I am in The Rock, a pizza and beer joint that makes wood-baked pizzas that I love. I have not been back since Susie’s stroke. The bartender remembered me and asked about Susie (scared of what the answer would be), and while sad to hear about Susie’s current condition, he was happy to hear she was stable and still going. I showed him a few recent pictures, and he was relieved. There is no place like home; even the pizza folks remember you.
My sister, Linda, had some tests today and is recovering. Been there, and it is mostly the anesthetic that makes it hard. She should be better after some rest.
Mom Wild got a new phone, all pink, and once fully installed, it will print the words you say on a screen. It is mainly for folks with hearing issues, but Mom already loves it. Apparently, it is very pink.
Starting Wednesday, the alarm at 6AM woke me after I had woken at 4:15, 5:10. 5:20 and 5:35, and I finally slept. The alarm was not welcome. It took me an uncharacteristically five minutes to get out of bed. More of a summoning than a waking.
The kitchen took only a bit to find, and there started to heat water for coffee. Next, I found the living room and its floor. I started music, Adele, on the Alexa device and completed exercises and stretches. Time just flies by, and when I reach the office with a bagel (from NYC, thanks Joyce) and coffee–liberal French Press (I spent a moment on the way to the kitchen in the office reading some emails, and thus I was out-sequence of my usual sequence), I have only ten minutes left. Ugh.
I manage to read emails, Slack channel updates, and news websites to get a handle on the morning, so I am ready to start. I rush off to the shower. Again, I recently decided to dress in a dress shirt and new pants to celebrate the end of the pandemic and my upcoming retirement–I am through with worn-out pants and T-shirts. But I might wear some cool T-shirts, but now I will choose to wear them.
My co-workers were surprised by my dress style change. But they are getting used to it.
I arrive in the office before 8 and start a long morning of Zoom meetings. I forgo the all-people meeting for the project as a status meeting is over it–I let my fellows attend the project meeting while I did the Zoom status meeting.
The shoe company has an upgrade for my laptop, a new Windows version. I follow the pre-checks, but no update is available to me. So I visit the experts for help at the Performance Bar. I am served, and they determine, “Why yes, you are getting an update, and no, it does not seem ready for you yet.”
After that, I head out to see Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Despite a near-perfect day, the Beaverton Police were not seen on Highway 26 or 217. I reached Susie just before noon without any incidents, close calls, or delays from The City of Beaverton’s program of beautification by digging holes, an unsuccessful program.
Susie was ready for an adventure, and while I suggested camping in Metzger Park, we did a tour instead–Jennifer, the weekday nursing aide, just ignored me. It was a wonderful day, and Susie, safely moved into her wheelchair by Jennifer, was without a coat.
The park had collected dogs with humans, some legal (leashed) and others illegal (free-running). But the free-running dogs were well-behaved, so there was no trouble. Little kids were everywhere, and a young gal set out a blanket and had her late lunch. There were smiles around as the rains this year seemed oppressive and everlasting. A hot sunny day in April was welcome and unexpected–there were cheerful people (and dogs) everywhere. Again, Susie admired the English daisies (tiny little flowers considered a weed) in the park.
We called Leta from a bench in the sun. Leta chatted with us for twenty minutes or so. Susie listened to the call while watching the people and dogs. After Leta rang off, Susie and I spent another twenty minutes watching people, occasionally petting a pouch and enjoying a post-pandemic moment in Metzger Park. I had to return to the shoe company, and Susie was disappointed that I was leaving after an hour, but I had to return to work. I left her with Jennifer after a kiss and a promise to return on Thursday.
I had lunch at Red Robin and chatted about elections with Trump supporters. Always fun to find common ground. I enjoyed my Ensalada platter, and the Trump folks discovered that a liberal Democrat was not a demon worshipper or criminal. It was unreal for me. Last time for lunch there as this is twice now, and I would just like to eat and possibly watch sports.
Work was quiet, but I did help with a few design and software bugs. Mostly these are crises of the moment which disappear the next day. So I headed home after the last meeting and an ad hoc design session on data egress. There was no gaming with Z tonight, so I headed out for dinner after dropping off some mail for Corwin. Corwin, who lived with us for a long time, lives in a house about a mile away.
Thanks for reading.
Update: I did not cover this. As I drove back to the office my colon decided it needed attention. I managed to not have a sequencing issue, but I was in and out of the restroom for the afternoon. I was exhausted and was happy to head home–after everything emptied. I cover this as it was part of my experience today. I was worried that I would have a problem but managed to sequence properly, and everything was OK. I will say that it was like a colonoscopy prep–everything left. Yikes.
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