UMTravels

Still in organizing mode here in South Park.

Things I’ve learned while going through the process:

• My thoughts about selling and moving to either and apartment or a condo have hit a BIG snag I don’t think I can conquer… BBQs are not allowed on decks of any apartment building/condo over three units. Shit.
• Thanks to a year-end statement from my mortgage holder — I noticed that their threshold to remove PMI is 78% rather than the 80% that I’d assumed. And I’m there, and I knocked off a letter requesting PMI removal with back-up evidence of the original appraisal ($225K), today’s Zillow On-line Appraisal ($214K) and the Eppraisal On-line Appraisal ($220K). None of these account for the complete kitchen remodel, new exterior paint, and the handicap accessible front deck (or the 500 sq/ft steel building for that matter. Saw some comps (comparable houses sold) last summer of my size in the $280K range which is what I’d like for mine. Guess I’d better finish the hot-tub!
• Cleaned off the “to mail” stack of clippings
• Wrote letters to Steve (prison) and Debbie (San Diego, computer-less)
• Figured out who is going on each of the three upcoming WorldMark bookings
• Started the process of booking a Panama Trip (with or without anyone else since the single supplement is like $200 — that’s worth it to stay by myself!) and I think I can use my Alaska miles to get down there in a combination of Business and First Class for 60,000 frequent flyer miles.

Still on the list:

• 5 inches worth of DVDs (non-general interest) to enter into the database
• Need to add all the General Interest DVDs to the other database
• Need to finish the hot-tub and cover

Dinner tonight is with Wonderful to answer the following questions:

• Coming to Victoria February 3-11th?
• Are we splitting the 2010-2011 Seattle Opera season?
• Any interest in coming to Panama?

All this over Chicken Molé (spices from New Mexico this Christmas), salad, wine.

[220.6]

• Organizing
• Bill E&A
• Gas
• Car Wash
• Dry Cleaning drop off
• Dropping off VCR
• Laundry
• Dishes
• New Directions Forms For All E&A Cities
• Filing business taxes for the last quarter of 2009
• Figuring out how much money I made last year (priceless)
• Fajita beef over greens for dinner
• Split of wine
• Saturday Night Live in bed
• Sleep

My Day.

[221.5]

Planes, trains, automobiles, the whole works today.

Out of the condo at 9:30 — with me sleeping in the truck most of the way back to Fort Collins so I can catch the shuttle at the Hilton at 12:30. Yeah, I know, that’s allowing a lot of slag time in the schedule.

True — got to the Hilton at 11am. Read the paper, called the shuttle service and moved my trip to DIA up to the 11:30 shuttle (which got there at 11:45). As for DIA, I got there at 1:30 and went directly to the President’s Club (Continentals airport club that Alaska has privileges with) for papers, snacks and booze.

Flight was running about 15 minutes late, but the crew was exceptionally good (thanks, Leslie). The last couple of times I’ve been in First the attendant seems more concerned with her (yes, they were all “hers”) magazines than either providing service to First Class or help to the Economy class attendants.

In on time at 7:05, and out of MasterPark and back the house at 7:45. Not bad.

With bar-b-qued short ribs and a small salad (pus the scotch and wine), no need for dinner at the house tonight — which is good because other than eggs there isn’t much in the fridge in the way that isn’t condiments.

[? ? ?]

This schedule with BrightHeart arriving really late to starting to wreck my sleep schedule if I want to spend any time with him. Today we didn’t get out of the condo until after 4pm – just in time for a crush of people at the Safeway store for an Open House with lots of giveaways… luckily they had self checkout.

But I do have a couple of pictures for the day… Number One? Interesting combination of businesses:

I’ve always wanted to buy drugs with my drugs.

Number Two — a shot of the Stanley Hotel that I mentioned in yesterdays’ post with the sun starting to set:

Lewis didn’t show up until well after our dinner of German sausage and sauerkraut with an Asian salad on the side, with some wine from Argentina. The movie tonight (they gave me two coupons for free movies) was Balls Out: Gary The Tennis Coach, yet another comedy. Not nearly as good as last night’s movie — but I chose it since I had to go to the office to print my boarding pass.

Yes, I watch silly adolescent movies when I’m on the road.

The evening finished with BrightHeart and Mike giving me a four-hand massage. No THAT’s a way to put me to sleep.

[? ? ?]

It’s like a holiday — leaving town. Yeah, there is still the dribs and drabs of work to do, but I get to spend more time laying around reading that when I’m home. At home there is the “honey do” list, and I’m the honey.

Today’s shot:

It’s the view from the deck of the condo.

BrightHeart had to leave around 11 for a day of play rehearsal — at least we fed him a good bacon, egg, and toast breakfast.

Today’s adventures consisted of swinging by the Beaver Meadow Visitor’s Center for Rocky Mountain National Park. Watched a 20-minute video about the park which made me want to return in the summer and drive through it in the Jaguar with the top down.

Lunch in town after shopping for dinner. Stopped by the Stanley Museum (as in Stanley Steamer, and locally the Stanley Hotel where they filmed the shining, or it was written, or something like that).

Speaking of dinner — that would be a 4.19 pound boneless leg of lamb over a bed of roasted potatoes… a little much for two people, but just means that we’ll have lamb hash for breakfast.

Tonight’s movie: You Don’t Mess With The Zohan. IMDB’s short description of the movie is: An Israeli Special Forces Soldier fakes his death so he can re-emerge in New York City as a hair stylist. Definitely a screw-ball comedy with some interesting jabs at both sides in the Israel/Palestine conflict, including a liberal dose of hummus.

Too bed WAY to late — even without BrightHeart coming over tonight.

[? ? ?]

So much for taking light rail to the airport this morning. A 7:40am flight time is just too early to add a half an hour to the travel time. Back to MasterPark I go.

Left the house at 5am, was through security at 6am, even with long lines at the scanners and my bag full of electronics. Not bad — except that we are talking butt-early in the morning.

Uneventful flight. Even managed to get a half-hour nap in right before landing. Too bad the quiche and turkey sausage was barely lukewarm.

BrightHeart and his friend Mike were at the airport to pick me up — they had been down in Denver picking up a utility trailer axle so it was a little tight in the Volvo for the ride north to Fort Collins. Unfortunate BirghtHeart has play practice this afternoon and early evening — he has the role of Chief in a production of One Flew Over The Cuckoos’ Nest. At Fort Collins Mike and I switched to his truck for the run up to Estes Park.

Multiple stops later (lunch, booze, groceries, etc) we arrived at the lovely WorldMark Estes Park. Missed it the first time with the sun in our eyes and the subtle/tasteful signage. And the room was even ready at 3:30 (rather than the guarantee of 4pm).

Here is a short video clip of the 3-bedroom presidential at the WorldMark Estes Park:

Not a bad little place.

Spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out, drinking cocktails after we were all unpacked. Dinner was steaks and asparagus under the broiler (no on deck BBQ and I wasn’t thrilled about standing in the snow in the dark using the one downstairs), salad, and bread.

Lewis arrived late, after a little hot tub (on the deck) I was off to bed.

[222.2]

What a relaxing long weekend — part of me feels guilty about sleeping in while Joe goes off to work. Amazingly he manages to get out of bed, shower, do the whole routine without waking me. To bad he’s straight otherwise I’d marry him. Oh, that’s what got him in trouble the last time. Marraige.

Worked a little in the late morning, probably should have been san clothing outside and soaking up one of the two really hot days during my visit, but got to pay for this adventure somehow.

The plan is to leave for the airport at 2 for my 4:20 flight — is that the marijuana express? 4:20? Joke?

Joe’s home early… so odd to see him in slacks and a pressed shirt. I’m more used to the TGV days of kakhi’s and tie-dye of the convention floor. Sweet that he’s willing to take me to the airport in the middle of a work day.

Tucson is not a big airport — but the B Terminal has an amazing selection of food for the 10-15 gates. I settle on a Dynamite Roll and cold sake as my snack before the flight.

Flight. Unamazing, but in seat 1C so I can’t complain other than the First Class cabin attendant spends too much time reading her magazine… it’s First Class, it doesn’t excuse you from pampering your guests.

Landed, waiting for bags at 6:37.

On train (light rail) at 6:46.

On elevator at the apartment at 7:25.

I’m liking light rail service to the airport — can’t take it tomorrow without getting up even earlier than 5am. Maybe I should just move back to the International District and ditch two vehicles and downsize my life once again.

Dinner was take-out marked-down sushi from Uwaijamaya in front of the Monday lineup of sitcoms.

[220.5]

Needless to say, it’s a slow day around this house after last night.

Oddly enough Joe was up before 9. Me, later. Brunch was a scramble with the pork and potatoes from the first night and some eggs from today…. you have to love leftovers.

This is the day this weekend that we both were able to get some work done. More for Joe than I — I kept waiting for the sun to peek out, and even tried the hot tub to see if it was hot enough (not = 96 degrees).

Tonight’s wine was a 2000 Titus Cabernet. Damn smooth, and still available if you are a wine club member. What went with it was a couple of steaks off the BBQ — figured it out myself!

The first night I was in town we had the 2002 Titus Metlot. As they say on the site — a Merlot for Cabernet lovers. Both the links are technically for their “club” members only… suddenly I want the 3 liter of the Cabernet for $333.

It’s been a fun visit. Hard at some points with talking about divorce and finances, fun at others having BBQ with friends, or just hanging out making breakfast.

Makes me want to think about moving here.

[?? ?]

A lazy morning topped by an omelette stuffed with hot cappicola and double cream brie. Of course it was almost noon at that point.

Most of the afternoon spent looking for blinds, shopping for booze, and assembling a mixed grill for dinner this evening.

Cocktails at 6, dinner at 7 was the plan. After this…

In order from left to right is an amazing line-up of different scotches – and not an Islay amongst the bunch.

1. Chivas Regal 12 year old
2. Springbank 10 year old
3. Glenmorangie 12 year old
4. Glenmorangie 10 year old
5. Glengoyne 17 year old
6. Balvenie Doublewood 12 year old
7. Balvenie Rum Cask 17 year old
8. Balvenue Madeira Cask 17 year old
9. Speybourn 10 year old
10. Braes of Glenlivet 1974
11. Glen Taite 19 year old
12. Macallan 25 year old
13. Battehill Macallan 18 year old
14. Macallan Cask Strength 118.6 proof
15. Macallan 12 year old

There would have been 16, but Joe and I accidentally killed the Balvenie Portwood 21 year old last night.

And with a line up like that — dinner didn’t get on the table until around 8. Oh well. We got all seven of us crowded around the table for a mixed grill off the BBQ, grilled green beans, a salad, the remnants of bread not snarfed before dinner — and even fresh fruit marinated in spices and vanilla vodka for dessert. Yum.

[217.5]

Joe offered his truck to me if I wanted to take him into work today (and pick him up). I decided sleeping in was a better idea – that wold focus me to get some more work done during the day to help pay for this trip.

This is not to say that there isn’t time for a little vitamin D harvesting…

I got about two-three hours in the sun — this time of year I can say out for long periods without burning. It’s in the low 70’s so needless to say I didn’t take a dip in the pool to cool off.

After a lunch of eggs, steak, flour tortilla, and my time in the sun, it was time to get dressing are start getting some work done.

Joe bailed on work early and off to AJ’s we went for salad and some hunk of protein (turned out to be a pork roast) to go with the potatoes and tomato that he had. Good wine from the cellar (2002 Titus Merlot from Napa Valley) and some of the remainders of Package Day cookies/chocolate/baked goods.

Joined at dinner by a process server friend of Joe’s — he might need her during the divorce proceedings! Much fun and good conversation followed by more scotch.

[218.0]

Seems like lots of people are flying today:

• Hummingbird and BamBam are headed to Mexico for two months
• Jill is headed to Boston (she got an upgrade)
• I’m headed to Tucson (I didn’t get an upgrade)

News from the world of security — from Jill, big lines on both sides of security (but she isn’t MVP Gold anymore so the before  is an issue) and from me — just a mess post ID check (MVP Gold line was as short as the regular lines).

As for me — I took light rail to the airport to see if I really like it, which would influence my decision about getting a place in the International District (or at the north end of the tunnel). Of course, there is always the storage and vehicle issue — of course if I sold he two other vehicles, that’s 6 months rent right there.

A couple of prett boys on the flight — one next to me, on in 6A and a couple further back. Only half a dozen hobbling snowbirds and another half dozen families with infants — but a totally packed plane I didn’t see an empty seat. Guess that means I’m coming home in coach as well!

And now the news from Tucson…

Joe met me a the airport and had several stops to make on the way one (of which I added one as well):

• Electronics house to get a transistor for a power supply
• A restaurant supply place (my choice – almost got Mark and Onyx some items that would go well with their china set)
• An Italian food importer (Joe was comparing prices on capacola.

As a result of an impending divorce, Joe’s large 3 bedroom house is looking a little “sparse”. At least the pool, hot tub, and BBQ are still here. His soon to be ex’s New Years present was the first draft of the divorce papers. How festive.

After several rounds of scotch – we wander down River Road to El Corral — a favorite for the Rock Hound crowd in town for the Gem Show, but that’s next month. I’ve (well, we’ve) been there before so just sat in the bar chatting with the same cute bartender from years ago.

More chatter after dinner. Good to catch up, good to give him ideas on what to do with his house, just good times.

[221.1]

I tried to sleep in. I failed. Well, by my standards I failed.

No more work on the DVD project… it remains the same stack of uncategorized DVDs staring me in the face, taunting me with their abandoned status on top of my laptop — well — HUH! — I’m taking the laptop with me tomorrow and you will be sitting on the desk waiting for my return.

On another work project — had a “breakthrough” as they say and slammed out ten new pages for a corporate website ahead of a total redo of the site — some things need to be handled — maybe I should bid on the whole site redo, that would keep me busy.

In other odd news, shot some photos of the new 787 from Boeing since it was a sunny day and I had a wild hare (not to be confused with rabbits or going frogging with Hare, one of Barry’s rather drunk friends)… here are the shots of it and other random planes from my recent travels:

And then there was the leak testing of the new hottub — all the connections to the tub work. The airpipe blower thingee leaks — but that’s downstream and means that I can start working on the rigid sides for the tub once I return from Tucson and Denver/Estes Park.

Dinner tonight was some fajita steak chunks from the freezer, defrosted and stir-fried with snap peas and baby carrots, with some spinach tossed in at the last minute. Damn fine meal, and low-cal.

[222.7]

OK — I’ve got two upcoming trips… Tucson starting on Thursday:

71° / 42°
 

But then going a few degrees cooler — not sure how that bodes for my planned pool time. And then Denver next Tuesday:

37° / 23°

And then later that day Estes Park for the Three Bedroom Presidential Condo at the WorldMark:

I guess I should have done this sooner. Organizing DVDs that is. Judging from the date on the Access Database of my DVDs it was two years ago or more that I did any changes to what was loaded where.

As of the end of today — I’m down to a stack of 40 DVDs that need to be cataloged and put in the machine… then it’s just a matter of printing and binding the catalog — and then it’s on to the 300 DVD player filled with more General Interest DVDs. Maybe I just have too damn many movies.

Hopefully I’ll get this done before heading to Tucson (at least the 400 one) on Thursday. Speaking of that trip — the 72 hour upgrade window arrived and left without an upgrade… hopefully the 48 hour window will be better to me. Hopefully I’m not flying down at the same time as all the snowbirds.

After a grocery and booze run, dinner was leftover ham on onion buns with sauerkraut and pickles — trying to get the fridge cleaned out in advance of the Tucson trip which is quickly followed by Denver and Estes Park to see BrightHeart.

Early to bed — the now bi-weekly marketing meeting in the morning, and the notes aren’t done yet.

[222.4]

Today’s highlights:

• Duped a dozen DVDs for friends, a collection of Cadinot films
• Got my hands covered in Plumbers Goo working on the hot tub fixtures, new flexible drain/air tube and hopefully leak-proof connections for water in/out
• Had a lovely multi-course dinner at Lars and Anita’s place on the Eastside
• Donated my heat lamp stand to their commercial kitchen as I use it maybe once a year and they’d use it once a week with their classes, it nothing more than to warm plates

Today’s picture:

This is the web surfing computer for while watching TV — my mother’s old laptop, label printer, and the stand that is now remounted at angles — still, the balance is off a bit so either I need to swap things around, or find a couple of bricks for the base. Another day.

[221.7]

Nice to have a day with nothing major on the agenda… occasionally.

A quiet day with a little work, a little cleaning from yesterday’s festivities and an afternoon invitation to drink…. wait for it…. champagne.

It seems that Fluffernutter and Dancing Bear where having issues finishing a magnum of champagne that they’d opened in an afternoon of mimosas. It’s a good thing that they called a pro.

Hit Lowes (MUCH better selection of weird plumbing parts) on the way home for more parts for the hot tub experiment. Too dark to put them in by the time I got home around 6:30. Guess that will be tomorrow’s job.

Dinner was — black-eyed peas with cubes of ham in it. I may very well be eating that for DAYS. Slowly but surely I’m working through the left overs from yesterday. Probably not the healthiest choice for food, but hate to throw it out.

[220.5]

Happy New Year 2010 — my favorite comment off FaceBook about 2009 was “Goodbye 2009, don’t let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.”

Cooking in the morning, company coming from 2-6 for a Rosé on Rose Street afternoon brunch.

I had five bottles of Rosé champagne and method champanois — and two more showed up:

And there are some great shots of some of the food… spiral cut ham, black-eyed peas and lamb, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto drizzled with hollandaise, desserts, fresh bread, the works:

About ten people passed through, Jill stayed late to just shoot the shit and drink some rye.

I had a ham sandwich and went to bed after she left.

[219.0]

Before starting on a work report (Year End Recommendations) I got a wild hair to continue the new hot-tub project by seeing if:

a) I could make water tight connections to the tub (drain yes, though I need to pick up a flex connection to take strain off the pipe, in/out need work — like some custom rubber washers)

b) does the heater pump still work (yes)

It was my brother who comments that the pump and drain looked like an “anal probe” — I’m not sure how he knows what one looks like, and not I want to know.

Now the fun part begins making the frame for the tub that conform to the edge of the with the exception of the back edge which will cut straight across so there will be a place to set your drink down.

Errands today were to the cleaners to pick up shirts, Swanda’s for a package, cocktails, and the news, and back home for a dinner of odd things out of the freezer: two chicken thighs, one salmon/shrimp thingee from Trader Joes and some salad for ruffage.

I plan on sleeping through New Years Eve in Seattle — I watched the fireworks in Sydney, so I’ve had my thrill.

[219.7]

Item One:

An email from American Airlines about my flight on the 21st of December…

Dear Mr. Souder:

We make every effort to operate each and every one of our flights as scheduled. However, inevitably problems will arise in a business such as ours. Please accept my sincerest apology for the disruption of your plans when you traveled with us on December 21.

We want to restore your confidence in us. In an effort to do so, I’ve added 5,000 bonus miles to your AAdvantage® account.

Wow — even before I had a chance to bitch about it. Wonder if they will do that again for my weather delays on the 25th (not holding my breath). That’s enough for almost a year and a half of Wall Street Journal subscriptions.

Item Two:

The new Boeing 787 over the Cascades (this is airplane number two off the line, number one is painted in Boeing colors):

Nice plane, can’t wait to ride it.

Item Three:

Speaking of planes I haven’t riden yet, it would be the Airbus A-380 which in all coach configuration will seat 855 people. This shot of the double-decker is from LAX from the Christmas trip:

For my day, worked a bit around the house (400# of gravel spread), made a Salvation Army donation run on the way to Home Depot for third (of ten) visits, billed a little bit, and basically got ready to head out to dinner with Kevin tonight.

[219.0]

I have the feeling that this hot tub project is going to require at least ten trips to Home Depot. Two down, eight more to go. The basic problem is that I’m getting each of the sub-systems going separately before I even think about building up the frame — need to make sure the pump really puts out hot water before I spend a ton of time building a curved wall frame for the tub itself.

That’s the problem with trying to built things from non-standard parts.

Sunny, crisp days here in Seattle. Great errand weather. Great timing with the slow-down in work as well — need those projects to keep me busy.

Dinner tonight consisted of cleaning out leftovers from the fridge and chopping them into cubes and frying them up to go along side a salad and the remnants of last night’s bottle of wine.

Was actually in bed at 9:30… it must be winter.

[217.5]