20 June 2011 Multi-Tasking Failure

In my profession (my straight job, not volunteer lighthouse keeper) it helps to develop an ability to split your attention, and do multiple things simultaneously.  Sometimes I do this quite well, and sometimes I only remember that I had chickpeas on the stove, when I go back to the kitchen to refill my coffee, and smell smoke.  The moral of this story is: Amy & I do not get to eat hummus.

While the self-inflicted lack of hummus was a blow to morale, we nevertheless forged ahead with the day.  It was perfect weather this morning, clear & sunny, with a light breeze.  I was surprised to hear the USCG talking on the radio with the USS Oak Hill, an amphibious assault ship I have passed gas to, come ringing across the VHF radio like they were right next door.  As it turns out they were only about five miles off of Seguin and heading towards Boothbay harbor for Windjammer Days. 

After watching Oak Hill steam by, I got the back porch of the museum stained and rolled straight into yard work.  Amy also spent the morning mowing; we heard a rumor that there was going to be a wedding on the island today, so we wanted everything looking neat & trim.  Our efforts were not wasted, as around 1300 Kate & Matt came up the hill, with a justice of the peace and photographer in attendance, and Ethan acting as a witness, and twenty minutes later they were married.  Happily Amy & I had a bottle of bubbly in the fridge that we had been saving with no particular aim in mind; apparently it was for this occasion.  So we all toasted the newlyweds, I took them up in the tower for some photos, and then they were off.  They may have been our only visitors today, but memorable ones.  

I walked down the hill with Kate & Matt & company, saw them off, then spent the rest of the afternoon playing mandolin and sanding pieces of the dory.  Then it was back up the hill to jump in the rain locker and to make pizza with roasted veggies for dinner.  We played a game of cribbage while we ate dinner, then I went down the hill one more time to lock up, while Amy tackled her knitting project, until neither of us could keep our eyes open any longer.  We’re turning early with a cool evening in the high 50’s, light and variable airs, the barometer at 29.85” and rising, and a clear horizon.