50th

Lots of thoughts today. You think that you are getting over the loss and sadness but then, occasionally, it returns. Plan to go to San Diego this evening for dinner with Barry--that should cheer me up. Will be back in Texas July 5-16. I hope the flooring is complete by that time and we can get the house ready to be put on the market.

In Cool California

Left Houston on June 2 and spent 3 days in Tucson with Ray and Julie Woosley, great friends for many years. It was a good time as usual. Arrived in California on June 6. My friend, Val, came out on the 7th and has been here since. She will be going back to Texas this weekend. It has been fun having her here. Val is a master gardener and has been helping to fix up the condo with its plants in pots on the patio and balcony. We are using the Darwin approach. If something can't make it, it gets replaced. We have been doing touristy San Diego stuff here, but there is still a lot to for Val to see.

The weather has been pretty typical "June gloom" with morning clouds and usually afternoon sun. This is a big change from Houston where the temperatures and humidity are about 100%. It will be a shock to go back.

We took a hike in the Torrey Pines state reserve. It is one of my favorite walks in this area. It is always interesting and beautiful. Here are a couple pictures. Some day I need to get out here earlier to see the California poppies that are wildflowers in the reserve.

Still problems with the house in Richmond. We have the wood and were getting ready to finish the job, but the moisture readings on the floor were still too high. So it looks like the plywood subflooring will need to be ripped up to let the concrete slab dry out. This will delay things further (and cost more). The nightmare continues... But the Sugar Land condo has come together nicely and is now very livable. Lorrie continues to monitor it and is also doing the decorating and furnishing. She is so sweet and helpful. I will need to go back to Texas some time to finish up dealing with the bank and insurance company about the house repairs. Probably will go in early July. Lorrie and John and their boys will be in California through July 4 looking at colleges. I will see them around the holidays.

We have seen Kathie, Craig and the boys but they have been so busy that we haven't spent much time with them. Craig travels to NYC a lot recently and Kathie has had some trips...leaving for Seattle this week. We will take the boys to the farmer's market today. This is something of a tradition in the summer. Sally used to take them every Wednesday and they pick out fresh produce for their family. Anything to get them to eat something other than fast food!

June 25 would have been our 50th wedding anniversary. My good friend Barry Gertz will be in town from New York and we will have dinner and a toast to Sally. Thank goodness for friends and family. Val and I went met Boyd and Helen in Temecula for lunch on Monday this week. It was great to see them.