I ended Friday unexpectedly with calls from friends. I spoke to David and Michelle as they crossed the Coastal Mountain Range to their beach home–More repairs and work for the weekend for them. We talked about many things, but I read them my new 500-word horror story for the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, and Michelle thought it good. When you read a story aloud to a friendly audience, you get to hear the voice and structure of the story. I thought the story moved for 500 words, was coherent and maybe a bit scary, and contained some poem-like wording. It is a story of a nightmare chasing the writer and not focused on Lovecraftian mythology, but I hope it hints enough at it.
Next, I got a call from Subha; she is on sabbatical and headed to India soon. How do you get Raspberry Pi 4 with 4Gb? I have some spare (I always buy two in case I release the blue smoke in one), but it is impossible to find an 8Gb version. I also have an unused Raspberry Pi 3 2Gb. I checked all my usual sources, and Raspberry Pi 4’s are mostly sold out or being sold with a $100 premium (and one wonders if they actually have one). I put my spares aside and will get them to Subha.
After that, I went to bed and had trouble sleeping. I had some coffee with dinner, which kept me up.
Returning to the start of the day, my alarm woke me at 7, and with some effort, I joined the living on a work-from-home Friday. I assembled a breakfast of cereal with milk and coffee, liberal from the French Press. I consumed the news and breakfast, also enjoying emails from work and those from my own account. Next, I spent some time on Facebook to see what was happening there. At 8AM, my online Zoom meetings started and went on until about 10AM. There were no crises for us, so the morning was spent listening and reading. I canceled a meeting as there were no requests for the meeting, and then headed to the shower and started the laundry.
I made lunch after putting around the house for a bit. I reheated the tamales and had them for lunch. I boarded Air Volvo with the intent of stopping at Target near Susie’s to get some Ensure with protein (extra potent Ensure if you like) as suggested by doc. Hall Boulevard was closed! The detour took quite some time, and I now late forgot to get the Ensure. Susie was waiting for me in her room, and I set up shop in an overstuffed chair and a small table. I had my Nike and Apple laptops all running, and I put on the movie La La Land for Susie and me to watch while I worked. My remote office at the hummingbird house.
We called Susie’s mother, Leta, and chatted with her for a while. She is going after the fungus and bugs attacking her tomatoes! After that, I had a work call that Susie slept through. We returned to the movie. At 4ish, we headed outside to see Metzger Park before my 4PM meeting and shift change at the hummingbird house.
We enjoyed the warm sunny June weather, not the usual in Oregon in June. I found our favorite shady bench and was surprised to meet Joan and Bud Goldhammer, who were also in the park. We had a friendly chat. Susie enjoyed the warm air, even in the shade, and watched the butterflies and the kids enjoying their first Friday without school.
I managed to get us back in time for my 4:30 status meeting. We then finished La La Land, and I kissed Susie goodbye. Dinner was at the Cheese Cake Factory, having the hibachi steak and taking cheesecake and a coffee to go. My waiter, Jenifer, was excellent.
I returned home and did dishes, finished the laundry, and rested a bit (food coma). I then got some calls, as I described at the start.
It was a good day, and I tried to keep the stress down and increase my rest.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 