Log Book
Dec 2009
Dec 2009
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| December 2009 |
Richmond Yacht Club
Still living on the boat at RYC. The tenants are not yet out of the house but hopefully will be by
Dec 31. We had originally given them until Jan 15 to move out, but that was before we found
out they had not paid any rent for October or November. They did not pay for December either
and gave notice to be out by Dec 31. If they are not, we will have to start eviction and then who
knows when we can move into the house.
We did some more square dancing. Susie played a few more games of bridge. Sam went out
with the “Sunshine Boys” at RYC (a bunch of old farts who get together on Wednesdays and go
out on a sailboat with their sack lunch, stop somewhere or drift around and eat it, then come
back). We took a few afternoon and evening walks around Pt Richmond, to get some exercise.
Sam developed some pain in his right jaw on Dec 17, and his teeth would not come together. It
was checked by a Kaiser head and neck surgeon, who surmised he has TMJ irritation. Sam
began muscle relaxants, ibuprofen and a soft food diet (with the doctor’s special dispensation
for the holidays). He may have problems with this condition on and off for the rest of his life.
On Dec 20 we drove to Santa Barbara and got a motel. The next morning we visited with Sam’s
cousin Ellie at her home before and after breakfast with her at IHOP. That evening we
celebrated Hanukah with Sam’s family. Linda (Sam’s ex) and her husband Bob hosted the
event; they prepared matzo ball soup and salad, and dessert. Sam’s son David and
granddaughter Zoë (from Clovis) were there – David fixed blintzes and potato latkes. Sam’s
daughter Robbin and son-in-law David (from Fairfield, Connecticut) were there, as well his
daughter Mickey and a friend of hers, Judith (Mickey’s husband David couldn’t make it this
year). Gifts were exchanged and some family Hanukah traditions were carried out with Zoë, the
youngest (and only) child in attendance; she is now 16. The next morning, we met Robbin and
her David for breakfast at the original Sambo’s restaurant across from the pier.
We spent a quiet Christmas day together, just the two of us, on the boat.
The eczema on Susie’s hands (which she has had some minor problems with since the first
knee surgery in July 2008) got much worse when she ran out of the medicine she got in
Arizona. This required a trip to urgent care and a prescription for new medication. The pain
and itching were intolerable and she could not wait for the physician appointment she has to
establish with a new doctor on Jan 28. With just 4 days of application, the medicine has done
its job and she is much better. This, too, is a condition she will probably have to manage for the
rest of her life.
On Dec 30, we were invited to a get-together orchestrated by friends Bob and Ling Elkins at
their house in Novato. There were relatives and friends in attendance, and people from
Australia, Hungary and Spain (via Russia); one person was leaving in a few days to work in
India. We were just back from Mexico. There were people of Jewish and Chinese heritage.
What a group!
Dec 31 – New Years Eve – we attended the dinner and dance party at RYC. The food was
great and the band was very good. Susie and Sam danced a lot. After the midnight
celebrations, on the walk back to the boat, Susie told Sam she did not feel very well (and as
usual we had nothing alcoholic to drink so you can’t blame it on that). By 1:00 AM she
appeared to be suffering from a full-on bout of stomach flu or food poisoning. This was over by
about 8 AM the next morning – thankfully.
We spent Jan 1 on the boat – Susie sleeping and Sam playing on the computer and waiting on
Susie when she needed something. And on Jan 2, about 1:00 PM, Sam started in with the
gastric problem. So Susie is taking her turn as nurse, and writing this update. Hopefully he will
be better soon.
The big news: In December, Susie’s daughter Jennifer and her son-in-law Shane (parents of
Susie’s grandson Hunter age 8) announced that two pre-adoptive children have been placed in
their home. Christopher (age 5) and Samantha (age 3) are delightful (we got to meet them at
Thanksgiving, before their placement). And Jennifer also announced that she is pregnant –
due in June 2010. Shane, who was expecting to be deployed in a few months to the Middle
East, was able to land a state-side job with his National Guard unit, so they are thrilled that he
will be able to remain with his rapidly-expanding family. We talked to friends Joe and Sandy
Perez on the phone right after we found out about all these new kids and Sandy (who has one
grandchild) accused Susie of being a “grandma hog.”
A big year of changes for us. We hope to soon be in our house and having our next adventure.
Still living on the boat at RYC. The tenants are not yet out of the house but hopefully will be by
Dec 31. We had originally given them until Jan 15 to move out, but that was before we found
out they had not paid any rent for October or November. They did not pay for December either
and gave notice to be out by Dec 31. If they are not, we will have to start eviction and then who
knows when we can move into the house.
We did some more square dancing. Susie played a few more games of bridge. Sam went out
with the “Sunshine Boys” at RYC (a bunch of old farts who get together on Wednesdays and go
out on a sailboat with their sack lunch, stop somewhere or drift around and eat it, then come
back). We took a few afternoon and evening walks around Pt Richmond, to get some exercise.
Sam developed some pain in his right jaw on Dec 17, and his teeth would not come together. It
was checked by a Kaiser head and neck surgeon, who surmised he has TMJ irritation. Sam
began muscle relaxants, ibuprofen and a soft food diet (with the doctor’s special dispensation
for the holidays). He may have problems with this condition on and off for the rest of his life.
On Dec 20 we drove to Santa Barbara and got a motel. The next morning we visited with Sam’s
cousin Ellie at her home before and after breakfast with her at IHOP. That evening we
celebrated Hanukah with Sam’s family. Linda (Sam’s ex) and her husband Bob hosted the
event; they prepared matzo ball soup and salad, and dessert. Sam’s son David and
granddaughter Zoë (from Clovis) were there – David fixed blintzes and potato latkes. Sam’s
daughter Robbin and son-in-law David (from Fairfield, Connecticut) were there, as well his
daughter Mickey and a friend of hers, Judith (Mickey’s husband David couldn’t make it this
year). Gifts were exchanged and some family Hanukah traditions were carried out with Zoë, the
youngest (and only) child in attendance; she is now 16. The next morning, we met Robbin and
her David for breakfast at the original Sambo’s restaurant across from the pier.
We spent a quiet Christmas day together, just the two of us, on the boat.
The eczema on Susie’s hands (which she has had some minor problems with since the first
knee surgery in July 2008) got much worse when she ran out of the medicine she got in
Arizona. This required a trip to urgent care and a prescription for new medication. The pain
and itching were intolerable and she could not wait for the physician appointment she has to
establish with a new doctor on Jan 28. With just 4 days of application, the medicine has done
its job and she is much better. This, too, is a condition she will probably have to manage for the
rest of her life.
On Dec 30, we were invited to a get-together orchestrated by friends Bob and Ling Elkins at
their house in Novato. There were relatives and friends in attendance, and people from
Australia, Hungary and Spain (via Russia); one person was leaving in a few days to work in
India. We were just back from Mexico. There were people of Jewish and Chinese heritage.
What a group!
Dec 31 – New Years Eve – we attended the dinner and dance party at RYC. The food was
great and the band was very good. Susie and Sam danced a lot. After the midnight
celebrations, on the walk back to the boat, Susie told Sam she did not feel very well (and as
usual we had nothing alcoholic to drink so you can’t blame it on that). By 1:00 AM she
appeared to be suffering from a full-on bout of stomach flu or food poisoning. This was over by
about 8 AM the next morning – thankfully.
We spent Jan 1 on the boat – Susie sleeping and Sam playing on the computer and waiting on
Susie when she needed something. And on Jan 2, about 1:00 PM, Sam started in with the
gastric problem. So Susie is taking her turn as nurse, and writing this update. Hopefully he will
be better soon.
The big news: In December, Susie’s daughter Jennifer and her son-in-law Shane (parents of
Susie’s grandson Hunter age 8) announced that two pre-adoptive children have been placed in
their home. Christopher (age 5) and Samantha (age 3) are delightful (we got to meet them at
Thanksgiving, before their placement). And Jennifer also announced that she is pregnant –
due in June 2010. Shane, who was expecting to be deployed in a few months to the Middle
East, was able to land a state-side job with his National Guard unit, so they are thrilled that he
will be able to remain with his rapidly-expanding family. We talked to friends Joe and Sandy
Perez on the phone right after we found out about all these new kids and Sandy (who has one
grandchild) accused Susie of being a “grandma hog.”
A big year of changes for us. We hope to soon be in our house and having our next adventure.
| PHOTOS for Dec 2009 |