October 26, 2004

• Redding Weekend - Hal, Rex and I left the city right after work and sped on up to Redding to rendevous at Jay and Marc's home in the country.  For being a Californian, I never knew the Central Valley extends far north; I always thought of Bakersfield and Fresno whenever I heard of the term.  It took about 3 hours to get up there (one food stop for us, one pit stop for Rex) but we had plenty of cds to pass the time.  Considering we were going 80-100 mph the whole way, it was a smooth trip.  J&M's home is located on a 260 acre parcel, with cows, deers, squirrels and the like.  As soon as we started to unload the car, we saw bats hanging around the front entrance and some bird was disturbingly smacking itself against the porch light and front window like a moth.  It was cloudy and it started to rain so there were no stars to be seen and I had to pass on the Orionids for another year.  What I did see were all the little critters of the night - crickets, tiny frogs, lizards and those creatures I loathed as a kid growing up in LA, niñas de la tierra.  As we were settling in for the night with a glass of wine in hand, Rex of course had to pee in front of our hosts.  Aye!!!  He, of course, was tethered an arm's distance from me for the remainder of the evening.  J&M's home was built with the best construction and high end amenities 1983 had to offer: cathedral ceilings, large fireplaces, a sunken living room, large atrium windows beyond the kitchen counters, ornate study with wood spiraling stairs leading to a walkway above.  Each of the bedrooms had a little "balcony" above that you accessed through what looked like a closet and then a ladder - kind of like storage with a view.  The sound of the rain, and the warm fireplace and good red wine made me very relaxed and happy to be away from city lights and sounds.

  On Saturday, our hosts left to tend to their errands so Hal, Rex and I decided to walk down to South Cow Creek, which flows through their property, to watch the salmon do their thing.  There were not many of them swimming upstream yet, but the ones I saw were HUGE!  In my mind I was thinking I could carve a life out in nature like this (as long as I had the essentials: spears, nets and clubs and a saber-tooth sheltie at my side.)  I didn't get to see the wild turkeys this time but maybe the next.  That night we all dined at the World Famous Sky Room at the Redding Airport.  It was certainly popular with the Reddites, yet I was wondering to myself and members at the table where were the airplanes landing??  Well apparently I made a joke because Redding Airport has only six flights coming in or out a day and by 7:00 pm the airport terminal was closed.  We didn't venture to the only two small gay bars that night; I was told I wouldn't miss anything.

  On Sunday we all slept in late and later in the afternoon Hal and I decided to stop by one of the attractions of Redding, the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, which spans the Sacramento River, before heading back home.  I think I did pretty good because my megalophobia didn't kick in as I crossed the expansive width of the river and I approached the sundial portion of the bridge.  Heck, if the screaming kids running around trying to upend the suspender cables with all their might didn't seem to mind, why should I?  

  Hal and I made it back to the city in record time.  We actually had time to meet up again with the guys and friends for a couple of beers before heading home.  It was a relaxing weekend and I look forward to visiting Redding again.  The only downer about this weekend is I see how Rex is getting along in his older days - not well.  He's fine in spirits, but his body is noticeably going to the dogs (he'll be 14 in December).  His hearing is not well, his eyesight is only slightly better through his opaque eyes.  More than once I had to help him when he would splat like a frog when making a wrong choice of steps, or missteps.  Life lately has taken us to new environments and I see that doesn't suit him.  I literally had to pull him with all my strength out of brambles by the creek that did not want to give him up.  I had to carry him all the way back to the house and he's not a light dog.  Since I've been back to the city I've looked into dog backpack carriers, but they only seem to be sized for dogs 10 pounds and lighter.  Rex is about 25 lbs.  I don't mind to sling him on my back but maybe the internet might churn up the right website soon.

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