Thursday Chaotic

I was surprised to sleep before 7 and wake up after 8! I had woken at 4ish and thought I would not get back to sleep, and then I returned to a dark, dreamless sleep until after 7. I blinked, I swear, and it was after 8. I rose before any more of Thursday’s morning disappeared. I found the kitchen and made locally ground and roasted coffee with strawberry yogurt. I spent the morning distracted by texts, searching the Internet, and paying bills. I did the usual transfers from my checking to Amex and my Alaska Airlines Visa.

I did try to reach customer service for the air miles part of my Visa, but after twenty minutes, I did not get an answer. I will try again later. My experience with the credit card these last couple of months has made me love my American Express again and wonder if this is worth the trouble. The funny part is that both charge an annual fee, and Amex has a lower cost. Yes, I am beginning to love Amex again.

I finally finished the often-interrupted blog just after noon local time. I’m sorry to you, dear readers, on the East Coast, as it would have been after 3. I reheated the chicken and pasta from a few days ago for lunch. It was good a second time, and the pasta sauce, as often happens, was better balanced when reheated after a day in the frig. I dressed and was ready to face the afternoon.

I returned to working on the SMS Derfflinger 1916 model. I first replaced the blade in my scalpel, as I felt I would need a sharp and clean edge for this work. I often break the blade when I do this, but I kept the sharp bits under control, taped them to cover the blade, and then tossed them. The new blade clicked into the holder after a few tries.

The glue was set from the day before. I then began the steps to finish the area in a tiny section of the model, which I had to build entirely from tiny etched brass bits–replacing the plastic parts. I folded a door and built a ladder to mount on a wall. Next, I folded and dropped the central wall part. This tore the part, but I could recover all the parts as it stuck to my shirt. I got a loop for reading the fine print in board games (yes, I have one from Stonemaier Games) to see how some parts connected. I used jewelry cement that slowly locks a part in place while using the finest tweezers and scalpel blade edge to adjust the parts. The torn bits fit together and look fine. The whole construction took an hour of work. By the end of the hour, my back hurt, my eyes were blurry, and my hands hurt, but it was done. I decided to stop there for now.

The day was vanishing, but I decided to try the first episode of the Lord of the Rings show, Rings of Power. This would be my third or more time watching, but the series continues next week, and I wanted to remember it better. I forgot how much action was in the first episode and how strange it was with maps and introducing all the storylines. I enjoyed it again. I would watch the second episode later in the evening. It presents the dwarves, some of the best parts of the series.

The day was vanishing, but I returned to SMS Derfflinger and put on some plastic parts for the bow area. The deck overlay lost a pin-like piece connection. I could barely handle the part and was scared to use tweezers as they tend to make tiny parts fly and disappear to where socks and Tupperware lids go. I have to drill a hole for it; multiple of these exist. I will think about it. The capstans were mounted, but I did not paint them black before gluing them. Painting them without ruining the deck overlay will be tricky. There is an etched brass part to put on to finish the capstans, too, which will have to be black, too. I looked at the anchor chain. It is gold and must be painted black or dark grey (to be visible). It would be hard to make it look good as it has to be pulled straight. A brass-etched version will lay flat and straight, which I lean toward as it will not need to be stretched. I will paint it dark grey so it stands out. Again, I decided to think about this.

I took two plant tables to GoodWill, just a few miles away. Both have feet that stick out, and I am constantly kicking them. It is time for them to find a new home. Less clutter is good. I make it a there-and-back trip.

The Reedville Presbyterian Church, just down the street, put on a block party today. I got an invitation on a door handle. I head there after 5:30 and find a smallish party with some local groups there to talk. I talked to the recycling folks for Washington County (my county in Oregon), and they commented on my T-shirt from Sparkfun, which has a lithium battery. It is one of their most significant issues now, with folks unknowingly throwing in the trash items that contain a flammable battery that often explodes/burns when exposed to water.

A reserve fire truck with firemen was there (the engine is used for events as it is past its service life, I learned). I also. I discovered there is a shared community garden at the back of the church. I had a slider-sized sandwich, potato salad (very plain), and a slice of seedless watermelon (I tried it again–yes, I still don’t like it much). I sat with young folks I did not know, who mostly ignored me. I tried to be friendly. It was nice, but I soon was dodging wasps and decided, with sprinkles and the cold air, it was time to return to the Volvo Cave.

I wanted over 5,000 steps today. Air Volvo was available to take me to Salt and Straw in Beaverton for ice cream, even with the dark grey sky filled with fall-like clouds. Summer had abruptly ended! I was soon enjoying a vegan peanut butter brittle coconut alternative to ice cream; it was delicious. I walked the Cedar Hills Crossing outdoor mall. There, I was spotted by a former co-worker who still works in master data at the shoe company. A few hugs and pictures followed. Some pics were shared at the shoe company. I continued my walk until I hit 5,000.

I grabbed my laptop and decided to try a beer at WildFin, a new place for me. Rachel was the barkeeper, and soon, I had a nice beer and was looking at things to do in Chicago. I also looked at seeing Santana in Las Vegas (for too much money, with standing tickets over $100 and a chair costing an additional $200-300). I was looking at the U2 movie at The Sphere, too, but the costs are outsized compared to nice restaurants and museums. I will just listen to my Santana albums, a sunk cost.

Rachel suggested I order food as the kitchen would close (they close at 9), and thus prompted, I tried the “drummies” appetizer of dry rub smallish chicken legs. They were OK but not as nearly hot, the temperature and the spice level, that I like. They were put over a puddle of sauce on a wooden board, which I thought would be better in a bowl. My bill was surprisingly high at $36 for a beer and one appetizer. I noticed many couples in the bar getting to know each other, so maybe I am not the target audience for WildFin. I had the pleasure of closing a bar.

Air Volvo took me home, and, as I said, I watched more LOTR Rings of Power and soon read more of The Orchid Thief, which is now telling various histories of Florida’s corrupt real estate practices and stories of orchid growers not necessarily unrelated stories. I enjoy the book’s style of telling the story from the author’s point of view and am about halfway through it.

I showered as the house started to get cold. I closed my bedroom door to let the shower warm up my bedroom and went to bed with the covers pulled up (I put on the heat on Friday morning as it was not going over 70F outside today–not time for AC). Summer returns next week. I read until I nodded off. I then turned off the light and slept. I slept another dark, dreamless night.

Thanks for reading!