day

[derien]

My father had called, yesterday, and given that I'd talked with him a few days ago I had an inkling something might be up, so I phoned back rather quicker than I might normally have done. Turns out his brother is in the hospital with lung cancer - has been in the hospital for some time and probably doesn't have long. Dad wants to go to Texas to see him and wants me to go along. His statement was that he and I have never taken a trip together. I think that's his way of saying he wants me to provide moral support, but I can't be sure. I've never liked this particular uncle, to be perfectly honest, and Texas is on my list of places I'd rather not go, but if what my father really meant was that he wants me to be there for him then that's what I want to do. If, however, it's just as easy for his wife to go with him then that's really what he should do, because I'm already on vaca the week he wanted to go, and I'm sorry but I'm not canceling my trip to England. And I don't know if his brother will last yet another week if Dad wants to wait for me.

The other option, I suppose, is to go to Texas the week before going to England. I haven't run that by him, yet. It could be expensive to buy a ticket that close. But I made a run out to work to check the calender, and it looks as though there's not too many people off and I could probably get it if I ask soon. (And when my coworkers saw me they asked me to demonstrate a pat-down so they could end their night on a good note. :))

My step-mother might refuse to accompany Dad if she wasn't his first choice of companion, because she is a spiteful and vindictive person, but I guess I can't borrow trouble. He really should not go alone, though. He's easily confused, blind in one eye and can't see to well out of the other, and half deaf.

Just to top off my night nicely, as I was coming back into the building my key got stuck in the front door lock and the management company refuses to call the locksmith for it. They say it's my fault. I'm like, no fucking way. It's not like I broke it; I'm a brute but not that much of one. I have a spare key, they can pay their own locksmith - that's a building maintenance issue, not mine.

Comments

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

What an awkward situation!

[derien.livejournal.com]

Yeah, very awkward! I'm still going to England, though. :)

[cyberquail.livejournal.com]

I feel bad that your dad wants you to go somewhere with him on vacation week, I *know* I would be really torn in that situation! But the super-selfish part of me says, "No! You can't go to Texas that week! You need to go to England!!"

As for houses, I'm so sorry that you didn't get the one in Gray, it was soooo cool! But I still can't see the condo thing for you two. :(

I think you sholud go look at this one (well, aren't I bossy for someone who never posts to LJ?!) It's got an open house today at noon: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/7-Greenleaf-Street_Portland_ME_04101_1101035276

And THIS one is wicked cute! http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/45-Aldworth-St_Portland_ME_04103_1102498974

OK, I'll shut up now.

[eor.livejournal.com]

Re: Greenleaf St. is in the heart of the nastiest neighborhood in Portland. The cars would be trashed in no time and I wouldn't feel particularly safe walking around there during the day let alone at night or with Derien.

Re: Aldworth St., we already did a walkthrough of this one. Lot does have a reasonable side yard and a cute little falling down garage. Not a bad neighborhood. The place itself is tiny for a two story. Most of the walls have been redone by taking off the plaster, leaving the lathe, and putting thin wood panelling over the lathe! Entire interior would have to be redone. Small, small rooms in an isolating layout. Kitchen the size of a thimble with two doors in opposite corners.

[cyberquail.livejournal.com]

Just had to chime in. Though I pretty much figured you'd have checked out every last thing in Portland that was in a reasonable price range. I tend to forget that Portland is a real city and that you're not going to get the same amount of house for the money as you would out here in the middle of "no"hio (no jobs, no economy, no amenities, no prospects).

Hugs and see you soon!

[derien.livejournal.com]

I didn't spend long worrying about being selfish re going to England. Everything's lined up and I'm going, damn it. ;) Anyhow, on talking to him again, today, it seems his brother's prognosis is six months, and he's back in his own home for now, so there's not as much of a time limit on this as I'd feared.

But did you LOOK at the pics of the condo in Freeport? The kitchen is so beautiful. We could really cook, there. And the rest of it isn't too shabby, either. Come to think of it I don't know if I posted a link to the pics.
Here: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/27-School-St-1_Freeport_ME_04032_1099482928

[cyberquail.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you ever had posted pics of that condo; you're right, the kitchen IS gorgeous, and it's on the ground floor, so you have use of that lovely porch, and you could at least pretend that the yard is yours! It's much, MUCH nicer than what I generally think of as a condo (row after row of cheap plywood boxes on what used to be a cornfield, all stacked up against each other). Good luck with your continuing quest!

[derien.livejournal.com]

A porch out front AND a deck off the kitchen! :) (With TWO deeded parking spaces just by it - hard to find around here.)There's not really a yard to speak of, unfortunately - the porch overlooks a brick walk and the street, though it is a fairly quiet street and there are probably flower beds under the snow. I totally could NOT stand to live in one of those plywood row houses in a field, I wouldn't even go look at it.

The kitchen has a pantry.

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

Well, that's wicked complicated and more than a little awkward. I understand why you're having suck mixed feelings.

Good luck on making a decision... and have fun in England :)

[derien.livejournal.com]

It IS pretty challenging. Mostly I'm anticipating how much of a challenge it's going to be to drag my Dad through airports and connections. He'd be completely lost if he were at an airport on his own. Luckily it looks as though it can happen the week after we get back from England.

[lacrimaeveneris.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

ack! When are you coming to England again?

[derien.livejournal.com]

We'll be arriving, jetlagged and completely spacey, on the morning of Saturday the 4th of April, and were hoping to meet you in the afternoon. I'll have to look up our email exchanges to tell you more, and can't do that right now, but will soon.

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

Oh -- damn. I've just realised that I've let my friend book our flights to Budapest right when you're coming! *head-desk* So I'll be away when you're here. Argh, what was I thinking?

I'm so sorry. :( Am really annoyed with myself, I was so looking forward to seeing you and there's no reason why I shouldn't have done if I hadn't gone and been staggeringly stupid!

[derien.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Oh dear, that's a bummer. :( I won't pout, though - these things happen. Maybe someday you'll decide you want to take a vacation in Maine and we'll have a room for you to use.

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

Pah to me. :( :( Are you flying from London again when you go back to the US?

[derien.livejournal.com]

Yes. Saturday the 11th at 4pm. Do you plan to be back around by then?

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is a pretty short trip to Budapest, which is why I am extra annoyed with myself. All other days in London I am here! Are you going straight from where you are staying in the country to Heathrow? 'Cos I could, I dunno, if you are taking the Tube to Heathrow I could come along and see you off. Or something!

[derien.livejournal.com]

We'd probably be better company at that end of our trip. More conscious and more rested. :) Yeah, we'll be coming back into King's Cross and taking the tube or something back across to Heathrow. We hadn't really given it a lot of thought as yet, but we'd love to see you then!

[bravecows.livejournal.com]

Oh, excellent! I have met people for an hour outside King's Cross before they were slated to fly away to another country, so it is doable. :) There is a Starbucks outside the station, and other, somewhat greasier eating places where we can sit if you do not like Starbucks. So maybe we could do that!

[derien.livejournal.com]

That sounds great! :) We don't have cellphones, so maybe you can send us your number? And when are you leaving to Budapest?