Wednesday, October 25, 2017.  Overcast and cool with a few drops of rain. 

Walked around Green Lake, admiring all the trees with yellow leaves falling when the wind blew.

House Back to Ace Hardware, so convenient I only live one block away, to get ideas and materials to do a temporary repair to threshold of our old patio door that is in the master bedroom.  The area under the threshold is rotted.  I dug some out with a screwdriver, but decided not to go too far at present trying to fix it.  Current strategy is put in some wood filler goop and then install a metal threshold over the hole where the plastic threshold was.  That should hold us for a few months until we get the door replaced, and the water damaged floor repaired.

Lauren was over for dinner last night and we had a pleasant time.  She told us about her trips to Minneapolis for the translator's conference, to Frankfort for the book fair, and to Berlin to visit Lizzie.  I cooked spaghetti, per her request.  We also brainstormed a rafting trip down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon for next May.  L shared some frustrations with her work environment and politics there, which we liked because we're glad she opens up on problems.   Also discussed going to Tulsa for Thanksgiving, and then the Christmas holiday.  Sean will go off to Kelowna for a few days to see his parents.  I brought up New York for Christmas which the temperature for Kathy and Lauren...may live to regret my impulsive idea.

We off to Victoria for a few days, courtesy of Lowell & Carol giving us their timeshare slot at the Rosewood Inn.  Plan to check in with cousin Derrick and family, go the Provincial Museum, Butchart Gardens, Empress for tea, etc.   Our first night Kathy has reservations at some Irish Pub with folk music.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Kingsman: Golden Circle  went to Thornton Creek Cinema and saw an action-packed, star studded, special effects movie that was pretty entertaining.  Lots of drollery and comedic moments mixed in with martial arts and explosions.  Elton John was in it, and John Denver's songs were featured.

Then went to Kona Coast for dinner.  We had a nice chat with a young man from Oahu who here going to University Washington and is eager to home for Christmas.  Kathy happened by chance to be wearing her Eddie Aikau t-shirt which lent some credibility to us speaking of Hawaii with affection and the knowledge gleaned from about ten vacations to the various islands.

Weather has turned typical Northwest with steady rain, gray skies, and deepening gloom as the days grow shorter and darker. 

Lauren has been traveling and we're not sure where she is.   She went to Minneapolis for a conference of the American Literary Translators Association, flew on to Frankfurt for the book fair, and then went up to Berlin to hang out her pal, Lizzie.  We're certainly pleased that her career in publishing, and her job at Amazon, are flourishing.

Thanksgiving: planning to go to Tulsa (Lauren's idea).   Kathy seems full of various anxieties.  How will Sean Ennis (Lauren's boyfriend) find our relatives?  Will Geri be up to her typical manipulations?  Etc.   We have booked an extended stay suite with two bedrooms so those of us from Seattle will have some respite from hanging with the relatives.  I'm planning to promote trips to Gilcrease, Philbrook, Brady district as ways to get out the red house and also to give Tulsa a chance to show some positive elements.