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What a wonderful trip I am having!

To catch up some: I am mostly staying a couple hours north of SF, north of Willets, I think the closest town is Laytonville, although that is better described as a post office and grocer… and it is incredibly beautiful here.

Saturday, Dr. J, M and I drove down and stayed with friends of theirs near Guerneville. One of the friends is the founder of a local theater troupe and we took in a series of one act plays at their hall that night.

Sunday we drove down to the city. I filled my extra luggage space (Shut up! I can travel with extra space if I want. Honest, I can!) with vintage ties that I never seemed to wear, in hopes to sell them to SF vintage shops. I had some luck, but mostly I will have to return this coming Friday and/or Saturday to catch the buyers in each of the various stores. I broke my self-imposed rule of not looking while in the stores, due to short budget for the trip, but once I did, of course, I couldn’t break the cardinal rule of vintage shopping: if you find it, and it fits, you must take it home. Otherwise, it will be gone if you go back to look. I found a smoking jacket. Not just any smoking jacket, but one that fits the rules and needs of Gryphon-the-picky-artist-sort-and-pasty-Irishman… Not only is the jacket not red and/or burgundy, not only does it not have black satin collar and cuffs… it also had a KCMO price range. *squeee* It is a gold and brown brocade of a Chinese medallion pattern, with brown satin collar and cuffs. Such a find; photos to come…

Amidst the running about, we stopped in to Whatever! Comics and I finally got to meet ! Total *squeeeeee* on that note. (*pant**pant**pant*) I have made plans to stop back in this coming weekend when both he and Rich are in the store. That place is incredible. I am truly happy for the growth they are getting. Now if only they could also get some decent time off…

My hosts and I had an invitation to an art salon for Richard Bolingbroke in the private home of one of his collectors. The home was nestled in the hills overlooking most of the city. It was incredible, as was the artwork, the artist and his gathering of friends. What I had missed in all the information about the salon event was the fact that the artist is also one of the men whose home I will be visiting for Thanksgiving dinner. I knew as soon as I met the artist. I have been introduced to his partner online and have seen photos of him, but of course such online exchanges often do not include given names… LOL Silly Gryphon.

Oh! And on the topic of tiny worlds and layer of separation, in efforts to ensure I get to see all of my many People of Importance while visiting SF… I had a conversation with my hosts as we were driving up to the farm on the night of my arrival. As we were travelling through different regions, Dr. J narrated for me, offering basic descriptions of the area and historical events and tidbits… I asked which direction Napa was from our position, and he told me due East. I said, “I have finds in Napa. I do hope I got to see them while I am here. I love Fish and Robbie.”

“Oh! You know Fish and Robbie…? They have Thanksgiving with us.”

LOL

I love the ever-shrinking circles of my world.

I should say, I have open time in the first half of Friday and saturday afternoon, but I am still waiting on some important information. Once that is in, I will offer up the goods on where and when to find me. Also, Sunday beer bust is a go. The plan is to start at the Eagle and move to the Lonestar once the Eagle becomes to overwhelming….

In just over twelve hours, I will be flying out to SF.

I am excited to the point that I feel like my heart has been racing since last night, when I finished packing… Funny thing: I think I packed less clothing for a ten day visit than I did for the four and a half days of summer camp. LOL

This will be a most excellent trip.

I hope to see all of you SF people while I’m there…

*smooch*

*From the archive, added to record the look.

I spoke to my mother on the phone earlier this evening. It would seem that the follow up scan of her breast showed multiple little bumps and dots across the surface. She seems to think that the biopsy allowed the encapsulated lump to spread out of the duct. I am not exactly sure how that works… I mean, she could have simply found it right at the moment that it was starting to spread.

Either way, she has already had the next surgery, after a cancellation allowed her to move up her appointment. They called it a partial mastectomy, although she said that she couldn’t notice any obvious loss of mass. That all makes sense if you have seen my mother’s breasts…

Of course, the timing is just brilliant… Please, Sir, I’d like some more…!

Thank you, Sir, may I have another…?

EDIT: I forgot to mention: she will begin a month of radiation treatment soon.