Open range and open road

Never have I been so busy and involved as I am now - on the road, looking for a house, visiting family and friends. It has been such an amazing journey so far and I’m sure that I’ll settle down soon and post about the details. I’m sorry I haven’t been by very often, but internet connections have been iffy at best and though it would seem there would be time, there isn’t.

Where am I you might ask? Well, I’m in Austin, TX – slam dunk in the middle of the South by Southwest music festival – literally! I’m staying with my cousin and her husband who are very deeply involved in the Austin music scene. Seems their house is the “crash pad” for many of the wandering minstrels who’ve descended on this town for the week. There were at least 6 animate objects (maybe 8 – hard to tell under the wad of clothes and blankets) littering any horizontal surface that could be deemed worthy of sleep. Taylor had to pick his way through the living room this morning and only inflicted minor injury that brought forth a muffled whelp – hard to know what appendage got crushed – I hope it wasn’t an unintentional neutering.

So…the Seattle house closes on the 21^st and moving containers arrive on the 23^rd. We are heading back in that direction soon – probably Sunday – I think Taylor is ready to get back on the road again. Meanwhile I’m in the process of offer/negotiation on a house in the Texas Hill Country that fits nearly all the criteria that we set for the new place. I’ll share the details if they accept our offer - hint: 7+ acres, lots of house/garage/shop/storage, horse facilities, wildlife and secluded to the max with a view! WooHoo!

Pirouettes & arabesques

Dad was finally settled into a new routine of antibiotics via IV and it allows him to be in his home – just a trot down to the managed care facility in the complex in which he’s living. Finally a breath of air is drawn and an accompanying sigh of relief. There was even time to erect some shelves and unload a good many of his boxes that decorated one corner of his sun room. He was pleased and I was pleased – the goddess is in her heaven and all is right with the world.

I departed for Alabama to see the “first” daughter and throughout the entire ride I had this feeling that a shoe was yet to drop. Things have gone remarkably well with the house, the visit to Austin and the visit to Atlanta ended with a positive note.

I was sitting at breakfast with grandson #3 perched in my lap while giving me a 2½ year old’s version of cereal configuration and other such wonderful treatises of childhood observations. My phone rings. It’s my sister.

Seems another series of events has pressed their financial crisis button and has created urgency for putting their house on the market quickly – a house that needs a lot of repair. After some quick soul searching and calendar review with my left coast domestic manager I found myself on the road Saturday night on yet another detour – this time the detour has taken me to Washington, DC for a few days.

The family stage – a genetic score – Murphy’s choreography – opportunistic footlights - life turns so quickly.