Sep 21 2009
Coming and Going
I’m coming to you from my new house, where I am checking my email (there’s wireless internet here!) and doing some work of my own while work goes on around me. My new landlords and their posse have been working hard on the house. It still looks like a construction site, so I’m afraid that if I post pictures, you’ll be scared. It’s going to be amazing when it’s finished.
Friday was hellacious, and apparently it was only a preview of coming attractions (and, sadly, nothing like the one Grace Kelly gave Jimmy Stewart in “Rear Window”). Forecast highs in Oakland are 94 today, 99 tomorrow, and 95 on Wednesday. Dear God. I decided to sneak out and see “Julie and Julia” in air conditioned bliss, but the traffic was so bad that I turned around and came back. It was only 1:30 in the afternoon! I did get to enjoy blasting the air conditioner in the car, though, and when I got home, I sat sadly in the seat for a moment, debating whether I could run it just a little longer, or if it would still be all “Sabrina”, even in the open air.
Friday was also my brother-in-law’s birthday. Another nice thing about moving up north is that I will finally get to celebrate my sibs’ birthdays with them.
The problem is that Megan’s birthday is located on Memorial Day (First long weekend of the summer!) and Jonathan’s birthday is located on Labor Day (Last long weekend of the summer!), so traffic is insane going both ways.
I learned this the hard way a long time ago, when I’d gone up for Meg’s birthday when I still had my convertible. I sat in unmoving traffic on the Waldo Grade for 45 minutes in the blazing sun. To paraphrase A.A. Milne, I could see the city, I could smell the city, but I couldn’t quite reach the city. I was so sunburned and cranky by the time I got home, I was immediately declared a disaster area by then-Mayor Willie Brown. Rescue crews treated me with wine and aloe vera and then backed away slowly.
Never again, I swore.
My birthday is nine days after Megan’s, and Erica’s is the day after mine, so we can have a partypalooza with no traffic punishment at the end of it.
Also, we are going to have an excellent Thanksgiving this year.
Move date looks like October 22!
3 Responses to “Coming and Going”
This Entry is so upbeat …….so pleased for you as it appears life will be looking up – and not long to wait either.
It will be quite the change for you, but I’m sure you can make it to the City now and then and you won’t have to go when there are National celebrations, hopefully.
Enjoy the rest of your time. I’m sure Rose would be very happy that you are moving into her house.
jx
I to am happy that you’re looking forward to the move, it will do you a world of good to be close to the ones you love as you so indicated in your blog. Your new landlord is making sure your new home will be a welcome place, I’m happy for you Suzy.
Oh…I’d love to see pictures. I won’t be scared…promise!