Raincharm’s Weblog

This is the second half of our trip home.
It happened on Monday, but I was too tired to manage a post that evening, and then it was just a bit busy here.

To recap: On our trip to Colorado our flight was delayed so we arrived two hours early.
This was due to getting rescheduled on a direct flight, skipping the Sacramento stop.
Return trip did include Sacramento.

This meant that the second half took us up the west coast.
We sat on the right side of the plane (east) to try to catch a glimpse of Mt. Rainier as we came into Seattle.

We got Mt. Rainier and 8 more volcanoes.

Shasta, Diamond, Bachelor, Sisters, Hood, Adams, St. Helens and Rainier. (Crater Lake too, but no pictures.)
[Pardon the poor camera quality, and a dirty window as well.]

And they decided to come in reverse order!

Home again

Rainier

St. Helens

Adams + St. Helens + Rainier

Adams

Hood + Adams

Hood

Sisters + Hood

Sisters

Diamond (close), Bachelor and Sisters

Shasta

In other news on sights to see, I sat through 45 minutes to go a few miles today on the way home. Turns out the traffic jam inducing event are boats lining up for Saturday’s Opening Day of Boating Season at the Montlake Cut. Opening Day includes boat parades, crew races, and traffic jams. As I was finally getting to see the boats myself, an eagle flew over and landed on a light post as I passed under. I guess that was payment for waiting 45 minutes because of a boat blockade.

Sacramento here we are.
Right back where we were supposed to be a few days ago.

We essentially reversed our route from Thursday. Except that we actually went are going through Sacramento this time. All flights full and on time.

Fort Collins was welcoming, it even tried to make us feel at home by raining yesterday. It was good to check in with Bob, and to share space, time and brief moments including Doris.

Yesterday we spent some of the time bouncing between Denver, Chicago and Seattle teams on the telly. Perhaps luckily for us, the televised half of the Seattle teams were the Sounders and not the Mariners.

Hanging out in airports almost lets us stay in travel mode. Work is still at arms length. That reality can wait for the morning.

We have been able to spend a good amount of time with Bob over the past few days. Lots of reminiscing and going over good memories.

Comfortable setup here at MacKenzie Place. Good meals and cozy rooms to sit in.

As Ashlan had predicted, Bob put us to work helping reorganize parts of his apartment. There are many administrative bits and pieces that Bob and brother Steve are tackling. We get to focus on the easy bits.

Getting together with each other is the best part.

Off to spend a few days with Bob, Carl’s father in Ft. Collins. We were transported to the airport in style by Chauffeur Mark. Got us there in plenty of time.
We had decided to go with carry-on luggage, even though we could check bags for free. This was due to a relatively short time to get our bags and make the 8PM shuttle. (The next shuttle would be at 9.)
It looked like our plane was going to be populated by giggling teenagers. A volleyball team and an orchestral group. Of course this was flight one, to Sacramento. About a 1+ hour layover.
Then I noticed a half hour delay. Still manageable. Then it stretched to1-1/2 hours, and we would be out of luck. So I stretched my legs over to customer service. As it turned out, a direct flight to Denver had also been delayed, and there was room for two more.
So, due to our delay, we arrived 2 hours early.
And we should get to check in with Bob tonight.

Now for news of a more mundane sort. Carl can be seen in a scene from Wednesday’s Mariner win. This is from the Seattle Times I believe.

If you can enlarge this, check out Carl’s expression.

You can see a bit of Pooh’s quilt work on the rail. Bonus question – what flag is next to the quilt.
I am there as well, but obscured by Kevin.
All for now. Hard to type on a phone in a jiggling shuttle.

Baby Doris

Probably in 1928, somewhere in South Chicago.

A few years later.

Young Doris

Doris was beautiful, and bold for her time. Out on her own at 19.

And a mother – 3 boys! (Not at 19.)

Doris with Baby Carl

There must be more mother and son pictures that happened before this shot with Carl – he is number 3. But this is undoubtedly the cutest.

1970 with Carl and Steve

And as you can see, hiking in the mountains played a big part in Bob & Doris’ life together. They liked the mountains so much they retired to Colorado.

1971 Doris with Bob & Carl

1981 Doris and Bruce

Early 1970s – all 3 Boys and 1 girlfriend

Bob, Doris, Carl & Ashlan in 2010

Ashlan and Doris

Doris was a teacher, math. Carl credits Doris with his love of numbers. Even after Doris retired she continued tutoring high school students. She was so committed to being helpful that she took the class to learn how to use the new-fangled graphing calculators.

And the crafts. This Christmas tree brought to you by Doris Harms.
Pictures through the years have graced our trees. Not to mention the stockings.

Carl and Rey got to spend some time with Bob & Doris last summer. (I have always thought Carl favored Doris, while Rey favors Bob.)

July 2014 Doris with Carl, Rey & Bob

Doris – you will be missed.

Everything feels like it is accelerating. I don’t mean just time because I am older, but this specific week, or month. Taxes, Final Four, work, vacation planning, Easter, and our particular holy day – Opening Day of the baseball season.

I did most of the tax return well over a month ago, and then sat back to wait for the final information. It has been in our hands for more than a few weeks now, and I just need to sit down and complete the forms.

Tomorrow starts the end of the basketball at the college level. I have 2 teams. Duke and Michigan State, although ashlan will claim at least one of those as hers. (Go State)

Between getting lodging and flight plans I don’t think we will ever have a low Visa bill again.

Carl boiled a dozen eggs to color with one of his kids. Then said kid came down with the stomach flu, so I think we get to be creative. Deviled eggs anyone?

Which brings us to Monday. Our current plan is to leave early, on foot. Between regular workday parking and a sold out game, there is no reason to submit ourselves to that level of frustration. And there is always the bus if it pours.

Fans of the Fez, Fan of the Year, and Friends.

So much fun to make up group names for our 20-plus, although our group is scattered around the stadium.