Sometimes the best room in the house doesn't have a roof

Posted by Chuck at 6/8/2008 11:20 PM
Categories: First House, desert, Family

A guest post by JJ

So, I hope no one is expecting anything witty from me today, because my brain just isn't in that place at the moment.
 
But let me tell you about the place I am in !

It is 10:14 pm Pacific Time.  I am lounging on an Adirondack chair under a cabana lit with tiny lights in Chuck & Kelly's back yard. To call this a "yard" is strange, because 90% of it is concrete, which isn't a bad thing.  As a matter of fact, it makes the whole "yard" experience better because it is clean.  Where I come from the "yard" is the place where the dog poops.  Here, it is an extension of the house.  And for the rest of my life, when I think of this place, the back yard room will be my very first thought.

It is about 70 degrees right now and not a bug is in sight!  Steve would love it here for that reason alone.  And Chuck has not done this yard justice in his explanations.  It is a mini-paradise out here.  In the morning it is the perfect temperature and everything is wonderfully sunny without being blanketed by a hot stream of sunlight.  In the evening it is again the perfect temperature and the lights around here give off an ambiance like we're in a beach hut.  The sun goes down earlier here than it does at home, I guess because we're in a valley surrounded by hills, as valleys tend to be.

I know that writing about the temperature is as boring as it gets but I really have to say that it is perfect in every way.   The whole "it’s-a-dry-heat" thing really means more than "you won’t sweat."  There is no dew, so you can actually come out here in the morning with your cup of coffee and not have to wipe off a seat or feel all damp and icky.  They leave electronic equipment outside and nothing happens to it.  It’s awesome.

So beyond my infatuation with the weather and the back yard room, my hosts are as perfect as can be.  Chaley, Mom, and Dad raved about how wonderful Chuck and Kelly are as host, but I didn't’t really understand until I got here.  I guess I’ve never been a guest of theirs even in NY for more than a day, so I didn't’t get the whole scope of things. 

Kelly, to begin with, is Wonder Woman.  Seriously.  Who else could possibly train Chuck to do this:

His wallet and keys actually have a spot to live.  And he puts them there!  I saw him wash a couple pans without being asked and he takes his shoes off when he’s inside.  I have to say, it’s a little discouraging that every woman in our family including Angelique attempted to train this man, and we all failed.  Kelly, however, freaking rocks.

I have to say that I was a little concerned about my messy, farm-girl self and my even messier son staying at their house.  I mean, they have a white carpet for God’s sake!  My family has a way of coming in and kind of taking over anywhere we stay and luckily C & K have enough room to accommodate us without feeling like our stuff is everywhere.  I became a little more concerned when Kelly asked me not to load the dishwasher because I will just do it wrong and she’ll have to re-load it anyway. 

Ok.  I can live with a little neurosis. 

But I have to tell you, I was more than a little concerned when I woke up early and in the process of trying to find stuff to make coffee, found this…



(Insert picture of incredibly neurotic assembly of measuring utensils.)

Sleeping-With-The-Enemy much??

I’m going to end today’s blog entry so I can spend a little more time talking with

Chuck before I go to bed. 

Have fun at work, everybody!  (Insert evil laugh here.)

 
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