home again, home again....

It's 7:20 and my goal is to stay awake until 8:30. I'm not optimistic.

They found my suitcase! It was dropped off here about 4:00 and everything was intact and all the coffee present. I've got a ton of laundry to do but that will wait until tomorrow morning. We pay a lower rate for each kwh from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m. and there's no way I'm starting it tonight.

Today was all about completing the list of things the buyers want done, things on the inspector's report. They had about eight things and I've taken care of seven. We won't raise the over-the-range to the code specified height because that would require modifying the cabinet, and that is way more than I'm going to mess with. They didn't build kitchens for microwaves in the 70's and everyone who's lived here since has managed to live with this setup, so they can, too.

I started on the roof putting tar sealant on all the vent pipes and several other spots the inspectors identified. Then fixing the front door threshold, installing new weatherstripping, and a new wireless doorbell. From there to the laundry room where I discovered I can't install the new Simmons valve for the wash machine, so a plumber is coming tomorrow afternoon. Two new fabricated outlet covers, and an anti-tilt strap on the range. I raced through the list and finished just about the time my suitcase showed up.

All day long I was thinking about my time in Costa Rica, mostly about the people. Pam spent most of the day marking stuff for our moving sale and I told her little bits about my trip as we went along. The food is wonderful, the views beautiful, and the sites fascinating. But there's no doubt that the people are the best part.
I miss them.

Alonzo, Sylvia and their kids Sofia and Samuel are as good as it gets. Sweet, gracious, open, bright...  They are my family; I love them.

Their church is more of the same. Those people were warm and gracious, responsive, and patient with the hassle of the translation process. (Alonso is very, very good at it.)


I think tomorrow I have to write up a review of my trip, but that's more than my brain can handle tonight. I'm going to have a cup of that great CR java, a little bit of the dessert Pam made, and hit the hay.