No significant updates on my sister’s situation, at least nothing we didn’t already know. In theory this is highly manageable. In reality the prognosis depends entirely on how advanced the cancer is and how far it’s metastasized. We know for certain it has metastasized. We’re still hopeful for some kind of good news.
Our grandson remains camped out in our living room. It’s getting on everyone’s nerves — including his. A teenager wants privacy and there isn’t any when you’re living on the sofa.
My daughter is flying in this Friday and they’re flying back together October 12th.
G and I love the kids and grands to pieces. It’s still going to feel like heaven to get our house back.
Most of my readers know I work for a call center. I don’t take calls, and haven’t for years now. I do LISTEN to calls, though. While most of my focus is whether our folks are doing what they’re supposed to do, some days my jaw hits the floor over things callers say.
Two examples just from this week:
Customer #1 wanted an electrician to come to her home and get her power working again.
It had been turned off by the utility company for non-payment.
Hard pass, for every conceivable reason.
Customer #2 was one of the most seriously WTF I’ve heard, ever, in well over 20 years.
The caller wanted a plumber to fix his broken sump pump. Nothing surprising about that.
…Y’all.
Water was running down the driveway, overflowing from the basement. There had to be AT LEAST 8-10 FEET OF WATER IN THE BASEMENT. His water main had ruptured — but he didn’t want to fix that yet. He was waiting to get his insurance to pay for it.
Hate to disappoint you, my dude, but plumbers don’t carry scuba gear on the trucks. And if your insurance company figures out you were letting the water run for DAYS instead of having it turned off by the utility company, there’s a strong possibility your insurance company will cancel your policy and leave to twist in the wind. Or in this case, water.
Vacation is less than two weeks away.
I’m counting the seconds.
The tentative plan is to go first to our youngest son’s home just outside Denver, and spend a couple of days with his family. Next, we plan to cut over to the Midwest to see our older son and his family.
Colorado is easy. The drive from there to the Midwest hinges on several things – some budgetary, some health related. I have no doubt I can manage the two-day drive to and from Colorado. I’m also confident I can do the two days from Colorado to Iowa – especially since the second day will actually only be about 3-1/2 hours of driving.
I’m less sure about the four-day drive back from the Midwest when we head home. G can’t drive at all since his heart attack in 2015, so it’s up to me to spend the whole time behind the wheel. It probably wouldn’t make a difference if I were driving or riding, though. By the end of the day my joints are almost completely seized. (We stop frequently, or I would be too locked up to even get out of the car by lunchtime, never mind the end of the day.)
A few photos before I go. These were all taken close to home (including the technicolor train at the top of the post.)
This group of three adobe-style buildings sits close to old-town Casa Grande, about half an hour from our house, if that.
Simple lines, distinctly desert colors. (As if the palm trees and cactus didn’t give away the region.)
A very different vibe at this motorcycle shop – and a curious and curiouser twist on a racing color palette. This cheery spot is a block or so from the Adobe trio.
While I can appreciate their artistry, I’m not a motorcycle buff. I know too many people injured or killed while riding.
The last few days have been mostly clear blue skies. This sunset capture was taken in June, at the end of a dirt road, no more than a mile from home.
Vivid sunsets, when we get them, create marvelous silhouettes.
One last photo – another macro capture. I think I prefer the black background, without mirroring, to the lighter version I took a while back.
I have barely taken any photos the last 3-4 weeks — partly because the skies weren’t cooperative, partly because my body was even less cooperative. Here’s hoping it helps to get away, because I definitely plan to give my camera a workout this trip.
I can certainly understand why everyone would like to have their own space. Even grandkids can get on your nerves. Love the photos. Hope your vacation goes well. Maybe you will see some home you can’t resist and make the big move.
Thank you, Terri. I’m so ready for a vacation it’s not funny.