We have been really busy having a great time this weekend.
During the day Friday, Mike and I spent some serious time working on landscaping. We have a lot to do outside since we've been spending the majority of our time and energy inside the house. It was a nice change to be outside working, and it felt good to get something done. Friday night we went back to the Bug Light for a bit. I saw a great sunset. Mike and Claire missed it (see the picture below). I really like going to the Bug Light. There are always lots of boats and people to watch.
Saturday we had a lot planned. This weekend was the MS Harborfest in Portland as well as the Great Falls Balloon Festival a half hour away in Lewiston. We went to the MS Harborfest first, hoping to see the sail boat parade, but we either were too late or in the wrong spot (or both?). Either way, we enjoyed our time at the Maine State Pier, and I think we may have seen one boat that was in the parade. It actually shot off a cannon as it went past. I thought it was really cool, Claire wasn't impressed (see the picture below).
After, we drove over to Lewiston for the Balloon Festival. This time we made it to the right spot at the right time for the hot air balloon launch, but it wasn't what I expected. I kind of thought the launch would include around 20 or so balloons, maybe even three or four going up at the same time. In reality, there were six balloons launched, one at a time. It was still very cool to see so close up, and I did get some really
cool pictures. Some of the balloons went right over our heads, some floated off into the sunset. We also had fun just goofing around.
Then today, Sunday. Today was the work day. It was suppose to rain all day (and it did) so we figured it would be a good day to spend downstairs. We were able to get the ceiling completely painted, which was no small task. The boards that were used are all grooved, and getting the paint in all the little grooves was not fun, but now that its done, it looks great. We also got a free couch from another resident, and Mike spent a lot of time getting it downstairs. Its a sleeper-sofa, so it weighs a ton, and is pretty long as well. It was quite a project in itself.
All three of us ended up covered in paint. At the end of the night, Claire wouldn't even give me a kiss because she couldn't "find any room" on my cheeks. There was just too much paint for her taste. But lucky for me, Claire has a pair of purple sunglasses that are way too big for her. I definitely needed something to keep the paint out of my eyes, so I borrowed them. I think I looked pretty good. Maybe I'll keep them.
Turns out that in Maine, you have to have your car inspected yearly. And it turns out that if you don't, you can get a $200 ticket. I didn't find that out personally, but I've heard enough "I know someone who..." stories to believe it. So I finally got my car in, and it passed (whew). I'm kind of curious as to what they inspected. I asked, and got a general answer about emissions and fluid leaks. I don't really understand how the program works. I get the idea is to make sure cars are road-worthy, and I think its a good one. And obviously it does work, since its been in place since 1999. But just about any garage is able to do an inspection, and its common knowledge that some places pass cars more easily than others. What stops a mechanic from finding a 'problem' that he can charge you to fix? Sure you can get a second inspection somewhere else, but pass or fail, just getting the inspection costs about $20. Seems like you could really get stuck, if you had an older car and not a whole lot of money. I'm also curious as to if, because of vehicle inspections, there are fewer broken down cars on the road, or fewer accidents due to the car malfunctioning.
