Awake: 5:30am Temp 62 sleep 6+16 sunny overnight @
Denver, CO.
Katrina is busy this morning tutoring a 2nd grader in math. Tom & Marge
are busy baby sitting Rob & Kelly’s (2) children……seems like a dandy time
to look for a replacement light shade for the one I was guilty of
shattering.
1st to Home Depot: none suitable. We ask Ken @ the service desk for ideas
& directions to a more specialized lighting store. With the help of the
yellow pages & Ken’s knowledge, he gives us (2) choices. The 1st choice &
the closest (name forgotten) we couldn’t find? A Costco store was found so
we did some light shopping & food tasting during our short visit. Next,
the “Foothills Lighting & Supply” store on Santa Fe Drive. It’s a BIG
store with many choices but NO antique shades that would match our
description. We talk with Jeff about a shade that “might” come close to
the original but he needs the base measurements first, then he’ll check by
computer if that one is available in stock.
Now we are close to Katrina’s hangout so we call, leave a message & park
our Suzuki nearby on Gaylord Street. Some 30 yrs ago this area was a
shopping district & today, most of the stores remain & it’s still a local
specialized shopping area, save for the old movie theatre. As we are
walking Gaylord Street, Katrina calls: she invites us over for a super
good smoothie & of course, we accept + I take the base measurement for the
light shade & leave a message for Jeff @ the “Foothills Store.” Then it’s
back to the small shopping area, Old Gaylord, & we three casually walk the
streets & go into a few stores out of curiosity. In one store, I ask a
lady about antique light shades: she recommends a store by the name of
“Modern Bungalow” (10 min) away. Alright, perhaps another lead, so Katrina
returns to her pad to finish her laundry while K & I check out another
lead.
Inside the “Modern Bungalow” store, the owner looks thru her book on
antique shades & reminds us that shipping from New York will take (3) days
or more. A sad look comes over our faces but then: “just a minute!” she
says as she opens a desk drawer & makes a phone call. “These people may
have something close to what you’re looking for.” She sends us up the
street to the “Bonnie Brae Repair Shop” (12 min). Within (5) min, we have
a light shade that Rick feels certain will fit our base & even writes a
return agreement in the event it doesn’t. Back to Katrina’s place we go,
using the chair & some careful maneuvering, the light shade is mounted in
place & secured down by (3) tightened screws. Although not exactly as was
destroyed, this shade looks good, phew!
Marge had called earlier to let us know: the 4th of July cookout party
will now be held on the 5th @ her daughter Kathy G’s apt. Kathy & I are
on our way…..Katrina will follow soon.
Upon our arrival @ Kathy G’s party place (apt), we find Marge, Tom & Kathy
G. casually drinking a beer. We’re offered a beer but choose to wait for
wine. Katrina arrives 30 min later. After sitting and talking for a while
in Kathy G’s living room, its wine time; I carefully pour and we all toast
to our friendship and families. Tom declares it is hamburger grilling time
so he and I go out on the deck to start the gas grill. Marge and Kathy G.
had already cut up tomatoes and onions and had potato chips and other
condiments on the table ready to go. I humbly requested and received
“thick” hamburger patties for Kathy and me so they could be cooked “med
rare.” Somehow smoke must have gotten in our eyes as Tom’s thinner
hamburgers were a rather dark shade of brown and my thick hamburgers were
barely pink! None-the-less, they were still good. While the hamburgers
were cooking, I detected Marge heating the baked beans and corn. We ate
and talked another hour away and then Marge served cantaloupe and
cherries. She insisted that on a 4th of July celebration, even if on the
5th, would not be complete unless we ate watermelon, but as we were all
quite full, we could not be persuaded. Some more talk and it was time to
say our goodbyes for now. We had a wonderful time with Marge, Tom, Kathy
G. & Katrina and look forward to our next get together.
Today’s high=82 Lights out:11:29pm
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