Michigan trip

(posted from home)
(This post covers 24 April to 3 May, 2009)

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Sunday, 3 May –

I had a surprise this morning. I found significant discoloration and some swelling on my lower right leg and foot, below the bump I’ve had for two weeks now. Labashi and I had planned to stay in Michigan yet today but after seeing my leg, we decided we’d head home now so I can see my doctor tomorrow.
We left at 1100 and had a very easy ride home. Labashi drove the middle two-thirds of the way so I wouldn’t be putting pressure on the leg. We would have made it home by 2000 but stopped at the Hillside Restaurant for our supper.

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Saturday, 2 May –

I spent much of today driving around suburban Detroit. On my last visit I had seen a nice little portable jack at Michigan Tool but today found the business had changed hands and doesn’t have that item any more. I had bought a portable jack from the AutoZone right down the street last year just before our Alaska trip but that one turned out to be too light, the frame bent, and I had to throw it away. Rats!
I also drove over to the shooting range I’ve visited in this area but I only spent a few minutes browsing around before moving on.
Back home I talked Labashi into walking down to the local Starbucks with me. The walk is only about a mile. We had a drink and read the day’s Times before ambling back home.
After supper we took another walk of about two miles, this one into a nice little neighborhood which can only be entered via a dirt road. This area has a country feel but is right on the Detroit city border line. If I had a job in Detroit I think I too would seek out a place like this. Give me dirt lanes and lots of trees and a small creek and I’ll leave the golf-course lots and condos to someone else.
That evening we watched ‘The Whole Wide World’ with Rene Zellweger and Vincent D’Onofrio. I’d give this one a pass unless you’re a big fan of the actors.

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Friday, 1 May –

Today I worked on the garage door, hoping to resolve an issue with how well it closes. I unbolted and adjust the track up on one end but that only led to another problem so I reverted to the old mounting point.
In mid-afternoon we drove to Labashi’s sister’s home for a visit. We had a bar-be-que and a fun evening catching up on the news.

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Thursday, 30 April –

Today I continued working with the computers through mid-afternoon. Labashi and I then drove over to her brother’s house for a visit. We had the grand tour of the house, enjoyed a good pizza, and sat around talking until late evening. Nice visit!

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Wednesday, 29 April-

This morning (at Mom and Dad’s home in Michigan) I repaired a door handle and lock, then spent the rest of the day resolving issues with Mom and Dad’s computers. The main problem was getting updated security software and virus signatures downloaded across the ultra-slow dialup communications lines. I also downloaded the Glary Utilities and cleaned the systems up, defragged the disk on Mom’s machine, and researched some display problems.
Labashi and I then went shopping for replacement garage doors, just to see what it would take. Afterwards we realized it’s not just a matter of calling someone in to replace the old door. There are some clearance challenges inherent in switching from a one-piece door to a panel door.

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Tuesday, 28 April –

Very early this morning Labashi and her Mom took Dad to the local hospital for a minor operation, as scheduled. I joined them a bit later and we had breakfast in the hospital cafeteria. We (Labashi and I) had been expecting him to be in the hospital for a few days but they sent him home by 1030 that morning. In fact, in would have been earlier but we couldn’t be found. The pager they had given us didn’t work in the area of the cafeteria we chose. I believe both Dad and the nursing staff were a bit annoyed with us for being late.
With Dad safely home and in bed to recover, we did some shopping and Labashi prepared dinner.

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Monday, 27 April-

Today we finished packing and then did an all-day drive to the Detroit area to visit Labashi’s parents. We made an early start and arrived by 1700. Along the way we listened to four episodes of ‘This American Life’ podcasts.

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Sunday, 26 April –

This morning we helped clean up the cabin area after the party, then headed home in Mocha Joe. We had to get our lawn mowed today before heading out on a trip of a week or two.
Today was again a hot one so I didn’t venture out with the mower until 1600 or so and took several breaks to cool off and water-up.
Labashi was busy on the web that evening so we didn’t watch a movie. I did check out a British series called ‘The IT Crowd’ on Netflix Instant but couldn’t get into it.

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Saturday, 25 April –

Today we drove to Chambersburg, then on to a cabin in the mountain above Roxbury for a family party to celebrate birthdays and the arrival of Spring. We enjoyed hanging out though today’s very high temperature (in the 90’s) had us looking for shade. We stayed overnight in Mocha Joe, parked along the approach road to Letterkenny Reservoir. That ensured we had plenty of company early Sunday morning as the fishermen drove by on their way to the launch ramp. But we’ve gotten to the point where we don’t mind. We may wake when the vehicle passes but fall right back asleep.

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Friday, 24 April-

I spent the morning updating the blog and then prepared for our weekend trip and next week’s trip.

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