June 17, part 2

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Still strolling in the neighborhood.

This one is meant to be a bit of mise-en-scene -- this particular road didn't have much traffic.....





A better look at the roof lines on this block.





A look into a back yard.





Mimosa, in someone else's back yard.







I believe we don't have these in Michigan at all, not even in a pale and reserved version.

Love how they look on the tree; love how they look on the pavement......









Note stained glass in upper windows. Almost all of the highest windows on the block were of one of two stained-glass designs.





Tile mosaic, almost visible in the above (you can see a few light specks).





Flowers matching trim.





Matching trim and chairs.





Our destination.



When our daughter was a freshman, her swim team competed in a pancake-eating contest here.

The pancakes were plate-sized. The winner ate nine. (!!!) Did I mention it was just the girls, competing? I'm told the boys could eat 20...........

Michael Phelps (who is from Baltimore) apparently wrote in his autobiography about his typical (ENORMOUS) breakfast order right here at Pete's. Coincidentally, Michael was in Ann Arbor between Olympic Games (as his coach was working for Michigan at that time), and his pics in this article were taken at the Prickly Pear on Main Street in Ann Arbor, where I have eaten many many times (but not at breakfast).







Unfortunately, my insides were not interested in pancakes. I had dry white toast (now you can call me Elwood....), but I couldn't even eat that. I had some iced tea, and some water......

It was a strange kind of nausea. The smell of food did not bother me (it even smelled good), and motion did not bother me, either....... (Luckily, both.)



I was rather taken by the ceiling fan reflected in my spoon, but it's not interesting here, and isn't interesting even in the short video I took. Ah well.





Our next stop was the grocery, where we got some applesauce (my brilliant daughter's idea -- very soothing to my interior), some anti-nausea drugs (bonine, and something else ... I didn't take either, in the end, as I was afraid of being too ... woozy ... to drive). We also got some road food for the rest of my family, who would be driving the Stuff to Michigan. (Tragically, the truck only seated two, so ... someone ... had to fly back.)

I popped Tums. I chewed Doublemint (noting that the newest Doublemint is stronger, mint-wise, than older versions -- a good thing, when I'm chewing to sooth my stomach!).

We went back to the apartment. I had more tonic water and bitters.

More packing happened.

A photograph was taken of a fallen magnolia leaf I picked up the night before. You can't tell how substantial this is, but you can see the gorgeous color, and can almost tell that it was as shiny as though it were wet..........





Around 4:00, we went to collect the truck. A small truck, as trucks go, but ever so much larger than a mini-van.........

It wasn't made by the company which has had so much trouble with stuck accelerators in the last year or so, but perhaps it was a wanna-be ... its engine raced to the extent that it had to be shifted into neutral to be able to be stopped at a stoplight. Twice. In the few miles back to the apartment.

We (by which I mean "my better half") got no joy from the place where we picked it up ("we don't have another"), and was instructed to call the roadside assistance.

While he waited for the mechanic, my daughter and I made another trip out -- to Ace Hardware to get a lock for the truck! Not sure if this is true for all rental trucks, but this one did not come with a lock! My daughter had a standard combination lock, which was not nearly big enough. We now own one of the BIG Master combination locks. If you ever need to rent a truck and want to borrow it, just let us know...... (Don't you think the rental company should say, in giant letters, everywhere, NO LOCK ON TRUCK??? So you'd know to go buy one ahead of time rather than having to make a special trip out???? Sheesh.)

Eventually a mechanic showed up to look at the truck, and (you knew this would happen) when he drove it, it behaved perfectly.

Sigh, and argh.

What to do, what to do.

In the morning, they "*might* be able to locate another truck" we could have..................

We finally decided to commence loading the truck and hope for the best.........



I am the Official Packer. When efficient packing is required, I'm your packer. Not that you can tell, yet, from this pic.........





Me (shadow at bottom), in front of the apartment building, waiting for the next Stuff.





Door propped open.





Fancy light fixture.





Building on the other side of the truck. See the sliver of moon, way up high?





Love the fizzy thing at the top of the tower. So out of character with the rest of the building. Like an elegantly-dressed calm-and-steady older person holding a sparkler.......





After many loads had come down, it was decided that Enough was Enough for one day.

We had intended to eat in another nice place, but as tired and sweaty as we were (and it was 9:00 pm, too), it was decided that a foray in search of take-out would be the better part of valor.

(I was feeling together enough to eat some yogurt and some plain white rice.)

Our daughter's very good friend came over, as did another former swim-team member. It was nice to get to visit with K, and nice to get to know A a bit better.

My better half and I had been staying in the empty bedroom in the apartment, but its next occupant had arrived on the 17th, so we stayed in a quite decent small old hotel two doors down. There was tv, unlike in the apartment, so the basketball fan could check out the NBA championship final game.

I popped Tums, chewed gum, and went to sleep.

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