The Road Ahead
Lost in the Redwoods

impeachment canceled

First he drops out of the race, now this.  What a let down, http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/01/29/6703/.

state of the union - tonight!

Hi,

We boxed, we boxed some more and we conquered. 

Bruised, tired and barely able to walk up stairs, most of the move is behind us.  Fortunately, for most of Saturday it did not rain and most everything is now at the new house.  All that is left to do is plaster up the holes, clean and get out the last odds and ends.  Some minor complications, hopefully to be fixed soon, are that the new place does not have heat or telephone line (which would not be a problem except we have dsl).  We spent the night with hobbes huddled under blankets in our bedroom with a space heater that got fried in the middle of the night because we were either over working it or our electrical system.  Hoping tonight we have heat, hot water and a working stove.  PG&E don’t be late!  Also, a special thanks to Alex for literally making this move happen.

Other news - state of the union tonight…I’m excited and hope I can stomach the whole thing.  The last couple years I barely made it to half.

Ted Kennedy supporting Obama, did not expect that, read Caroline’s op-ed and was not touched like people said they were.  With Kucinich gone, feeling more pressure for Super Tuesday.  If you know who you’re voting for (any Mike Gravel supporters out there?), let me know.   

We have also started to plan our wedding celebrations this summer and are looking at dates, either early August, late June or first week in July.  If any of these time periods work for you or don’t, let us know. 

- n.

empty boxes wanted

Closing day: Friday 

Moving day: Saturday

Boxes needed:  Unknown amount, more the better 

Movers scheduled:  One A. Scammon/payment in food

Truck: Booked

Amount packed: small…two days, plenty of time.

Termites: Soon to be fogged….a million strikes against my karma

Fence: Almost done

Realtor: sick, tired

Wallet: empty

Weather: rain

State: excited about move, and the return of lost.

- n.

Le Sigh…

Hi,

We’re having a quiet and sunny sunday morning. I’m eating some  baguettes we baked friday night with raspberry jam and reading the local news.  We’re supposed to meet friends soon who are visiting santa cruz in a couple hours and I’m being lazy until then.

The latest on the local santa cruz news - in case you have not followed it - a young man hit and killed on his bike by a fed ex truck.  This is the third person I think killed on a bike since we moved to Santa Cruz.  Bike accidents are very common it seems, just the other day when I was picking up P from work I saw a biker on the ground who had been hit by a car, medics were with him.  I’m not sure it’s because drivers are more careless here, bikers are more careless or if there are just more bikers on the road than any where else I’ve lived. 

Also, we still have protesters in second growth redwoods on the campus.  I’ve been wondering about the logistics of living in a tree for a month, how do you sleep, go to the bathroom, what do you do.  The topic of university growth is a big and complicated issue here.  I still do not understand all of the fine details.  There are allegations of protesters causing violence, of police causing violence and I have a feeling it is only going to get worse. 

News on our front - we were scheduled to close this Thursday.  However, we got a call last week that the house may be going into foreclosure or the bank is not approving the sale price for a short sale.  We’re in the process of trying to figure out what is going on but after a recent call from our realtor, closure this week may still be possible.  I think (think) we’re only going back and forth on who will pay around $10,000 in termite repair and if that’s the case then it seems kind of silly to have a deal fall through over that amount. We’ll see what happens, but to play it safe we’re going to open houses today because we’re not going to wait around if this house is foreclosed on.  Woohoo….more open houses.

Chicago was a good trip, quick.  The last day we were there we went to brunch with P’s cousin at a vegan southern restaurant run by black Israelis who wanted to make soul food healthy.   Food was good. 

- N.

Chicago and all that jazz

Hi,

In Chicago, LSA.  Flight, two hours delayed, snow here, temperature not bad, windy.  Loving being downtown in the city, hearing the train go by, restaurant options, good beer, it’s great. Also, we missed the first big rain storm of Santa Cruz since we moved.  It shut down highway 17, power was off for all of yesterday.  Hoping that our outdoor plants will not be drowned by the time we get back. 

House progressing, close date should be 1/18/07.  http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/CA/Santa-Cruz/167-Molly-Way-100_752609.htm.  Moving day going to be scheduled for last weekend in January.  We gave our notice at our place and are looking for boxes, it’s a weird feeling moving again. 

Late Happy New Year! We went to a party by one of P’s colleagues.  The food and wine were fantastic and we brought the new year in to the sound of a powerful opera.  I had to work on the first, fortunately I got to sleep in a little.  Next year, I’d like to gather a group either on the west coast or east. 

P starts teaching again soon, the break is officially over.  Looking back, our plans for the break were no plans and it worked out great, so relaxing and very little stress.  Highlights: hike on christmas, national treasure 2, brunch with P’s family, gifts from family, naps at all hours, having time to cook, wine and romanian music, being happy with our house decision, homemade toffee from our realtor, spontanious gatherings with friends and cards and pictures of children from people I miss and have not had time to talk to in a while.

Lots to say about Iowa, already about NH.  Lots to say, no time now. 

Bad news is that my grandmother went into the hospital. She’s out but not doing well.   May plan a trip to rural PA soon.

- N.