Wednesday, December 29, 2004
San Francisco Holiday
It hadn't rained since September; it rained three inches in one day while I was there. There are palm trees everywhere; it doesn't freeze; there is fog; it's cool, but pleasent. that is probably why everyone wants to live here. It's crowded.
Wyatt took us to have Pho soup one day, followed by tea with big black tapioca balls in the bottom that you suck through a huge straw. The goey texture of the balls was too much for me; I drank the Thai tea.
Hannah was just coming into a new phase where she slept two hours at a time during the day after feeding and seven at night. H & W were putting her down letting her cry to sleep. Heather looked rested and content, which also allowed Hannah to relax and enjoy life. Hannah is healthy looking and gaining weight on Mom's milk. Heather does not have to be too careful about what she eats. The only problem I saw was that there wasn't enough to eat in the kitchen, especially fruits and vegetables. Heather promises to rectify that.
I went running one morning and found people clumped near the courthouse to have their cases heard. The lawyers were coming in dressed in their suits and carrying their leather brief cases. They never travel alone; always in pairs.
There are security gates outside the apartment complex, which were open when I went to run. The apartment door was left open by Wyatt the night before as well. The funny thing is he always locks the door when he leaves for work.
I drank a lot of tea while there. Heather and I got to get out and shop for awhile; she felt the rush while at the grocery and forgot items. We didn't get much; she felt she had to get back to Hannah to feed her. She won't take a bottle of Mom's milk or formula yet. They are working at it.
Heather and I rearranged the apartment on a rainy Monday. It looked really good when we finished and also felt roomier.
She dropped me off at the airport on Tuesday morning and the flight left on time, but it was very rough for the first hour. I couldn't get out of my seat and at times I felt I would have hit the ceiling if I didn't have my belt fastened. Finally, it settled down. Donna was waiting for me at the airport; it took a long time for my bag to come off the plane. She drove home and was very tired. The place was cold and the car showed signs of being driven in bad weather with a coating of salt over every inch of its exterior.
Wyatt took us to have Pho soup one day, followed by tea with big black tapioca balls in the bottom that you suck through a huge straw. The goey texture of the balls was too much for me; I drank the Thai tea.
Hannah was just coming into a new phase where she slept two hours at a time during the day after feeding and seven at night. H & W were putting her down letting her cry to sleep. Heather looked rested and content, which also allowed Hannah to relax and enjoy life. Hannah is healthy looking and gaining weight on Mom's milk. Heather does not have to be too careful about what she eats. The only problem I saw was that there wasn't enough to eat in the kitchen, especially fruits and vegetables. Heather promises to rectify that.
I went running one morning and found people clumped near the courthouse to have their cases heard. The lawyers were coming in dressed in their suits and carrying their leather brief cases. They never travel alone; always in pairs.
There are security gates outside the apartment complex, which were open when I went to run. The apartment door was left open by Wyatt the night before as well. The funny thing is he always locks the door when he leaves for work.
I drank a lot of tea while there. Heather and I got to get out and shop for awhile; she felt the rush while at the grocery and forgot items. We didn't get much; she felt she had to get back to Hannah to feed her. She won't take a bottle of Mom's milk or formula yet. They are working at it.
Heather and I rearranged the apartment on a rainy Monday. It looked really good when we finished and also felt roomier.
She dropped me off at the airport on Tuesday morning and the flight left on time, but it was very rough for the first hour. I couldn't get out of my seat and at times I felt I would have hit the ceiling if I didn't have my belt fastened. Finally, it settled down. Donna was waiting for me at the airport; it took a long time for my bag to come off the plane. She drove home and was very tired. The place was cold and the car showed signs of being driven in bad weather with a coating of salt over every inch of its exterior.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Christmas on both shores
It was 4:45 when I finally gave up and went downstairs, hearing Damon roam the house all night long. He was looking for boxes, then couldn't sleep, neither did I but I didn't roam the house. We started the hand/foot warmers to give them air and begin their magic process of keeping us from freezing our extremities. Damon looked so bundled up that he moved like a zoombie. We met the motlte crew, mostly college kids and began to sing under the street lights wherever a porch light was on.
When returning, Donna had risen and made bacon and chai-nog. She cut up fruit and we picked and talked. Once sated, we began to open presents under the tree. Damon received the bulk of the gifts, but I was surprised to find that Donna gave me several gifts. I was prepared, however, and had comfy slippers for her, ones that would match her bathrobe, some Yankee candles that matched her favorite aroma, in little sizes, and a basket of items to pamper her, like the one that she gave to other women at work.
Damon was proud of the gifts he saved for, purchased, and wrapped himself, which he should have been, but it was his gifts that were the best. He got a wine bottle carrier in black leather, a shave kit in the same, a messenger bag, also in black leather, and a 20G jukebox MP3 player, which also had a black leather case. He was so appreciative, and so tired that he said goodnight and went to bed.
I started checking my things to take to Frisco and did some last minute wash. I am writing on Heather's computer looking out at the grey sky and hearing Hannah with her wake-up cry. It is a different world. Finally the moment arrived when we were to set out for the airport. It was too obvious to Donna that I was eager to go see Heather and Hannah. Perhaps she sensed that I looked forward to leaving her instead of seeing our new granddaughter. Well, that has to be worked out yet.
At the airport things went well checking in and the security was also quick, but the flight was delayed because we were short one flight attendant. While waitng I had a beer alone at the bar and then had a cappuccino later. I walked around because I knew I would be strapped in for hours. While calling Donna about the situation, I heard a cheer as they found an attendant.
Boarding the plane I found that a very large lady was seated in the middle seat with the arms raised so she would fit. Fortunately, there was a very slim Japanese woman next to the window, so collectively we all made it without the armrests. Other than the discomfort her size created, she proved to be a good conversationalist, a grandmother many times over that was visiting her grandchildren in Berkley after seeing the others in the morning, much like I was doing.
She was a resperatory therapist nurse at a children's hospital in Columbus Ohio, who was getting the best flight she could to California via Philly. I took food bars but realized that they were inadequate for the length of the trip since I drank rather than ate at the airport. Arriving, I tried to call Wyatt and finally got through.
Finally getting out of the plane, I hurried down the concourse and realized that people can't wiat at the gate to greet family anymore, they had to be past the security check-point, and there they were waiting for me with Hannah in her pram. I gave them a grateful hug and saw Hannah with a quivering lip looking out at the airport with all its sights and smells.
We got my checked bag and went to the parking lot. We drove on freeways to their apartment and the tank was on empty. Getting gas, Wyatt commented that the price was below two dollars for the first time in a great while. They had a remote for the security gate when we approached it and parked. Heather had done a lot to make the place cozy, white walls created the challenge.
When returning, Donna had risen and made bacon and chai-nog. She cut up fruit and we picked and talked. Once sated, we began to open presents under the tree. Damon received the bulk of the gifts, but I was surprised to find that Donna gave me several gifts. I was prepared, however, and had comfy slippers for her, ones that would match her bathrobe, some Yankee candles that matched her favorite aroma, in little sizes, and a basket of items to pamper her, like the one that she gave to other women at work.
Damon was proud of the gifts he saved for, purchased, and wrapped himself, which he should have been, but it was his gifts that were the best. He got a wine bottle carrier in black leather, a shave kit in the same, a messenger bag, also in black leather, and a 20G jukebox MP3 player, which also had a black leather case. He was so appreciative, and so tired that he said goodnight and went to bed.
I started checking my things to take to Frisco and did some last minute wash. I am writing on Heather's computer looking out at the grey sky and hearing Hannah with her wake-up cry. It is a different world. Finally the moment arrived when we were to set out for the airport. It was too obvious to Donna that I was eager to go see Heather and Hannah. Perhaps she sensed that I looked forward to leaving her instead of seeing our new granddaughter. Well, that has to be worked out yet.
At the airport things went well checking in and the security was also quick, but the flight was delayed because we were short one flight attendant. While waitng I had a beer alone at the bar and then had a cappuccino later. I walked around because I knew I would be strapped in for hours. While calling Donna about the situation, I heard a cheer as they found an attendant.
Boarding the plane I found that a very large lady was seated in the middle seat with the arms raised so she would fit. Fortunately, there was a very slim Japanese woman next to the window, so collectively we all made it without the armrests. Other than the discomfort her size created, she proved to be a good conversationalist, a grandmother many times over that was visiting her grandchildren in Berkley after seeing the others in the morning, much like I was doing.
She was a resperatory therapist nurse at a children's hospital in Columbus Ohio, who was getting the best flight she could to California via Philly. I took food bars but realized that they were inadequate for the length of the trip since I drank rather than ate at the airport. Arriving, I tried to call Wyatt and finally got through.
Finally getting out of the plane, I hurried down the concourse and realized that people can't wiat at the gate to greet family anymore, they had to be past the security check-point, and there they were waiting for me with Hannah in her pram. I gave them a grateful hug and saw Hannah with a quivering lip looking out at the airport with all its sights and smells.
We got my checked bag and went to the parking lot. We drove on freeways to their apartment and the tank was on empty. Getting gas, Wyatt commented that the price was below two dollars for the first time in a great while. They had a remote for the security gate when we approached it and parked. Heather had done a lot to make the place cozy, white walls created the challenge.
