Brief Visit Home

Sunday, July 23 – Sunday, July 30

Logan International 

5pm: Our “airport shuttle” (8-passenger van, driven by Lynn’s son-in-law) arrives. Lynn & Tracy are off to Vegas for a kennel owners convention. Greg & I are headed back to Seattle for a week of appointments (9 of ‘em!) and the annual Miller Family Picnic.  (After the kennel conv, Lynn will join us in Seattle.) Our flight is delayed twice, and I think we reached SeaTac just before 1am. Amy chauffeured us home from there, and – after a short reunion with the dog – we were sound asleep.


Despite lack of sleep, I was up shortly after 6 on Monday and enjoyed a cool, non-humid walk up to QFC to grab some breakfast items: yogurt (healthy) and iced carrot cake muffins. (It’s all about labeling – muffins are breakfast appropriate, even if they look exactly like cupcakes and have a huge dollop of frosting. I figure the calories were cancelled out by the 2-mile walk.)

In brief, the rest of the week included the following:

·      ...visit to Costco Optical for an exam and 2 pairs of real glasses, which are just a tad more costly than the Michaels readers and Freddy’s sunglasses I’m used to.

·      ...quick stop at Baskin-Robbins (hey, I’m already on 85^th) for my favorite chocolate shake

·      ...two serious eye appointments for Greg (including a mention of cataract surgery, but “not yet”)

·      ...trip to Urgent Care for Greg. What was diagnosed as an allergic reaction to Kaboom turned out to be a miserable case of poison ivy. (That’s what he gets for messing around the construction site too long.)

 ...gathering with long-time dog park friends for dinner and great conversation

·      ...semi-annual check-ups for both of us (same doc, new location, poor communication re appt times)

·      ...a lovely luncheon in Issaquah w/ several of my retired teacher friends.

(Only a couple of my "famous" lemon squares remain on the platter.)

       ...one game of Bananagrams, but no Scrabble.

 ...delightful (and delicious – best halibut ever!) dinner at Greg’s niece’s home on Lake Washington w/ Mt Rainier radiant against the blue sky. Lynn was with us for this.

Greg's 98-year-old mom in pink. Niece at head of table, her mom next to me.
(her son in the UC t-shirt; his sister was our dinner guest in NYC)

·     ...2 dental appts for Greg (and promise of a new crown in December)

      ...1 dental appt for me (and a clean bill of health)

·      ... hanging out with 3 of my kids, plus Warren’s current (and terrific) girlfriend. Lots of laughs as we dredged up old family memories.

       ...the annual Miller Family Picnic. (Ironic note: Greg & I are the only 2 actual Millers. But the rest are definitely all family!) This year’s highlight was playing Hungry, Hungry Humans.

Kids on skateboards (or mechanics creepers) w/ small plastic bins to collect
the 300 plastic balls. Hilarious! (The adults got a chance too.)
And yes, it would be easier on a hard surface.