Day 68: Layoffs

Today is the 68th day since I learned I have a brain tumor. It is benign and slow-growing but must be removed before it becomes a threat. Surgery, quite intense, will be on 20 May 2024.

Susie’s service is on 23 March 2024, at 4 PM, at First United Methodist Church in Beaverton.

Susie’s Michigan service is on 18 May 2024 at Grace United Methodist Church, Lansing, at 2PM.

Today, I learned a good friend’s story with Nike ended, as did for the leader of our department. I am sure other friends and important people in my work days are gone. I would not presume to tell their story here, but I will grieve with them. More grief.

I found myself stressed a bit by the layoffs and reading the news. I am overeating. My calory count is over 2,000 today, I am sure. I will try to do those things that help. Reading, Writing. Cooking. Gaming. Hmmm, none of that loses weight. Maybe walking, too.

The day started at 7ish, and I rolled over to 7:30 but finally rose and put on my slippers and robe. I made liberal Equal Exchange coffee this morning. I had cooked steel-cut oats for oatmeal yesterday and used the microwave to reheat the leftovers. I add some brown sugar, walnut pieces, and dried cranberries to this. Excellent. I also had a banana. My potassium is low, so I keep eating them.

My first meeting is with Europe folks and Michael G online from the hospital. His daughter is ill. We talk about the project and layoffs. I have a few more meetings, and poof, it is time for lunch. Time runs away for me today.

I find the sliced roast beef for a sandwich. I add sliced cheddar. All this I heat in a non-stick pan with butter. I cover the pan and add water. The water becomes hot steam, which cooks the meat and cheese in the sandwich. The trick is to not soak the bread. This makes a beautiful sandwich; Susie loved it when I would make her a sandwich. I always miss her when I make a sandwich and think I should be making two.

It is a decadent sandwich with coleslaw and a pickle on the side. I started rewatching the now-aging show House, Season 6, one of my favorite years while cooking and eating my sandwich. It is so good.

I returned to work and did a few more meetings. My boss, Brad, called a meeting, and he said in the meeting invite, “It is not one of those kinds of meetings.” That made me laugh. He covered the exit of our department head and other changes. Folks are shell-shocked as many have never done this before at an American company and certainly not at Nike. Brad, Rajani, and I tried to reassure people, and they looked and sounded on the Zoom call somewhat better at the finish.

I cooked a new recipe from The New York Times, Cheesy baked pasta and sausage. I used hot and spicy Italian-style sausage and reduced the salt a bit, but other than that, I followed the recipe. I made mock Ricotta cheese as I forgot to get it (mix sour cream and cottage cheese). Corwin said it was good, and this finished ruining my calorie count, especially the second bowl. Excellent.

I also read a piece on Justice AAlito’sattack on gay marriage and that called for a bowl of potato chips. I will avoid reading politics for a while! I can’t afford the frustration and the calories!

I read and rested. Next, I headed out into the dark and rain to the strip mall. I bought some supplies at Michael’s as part of Z’s birthday gift. More on that later. I will be missing gaming on Saturday night to head over to ZZ’sto to get her gift for her 13th birthday. Yay!

I then sat down at Barnes & Noble to write and found a few magazines I always read: Analog, Fine Scale Modeler, and UK-based Practical Electronics. I skipped the taphouses as I could not afford the calories. Beer will wait until after surgery. I can hear the call of baked goods, but I can resist them. I can.

Thanks for reading.