacationing after the summer crowds have come and gone. It is just the way I like it. Quiet. Serene. Simple.
Getting here was half the battle. More than half the battle this year since it is Evan's first year at Pace University and dropping him off over the weekend was the main objective. Everything and anything more than that was just gravy. We went down on Saturday and spent the night at a local Marriot so we could be up and adam when the time came to drop him off. It's a good 4 hour trip from New Hampshire so going down early was not a bad idea. It required little or no coercing to get everyone on board so that is what we did.
The car was packed and we even used the Thule on top of the car to hold the bedding. It was the second time we've used it since buying it some years ago so that all worked out. We even brought our bikes so we could use them when we arrived at Lake George. The day we dropped him off it was threatening rain and even rained a bit as we were taking everything out of the car. We saw a lot of parents moving stuff here and there but not so much with the kids. That should tell you something about who was more eager to finalize everything.
I think his building was referred to as the Hillside dorm. We learned after the fact that it is mostly football players who they house there although we saw none of them the day we move Evan in. I think Evan ended up there after Nancy complained that he needed to stay off the main campus due to the impending construction. Good ole Briar Cliff campus. It was larger and more expansive than I had imagined. Definitely not a satellite location with a smattering of housing. His building houses half women and half men as is probably the practice of most schools. It was a two story building built in the 70's if I had to guess. His room was spacious as dorm rooms can be spacious and there seemed to be ample room to store everything that he brought. I was even surprised at the amount of room he had under the bed. That was not lost on him and he shoved a few containers beneath the bed as soon as we started to move him in.
His room mate was not planning to move in for a bit so Evan had the place to himself which was nice. It just gave us room to maneuver and we needed it. Evan chose the bed near the window and that was one benefit of moving in first. He got to select which desk he wanted to use and his roomie got the other one. The lighting was horrendously bad and I'm curious as to how they consider themselves an educational institution when they fail to supply the lighting necessary for the students to do their work. Maybe they prefer the students spend their time in the library. Who knows.
I'm guessing that we took a good two hours or more to move him in. It was not as logistically nightmarish as we thought it would be so that was good. His room was at the end of the hall and that may simply mean that it is quieter than most and not a problem for those students who prefer to be off the beaten path. Did we tell you that he didn't even have any soap? Either he didn't pack it or we forgot to leave it with him. That should dovetail with his lack of attention to the such things as of late. Nancy even commented that he may well let his hair go and I replied that if that was the worst of it then we could well deal with that. He has always taken care of his hair in getting it cut timely and needed nothing from us other than to pay from time to time.
The one task that we failed miserably at was hanging his poster. The tape or adhesive that Nancy brought didn't work particularly well so the print was not up ten minutes when it fell off the wall. That did not please Evan. We left it propped up on his dresser and that was that. He hung all of his coats; then all of his tee shirts; then folded the rest of the tee shirts and put them away in his drawer. He tucked his shoes away at the end of his bed and seemed pleased that the bedding worked out as well as it did. His momma took particular attention to getting him a comforter cover that looked nice and the flannel was sure to come in handy come winter. Immediately outside his window were trees that he could just about touch and a nice deciduous tree that would be pretty when the snow starts to fall. I silently hoped that it would not be too cold with his bed near the windows which ran practically from floor to ceiling.
The one last chore that we took care of was going into town to get him a flat of water before we left. It was a warm day and he complained a few times about the heat. He had a nice fan which we left on during the time were there and it provided some relief. Once we found out how to get off campus we left to go to town for the water. The one surprise with the water was just how expensive it was. College town indeed. They see these kids coming and hike the prices accordingly. Bastards. Who do they think is footing the bill? The parents, you stupid fucks. That is probably the point. Duh! His momma got him to pose with the numbers "13" denoting his thirteenth year of school. Just like all the years before. There were no neighbors in the picture this time. No Jeremy Jackson's; No Chloe Walton's; just Evan. It was a little sad actually. As was his practice, he did it for his mom. Had he his druthers, he would have not done it at all. Maybe it was his way of saying thank you to his momma for all she did in getting him to this point in his life. The gesture was not lost on me and probably not lost on his momma.
We hugged our son one last time and wished him well before heading out. We were going north to lake George for the week without him. That was Sunday. Today is Tuesday. We were on our way to have dinner at 5 Guys last night in Glens Falls when he called. That was the first time we had heard from him since we left. He sounded a little sad but he sometimes sounds that way anyway so we were not concerned. His roomie was now on board but Evan was not hanging with him. Evan had been to the main campus a couple of times but had not taken the shuttle. He commented about having so much money on his debit card and he was satisfied that he could purchase everything and anything he wanted and was not limited to $10 a day. That was a relief given his eating habits and the need that he has to eat frequently.
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2013
The war drums continue to beat away as the US looks to Congress to approve an attack against Syria. Our fearless leader (Obama) is looking to bolster his sagging ratings and will do anything to get back into the good graces of the american public. It's the old weapons of mass destruction argument that Bush used when invading Iraq but it's altogether different when the Democrats do it. Syria has allegedly used chemical weapons against its own people and the assholes in the US government have taken it upon themselves to preach their brand of self righteousness to those on the planet who don't tow the line.
The British parliament voted against the action so Obama gang will launch their missiles unilaterally if the Congress votes against the action in the same fashion. In the meantime, the US has telegraphed its intentions so the Syrian government has sufficient time to disperse its assets, reposition it's forces, and take whatever action is necessary to blunt the impact of a missile strike by the US. There will be no boots on the ground and this will be a limited action as they like to tell the US public. Who the fuck are they kidding? Don't look to Rhino's like Baynor and McCain to represent the conservatives amongst us because they are on the Obama bandwagon like nobody's business. It makes you wonder what the NSA has on them. And don't get me going on Lindsey Graham. He is a Nancy like no other.
So now I have to worry about where Dell delivered that damn laptop? It shows up as "delivered" on the FedEx website but Evan says they have no package for him in the mail room. Now what the fuck do we do? Should I have had that thing sent certified? Should I have insured it? How long do we wait before taking this up with someone? It pisses me off. Maybe Evan went to the wrong mailroom. Maybe they delivered it to the wrong address or even the wrong campus. He has his first class today and he called last night looking for information that was contained in an e-mail a week ago or so. How typical is that of him? How do you think he sounded, Nancy asked. She had him on speaker so I heard every word and it sounded like he was in something of a rush to move the conversation along. That was my take. He didn't sound concerned about the laptop so I don't know what to make of that. And then the conversation was over and he was gone.
It's a beautifully bright and deliciously sunny morning here on Assembly Point, Lake George. The temperatures are what you might expect this time of the year; cool and comfortable. Shards of sunlight are streaking across the hardwood floors as I look up from my computer screen and I can feel the cool air of the morning making its way across the room towards me. This house faces the east side of the lake and the sun comes over mountains that I know so well. The mirror-like sheen that lay across the lake like a velvet blanket overnight now ripples with excitement and moves deliberately with the morning breezes. Like the day before, it will be a quiet day on the lake. The summer crowds have abandoned their dreams and those of their children for the realities of life that take them back to their jobs, their schools, their lives, and the lake returns to its somnamulent state awaiting their return. Who says lakes don't have memories?
We had dinner last night with Kathy, Lise, and Denise. I wanted to take them out for dinner where we might have some polite conversation and good company. I chose the San Souci based on reputation and experience and hoped that with the summer crowds now out of the way we might have a better chance of getting a table and a decent meal. It surprised me to learn that neither Lise or Denise had ever been to that restaurant but it wasn't out of the question entirely since this neighborhood was not one they spent much time in as children. The food was not as good as I remembered although I don't know that it made that much of a difference. We enjoyed the non-stop conversation and it came as no surprise that recollections varied of days and people past. Denise may have made the biggest impression with her comment about type 1 diabetes but there were bigger fish to fry so we moved on to topics far and wide before the night was over.
It was decidedly fun and good to talk so candidly about so many things with the sisters. I'm not sure we have ever done that before but we should surely do it again.
Saturday, September 6th, 2013
Greetings from Assembly Point, Lake George, NY. This is our last day for this year vacationing in this neck of the woods. It is also the first year in more than I can remember when we have not had Evan with us. We dropped him off a week ago at Pace University. Our time here without Evan has been quite different. I remarked to Nancy yesterday that had he and Noah been with us we surely would have spent a lot more time on the water boating, skiing, etc. I think we did exactly what we wanted to do and that didn't always involve boating or otherwise being on the water. I must say that the highlight, at least for me, was swimming in Sandy Bay yesterday. I could have stayed in all day had we not other places to go and people to meet. Well, places to go anyway.
The weather has been that nice. Just as you might expect at this time of the year in the Adirondack's. There were a couple of mornings where the local forecast called for frost. I never woke up even once to a totally calm morning on the water and there has always been at the very least a little chop on the lake. That is a little unusual. I spent next to no time fishing since I thought the better of it given my shoulder pain. Whatever I did, I wish I hadn't. But, swimming in the bay yesterday afforded me a certain weightlessness that took away any and all pain and I swung my arms beneath the water while treading without a scintilla of pain. It was simply luxurious.
I don't know why but these walkers here on Assembly Point are getting on my nerves. They are fanatical in their strides, strident in their intent, and dedicated to their routines. Had I a slingshot I might be tempted to ping one or two of them just to hear them squeal in abject annoyance. How dare he? Well, I dare. Not really. Maybe you get used to them if you live here long enough. Maybe you learn to love them and even give them a wave or two now and then. Maybe the day would come where you invite them to stop long enough to have a chat and maybe a frosty one weather permitting. They are mostly women as far as I can tell. Middle aged women with nothing but time on their hands with their husbands away at work. They walk together for safety in numbers and a little cameraderie while they get in their daily exercise. They have by now, taken their surroundings for granted and have long lost whatever appreciation they once had for the beauty of the area in which they live, walk, and love. Perhaps the seasons and the changing of same change it up just enough to restore whatever it is that they lose or have lost. Mother Nature, can and will, give you a bitch slap from time to time if you lose sight of her beauty. Women can be fickle that way.
Nancy and I cruised to Bolton Landing one day; Went to Lake George Village another day; Had a time in Sandy Bay another day; and went to Saratoga one other day. Did I tell you that we ate at the Bryant Inn in Saratoga? We also had dinner at Coopers Cave in Glens Falls and had a cone to go. Now, that is coffee ice cream! The cave was mobbed and we should have known that going there on a Friday night was and could be problematic. Our waiter could have learned a thing or two about famished patrons and the need to put something, anything, in front of them as soon as they were seated. I don't hear Nancy complain often about low blood sugar but she did last night and I had a word with the waiter and the side salads followed shortly thereafter. The meal was otherwise good and standard fare. It probably didn't help that they were catering a wedding somewhere in the back and the constant flow of service people carrying this that and the other thing did not go unnoticed. Maybe we should have planned to eat at home more often. Oh, and the pizza at the Harvest was simply the bees knees. Who the fuck came up with that expression?
And, what the bejeezus is going on with Evan. His mom calls him and he doesn't even return her calls. He knows we are trying to get to the bottom of the laptop issue and he is simply not helping. We had it shipped to his school and he simply cannot get to the right mailroom to ask the right questions of the right people. It is complete insanity. The darn thing was not inexpensive and he can't even return our calls. He called last night after promising to call the night before and was short and seemingly in some kind of a hurry and finally hung up on us. What the fuck is he thinking? It is a little soon but he has quite possibly already begun the descent into what we can only describe as a death spiral and final collapse of his short and uneventful college experience. Not sure what precipitated all of this but I'll be damned if he is going to ignore our pleas about this computer thing. It may not matter to him but if that laptop was stolen and not properly accounted for then we will involved the local constabulary until the case is solved and the culprit put behind bars where he or she belongs. He can move on to whatever it is that he moves on to and that will be his choice. He will not be welcome at our home. The nest is closed until further notice.
We are delighted to hear about Carli and her newfound cheerleading activities. I would love to go to one of her games. As it is, there is one today but we are leaving for New Hampshire so will not be in attendance. Perhaps next time. Should we worry about Kathy and her recent injuries? A little physical therapy may be just what the doctor ordered. Not sure where that leaves her when and where her work is involved but it is what it is. She will have to sort through the issues. I do regret not having bought some olive oil while in Saratoga. I think that would have been a nice gift for Rollie for having given us use of his boat for the week. We inquired as well while getting gas for the boat about a detailer and his/her availability. Not sure that is going to work out well either. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Denise does not lose her job at the hospital as that would surely change up her priorities in a hurry. Given her luck, Cliff would have a coronary and without insurance he might be relegated to coverage afforded under some little known aspect of Obamacare. In other words, he would die a slow and painful death before ever getting in to see a physician. She can always take in migrant farm hands to manage the crops. What crops, you say? Good question.
Aside from Evan and his issues, I think Nancy has had a nice vacation. She enjoys her time here and likes the lake nearly as much as I do. I know that she mentioned that she would have liked to swim in Sandy Bay more than she did and that was probably true for me as well. I think she is not wanting to go home since it will remind her how her son is no longer at home and that will be a source of sadness for her. I think the fact that he was seldom home as it was when he was there may go a ways towards easing that pain but that remains to be seen. Perhaps it is her work schedule that she prefers to not want to think about and that I understand. It involves a long commute albeit for only two days a week but painful nonetheless.
All the kings horses and all the kings men can do nothing to change that until she decides that the time has come to stop making the commute. Yes, I think Nancy enjoyed our hike around Long Island as well. The island was quiet but with one or two boaters who had made landfall and could be seen sitting in their chairs by the waters side. We talked about returning next September and perhaps even camping on the island. Not sure that that is even possible once the rangers have taken leave of their posts for the season. Then again, I saw nothing saying that post-season camping was not permitted. Sometimes you have to make it up as you go along. It has been a beautiful week weather wise. Always a smattering of clouds; temperatures never too oppressive; water temperatures warmer than the air itself; and only one day was the lake so rough that we thought better of going out on it in the boat.
And, like every vacation, it is with mixed feelings that we leave this place. I like to think that we will return soon enough and that is a comforting thought. Lake George will always have a special place in my heart and rightly so. I am blessed to have spent as many years in this place as I have and I hope to spend just as many returning after the fact. That is my parting wish. Where would we be without our wishes, our dreams, and places like Lake George in our hearts?
Getting here was half the battle. More than half the battle this year since it is Evan's first year at Pace University and dropping him off over the weekend was the main objective. Everything and anything more than that was just gravy. We went down on Saturday and spent the night at a local Marriot so we could be up and adam when the time came to drop him off. It's a good 4 hour trip from New Hampshire so going down early was not a bad idea. It required little or no coercing to get everyone on board so that is what we did.
The car was packed and we even used the Thule on top of the car to hold the bedding. It was the second time we've used it since buying it some years ago so that all worked out. We even brought our bikes so we could use them when we arrived at Lake George. The day we dropped him off it was threatening rain and even rained a bit as we were taking everything out of the car. We saw a lot of parents moving stuff here and there but not so much with the kids. That should tell you something about who was more eager to finalize everything.
I think his building was referred to as the Hillside dorm. We learned after the fact that it is mostly football players who they house there although we saw none of them the day we move Evan in. I think Evan ended up there after Nancy complained that he needed to stay off the main campus due to the impending construction. Good ole Briar Cliff campus. It was larger and more expansive than I had imagined. Definitely not a satellite location with a smattering of housing. His building houses half women and half men as is probably the practice of most schools. It was a two story building built in the 70's if I had to guess. His room was spacious as dorm rooms can be spacious and there seemed to be ample room to store everything that he brought. I was even surprised at the amount of room he had under the bed. That was not lost on him and he shoved a few containers beneath the bed as soon as we started to move him in.
His room mate was not planning to move in for a bit so Evan had the place to himself which was nice. It just gave us room to maneuver and we needed it. Evan chose the bed near the window and that was one benefit of moving in first. He got to select which desk he wanted to use and his roomie got the other one. The lighting was horrendously bad and I'm curious as to how they consider themselves an educational institution when they fail to supply the lighting necessary for the students to do their work. Maybe they prefer the students spend their time in the library. Who knows.
I'm guessing that we took a good two hours or more to move him in. It was not as logistically nightmarish as we thought it would be so that was good. His room was at the end of the hall and that may simply mean that it is quieter than most and not a problem for those students who prefer to be off the beaten path. Did we tell you that he didn't even have any soap? Either he didn't pack it or we forgot to leave it with him. That should dovetail with his lack of attention to the such things as of late. Nancy even commented that he may well let his hair go and I replied that if that was the worst of it then we could well deal with that. He has always taken care of his hair in getting it cut timely and needed nothing from us other than to pay from time to time.
The one task that we failed miserably at was hanging his poster. The tape or adhesive that Nancy brought didn't work particularly well so the print was not up ten minutes when it fell off the wall. That did not please Evan. We left it propped up on his dresser and that was that. He hung all of his coats; then all of his tee shirts; then folded the rest of the tee shirts and put them away in his drawer. He tucked his shoes away at the end of his bed and seemed pleased that the bedding worked out as well as it did. His momma took particular attention to getting him a comforter cover that looked nice and the flannel was sure to come in handy come winter. Immediately outside his window were trees that he could just about touch and a nice deciduous tree that would be pretty when the snow starts to fall. I silently hoped that it would not be too cold with his bed near the windows which ran practically from floor to ceiling.
The one last chore that we took care of was going into town to get him a flat of water before we left. It was a warm day and he complained a few times about the heat. He had a nice fan which we left on during the time were there and it provided some relief. Once we found out how to get off campus we left to go to town for the water. The one surprise with the water was just how expensive it was. College town indeed. They see these kids coming and hike the prices accordingly. Bastards. Who do they think is footing the bill? The parents, you stupid fucks. That is probably the point. Duh! His momma got him to pose with the numbers "13" denoting his thirteenth year of school. Just like all the years before. There were no neighbors in the picture this time. No Jeremy Jackson's; No Chloe Walton's; just Evan. It was a little sad actually. As was his practice, he did it for his mom. Had he his druthers, he would have not done it at all. Maybe it was his way of saying thank you to his momma for all she did in getting him to this point in his life. The gesture was not lost on me and probably not lost on his momma.
We hugged our son one last time and wished him well before heading out. We were going north to lake George for the week without him. That was Sunday. Today is Tuesday. We were on our way to have dinner at 5 Guys last night in Glens Falls when he called. That was the first time we had heard from him since we left. He sounded a little sad but he sometimes sounds that way anyway so we were not concerned. His roomie was now on board but Evan was not hanging with him. Evan had been to the main campus a couple of times but had not taken the shuttle. He commented about having so much money on his debit card and he was satisfied that he could purchase everything and anything he wanted and was not limited to $10 a day. That was a relief given his eating habits and the need that he has to eat frequently.
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2013
The war drums continue to beat away as the US looks to Congress to approve an attack against Syria. Our fearless leader (Obama) is looking to bolster his sagging ratings and will do anything to get back into the good graces of the american public. It's the old weapons of mass destruction argument that Bush used when invading Iraq but it's altogether different when the Democrats do it. Syria has allegedly used chemical weapons against its own people and the assholes in the US government have taken it upon themselves to preach their brand of self righteousness to those on the planet who don't tow the line.
The British parliament voted against the action so Obama gang will launch their missiles unilaterally if the Congress votes against the action in the same fashion. In the meantime, the US has telegraphed its intentions so the Syrian government has sufficient time to disperse its assets, reposition it's forces, and take whatever action is necessary to blunt the impact of a missile strike by the US. There will be no boots on the ground and this will be a limited action as they like to tell the US public. Who the fuck are they kidding? Don't look to Rhino's like Baynor and McCain to represent the conservatives amongst us because they are on the Obama bandwagon like nobody's business. It makes you wonder what the NSA has on them. And don't get me going on Lindsey Graham. He is a Nancy like no other.
So now I have to worry about where Dell delivered that damn laptop? It shows up as "delivered" on the FedEx website but Evan says they have no package for him in the mail room. Now what the fuck do we do? Should I have had that thing sent certified? Should I have insured it? How long do we wait before taking this up with someone? It pisses me off. Maybe Evan went to the wrong mailroom. Maybe they delivered it to the wrong address or even the wrong campus. He has his first class today and he called last night looking for information that was contained in an e-mail a week ago or so. How typical is that of him? How do you think he sounded, Nancy asked. She had him on speaker so I heard every word and it sounded like he was in something of a rush to move the conversation along. That was my take. He didn't sound concerned about the laptop so I don't know what to make of that. And then the conversation was over and he was gone.
It's a beautifully bright and deliciously sunny morning here on Assembly Point, Lake George. The temperatures are what you might expect this time of the year; cool and comfortable. Shards of sunlight are streaking across the hardwood floors as I look up from my computer screen and I can feel the cool air of the morning making its way across the room towards me. This house faces the east side of the lake and the sun comes over mountains that I know so well. The mirror-like sheen that lay across the lake like a velvet blanket overnight now ripples with excitement and moves deliberately with the morning breezes. Like the day before, it will be a quiet day on the lake. The summer crowds have abandoned their dreams and those of their children for the realities of life that take them back to their jobs, their schools, their lives, and the lake returns to its somnamulent state awaiting their return. Who says lakes don't have memories?
We had dinner last night with Kathy, Lise, and Denise. I wanted to take them out for dinner where we might have some polite conversation and good company. I chose the San Souci based on reputation and experience and hoped that with the summer crowds now out of the way we might have a better chance of getting a table and a decent meal. It surprised me to learn that neither Lise or Denise had ever been to that restaurant but it wasn't out of the question entirely since this neighborhood was not one they spent much time in as children. The food was not as good as I remembered although I don't know that it made that much of a difference. We enjoyed the non-stop conversation and it came as no surprise that recollections varied of days and people past. Denise may have made the biggest impression with her comment about type 1 diabetes but there were bigger fish to fry so we moved on to topics far and wide before the night was over.
It was decidedly fun and good to talk so candidly about so many things with the sisters. I'm not sure we have ever done that before but we should surely do it again.
Saturday, September 6th, 2013
Greetings from Assembly Point, Lake George, NY. This is our last day for this year vacationing in this neck of the woods. It is also the first year in more than I can remember when we have not had Evan with us. We dropped him off a week ago at Pace University. Our time here without Evan has been quite different. I remarked to Nancy yesterday that had he and Noah been with us we surely would have spent a lot more time on the water boating, skiing, etc. I think we did exactly what we wanted to do and that didn't always involve boating or otherwise being on the water. I must say that the highlight, at least for me, was swimming in Sandy Bay yesterday. I could have stayed in all day had we not other places to go and people to meet. Well, places to go anyway.
The weather has been that nice. Just as you might expect at this time of the year in the Adirondack's. There were a couple of mornings where the local forecast called for frost. I never woke up even once to a totally calm morning on the water and there has always been at the very least a little chop on the lake. That is a little unusual. I spent next to no time fishing since I thought the better of it given my shoulder pain. Whatever I did, I wish I hadn't. But, swimming in the bay yesterday afforded me a certain weightlessness that took away any and all pain and I swung my arms beneath the water while treading without a scintilla of pain. It was simply luxurious.
I don't know why but these walkers here on Assembly Point are getting on my nerves. They are fanatical in their strides, strident in their intent, and dedicated to their routines. Had I a slingshot I might be tempted to ping one or two of them just to hear them squeal in abject annoyance. How dare he? Well, I dare. Not really. Maybe you get used to them if you live here long enough. Maybe you learn to love them and even give them a wave or two now and then. Maybe the day would come where you invite them to stop long enough to have a chat and maybe a frosty one weather permitting. They are mostly women as far as I can tell. Middle aged women with nothing but time on their hands with their husbands away at work. They walk together for safety in numbers and a little cameraderie while they get in their daily exercise. They have by now, taken their surroundings for granted and have long lost whatever appreciation they once had for the beauty of the area in which they live, walk, and love. Perhaps the seasons and the changing of same change it up just enough to restore whatever it is that they lose or have lost. Mother Nature, can and will, give you a bitch slap from time to time if you lose sight of her beauty. Women can be fickle that way.
Nancy and I cruised to Bolton Landing one day; Went to Lake George Village another day; Had a time in Sandy Bay another day; and went to Saratoga one other day. Did I tell you that we ate at the Bryant Inn in Saratoga? We also had dinner at Coopers Cave in Glens Falls and had a cone to go. Now, that is coffee ice cream! The cave was mobbed and we should have known that going there on a Friday night was and could be problematic. Our waiter could have learned a thing or two about famished patrons and the need to put something, anything, in front of them as soon as they were seated. I don't hear Nancy complain often about low blood sugar but she did last night and I had a word with the waiter and the side salads followed shortly thereafter. The meal was otherwise good and standard fare. It probably didn't help that they were catering a wedding somewhere in the back and the constant flow of service people carrying this that and the other thing did not go unnoticed. Maybe we should have planned to eat at home more often. Oh, and the pizza at the Harvest was simply the bees knees. Who the fuck came up with that expression?
And, what the bejeezus is going on with Evan. His mom calls him and he doesn't even return her calls. He knows we are trying to get to the bottom of the laptop issue and he is simply not helping. We had it shipped to his school and he simply cannot get to the right mailroom to ask the right questions of the right people. It is complete insanity. The darn thing was not inexpensive and he can't even return our calls. He called last night after promising to call the night before and was short and seemingly in some kind of a hurry and finally hung up on us. What the fuck is he thinking? It is a little soon but he has quite possibly already begun the descent into what we can only describe as a death spiral and final collapse of his short and uneventful college experience. Not sure what precipitated all of this but I'll be damned if he is going to ignore our pleas about this computer thing. It may not matter to him but if that laptop was stolen and not properly accounted for then we will involved the local constabulary until the case is solved and the culprit put behind bars where he or she belongs. He can move on to whatever it is that he moves on to and that will be his choice. He will not be welcome at our home. The nest is closed until further notice.
We are delighted to hear about Carli and her newfound cheerleading activities. I would love to go to one of her games. As it is, there is one today but we are leaving for New Hampshire so will not be in attendance. Perhaps next time. Should we worry about Kathy and her recent injuries? A little physical therapy may be just what the doctor ordered. Not sure where that leaves her when and where her work is involved but it is what it is. She will have to sort through the issues. I do regret not having bought some olive oil while in Saratoga. I think that would have been a nice gift for Rollie for having given us use of his boat for the week. We inquired as well while getting gas for the boat about a detailer and his/her availability. Not sure that is going to work out well either. I'll keep my fingers crossed that Denise does not lose her job at the hospital as that would surely change up her priorities in a hurry. Given her luck, Cliff would have a coronary and without insurance he might be relegated to coverage afforded under some little known aspect of Obamacare. In other words, he would die a slow and painful death before ever getting in to see a physician. She can always take in migrant farm hands to manage the crops. What crops, you say? Good question.
Aside from Evan and his issues, I think Nancy has had a nice vacation. She enjoys her time here and likes the lake nearly as much as I do. I know that she mentioned that she would have liked to swim in Sandy Bay more than she did and that was probably true for me as well. I think she is not wanting to go home since it will remind her how her son is no longer at home and that will be a source of sadness for her. I think the fact that he was seldom home as it was when he was there may go a ways towards easing that pain but that remains to be seen. Perhaps it is her work schedule that she prefers to not want to think about and that I understand. It involves a long commute albeit for only two days a week but painful nonetheless.
All the kings horses and all the kings men can do nothing to change that until she decides that the time has come to stop making the commute. Yes, I think Nancy enjoyed our hike around Long Island as well. The island was quiet but with one or two boaters who had made landfall and could be seen sitting in their chairs by the waters side. We talked about returning next September and perhaps even camping on the island. Not sure that that is even possible once the rangers have taken leave of their posts for the season. Then again, I saw nothing saying that post-season camping was not permitted. Sometimes you have to make it up as you go along. It has been a beautiful week weather wise. Always a smattering of clouds; temperatures never too oppressive; water temperatures warmer than the air itself; and only one day was the lake so rough that we thought better of going out on it in the boat.
And, like every vacation, it is with mixed feelings that we leave this place. I like to think that we will return soon enough and that is a comforting thought. Lake George will always have a special place in my heart and rightly so. I am blessed to have spent as many years in this place as I have and I hope to spend just as many returning after the fact. That is my parting wish. Where would we be without our wishes, our dreams, and places like Lake George in our hearts?