We got a place!

And even signed a lease! Woohoo!
It's in North Oakland (Temescal neighborhood), only a few blocks from Berkeley, and there are lots of shops and restaurants nearby. It's also only 7 blocks from the BART (which goes to and from the SF airport, for those of you planning to visit). There's an elementary school, a park and a Jehovah's Witness church across the street.

Our building (we're the second floor)

hallway/stairway

living room

kitchen

kitchen

back patio (shared with neighbors)

So, there you have it.

alena and rachel do SF

two years already??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to my most wonderful, cute, smart, funny, excellent nephew
CALLUM!

I love you!

the cruz

We're back in Santa Cruz!

Good news! We think (think) we have a place. Details forthcoming, but keep those fingers crossed & good thoughts coming ...

a little minnesota in the big city

Sprout and I made it to San Francisco!

The Fernley mechanic finally got the part (which, as it turns out, was coming from San Francisco) Tuesday afternoon, and I made it to Alena's in Santa Cruz late that evening. On Wednesday we left for the East Bay at the crack of dawn and have been apartment hunting since then, which basically consists of driving endlessly (and sometimes aimlessly) around Oakland and Berkeley. It's not the easiest (or most fun) thing to do, but we're feeling pretty good about a couple of places we've seen. (I'm waiting until we nail something down to reveal any photos, though ...) And on the plus side, we're getting to know all the hot spots and main drags in the East Bay. In the meantime we've crossed the Bay bridge (see above) into the big city to crash at a friend's place in the Mission (which is also a really, really cool place).

So, cross your fingers and think some happy thoughts for us & hopefully you'll soon be rewarded with pictures!

Fernley, NV

My car broke down.
Something rumbled around and eventually flew out from beneath my car while driving on I80, about 40 miles east of Reno. Thankfully, after several frantic calls (on a cell phone with limited service and a dying battery) to mom, dad and AAA, a friendly and wonderful state trooper found me parked precariously in the shoulder. He said nice things, pushed my car out of harm's way, gave me some gatorade and waited with me for the tow truck. Eventually (an hour and a half later , but who's counting ...), the tow truck arrived and delivered me, the Cav and all my stuff to exotic Fernley, NV, which I'm told (by the trooper, the tow truck driver and the hotel clerk) "sure is a friendly place." Friendly, but pretty boring.
It turns out my car lost a pulley, a belt and a very particular screw. So, I'm stuck in Fernley until tomorrow waiting for the screw to arrive. At least my hotel is a big improvement from the last one (even with cable and internet!).

The Fernley (Best Western) Inn

the view (of both nature and Walmart), tres exciting

i made it through ...

South Dakota ...

Wyoming ...

Utah ...

(still Utah, Great Salt Lake)

...

CA or bust

with my car packed to maximum capacity, i'm headed west.