Thursday, the last work-from-office day at Nike WHQ, started with waking just before 6:30. While I slept better, I seemed out of sorts and should have rolled over and called in. But instead, I rose, found my slippers, and headed to the home office. It was already bright and cloudless. It was also cold, even frosty, as we continued with the desert climate. Thus grumpy, I made coffee, liberal coffee, in my French press and got the last banana.
I returned to the home office and read the emails, Slack updates, and news. I managed to just finish the banana as the clock showed 7. I returned the coffee and the plate to the kitchen. The banana skin joined a growing pile of garbage. Apparently, Corwin is blind to the overflowing trash. I am wondering how high I can get it.
I cleaned up and dressed using my Harry’s razor, still with its first blade, which is fantastic (thanks, Lynn-Wolff’s). I was soon dressed, and I had a sweater over the T-shirt. It was frigid.
I arrive at the Swift Building at Nike WHQ, realizing it will be my last visit if I am let go next week. It was a strange feeling. Soon, habit takes over, and I am again doing status and processing Zoom calls until late morning. I also reviewed how the new process may work in a short whiteboarding session.
Next, I had lunch with Scott at the cafe, risking the salad bar, and I am happy to report no sudden adverse side effects. Kerry, a friend of mine at Nike for years and a Belgium Beer expert, joined us for lunch. We talked about work and, sadly, much about the re-org and changes that are soon coming.
I returned to Zoom calls in the afternoon and then decided it would be good to head home, but I did get a call from the plumbers first. I arranged for the plumbers to come next week to restructure the connection for the clothing washer (and combo dryer) and to snake the drain in the main bathtub.
Once home, I followed along, but there was no message from leadership on layoffs. We are surprised they are waiting so long, which does not make this easier. We believe the process is next week, and we will again be asked to work from home next week.
I received Eric Cline’s next book. He is a brilliant writer and archeologist. I strongly recommend this lecture. His newest book, After 1177 BCE, was just published. I have read most of his books, and I love his recorded lectures.
I had one more meeting at 5:45. I made tacos by defrosting the ground beef in water and then cooked it in a non-stick pan on the new stove. It was faster, and the temperature seemed more stable. I added a can of hot peppers and tomatoes and the usual low-salt taco mix. I let that cook in the meat without draining the beef. It is so good this way. I took the taco shells from the box, put cheese inside, and backed it so the cheese melted.
I found some lettuce on its last legs and cut out the good part. Thus, I had spicy, almost to the point of burning, tacos while I did the stand-up meeting until after 6 (18:00). I had four, so good, while I did the meeting. I put the rest away in glass storage (thanks, Gene and Glenda) for Corwin to find later.
I washed the towels on the floor in the new washer/dryer, emptied and reloaded the dishwasher, and ran it with a light load. I took out the trash in three bags and put out the garbage and recycling. The grumpiness faded after bringing order (and tacos) to the world, and I decided The 649 was a good choice for writing the blog.
The after-work and early dates were just leaving, and Avery and Natalia were briefly buried in cleaning tables and running drinks. The crowd is slower as the sun slides behind the hills, and they can talk more softly. It is always lovely to chat with them.
And that takes me to the current moment. Thanks for reading.
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