Friday, 31 October 2026: Hartung to Austin Straubel Airport

 Our day started early and ended, well, it didn’t end. 

We had so much to do to finish and time just eked away. Anne Marie came over yesterday to get squash. By the time she left, she’d agreed to watch Justin’s plants. What a relief. And, she will come to our house so we don’t need to transport everything to her. We got her fixed up with a key and the security code.  Whew!  Now, back to getting ready to go. 

Justin has been getting the garage ready to hold both cars for the winter. That has been a fete. 

We had a hotel booked for the night thinking we’d finish, have dinner and then relax a minute before getting a shuttle to the airport.  As it turned out, we didn’t have time to sneeze. We worked all afternoon at Purr then headed to Brussels about 5pm to finish tarping the boats. We finished about 9pm. Back at Hartung we finished tarping the little blue boat with a canoe on top and scrambled getting wheel barrows and bicycles stowed before heading back to Purr. When I looked at my phone to see that it was 3am as we were finishing I freaked!  Our flight leaves at 6:15!  We need to be at the airport at 4:15?!?!  We are not packed! What about our hotel???  We scooted home, got the cars in the garage and threw who knows what in suitcases. It was too, too frantic. We called an Uber and made it there by about 5am. 

Miracle of all miracles, there was no one in line at United.  The lady did not even make a face.  There was no one in line at security.  The TSA workers were pleasant, bless them.  (Much later when getting my next boarding pass, I saw that our flight had actually departed GB about seven minutes early.  Who would have EVER thought we’d make that flight!?!?)

Thursday, 30 October 2025: Hartung

Tying up loose ends:  and tying...and tying...

Today my task is to set up my new computer. I didn't think I could limp through the winter as my battery was failing.   New Computer -- this is not an emotional decision.  This is a tool and mine is not efficient.  My issue is the timing -- just when I do not have time to have fun with the new toy.  

Speaking of new toys, we got a Starlink Mini.  I finally got it going after it sat in the box for about a month.  If we are going to take it to Mexico and Vietnam I better figure it out.  

I also froze my sour dough starter. I may have earned that check mark in the box but, who knows, I might get back to it.  Either way, it’s in the freezer.

We finished the second boat today.  Thinking, way back, … I think I remember saying I wanted all boats tarred by 1 October.  ???  We didn’t make that deadline.  

We'd worked on Winward two days together and on the third day Justin went by himself to finish.  He said it was the best tarping job he had ever done!  Today was the Cruisers. He is selling this boat so it’s the last time we will do this. The boat is on its trailer at Mark’s shop.  The new guy will pick it up in just a couple of weeks so it doesn’t need to be ready to survive the winter.

I was intrigued by this tarping method.  Justin said it was not really common as when those jugs of water are frozen and get swinging in a good wind... something, or someone is going to get hurt.  

Wednesday, 29 October 2025: China Buffet, Green Bay

 

We picked Willow up from school to go to dinner.  All summer we’ve been trying to get her to our house.  She wants to watch the movie Wicked and so do I.  It hasn’t worked for various reasons so tonight we at least get to have dinner together.  Of all the restaurants in town, she chose China Buffet.  

“You will have a successful bake sale.”  What kind of fortune is that?   She was robbed.  Thankfully, she laughed about it, and equally fortunate, we had promised Culver’s.

Sunday, 26 October 2025: Hartung -- in the garage

 Packers over Steelers. Jordan Love defeats Aaron Rogers. His quote was something about how to get out of the shadow was to beat the shadow.   My favorite recent quote was Micah Parsons, “Be phenomenal or be forgotten.””

Meanwhile, our government is shutdown. This is the second longest ever. I am so glad I’m retired. DoDDS teachers join the long list of federal employees not being paid.  Not being paid.

My least favorite recent quote was from an air traffic controller who said “I can explain to a family why grandma was two hours late.  I cannot explain to a family why grandma did not arrive.”

I’ve been sewing on the cover for Purr. Justin has been working to organize the garage. 

We harvested a wheelbarrow full of squash. Literally.  Now I need to figure out what to do with them all.  I have a mountain of blanched tomatoes in the freezer.  Several bags of zucchini have joined the party as have onions (red, white and shallots) leftover since I am not cooking anymore. Now I’ll get some squash/pumpkin in there too.

Mark came to help in garage. It was scary. He said no when I offered Squash soup.  He said it was like baby food.  He was happy to take banana bread home though.  

Changed our flight to 1 Nov. we really are going to get out of here one day.

Sunday, 12 October 2025: The Boat Yard

 

Packers vs Bengals. I really wanted to go to this game just to see Joe Burrow play but since he is injured, oh well. Jordan is going to go with Willow.

   

Justin and I got another round of epoxy in before the game…cause we know how to have fun.  That’s been our life for the past week and we are getting close to done — on this part.  Too much of the deck is spongy so Justin needs to remove the fiberglass top layer, surgically remove all the compromised balsa core, ace in new wood and secure that with epoxy before replacing the fiberglass top layer.  He’s tackled the aft sides for this first go-round.  "He" nothing since I am there too... it is certainly a "we" thing.  I have become quite adept at mixing West Systems Epoxy.  I can prepare, I can mix, I can add the additives appropriately and timely.  I am a good gopher.  I can even clean up my messes.

Meanwhile, although it isn’t typical football fare, we had a Dutch baby today that seemed to have some attitude.  Delicious!  And, it set us up for the win.   

     

We get to see our dogs soon!