Day 56: Thursday Inside

I have no symptoms that I would attribute to a COVID-19 infection.

I rose slowly. I did not have to travel to the office on Tuesday evening as I was isolated from exposure to COVID-19. My initial test was negative. I find the home office before 7AM and make Fair Trade Mexican coffee (thanks, Kramers) in my French Press in the kitchen. I opened a can of pineapple chunks and spooned out half of them next to the last of the cottage cheese that I sprinkled with fresh ground pepper and sea salt. I also sprinkled some paprika on the white surface for more color and flavor. I concumed this repass while reading emails, Slack updates, and the news.

I start my first meetings and follow along for the morning. I have paperwork from Sedgewick to do for my leave on 20 May 2024 for surgery and a two-month recovery. I find the package familiar, as I have done this a few times, and I print it out. I forgot to have the paper drawer out, and the papers spilled all over the floor. I have to collect them and put them back in order. I also signed the acceptance and the payback agreement (in case I get overpaid, which is not likely) and signed the form to grant access to my medical records. I put these in a letter envelope and put them in the mailbox. It will take weeks to get the basic approval, as I have learned, and I get nothing for rushing it. I found the doctor’s forms and mailed them to the doctor’s office. They have until 9 June 2024 (indeed, no rush).

My tummy does not like the mix of cottage cheese and pineapple. Hmmm.

Much of the morning is spent re-reading and assembling these documents. But something new: Oregon has its own state system of leave payments. Nike will pay me the remaining portion of my paycheck after subtracting my expected receipts from the State of Oregon. Oh, my, what could possibly go wrong with this?

Aside: If you are ill in Oregon, even for a part-time job, you can submit a leave request and be paid by Oregon. A 1% tax on large corporations pays for this benefit. This also covers family leave for sick children and spouses. There was strong opposition to yet another government program and tax that makes Oregon less attractive to businesses. Facing my second major illness and my wife’s long illness, you can imagine I have strong feelings about this. I will not cover them here, but I remind the reader that I paid over $180,000 in medical expenses, after insurance, in the last two years.

I found the site. It’s no surprise that Sedgewick’s link is 404. This is Paidleave.oregon.gov, for those wondering. I discovered I needed an account on Frances and followed the links on the checklist PDF I downloaded. I created an account that requires driver’s license numbers and various validations and checks. It’s pretty serious stuff, and I liked the depth of the safety of a government agency.

Now, with my Frances account, I started requesting Oregon-paid leave. I don’t get past the first page. I cannot make an early request but must wait until thirty days before the leave. I returned all the paper and notes on passwords and accounts to the medical folder. Sigh.

I order pasta and sausage in a spicy sauce and a large Caesar salad to be delivered by GrubHub. I would use the kitchen, but Corwin uses it, too, and I don’t want to risk spreading COVID-19. So, I ordered today. The food is excellent, but I nearly blew my calorie count. I only have 1/2 the pasta and some extra salad (to my regret).

I returned to work and made it through the next meetings. I approved some fixes and enhancements; I serve on the project’s change control board. After the meeting, I have a break.

I needed some steps and put on my Air Force Ones, hat, and coat; it was sprinkling. I walked to the little stream, about a twenty-minute walk there and back, and walked in to look at it. I was tempted to play in the water- I am a former little boy. Instead, I took a picture and walked back.

My walk became faster as my colon seemed insulted by salad again. I forgot I had been having an issue with fresh salad. My walk was almost a jog when I reached the Volvo Cave. I reached the bathroom without a Code Brown and was there awhile. I suspect that my calorie count was reduced the hard way!

My tummy was unsettled. I checked, and nobody is looking for me at work, so I rested. I decide to read more NOLA history and take it slow. There were no sudden, unexpected movements. I rose and did the group stand-up now at 5PM. The evening time is to help India make the meeting by calling from home at 6:45AM IST before heading into the office in Bangalore.

Leta called me to catch up. I missed calling her because I was resting from my colon excitement. She was happy I was still well and had no COVID-19 symptoms.

John Nilsen and I communicate by email as he sets up his flights to Michigan on 18 May 2024. I should also get my flights. John Nilsen is scheduled to play a concert for Susie here and in Michigan. A party for Susie.

Corwin and I got out the recycling and trash. It always sneaks up on me, but at least I am not putting it in my robe at 4AM!

I warm up the pasta and sausage, ignoring the salad, and feel better. I rested again, and everything settled. NO SALAD.

I wrote more of my Holmes and Watson story and read about NOLA history. Finally, I started on the blog.

Thanks for reading.

Aside: I can see some of the suggestions for Grammarly are wrong again, and the flow seems different. Another update. But I did get a nice note at the end to get a cookie: