Day 54: Tuesday

The national news is covering the flooding in California. Today was a lovely day in Oregon, with a few light showers. We are fine. The river of water is south of Oregon.

I stayed up late after finishing the blog and put away much of my laundry at 11:30PM. I found rising the following day, Tuesday morning, to be difficult and reset the alarm to 6:30 but only slept a few seconds, or so it felt, until it was 6:30 and time to rise. The kitchen was still in the same place when I entered, clad in my robe and slippers. I was concerned that the universe had undergone some Lovecraft-like change and the kitchen had moved or gone missing, but it was still there. No extra-dimensional summons. But Corwin had cleaned again, and it looked mostly like the Volvo Cave’s kitchen.

Without lighting a candle, arcane words, or a bell chime, I made coffee and located a banana for breakfast. I went on a quest to find the 1099-INT to complete my tax quest, but US Bank, while providing a statement with annual interest, stating all 1099-INT would be prepared by 31Jan2024, has not 1099-INT for my $589.02. The bank 1099 summoning failed–I will have to call them. This spent my limited morning, and I swallowed my first cup of coffee, cleaned up, dressed, and prepared to head to the shoe company for another work-from-the-office day.

Despite the suspicion that the universe was messing with me, I managed to not forget anything. The traffic was the usual, and I soon was at Swift WHQ, took the elevator to the second floor, and started my day. The day went by without incident, and I did a few Zoom meetings. I also got to sign on to a development system and do some technical work! Yay! I forget how much I like development.

Lunch was with Udaya (a co-worker in the master data area), who took us to a local Indian-style place in his BMW SUV. We both had a dosa and shared a mutton appetizer that was also excellent to wrap in the dosa. The bread/cake was so large I could not finish it. I had chicken tikka with mine and a cup of hot spiced tea (I sometimes get a chill that will not stop since the chemotherapy). The food was excellent.

We talked about travel. Udaya hiked through Europe last year. He enjoyed France and will be returning, he hopes, soon to Paris. I love Paris too. Even a sandwich from the street of Paris is on perfect bread, excellent cheese, and perfect veggies. There is nothing like it!

Udaya returned us to Swift in his SUV without issue after a fine repass. I had a few meetings until the big all-team meeting with food, drink, and a special speaker. The Zoom meetings came and went, and soon, it was time for the internal meeting. I went to sit in the middle of the chairs, but someone waved me forward, and I sat in the front row, as requested. Soon, I was sitting next to the friendly President of Marketing (and other things) at Nike. He saw one of our insane slides that was almost unreadable, and he commented and asked if I could read it. I told him it was the work. Later, he pointed me out in his interview and said he liked that answer; yes, all that blurry small font is our work. I don’t usually get called out by Nike executive team members! At least it was positive.

After the meeting, there was food, lots of food, and drinks–so much food that boxes were given out to take some home. I was harassed a few times about being called out–all in fun. Charlie, a senior director whom I have known for years, thought it funny when I told him, “Next time, you sit next to the VIP.”

I passed on the food and stuck to water. Beer and wine do not improve my balance, and I had planned dinner with Dondrea and Z. I needed to be selective.

I headed out and called into the stand-up meeting as the meeting was at 5PM, but dinner was on the other side of Beaverton. I managed to participate while driving and was not the only one calling in. We covered various project details and work items and then ended.

I soon arrived early, in light traffic, at Si Senior and met Dondrea and Z. We soon had a table. It was happy hour, so we picked a few items from the cheap menu and soup for Dondrea and me (I had a cup–still partially stuffed by dosa). We discussed Susie’s service and some of Z’s projects and writing. It was a nice dinner. Z had tacos with shrimp also from the happy hour menu.

Soon, dinner ended, and we headed our separate ways. I soon returned home; Corwin was watching cable and having noodles for dinner, and I started on the blog after chatting with Corwin for a bit.

Thanks for reading!