Good News

Ten days ago we got word The Bank approved our offer and we'd gone into escrow. We were on the road heading out of town taking the World Traveler back to college for the year, but still managed to celebrate that night with him, the sister-in-law, the brother-in-law and some nicely cooked tempura. Mmmmmm.

Last Thursday we had the place inspected and so far there have been no surprises. I say so far because the seller's agent neglected to have the water and gas turned on for us so we were unable to check a number of things, like the pipes and appliances. (Gina pauses a moment here to remind herself it isn't a perfect world.)

As you can see, we've got ourselves a mid-century split-level storybook house--although you can't see some of the storybook detailing because it's behind the tree which needs to be trimmed. It was built in 1966. To keep with my recent Beatles theme, that was the year John Lennon said: We're more popular than Jesus. It was also the year Revolver was released (on my birthday), and the boys played their last public concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

It was a space-age atomic, Danish modern world, and I'm so pleased our house still has it's original parquet floors, light fixtures and even the original groovy Dishmaster unit (which oddly enough they are still making).

To put it into the chronology of my life, it was the year I graduated from Bellagio Road Elementary school. BigTea was already out of high school and going to UCLA, so his memories of this era are very different. Or, maybe I should say that's generally why I can remember the 60's better than he does. ;)

There's a bunch of 60's style I find totally ghastly and I had to get through it while considering ownership of this house. I despise things like Naugahyde and Keane "Big Eye" paintings. If I see another avocado colored appliance or highly-stylized daisy detailing it will be way too soon. But on reflection there are things besides the Beatles I do like, although they tend to come slightly later, circa the Summer of Love, and include tie-dye, Sergeant Pepper, and Peter Max. (I even have a copy of this poster--although the colors are all washed out.)

To help rehabilitate myself, I've been digging around the internet (and my memory) in search of boss and bitchin' bits from the era. For instance, I've generally hated the whole starburst thing, but when I saw this light fixture in one of the new bathrooms, it tickled my sense of kitch. Then, a friend of mine suggested I get a starburst clock for the living room and my cousin pointed me in the direction of a major american designer (whose clocks are still available it turns out). After clicking around a bit I found this. And I really like it.

In fact, it brings to mind something that happened in 1966 that changed the world forever. You know what I'm talking about. On September 8, the very first episode of Star Trek went on the air. And we have boldly gone ever since . . .