First, a Rant

We decided to leave for HR this morning at the 11th hour. All week we had planned to head north well before our daughter’s graduation mid-June, when we will be hosting family for all the festivities. Early this week, however, a host of travails had put our departure in jeopardy. The most wrenching of issues being the health of Charles the dog. He had a severe reaction to something he likely ingested on a walk, and after a billion hours and dollars spent at the vet, we decided he was markedly improved and we proceeded as planned, just a day late.

We left at 11:30 am, the latest we have ever set out. Great traffic flow until the notorious 405/West LA morass. Pretty much smooth sailing until Bob's Well Bread in Los Alamos where they were sold out of our favorite sandwiches, so we bought cookies - seemed like a reasonable exchange. We ended up ordering sandwiches at High Street Deli in SLO, our other favorite. We both are rather predictable sandwich selectors - tuna, swiss, mustard, pickles NO TOMATO for Chad; turkey, avocado, swiss, mayo, TOMATO for me. Both usually on sourdough or french roll. Spoiler Alert: one of these sandwiches was too much like the other when we opened the bag two hours later. Chad choked down his very mayonnaise-y, tomato-y tuna, avocado sandwich, with nary a trace of mustard, nor pickle. Sigh.

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Last time we were here - see the last Hummingbird Rancher entry by the eloquent La Kiki Fast - a note was left on our gate that PG&E would need to do some tree trimming to accommodate one of their lines. I have been less than impressed with their handiwork around town.

I shit you not...

Chad called and spoke to the very nice fella who would be doing the work. He assured Chad that he was familiar with our property and prided himself on the artistry with which he approaches this sort of line maintenance. My fears were allayed…until…

WHAT THE ACTUAL F@%*!

This is his “masterpiece.” What a joke.

So as I sit in the Mesa Ridge on our first night here, trying to recalibrate my mood, I’ll spare you the further tales of one-hour traffic delays, mouse visits, and dog worries. I will instead focus on my fortunes, and they are bountiful.

Also, Chad saved a snake…more on that tomorrow.