Oh thank you God for letting me stay in the Hilton tonight
Okay then.
Y'all may remember that in addition to the Mom stuff, we are undergoing a major house expansion. The roof was scheduled to start coming off today and we had to be out till next Friday when the new roof would be done (we hope). So we made Hilton reservations because Mr. Salsa had Hilton points from previous work trips. The last week was spent frantically getting everything into the basement where we will be living for the several months it'll take to do all the inside work. Every day, also, I spend hours on the phone with my sister, friends back East, rehab staff, re my mom. Arguing with contractor about securing the house while we're going (okay solution but only after much stress). SOOOOOO....I woke up this morning, all packed for hotel stay, at 5 am in the basement bedroom, hearing the rain Mimi mentioned above. Got up to go to the bathroom and stepped in a BIG pond of rainwater. The new construction wasn't sealed off yet and the rain just poured in between the old and the new right through the basement walls and flooded the floors. Short version---water damage assessor says that contractor's responses for drying it up made sense and we won't have any major damage. All after more big stress, rushing to work to meet with various kids' parents, etc.
HOWEVER. I am now firmly ensconced in a local Hilton (Mimi, this will amuse you--it's RIGHT next to Paine Field. Think Boeing, you guys. Gotta like the frequent sound of small aircraft coming and going). I AM SO THRILLED TO BE HERE. Room service, can't go back to house to worry, cats boarded at great neighborhood cattery, Mom not having acute medical crises this week for first time since August 1, new Myron Bolitar novel (he's such a smart-***). Halibut for dinner. I'm so happy to be in this hotel I can hardly stand it.
Rock hunting is the most fun. You get to scrabble in the dirt in the desert or the mountains, and find really beautiful stuff. My favorite so far--topaz and fossil hunting in Utah desert. Second: thundereggs in central Oregon, which must have millions of them. We have a rock saw and a polisher. Love it.
Lise, my Siamese cat Beeper MUST ALWAYS sit between me and the keyboard, and moans lugubriously at me if I jostle her trying to type.
Mimi, do post kitten pics when they finally emerge. Poor babies.
This is the second time Karen A's books have come up here and it's interesting to see how many of us are reading/have read something by her. She's filling a real need and niche, apparently.
6 Gaps ride? I will look for it online.
Thinkin' we may have to wait till October to see Knotted ride her new bike on the NW TE ride. But beer this Saturday should help her a little, anyway.