Today 11June2023

The day started with me rising at about 7:45 and having no shift today. I had done the 4PM-1AM shift, so I was free on Sunday. Of course, I checked the status and followed along. Breakfast was an NYC bagel; I still have a few left in the freezer from Joyce (thanks!) with cream cheese and capers, along with liberal coffee made in my French Press. I then wrote the blog for Saturday on Sunday morning (Sunday being the day I usually write two blogs). That took a few hours. I found I was tired. I had two production issues within a few days, and working a second shift (instead of my regular first shift) left me exhausted and a bit fuzzy. I read some more of the famous Foundation books by Isaac Asimov, and I still find the series to be a page-turner. Still, tobacco use in his future is shocking, and the positive writing on atomic power and radiation disconcerting. I scrubbed the toilets, did the dishes, cleaned up, and dressed.

I made a lunch of the salad left over from yesterday. I warmed some leftover bread to go with it in the microwave for twenty seconds. I watched more videos on YouTube while I ate the salad with the dregs of the coffee from this morning. Battleship New Jersey channel discussed counter flooding and showed the valves to do that on the USS New Jersey. I also watched a video on navigation on the RMS Titanic and its three compasses. This one was from Oceanliner Designs, and I recommend their stuff.

I headed to see Susie after I again toured my roses and cut more fresh blooms to take to Susie. I also spent some time dead-heading the bushes. I will have to clean up the cutting I left under the roses or leave that for my lawn service (tempting). When boarding Air Volvo, I took my cuttings, carefully wrapped in a paper towel, and set them in the seat next to me. I headed in little traffic to 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. It was a warm sunny day, headed to over 80F (27C).

Susie was waiting for me when I arrived without incident, and there was no traffic on Sunday. Susie was in her wheelchair and a heavy sweatshirt for outside. It was lovely outside, and the light breeze was warm. The shade was still cool, so the extra shirt was a blessing.

We reached a bench partially in the sun on Metzger Park (next door to the hummingbird house), and there called Leta, Susie’s mother and chatted for a while. Next, we followed the butterflies (there were at least three) further into the park and then took the trail out of the park on the street.

A couple is living in their car next to the park, and Bo (I learned his name today) was cleaning the car while his gal was napping in a blanket among the English daisies in the park. I gave him $20 as we have seen them many times, and I am sure he could use some gas money. Bo was embarrassed to take the money at first but then thanked me, asked out names, and shared his. I hope it helps, and I am so glad I am not living in my car living on the edge of a park.

Susie and I continued along the roads and visited the magnolia tree and saw that it was one white bloom way up. We enjoyed all the roses in so many yards. Finally, we returned to the hummingbird house.

Anassa, the weekend nursing aide, got Susie in her bed, and I sat in the overstuffed chair next to the bed. We put on Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Arc, and we both really enjoyed it again. Susie stayed awake for the whole thing (I nodded off quite a few times). Soon I had to leave, and Susie gave me a kiss goodbye after I had M.A.S.H. running on her TV.

I stopped by McMenamins for a bowl of soup and iced tea for dinner. I then headed to Cory’s house to play our every two-week game of Dungeons and Dragons 5E. We are sixth-level characters, and Matt is DMing a Spell Jammer new campaign. I built some models for use to use, and we used one today.

While I can’t give away this story, we had a combat-rich game today, and us playing fighters (Karyn and me), took some risks and did some stunts. It is interesting to mix swords and sorcery with Space Opera, steampunk, and some light SciFi horror. D&D 5E is not a flexible system, and it is surprising to be fighting space Vampirates (yes, that is a thing) and finding it to work (as a holy paladin in 5E, I am very effective against undead, even space undead, I learned today). Now that our characters are less fragile, the mix is starting to be more fun. So I would recommend advancing quickly to the 6th level in this mix. It was a fun night, and we advanced to 7th level (even more superpowers).

After that, I took Air Volvo home, made some tea–my new order for tea from Upton Tea game in today–and wrote the blog.

I am tired, and I need to finish this (it is already 11PM). Thank you for reading!