Today 22Nov2023

I am writing this on Thursday (not Saturday as I wrote originally!?) morning as I was up late. Somehow, it is sunny with blue skies on a Thanksgiving in the greater Portland area! I slept in, so I am a bit late writing, but I have no plans for today until the late afternoon.

Starting backward, I reached the Volvo Cave at 12:20AM, already Thanksgiving, from the short drive from the local strip mall’s Doctor Feelgood pool house and dive bar. Corwin, who used to live with us, and Andrew (Corwin’s best friend) had decided to tie one on and were slamming through Hefeweizen-styled beers. We talked and drank for an hour plus change, and I had two lighter beers. I got a text from Corwin while I was in the newly released movie Napoleon, and I called him after the movie and was invited to the nearby Doctor Feelgood.

This is a 2:30 runtime show; even then, it seemed abbreviated. As a subject, Napoleon would fill three movies or more of the same length. The last book I read by the same title was four inches thick. This movie was a spectacle, and the characters necessary shallow, but I enjoyed it. I think only camera work or clothing will likely earn awards, as the acting, while excellent, never seems to be more than a distant mirror of these impossible-to-know historical figures. Recommended if you like action films and don’t mind being part of the battles where there is blood everywhere.

Before this, I microwaved the last of the Indian-style chicken I had made a few days ago. Still excellent. I had been reading more newly written Sherlock Holmes and resting. Lunch had not settled well, and I regretted finishing most of the Cashew Chicken. I also had my colon deciding it wanted attention, and that meant a few sudden visits. I was experiencing the cork and champaign issues I have had before. After losing 25cm of my larger colon, the last bit, I cannot always feel the need to go, and things can get backed up, and I find I pop the cork and then need to run back to the restroom and empty the rest. So, the early afternoon was a partial loss.

I also booked my flights, hotel, and car for my next trip: San Antonio (again) and then driving to New Orleans. It’s always fun to set something in place that you look forward to. My crazy plan is to fly to San Antonio on Friday, 19th January, First Class, with enough luggage for a week (two bags checked, I think), hang out with Zorida for the weekend (and get a haircut), see more of San Antonio, and then on Monday 22nd January drive eight hours or more to New Orleans. I will be staying there at Le Richelieu in the French Quarter (they don’t charge parking for the smallish SUV I am renting). On Sunday, 28th January, I will return the SUV to the New Orleans Airport and return to Portland via a connection in Dallas, but sadly, only one flight is First Class.

Aside: First Class charges nothing for two pieces of checked luggage and does not do any extra charges for seats. I ran the trip as a cheap flight and discovered $60 a piece of luggage charges (each way!) and $200 for a reasonable seat on the flights. Thus, $60x2x2 + $200 equals Michael flies First Class. F**k it!

I baked a pumpkin pie. Yes, Glenda, I use my usual methods for canned pumpkin. This is the same pie I make every year, and while I used Vietnamese cinnamon and did plane off the nutmeg from a well a nutmeg, it is mostly the same.

I will not repeat the story here, but making this pie from the recipe from a can of Eagle Brand Condense Milk is a tradition. I think this recipe is now only found on their website, and I reproduce it for you all. There is still time to make one!

I did laundry, dishes, and paperwork while following along at work until about 4PM. It was a quiet afternoon, as you can imagine. I met Scott for lunch, and we went to the Chinese restaurant that left me stuffed. We talked about work (plotting?) and caught up. Scott found me in the nearly empty Swift Building (every time I write “Swift,” I think of Taylor Swift songs), and we then traveled to lunch (all Nike food service was closed for the holiday).

Three others and I showed up at the building. Jatin came and sent him home as it was cold (weekend heating), and all he would be doing was using Zoom anyway. I should have spent the day working from home.

Changing back to the start of the day, I was up at 6:30AM, giving myself a 30-minute break today, and had a quick breakfast of bread and coffee–my homemade bread smeared with butter and low-sugar jelly. I doubted the wisdom of going to work today but popped into Air Volvo armed with my Nike Laptop and badge. I arrived after experiencing non-traffic and parked in the best parking place–there was nobody there, I was sure now. The doors were locked, and I had to use my badge, which did work. The desk staff was there but agreed this was crazy as they had almost no customers. I was alone in my area, and as I said, the heat was on the weekend, and the lights were out. If you did not move enough for the sensors, the lights would turn off; it’s always a bit disconcerting when you are suddenly in the dark again (so many IT jokes come to mind–but I will forego the usual cynicism). I did the change control Zoom meeting, the only formal meeting I made today. I missed the group stand-up while talking to one of the others in the building. We were talking about data explosions and archiving, and I lost track of time (again, so many jokes and more of the usual cynicism).

Moving back, I slept well and was surprised by yet-another-Northern-California-like day in the Greater Portland Area. Sorry for the rest of the world, but Global Warming is making our winters less gray. We will miss you, Pacific Island nations, but at least we can rake our leaves when they are dry and crunchy now (oops, cynicism got in).

Thank you for reading, and for the locals, enjoy the first dry Thanksgiving weekend in memory!