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Off to California without an aching in my heart

Discussion in 'Community Off Topic' started by Forest, Apr 5, 2014.

  1. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    (apologies to Led Zeppelin for the thread title)

    Hey, folks, if you don't see me around the forum so much for the next couple of days, it's because I'm far away, off in California. My little brother turned out to quite the little smartypants and just got a job programming out West. (Previously he was programming the robots!)

    Currently he's living in Massachusetts, so his new employer is flying him, his wife, and eight month old son out to San Francisco so they can find an apartment. It's quite rough in the red-hot housing market, so they've brought me along to handle childcare in case they have to run off at a moment's notice to see a place. I figure I won't get to see them when they move out to CA, so I'm just happy to go along for the ride (and it's free!). It's a pretty crazy schedule, though, so I don't have time to do anything at all besides support them (which really bums me out because I'd love to see Tennis Tom. He's promised me a genuine Picon Punch, and he's got the real stuff to make it from.). We left this morning at 3:30 and return on Wednesday morning at 6:00. If they don't have an apartment by then, they're going to be truly freaking out, so I'm on full time baby squooshing duty.

    Here's a picture of the little tyke I took on the plane this morning:
    upload_2014-4-5_20-31-59.png


    Cute, eh? Despite the look of apprehension, he was a real hero on the plane. Not a peep!

    BTW, regarding the title of the thread, Led Zeppelin IV was one of the first two albums I bought, on a cassette tape, in the early 80s. Here's the song I think of whenever I hear the words, "going to California":
     
  2. Eric "Herbie" Watson

    Eric "Herbie" Watson Beloved Grand Eagle

    This is awesome. I'm happy and over joyed for your brother. I hope you are doing great. Google :).
    I love zeppelin and little kiddies (good lucking little fellow) always make me smile. Be safe and enjoy every minute of it.
    Awesome
     
  3. Enrique

    Enrique Well known member

    Too bad you'll be so busy. I would have like to say hello, give you a man-hug, and perhaps share a brew!
     
    Eric "Herbie" Watson likes this.
  4. LindaRK

    LindaRK Well known member

    Have a great trip and s safe one, too. What good news for your brother and his family. Maybe he'll let you try out that big slide at Google
    :)
     
  5. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    Thanks, @Enrique and @LindaRK. I had a great time. It was a bit of a crash course in baby care - something I know nothing about, but it was really good to be able to spend time with them before going out West.

    Here's another pic of the tyke, as we camped out on a bench, waiting for his parents to set up a new checking account:
    IMG_0004 (1).JPG
     
    yb44 and Ellen like this.
  6. yb44

    yb44 Beloved Grand Eagle

    Hey Forest, did your brother and his other half find a home in the end?
     
  7. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    No, sadly not. I'm the type of guy who doesn't care so much about my living environment, but they are pretty much the opposite, and it means a lot to them. With a dog, a cat, and a baby, they really wanted to rent a single family house while they saved up money, but despite their best efforts, it looks like it wasn't to be. There was a house that they really wanted to rent, but, as of the time we left California, they hadn't heard back from anyone. On the plus side, we were able to visit many apartment complexes, including quite a few with significant greenspace, so they should be able to get a unit there.

    They really had their heart set on a little freestanding cottage, but my hope is that an apartment complex will offer support from other stay-at-home moms, which could be super helpful for these new transplants from rural New England.
     
  8. BruceMC

    BruceMC Beloved Grand Eagle

    Forest? Raised on Lead Zeppelin! I knew it!

     
  9. Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021)

    Walt Oleksy (RIP 2021) Beloved Grand Eagle

    Forest, your nephew is adorable.
     
  10. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    Isn't he? I just updated my avatar photo using another photo from the same series. I like it because it shows how smart the kid is already (because you can read off his face that he thinks his uncle is AWESOME). The only problem being that the photo cuts off his chin. The problem was that junior seems to think that my phone would feel very interesting inside of his mouth. It makes it hard to take photos using the phone.

    Maybe he just thinks the phone is awesome (and potentially tasty). ;) Hmmmm....

    @BruceMC, most definitely. My first two tapes were Led Zeppelin IV and Aerosmith's greatest hits. Being a New Englander, the Aerosmith was mandatory, but it was the 1980 version of their greatest hits. It was back when then they played classic 70s rock and way before they got more pop-based.
     
    Last edited: Apr 13, 2014
  11. BruceMC

    BruceMC Beloved Grand Eagle

    Yes, I remember early Aerosmith because I was actually alive back then! It might surprise you but my late father was a unreconstructed revolutionary and just loved Led Zep. Had all their albums and played them incessantly on the turn-table with the diamond stylus that's still sitting in the family room. Talk about a haunted house! If I wake up late at night and hear "Caravansary" blasting loud downstairs, I'm packing up and moving out on the spot.
     
  12. Enrique

    Enrique Well known member

    I feel for you Forest. I took care of my brother's daughter long before I had my own kids. It's good training! :)
     
  13. Forest

    Forest Beloved Grand Eagle

    Oh, I loved every minute of it. Well, maybe not every minute, but I invited myself over for tomorrow to get a bit more time in before they move away.
     

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