Day 146 (10 days until surgery): Wednesday

I started Wednesday by trying to sleep, then having terrible cramps in my left foot and dealing with the large skin break on the big toe of the same foot. I started my Wednesday in the in-home office writing the blog. I was not time-boxed, so the blog was a bit long.

While writing the blog, I had liberal coffee from Columbia, a gift from the Kramers (thanks!) that was delivered while I was in Morocco. While I wrote and had low-sugar instant oatmeal from packets doctored with some walnuts, I drank the liberal coffee. Excellent to start at 5. I watched the sunrise while I wrote.

I always find it overwhelming when something you have been waiting for, like my surgery, finally arrives, and all the planning starts to execute. There are only ten days left and less for Susie’s Concert in Michigan. It feels so strange that the events are beginning after so many months of planning and waiting.

For those who wish to follow along during my surgery, we will be updating a Google Doc here on my status: Michael’s Status. Currently, it contains my flight information for traveling to Michigan next Wednesday.

And here is a reminder about Susie’s Concert in Michigan.

Changing focus, in many role-playing games (RPG), we have a term for non-magical and run-of-the-mill stuff like flour, rope, or clothing: mundane items. Today was a mundane day as I was on my third day of what feels like my retirement and had some things that were not interesting to do.

I cleaned the refrigerator but not the freezer, the first mundane task. I also removed two trash containers of glass and other items that had long past their recommended use dates and some repeats. The frig smelled of something sweet and bright, which I learned was rice-wine vinegar that had solidified in a few places. I removed all the shelves–some had to be disassembled with connecting drawers–washed them in hot soaping water and stacked them. I put the surviving items on the stove and counters. I thought I would do the doors secondary to the shelves, but the door shelves fell out when I bumped them while cleaning the inside. Those were thrown in hot, soapy water and washed.

The main shelves are glass, and I managed not to break anything (it is extra hard glass). After putting the first shelves backward and trying to put the wrong drawer in, I remembered how to reassemble everything. I put the items back in before anything got warm. I will do the freezer on Thursday and thus let the frig recool first.

I am now dressed, as I did not see any reason not to wash my PJs and robe after this cleaning. Next, Air Volvo took me to Safeway, our nearest grocery store, and I spent just under $300. This was the next mundane task. I was angered that the $9.99 a pound roast beef manager special was still charged at $15 a pound when I got home, but I did not check when I got the pile of sliced beef. I was mad at myself for not checking. Total fail at retired shopping. I bought extra to cover Corwin; my grocery bill would be much less if it was just me and not having a weight lifter in the house. But Corwin is welcome.

Next time, I will try Winco to get better prices. I need to get this retirement gig going. I have time to shop and find better prices. Next time!

It was a lot of stuff to put away; not all the bags fit in the cart. The frig smelled better, and there was more room now that it was liberally stocked (yes, even the frig is liberal in this house). Next, I put Corwin’s laundry in The Machine and ran the dishwasher with just a few items (just to get rid of the smell from the discoveries in the frig). I then assembled the final box for Susie’s Concert. I found her fur hat, passports, original Michigan driver’s license, Ben’s flag (from Susie’s father’s military burial), and a few small items. The box was too big, but I had some packing stuff and just sealed it up. I loaded it into Air Volvo after addressing it to Barb’s house (Susie’s sister) and soon paid to have it delivered next week (about Monday) in Michigan. Another mundane task was done; check.

I used the surprisingly full-priced roast beef in a sandwich. The beef is on thin cheddar slices, Thousand Island dressing is on the bread, and coleslaw is between the cheese and bread (with the dressing). I could only eat half. I wrapped the remains for lunch on Thursday. I stripped my bed and started that in The Machine (it does both washing and drying).

I was tired and rested, so I read the latest Analog Magazine, starting with the first long story. It is not as good as I hoped so far. It may hit too close as it is about a recently retired IT professional trying to start a business in a small town that they just moved to. Yes, that might hit too close. I will keep reading later.

I headed across Beaverton in Air Volvo (after turning around and getting my phone) to pick up Z, as Dondrea was working late. I texted Z, following Generation Z communication protocols (not calling), that I was on my way. I was still five minutes early and texted I was there (not calling, blowing the Volvo horn, or coming to the door). Z and I were at the church after 6 and had to call Dondrea to figure out that we were using a key, not an electronic tag, to open the door. Funny!

We left the door unlocked, and a few AA visitors needed redirection, but other than that, it worked. We decided on the board game, our new favorite, Wyrmspan. This is like the popular board game Wingspan but reworked to use dragons and run smoother. Z would say I was ridiculously lucky in the first game as everything I had interlocked, and I won by fifteen points. Also, Z had to remember how to play, as it had been a few weeks. I have played about twice the number of games Z has played, so I manage the combinations better.

Shawn stepped in as a third player for the second game and was replaced by Andrew when the choir finished, and Praise Band practice started (Shawn plays in the band). Andrew, who has played Windspan, took no time learning the new game and started on round two. Z was bubbling (Z is 13) with energy as combinations started to work in Z’s play. Z had so many coins Z left some for the next round. We managed to finish as the Praise Band was packing up. Z shouted with delight, outscoring me by one point at 83. Shawn/Andrew had a good score in the fifties. Z danced. It was an impressive score.

I was falling asleep, and Andrew (who was back from Italy last week with Ashley; they were just married by Dondrea) looked subdued. Dondrea had me text her when I arrived safely via Air Volvo at the Volvo Cave. I made the bed and put on clean PJs after showering. My toe is not improved–damn. I will be more careful on Thursday.

I slept and only woke once, and then it was 4, and I decided to start watching the sunrise on Thursday. I love to do that now that I am retired. Yes, I am going to be that old fart up at 4ish.

Here is the theme music for cleaning a frig (I was dancing and cleaning to 80s and 90s rock): Cleaning song

Thanks for reading!