Story 14Nov2023

Dinner was with Mariah tonight. We decided to compare Texas to Oregon, so I ordered yet-another-ribeye. Mariah went with the fillet steak. My steak was good but was not 1/2 inch thick and had little salt, unlike the Texas version. Mariah’s fillet was slightly over-cooked (a sin against nature and, I think, anti-patriotic), but still good, she said. Our waiter, the unflappable Eric at BJ’s Brewhouse, was willing to take it back–but Mariah was not that guy who sends a decent steak back. The potato was perfect, the salad was well made, and the dressing, A Thousand Islands, was slightly tangy–again, excellent. Eric constantly checking in and brought me coffee and cream without asking when I finished. I finished with a shot of Armaredo with the coffee. Mariah stuck to red wine, something called Freak-Out Red, which was dry and excellent, according to Mariah.

Mariah and I talked about writing. I asked her about my blog (this one), and she said I could make the mundane interesting and important. She was disappointed when I wrote shorter blogs, and I will try to add some extra moments I sometimes leave out on shorter blogs, like today’s. Before, I always worried about writing too much, and now I see I should put that fear away.

While we had a nice dinner, we both seemed to notice that Susie was not there for dinner, and our chat was no longer about Susie, which was a bit disquieting. I only cried once when discussing Susie’s last day with us. I cry most days, usually just wet eyes–the sobbing seldom returns.

I forgot to bring Mariah’s T-shirt and other trinkets from Alamo Music Center next time. It was good to catch up. We had a nice, pleasant meal with Eric, hovering to ensure everything went well.

Before this, I discovered that IMPAX, Susie’s IRA management company, had locked down her online account after her death. They have not sent me the forms to transfer ownership. I went to their website, found the forms, downloaded them, printed them out, and filled out the IRA forms to open an account for me. I identified the account I was taking over, Susie’s. I wrote a letter to explain what I wanted to do. I included this with a copy of the first page of Susie’s last IRA statement and put all that in a large envelope with a Death Certificate (short form) and a self-addressed stamped envelope to return the certificate. Seeing that Nike did not need me, I drove to the post office and sent the information to IMPAX first class for about a buck and a half.

Before this, I collected the mail and had another Kickstarter delivered. I am unsure if this is a Christmas present for Cat or something I want to keep. This is the comic Skies & Fire republished in slipcased volumes I and II with foil imprints. I also got a check for over $490 for over-repaying my loan against my 401K–I used Susie’s insurance settlement to pay off the loan I used to cover her medical expenses. This seemed sensible to me. When paying off debt, it is nearly impossible to get a perfect pay-off, and I was not surprised to get a check. I try to use US Bank’s app to deposit checks instead of driving them to a bank. This requires holding the phone perfectly to get the front and back images. It took three attempts to get the back of the check accepted.

Moving even further back in the day, I worked in the afternoon while the lawn service suffered with the leaves. My lawn waste can is full, and they took about twice that with them. Only some of the trees have let go of this year’s leaves. I was on Zoom calls with the mowing and blowers running, but even with the noise, I followed along and approved some items.

I ordered lunch as I was at the house. Mariah’s mother was coming to the house to pick up a set of laundry appliances stored there for a while. I left the garage open after I got here, and they, without me noticing, grabbed their items. Another item off my checklist–Excellent. Thanks!

Beginning this work-from-the-office day, I started at 6AM and woke before my alarm. I got up a bit early and started coffee but would, remembering how much better I felt at Zorida’s in Texas, have only one cup of coffee. I read emails, partially catching up on emails (there are too many to read them all from four days), Slack messages (again, only the newest ones), and some news to prepare for my day. I was soon dressed and headed out without a coffee cup as I hoped to reduce my coffee drinking. I had my last yogurt for breakfast as I needed to eat with my meds, which I remembered to take.

On reaching the office at Nike WHQ, breakfast was served, and I had more for breakfast and slipped and had a second cup of coffee without thinking, but I did not have a third one until Eric brought it to me after dinner at BJ’s. Better.

I spent the morning doing Zoom meetings. I also talked to my boss for a while, including discussing the new CTIO that Nike has hired, Dr Muge Erdirik Dogan. We have a new boss. No comments can be published here, of course.

I headed home and opened the garage door when Air Volvo got me there without issues. I ordered lunch to be delivered from Happy Panada. I like their food, but it is a bit plain for many. I had that while watching YouTube, including updates from Battleship New Jersey plans for dry docking.

I next had a decision to make. Would I make another ad hoc trip, visit the coast, or stay home for the upcoming holiday weekend here in the US? I checked with my boss, Brad, and Rajani, our leader for master data, and I was free to travel that weekend. After considering some insane items, including trying to make Thanksgiving dinner in Michigan, I went of the more simple seeing the ships in San Diego and enjoying the now luxurious US Grant Hotel (The Grant family, as I have read, took the money from the US 17th President’s autobiography and built a hotel as an investment–it worked well for them and still is named for the president). I will have dinner with the Weld-Martins and fly on Friday (a direct flight very early) and fly back (a direct flight and early too) on Sunday morning. This gives me most of Friday and all of Saturday to visit the ships and various sights. I might be able to attend church in Oregon on Sunday!

I also bought an updated and expensive chess computer: Mephisto Phoenix. I have the previous version, and chess has always fascinated me. I will try to set up the computer permanently in the house soon. This is a Millennium and should plug into my existing computer chess board, an early birthday present for myself.

I talked to Leta today; Barb (her daughter) was out then. Surgery is out as Leta is too old (95) and not in the best health, so braces are the remaining option. Barb is searching the Internet for a solution and might have found something that may work, according to Leta. Fingers crossed. More doctors will be met to get second opinions and also to get access to physical therapy. Leta is looking at a facility until she can better care for herself. This is all in flux, and I only put it here to help.

I punched the solo board game Ottoman Sunset and put it in the car. One of these nights, I hope to try it out. Today, dinner and writing got in the way. Maybe Wednesday. Gaming with Z is on hold as school practices are in the way of gaming opening on Wednesday for that possibility.

Goodness, I kept my promise, and this is a long blog!

Thanks for reading.