Whooosh!

I was 40 years old before I ever set foot in California.  Growing up in the 60s, Dione Warwick was the only way I knew the way to San Jose.  But in 1989, I was asked if I wanted to take a job there.  I'm not sure the guy who was asking the question even got to the end of it before I barked 'YES!'.

I arrived on a Friday night and got a rental car at the San Jose airport and drove myself to my motel - in Morgan Hill, CA.  My new job was at a software lab about 5 miles north of Morgan Hill which is about maybe 10ish miles south of San Jose.  Anyway...  The motel reminded me of every B black and white movie I had ever seen that featured the rural parts of California.  It gave me bearing.

Saturday morning, my ears woke up first.  There was the strangest noise.  It was kind of like a leaf blower but a kinder, gentler leaf blower - blowing in soft puffs.  I remember thinking 'wow, even the lawn equipment sounds like it's doing recreational drugs!'  I did not move but opened up one eyeball to see what time it was - 6 a.m.  (Why in the fuck are they blowing leaves at 6 fucking a.m. on Saturday????)

I opened up the other eyeball and looked out the window and saw the most wondrous site...  A perfectly beautiful colorful magical looking hot hair balloon was coming alive not 100 yards from my window!  It took me a full minute to honestly believe I wasn't still asleep.  Turns out this little no name motel was next to a field that was a very popular balloon launching site.

We had a few balloons on the east coast.  They would turn up at fairs and stuff.  In California, and as it turns out in other parts of the west, especially on weekends, they grow out of the fields like crops.  I never ever got tired of seeing them and learned to tune into their special leaf blowing kind of sound. 

One Sunday, after I had moved into my condo, I heard that sound and hopped out to check the window.  I could hear it but I couldn't see it.  I ran from window to window and finally just ran out the front door to see if I could spot it.  All of a sudden I hear - as clearly as if the speaker was standing next to me ... "did we wake you?"  I looked up.  The speaker was in the basket just over head of a wonderfully beautiful balloon.

It's the perfect love for an early morning person like me.  My friend, John (who is also an early morning person) and I used to research the balloon launchings in norther California,  get up at oh dark 30 and go see the launches.  It was a great way to see nooks and crannies of that part of the state.

Every year I think I should go to the balloon show in Albuquerque, NM.  But, I'm not big on crowds and it's always at the same time as baseball playoffs.  But, now, I read they have a Balloon Museum there!  I can put together my own little balloon trip.  I need to pick a good weekend and just go. 

Whooosh!

I was 40 years old before I ever set foot in California.  Growing up in the 60s, Dione Warwick was the only way I knew the way to San Jose.  But in 1989, I was asked if I wanted to take a job there.  I'm not sure the guy who was asking the question even got to the end of it before I barked 'YES!'.

I arrived on a Friday night and got a rental car at the San Jose airport and drove myself to my motel - in Morgan Hill, CA.  My new job was at a software lab about 5 miles north of Morgan Hill which is about maybe 10ish miles south of San Jose.  Anyway...  The motel reminded me of every B black and white movie I had ever seen that featured the rural parts of California.  It gave me bearing.

Saturday morning, my ears woke up first.  There was the strangest noise.  It was kind of like a leaf blower but a kinder, gentler leaf blower - blowing in soft puffs.  I remember thinking 'wow, even the lawn equipment sounds like it's doing recreational drugs!'  I did not move but opened up one eyeball to see what time it was - 6 a.m.  (Why in the fuck are they blowing leaves at 6 fucking a.m. on Saturday????)

I opened up the other eyeball and looked out the window and saw the most wondrous site...  A perfectly beautiful colorful magical looking hot hair balloon was coming alive not 100 yards from my window!  It took me a full minute to honestly believe I wasn't still asleep.  Turns out this little no name motel was next to a field that was a very popular balloon launching site.

We had a few balloons on the east coast.  They would turn up at fairs and stuff.  In California, and as it turns out in other parts of the west, especially on weekends, they grow out of the fields like crops.  I never ever got tired of seeing them and learned to tune into their special leaf blowing kind of sound. 

One Sunday, after I had moved into my condo, I heard that sound and hopped out to check the window.  I could hear it but I couldn't see it.  I ran from window to window and finally just ran out the front door to see if I could spot it.  All of a sudden I hear - as clearly as if the speaker was standing next to me ... "did we wake you?"  I looked up.  The speaker was in the basket just over head of a wonderfully beautiful balloon.

It's the perfect love for an early morning person like me.  My friend, John (who is also an early morning person) and I used to research the balloon launchings in norther California,  get up at oh dark 30 and go see the launches.  It was a great way to see nooks and crannies of that part of the state.

Every year I think I should go to the balloon show in Albuquerque, NM.  But, I'm not big on crowds and it's always at the same time as baseball playoffs.  But, now, I read they have a Balloon Museum there!  I can put together my own little balloon trip.  I need to pick a good weekend and just go. 

Drip Drip Drip

It's a rainy Sunday here in Seattle... And the key word there is in.  About 30 minutes ago I noticed a wet spot on my hearth.  And then I saw a drop and then another one.  And now it's raining in my living room. That's a bit of an exaggeration but I had to put a washcloth in the pan to keep the noise level down. 

There is some kind of roof fix/redo something going on upstairs.  I was not able to avoid the $7,000 assessment but I have been successful in avoiding the details.  Yesterday there was some strange equipment out in the hallway and  a worker guy walked by so I asked him what the deal was and he said they were working on leaks.  So, I don't think I'm paving new ground here.

My living room roof is the floor of the terrace of the unit upstairs. 

I paged the building manager.  He called back in 5 mins.  (We do have the world's best building manager.)  He was just here to survey.  Apparently, I'm the third today.   It's a contractor screw up.  

Micah (building manager) took pictures and found another leak in the fireplace itself.  He'll be back in about 30 minutes.  My job is to keep an eye on the ceiling and call him if I see another leak and/or the seams in the ceiling....

Drip Drip Drip

It's a rainy Sunday here in Seattle... And the key word there is in.  About 30 minutes ago I noticed a wet spot on my hearth.  And then I saw a drop and then another one.  And now it's raining in my living room. That's a bit of an exaggeration but I had to put a washcloth in the pan to keep the noise level down. 

There is some kind of roof fix/redo something going on upstairs.  I was not able to avoid the $7,000 assessment but I have been successful in avoiding the details.  Yesterday there was some strange equipment out in the hallway and  a worker guy walked by so I asked him what the deal was and he said they were working on leaks.  So, I don't think I'm paving new ground here.

My living room roof is the floor of the terrace of the unit upstairs. 

I paged the building manager.  He called back in 5 mins.  (We do have the world's best building manager.)  He was just here to survey.  Apparently, I'm the third today.   It's a contractor screw up.  

Micah (building manager) took pictures and found another leak in the fireplace itself.  He'll be back in about 30 minutes.  My job is to keep an eye on the ceiling and call him if I see another leak and/or the seams in the ceiling....

Wow!

;

This is amazing. A double rainbow and I could see the entire arch from the bottoms of one side the bottoms of the other. Unfortunately my camera does not have a wide angle lens.  But it was beautiful.  Just now. 

Last night we had thunder and lightening which is a very rare occurrence.  We are getting some weather treats.

And, my leak stopped leaking.  It slowed down considerably after about 40 minutes and then stopped completely and then Micah called to make sure it was stopped.  He's sending a crew in tomorrow to do something.  I need to swing the web cam over to see if I can watch from work.  So far there is not one spec of cosmetic damage.

Wow!

;

This is amazing. A double rainbow and I could see the entire arch from the bottoms of one side the bottoms of the other. Unfortunately my camera does not have a wide angle lens.  But it was beautiful.  Just now. 

Last night we had thunder and lightening which is a very rare occurrence.  We are getting some weather treats.

And, my leak stopped leaking.  It slowed down considerably after about 40 minutes and then stopped completely and then Micah called to make sure it was stopped.  He's sending a crew in tomorrow to do something.  I need to swing the web cam over to see if I can watch from work.  So far there is not one spec of cosmetic damage.