Lana and Puma in California

CLOSED FOR REPAIRS AND A NAP

Big Sur is burning!

Pretty soon a girl feels right at home!

And the place starts looking lived in

And a few new things

A few old things

   

Here we are! Sixth-Month-Aversary

Like the California Poppy, we are blooming where planted!

Somehow, getting the car plates has made it seem real.  Or real enough!

Gentle Transitions

Fortunately for me, Beckyanne Theriot of "A First Class Move" recommended "Gentle Transitions" to help me with the California part of my major move.    http://www.gentletransitions.com/mn/index.html

I think the challenges faced by seniors in their final move is as much physical as emotional; in my case, the physical effort was the overwhelming reason why I decided to employ a Move Manager.

The very modest fee was money very well spent.  The "Gentle Transitions" crew was just superb:  Greg, Pamela, Marcus, and Sophia were professional, hard-working, and very nice.  The amount of paper and cardboard they disposed of for me was incredible.  When they left, my apartment was clean, vacuumed, and organized.  The bed was made, the kitchen was functional, and the towels were in the proper place in the bathrooms.  All I had to do was go to bed, which I did!

I would never hesitate to recommend "A First Class Move" and "Gentle Transitions" you to anyone facing such a tough life-changing move.  Puma and I are very happy!

A Few Things Missing

There are a few things missing from my household effects shipment:

    1 flat-screen 21" TV

    3 small oriental rugs

    3 Uniden telephones

    4 lamp shades

    1 brass&glass coffee table (glass part is here, the brass part is not).  Fortunately, the boxes  were just left on the truck, which now happens to be in Los Angeles.  Whoops!  They're being sent to me via UPS.  Whew. 

Never On Sunday? Not!

I just heard from my driver, Mr. George Wallace, that he expects to pull in and start unloading my household effects in Pacific Grove on Sunday 11/25/07 around 8:00 or 9:00 am.  Better early than late I always say!  When they're done unloading I will lock the door and go back to my motel and not worry about anything until Wednesday, when Gentle Transitions comes to help me.  What could be better?! 

Snowed In in New Mexico

My household effects are snowed in New Mexico and are not expected in Pacific Grove until Sunday 11/25!  Over a thousand miles to go.  But they're two-thirds of the way across! 

Puma, Fran, and Lana's Excellent Adventure!

Puma, Fran, and I took off from Dulles Airport on Saturday, November 17, 2007.  Our first obstacle was, of course, the security screening.  Since I have a hip replacement and two knee replacements, I am especially marked to come up on the terrorist radar.     And Puma, being an Abyssinian, also drew attention to herself.  "You'll have to remove the cat from the carrier," proclaimed the Agent.  Here Puma's Auntie Fran stepped into the picture.  "Good thing you're wearing gloves," she said to the suspicious man, "so the cat won't hurt you as much."  Fran's tone of voice convinced the Agent that Puma was the Evil Cat From Hell.

The two of them got more or less waved through.  Meanwhile, I continued to stand spread-eagled in full view while an uncomfortable lady Agent proceeded to grope me shamlessly.  Of course, all this indignity was more than made up for by the incredible airline food.  Then, after a two-hour car ride in a Mustang, we arrived at our destination.

Paradise Found!! 

And we're WHEELS UP!!

November 17, 2007

United Air Lines Flight 217

Dep IAD 12:30pm

Arr SFO 3:30pm

Woo hoo! 

Puma and me, at The Residence

Puma and I are having a wonderful time at The Residenc at Tysons Corner in Vienna, VA., just down the street from my BFF Fran.  Our room is cozy and comfortable.  I have a walk-in shower, which is fantastically convenient, and Puma can sleep either on top of the Queen-size bed (and on her heating pad) or under the bed.

We get  free breakfast every morning (if I get up early enough) and we're watching a lot of Pay-per-view cable movies.  We are almost back to normal!!!

A First Class Move!

How lucky I was to discover Beckyanne Theriot and her magnificent Move Management Company.  http://www.afirstclassmove.com/  It was seven days (one week) from the time of our initial interview to the packing and sale of my house.  ONE WEEK!!  That is truly phenomenal!!   Beckyanne, Dan the Moving Man, Suzanne, Anna, Cap, and the fantastic realtor Gail have accomplished magic.  And I'm Westward Ho!    California, here I come!!!

Woo woo, woo!!  Puma and I are at a hotel until the house signing, and my fussy Abyssinian is   R E A L L Y mad at me.  She been under the hotel-room bed all day.  "How could you do this to me, Mommy?"  Wait till she sees the plane!  I shudder to think.

To Pooped to Pop!

Today Olympic Moving and Storage packed up all my stuff; tomorrow they will haul it to the lift van!  Puma and I are too pooped to pop.  But it's so wonderful to be on our way to P.G.!!!!! 

With a Puma on my knee!

Oh! We’re goin’ to Californy with a Puma on my knee-  Goin’ go Californy for my

Pacific Grove

to see!!

Oh! Oh! Lana!  Oh won’t you come see me???  For I’m waitin’ in Californy for my DC friend to see!!!!!!

[Received from my friend Kim Herndon in Pacific Grove!  ;-D ]

Cleaning, Packing, Selling Day is Here!

From Peanut Butter to Dark Chocolate

It took a while, but I finally had the horrid paint job fixed up on my deck.  Here's the Peanut Butter color, in all its ugliness:

BEFORE

And the lovely Cholate color

AFTER

HOORAY

Forest Hill finally receives permit for cottages

Carmel Pine Cone, September 14, 2007

By KELLY NIX
THE CITY of Pacific Grove has issued a permit to
Forest Hill Manor which will allow about a dozen anxious
seniors to move into new cottages they’ve been prohibited
from occupying since the units were completed in April.
On Wednesday, the city issued a temporary occupancy
permit for the Cottage Apartments at Forest Hill Manor.
“It’s a long time coming,” city attorney Heidi Quinn said
Thursday. “I think the parties worked very hard. The city had
legitimate concerns, and Forest Hill came a long way in providing
that information.”
Forest Hill had to provide the city with a parking plan,
safety inspection and other things in order for the permit to
be issued.
The seniors, as far as the city is concerned, will be allowed
to move in to the cottages immediately, Quinn said. Beverly
Power, executive director of Forest Hill Manor, said they
were pleased with the permit but wished it had been granted
sooner.
Forest Hill had originally sought a permanent occupancy
permit, but the city refused to issue that until Forest Hill
completes its South Wing project — which includes a new
four-story building with apartments, and skilled nursing and
assisted living facilities. The South Wing is slated to be completed
by April 2008.
The temporary permit isn’t perfect. If Forest Hill —
owned by California-Nevada Methodist Homes — doesn’t
complete it or meet other conditions, the permit could be
revoked, which would mean cottage residents would have to
move out.
But Quinn said that’s an unlikely scenario.
Forest Hill’s attorney, Mary McEachron, requested the
temporary occupancy permit in July. She could not be
reached for comment this week.
The Mediterranean-style cottages range from 1,000
square feet to 1,300 square feet. General prices for the new
cottages and apartments range from about $239,000 to
$532,000.