Day 151 (5 Days to Surgery)

I managed to sleep well and only woke once to prove hydration. I rose after the sunrise, slipping back to rising at 7ish instead of 4ish. Better. The cough is fading and appears to be more allergies than a cold. Good! It is still hard to be organized as my life has changed from an uncompromising multinational corporate IT warrior to well a duffer. I am also on the short side of the countdown for travel and surgery, so I will not start building some model or painting project.

The weather is visiting from California, Another Day of Sun comes to mind. We will not have rain until next week, and it ranges from cool mornings to hot afternoons, 50s to 75F (10C to 24C). There are a few days with a 50% chance of rain, but I suspect I will have to start watering soon!

I refused to get dressed until the afternoon to make me slow down. I wrote the blog and did more of Cowin’s camping laundry (and rewashed my permanent press shirts and pants that Corwin ran for me but left to wrinkle). If you remove the permanent press clothing while warm from the dryer, then it will remain mostly unwrinkled. If it cools wrinkled, it stays that way. When I want perfect shirts, I have them done at a dry cleaner, usually asking for them to be boxed to enable easy travel. Light starch.

I had the last poppy muffin (purchased) with Columbia coffee (thanks, Kramers) and a banana. My potassium is again low in my blood work. For lunch, I found the beef, cheddar, and coleslaw sandwich I made a few days ago (somehow going unnoticed by Corwin) and put it on a plate with dill pickle and some local potato salad. I enjoyed being outside now that it was warm and sunny with the deck furniture in the grass. The sandwich includes my trick of Thousand Island dressing on the bread and then spread out a layer of coleslaw over it. It makes it so good.

I kept forgetting about heading to a church book study on Monday at noon, so I headed instead to Hillsboro, went to the antique stores, and enjoyed a long walk around the town. I also wanted to check if the chest cold was really gone. Yup! Air Volvo had to circle until finding a parking spot, but other than that, it was a pleasant trip.

I was looking for a small working desk that Linda could use while she was here, but there was only one tiny rolltop that would not be suitable for a laptop and monitor. I will instead dust the one I have from the 1990s (!) and move it to the dining room, Linda’s new ad hoc office. I need to get a power strip (ordered).

I also recreated all the pictures I had for Susie’s Concert and will see if Shawn here still has what he used for the service and bring that too, Dondrea’s suggestion. I put the thumb drives in my carry-on. I always have it ready to use. Air Volvo had become an art piece, modern, from the crows and other flying artists. I purchased, using an app, unlimited ultimate washes for Air Volvo and took Air Volvo to be washed. After two runs, most of the art was removed. One bit remains, which I will get with a paper towel later. I decided I was washing Air Volvo more than four times a month, which is the break-even on their Wash Club. I might lose in the dark winter, but the extra trips in the summer should cover that. It seems like what a retired person would do (unless I washed it myself, which is not happening in the winter for sure).

With gas still at $4.59, I still gassed up Air Volvo (remember, we don’t have a sales tax, so please consider increasing your comparison by including your sales tax, but still, gas is high out here in the West). I am driving a Tesla for my next rental trip; it is my first electric car. I still hope that the new VW Van will be something I want. I have doubts as they are taking forever to deliver any.

We met Mariah for dinner at Nudi, a Japanese-style noodle house that serves exotic drinks. Traffic was slow, and we were there after a forty-minute round-about trip, avoiding I-84. The waiter was excited that they had some Dungeness crab and offered, among other dishes, pad thai. I made the mistake of ordering the special and soon had a crab sitting on top of noodles (I was expecting crab meat in my noodles). I had a cracker and discovered the disassembly process to access the crab meat inside the shell. It was a seasoned, cleaned crab with a side of pad thai. I gave away a set of legs to Corwin, who, while still eating endlessly, added the legs to his meal.

We had a long, fun chat with Mariah, suggesting I buy three fast but older model cars and see who could reach Susie’s Concert first in Michigan. I demurred. There were other suggestions for cars I could use now that I was retired. I am considering visiting Chicago (Deborah H, you are invited for that adventure if you can swing it–it was your college town, I believe) to visit the museums and maybe a concert in July. Next, Detroit for its incredible museum and maybe some excellent food. Finally, Laingsburg remember that my sister is turning 60. She plans to be out of town for her birthday, but we will make something work.

It is important to have plans, and Mariah might join this one. However, that did take us back to getting older model cars and seeing who could reach the Palmer House first. Hmmm. More to follow.

With cheesecake added to the dietary crimes, we broke up, and Air Volvo, in much lighter traffic, returned us to the Volvo Cave. There, I collected print copies of the instructions on how to learn about my condition during surgery. I took the papers to The 649, and there I edited more Howard stories while Avery and Natalia were happy to get the instructions, and Avery made me a drink and then coffee. I stayed until I finished the coffee at about 9:45 (just one cup so I wouldn’t be awake all night). Avery wished me well on my surgery (I won’t return until after all the adventures are done).

I reread my surgery directions and will use special soap in Michigan on Thursday. I am also bringing extra pajamas, as I need to wear clean clothing each night.

This morning, I arranged for 12 folks at The Beggar’s Baquant on Friday at 6PM in East Lansing. They will have us in the regular restaurant.

Running out of steam, I showered and was in bed around 11. I tried to read, but I soon slept. I am starting to feel better. I did have some breathing issues, so I took my inhaler and was fine. That was allergies messing with me.

The Cardinal Richelieu rose is blooming just before I leave. It is an old rose that only once bloomed. It is a favorite but is poor when cut; you have to enjoy the plant. Notice the shade is close to a cardinal’s purple-red.

Thanks for reading.