Trip Scratch

I don't actually have to be in the Bay Area next week, so we were working on ways to get the Astro back that don't require Lisa having to make a 600-mile trip in one day. The best plan seemed to be for me to take the train down on Saturday, collect the minivan, and either drive home the same day or go part-way and stay in a hotel, then come home Sunday. The challenge is getting my spare keys back from my mechanic. (I can pay him by phone.) But it turns out that he's on vacation today and tomorrow anyway, and thus I decided it would be better to not even try this weekend. He might have parked my van in a place on his lot where I can't get it out. Furthermore, my National Association of Railroad Passengers discount on Amtrak tickets requires a three-day advance purchase. So I'll talk to him early next week and make plans.