Father's Day 2018

This year Father's Day was split in two for me.  On Saturday I had a great morning with Canaan and Addison and Kate made Bacon Cheeseburgers for lunch for us all, a tradition she started back in 2013.  Cheeseburgers are amazing, but when you pile bacon on top, man-o-man it's just splendid!

Sunday after I got out of work we headed north to check out some wind mills up close.  A few weeks back Cousin William had posted some pictures on Facebook of them and he told me you could drive right up to them in Mayfield, so we did just that.

Wesley ready to get this adventure underway

The drive was decent and didn't take very long taking the interstate to exit 133, then 201 cutting over to 151 right to route 16, twelve miles east of Bingham, to the logging road that leads up the hill.  The road is nice and wide and on this day in great condition.

When you drive up you have to keep going past the first turbine to the right and up another hill where you will be be greeted with an amazing view!  It's hard to describe.  This wind farm is part of the largest in Maine with either 58 or 62 turbines depending on the information I found on the internet.

Next we headed towards Bingham on route 16 and they have a lot of signs along the way talking about the steep downhill grade warning trucks to go around and they are not kidding.  For at least 3 miles you are just continuously going downhill, it's really weird.

We found the trail head for Houston Brook Falls right next to the Point Pleasant Transfer station.  It wasn't a difficult hike in about 1/4 mile.  It was downhill the whole way and there was a marked path it was just full of tree roots.

When you get to the falls it is very scenic but not very three year old friendly.  So we just admired the falls for a bit and head back for the uphill walk.  A little more than halfway Wesley was tired of the walking and asked me to carry him, I'm a sucker so I did.

We started towards Phillips to go on a train ride and decided to stop at Pinkham's Elm St Market for lunch.  Back when Kate went camping with her family at Flagstaff Lake they would always stop here for supplies as they pack their own meat here.

Kate had the chicken salad, I had a turkey sandwich, and Wesley was ordered nuggets and fries but basically didn't eat them.  Kate really like her sandwich and mine was very good.  I would order it again, my only complaint is they toasted the bread even though I said I didn't want it toasted.

It was a busy day at the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad, father's road for half price after all.  Wesley loved the train ride, but he didn't care about the time spent at the train station in the woods along the river, he just wanted to ride the train back out.

We were going to check out Dagget rock today as well, but after the train ride I was simply too tired to do so.  Wesley boy was pretty tired as well, Kate drove us home and we both fell asleep on the way.

Later that evening after I took a nap Paul came over and we watched WWE Money In The Bank Event.

It was a great Father's day adventure.

Later Readers!

Vows, Wrestling, & Oregon Bombed in WWII

Back on June 12^th I made some declarations of how the rest of the year was going to be and so far I have stuck to them. 

I have not had fast food except as outlined on June 27^th

I have dramatically increased my water and decreased my soda intake

I’ve cut out many foods that I shouldn’t be eating like sweets, chips, good stuff

I’ve increased my exercise

This wasn’t all done on the 12^th, I mean yes I stopped fast food then, but everything else has been added incrementally so as to wean myself off all the junk I was eating.   It’s been difficult at times, especially during my nights at work when I had gotten into the habit of mindless eating and eating 

out of boredom.

 WWE Network posted the first 3 years Saturday Night Main Event with the remaining episodes to be added later.  When I was a kid I used to go to bed set my alarm for 1125pm so I could wake up and watch it on channel 6 from 1130 – 1am, it was awesome!  I love having WWE Network with all the PPV’s and shows like Clash of the Champions, World Class, ECW, first year of RAW and the Old School WWE Arena shows.  I have had the most fun though, watching these episodes of SNME. 

I was going on a Wikipedia Journey, it’s the same thing as a You Tube Journey just on Wikipedia.  I stumbled across a bit history from WWII that I had never heard of before. 

Back in September of 1942 off the coast of Oregon a Japanese submarine launched a float plane piloted by Nobuo Fujita who, on two occasions, dropped incendiary bombs in an attempt to start fires in the great Pacific Northwest Forests.  Needless to say it didn’t work out.  What’s truly amazing is what happened after the war was over and the relationship Fujita created with the residence of Bookings, Oregon.  It’s worth reading about at these two links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookout_Air_Raids

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuo_Fujita

Check out this kick butt band, Hurray for the Riff Raff,

Later Readers

2013 The Year in Review

Hello friends and family and complete strangers that read this blog,

It’s time, once again, for the year in review blog;

2013 was a great year indeed!   I got engaged to Kate and we got hitched up as well, yeah!

Sadly my wrestling event attendance was down considerably since last year from 21 events to only 6.  However it was Kate and Addison’s first time going to wrestling.  Kate, Canaan and I attended the WWE live event at the Augusta Civic Center in June, Canaan loved it.  Addison’s first was at the Topsham Fair in August that we attended with Canaan, Kate, and the Chase Clan.  Kids had an awesome time! 

On the concert front Kate and I hit some great shows!  Starting with Jewel at the Merrill Auditorium in March with Holly Williams, we loved both of them.  We bought the live recording of Jewel’s portion of the show.   June saw us attend back to back days of music awesomeness.  Saturday we headed to Meadowbrook with Caleb and Emma for Old Crow Medicine Show & The Avett Brothers.  It was a great show and a hippie fell on me, he was very apologetic.  Sunday we went to the Old Port Festival, in total we saw like 7 acts, the only full set we watched was Charlie Mars at the CLZ stage, he was great.  That night Erin & Chase met us at the State Theatre for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s, an awesome show to say the least.  The finished out our concert season with free tickets to Grace Potter and the Nocturnals also at the State Theatre.

John and I sat front row at the State Theatre for Weird Al Yankovic, it was simply phenomenal! All around one of the best shows I have ever been too!  Sang my favorite songs of his plus a couple I’ve never heard of.  Surreal with the whole audience singing along to “The Saga Begins”. 

On June 27^th, after months of planning with the hall booked and invitations ordered Kate decided to heck with all of it and we went to City Hall and got married.  It was a lovely ceremony on the lawn under a tree with our friend Meagan as one of the witness as well as the Gardiner Animal Control Officer.   We had lunch at Alex Parker’s Steakhouse and then I went to work for a double.

Sadly I had to bid farewell to the Blazer.  She was a good vehicle whose time had come.  I sold her to Paul’s Pick Apart and used the money to register the Dodge Caravan, our new ride that we love!

We had a couple nice vacations this year.

The first was a family reunion of sorts in Maryland with Kate’s family.  It was a nice drive in our sweet new van with Caleb & Emma.  It was a lot of fun with food, music, fishing, crabbing, and more.

The Second was out kick ass Honey moon in Northern, Maine, Canada, & Downeast, Maine.

Even though we exchange vow in June we still had the reception in September at the Sportmans Club in Gardiner.  We had a nice turn out, some great food, and great dancing.  It was a lot of fun!

We took in two musicals this year.  In October Kate & I, John & Julie, Johnny & Magen, and Caleb & Emma all traveled to Lynn, MA for Evil Dead the Musical, it was fantastic.  Then in November Kate and I took in Hallowell's Gas Light theatre production of Promises, Promises.  It was really very good and well worth the ticket price!

In November we rented a house in Randolph on Hillcrest Avenue, a house that we just love! It’s two floors with the upstairs being a big loft with a bedroom for the kids to play in, basement, wood burning fireplace, big backyard with a hill that had a slope just enough to provide decent sledding! 

The Fireplace came in handy during Christmas week and Ice Storm of 2013 when we lost power for about 24 hours.  Minor compared to mom and the Roods who were out 5 – 6 days.

The kids had great years as well, Addison started the 4 year old program and participated in Fall Cheering.  Canaan entered 2^nd grade, continued with Karate, played baseball, flag football, and is currently midway through his basketball season.   They are both doing great in school. 

They are both are growing up so fast, especially Canaan, that it’s scary.

It was a good year for the Labbe’s.  

 

Holy Shit I Got Married!!!

I got married! 

That’s right on Kate and I went to the Gardiner City Hall and tied the knot on Thursday June 27, 2013. 

But let’s back it up a bit shall we.  On Wednesday the 26^th after Kate got out of work we went to City Hall to pick up our marriage license.  After the clerk gave it to us I made the comment, “now we can get married whenever we want!”  And the Clerk says, “I can do it right now for $25.”  According to Kate it we almost did right then and there.  Apparently the temptation was too much because just 20 short hours later we returned and with the Gardiner Animal Control/Safety Officer Jamie Dacyczyn and Kate’s good friend Meaghan who happened to be nearby, we got married on the side lawn of City Hall.  It was perfect!  With the aid of two cellphones and some mighty fine multi-tasking skills, Meagan was our photographer and videographer all in one!

Our wedding party

 Having a tradition wedding was something that Kate was always on the fence about, she never really wanted one but felt that it was something that we should do because, that’s what you’re supposed to do.  Traditional is not my firebug, not by a long shot! 

We are still going to have our reception on September 14^th with the honeymoon to follow.  For the most part, people don’t go to a wedding for the ceremony, they go for the party!  So we’re going to give them the party!

In other news, Canaan is now a brown belt and can break a board with his fist, awesome!

I’ve decided to watch the X-Files all over again from the beginning.   The first season debuted 20 years ago this September, I’m 10 episodes in to the first season, and it still holds up!! Although the technology is quite comical at times.  Now a-days Mulder wouldn’t have to worry about someone ruining his pictures by exposing the film in his camera, he would probably be uploading to his cloud drive whilst he was taking the photos.

Recently watched a solid flick at home entitled, No One Lives, worth watching.  Speaking of worth watching, Man of Steel was phenomenal!!!

 

Can’t believe I forgot to blog this, Kate, Canaan, and I attended the WWE House Show at the Augusta Civic Center June 2^nd.  It was Canaan’s 3^rd WWE event, Kate’s 1^st, and my, well let’s just says it’s a big number.  It wasn’t the best show I’ve ever been too, but it wasn’t the worst.  A couple good matches Canaan really like the Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett match and Cena vs. Ryback in a tables match.  I had to go to work directly after.  I really wish The Shield had been on the card.

I’ve been itching to get another tattoo for a long time.   I wanted to get one when I got my retirement pay out, but it wasn’t to be.  I’ve got a few designs printed up and I pretty much know where I want them.  I’ve been meaning to stop in a couple places and get quotes so I know what I’d been in for cost wise.  I really like Wright Tattoo, but he charges $100 an hour and that includes the set up time.  Obviously I’m not going to go someplace just because it’s cheaper, I know people who have had work done there before and I like it.

At home we watch an excessive amount of Gordon Ramsey watching Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, and Master Chef.  Canaan loves him some Master Chef.  I like his rampages when he get’s angry at the Chef’s for doing a lousy job.  It’s great!

I guess that’s it for now…check you guys later!

Bloggin' Ain't Easy!!

I’m still struggling trying to find that new routine.  It’s starting to get back there but the overtime is monkey wrenching me every time.  It’s important to establish a better eating pattern and add working out to it.  It will be easier when the weather gets nicer so I can get back on the rail trail. 

On the eating side of things Kate and I have been taking turns cooking for each other.  I usually cook on the nights that I have the kids, she on the weekend that I work and every other Tuesday we usually at Mama Mueller’s.  The other nights vary depending on my overtime or whatever is happening. 

Sunday Kate roasted a chicken that was the best tasting chicken I have ever had in my entire life.  I usually don’t make sweeping life statements like this because, seriously, even though I’m only 33 years old I’ve eaten a lot of chicken and who knows, maybe the best chicken I ever had was when I was 5, but like I remember that.  This chicken was so good though; that I think qualifies for this sweeping declaration!  It was a Martha Stewart recipe and I can’t say enough good about it.  So juicy and tender and delicious!

Today I scored 105 points with the worn QUIN on Words With Friends against Kate.   The Q was on a triple letter and the N on a triple word.  YE-AH!!

I haven’t been to wrestling since January and I’m having withdrawals.  There have been shows but because of work, finances, or other I haven’t been able to go or take Canaan.  However on March 1^st IWE is coming to Fairfield with Bushwhacker Luke and Rene Dupree.  Kate is going to watch Addison and have some girl time and I am going to take Canaan!  He hasn’t been since August keeps asking me when we are going again.  

Speaking of wrestling some great DVD’s coming out this year from WWE in The Best of WCW Monday Nitro Vol 2, ECW Unreleased Vol 2, A history of MidSouth Wrestling, and The History of the WWE.  It’s the feds 50’s anniversary this year starting as WWWF in 1963.  Also today the announced that Bruno Sammartino has finally agreed to be entered into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, which takes place at MSG and part of the deal is Bruno being interviewed for upcoming DVD’s and a DVD on him. FINALLY!

In non-WWE wrestling DVD news there are two coming out I’m looking forward to, Barbed Wire City an ECW documentary that looks great so far and on G.L.O.W the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

 

I’m more than half way through a great book called Centennial by James A Michener.  It’s Kate’s favorite book and I figured I could read it once.  The first 119 pages of this 1038 page historical fiction novel are excruciatingly boring!  After that though, it picks up and it’s wicked good!  

Back on January 26^th Kate and I went to her Aunts 60^th Birthday party at the Sportman’s club in Gardiner.  Such a great time!!  Caleb and Johnny both sang original songs, Mama Mueller sang on in honor of Tricia to the tune of “My Favorite Things”.  I finally meet more of Kate’s friends and family who all seem very nice, especially the Browns.  I see future film discussions with Justin.

Here’s a great song by the Lumineer’s

Later Readers

AT EASE DISEASE!! & I Love that Dirty Water

Back in March I bought a 5 pack of Sea Dogs general admission tickets for $20 from a fundraiser at Canaan's school.  Tuesday July 24th was the night that I wanted to go and why might you ask?

That's right for former WWE Champion, Hall of Famer, and real life GI JOE:  Sgt. Slaughter!!

We hit Denny's first for dinner and as it was Tuesday night kids eat free.  Completely unknown when the decision was made to go there.

We got to the game, got parked behind the expo, and sat in the front row of the general admission section on the third base line, my favorite place to sit at Hadlock Field.   You can see everything beautifully and in the front row you get extra leg room and don't have to get up or move when people walk by.

At the second inning they announced that Sgt. Slaughter was signing autographs.  So I went and surveyed the line, it was long, but I figured it wouldn't get much longer.  So I waited 15 minutes and went back down, and sure enough only 4 more people had gotten in line.  In the end I think I only waited in line like 20 minutes.

Just before I got to Slaughter, Mom came down with Canaan so they waited with me.  Then as Slaughter was signing my cards Slugger came over.  So Canaan and I were the only ones to get our picture taken with Sgt. Slaughter and Slugger!!

 When we first got there it was quite humid, but after a very brief rain shower it turned into the perfect night for a ball game!  The Sea Dogs were playing the minor league affiliate for the New York Yankees the Trenton Thunder.  So of course Irving wore his Yankee hat and shirt.

 We saw two home runs by the Sea Dogs, some great plays and the Sea Dogs won.  It was a great night!! 

Later Readers!

Manipulation of Joints & Bones

Yesterday was great day as I relax and got some odds and ends done that I'd been meaning to do and haven't taken to time to do so.  Also got some episodes of Bones in.  Netflix is fantastic!!

Today was a good day.  I had a much needed appointment at Manchester Osteopathic Healthcare.  My lower back has been destroyed because of this crappy twin bed I crash on every night.  And last week for a few days I was having shooting pains on the right side of my neck down to my shoulder blade area.

I donated blood today, apparently there is a critical need and I am a universal donor.  I've only been donating for a couple years and I look forward to it each time when I can.  If you donate whole blood you have to wait 56 days before you can again.  A double red cell donation is 112 day wait before you can donate either whole blood or double red cell again.

I took Canaan to Karate tonight.  He was very well behaved and did a gret job tonight.  I am so proud of him.  While we were there Addison had a question, "Dadda, what color are my eyes?"

Well, can't you tell?

I brought them to their mothers and was greeted with some wonderful birthday gifts from them.  Addison made me a bracelet.

Canaan gave me my WrestleMania XXIV frame that I apparently forgot in the move.  They also drew me a couple pictures and made me a lemon cake with lemon frosting.  The cake was fantastic!

Yup that's the 16 time World Heavyweight Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair in what was, at that time, his retirement match.

That's all for tonight, I have to go continue a conversation that I'm having about horror movies.

Later Readers

Mike