Finally, a real vacation! We have been running non-stop for the last two and a half weeks. After this vacation, I will have been home three nights in the past three weeks. At least the last few days will have been for fun.
While we were working in Washington last week, the filter on our water heater froze and cracked, resulting in a huge spray of water into our attic. Fortunately, Walter and Martha arrived after his nose surgery and not long after it broke. They came in to water flowing down the walls of the kitchen and out the light fixtures in the ceiling. They got the water turned off, Nelson came over and sucked up about 30 gallons, and I called in the troops to get started on repairs. By the end of the evening we had fans and dehumidifiers running, the carpet padding removed, and an army of contractors lined up to get us right. Still, it will take some time to get it all sorted out.
Dana wanted to be sure I posted two photos: what we left and what we came to. She liked the contrast. :)
Here's what I saw when I entered the house. It got worse when they started removing sheet rock...
Here's the view from our lunch table...
Our first day in Cali involved napping, enjoying the warm weather, and a wonderful dinner at Wally's Desert Turtle, a beautiful restaurant recommended by Mark Genesen, who knows the owner well. The owner came to talk to us at the table and was excited to know that Mark had sent us. Dana had escargot, duck breast, sparkling wine and a lovely soufflé. I had tuna tartar, dover sole, and shared her soufflé. Dana enjoyed all the candles, crystal, and sparkle everywhere.
Tomorrow, the tennis begins!
