Friends

On our East Coast travels, Timber and I got to see some good buddies.

Jen Smith is one of my best friends! We were roomies and teammates in college. She was the maid of honor at my wedding. She has become an honorary sister in my family (she has joined us for Christmas and other important holiday). Even though she lives in DC, I still get to see her cute face at least once a year. She flew up to Maine for the 4th of July and played with us at the lake. She paddled Ry and I around in the canoe. We also had an enjoyable yoga sesh on the dock. I love ya Jen!!!

We also got to hang with Crister at the lake. We met in college and became great friends. She was also one of my roomies in Chico. She is a Maine native and made a short drive over to the lake to hang with us. Crister is a wonderful guitar player and has a beautiful voice. She strummed for Lainie's wedding and sang a few songs around the campfire for us.

Other visitors to the lake; Josh, Katie, and their dog Betty. They drove up for a night at the lake, and then we met up with them at their place in New Hampshire. More to come about our adventures in NH.

Handcock Pond

Handcock Pond is really a lake. A beautiful lake in Maine where Timber and I got to meet and hang with the Conley family. They showed us how to summer it up Maine style. Here are some highlights...

FIREWORKS
Jeff and Timber paddled out to the dock at sunset on the 4th of July. In the canoe with them were many illegal explosives which they proceeded to blow into the night sky. I love that Jeff's wife Amy asked Timber to do the honors with Jeff (all others wisely declined the pyro position on the 4x4 wood dock) because if both her and Jeff were killed in an accident "Who would care for the children?"

As the guys got into a rhythm and their brilliant display flowed into a bouquet of light, the Pond Fire Marshall showed up. No more boom boom.

SPEED BOAT

Cousin Tim owns a boat and the many recreational accessories that got with it. We enjoyed water skiing. It was the first time either Timber or I had been on water skis since were were about 12. FUN!

Not so fun...the Hot Dog. Timber, Ry, and I all piled onto the inflatable Hot Dog and dared Tim to rip. With a sly grin, he gassed it. We held on for about 3/4 turn around the lake then, as Tim got to mock 5, the Dog started hydroplaning across the water surface. I smiled ear to ear feeling those milliseconds of zero gravity between lifting away from the water and coming back down. Freedom.

But, one of those weightless touchdowns, where the dog is supposed to kiss the water's surface and lift off again, we hit the wake.

FU@K*N$ OUCH!

All three of us were hurled off the Dog. Like sipping stones we skimmed the water (which at mock 5 is more like cement) and then slammed into the cool depths. With the air knocked from our lungs, Timber, Ry, and I resurfaced gasping for breath. We all managed to wave a white flag to captain Tim, who gave us the gentle kiddy ride back to the dock. (note: Timber and Ry along with Mike took another round on the Hot Dog and really enjoyed themselves. They've mastered the Hot Dog technique and can take Tim's mock 5 . I'm not going to try it again.)

Mike and Lainie est. 7/5

This one goes out to Mike and my sis Lainie. These two amazing people who have a wonderful life ahead of them. They were married earlier this month on the shores of Handcock Pond in Maine.

Ironic fact about the couple:

Mike is the oldest of four brothers.

Lainie is the oldest of four sisters.

.Another irony: All eight of the siblings were present at the ceremony. Now that part really excites me because I know how difficult it is to get our family together. Add another quad of siblings and BHAM, Brady Bunch reunion. But, no joke, the Connely family is amazing. We had such a great time during the week of festivities surrounding the wedding. We did the lobster thing (see posting below), we watched/set off fireworks (Jeff and Timber got sweated by the pond fire Marshall), we swam and water skied, we ate and drank and sang around the camp fire. So it really was a Brady Bunch reunion. I loved every moment of it. I hope each year Lain and Mike spend together is full of this spirit, love and family. Best Wishes!

LOBSTER!

We've been on a classic American summer vacation. That is... a

classic New England summer vacation. A few long hours cramped on an airplane (okay, two days of flying) found us in Maine. Let me tell you, there are a heap of authome things to do in Maine.

We went lobster catching on the 3rd of July. Here's a photo of my sisters with the bait for the traps. Yummy!

You can tell by the look on Timber's face that the dead fish doesn't smell so pleasant.

We only only caught one lobster that was big enough to keep. Below is one of the lucky little guys that got to live another day to scavenge the bottom of Portland Bay.

On the 4th of July we enjoyed a HUGE lobster bake with the Conley family. I really enjoy lobster! I think the best part is that you get to play with your food while you eat it. Oh, I also like that you get really messy...and everyone else does as well.

Thanks friends for the lobster and the lesson on how to get at that delicious, rich, meat.