Amazing shot, Old time fun, Lost and found, S’mores

Last night I was at the library on the later side, working on the blog and talking to Gladys from the only bastion of internet connectivity, the library.  As I was walking back to the cabin I looked at the full moon reflecting off the lake and thought I would try to capture it.  Wow, I was blown away by the quality of the picture my Iphone 11 spit out.  It may be one of the best pictures I ever took in my life.

Last night was the first night I did not sleep well and it may be because it was the first significant drinking I have done on the trip.  I had three glasses of wine at dinner followed up with a couple more beers back at the cabin.  I was also awakened by hard rain hitting the metal roof, it was really loud at times.

After breakfast my dad and I went to Paul and Meg’s cabin where we got asked to play Fish.  This was kids style of fish with less cards which resulted in much quicker games.  I had a couple rounds where out of my 7 cards I had three matching pairs and I won on the first round.  It was still fun as the girls were acting silly as they always do.  During the game Kennedy asked if she could have my remaining Bar-barians bracelet since I gave the other one to Cadence the day before.  I told her she could have it, leaving my wrist bare however I have several dozen more at home I can replace these with.

We knew the forecast for today was mostly rain so we talked ahead of time about going to a movie theater in a nearby town called Old Forge, a definite tourist trap sort of place.  We thought it would be fun to take the girls to see the new Minions movie.  We got there around a half hour early and it was a good thing. The place was packed.

This theater was very old, a real throwback to how theaters were back in the 70’s.  There were chotchkee’s placed everywhere which was sort of visual overload.  They were so old fashioned that they didn’t take credit cards, cash only.  So you stood in line to buy the tickets, which were reasonably priced by today’s standards and then you went back outside to get in the second line that was for the concession stand.  We wound up consuming almost that entire 30 minutes until we got to our seats.

Paul had gone in ahead of us while we got the snacks to reserve a row.  It was a good thing he did because by the time the movie started the place was basically filled.  The seats were old like everything else.  They also lacked the pitch that modern theaters have meaning if someone was taller in front of you it may be difficult to see.

I have seen a number of Minions movies, they always make me laugh and this one was no exception.  Kennedy and Cadence seemed to really like the movie which was most important of all,  This was the first time three year old Kennedy had ever been to a movie theater.

Afterwards, we decided to walk up the main street of Old Forge.  We wound up in the outside seating area of some bar. We grabbed a beer and just relaxed for a bit.  As we sat there Teresa noticed a deer about 50 yards away that was just hanging out in some yard.  It seemed really calm so she went up to get a closer look and the beautiful animal stayed put.  I later took my own turn, getting the picture you see here.

So we walked back to my dad’s car to leave.  I start reaching in one of the pocket’s of my cargo shorts to grab the key.  I grabbed air.  Hmm okay I must have stuck it into another pocket?  All I came up with was some trash, my phone, and wallet.  I must just have missed it right?  I now start patting down my shorts, hoping to heel some object roughly the size of a key fob, nothing….  You have got to be kidding.

I told my dad I can’t find the keys.  He said he had second set he keeps in the car, a terrible security practice but in this instance a life saver.  I figured they could only have been in the movie theater or the outdoor seating at the bar.  I ran over to the theater and asked if anyone turned in a set of keys, they did not.  He said I was welcome to search the theater when the next movie let out in 90 minutes.  Instead I gave him my cell phone number and asked him to call if they turn up.  The check of bar area turned up nothing as well.  I was pissed at myself.  I should have made sure they were secured better.  We headed back thanks to keys number two.

So as we are 3/4 of the way back Teresa spots something on the floor behind the drivers seat, the keys!  Evidently they came out sometime while I was driving.  I felt extremely relieved to have found them, I’ll be sure to be securing keys better moving forward as the reality I was feeling when I thought I lost them was not something I enjoy.  I take responsibility seriously.

Tonight after dinner the girls came to our cabin to make some S’mores, something they have been wanting to do since we arrived.  They enjoyed the process of making them and enjoyed eating them even more.  I had one as well, probably the first S’more I have eaten in 30 years, maybe more. It was good of course.

I once again am punching this out in the library, a routine I am enjoying as it allows me to be here later at night when most people have cleared out.  I have always liked the solitude night can offer.  Tomorrow we are doing some deal where you take a boat to an island, do a short hike and then the staff cooks some food in a big pan.  Dad and Teresa say it’s fun.  This entire trip I have tried to make a conscious effort to not say no to suggestions.  If I haven’t tried it, I am open to it.  Once I do then I would feel more qualified to make that call.  Tomorrow we will pass the halfway part of the trip.  It’s been fun as I hoped, maybe a little more than I expected because of just how much energy the girls have injected to the experience.