Story 21April2023

Working from home means no rush and sleeping into a decadent 7:20ish this Friday. I also delayed dressing and all that until later and just drank liberal coffee, and today I had more oatmeal for breakfast. My legs and back still complained about yesterday’s workout and other items, and I decided not to do my stretches and exercises. However, I did enjoy three hours of Zoom meetings in the morning. Slipping (pun?) into the shower and dressing between the Zooming.

After my last Zoom meeting that morning, I decided to have lunch at the house. I had reheated North African-style chicken with preserved lemon for lunch. It was still spicy but calmer after resting in the frig for a day. While eating, I watched YouTube videos, Ship Happens, and Battle Ship New Jersey feeds. I also did the Discriminating Gamer’s top games for 2022 and provided some thoughts that Cody, who runs the channel, replied to. Dr. Cody, Ph.D. in history, is one of my go-to guys for games and history. Of course, he likes military stuff better than Euro, and I am the opposite, but still, I like to get his read on a board game before I buy it.

After that, I tried Air Volvo crossing Beaverton on this overcast gray-on-gray day. There were no issues, and the clouds seemed to have driven Beaverton’s Finest away, and I soon arrived at Susie’s place at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I had called ahead, and Susie was comfy in her bed and a comfy chair next to the bed. So I set up shop next to her.

Very comfy!

I had my Apple computer and Nike computer next to each other on a lowish table (during the pandemic, I would have a third screen up with Bloomberg News running, watching the impact of the pandemic on the stock market, +24% growth!?) So Susie was happy to have company, and I connected to Nike and was working the next three hours next to Susie.

Before I got serious about the work, I first called Susie’s mother, Leta, and they chatted for a while. Later, Dan Gray from church called and was thrilled to chat with Susie on speaker. After that, Susie dozed while I was online, sending messages on Slack channels, reading and approving specifications that needed fixes, and doing other usual tasks.

My shift ended at 4, and I headed out just before it ceased to make the 4:30 Zoom at the house. I made it just before it started–traffic was a bit heavier tonight. The last meeting, as usual for this point in the data conversions, was long.

I am taking the 4PM-12:00 shift on Saturday–all my gaming is canceled. A boring week-focused weekend, I am afraid.

I logged on to my company investment account and shifted all my 401K to stable value (not bonds) funds except for the 20% in Nike stock. I trust the shoe company, but the market shows signs of a massive bubble. From my experience, a strongly branded product like Nike can usually weather a crash. With Susie’s health and my surviving cancer, I need to not worry about the market for six months–I will move it for a while–I will reconsider on Halloween, a good enough day to decide how scary the markets are. I am up almost six percent for the year. As good as any time to snap on the safety belts.

I headed to BJ’s and had my fav, a porkchop, and an amaretto shot with coffee for my dessert. So there I was, surrounded by people and noise, and with Mo as my waiter ensuring dinner would be great, I wrote the blog and felt my spirits rise. Good food, familiar places and people, and the noise of life always helps.

Thanks for reading.