…however do you want it, however do you need it”…..ok, so I admit, I really like this song and pretty much can sing it on cue, but as embarrassing as that is, it is so appropriate this week!  After being away for what seemed like a decade, I am getting back in the swing of things. 

R and I returned on Friday evening to a very happy puppy that was glad to be home again. She actually seemed to grow stronger over the week we were gone so I guess it was a good thing she went to the kennel (although her guilty parents almost break down every time we have to leave her).  Her back leg and muscles since her last ‘episode’ seem to have taken much longer to adjust, but I really hope I am that spry at 14 ½ dog-years!! (what is that, like a million people years or something!)

Saturday I had my Archives and Manuscripts class all day – one of the few classes I feel like I have actually been challenged in so far.... (and I am more than ½ way through the program) My professor, Lori Lindburg, is very inspirational and I wish I had even a ¼ of her energy – she is currently a PhD student (about to defend her dissertation this fall), full time SJSU faculty member, full-time paid archivists, and a wife and mother of 2!!  I don’t think she could possibly have time to sleep!!!!

On Sunday I ran our annual Society of American Archivists Student Chapter meeting.  In addition to preparing for the meeting for several hours, I had to trek to campus to conduct the meeting.  Should be a good year, we had several enthusiastic people volunteer for our executive team – always good to have people around you which want to be there!!

Monday was my very first day at Stanford – this is where I am doing my internship for school.  I am working at the Hoover Archives doing Library of Congress Subject Heading classification, as well as short summaries, of audio tapes from the Commonwealth Club of California.  The tapes go back to the 1930s, but I am starting with 1970.  I really am going to learn my CA political, social and economic history!!  The archivist for whom I am working, Lisa, is really great – she is going to be a wonderful mentor and I think I will learn a great deal about the ins and outs of the archival industry from her.   I will be working there every Monday for the rest of the semester as well as a handful of other days to make my 135 hours for 3 credits of class work. 

Wednesday night we celebrated Dick’s Birthday at the House o’ Prime Rib  in SF– what a fun evening of laughter and high-jinx.  We were the table every waiter dreads – in addition to our decibel breaking laughter, we had a table full of comedians which took pleasure in making the waiters fulfill all our ‘special requests’ including my “warm” pecan pie. (which was fabulous I have to say!)  I really wish we lived closer to the city, but until then, a short drive is very little cost to enjoying our good friend’s company.

Reeves and I are right now staying at the Ahwahnee hotel in Yosemite valley for a vacation with his parents which were in town for the wedding of Nancy (Reeves Cousin) and Chuck, which took place in Sausalito on September 4, 2005. We are here from Monday evening to Friday morning enjoying the beautiful hikes and yummy food of the Ahwahnee hotel and the Yosemite Lodge’s Mountain Room.

The wedding was beautiful – the ceremony was in the quaint Presbyterian Church across the street from the Alta Mira hotel where the reception and dinner were held (and we were staying).  The previous night, Saturday, we went their rehearsal dinner in Tiburon at Sam’s Anchor club - a fun, all be it rowdy façade to the back dinning room.  Many of Reeves’ family were there and it was fun to catch up with them.  Some of them we had not seen since our wedding 10 years previously.

Speaking of our anniversary – we celebrated our 10^th wedding anniversary on September 2, 2005.  We had a lovely day and enjoyed the company of Reeves’ parents and Cousins Kathy, Charlie and his wife Laurie at dinner that evening at the Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco.  We stayed the evening at the Palace Hotel and woke to a lovely morning and yummy buffet breakfast at their famed dinning room. 

We are still here at the Ahwahnee for 3 more days and I have to say I am not ready to return to the realities and responsibilities of real life till then.

I finally heard from my mom on Saturday evening (just as we were rushing off to Reeves’ cousins’ wedding in Sausalito) – they are doing fine – have had plenty of food and water, but gasoline is the most precious commodity at this point.  They were able to get into their house in Slidell on Sunday to find the remnants of 5 feet of water in the house, with everything covered by silt and a growing layer of mold.  Pretty much all their possessions are gone, but the house is still standing and they are safely staying with Don’s daughter in her house which was not affected.  They have no idea how long it will take to remove and repair the damage – first it is the long wait for the insurance adjuster to evaluate the property and until then, they can’t do anything to the property, even though the mold grows by the day.  It is going to be a very long rode ahead for all of us it seems….

About noon on Sunday, August 25, my Mom called to say she and her boyfriend, Don, with whom she lives, were evacuating because of the coming storm.  They had first thought they would try and ride out the storm, but just decided that morning they would be leaving just as soon as she made a few phone calls and packed a few things….that is the last I have heard directly so far.  They live in Slidell, LA which is just North of New Orleans on the shore of lake Pontchartrain.  I guess it is a fairly small community that has many water inlets and according to the few reports I can find, is almost completely gone.  Today I did get a call from Don’s niece with whom they were supposedly staying farther North, but I guess even they weren’t far enough away and had to evacuate farther.  Everyone is physically fine, but there is still no word on their house yet – I am assuming at this point it is all gone since they only packed a car-full of belongings.

I wanted to tell everyone who has contacted us with their well wishes and concerns, thank you.  I am still in a bit of disbelief, and until I hear more, am hoping for the best, but planning (realistically) for an unfortunate outcome to their home. I will keep everyone post when I can…..