After returning from Vermont, the big issue was preparing to fly with Mr. Shadow from Phoenix to Portland. The big issue was getting him groomed, checked out by the veterinarian, and getting crate that was properly bolted together to meet Alaska Air's requirements (Alaska Air has non-stop flights from Phoenix to Portland). The grooming, vet and crate purchase all seemed easy, including buying the needed bolts at Ace Hardware.
To make sure things went well, I even took the crate to the airport and brought it in to Alaska Air to make sure it was acceptable - they agreed and even allowed me to buy the extra legroom seats in the exit row six days before the flight (normally this cannot be done until 24 hours before the flight). So I left the airport thinking we were golden.
Patty had also found that one of the bath room sink drains was leaking. I tried to replace the leaky part and was unsuccessful. I called the plumber and had both bathroom sink drains replaced.
We also continued to thin out things and donate them to Goodwill.
And even though I resigned from the Board of the HOA, I still find problems and report them.
At the Desert Botanical Garden, they have a new exhibit that has opened in the Ottosen Gallery. Dyana Hesson does these wonderfully detailed oil paintings of plants. This one is about five feet by four feet, so the detail is amazing.
On Wednesday, Feb. 2, Patty and I packed up the car and Mr. Shadow with his crate. We went to the Phoenix airport, parked the car in the garage, put Mr. Shadow in his crate, and rolled Mr. Shadow and the crate to the Alaska Air check in area. At first they said the crate had to be not only bolted on the corners but on the sides as well - even though those holes were only half circles and a bolt would not fit. They finally relented and Mr. Shadow got put into the hold, we flew from Phoenix to Portland without incident. We loaded Shadow, his crate and our four suitcases into a rental car (actually a Dodge Caravan minivan) and drove to our new home in Portland. Much to our surprise, Shadow had no problem getting up the six stairs from the street to the back yard, nor with the six stairs from the back yard to the back porch. Even more surprising was finding out that he had no problem getting from the first floor up 20 stairs to the second floor, nor even to the third floor! Absolutely amazing to all of us.
Patty and I had previously purchased mattresses and box springs, and they had been delivered on Tuesday, the day before we arrived. We were fine that night, but Thursday was spent going to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Costco and several other stores getting the things we needed to better set us up for our remaining 17 months we will be living in Portland. We went out for a nice dinner with Ben and Martha that night before Ben had to go to work. Fortunately, he had a very quiet night Thursday night, and go more than four hours sleep. Friday, Ben and I went out for breakfast and then I was taken to the airport and flew back to Phoenix.
Back in Phoenix, I did laundry and cleaned up, then Ben and Martha flew to Phoenix on Sunday, to spend some time with me and then to go back packing.
To make sure things went well, I even took the crate to the airport and brought it in to Alaska Air to make sure it was acceptable - they agreed and even allowed me to buy the extra legroom seats in the exit row six days before the flight (normally this cannot be done until 24 hours before the flight). So I left the airport thinking we were golden.
Patty had also found that one of the bath room sink drains was leaking. I tried to replace the leaky part and was unsuccessful. I called the plumber and had both bathroom sink drains replaced.
We also continued to thin out things and donate them to Goodwill.
And even though I resigned from the Board of the HOA, I still find problems and report them.
At the Desert Botanical Garden, they have a new exhibit that has opened in the Ottosen Gallery. Dyana Hesson does these wonderfully detailed oil paintings of plants. This one is about five feet by four feet, so the detail is amazing.
On Wednesday, Feb. 2, Patty and I packed up the car and Mr. Shadow with his crate. We went to the Phoenix airport, parked the car in the garage, put Mr. Shadow in his crate, and rolled Mr. Shadow and the crate to the Alaska Air check in area. At first they said the crate had to be not only bolted on the corners but on the sides as well - even though those holes were only half circles and a bolt would not fit. They finally relented and Mr. Shadow got put into the hold, we flew from Phoenix to Portland without incident. We loaded Shadow, his crate and our four suitcases into a rental car (actually a Dodge Caravan minivan) and drove to our new home in Portland. Much to our surprise, Shadow had no problem getting up the six stairs from the street to the back yard, nor with the six stairs from the back yard to the back porch. Even more surprising was finding out that he had no problem getting from the first floor up 20 stairs to the second floor, nor even to the third floor! Absolutely amazing to all of us.
Patty and I had previously purchased mattresses and box springs, and they had been delivered on Tuesday, the day before we arrived. We were fine that night, but Thursday was spent going to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Costco and several other stores getting the things we needed to better set us up for our remaining 17 months we will be living in Portland. We went out for a nice dinner with Ben and Martha that night before Ben had to go to work. Fortunately, he had a very quiet night Thursday night, and go more than four hours sleep. Friday, Ben and I went out for breakfast and then I was taken to the airport and flew back to Phoenix.
Back in Phoenix, I did laundry and cleaned up, then Ben and Martha flew to Phoenix on Sunday, to spend some time with me and then to go back packing.
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