Date: Sat, 01 Mar 1997 21:14:48 -0800

Subject: Postcard from Portland

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings and toothless grins! I had two teeth extracted yesterday.
Last year I had a root canal that did not succeed in saving the tooth.
The problem was caused by a phenomenon known as resorption, which means
the tooth decays from the inside out with no trace of how the decay got
into the tooth in the first place. A very small percentage of the
population is affected by this and the cause is unknown. I'm just one
of the lucky ones. One of the neighboring teeth also showed signs of
resporption, and the other neighbor exhibited some mobility. After
consulting with the oral surgeon it was agreed that the best long-term
course of action would be to replace all three with implants. [Peter,
show this to David and tell him to brush those teeth!] The extractions
were painless (thanks to Valium and Novocain) and I'm doing just fine.

Now on to more pleasant topics...

In last month's PfP, we indicated that we would be checking to see if
we were within 90 days of closing. We found out that the builder is
ahead of schedule and the projected closing date had moved up to 3/25
+/- a week! I called the bank and locked in the interest rate at 7 7/8ths.
From what I hear lately, rates will be going up - so this was good timing. 
I called the builder today and the new estimated date is 3/31.

With the closing date now looming so near, we were nervous about
waiting until 2/22 to see Kim at Beaverton Light Shoppe [(503) 646-6584
for the curious :) ]. She does not generally work weekends, so we
arranged to see Dana Davis rather than Kim. Dana quickly understood our
tastes and was extremely helpful in suggesting lighting which both
matched our desires and provided continuity from room to room. I don't
know how Liz and I could have managed to decide what to choose from
their dizzying selection without Dana's able assistance. The main
purpose of our visit was to determine if there were any fixtures which
they did not have in stock so that they could order them in time. The
only fixture we selected which they didn't carry was the one which will
go over the mirror in the master bath. We're glad we decided to go in
two weeks earlier than scheduled.

The house is really taking shape. The siding is complete; gas, water,
electric and phone lines have been run to the house; the insulation is
installed; the fireplace is in; and the sheetrock is up. Liz's Mom came
to visit last weekend. Bill was busy with a rocket launch (which was a
complete success), so it was an opportune time for her to travel. We
schlepped her to Beaverton Light Shoppe (actually, she was anxious to
come :) to finalize our selection. Then we all went to the house to
meet with Judy Crowston of Blinds Etc. [(503) 639-8592] to get a rough
estimate for the window coverings. We opted for 2" wood blinds for the
living room, dining room and master bedroom, and 2" vinyl for the
kitchen and the smaller bedrooms - and textured vertical vinyl for the
sliding glass doors in the family room. We also decided on cellular
blinds which open from either the bottom or top for the garden tub area
and the bonus room. These will provide more privacy and better
insulation. Again, there was a myriad of options and it was very
difficult to make up our minds. But Liz and I are very happy with our
choices. We do want to get a competitive estimate since we are not
locked into any one vendor by the builder for this facet of the
interior. Remaining on our 'to do' list is selecting the components for
the closet organizer for the walk-in and arranging for a sprinkler
system. We took Liz's Mom with us to look at some oak furniture Liz has
her eye on. Her bedroom furniture is in need of replacing - and we'll
need a round table and chairs for the kitchen nook. If the economy
doesn't improve after all of this, it won't be for lack of effort on
our part!

I have some more pictures of the house which I haven't had time to
post. I will hopefully have them available tomorrow.

Earlier in the month Liz and I celebrated Valentine's Day, which is the
anniversary of our engagement as well. We can't believe it's three
years already (and thus our 4th Valentine's Day together). We
punctuated the occasion with a royal feast at one of the fanciest
restaurants in Portland - the Esplanade at Riverplace. For openers, we
shared an order of Dungeness Crab and Bay Shrimp Cakes with Oriental
Slaw and Cilantro Oil. Liz banqueted on Beef Wellington with Wild
Mushroom Duxelles and Pate of Foie Gras and I selected the Crab Stuffed
Salmon with Red Curry Hollandaise. Dessert consisted of a sampler plate
with a taste of everything imaginable. Fortunately the weather
cooperated so that we could walk off dinner and window shop in the
stores that border the waterfront by the restaurant. It was a delicious
and romantic evening befitting the occasion.

And speaking of the weather (you knew I'd have to get around to this
sooner or later :), what a month it was! The entire time Liz's Mom was
here it was bright and sunny - no rain and hardly a cloud to be seen.
The views of Mount Hood and Mount Saint Helens were postcard perfect.
The total rainfall for the month (see below) was actually slightly
below average. That may be the first time that's happened since Liz and
I moved here.

This past month I wrapped up the project on which I've been working
since last summer and will soon be starting a new one. In the meantime,
I've been made project lead for a release that is now going out to the
field. This isn't as great as it sounds. I get to carry a pager 24
hours a day and go to lots of boring meetings :-(

Liz is being urged to apply for the newly created position of
Rehabilitation Director and she is taking it under serious
consideration.

Our plans for this month include packing, packing and packing. Oh yeah,
and also spending Easter weekend with Liz's folks in California.

And lastly, the first day of spring will toll the half-century mark for
my odyssey on Earth. Egad!!!

We hope the lion has been tame in your neck of the woods (he roared
here today) and that the lamb will soon lift Winter's veil and reveal
the crocuses and usher in the Robin's cheerful song.

with love,
Sandy & Liz
     _________________________________________________________________

climatic summary for portland oregon     
national weather service portland oregon               
250 am pst sat mar 01 1997

 ...temperature...

high yesterday... 49 
 low yesterday... 30 
mean temp........ 40   departure from normal...   -6

normal high for today... 54
normal  low for today... 37
record high for today...  67 set in 1981
record  low for today...  22 set in 1971

...precipitation...

yesterday.............   0.05
total for the month...   1.62
normal month to date..   3.71
total for the year....   9.08   total since oct 1...  37.54
normal year to date...   9.06   normal from oct 1...  23.34

...astronomical data...

sunrise today...648 am    pst
sunset  today...556 pm    pst
sunrise tomorrow...647 am    pst
sunset  tomorrow...557 pm    pst

-- 
Sandy & Liz Herring        Portland, Oregon        Peck of Pickled Pisces
webfeet@herring.org     bigfish@sns-access.com     http://www.herring.org/

                  And that's the news from Portland
       where everything is green, rolling stones gather moss,
              and the rainfall is always above average.

guestbook

Webmaster

Home, Sweet Home What's New Back to Postcard Index

If you are harvesting email addresses, I know shnorrer.28/Aug/2008:10:07:50/pfp_9703.html@herring.org and the gummint would be delighted to hear from you.