Mini vacation maybe a last hurrah
Makaila wanted to have some couples only time with me - and a chance to get away from work and other obligations
I went off the pain meds for 36 hours so I could do the driving - the plan being to get back on them upon arriving at our destination
And having navigator and copilot who is a nurse observe me and be prepared to take over if needed
We decided to take my Lincoln LS and packed some stuff in the trunk
We left around 5am and once we got out of Jersey and crossed the tapenzee bridge / hit the mass pike there was very little traffic and the roads were in good shape
The drive on the mass pike in pain but also sober and in control of my faculties proved to be cathartic
I kept the car at around 80 miles per hour through the carved granite canyons in Massachusetts - sometimes doing short runs above 90
The high end cat back dual exhaust with resonating tips sounds so good to me - the k&n twin intake forced cold air induction system also seemed to bring special life to the little V8 Lincoln mill
It's cold weather but the twin oversized electric fans and the transmission oil cooler and twin oil filter set up would have handled warm weather
Makaila had music playing the whole way and kept up good conversation during the drive - taking short naps (looking very pretty when sleeping)
Heated leather seats are nice...
I woke her up as we passed woods Hole oceanographic research institute - lots of rainbow colored fall leaves still on the trees
We stopped on the mainland at a grocery store to pick up some supplies - she checked my vitals and had me do those hand and eye and balance exercises they do at drunk driving stops
Gave me a shot of B12 and made me eat a tangerine and drink a bottle of water
We drove to the ferry port and there was almost no line - we were on the ferry in 20 minutes
Bundled up we watched the ferry move through the water from the bow - she had her coffee and I had an H. upmann stubby (ring size 50)
I drank a Mexican coke in a glass bottle (no high fructose corn syrup only pure cane sugar) and a few chocolate chip cookies and she had come cadbury eggs and some hot chocolate
The ferry docked and we were now on the vineyard - so nice off season when there are no tourists just residents and townies
We did not stop at the black dog cafe like normal - just took the long leisurely scenic route to see the island
I got the fireplace going while Makaila unloaded the car - I turned on the radiant floor heating
I went to the detached garage and checked that the trickle charger was working and test started the truck - moving it into the driveway and putting the Lincoln inside - made sure the radiators in the garage were working and raised the temp
Makaila made the bed with a bunch of heavy oversized quilts and blankets
I went to the neighbors 200 yds away and dropped off a pie and a small Christmas ham and a bottle of wine
I am now under orders to take my meds and to join her on the love seat - she has a bunch of anime movie she wants to watch
I called the police department non emergency number and let them know we were in town
It's a good idea to sit down - my legs are not only in pain but they are shot - pretty much non functional and I am dizzy
We keep a S&W model 10-3 and a combat conversion browning A5 in 16 gauge and an early .22lr ruger semiautomatic handgun and a comped out 10/22 so I am going to break them down and inspect / clean them
Makaila has laid out some new York Times crossword puzzles and some soduku and some calligraphy supplies
Chocolate chip cookies and super cookies in the oven
I am in pretty bad pain at this point and the legs are not working
The neighbors dropped off a chocolate bundt cake with chocolate frosting and a fresh loaf of French bread
I am adding more to the fire - a half round of chestnut and some apple wood branches and a bunch of pine cones
She lit some scented candles.
I hope to have a near to normal as I can get several days
Mike
I went off the pain meds for 36 hours so I could do the driving - the plan being to get back on them upon arriving at our destination
And having navigator and copilot who is a nurse observe me and be prepared to take over if needed
We decided to take my Lincoln LS and packed some stuff in the trunk
We left around 5am and once we got out of Jersey and crossed the tapenzee bridge / hit the mass pike there was very little traffic and the roads were in good shape
The drive on the mass pike in pain but also sober and in control of my faculties proved to be cathartic
I kept the car at around 80 miles per hour through the carved granite canyons in Massachusetts - sometimes doing short runs above 90
The high end cat back dual exhaust with resonating tips sounds so good to me - the k&n twin intake forced cold air induction system also seemed to bring special life to the little V8 Lincoln mill
It's cold weather but the twin oversized electric fans and the transmission oil cooler and twin oil filter set up would have handled warm weather
Makaila had music playing the whole way and kept up good conversation during the drive - taking short naps (looking very pretty when sleeping)
Heated leather seats are nice...
I woke her up as we passed woods Hole oceanographic research institute - lots of rainbow colored fall leaves still on the trees
We stopped on the mainland at a grocery store to pick up some supplies - she checked my vitals and had me do those hand and eye and balance exercises they do at drunk driving stops
Gave me a shot of B12 and made me eat a tangerine and drink a bottle of water
We drove to the ferry port and there was almost no line - we were on the ferry in 20 minutes
Bundled up we watched the ferry move through the water from the bow - she had her coffee and I had an H. upmann stubby (ring size 50)
I drank a Mexican coke in a glass bottle (no high fructose corn syrup only pure cane sugar) and a few chocolate chip cookies and she had come cadbury eggs and some hot chocolate
The ferry docked and we were now on the vineyard - so nice off season when there are no tourists just residents and townies
We did not stop at the black dog cafe like normal - just took the long leisurely scenic route to see the island
I got the fireplace going while Makaila unloaded the car - I turned on the radiant floor heating
I went to the detached garage and checked that the trickle charger was working and test started the truck - moving it into the driveway and putting the Lincoln inside - made sure the radiators in the garage were working and raised the temp
Makaila made the bed with a bunch of heavy oversized quilts and blankets
I went to the neighbors 200 yds away and dropped off a pie and a small Christmas ham and a bottle of wine
I am now under orders to take my meds and to join her on the love seat - she has a bunch of anime movie she wants to watch
I called the police department non emergency number and let them know we were in town
It's a good idea to sit down - my legs are not only in pain but they are shot - pretty much non functional and I am dizzy
We keep a S&W model 10-3 and a combat conversion browning A5 in 16 gauge and an early .22lr ruger semiautomatic handgun and a comped out 10/22 so I am going to break them down and inspect / clean them
Makaila has laid out some new York Times crossword puzzles and some soduku and some calligraphy supplies
Chocolate chip cookies and super cookies in the oven
I am in pretty bad pain at this point and the legs are not working
The neighbors dropped off a chocolate bundt cake with chocolate frosting and a fresh loaf of French bread
I am adding more to the fire - a half round of chestnut and some apple wood branches and a bunch of pine cones
She lit some scented candles.
I hope to have a near to normal as I can get several days
Mike
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Good for you both Mike! You made a commitment to yourself to do the trip...and you did it. Try to kick back, enjoy each other and your surroundings. (Oh, yeah, and listen to your nurse?s directions.) 0 -
Have a great time! You definitely deserve it.
God bless this wonderful season, Makaila, and yourself.
Enjoy!0 -
It sounds great, Mike...all expect that B12 shot: I am terrified of needles[xx(][xx(][V]! 0 -
She brough saline and glucose and IV hook up supplies and several vitamin booster syringes - and some other supplies in her medic pack
She worries and likes to be prepared - despite the fact that so far I have been difficult to kill
She carries a lot of internal anger and stress and tension - and she needs to talk it out and analyze it and work through it with someone she does not work with...
That happens to be me - and I actually enjoy being her sounding board and moral compass and wailing wall...
I feel blessed and honored and lucky that she feels she can share that stuff with me - that she goes to me for advice - we work together as a team to figure things out
And a big part of it is the physical intimacy - snuggling or sitting in my lap or her using me as a body pillow at night
And fresh from the shower with no makeup in comfortable sweats or pj's - feeling safe and comfortable and protected and able to be herself
It works for her - and if I can be the mechanism that allows her to discard stress and angst and to feel better about herself I feel like a super hero or knight in shining armor
I will spend an hour brushing her hair...
I enjoy taking care of her - doing the laundry or cooking...
Mike0 -
Sounds like a great Holiday getaway. Enjoy your trip. 0 -
Man I?m jealous. Sounds like a good place to get away 0 -
It belonged to her great aunt - who had it built to spec out of a catalog in 1950...
She never left the island again - ran a small combination package store and bar that offered soups and sandwiches - she would make special box lunches for the servicemen stationed at the coast guard base and in the light house service...
704 square feet with a wrap around covered porch and a detached 1 1/2 car garage on 1.8 acres with 100 feet of stream front / riparian rights
A dead end street with 7 other cabins or cottages with a nature preserve on the opposite side of the road
The garage had radiators in it
Makaila has me find a general contractor and gave me a budget and told me to upgrade it
New metal roof - new Anderson windows - new hardwood laminate flooring - new furnace and hot water heater and AC unit - natural gas back up generex system - period bathroom was reconditioned and saved - mid level smaller flat stainless steel kitchen appliances package and a matching stack able washer and dryer...
Plain but nice kitchen cabinets and counter tops
Raised house with no basement or crawl space
Chain link fence and front yard flag pole - ship lathe internals and brick externals including the small fireplace
2 bedroom (more like 1 1/2)
New sewer line from house to main in street
Upright piano - China cabinet - kitchen hutch - spare bedroom has an actual Murphy bed (never seen one before)
Wood stove for heat - rather ornate and older than the house
It's cozy and warm and comfortable and quiet and hidden and throwback simple and perfectly serviceable - it's small but works fine -
Makaila will want to go to lunch or dinner or visit the bookstore or the black dog cafe or see a movie or eat at a diner or bar and grill but mostly she wants to stay inside and do nothing - read or binge watch TV or do crossword puzzles or soduku or calligraphy
She wants to watch me cook or bake or do chores like laundry or simple projects - there is a greenish Bakelite tube radio that does not work and I have it disassembled - parts diagram from on line - simple multi meter and basic tools
I replaced to small wires (cloth covered) that looked pretty deteriorated and cleaned off contacts - the station tuning know runs an internal string belt that was broken - easy fix
One tube does not work - found a place online that carries them and we will order 2 - should work just fine after that
Now how do you clean Bakelite without ruining it??? Warn water with orange in it???
Zenith console color TV with radio and turntable
I replaced the needle and used canned air to clean dust and crap out and used some clock oil in certain places and it works now - had to show Makaila how to adapt from LP's to 45's and how to stack multiple records up for extended play
The door bell never worked so I have that to take apart and play with
She seems happy and appears to enjoy watching me tinker occasionally asking a question or wanting to help
She is binge watching anime (Appleseed) and emailing distant relatives
I know most of you will think I am lame or crazy but this is a good time for us
Mike0 -
Sounds like you're having a great time. Good for you 0 -
Going to take an heirloom beefsteak tomato ( green with yellow stripes) and slice it up - bread it and pan sear it in bacon grease...
Going to make a few slices of javelina center cut back strap thick slice bacon...
Going to take some Italian bread remnants and make French toast...
Split a nectarine - heavy Russian black bread toasted with Swiss butter...
Small portion sampler made from scraps and remnants and leftovers
Then back to bed.
I have been working through a book on the orange free state and I gave Makaila one on the boxer rebellion...
Venture out for a scenic ride and some sandwiches and back home to relax - in the truck so it gets some exercise
I am thinking a small roasted chicken or pheasant or ptarmigan for dinner with Lacey cheese and bacon potatoes
Bottle of DAB or spaten
TV binge watching curled up together with crossword puzzles
Mike0 -
It's well after midnight and Makaila is dead asleep - half in my lap or curled up against me...
I need to get up and tend the fire - I need to take a leak - I need to take some meds - and I can use a drink of ice water...
But she looks so rested and her head is on my chest...
I will not wake her - I will not disturb the deep happy sleep she has established / achieved
She smells like peppermint and sugar cookies
Why spoil the moment - maybe I will fall asleep
It's quiet here - the fire is pretty noisy
Feels like happier times gone by . Never to be revisited.
Mike
:0 -
I spent the summers of my youth growing up on the bayside of Cape Cod....not quite the same as one of the islands but similar. Fond memories, was sad to see my folks sell their cottage several years ago, but she was a wonderful part of our lives for 25 years. Ole Cape Cod. 0 -
I had gone to Martha's vineyard on summer breaks as a kid for a few weeks - working in a townie grocery store and later an auxiliary law enforcement officer during peak traffic season
I also spent similar time on Nantucket were norm had his shop - and you would see Tommy desilva and his vans all the time
Been a member of the rod and gun club since 1990
We would spend lots of time at the black dog cafe and would rent scooters
We preferred the off season - October and November.
Great bookstore and vintage movie theater
Good memories.
Mike0 -
Enjoy Mike. 0 -
This morning we went to an estate sale - a nice sized brick ranch near the islands center - built in the 40's just after WWII
Same family since built - year round locals and owners invited
I picked up a genuine Filsons red and black checked jacket with vest style liner intact - it has the clear plastic credentials holder pinned to the back with a permit to take ducks in 1949 - sized 48
No price tag - was buried in the back of a closet and when I asked they took $20.00 for it
Makaila found a matching set of salamander earrings and a larger pin - they are company proofed and ser#'d and dated 1939
Because they were aluminum with gem cut green glass eyes they let her hand have the set (blue velvet hinged box intact) for $30.00
I don't think they realized what a restricted war time commodity and limited resource aluminum represented in 1939
Fortuitous finds - talismans of great portent and gravitas
Mike0 -
HAVE A GREAT TIME!!!!!!!!!!! how diff is the mex coke compared to regular USA coke ??? i only use the caffeine FREE coke (med order) and like it better now than regular with HFS 0 -
The glass bottle Mexican cokes are pure and clean and made cane sugar
Not only tastes better but you tend to burn the calories up instead of storing it as fat and lard or blubber like a hibernating bear
Mike0 -
THANX..we have a lot of mexs around but have not seen any M cola for sale here...maybe just not in the right spot....harder to keep #'s down now that i can't go like i used to and CF cola is my biggest vice 0 -
Wow, Mrmike you can weave a marvelous picture with your words. Did you write professionally? 0
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