On this last day of July, I had meetings into the evening. I meet twice a week with India, and there was an all-employee meeting repeat at 6PM local time. Thus it is almost 9PM Monday before I can start this blog. I am also tired–working six days a week for nearly a month is beginning to affect me–I tire easily now. Plus, my day was also chaotic as I had a doctor’s appointment with my regular doc that I had forgotten until it popped up on my calendar–the end of July seemed so far away when I scheduled it! I then picked up my suits, and they needed to correct the pants (they forgot the buttons for the suspenders, so I will be back there soon) and had me wait for them.
I needed one grey suit for Linda, my sister’s wedding on September 10, assuming I can make it. If Susie is well, I will take a quick weekend trip to be part of the wedding. Air flights, suit, rental car, and hotel are all done (all flights are refundable and changeable), so I can jump on a flight, get there, and fly right back if needed. Just a few days away from Susie if it all works.
Again, a crazy busy day filled with lots of ad hoc events. Let us start telling the story from the morning…
I woke to the alarm at 7AM and stumbled out of bed. It is Monday, so it is a work-from-home day, and I get to sleep in until 7AM. I started heating the water for coffee in my electric kettle and headed back to the home office. I logged on to work on my Nike computer and started my Apple; I use them sitting next to each other. I read emails and Slack channel updates on last night’s events at the shoe company; the project runs on a 7/24 schedule, and our data conversions are running. Everything seemed, for our part, to be going well with our colleagues in India turning over to us on Oregon’s morning. I found a donut to go with the liberal coffee I made in my French Press.
I spent the morning doing status meetings and reading documents. I approved a few changes and objected to some that were then clarified. I had a break in meetings at 10AM and then showered and dressed. I watched another review meeting at 11AM for a while, but once it started running over, I stopped it. I also reheated some chicken and veggies I had made a few days ago for lunch.
I got an offer for lunch from Mariah in Portland at Von Eberts, but I could not swing it and the doctor’s appointment. Not to mention that consuming beer and the world’s great chicken wings just before a doctor’s visit is poor planning and will likely not please my Doc. Mariah could not manage it for dinner, so we will miss it on Monday.
As I said, I then headed to my doctor’s appointment. There I learned that my blood pressure was perfect, but my A1C was creeping up. The new allergy med we started after the last visit slowed the coughing and controlled my asthma. I am feeling much better, I told Doc.
Next, we talked about retirement planning, and the Doc strongly suggested I start to include in my retirement planning an exercise plan and lose 10 pounds every six months or so. “Your life will be much better losing some weight,” Doc said. Doc also wanted to check that I knew what I would do when I retired–Yes, I can keep busy with all my hobbies!
My new plan, I will start exercising again (I stopped when the asthma–breathing seemed more important at the time) and will start back now. I will be back in four months to check my progress on my A1C and weight. Health plans are now to be included in retirement planning. Excellent.
After the medical stuff, Air Volvo took me via the highways 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. Susie was waiting in her recliner in the shared living room when I arrived. Jennifer, the weekday nursing aide, lifted Susie into her wheelchair, and we headed outside. It was a warm day with a light breeze, another perfect sunny day with clear skies, and the temperature in the high 80s (about 30C). We found a safe picnic bench (yellow jackets were swarming some dropped food at the other picnic bench), and we made some calls there. The area is shady, and the breeze runs through that part of the part, making it lovely for a visit.
I used my iPhone to call Barb (Susie’s sister) and Leta (Susie’s mom) and connected everyone in a three-way FaceTime call. Barb was in her car driving, and her connection was weak. We could see each other and chat briefly before Barb had to ring off. I left Leta and Susie speaking while I talked to the park manager.
He is concerned about the wasps too. Luke, I think that is his name, said that at another park, they had to deal with six nests. So far, he has not found the ground nests in Metzger Park. The wasps get aggressive in the fall, and the bugs were now a dangerous pest in the park. He will keep looking for the nests, and I told him I would look for them. I think I found one not far from our favorite bench, and he will check that out. Later, he found a nest and treated it (killing it with a powder). While I frown on killing things outdoors, I make an exception for local ants or yellow jackets in public parks or my backyard.
I pushed Susie to some new areas in the park, going off the path, and watched with care for wasp nests. We found one possible nest, and Susie enjoyed the new places. We saw the butterfly dancing in the sun. It was a marvelous walk.
Aside: There is a butterfly now in the backyard at the house. I am seeing the hummingbirds in the mornings too.
I had to head home, and I left Susie with Jennifer with a kiss goodbye and a promise to return on Tuesday. Susie needed a nap. I took Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave. The traffic was light–but I did stop for my suits, as I mentioned, so I was quite delayed.
I rested for a bit and then made jambalaya from a box. I did chop some onion, garlic, celery, and a not-so-fresh green pepper to add to it. I sliced up the sausage leftover from last week’s jambalaya, one smoked and the other cajun sausage. I opened a large can of tomatoes, took half, crushed them, and added them. All of it was then mixed with my usual box of jambalaya makings.
It was good. I ate it while watching the Nike meetings.
And that takes me full circle.
Thanks for reading!
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