Storm and Mess
For 10 days I lived in the University Guest House again while the water was off in part of the apartment waiting for the insurance people to come to decide on the damage. Happily they agreed to pay, and I moved back the day before leaving for ALA in Seattle.
Getting to Seattle was a challenge in itself, because a storm named Kryll struck Europe just as I was about to leave Berlin for Schipol airport in Amsterdam. I sat in the plane in Berlin from 10:30 am until 1:30 pm. When I reached Amsterdam I saw that my flight to Michigan had not yet left, and dashed through the airport to the gate. It looked as if the loading was complete and I thought I was too late. In fact they had not yet started, and I was told the flight might be cancelled. Then Northwest decided to go after all. Then we were told it might be cancelled because the wind was too strong to let the workers take the baggage off the plane and put ours on. Then the wind abated enough to let the bags be handled and the plane fueled. As they started loading us into the plane, we were told that the crew had passed its legal work time limit. Fortunately (?) they had another crew that could get us as far as Boston, which would add at least 4 hours to the flight. But we didn't take off. After trying to get an instrument to work (they thought the wind was causing the trouble), they had a mechanic replace it. That cost 3 hours. On the plane they told us we would have to go through customs in Boston, but in Boston just as we were about to deplane, the authorities decided we should go through customs in Seattle, which saved time reloading us. Eventually we reached Seattle at about 2:30 am. My bag didn't make it -- the winds prevented offloading the bags from the plane from Berlin. It was well after 3:00 am when I reached the hotel. The bag arrived 23 hours later. ... All things considered, it was amazing that Northwest got us to Seattle with only a 12 hour delay. Over 20 people lost their lives in the storm, and a large number of flights were cancelled.
Coming back was easy, but the apartment was a mess. I had running water in the kitchen again (in the sink, not running onto the floor), and the former owner had removed his furniture, But the parquet had not been removed, nor the linoleum that had been under the carpet. A worker was there when I arrived fresh from the airport and he told me in genuine Berlin dialect that I could just barely comprehend how much trouble he was having getting the base under the parquet off. One day later the base is still there. The company is waiting for a machine that should make it easier. Some of the linoleum is now gone and no water seems to have been underneath. At this time of year with radiators blazing, I don't think additional dryers will be needed.
Precisely when the new tiles can be put down is unclear. Joan and I discuss colors almost daily and I will probably go to the market to make a final choice on Saturday. We incline toward a gray that is not too light with no pink or orange overtones, no cute patterns, and no bathroom-like shine. The tile market in Berlin has a rating for stone tiles that includes durability and slipperiness. Opinions?
Getting to Seattle was a challenge in itself, because a storm named Kryll struck Europe just as I was about to leave Berlin for Schipol airport in Amsterdam. I sat in the plane in Berlin from 10:30 am until 1:30 pm. When I reached Amsterdam I saw that my flight to Michigan had not yet left, and dashed through the airport to the gate. It looked as if the loading was complete and I thought I was too late. In fact they had not yet started, and I was told the flight might be cancelled. Then Northwest decided to go after all. Then we were told it might be cancelled because the wind was too strong to let the workers take the baggage off the plane and put ours on. Then the wind abated enough to let the bags be handled and the plane fueled. As they started loading us into the plane, we were told that the crew had passed its legal work time limit. Fortunately (?) they had another crew that could get us as far as Boston, which would add at least 4 hours to the flight. But we didn't take off. After trying to get an instrument to work (they thought the wind was causing the trouble), they had a mechanic replace it. That cost 3 hours. On the plane they told us we would have to go through customs in Boston, but in Boston just as we were about to deplane, the authorities decided we should go through customs in Seattle, which saved time reloading us. Eventually we reached Seattle at about 2:30 am. My bag didn't make it -- the winds prevented offloading the bags from the plane from Berlin. It was well after 3:00 am when I reached the hotel. The bag arrived 23 hours later. ... All things considered, it was amazing that Northwest got us to Seattle with only a 12 hour delay. Over 20 people lost their lives in the storm, and a large number of flights were cancelled.
Coming back was easy, but the apartment was a mess. I had running water in the kitchen again (in the sink, not running onto the floor), and the former owner had removed his furniture, But the parquet had not been removed, nor the linoleum that had been under the carpet. A worker was there when I arrived fresh from the airport and he told me in genuine Berlin dialect that I could just barely comprehend how much trouble he was having getting the base under the parquet off. One day later the base is still there. The company is waiting for a machine that should make it easier. Some of the linoleum is now gone and no water seems to have been underneath. At this time of year with radiators blazing, I don't think additional dryers will be needed.
Precisely when the new tiles can be put down is unclear. Joan and I discuss colors almost daily and I will probably go to the market to make a final choice on Saturday. We incline toward a gray that is not too light with no pink or orange overtones, no cute patterns, and no bathroom-like shine. The tile market in Berlin has a rating for stone tiles that includes durability and slipperiness. Opinions?
posted by Michael Seadle at 8:53 PM
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