The cousins are off. They are now touring the mountains to the east. The Cascades and the Rockies. 

The husband and I flew to Sacramento for the weekend to visit his parents. They are both in their 80s and living independently. The husband would prefer they moved into a retirement home, but the parents aren't ready for that yet. 

Its hot here. Sacramento has been hitting 100F every day. We are spoiled with the pleasant weather back in Seattle. 

Gorgeous day today. I am chilling a bit while the husband naps. Enjoying the sound and scent of the breeze in the trees.

The husbands cousins from England have been here for a week. Lovely people. They are doing a tour with if the west coast. Its made the week busy though, with friends over, or events every night.

Drag Queen bingo was fun though.

Anyways, the cousins are taking a day trip to a local volcano while the husband and I catch up on errand and rest.

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We had a good weekend, though expensive weekend.

We finally got a BBQ hooked up at the house. When we moved in, we had a nice natural gas BBQ. But, the natural gas in the new house was not near the location where the BBQ needed to be. We got a couple of quotes for moving that natural gas-- $2000.00! For that price we could get a nice new propane BBQ.

Eventually we found a quote for $1300.00. Still expensive.

Friday the installer moved the gas. The bills was $1800.00 plus tax! We looked hard at the quote. He did write $1800.00 there, but his pen skipped a bit on the curve of the 8 making it look like $1300.

Sigh.

The BBQ is nice though.

Saturday we went looking for a new sofa. One store offered $9000.00 for a nice sectional sofa! Ouch Moving on the next store was selling a $21,000.00 sectional sofa. No features like a recliner or expensive leather. $21,000 was the basic model. It was nice to see, but $21,000.00

I'm not sure who the customer is for that. Maybe commercial? I'm thinking of a hotel lobby where you have dozens of people sitting down and getting up all day every day for years. That sofa would need to stay looking good after years of hard use.

Eventually we went to a chain store and found a sofa, chair & ottoman for less than a fifth of the designer sofa price.

Such is life in Seattle.

It's been a social 4th. We've attended events every day since Thursday. 

Thursday was a BBQ at Brown's. He has just sold his house, so it was a last hurrah before he moves. He is retiring and is moving to the nice, less expensive, place just a ferry ride away from Seattle. 

Friday I had dinner with my old boss and his wife. They are starting a new business as travel consultants for a large travel company. Things are starting. He knows the next couple of years will be a lot of work. But, they enjoy travel.

Saturday was the big annual pool party with the A-list bear crowd at C6 & J's. C6 has retired and has turned his house into a bit of a resort. There is much gorgeous landscaping at their place. It was great to catch up with everyone.

The Saturday party was important for the husband. He used to be very popular in this crowd. That was during his drinking and partying years. Now that he's sober he's isn't always comfortable in this crowd. It turned out well through. He had a good time.

Sunday was a Sobriety birthday party with Ray. It was a quiet event. There was plenty of cake. Success!

July 4

Happy independence day to all!

We are relaxing today, and heading to a BBQ later on. 

Boring or Chill.

I am ready for quiet time. The husband loves to book social commitments. He feel uncomfortable unless he has a few dinners and a trip or two on the calendar.

He doesn't want to be known as a boring person.

I don't remember the last time I was ever bored. I don't care if someone thinks I'm boring. As far as I'm concerned the past six months has had far too much drama in it-- the husband's hospitalization and recovery, our new house, my trip to Nairobi, to Bangalore, camping, trip to the coast. I'm ready to be boring for a while.