November Report

November had another massive low and high.  My friend, Mary R needed yet another surgery for cancer.  She came through with flying colors and she is doing fine.  Recovery was quick and the surgery was successful. You go girl.  As I mentioned before, if you'd like access to her Caring Bridge blog, let me know and we can set you up.  

In October, I flew into Minnesota just before Halloween for a week's visit.  Upon returning to San Francisco, I pointed Humette north and drove to Crater Lake in Oregon for an overnight stop on my way to Corvallis to visit with my cousin Mary Jo's Daughter-in-Law, Angela, and grandson.  Mary Jo's husband arrived a few days later and I then pointed Humette south back to San Francisco.  Stephanie arrived and we had a wonderful five days going to the theater and also picking more detail items for the Los Gatos place including paint (do-over) and other odds and ends.  

St Paul  

The St Paul trip in late October-early November was short and sweet and a lot was done.  My cousin, Mary Jo, had a birthday party for her oldest son and Stephanie and I were invited. It was a lot of fun. 

I took Stephanie to her first visit to an up-scale consigment shop.  We found some exellent items for our St. Paul condo. And, they were delivered the next day!  

As for the condo, our contractor declared substantial completion which was true.  We were certainly feeling like it was darn close with a very short punch list of things left to do. Now, if I could only find my pictures...

Los Gatos Townhouse

Things moved along smartly!  The basic message is, "Wow, they are humming along." This picture taken November 6 showing the smaller window size we wanted over the sink, is an illustration of where we were at the beginning of the month. 

Picture taken November 6.  

Picture taken November 20.  .  

 As you compare the two pictures (above), you can see the window over the sink is done.  And, the reason for making it smaller was to add the cabinet that is showing to the right of the sink.  More impressive is that the sheetrock is all done, electrical is roughed in and the cabinets are placed by Nov 20.  The cabinet facings are not installed to protect them from possible damage during the rest of the project.  

Picture taken Nov 20

This picture is notable because it shows the 'moved' wall. If you look at the linoleum on the floor, it shows where the cabinet line used to be.  There was a patch of linoleum under the old stove and that is the 'peninsula' of linoleum in the lower right of this picture.  You are looking at the new wall that holds the refrigerator to the left and the stove in the center of the wall. 

Amazingly, they painted the entire place before Thanksgiving!  The team is really moving along!  

Travel

Well, I started the month in Minnesota and I ended the month in Minnesota and in between I was in Oregon at Crater Lake and Corvallis. And home in San Francisco, too. So, not too active. 

Oregon was a wonderful trip.  I was gong to visit my cousin Mary Jo's daughter-in-law, Angela. She was in Oregon with her son (Mary Jo's grandson) for some medical procedures.  

My route took me to Crater Lake. Now, you would think I was out of my mind.  It snows there! Big time.  Well, yes it does but it hadn't snowed when I went through. Or, shall I say it snowed once some time prior and it was mostly gone. 

How do you know it snows there? Look at the extension poles on the road markers. This is to help the snow plow teams stay on the road.  

What snow?  Look at the guide poles. In some places, I am sure they were 15 feet tall and taller. 

Tourists the world over do dumb stuff.  Do we really need this sign? 

Really?

Angela stayed with a cousin of her father-in-law, Chappy.  And, her father-in-law arrived a couple of days after I did.  Here is a picture at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. 

From the left: Angela, Denny, Paxton and Chappy. 

Denny flew in to Portland a few days after I did. And, it turns out, Mary's oldest nephew lives in Portland.  I drove from Corvallis to Portland early enough to have lunch with Jacob.  After lunch, I headed for the airport and picked up Denny.  Jacob seems to be doing fine. He looks good, I get a sense of confidence from him and I think he is on a good track for himself.  

Upon my return from Oregon, Stephanie arrived for a quick visit.  We suscribe to ACT San Francisco and to the traveling Broadway series (SHN-SF).  Well, we had only a short window where we could see all the performances.  Stephanie arrived on Saturday afternoon, we attended "Porgy and Bess" (Broadway) on Saturday evening. On Sunday, we attended "Underneath the Lintel" at ACT.  On Tuesday evening, we attended "Peter and the Starcatcher" (another traveling Broadway).  And, on Wednesday, Stephanie flew home.  I joined her on Thursday.  As for the performances, the first two were great!  We could have skipped "Peter and the Starcatcher" which is a prequel to the story of Peter Pan.  

The Minnesota portion of the month was grand!  We did a lot of fun stuff making the St Paul Condo liveable.  Stephanie decided the brown shelves needed to be spruced up a bit so she grabbed some leftover paint and went to town.  

Fully dedicated painter, eh? 

We did a lot of the final 'finishing' work, ranging from installing the shower curtain rod, installing door stops, painting shelving, putting the non-scratch glides on the furniture that will be on the hardwood, etc., etc., etc. Other than Thanksgiving Day, it seemed like we were at the condo every day doing some last minute thing or other.  We've purchased kitchenware, towels, etc.  All the stuff you need to make a place liveable. 

We did declare that we were complete on the day I flew home. There was only one last item due from the contractor. And the material for it had arrived. All we needed was a carpenter to install the last cabinet facing.  

We set plans for movers to take some of Stephanie's household goods to our St Paul Condo the week of Dec 9.  The week of the 16th, a different moving company will take the rest of her stuff to our Los Gatos townhouse.  Of course, these are plans.  We'll have to make sure things are really happening in California.  

We have two scenarios for the trip to California.  One scenario has me flying and then Stephanie and I drive back to San Francisco with the dog.  The other scenario has me driving my Humette (Honda Element) back to Minnesota and then we turn around and drive Stephanie's car to California.  I really want to deliver the chair to Mary's sister so I prefer the idea of driving. I hope the weather cooperates!  

Errata

Oregon has a definite fog issue. 

I understand this is a beautiful drive.  

Ciao