Today started with Leta having an issue with her swollen hand and iPhone. Instead of scrolling past my number, she tapped it (something we all have done) and called me at her time at 8AM. I woke at 5AM and saw that it was Leta. It was not someone wanting to sell me a warranty for my car or explain the Medicare plans they offer, but instead, it was Leta. I suspected she would apologize as it was an accident (if it had been Barb, her daughter, that early, I would have panicked). Leta was sorry to wake me, but I was happy she was using her phone. She was up at 8AM and feeling well enough to accidently call me. A good day. We both remembered Susie’s birthday, the 61st and had wet eyes as we talked. Soon, Leta rang off with more apologies, and I rolled over.
My alarm nearly launched me out of my bed. I had fallen asleep without remembering falling asleep, and my alarm brought me roughly back from Morpheus’s Realm. I was going to roll over and take another thirty minutes, but I suspected I would be busy; instead, I reached for my slippers and began my day. It was still dark. I found the kitchen and saw that the bread had risen (it was having an easier time than me), and after my first Zoom meetings, I would have to finish it. It was a work-from-home day. Nike will end work-from-home on Mondays starting 8 Jan 2024, as the direction is for everyone to work from the office four days a week. And while that may sound annoying, Nike shuts down in the summer for one week in August (with those who cannot do that getting a free week at a different time) worldwide, and the dates are already announced to help everyone plan their brake. This is given without reducing our Paid Time Off (PTO), which is unheard of in American companies.
I found a bagel (thanks, Smiths+Krammers and Joyce) and a banana with NYC Zabar coffee (thanks, Smiths+Krammers). Toasted and covered with cream cheese, the bagel and other items joined me in the office to start my day. Already, I was being looked for. I reviewed another last-minute fix for the software installation next month. More followed, and my colleagues and I were busy reviewing items and attending Zoom calls on status and process.
I slipped to the kitchen, pulled out the dough, pushed it around, and wrapped it. Fifteen minutes later, I set it on towels for the final rise. Now a bit floured and cornmeal-covered, I headed to the shower. I dressed and returned to more crises of the moment remotely on my Nike-owned and managed laptop. It sends a note often that something has recorded the laptop’s location–excellent. I also called Leta (but I forgot to call Grace UMC about Susie’s party optimistically planned on 18 May 2024 in Michigan), and we talked about how she is feeling and plans for her to move to a physical therapy facility. I had to suddenly ring off as another approval was pending for me. After I finished that task and with the boards clear for a moment, I headed to the kitchen.
Previously, I heated the oven with the smaller 5.5-quart Dutch oven inside. I pulled out the hot pan and popped the risen dough into the hot cast pot. Time to bake bread. I had put more salt than I wanted into the bread and was worried. An hour later, with the lid off after the first thirty minutes, the bread was done and crunchy. While I could taste the extra salt, the bread was still good. Next time, I will be more careful.
I reheated the pasta and chicken breast I made two days ago in the microwave. I could have saved 1/2 for another day, but I reheated all of it. Again, I will be more conservative next time. It was good. I watched some more videos while eating. Ocean Liner Designs is an excellent YouTube channel about everything about ocean liners, focusing on those that sank and famous ones (often the same thing). An hour-long show on HMHS Britannic, which was lost in 1916, was fascinating. I remember when the first information started being found about the nearly forgotten liner, the largest sunken ocean liner wreck ever. I remember reading somewhere that divers described it as one of the best dives, as the decompression is done in clear, warm waters over the wreck. You get to float above the wreck–the light reaches it in the clear water–as you slowly decompress and study it the whole time.
After that, most of my meetings were canceled for the holiday week–thus, the panicked morning to get things approved and moved. It was quiet. I tried some bread; it was slightly salty, as I said, but it was still excellent.
I rested a bit as I was tired from the disturbed sleep, and I must admit that between meetings, I was crying and, at one point, just sobbing with my head in my hands. It is a sad day, and I miss my wife. As a distraction, I read some excellent writing from Lyndsay Faye, who has taken up writing Sherlock Holmes stories and produced The Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes. I laughed at some of the inside jokes and the antics of Holmes retold by Watson, of course. The copyrights have been released, and all Sherlock stories are now in the public domain. Faye was writing in 2017 before the whole canon moved to the public domain, and she kept to the 1897 stories, which were in the public domain then. So far, I enjoyed it, and it helped me laugh today. Recommended.
I have a newly annotated early version (and cheaper) of the canon Sherlock Holmes as I want to try to write a story with Holmes and Watson. I need to read more of the stories and then try to adapt Watson’s narration style. I have read many other versions of Holmes, with Holmes and Watson vs. Cthulhu and Holmes studying in India and Tibet being some favorites. I want to write a story; maybe Holmes and Watson had a hush-hush adventure in New Orleans. More to come.
Work went on with me reading and checking in. A quiet day. I called Sedgwick today, and they said two days were approved but not the third day. They had no reason why the third day of family leave was not authorized (the day Susie passed). They will get back to me. I will contact HR and ask, once we resolve this remaining issue (putting aside why they told me a different story when they called me last time), to return the missing days of PTO. Endless is the paperwork of death.
I still have not heard back from Susie’s IRA. I sent in the forms. I will have to call them soon.
I sent a note to Grace UMC but have not heard from them. I forgot to call them while they were open. Their office closes at 1PM EST (three hours’ time difference).
I sent a rosemary tree with a star and lights to the hummingbird house from Jackson and Perkins. Rosemary was the herb for memory, according to the ancient Greeks. It is a gift to remember Susie and to help folks to remember.
I got some address corrections for the Fruit Cakes I send out soon.
I lighted a candle for Susie today. I use the whiskey-scented candle. Susie would like that.
Mariah texted me, millennials don’t call you, about dinner at BJ’s. We met at 7ish. Eric was there–our usual waiter and we all remembered one of Susie’s last birthdays outside of hospitals and facilities was there. Mariah ordered wine and my favorite red beer, but we almost ordered a Southern Comfort Manhattan with two cherries on the rocks, Susie’s drink. We both had the two-bone porkchop with the sweat sauce and veggies. I had a baked potato with butter and sour cream and a salad.
I am planning a trip to San Antonio on 19 Jan 2024 (in pencil) and then drive to New Orleans. Cheap flights are less than $500, and First Class is nearly $1600. I need to add a rental car (often the most expensive item) and pick a hotel downtown in New Orleans. I will revisit Zorida for the weekend and then head out. Once ensconced in a nice hotel in New Orleans, I plan to write and see the scary sites and maybe find that vampire bar I have heard about–you need a password. Exciting!
I will not be your host, but dear reader, if you want to overlap that week in New Orleans and meet me for beignets or something else, you are welcome. Mariah might come for a long weekend, and my sister Linda might be there too. But it is still in pencil, for now. It is not an invitation to my vacation, but if you want to overlap me and hook up a few times, you are welcome.
After dinner (we both missing Susie in the third seat for dinner), we headed our separate ways. Air Volvo, it now raining, got me home without incident, and then I started to write.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 