For those who wonder, computers are my favorite thing to work on. Mathematics is what I often dream of. Board games are systems to me; to play them is to run them and interact with them, just like a strange computer. When I win, it means I must have run the game well.
But, turning to today, Susan was sad when I had to leave so soon (It is a work day), but I then stayed another twenty minutes just sitting with her holding her hand–that is what I will remember. I put away the things of this world to sit and hold my wife’s hand. She nodded off a few times, and then her fav, Bluebloods, got most of her attention. Finally, she said she would be fine, and I left with a kiss. Well, two kisses.
Starting the narrative, today was a busy and rushed morning. We were called to a meeting of our (let’s call it) department at Nike’s World Headquarters Tiger Woods Center (TWC). So I managed to do my basic reading of email, personal email, text, and messages on Slack. I caught up on the news.
I had a bagel-like bread product with the last of my cream cheese and some canned peaches with liberal coffee from my French Press. I dressed and headed to the New York City parking garage at Nike WHQ by Air Volvo. This is an excellent place to park, and the third floor is empty at 8ish. The lights on the elevator are little swoosh symbols.
I take the elevator as I am unsteady on stairs, and walking is hard after ten minutes. I have some Physical Therapy to schedule to help me–I have noticed that the infusion chemotherapy has unordered my muscles–they fire out of order. I had to use a cane after one infusion, and some of the issues are returning, or I am now trying to push a bit and noticing the changes.
I took a fifteen-minute walk on the new paths on WHQ that are so lovely–my fav part of the changes. I was a few hours early, so I grabbed a hotel space at TWC and worked from there. Someone else had the window seat, but the cubicles are nice and sound-absorbing. I did my morning meetings there.
I got the window cubicle later.
I was reading some articles on AI while on hold with eTrade. My account at the trading house was locked when I connected my Fidelity to the bank at eTrade. I need a bank account in my name to move any money from my Nike-supplied accounts at Fidelity. My usual account is in Susie’s name. So I created a bank account in my existing eTrade account but somehow triggered them to lock it down. I spoke to a nice person at eTrade. I had to upload my monthly statement from Fidelity to prove that I had a real account; I had already established my identity to eTrade. They finally accepted that what I was doing was legitimate–I said that there was “white smoke,” and I was elected, which at least got a laugh. So now I can use my eTrade account checking account again.
By this time, I have ordered a paper check which I will deposit in my usual checking instead. Unfortunately, it cost me an extra $25, and I will have to enjoy whatever US Bank will do to me when I deposit that check–usually, it will go on hold for a week. All this is to borrow money from my 401K to cover the upcoming medical costs. Ugh.
I was reading AI and its related mathematics while waiting on hold, and they managed to finish the release of my account just as I needed to head to my next meeting, the department meeting. Donuts, coffee, and cookies (shaped like a Nike shoe or Converse logo) were provided.
The meeting was well done but included the dreaded “new way to work” plans that come up every couple of years. My boss, Brad, was honored for thirty years of service and got to say a few words. I had to leave as it ran over by fifteen minutes. I had a meeting I needed to participate in; my meetings were back-to-back, and I jumped into another hotel space. There I had to tell folks that some of their questions could not be answered as the folks were in the department meeting still. Funny. But we got through most of what they needed. I needed to drop halfway.
I met Scott for lunch, this time a Serena William’s building in the cafeteria on the first floor. I had not been there for lunch, so I followed Scott’s lead and had a great salad via the salad bar. Scott gives tours, so he explains some of the features of the new building and even gives me a tour of the new covered bridge done in Phil Knight’s honor. Scott and I talked about work stuff for most of lunch.
I walked back, getting quite tired, to the parking garage and took Air Volvo to the Hummingbird House without incident. It was a frosty sunny morning, and Susie was sleeping in her recliner when I arrived. I woke her, and Jennifer, the nurse aide, got Susie some water. After Susie had a few sips of water, we called Susie’s mother, and they chatted for a while. Leta was home in her chair too. Susie was nodding off again and said goodbye to her mother. As I said, I stayed a bit longer and was rushed to make my next meeting.
Back to Nike WHQ and Victory building for another meeting, we discussed software and some long and short-term plans. After the meeting, I stopped by the team that supports my old system, AFS, and we were happy to see each other. They were busy–there is always something going on in systems that does all inventory, accounting, and fulfillment for Nike (except China which is on the new system from my project), plus Converse and HR. I do miss my old systems and friends that still work on them.
I took Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave and finished my work day from home, reading emails, texts, and messages on Slack.
I had picked up a salad and spaghetti from the Olive Garden on the way home. I ordered on my phone using their app. I just read emails and like stuff while waiting for a few minutes in the parking lot until they brought me my food–still using a Covid no-contact process. I was feeling a bit down and decided I needed pasta and salad.
I ate and watched YouTube videos on the 1930s US Navy Wargames, battleships, and about living in Mexico (daydreaming again). I recommend these three channels: Battleship New Jersey, Drachinifel, and Backpacking Brunette. My favorite history comments today were on Drachinifel’s description of the 1932 US Naval Wargames, where the US Navy simulated launching a sneak attack on Pearl Habor on 7Feb1932 and the defenders thought it unfair as it was done on a Sunday, and the defenders were not prepared. Another exercise a few years later made the same simulated attack, and it worked again. Drachinifel’s creator tried not to comment on that other than to say, “well, some folks were thinking about it.” The Battleship channel talked about how they stopped the battleship by using the rudders as drag to a stop–legend is that it was used only once on the USS Wisconsin, and there was permanent damage from the event. And I enjoyed more interesting thoughts on living in Mexico and mistakes not to make when moving there–just daydreaming.
Next was a short nap, and then Theology Pub’s seventh year started tonight. Today we had about six folks on a Zoom call talking about how the misuse of the Golden Rules allowed folks to do nothing or even worse as long as they thought they were good. We believe that truly good works (thus following the Golden Rule) produce “good fruit.” However, we also think that the Golden Rule requires you to act.
After Pub finished at about eight, I put out the trash and the recycling and wrote the blog.
Thank you for reading.
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