Day 16.294 Halloween #10

Our tenth Halloween in Maine looked like this:

E5N1 headed out to a Barbie-themed party as Thumbelina (Barbie: Thumbelina 2009)

Exile #3's friend, visiting from Florida probably wished the fire was real on this chilly Maine night, but she braved the cold with Exile #3 to hand out candy

Here they are in all their What We Do In The Shadows cosplay glory.

Day 16.293: Spying on the bathers

The bird bath is in much more regular use week by week. Yesterday, after a bluebird vacated, three house finches moved in for a while.

It will soon be bird counting time again, it will be interesting to see if the bathing option changes our counts at all.

Day 16.292: Exile #2's Sunday Column #456

Exile #2 writes...

Maine is a small place and so, inevitably we have discovered friends with connections to those caught up in the events of the week. Having made Maine our home, we have the same kind of affection for the community here that the late night host Stephen Colbert expressed:

"And there are very few people like Mainers. I know Mainers. I love Mainers. They’re strong people. They’ve got Moxie - literally, it’s the name of their official state soft drink. It tastes like carbonated cough syrup but they drink it anyway, ‘cause Mainers are tough. These are people whose idea of a beach is a collection of jagged rocks near freezing water. Their state flower, the Maine state flower - and this is true - is a frickin’ pine cone."

Mainers are tough but also kind. Sometimes they might seem brusque or terse but they are always ready to lend a hand and they work really hard. It’s going to take a lot of those qualities to get Lewiston through this time. Meanwhile, we’ll keep hoping and working for change.

A little bright light at the end of a hard week, however, was the news that we have a new family member. We are all very excited and look forward to meeting him one of these days. Welcome, little one!

Day 16.291: Church organ-ization

Another work day found me removing some wires and speakers and doing some more painting. Meanwhile, Exile #2 catalogued and organized the kitchen cabinets:

Day 16.290: One thing was on schedule

I took the day off work again today - the main reason being to spend some time with Exile #3 and a new video game. When she was at her lowest with her health challenges, watching me play video games (especially ones with interesting puzzles, stories and lore) was something she was able to enjoy doing and now we've become gaming buddies.

Our favorite games so far have been the Alan Wake and Control games, so today was a big day as the long-awaited Alan Wake 2 came out.

We didn't spend all day playing. There was some yard work to do and a rugby match to watch, but it was a pretty good day.

In the wider world, school was "asynchronous" and remote today and the football game that was supposed to happen yesterday and then postponed to today was postponed again to next Tuesday. The Pumpkin Festival has also been canceled for tomorrow. I've also heard the first reports from people I know who knew some of the victims from Wednesday evening. It's with very mixed feelings I read that the suspect is no longer a threat to anyone this evening.

Day 16.289: A strange day

I didn't realize when I wrote the post yesterday about the tragedy that had recently unfolded in nearby Lewiston. Today, schools and supermarkets closed their doors and all manner of events were canceled, partly out of respect, partly out of caution as the suspect remained at large.

I went into the office on very quiet roads, but wondered all day what I would do if I found that our area was not under a "shelter in place" order or advisory. With no real change in the situation, we're not sure what the next days will bring, but it won't stop the birds coming to the feeders.

Day 16.288: A bit (of) Blue

There are a lot of serious things going on in the world, but after I posted yesterday, I found out that Angelo Bruschini had died. He's probably most famous for his work as the lead guitarist in Massive Attack, but my main connection with his music is as one of the powerhouse guitarists of the Blue Aeroplanes.

Here he is (in 1990) holding down the delayed guitar part while everyone else swirls around him:

Rest in peace - and thank you for the music.

Day 16.287: Just a little spicy

My lunch on Sunday came served with this tiny bottle of hot sauce:

Unusually for me, I didn't use it but slipped it in my pocket. When we got home, someone suggested it looks like a Christmas tree decoration.

Day 16.286: The neighbors

This is the building next to the house that is Exile #4's dorm this year. 

I couldn't quickly find much information about it, but its owner appears to have been Paul B Morgan (1869-1952), so it's probably safe to say it's not as old as it looks but quite attractive nevertheless.

Day 16.285: Exile #2's Sunday Column #455

Exile #2 writes...

After a fun but all too brief (for us anyway) break, Exile #4 headed back to college today. The drive was not exactly relaxing but it was pretty as all but the oaks have turned to beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange. Having dropped off a bag of freshly laundered clothes and some food supplies for emergencies, we all had lunch at a nearby pub before Exile #1 and I got back on the road.

Our conversation at the pub ranged widely through the weird and wonderful but had a small detour around the fact that motorways in the UK are always given the definite article whereas in the US highways are not. So it is the M25 but I-95. This is one I still regularly mess up on and instantly identify myself as an interloper. I made sure to practic(s)e as we got on I-290.

Day 16.284: The Ascent

I’ve certainly seen this sculpture - near the Portland Public Library - before, but it caught my attention again yesterday. 

Today, we spent some time helping with the work at our new church building, watched the rugby and had a raucous game of Pictionary - quite a full day.

Day 16.283: Why We Make Comics

A few weeks ago, Exile #4 brought this exhibit to our attention and we agreed to go while they are home this week.

Today I took a day off and this was one of our activities. The free exhibition at the public library is a wonderful set of cartoons about cartooning. We loved it (E5N1 was at school, but the booklet above contains the comics so he can catch up if he chooses).

Day 16.282: Born a Storer…

…married a Wardrobe. 

A trip to the cemetery can usually be relied on to offer up some surprises. This one has a humorous turn with names and a tragic end with a very young demise.

Gravestone reads: Elizabeth Wardrobe - daughter of Samuel and APhia Storer - died March 25, 1850 - aged 18 years

Day 16.281: Leaves fast

I took this on October 3rd:

And this on October 17th:

The leaves change fast around here.

Day 16.280: Bluebird bath

It's been three months since we installed the bird bath, and to a reasonable approximation, the birds have shown zero interest in it through the whole summer. It has been rather wet for much of the time with other bathing options available.

However, with the return of the bluebirds, we saw this:

...and yes, there was some drinking and even a little splashing too.

Day 16.279: A few birds at the cemetery

A few birds spotted at the cemetery yesterday:

A yellow-rumped warbler - partially reverted to winter plumage

An eastern bluebird - they have recently reappeared at home as well

A chipping sparrow showing off some pretty good camouflage

A yellow-bellied sapsucker

Day 16.278: ...and a walk in the cemetery

Today had normal Sunday activities - a trip to church in Portland. Normal October 2023 activities - two Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals (Come on England!) ... and a walk in the cemetery with Exile #3 and Exile #4:

Day 16.277: Pep

We were thrown straight into a busy weekend - with Rugby World Cup quarter finals and Homecoming weekend at the highschool. Both had their high points and disappointments, but here is the pep band in action:





And here is some impressive balancing from the cheerleaders:

And as for the sport, we'll hope for better tomorrow (although we'll be watching time-shifted after our church duties and hoping to avoid spoilers until then!)

Day 16.2761: Bad Daddy’s; home

This was my lunch spot at Charlotte airport today. 

Surprisingly, the couple who sat next to me at the bar were also heading to Maine (albeit an earlier flight to Bangor rather than my flight to Portland). 

Now I’m home and so is Exile #4 after Exile #2 made the round trip to Worcester today at the end of the first quarter of classes. 

Day 16.275: Last night in Madison

It’s my last night in Wisconsin. This photo wasn’t taken tonight, or last night. Actually, thinking about it it’s from Monday - but it was here in Madison, so that’s something. .

Day 16.274: Indian food

I was "issued" with the company EV (an VW ID4) yesterday with instructions to run the battery down as much as I can by Thursday morning so they can try some new charging technology on it. Well, if you insist!

The day started with a convincing layer of frost on top of the car and after a bit of defrosting, I took a circuitous drive to work.

After work, one of my colleagues suggested Indian food and we ended up here:

It was good, but not UK-good, but was nevertheless a very nice end to the day.