Labor Day on Lake Erie: Leisure and Loss

Up on the lake, Labor Day is traditionally considered the end of the sailing season. Yet September is a great month for sailing. Not too hot. Wind. Beautiful fall foliage along the shore. Less crowded. All that. Labor Day itself can be depressing. Around 4 in the afternoon Port Clinton looks deserted, as if the Ohio National Guard at Camp Perry had lobbed a neutron bomb into downtown. The overcast skies contributed to the mood. Light and variable winds boxed the compass. Forewarned by previous experience I returned to port early (the wind picked up as I headed back) and left town before total depression set in. Back to Columbus in time to help with computer setup in the convent.

O.K.

Last month, cat #2, Pongo, took sick and died. One Saturday morning he came to the back door, moving slowly as if in pain, entered the house, looked at me and let out a slow cry, and slunk off upstairs to hide. I might have to take him to the vet on Monday, I thought. He went out Sunday night and on Monday morning I found him stretched out on the back lawn. Gone. There was no time to mourn as we were working full-bore on the convent renovation.

A few days later, I heard a powerful scratching at the back door and looked out to see another cat. For two days he beat on the back door and jumped up onto outside window sills, staring wildly through the glass. I gave up. Now he lives here. Mr. Martin, the original cat of the house, affects not to see him. The newcomer has been named Other Kat. O.K. for short.

They're here!

The sisters have arrived at the parish! We are still putting the final touches on their house but they are very patient women, gracias a Dios.

Night Shift

Work on the convent continues in "extreme makeover" mode. Yesterday some of the seminarians came over and pitched in mightily. A friend of the convent delivered a donated mini-van that is in really beautiful condition. In the face of much scepticism I proved that the window over the bathtub can indeed be opened. Etc. The work day went from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Convent Remodeling Begins

On Saturday morning the herculean task of turning a neglected house into a perfect convent began. The sisters arrive August 18 so we have to hurry! In the video, you see the very definition of demolition. The volunteers are removing a non-original wall that blocked a lot of light from getting to the living room. The photo shows one of the several places where old water damage to ceilings will be repaired. Note the late-50s light fixtures! Next work session is Monday July 27 at 6 p.m. Y'all come! Te esperamos. No faltes.

Ohio's North Coast

Those who have never been to Ohio, and most of those who live in Ohio, when thinking of Ohio (if they ever do), don't picture such a scene as this. But there it was, just a week ago Sunday evening, as seen from the cockpit of the sloop Vidi Aquam.

Dangers of Stores that Sell Used Books

Also known as "used bookstores."
It's best for me to stay out of stores that sell used books -- I can never confine myself to browsing; inevitably I leave with more books than I came in with. Yesterday I succumbed to this unmanly weakness and entered a congenial shop, where I purchased a couple of books about sailboats. In addition to selling wonderful used books, this store features a neon sign spelling out the most important rule of the establishment, a rule we would all do well to heed: