Here are the various games, one from grandpa and another from Granny. And I am sure next time either is here visiting they will be eager to give the game a whirl.
Thomas made me play with him, some sort of modified Pikmin thing only he got to be the captain and I had to be a Pikmin which is a sort of slave to him--exactly the sort of thing Thomas would love. Not too surprisingly it took all my effort to figure out just what was going on.
Here is a closeup of the screen--now everything is obvious, I am sure.
Frederick suffered Thomas's excitement and is pleased with the LEGO firetruck he got today.
Seconds after opening the Wii-U Thomas had it hooked up to our tv, and then had to wait over 2 hours while it uploaded all its information and then downloaded updates.
These were my meat and drink from about the age of 8 to about the age of 12 (and probably, if I'm honest, later). At the time I had no way of organizing them in order, but now I can arrange them in order of transmission, from William Hartnell's first series, to Tom Baker's 33rd ("The Nightmare of Eden" transmitted in November/December of 1979 - I could tell you needed to know). Thanks Grandpa (in whose attic they have been resting almost since I acquired most of them from Exeter's Read'n'Return on Fore Street)! No doubt there is another box on its way, because I know I read more than this (although it is just possible I borrowed some from James Fidel or Wareham library...)
As you can tell, the lodgings are temporary, but I'll soon find space by moving some of these crappy Dostoyevskys and Chekhovs...
And look at the boat One Last Time:
This time, Escanaba wasn't the stopping point but the mid-way point on the drive. While Thomas and I stocked up on sugary treats at Swedish Pantry ("The Best Pastries IN THE WORLD!"), Simon and Frederick trotted about the downtown Memorial Park:
Simon announced an hour after we left Escanaba that he now wants a yacht. I asked, "I thought you wanted a houseboat?" So now he wants a House Yacht.
This was the first rainy day of our trip, and it rained the WHOLE day.
Simon was hesitant to use this public restroom but aside from the smell, it wasn't TOO terrible.
A rocky beach:
More rocks:
And more rocks:
This is our hotel in St. Ignace, The Bavarian Haus. As when we were in Escanaba, Simon and Thomas headed out to a restaurant while Frederick and I swam in the pool, cooked in the hot tub and then "rested" in the room. (This photo was taken from the parking lot of the Hillside Diner, the restaurant they ate at.) Simon reported that the food was remarkably bad. Thomas would only say that it wasn't the worst food he has ever had.
Here's a little tour of our palatial room at said Haus:
About half-way through the game (just when I was on the verge of winning after blocking Thomas from making an 8-letter word on the red Triple Word block) Simon decided that he "had" to get out in the boat and light sparklers.
Simon paddled out while Thomas and I waited on land and were eaten alive by mosquitoes.
Simon set out. Will we ever see him again? Will we ever finish the Scrabble game?
Was it worth all the effort? I'm not sure it was but Simon did fulfill another life-long dream so there is that.
About an hour later the fog was gone and the lake was back--and Frederick wanted to go boating!
Simon remembered Gordon's warning: "Don't forget to replace the plug in the boat!" and they set off.
Most inappropriately dubbed by Frederick "Speed Boat", they SLOWLY made their way across to the other side of the lake. (Later in the day, Simon swam to the other side of the lake is less time.)
After securing the boat so no bears would steal it, they set to exploring the side of the lake that has never been developed.
Yes, lots of trees--just as we all suspected.
Simon admires the well-stocked wood supply, thinking sadly of our almost-empty garage (and winter is just around the corner!).
Just to show that a fire is not just for winter, Simon stoked up the fireplace and sets the wood ablaze.
Meanwhile, inside...
everything is comfy and...
cozy. (Not only was the cabin the perfect size--two bedrooms, the second with twin beds in it--but it was stocked with the ENTIRE Jeremy Brett/Sherlock Holmes dvd collection!! We watched The Second Stain, a ripping yarn, Sunday night.)
After another snack, Frederick decided that it is time to swim.
The water, brown from iron (like the water in the house--yuck) and the leeched pine needles, was not as cold as one would imagine, though it wasn't exactly warm, either. "Refreshing" is the term.
After much persuasion, Frederick agreed to give swimming a break and played in the sandy-zone next to the water.
Here is a dragonfly. The dragonflies up there are the largest we have ever seen. This picture doesn't really do this guy justice as the yellow float he is resting on is about 5' long; he (or she) has a wing span of at least 5 inches. They are not only large, but extremely confident. Thomas walked up to one that was resting on the pier and nudged it with the toe of his shoe and not only did the dragonfly not budge, but snapped at him.
A few minutes after his break from swimming, Frederick decided that it was time to swim again. This time I went into the lake with him.
I wanted to like being in the lake water, I really did. But by the time I was up to my waist in water, I was up to my ankles in lake-bottom-ooze and it was not pleasant. My breaking point came when I could hear and feel things snapping under my feet as I stepped on them. Shudder.
If Frederick had his way, he would live in the lake and swim during all his waking hours.
Thomas, who is NOT a water baby, enjoyed more tranquil pursuits.
