Monday with Tummy Issues

Dinner out has not been working well for me. Sunday, I had the return of the colon dumping from lettuce. Monday, I had just the meatball appetizer and an IPA at the Cheese Cake Factory and was ill once it was dark. Then, once I felt better, I had the key lime cheesecake I took home, which was a mistake. Ugh! I must stick to pizza, burgers, and steaks when going out! F**k!

The morning started late, and I rose after 8. I woke up a few times but then blinked and found it an hour later. Monday felt strange and unorganized. Sunday, with attending church and Dungeons and Dragons, is always a busy and well-ordered day, contrasting harshly with the previous day’s experiences. I find my way nonetheless and get coffee made in my French Press (locally ground and roasted). I toast a NYC bagel (thanks, Joyce) and smear it with cream cheese. I have a banana with this (my potassium levels are still low).

I started on the blog, slowly rewinding and replaying in words the events and my experiences of Sunday. Sunday was busy, and I was at 500 words before I told the story of leaving the house! I was in a writing mood. I added more water to the French Press as the coffee ran out before I was done. I was distracted by texts, emails, and downloading and updating Quicken transactions. It took until the morning was over to get the blog out.

Lunch was an experiment. I found two boxes of bean-only chili in the pantry. I found a pound of ground beef in the freezer, treated to defrosting in the microwave, which manages to defrost without cooking. I ripped it up into bits and fried them on the stovetop. I added chopped onion to the beef. I took out two charred chilis, removed the blackened skin, removed the seeds, chopped them up, and threw them in a large heating pan. I added frozen fire-roasted corn to the pan and waited until everything was hot and sticking to the pan. I then dumped in the two boxes, added just a bit of water, and let that get hot. I let the ground beef and onions get brown and almost crunchy before just dumping (it was extra lean) into the pot. I let that cook for another fifteen minutes. It was excellent. I had a few bowls.

I was at loose ends and decided to drive and find where I would go. After crossing Beaverton, I chose the Washington Square Mall as my target. It was almost 90F (32C), and the AC’d mall was excellent for walking. I like to visit a few stores looking at cooking items and items for Christmas presents. There is no game store or book store, making resisting shopping easier, and it was unlikely to be expensive.

I believe I have taken a photo before, but it is always strange to see Macy’s fitting room with a neon sign reading, “Keep Portland Weird.” I’m never sure what that message is. The rest of the store would match any other Macy’s in the USA, but the dressing room is the only element I find local in the whole mall. It is the same as anywhere else in the USA.

I walked around the mall twice to reach 4,000+ steps before heading to The Cheese Cake Factory. I got a seat at the bar, and Michela, the bartender, got me an IPA and soon the delicious but doomed meatballs. I wanted an appetizer for dinner. I was stuffed and skipped all but one piece of their famous bread and butter. I got cheesecake to go. I did not react to the bill because it was the mall and The Cheese Cake Factory. It was nearly $40.

(Toys R Us still lives in Macy’s)

The walk to Air Volvo was hot. The Greater Portland Area has returned to its usual hot August, with temperatures climbing into the 90s this week. Traffic was heavy, and the trip in Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave was ten minutes longer. School is starting, and the 3PM mess that is Beaverton’s streets is back! The grid-lock-causing parents are out again, moving kids from place to place, and will snarl Beaverton from 3 to 7 Monday through Friday with a particular additional Saturday morning mess from various sports events. First, there is traffic and cooling, and then the rains come to start our fall season of mushy leaves and local flooding.

My roses are happy. The rain, followed by the burning and bleaching California sun, is heaven for a rose. I am getting bloom after bloom.

(Heaven Scent, from Dondrea and Z to remember Susie, is very happy)

Tiny flies are filling our skies. I went for a walk to get more steps. I forgot my eye protection, which I felt was unnecessary, only to have bugs fly into my eyes. These tiny little flies appear to be enjoying the fruit tree bounties, mainly on the ground now. The flies stick to you, and I found a collection on my shirt, hair, and face when I returned to the house. I was brushing them off my face for a few minutes. Ugh!

After my walk, my tummy started to be unsettled. I am now at 7,500+ steps for the day. My day ended with me resting and watching more Lord of the Rings and Rings of Power episodes. As I mentioned, my tummy finally felt better, and I started on the cheesecake, but soon, I started suffering again. Cheesecake, sadly, is off the list.

I soon showered, put on my PJs, and was not under the covers in the 75F house. I woke later, cold, and got under the covers. I hope the orchids are happy! I had to prove hydration three times. I slept past 8AM on Tuesday.

Thanks for reading!