We are back home in SE Washington.
We stayed a week at daughter 4's house. We had meals with 3 pair of very close friends.
Along the way I think i paid more for a gallon of gas than any time in my life, but who is counting!

While I was gone there was a good bit of rain. The seeds I planted last week are all up and looking good. A few weeds are up too (Ok more than a few).

Miriam was good company, though she often had no idea of what or where.

Portland gallery and show off truck!

Digital interpretation, courtesy of iPhone

In the old days of film, color balance between the light and the film was 

always a consideration.

Now that we are digital, it is all in the software. 

There are no colors like my phone was producing for a few days

until I changed software. 

Empty.
For Rent.

My biggest fear

Yesterday, what I feared most, happened.

The city’s people sent me a letter saying toughshinskies, they had decided they were not responsible for any damage to my house. Next, I expect a letter like that from my insurance company saying the same thing. And, just as I was afraid (and others laughed at) I am left with zero. 

We have a shell of a house we might sell for the price of the lot, maybe. 

Am I being paranoid? 

So, far my fears have been spot on. 

My brother, the insurance agent, says the city is posturing. Maybe and maybe the insurance company will help change their minds, but the more I think about it the darker it looks. 

And the rest of us too.
OK, just a little weird?

We are in Portland this week.
Daughter invited, we arrived!
Here "about" a week.

I decided I wanted to get a better camera. The easiest way was to update my phone, so now 

I have an iPhone 4S. Pretty cool and a ton better camera than on the old 3GS.

Jessica who is 18 in the upper photograph and Ben, 27, in the lower photograph.

They are good kids. 

We are OK.

The uncertainty of the uncertainty of it all is hard on my gut sometimes. Then there is the weather, which continues to be dreary and rainy. Not good for my head.

Miriam at times shows definite regress and at other times is about as she has been. All of that means she is continuing her "progress" with this disease. Daughters think she is closer to a care facility, so Miriam's name is on a waiting list at the only real AD facility in the area.

I feel old, decisions that involve me and mine are being done (capably) by others. Not really a complaint, but a realization that life moves on. Tomorrow is my birthday. It is one of those big ones. Friend asked if it was 39 again, and I said: "No, it's 3/4!"

Meanwhile, my challenged grandson, who, at 27, lives with his parents here on the farm, has a nasty case of pneumonia. The Doc put him in the hospital last night. Daughter just came home for a shower and a nap (no one sleeps in the hospital!). She is very encouraged. That is good. He is a brittle diabetic, among other things.

Daughter and son-in-law have managed his diabetes for the last 25 years and have kept him going, which is not a small thing. But in the hospital, new experts are there. Son-in-law, who is infinitely patent always has to go to battle with them. In this case Diabetes is similar to AD. We know our patient better than the doctors sometimes. Not many Docs are ready to accept that reality.

While I was in Idaho last time, there was a killing frost here in Washington. That is unusual, but unusual is what the weather is here. My early garden might have been protected if I had been here, but daughter and family are up to their eye balls in other worries and my garden got skipped.

So I am replanting. Maybe we will have sunshine and spring yet this year.

progress, I think

Phone calls and progress.

At least that is what they tell me. The list of our personal property losses have been forwarded to the proper people (who seem to specialize in personal property losses).

That, the cheery voice said, would take about 2 weeks, but my list was in order. Not sure if that is literal or not.

But the big slow wheels are turning.

Teyve

Remember Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof?”

He had a wonderful relationship with his God. Along the line of Moses in the Old Testament.

At one point Tevye  complains. “The Book says,” he begins. “The Lord chastens who he loves.”

Then he throws his dart. “Could you please love us just a little bit less?”

Recently someone was commenting on my family’s run of bad luck (if we dare use that word). About 20 years ago all of Miriam’s paintings were burned up in a fire we had nothing to do with. No insurance, of course.

Then about a decade later Miriam is diagnosed with AD. If there is a life changing event that was one. Then this year our house, the only house we have ever owned is destroyed by water. 

We were not involved directly in any of those three events. I suppose I could/should have badgered the city to put a berm up around their project. I remember being told that this pipe modification would be to my benefit. I could have, but I believed their young engineers.

I am not angry with God for any of these events. God and I have some questions between us and we are both aware of it, but not that one. Anger is not well used against things you have no control of, though that is what usually happens, it seems.

An exchange of email with friend David yesterday put my mind to rest a little. I have had no word from anyone on the disaster. 

“Things will work out okay. I'm confidant of that.” 

The corner of my decimated house, with the fans and the dehumidifier. 

drying

Yesterday was workers and adjusters.

The cleanup crews labored to clean, wash and then dry the house. In the afternoon the real important adjuster arrived, surveyed the situation and began telling us what to do next. The insurance company, I was informed, has responsibility to make it all good again, but the city has responsibility for the damage too. So the insurance company has every reason to keep the heat on the city.

I like that. 

It turns out that the way the water came in is critical, as is the source of the water. There was some question that the insurance company would not cover this particular situation.

The adjuster arrived and began without hesitation. She had seen the city report. She proceeded to explain their responsibilities and my duties. She did not question the details of the water. That was very good.

Last night the house was full of fans, about 20 of them as well as 4 or 5 dehumidifier/heaters. All working to dry the house and the framing out fast. There is question about the tile floor. Will all of this water cause it to loosen, only when it is dry can we know.

My emotions have gone through the gates during all of this and when there seemed to be a chance that the insurance company would pull out, those emotions dipped to new lows.

But after a couple visits with my insurance agent (a very good friend) and the visit and comments by the adjuster, I feel a ton better. 

Numbers are being put together. They will have them assembled by early week and we can begin talk and deciding.

Meanwhile, today is the last day my brother and his wife will be here, so we will make it a good day.