Travels of THB: August 2020

Department of Cancellations:

Tokyo Olympics 2020: With two weeks to go before the departure flight, and Japan not accepting visitors from many countries including the US, ANA airlines agreed to refund THB's tickets. And IOC and Japan announce the new dates of the Tokyo 2020 games...to be called...Tokyo 2020 games! Think of all that marketing material that doesn't need to be changed...and how confusing it will be. THB decided for now to keep his O tix, and fool that he is, ordered more tix. Now to go back in the queue looking for a place to stay and air tix.
New York in September: the theaters will be closed now until at least early January; refund received for Girl From the North Country and awaiting same for American Utopia (they are stalling...not enough funds to cover the refunds?)
Colombia and Mexico City in November (no change from May report): no update from three airlines on refunds or credits

Department of Medical Advice: THB had some squirrelly labs so as part of a follow-up THB and Doc D have a tele-visit. Along with our tele-images being much better than last time (THB was on his PC at MDC, this time he's at the loft), the sound doesn't work! Okay, pics stay on and Doc D calls THB (fortunately THB's flip-phone works).

End result: THB is on a very low dose of prednisone trying to get his CPK count back in the green zone to avoid a return of the thigh weakening Nectozing Myositis. After this tele-visit, THB fiddles with his PC at loft and gets sound to work. Guess if you don't use the thing for a couple of weeks it goes to sleep and you have to elbow the PC a few times to wake everything up.

Department of Real Estate: Looking for that "just right" shelter in place spot? Looking for an extra safe getaway? THB is here for you! Comes with 3 meals and snacks, meals will be served at social-distant outside spot (no indoor dining); bathroom privileges with sanitizer provided; tarps provided. Sorry, no linens so bring your own sleeping bags and pillows, towels and toiletries. Distance from lodging to indoor toilet and meals approximately 150 feet. Rent negotiable (if you are willing to do the food shopping there's a big discount). Availability and length of stay depending upon other bookings. Lodging completely sanitized between guest stays.

Pics:

Floors cleaned twice a day, included (scheduled cleaning times announced in advance)

J will research the tide chart booklet to let you know when the cleaning will occur

Towels removed before you arrive

Your own access to the bathroom

Easy to arrange the table and chairs to accommodate social distancing; space heater upon request

Outdoor toilet kit for those not interested in walking from the "bedroom" to the indoor toilet

For those great meals you fix yourself

Vacuum wrapped for safety...STAY SAFE!

Pics by Category

Things That Fly

Drones against the MDC rules, this one launched by the renters next door

New neighbor: it's not a drone, is it legal at MDC?

This one called Lyft

It worked

Beach Scenes

July 5th

View of barge with mist in background reminded THB of Chillida statues on edge of San Sebastian harbor in Spain

Pre-pizza Thursday morning hike along the Pacific Grove waterfront

Enjoying Lovers Point...lots of these rodents r

2nd stretch of PG waterfront, one week later

The name of one of the rock formations offshore?

Aptos beach: wide sands, not many people

MDC Events

The pool has re-opened and a new set of rules is posted; THB thinks 4 family groups at a time is 3 too many, and what chairs are we supposed to bring to the pool?

Full maintenance crew is back at work and one of first group projects is prepping two sets of garage roofs

After the crew has stripped the roof tops the specialist arrive to put on new shingles

This might be the last step in the 5 year remodel at one of the units below us. We'll know for sure when the porta-potty is gone from the garage!

in transit...BUCKLE UP, GRACE

a vessel by Nancy Selvin, Berkeley and CCA ceramicist, this one in honor of Garce Hartigan (read 9th Street women, a great book, with Hartigan one of five women featured)

"Trophy For Grace (Hartigan)"

Food and Dining

THB and DB buy a "box" from Happy Girls Farm restaurant in Pacific Grove; included is a jar of their wonderful strawberry jam, along with several veggie meals, lots of veggies and salads, and more stuff that comes in jars

From the "box" we bought from Happy Girls Kitchen; they specialize in things that come in jars (duh!) and there were several veggie meals included as well

Some jars are labeled on top...hmmmm....and some are already empty

Our fave bread in a brew pub has gone to yet another pick-up/order method. At noon there's a line for all things bread and nobody for all things brewed

Alta Bakery baguette: yeasty, better than Ad Astra in side-by-side tasting

Paula La Duc menu: fine dining on one of our few nights at the loft, PLD is right down the street from us...excellent, the best of the to-go food we've had. You have to order at least two dinners and they last us for two great meals

With Beauty's Bagels closed for most part, Boichik is a great substitute and a great pre-order and pick up system. College and Alcatraz...easy in and out parking.

Sanderlinings above beach in Aptos at the Seascape Resort, outdoor dining only

7 of us, distancing as best possible

The fish of the fish and chips tasted like it had been taken out of the freezer and microwaved; DB said same for her burger, a patty from a stack of frozen pre-cooked patties. It is possible with low volume they have economized in the kitchen

D&C deliver specialty salt, a nice treat for bringing out that extra something in you home-cooking

Flowers at MDC

Late bloomers at end of July

Twins Visits

NONE....And it was a long month without them

C at daycare

J at daycare

Baseball: For just a moment, maybe longer?

First game of the year: MASK UP! (only for coaching staff, players haven't got the memo yet)

10 pt pictorial pop quiz: who is pitching and why the bizarre ad at the Oakland Coliseum

Who is that masked bandit? Oh yeah, the first base ump. And why are the stands empty behind down the first base line" Because they are always empty regardless of pandemic