Tuesday, August 10, 1954

August 10, 1954

411 Bonnie Dr

El Cerrito, Calif.

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Well, a lot of water has passed under various and sundry bridges since I last made a contribution to the round robin, since I note that my last contribution to it was dated Dec 7 of last year. In the meantime, Jean and I have visited in Iowa and Jean had the opportunity of meeting more of you for the first time, I’ve been to Holland at Shell’s request, Jean has followed a meandering path from Iowa back to California and right now we’re awaiting the big event of the year for us. We expect Muriel (or in the unlikely we’ve decided wrongly, Martin) in about two weeks, but of course she may be either early or late — so the doctor says.

This evening is a foggy one in California, as have been the last couple of ones. Earlier in the summer it was more sunshiny in Calif, they tell me, but since my return to the land of sunshine it has tended to be on the cool side — tho there have been several warm days. Perhaps I brought back with me the weather form Holland which this summer was colder and cloudier than usual. My trip to Holland was an interesting one in many respects; however coming when it did made it less of a happy experience than it otherwise would have been since Jean could not accompany me. I flew both ways, and while the trip was uneventful I think a sea voyage would have been more enjoyable and relaxing. Coming back from New York to San Francisco I was on one of the new DC-7’s so I had a speedy trip across the continent. The day was clear so from NY to Denver one could watch the topography below and attempt to recognize steams, lakes etc.

In Holland I lived in The Hague and worked at the Delft lab which is located on the outskirts of Delft, which is about 4 miles or so from The Hague. The Delft laboratory is a small one relative to the size of the Emeryville lab or the Amsterdam lab which is slightly larger than Emeryville and in many respects was like the setup at Wilmington where I first worked in California. The atmosphere tends to be much more informal the smaller the laboratory organization.

In addition to the work I did in Holland, I had the opportunity of doing some sight-seeing but I didn’t get outside the limits of Holland (tho Jean tried to get me interested in going to Paris). I have about 75 slides I took (some 20 still undeveloped) of the things I saw or encountered; some of these I thought were quite good considering I’ve never taken any before. Also I spent considerable time shopping, some of it for Jean but also for next Christmas.

Since returning I’ve pretty much gotten back in the routine of activities both at home and at work. The yard certainly needed attention after my absence so I’ve been concentrating on that, but later on I will start painting inside where it needs it.

All for now

With love,

Jean & Carl

Sunday, November 15, 1953

November 15, 1953

411 Bonnie Dr

El Cerrito, Calif.

Dear Father & Mother

It’s about 8:30 this Sunday evening and I’ll pen a few lines before it’s time to go to bed. Jean says she is going to write a letter telling about the wedding, reception & trip south so I’ll omit saying anything about them except to note that everything seemed to come off in a very satisfactory way and the honeymoon trip was quite enjoyable. The weather was a little on the cloudy side but that’s to be expected this time of the year.

This evening so far we have been out and returned some dishes that were used in the reception and visited the Knocks briefly. We left rather early though since tomorrow is a back-to-work day and the end of the week after the return from Santa Barbara was again somewhat strenuous getting things somewhat in order in the house. Rev Knock said that he had written a letter to you regarding events so you doubtless had heard some of what transpired from him. They were at the reception so had the chance to meet Jean’s folks.

In the mail which had accumulated while we were gone was a notice from the railway express agency of a package which I would guess was the one from U. Carl. The office is closed on weekends so we will have to get it sometime during the week; however it has arrived safely. We also had a letter from Clarice and a gift waiting for us on our return.

As you gather we are now established at 411 Bonnie Dr albeit disorganizedly yet. The only thing to complete this purchase is for us to receive back the deed from the county recorded which should occur shortly. This afternoon I signed the papers selling the house in Seaview so that should be complete this next week; it will be a relief to have these all finally complete. Friday night was the first real story of the season here (we were driving home in part of it) and I wondered if it could have been enuf to blow sone shingles off at 931 Seaview. I looked around tho and everything seemed o.k. so maybe it didn’t do any damage. Shortly before I bought it quite a few got blown off in a storm so I wondered if it would have happened again.

Jean has just reminded me (again) that I didn’t get around to getting addresses for 3 wedding invitations so in case Uncle Milton’s, Uncle Serenus’s or Under Verner’s wonder why they didn’t receive any that was the reason. They probably wouldn’t have been to interested anyway I’d guess.

This is all for now.

With love

C.P.

Wednesday, April 29, 1953

April 29, 1953

931 Seaview Dr

El Cerrito, Calif.

Dear Brothers & Sisters —

It’s about 10 minutes to seven this Calif morning and inasmuch as I’ve had the round robin some 5 days now I guess I should get my contribution written & the letter sent on its way. Today is starting out partly clear but the forecast is for showers so perhaps we shall have some more rain to add to the downpour we had on Sunday. Sunday’s rain was just about the heaviest on record for this time of the year but I guess it was quite welcome to the farmers because of the dry weather in January & February (or was it Feb & March?). As a consequence of the rain things look quite green outside right now.

With the coming of daylight saving time I shall be spending a larger part of each evening outside working on the lawn & outside of the house. Last night it was close to eight before I came in and, even then, it was still light enough so that I could have stayed out a while longer. The evening was rather cool tho, so coming inside felt rather comfortable. I had spent the time digging some weeds out of the yard (dandelion fashion) and getting strip of ground along the edge of the lawn ready to put in a hedge. This latter project I had anticipated finishing this week, but if it showers today & tomorrow I won’t be able to get done. However, there’s always work to do upstairs so the time won’t be lost.

Work at Shell follows its more or less even tenor. The work I am doing is sort of winding up the project I’ve been working on for several years but other projects of a temporary nature keep intruding all the time so the pace of work accomplished isn’t too great.

Earlier in the month I went to hear the Augustana choir on their western tour. One of their concerts was given at the Berkeley high school auditorium which is conveniently accessible. I rather enjoyed it altho occasionally I thought it seems a little long. Probably my musically-uneducated ear didn’t realize all that was transpiring. The concert was fairly well attended but I noticed a fair number of vacant seats around so it wasn’t a full house by any means.

I have also seen recently a U of Calif production of Henrik Ibsen’s play “Peer Gynt.” If any of you ever have a chance to see this I would certainly recommend it, since is so certainly unusual to say the least. The play lasts kind of long tho (from 7:30 to 11:30 for the presentation at the Univ) and the seats are kind of hard so I had wished for a pillow-a-la-Tiny fashion. Since seeing it I have meant to get the play & read it, & also a commentary since much of it I couldn’t fathom but haven’t done so yet. However, there is so much else on my reading list that perhaps I’ll never get to it.

All for now

With love

C.P.

Tuesday, February 17, 1953

Feb 17, 1953

931 Seaview Dr

El Cerrito, Calif.

Dear Brothers & Sisters

It’s about 7:00 pm on this quiet evening in Calif and by now the last traces of the sunset are gone altho with the rapidly lengthening days it won’t be long till I can be out working in the yard till this late. The last month or so here has been very nice sunshiny, dry weather for the most part — largely compensating for Dec & the first half of January which were quite dismal months. Today was a beautiful day altho not as warm as some others. Because of the warm weather, fruit trees & flowers are much earlier this year than normal. Several trees (apricot, plum, etc out in the yard) are blossoming now and along the city streets many ornamental cherry trees are flowering. The narcissus flowers are gone by now & the irises are starting (I have about 3 or 4 out). I don’t have any call lilies blooming (all I got is plants from Mrs. Udden newly set out) but in other places these too have many flowers right now. Mother has planted others flowers in the yard too — snapdragons, pansies, marigolds, so the yard should really be a riot of color when they all start in.

I have certainly enjoyed having the folks out here — & as would be expected — they have certainly done much to improve the place since they arrived. Inside mother has got curtains up, waxed the living room floor & succeeded in creating a real “homey” atmosphere. Outside, pop has been cleaning off a big tangle of underbrush on the slope north of the house & has almost got done. This summer I plan to terrace this side to keep the slope under control.

My work at Shell continues in more or less its normal course. As usual I am quite busy, right now finishing up one experimental investigation by a “catchall” final report covering numerous minor tests that were run. I should have this completed in a month or so at which another program will be inaugurated. I also have promised for me an interesting literature & theoretical problem later on which will occupy much of my time after the middle of the year.

I have been spending some time working on the “attic” putting up figured building paper on the walls, which looks like wallpaper if you don’t get too close. This project is about ½ finished & when it is complete that part of the house will be quite presentable. After I get the linoleum in upstairs & the bedroom where the folks are sleeping painted or papered, the inside will be just about finished — at least I think so. Probably other things will turn up that need to be done.

Tonite I am rather tired having attended an AIChE meeting last night. The talk was interesting & was worthwhile but the meal was too large & I missed a train by two minutes so that the evening was rather tiring. Guess I’ll hit the sack early.

With love

C.P.

P.S. I’m really getting out of practice in writing letters as long as the folks are here.

Sunday, November 30, 1952

November 30, 1952

931 Seaview Drive

El Cerrito, Calif

Dear Brothers & Sisters

Today is a rather different day, as I see by looking over my previous contributions to the round robin, than the one on which I wrote last time. Today is partly cloudy here in Calif, altho right now the sun is trying to break thru. Later today and tomorrow it is scheduled to rain according to the weatherman. This was also the forecast for last night but not very much materialized. This morning it was rather nippy out, but by now (9:30 am) it is probably warmed up to 45° or 50°F or so. Because of the rain some two weeks ago, the wild oats on the hills is starting to sprout so they are beginning to look green. However the trees have lost their leaves & the lawns are rather static right now, so the overall green hasn’t changed.

As you all doubtless know I am eagerly awaiting the visit of mother & father, who will becoming next Saturday. I guess they’ll be glad leaving all that snow and cold for a warmer clime. I have finished the downstairs in preparation for their coming, but a fair amount of work remains to be done upstairs. I also have now all the necessary furniture to accommodate them. Probably I have missed some things that will be needed but mother will have better ideas on that subject than I. Outside I haven’t done too much recently having concentrated on the inside of the house. However, right now the lawn doesn’t grow too fast & the weeds seem a little slow too. The daffodils along the curb are starting to come up now; I was wondering if they would make it since I had filled in dirt along there so they were considerably deeper than before.

At work, things continue about as usual. There is usually plenty to do — sometimes it seems like too much. The latest rumor going the rounds is that Shell Development is going to buy the Western Electric building across the street — what for I don’t exactly know. It’s a great big concrete barn of a place, 5 stories tall, but it would take a lot of changing over to make it suitable. However, things are fairly crowded here, so perhaps there is something to the rumor.

Thanksgiving I spent at the Uddens — together with some of the Knock relation. They all think, Marold, that you & Jeannie should be married out here because so many of the relation, both sides, will be out here right then. Of course, the principals won’t be, but that’s a small matter!

Yesterday I listened with considerable joy as Notre Dame beat USC. Out here the football scribes are freely predicting a win at last for the west in the Rose Bowl (as they have 6 previous times). I hope this USC loss presages their fate in the Rose Bowl, despite their vaunted might.

I should drop a line to the folks so will stop for now.

With love

C.P.