Blue to the West and Magenta back to the East!
Monday, September 26:
I packed up a carry-on [thank you Sally], left my camera! and my computer! And flew back to the west coast for a few days to see my family and fix things with Deneb. Jack and Sally dropped me off at the Providence airport. Full body xray at security. Guess I looked shifty.
Stopped two times on the way, once in Detroit and the other in LA. The plane to Oakland from LA was delayed two hours. EEEEUUUUUUU, so I didn’t get to Oakland ’till midnight. Lucky that my daughter was still willing to pick me up!
In the meantime, my cell phone lost some of the ability to enter certain keys so texting has been a bit hilarious as I try to use alternate words and letters to communicate. Anyone know how to fix this in a jail-breaked Droid?
Seems there will be a dearth of photos due to my being without my camera, just words.
Tuesday, September 27:
Spent the night at my daughter and niece’ house in Oakland. Went to breakfast with Gabbie at Mama Royal’s then took Gabbie to work in her car, bought some CDs at WaldenBooks and then picked up Miriam and we had lunch in Albany. Mir and I went back to her and Finn’s house and planned the Hawaii trip for them. Left Miriams in Berkeley and picked up Gabbie at Kingmans. Craft night. It was a blast. Fun Gabbie friends and some revisiting of Village People videos via Youtube.
This is also my sister Triss’ birthday.
Wednesday, September 28
Can’t remember the morning, but in the afternoon Gabbie and I drove to BART. She took the train to SF and teaching at the SF Art Academy, I took the train to Pleasant Hill. Triss picked me up in Mom’s car, then we went to lunch, then I took her car to Nan’s in Sacramento. Loved driving Mom’s car. Loved it.
Thursday, September 29
Spent Wednesday and Thursday night in Rancho. Thursday I took Joe for a walk. Nan and I had breakfast in Fair Oaks, walked around, then Nan went to the doctor’s. I stayed and worked on the Deneb situation. Nan and I had a MacNCheese dinner. Splendid as usual.
Seems our neighbor across the street has come to the rescue. Deneb is not fairing well at Julie’s with his incessant night-time yowling. [not for nothing he is called Chairman Meow]. Our Pacifica neighbor’s have a house sitter to lend. Hooray! We just have to get to Saturday when Julie will drop off the Chairman.
Friday, September 30
I left Sacramento [read: Rancho Cordova] after breakfast and after video taping a scuba guy fixing my sister and brother in law’s pool filter. [video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPc362FACFk]
I leave for Oakland. Still have TC’s car. Gabbie and I take Rosie for a walk in the Redwoods and then pick up Miriam from the Hardly Strickly Blue Grass Festival in SF. We go out to dinner at a Thai place. And then back across the bay to drop off Mir and spend the night at Gabbie’s.
Saturday, October 1
Drove to Pacifica to cement the Deneb deal with the new house sitter. Just before I got there Julie had dropped Deneb off. Looks like a great solution; wonderful guy, likes cats, seems to like Deneb. Our next door neighbor has been filling in taking care of Deneb and the yard. Thank you so much Jerry! The house is fine.
Back in Oakland with Holly and Gabbie for pizza dinner and an Arrested Development Festival.
Sunday, October 2
Brunch with my brother at Skates in Berkeley. We had a great time. Chatted for two hours!
Gabbie took me to the BART station before her bartending gig. The train ride was great to the Colloseum station, but trying to exit the train was a bit difficult as there was a Raider/Patriots game just letting out. A crush of people everywhere.
I then needed to take a bus from Colliseum BART to OAK Airport. Never seen so many people! I waited for the bus and crushed on to the rafters with everyone else going to the airport. Seems people come from all over just to see the Raiders. Guy next to me was from Vancouver, Canada. Another guy with his small son was from Portland, OR. We all became quite friendly as it became obvious we were on the Twilight Zone bus when ten minutes into the ride we were back at BART. There were shouts, “Turn here, turn here!” and eventually,”Do you know where you are going?” Seems there were so many roads blocked we had to back track to High St. to get to the freeway. Soon as the driver turned left on High everyone applauded! Then when he ran a red light to get on the freeway, there were shouts of hooray and Good Job! Took nearly an hour to make the ten minute trip. I am glad I was a little early as my flight didn’t leave until eight pm. Stopped at Chillis just past the security check. This time no full body xray.
Another 2 stop flight and this time a red-eye. LA, then to Philadelphia. Then back to Providence and the rest of the trip east!
Monday, October 3
Back in RI about 11am. Ate lunch, then did some computer stuff and then slept for a few hours. Dinner and sleep again. Red eye not so much fun.
