Well, not much to report yet, folks. But we've turned the corner on the demo-ing. Everything possible is out of the entire place. Cement floors and a bunch of exposed studs down at floor level. We have a contractor --- a father and son team ---- who will be working on the restoration, along with their crew. We are very hopeful that this process will go quickly, but I think we are still looking at three weeks or so before we can hope to be back at home.
Meanwhile ..... we are getting very used to our new set up at the Marriott Residence down by the river. In fact we are getting so used to it, that it almost feels weird when we go "home" to check on our place. Just shows the incredible adaptability of human beings. Each morning we trek down to the copious, if not very appetizing, complimentary buffet breakfast. JD grazes through all the offerings, but I have returned to eating my minimalistic weight watchers breakfast of crackers and lite cheese spread. Doesn't this make you all envious. Well don't be. On the other hand --- it is pretty funny to have daily maid service, new linens, and no house keeping chores. Reminds me of being back in college in a dorm, but with a servant.
JD is in the midst of writing the Bananas holiday newsletter ---- an annual project that he has continued to do for Alan and the store. It is very labor intensive and arduous. Having to take time out to visit Ikea and Home Depot is not that amusing for him, but has to be done to get back into our house. I am trying to keep up with my normal exercising and loafing around.
We are using our wonderful Portland transit system quite a bit. Our garage at home is piled high with our appliances and cabinets and it is not easy to park in the Pearl. Our hotel is at the last stop in what they call "fareless square" here--- the first stop is right by our house. We end up going back and forth on the trolly quite a bit, to go to the gym, to get our mail, check on our place, stop by the library and go to our NIA classes. It creates this whole different rhythm in our life to rely on public transportation. After all those years of being a two-car suburban California family, our move to Portland and the Pearl has allowed us to have many days without even using the car and walking places. Now we are a bit further away from our usual destinations, so we are availing ourselves of this incredible and free street car system. The whole trip takes between 15 -25 minutes, depending on traffic. If you add in down time waiting for a streetcar on the way back, it adds up. Thank goodness for our iPhones. We just continue on with our virtual offices in our hand. Or bring a book to read. It is reminding me of my life back in New York when I used to read on the bus or subway.
Our local pals have been stepping up to feed us home cooked meals when they can and it is comforting to us to get out and visit in a "real" house that doesn't have long hallways and elevators and matching furniture in every room. Otherwise we are going to many happy hours and eateries on our list of places we want to try, or return to the places we like. More about that in the next post.
"going back and forth on the trolly" reminds me of that Edna St Vincent Millay poem --
ReplyDeleteWe were very tired, we were very merry --
We had gone back and forth all night upon the ferry.
It was bare and bright, and smelled like a stable --
But we looked into a fire, we leaned across a table,
We lay on the hill-top underneath the moon;
And the whistles kept blowing, and the dawn came soon.
We were very tired, we were very merry --
We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry;
And you ate an apple, and I ate a pear,
From a dozen of each we had bought somewhere;
And the sky went wan, and the wind came cold,
And the sun rose dripping, a bucketful of gold.
We were very tired, we were very merry,
We had gone back and forth all night on the ferry.
We hailed, "Good morrow, mother!" to a shawl-covered head,
And bought a morning paper, which neither of us read;
And she wept, "God bless you!" for the apples and the pears,
And we gave her all our money but our subway fares.
I love that there is now a poem posted here in the comments to the blog. And such a hopeful and youthful one at that.
ReplyDeleteOne of my faves, too.
ReplyDelete