Today started with my alarm on my iPhone at 6:00AM and with me wanting to sleep for another thirty minutes, but I found the will to proceed. I reached the kitchen, which seemed further away today, got the kettle going, and headed to the living room. Once there, I climbed into the Schwinn stationary bike I got for Susie just before the pandemic and did a mile or five minutes for my first excursion. I will increase the time and miles as I start up this again. Next, I did the basic stretches and exercises I learned from physical therapy. Likely, I should do those first; next time!
Stagger more now, I found the coffee and poured it into French Press in the kitchen. I also found a yogurt with organic blueberries for breakfast. I took the coffee in an extra-large Star Wars black cup resembling the Death Star–perfect for how I felt. “Your lack of exercise is disturbing to me–choke,” went through my mind as I drank coffee.
I did the usual things in the morning: reading emails, reading Slack posts on our current project at work, and reading some news. I consumed my coffee and breakfast. The half-hour disappeared in a puff of reading.
I hit the shower, dressed, and found a thermal cup for the rest of the coffee–forgoing the Star Wars cup. I boarded Air Volvo and was happy to see no school buses or any other blockers. I arrived with time to spare and then started my two hours of status and update meetings. I helped with some issues and a crisis or two. I also approved access for some folks and discovered that my boss, Brad–who is on sabbatical, slipped in and approved my access requests. Excellent.
I managed to leave mid-morning to see Susie–the best time and had to dodge a VW bug that did a U-turn without warning and nearly enjoyed causing a three-car pile-up. The auto braking did not see the exciting move, and I had to stop the Air Volvo in time! I also saw Beaverton’s Finest represented as two motorcycles on Highway 26 measuring car speeds with a radar gun; I guess it was a lovely day for ticketing. Once through that–not drawing any police attention–I arrived safely 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.
Susie was just finishing breakfast when I arrived, and I waited until she was done. Next, we headed out to the park and saw the park manager, who stopped to tell us he had found two more nests of yellow jackets that were now treated (kaput). He said one of the nests was gigantic and near the parking lot. We saw fewer yellow jackets today. Again, I am sorry to see some wild killed, but a child could easily walk into the nest–it can’t be there (next to some swings).
Susie and I went off the path, and I pushed Susie to new parts of the park. It was warm but still early, and only 72F (22C). I saw my first grasshopper–fall will be here soon. We watched an Oregon Swallowtail butterfly dance in the trees. I was looking for more nests, but the Park manager thinks he found all the ones that need removal. We called Leta and Barb (Susie’s mother and sister, respectively) at a bench, but Barb was unavailable, and Leta called us back–she was having lunch with friends. Leta and Susie chatted from the shady bench near the cedars and redwoods. There were runners, humans being walked by their dogs, and folks walking on the trail in front of us–the park was busy at noon.
After touring new areas in the park, I took Susie back to the hummingbird house. Next, I said goodbye with a kiss and a promise to return on Wednesday. Susie was sad to have a short visit, but I am working. I returned via Chipotle; I had a salad with chips for lunch–next time, no chips.
The rest of the day was busy as I had lots to talk to folks about. I was starting some new work and got an expert assigned me to help; excellent. I did a few more status meetings and thought about how to do the new work. I headed out at 4ish and arrived at the Volvo Cave via Air Volvo without issue or witnessing any more extra-legal driving or experiencing new events to test the auto-braking system on Air Volvo.
At home, I was tired and tried to read, but soon I was unaware of anything. I rose at 5:45 and found the kitchen again and chopped and chopped some more to make a salad for dinner. I had carrots, celery, cucumber, and lettuce as my main ingredients. I chopped lots so I could use the extra for the next salad.
Next, I found a cheap animated remake of a lost Doctor Who episode from The First Doctor. It is terrible but familiar and once cutting edge. The film version is lost, but a recording exists, allowing for a recreation. This one is in color (the original missing film was black and white) and uses software to animate the characters, and is a bit puppet-like. It was not expensive, and I have seen most of the reconstructions–I find it fascinating to see what can be done with basic animation and how dated it all still is.
After that, I rested again and then started on the blog.
Thanks for reading!
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 