Today 10Aug2023

I am writing this on Friday for Thursday, but I have limited time, so I will cover the exciting stuff. Thank you for reading, and sorry I did not write this yesterday, but I was tired and went to bed early.

So important things…

As reported on the stationary bike, I managed to simulate travel for over two miles for twelve minutes. I am riding the bike, so to speak, every morning and hope to break fifteen minutes this weekend. My retirement plans include financial and tax efficacy strategies and the Doc-suggested loss of ten pounds over six months or faster. This means exercising every day, and the AC and its air filters make the inside bike the best answer for my asthma. I am also changing my diet, but having the usual problem that I am a good cook–my food is delicious. Today, I managed to eat only 1 1/2 servings, which is an improvement. I also have less caloric snacks to help, such as dried mango and almonds from Equal Exchange.

That is right, you crazy right-wingers reading this (I love all my readers; I even understand the attraction of Trump–I really do); I am not only drinking liberal coffee but also investing in liberal and good-for-you snacks! Yes, I love my dried mango pieces.

The work at the shoe company was not interesting enough to share, and the details of how a globally known multinational corporation manages its world-leading software development are not something to share here.

We agreed to have a team lunch (and the local team members all made it), and our director, Rajani, surprised us all by buying everyone lunch. Thanks, Rajani. We next traveled to the new building we will occupy, according to the plan, on 5Sept2023. We looked at the new spaces, and, like most places on Nike’s WHQ campus, it was a bit cramped. I liked it. It will be nice to be in the WHQ even if our building is on the extreme edge and almost not in WHQ.

Next, I had to take some calls in my car and then do a call from the social room at the hummingbird house. Still, I managed to reach via Air Volvo, without incident, Susie’s 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. Once work was finished (but I did have to pull out my Nike laptop once and approve a security request), I spent the late afternoon with Susie. This included visiting the park and finding a bench. The park was busy with kids getting in that last park day (school starts in only a few weeks for most), and many dogs were taking their humans for healthy walks. Many dogs stopped by to look at Susie and me. Barb and Leta (Susie’s sister and mother) answered the three-way FaceTime call, and we chatted about daily events. It is always strangely reassuring to have a call about nothing–No medical emergencies or other disasters.

We returned, seeing the swallowtail butterflies today, to the hummingbird house. Jennifer set Susie in her bed, and we tried Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, now in its third season and highly rated. Susie was not that interested, but I was laughing through it. I returned the TV to M.A.S.H. and kissed Susie goodbye with a promise of cake, flowers, and a trip for our 33rd Wedding Anniversary on Friday.

Moving to the evening and back at the house, I made baked boneless and skinless chicken thighs dusted with salt, pepper, and Moroccan spices. I microwaved fresh green beans (before they fade) with almond slices, salt, and a dusting of garlic powder. I also made couscous with almond slices, dried cranberries, and some aging Garam Masala (long expired, but still smells nice). I watched while eating a few more animated Batman/Joker episodes and was still surprised at how good they are.

After that, I attended the Theology Pub via Zoom and finally connected after re-installing Zoom on my M1 Apple (the usual updates failed as the software requires multiple security overrides, not reassuring, to load). The discussion was about social programs and their value and the object of many to the same. Primarily a political debate, but we did recognize that many conservatives want to use non-government religious agencies to fill this need and to restrict government to minimal social impact. Thus, most folks realize there is a need in the USA for social services, but the process is vigorously debated.

After that, I shredded three cups of carrots, roasted 1.5 cups of walnuts, and assembled two 9″ round cake pans. I then followed King Arthur Flour’s recipe for carrot cake. Susie will get her favorite carrot cake, made fresh for her anniversary.

Thus I was tired and went to bed without writing this blog. I read for a few minutes, found myself dreaming about the book, and was asleep holding the Kindle in my hands. I rolled over twice and was ready to enter Morphious realms.

Thank you for reading. I will take a sabbatical from writing after I finish the Friday blog; thanks, MichelleV, for the better wording.