December 31, 2018, a great day spent with friends

  Waking up at 8:00 is definitely not my style but my body and mind thanked the goddess of sleep.  Bob and Mary get up at the crack of ugly so I felt embarrassed having mistakenly over slept.  Mary  was quietly putting together a breakfast meant for the gods.  Like, how do I rate such royal treatment? With breakfast finished,  Bob and I headed for the bike shop where I had a handlebar stem extender put on to help alleviate the hand numbing problem plaguing my rides. The creaking back wheel is still an issue; none of us can figure out. I pray the problem doesn’t develop into something serious when I am in the south nowhere.
       After buying ingredients for my modified version of the dark and stormy rum drink (a classic sailor’s post race drink), Mary made up another meal which hit the mark.  Seriously, I am getting spoiled.  Later, as advertised, Bob and I drove his Tonka toy Suzuki down to the marina where we shipped out for a sail.  A good wind, fun boat to sail and I was able to coach Bob in sailing technique. I remember being in the same position years ago when I purchased my Herreshoff.  After years of not sailing, it can be daunting if not intimidating to climb aboard and proficiently sail your own boat. After a fun sail, we secured the boat back on its trailer, stored it away at the marina and headed for home.
         Mary was at it again, amazing. Appearing to doing it effortlessly, she prepared another culinary delight. I couldn’t even wash dishes.  I  need counseling. As the night progress, the neighborhood New Year’s Eve fireworks commenced.  Bob and Mary’s two HUGE Newfoundland dogs don’t do well with explosives; my family dogs having had the same problem. And these dogs, at one pounds each, think they are laps dogs!  After some doggy downers came to the rescue, the three of humans in room talked about our families. Along the way, I managed to FaceTime with Cyrus and Julia wishing them a happy new year.  Dessert of apple turnovers and ice cream was the last event of the day, capping off a truly fun day. Bob and Mary have redefined Warmshowers.org.  I will have to up my game when I get home.  Lights out well before midnight. Here is to a health and happy new year.