T-Day Draws Near

Only six more days. Five, really, because it's already after 6:00 p.m. today. The past two weeks have been a whirl of activity as I tie up loose ends and visit with friends and family before the big move.

I came back to the tin box after my beautiful week at the cabin two weeks ago. My first social engagement involved lunch at Hoppy's with pal Linda. We don't get together very often, but boy how we can gab when we do.  Linda and I used to talk about her being a professional genealogist and me a professional historian. Well, she's made it and I'm well on the way. Amazing!!

The next event in the social whirl took place at El Torito, a throw-back get-together of friends that formerly or currently work at the Court. What a great time I had. The laughter rang from our table as the grown-ups enjoyed margaritas and the Princess drank something more like a smoothie (much to her surprise, no tequila had been added to her mango margarita). Anita, youngest at heart of all those at the table, stayed sane and sober while the rest of us got giddy from small quantities of liquor and large quantities of fun.

The next night, the Lady Historians of Sacramento came together at Pour House for sprightly academic chatter. Topics ranged from my doctoral aspirations to the difficulty of getting a teaching job to whether Facebook changed the time on Caitlin's invitation. We all missed the historians who couldn't be with us, but plans are already underway for a Christmas holiday gathering. 

But wait, there's more....

The next night, Jerry, Yvette, and I came together for our yearly trip to the California State Fair. We picked a good night, not too hot and not too crowded. As is our custom, we began with the animals, enjoying the arrogance of the llamas and the nakedness of newly sheared sheep. Then came Yvette's favorite part--the vendor booths. We bought some gadgets, of course, and I bought a book by a California author--my favorite, Naida West. Fried foods with Maddie and beer with Kirstin followed, then a visit to the hypnotist show (so Yvette could laugh at the same act we've seen for the past four years). A great night, and the end of a tradition that hopefully comes back when I'm finished with school. 

This past week was supposed to be a little slower, socially speaking, but didn't turn out that way. Monday, it was Phoebe  and I at Hoppy's (OK, so I can't lay off those damn Hoppy burgers). Talk and talk, catching up on this and that--Phoebe is the kind of friend that can always be counted on for a good conversation. 

One of the most special of my social engagements took place on Tuesday night when I met my former boss, attorney Bob Mikel, and his beautiful wife, Pat, for dinner at Caballo Blanco. I admit that without the experience I gained as a legal secretary working for Bob, I wouldn't be where I am now. Not only did I acquire the skills that enabled me to work at the court, like writing in a clear manner, but I gained enormous confidence by being encouraged to continually stretch my boundaries in a safe and supportive environment.

Wednesday brought sister-time. My sister took me on a shopping spree so that Yvette, Maddie, and I will have plenty of snacks for our long drive to Knoxville. We will not starve, that's for sure, but we also won't eat anything healthy. Thank goodness, Tricia knows how to pack for a road trip so we also got practical things like paper towels, hand samitizers, bags, etc. We're good to go!

Finally, today was lunch with Anita, at "our" place, Panera. The combination of really erudite, uplifting discourse with down-and-dirty snark always keeps us at the table long after soup, bread, and cookies have been consumed. When Anita comes to Knoxville, we will go to the Titantic Museum in Pigeon Forge so we can put our fingers in water that's the same temperature of that in which Rose and Jack found themselves. I can't wait!

There are still other friends to see before I go, but the days are dwindling. I signed my lease today, paid my first rent, started putting together my book list for Amazon  shopping. It won't be long now....

Fortress of Solitude

The Cabin, July 7, 2015, 4:57 p.m.

Arrived at my Fortress of Solitude after a pretty uneventful drive up from Sacramento. Penny hasn't stopped moving from the moment I let her out of the car. She has explored every inch of the place, both inside and out, and shows no sign of settling down. 

As ever, I get no cell service up here. So I'll be keeping this blog like a journal and will publish when I can get some access. You know what's sad?  I just thought about using my phone to find a coffee shop or bar with free WiFi. How did I think that would work?

Settling in tonight has been made much easier by my baby cousin, Kevin, who left electricity and water turned on. I brought a bag of books, DVDs, and a German textbook and notebook, just in case I'm inspired. 

Penny keeps watch for any bears that may show up looking for Jennifer

I'm good to go in my cabin socks!

Time to read and relax. Tomorrow Mandi arrives for a visit, possibly bringing along some guest stars. 

July 8, 2015, 11:03 a.m.

Sitting on the porch, dog running around exploring and investigating--this is my happy place. 

While it had obviously rained before I arrived yesterday, there hasn't been rain since. This morning, Penny woke me up at 7, anxious to start the day as soon as she realized the sun was up (those Johnny Appleseed curtains didn't fool her for more than an hour or two). I watched a couple of episodes of Green Acres, just as corn-pone funny as ever, before moseying out to the porch. While I had an hour or two under a beautiful blue sky with white harmless clouds drifting by, the view has now changed. I'm still on the porch, but darker clouds have taken up residency over the mountain, and I've put on my grandfather's old flannel shirt for warmth. The weather guy from KOLO Reno says rain is likely for this afternoon. I sure hope so. 

Thanks to the rain of the past few weeks, it isn't nearly as brown up here as I expected. There are plenty of green spots, but I haven't walked down to the river yet, where I'm told the drought is more evident. 

As I sat on the porch this morning, I read the chapter on the Dred Scott decision in David M. Potter's The Impending Crisis.  

Whoops, more on Potter later. The first sounds of thunder are echoing down the valley, causing my poor dingo to run around looking for the source of the noise. More later....

11:44 a.m.

Back now. It was only a minute or two after the thunder that Maddie arrived, along with Randi and their friend Mia. Knowing that Maddie doesn't usually emerge from her bed before noon, I was so surprised to see them before late this afternoon. They brought snacks, liquor, and the makings for broccoli beef for dinner tonight. Yum!!  After waiting out a little rain cell, they have now trooped off toward the river. 

Maddie celebrating her first time driving to the cabin

Thunder, lightning, rain, and hail--we got it all at once 

Back to the Potter book. He provides the most interesting analysis of each topic he covers, including the Dred Scott case. He draws attention to the similarities between that infamous decision and the equally disputed Brown v. Board of Education case, remarking that in each case the Court took on a social issue and the parties aggreived with the decision expressed their determination not to comply. Potter really seemed to enjoy most the paradox between the two decisions, one limiting the rights of African Americans and the other expanding them. If Potter was still alive, I wonder if he would see further similarities between those cases and the recent decision on gay marriage. I know I do. 

Uh oh. The girls are at the river, and it just started raining again. Poor soaking wet babies....

A trespasser!

July 9, 2015, 1:48 p.m.

Another day of off-and-on rain showers, some thunder. The girls braved the weather to drive down to Hawley Grade to hike up to the waterfalls. They took lots of pictures, and Penny went for a nice swim. They all came back wet, so I actually had to light a fire to dry their clothes. While the drying went on, some cut-throat games of Yahtzee were played--and I lost!!!

While the girls have run to the store for a few last-minute items needed for a taco dinner tonight, I've put on my Grey's Anatomy DVDs and am chilling on the couch, the dog beside me. Life is good at the cabin. 

Maddie with an actual Yahtzee

I especially love the Johnny Appleseed curtains

July 10, 2015, 8:15 p.m.

New day, new company for me in my Fortress of Not-Very-Much Solitude. While Mandi and guest Mia left last night at about 7:30, Dandi and Joe showed up just before 10. 

Like their predecessors, these new guests went to the river and down to Hawley Grade. And, we enjoyed a couple games of Yahtzee. A lady named Chris, one of the Celio family who owns the farmhouse, stopped by to introduce herself. I find the Celio history very interesting. They were one of the first families in this valley, actually owning the entire valley as a cattle ranch. They've been here for over 150 years, making us seem like newcomers with our measly 50 years. 

Right now, the smell of Heidi's amazing chicken fills the entire place. Even after snacking on various crackers, pretzels, salami, etc., I am once again starving, only because Heidi's signature dish is so damned lecker. 

S'mores later tonight, like Mia's broccoli beef on Wednesday night, make it worth my while to give up a little alone time. 

That's right. Heidi made pancakes (with an assist from Daniel Boone)!

Gearing up for dessert 

July 11, 2015, 12:38 p.m.

Once again, I am alone in the Fortress of Solitude--well, alone except for Penny and a family of chipmunks devoted to driving her crazy. The weather is picture-perfect today, so I'm on the porch with David Potter and the Lecompton Constitution. 

To say that I have eaten well these past two days would be an understatement. Heidi is the Queen of the Kitchen, and Danny "Daniel Boone" Sperry flips a mean pancake. Joe provides comic relief as well as opportunities to argue about politics. And he left his sunflower seeds here--yay!!

The three visitors headed for home about an hour ago but left the remaining brownies that Tricia so kindly sent up. I'm all set!

July 12, 2015, 1:36 p.m.

More visitors!  Last night, a man and his daughter from the cabin next door and sort of behind came over to say hello and ask about the bear garbage can. Then today, the leader of the cabins in our tract, Del, came and sat on the porch with me for a while. 

Del is fabulous. Her father bought their cabin when Del was just four, about 80 years ago--when the Celio Ranch still had cattle all over the valley. She's the keeper of the history of this area, and I'm green with envy about it. She's promised to share what information she has about our cabin and the prior owners. I can't wait to see what she has. 

Just staring out the window....

July 13, 2015, 8:06 p.m.

Last night at the cabin. Tomorrow I'll coast down the hill and back to the tin box at the Dias Ancestral Home. 

Today's weather was again perfect. I lazed around, reading sometimes, watching TV sometimes. Penny and I drove into Myers to check my email and text messages. This served as a cold reminder that I cannot hide up here forever but must return to Sacramento and all the nerve-wracking tasks that await me. 

Only 23 days left until I leave for Tennessee. Big thanks to Nana and Grandpa (and Mom and Aunt Sandy) for leaving me a Fortress of Solitude where I can relax and recharge before the upcoming challenge.