APR-B-6
MILLY WRITES A NOTE
REGARDING THE RESOLUTION OF LONG-STANDING BUSINESS ENTANGLEMENTS IN MICHIGAN,
SO I DETAIL THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE MARYLAND REMODELING PROGRESS
I have been in a lull before a lot of
stormy changes all at once. You noted that I only have the Boston to
go--that is the next Monday nine days away. But, in another two
hours, I go to the Hemlock Trails campsite to spend the night in the rain
soaked Bull Run Valley at Manassas
for an orientation briefing and then a pasta supper, before take off at 6:00
AM through the muddy trails of the Bull Run Run Fifty Miler.
I leave the following day for Florida, which
will be a rather grand affair--but like the last one, without my seeing Donald
or the grandkids just a short distance away. Yes, this is disappointing,
especially since each were set up for the reason to see them, but I do not envy
Donald. Kathy has just never left her home, and I do not fit into such
plans.
Her parents may be going through big
changes, but certainly not substantially different than mine here.
I met this morning with the builder, and
the revised plans were reviewed with the four areas of extension, which now
means that they are re-doing the whole house:
1) Extension of the Great Room, two feet out and
two feet higher with a steeper rise of the cathedral ceiling with skylights and
another tier of windows on the woods (this part is the biggest bargain of the
changes so far);
2) First Floor: replacing all windows,
casements, doors, base molding, and reconfiguring bathroom as powder room;
3) Second Floor: Rebuild both bathrooms, one
with whirlpool and separate shower stall, and skylight, replace all windows,
interior doors, closets, painting, and consolidate two bedrooms into a new
master bedroom with walk-in closet;
4) Basement Sport Room: add bathroom/powder
room, frame and drywall insulated walls, paint, carpet and suspend ceiling.
What this means is that everything in the house
must go. I will have to rent or buy a large container (that must get
around the back of the house, not only now, but after the additions are on, to
get it out) and everything in the house must be packed into it.
I also must go--since there will be no bathrooms
or kitchen, or any place not as dusty as Baghdad for up to a year. I have
NOT figured out where that might be yet, since the first half of the year
beginning next month I will be mostly gone.
That will be on the domestic trip all of this
coming week, and leaving after my return from Boston to go to
Malawi. The June trip to China is canceled and in its place is a
trip to Haiti. Then in July, I begin the Himalayan excursions with
Ladakh, then Lingshed, returning to go to Alaska in September, then to Sikkim
in October.
So, yes, the "times they are
achangin'"--and us along with them. A lot of this is possible now
after having been planned for much earlier, but now the interference has been
bought off--not too different from the kind of struggles you had been going
through, which I am happy to see are resolving.
Tom and Sherri and the kids are returning now
form a good time in Colorado, and now their next trip will happen shortly after
their first--to Derwood.
I would hope that they might be able to pack
away a number of good things that are already here, and may be highly
functional for some of the kinds of places they renovate, but will just be junk
to be carted off for me--such as working appliances, as, for example, when the
kitchen is gutted. But, that may be a "last item" when it is the
right time to have the kids exhaust themselves running around DC and Derwood as
yours once did, seeing the sights they otherwise see on TV.
The Bronco is running fine, but a big F-250 or
F-350 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel is coming along in the near future, to pull a
two-horse slant Trail-et Apollo Classic horse trailer on order. I cannot
commute in a truck that is big enough to haul, so I will need to keep something
that can get me back and forth to work and into my parking structure, which is
six inches lower than any of these big trucks are tall. Finding a spot on
the street would not be easy, either, since they would most likely need two of
any ordinary parking places. But, that will not be my principle problem
in the next months as I am trying to figure out the "house and home"
from wherever I will be.
For now, despite the inclemency of our
"Spring," I must get out in the Bronco with its drop bags for
the cutoff points and see how much of the muddy woods I can cover on a Saturday
when the rains are supposed to stop, even if the floods do not, and then limp
my way to the airport to start up a week of travel that merely ends in the
greatest of all marathons!
Cheers!
GWG
>>> "Mildred Holtvluwer" <holtvlum@gvsu.edu> 04/11/03
09:49AM >>>
Our life has been quite the whirlwind.
I finally got to read most of your messages on my email. Your snow
adventures sounded like you were living in Michigan. Running in cold,
rain, sleet and snow did not appeal to me either.
Now only the big boston is left.
Running in cherry blossom race reminded me of all the t shirt fronts
about cherry blossom that I put in your quilt. Glad Jo can run in some
of these races with you.
The business deal is finally settled. Doug had to hand in the keys, he
did get some of his money 90% which is good! and now they may not
compete or set up any business like the old one. the motorcycle co is
now in full swing or could be... We did get an order last week and this
week so that is making us feel like the right decision has been made.
Doug is greatly relieved that this is finally over.
Motorcycle stuff is not keeping him busy all the time - he has helped
his friend from church and played a little himself so that is good.
We had to move Doug's parents to assisted living last week -- that
meant more downsizing for them. That was not so good but now they are in
a 2 room and all meals and exercise and pill pushing will be done by the
nurses. The rooms look good and so far they are trying to accept their
new living conditions.
Sorry to read that Donald can't make time for a visit. I guess one
just has to give this relationship more time I think he is torn between
his family and his wife's.
I have had a bad cold - it has made me very tired so I have not enjoyed
the good weather we have had the past few days. But i will get better
GVSU had a special offer to stay at a local hotel for $25 a nite. I
could not pass this up so all the kids and grand kids - not Mark are
going to a hotel in Hud. Mainly to swim and play games - it is spring
break for tony and Doug VP so this will be special for Tony.
Your house remodeling job is huge!! Sorry, but I dont env y you on
this project - it is hard to keep ahead of carpenters and checking on
their work.
Nice chatting with you- Milly