The Hertz Car Rental Concern foolishly allowed me to have this snazzy ride- unlimited miles- and I flogged it 800 miles to the Little Village By the Bay. Photo Socotra.
If you are going to drive yourself crazy, I strongly recommend the new Cadillac SRX performance cross-over. It handles like a dream. The Sirius satellite radio offers a couple hundred discrete channels. The engine is powerful and it tracks with precision.
I love the Humbrismobile, but the German machine demands your attention at all times. The Caddy is forgiving, but powerfully so.
Hell, if we win the contract re-compete, I may buy one. The downside, of course, is if we lose I may wind up selling everything and living here over the garage. It could be a time to cross over.
But the reason for the car rental was simple. I did not know when I could get out of town, and buying air tickets was impossible to plan since I didn’t know when. It takes almost as long to get Up North flying as it does driving, whether it is to Detroit and drive, Traverse City and drive, or Pellston and cab it into town.
I hate the Pennsylvania turnpike, but the Caddy made it almost OK, like traveling in a nice comfy sofa.
I pulled into the compound just after lunchtime yesterday, and began the cross-over
into madness- or dementia, as the case may be- rapidly. I picked up at the house where Annook left off, and I have to say that the house looks great. More on that in a moment.
The well-being of the folks is a concern. Raven remains frail and Big Mama seems to have only a sporadic interest in things. Her Hemingway fascination appears to be in full blossom. She was the local authority on the Nobel Laureate’s time here in the Village, right after his return from the Great War, and his infatuation with a local High School girl, and his stool at the Park Grill bar.
Across the dinner table she went on and on about the four marriages, and how she was trying to figure out whether I looked like Ernie, and who his brother was. Somehow she is now convinced that there is something that connects us, like the three owners of Potemkin Village who are seated at a table in the Dining Room for the Challenged.
It is very strange.
She is still pissed about her car, and I got an earful about it as I sorted the mail she no longer opens. I made a note to do that this trip. can I am going to steal her license. I reminded her driving is a privilege, not a right. Mom did not eat much, but she doesn’t seem to have lost much weight.
Physically, they seem to be doing all right. I asked to have a service added to their care menu, and now the Village People are intrusively reminding them about meal times. Raven seems to have rallied a bit, and actually commented on his peanut-butter pie for dessert last night. Then he escaped the table and headed for the normal people’s dining room. He actually made it a few steps in before I corralled him. So, his doing better physically actually is a net negative, if he goes back to his disruptive roaming.
Then, there is the work at the house. Garages, attached and otherwise, and the office downstairs still need work and I will get on it this trip and the next.
Master Bedroom gets and update and a possible exorcism. Photo Socotra.
I got a new spread, pillowcases and such for the master bedroom in an attempt to banish some ghosts.
I need to tackle Raven’s office downstairs- it is a disaster, and looked like he just left in a hurry. I want to fit out a little kitchenette down there- then, once that is clean and the bookcases are mostly emptied, we should be ready to show the place for sale or rent. A new microwave will help- I will get one this trip. With the exception of the office, the downstairs looks great. I defrosted the little reefer, which might be getting to its last legs.
The major event will be the clearing of the cars and the garage. Otherwise, it is a wonderful house and we are nearing the point where we can cross over from the disaster area to something else.
It is a wonderful house. I just wish someone could use it.
Copyright 2011 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com