Getting there

Tuesday, 4 days to takeoff to Las Vegas. We went to Missouri last Friday to drop off a couch and sundry other items and one last visit with son Zach, his wife Amanda and daughter Libby and children. Turned right around for home on Saturday. 1500 miles in two days. Funny story there. We'd originally planned on another overnight in Missouri, but got to counting days and trips to Kay's to store stuff. Really need one more day. Meanwhile, Liz had contracted with a local kid to paint the apartment. he and his girlfriend were spending the weekend in the apartment. There's only the airbed available. Okay, we'll find a cheap motel near Detroit and show up Sunday morning. There was a Michigan home game Saturday. Motels from Taylor to Romulus were fully booked. Verizon (Smart phones are really great!) led us to something in Dearborn - with a vacancy! - I knew something was up when I saw the glass shield between us and the clerk. Then I noticed the card taped to the window. $30 for short time, $45 for overnight and $225 for the week. OH! We gave him $45 cash (only) and he gave us a room key. The room had been recently occupied. Obviously. Thoroughly. For the intended, unstated purpose, with breaks for refreshments and the TV tuned to an inspirational channel.  Back to the clerk, whose English was limited to memorized phrases. He simply couldn't understand the problem, but said someone would check. We went across the street for a very late dinner. Came back. No change. Finally lured him from his nice safe cage to the room. Understanding! Ne w room, fresh sheets, bed made. Sleep at last.


Well, the apartment is now almost totally empty. It's Wednesday night, no TV (gone to a friend of Liz's son), no couch (now residing in Missouri), no big beautiful desktop computer or comfortble desk chair (niece, friend Kay) no microwave even ( painter). Liz is at her laptop (Her mother, Friday)balanced on two boxes and a board (second best desk chair,  to go to yet another friend tomorrow), I'm doing this on a netbook (goes with us, nice but tiny keyboard) on  a TV table (deservedly destined for the dumpster) (last bedroom chair, also to friend). Contented sigh. Nearly there.