As I wrote in Monday’s blog, Tuesday started as a continuation of Monday with only a few fitful hours of sleep. I was with a friend in the OHSU ER on the big hill in Portland at 6ish. We remained there until about 10AM as the hospital put a gurney in the hallway in the ER (called the Emergency Department or ED). Before this, I chatted with my friend, relieving Dondrea at 6, and found comfort in the vending machine. My friend got some cold, bubbly Sprite, cheesy popcorn, and strawberry pop-tarts (I had one of the two provided). The machine allowed you to tap with your credit card. The water was sold out.
When my friend was napping, often head dropped in a chair in the lobby, I would write part of the blog. This stop-and-start did not improve my writing, and there were many typos (most missed by Grammarly). By the end of the morning, I had most of Monday in story form in a blog yet to be posted.
With my friend safe, breakfast served, and resting, I headed out and found Air Volvo as I left it in Portland in a parking garage (street parking for Air Volvo has not always been successful). I soon returned to Beaverton. Air Volvo reached the edge of Beaverton to discover that the pharmacy address now entered into NAV was in mod-Beaverton, and I headed back into Beaverton. It was not a precisely efficient trip.
Five Guy Burgers was on the strip mall, and I decided that a burger was a good answer after no meaningful sleep for the night. I ordered their cheese and bacon burger (what the hell) but racked up $18 for lunch. Hmmm, it was a double patty, and I did not finish it. It was dressed up with fresh onions, lettuce, tomato, etc. The small fries were freshly cut and cooked in peanut oil. Perfect. The place offers free peanuts, salted, in the shell. A favorite.
While enjoying my repast, I wrote more of the blog. I finished lunch, left 1/3 of the burger unfinished, and walked across the parking lot to Walgreens. There, I discovered that vaccine appointments were just the time when to arrive, and there was another hour or more to wait. F**k. I found a chair and watched as the line of mostly grey-haired folks who thought lunchtime would be a great time for a shot slowly reduced. I found the complaint site for Oregon pharmacy licensing on my phone, but it was an hour wait and, while annoying, was not worthy of a full complaint.
With my insurance, I had a flu shot in my left arm and Moderna’s newest COVID-19 (number 8) in my right arm at zero cost. The flu arm was painful already. I took Air Volvo home to The Volvo Cave. My neighbor’s cat was once again enjoying the cool cement of my driveway, and I drove around the cat. It is scared of people and slowly rises and walks away when I de-Air Volvo.
A shower and new clothing make me feel more normal. I have some items on my list for today. I try to stop by my friend’s house, but her spouse is on the phone and does not hear the bell. I decided to return and try again later. I cross Beaverton and reach Cornell Farm, an excellent garden store and nursery. I managed to get 4,000+ steps by walking a few times through the stores and nursery. I am tempted by a brilliant orchid display. I looked at some exotic plants and trees, but with my trip to Chicago this week, I resisted getting anything that would require digging a hole. I got Dondrea a birthday present and a card.
I was reluctant to leave such a peaceful place, so I got coffee and a pastry. After 3, the baked goods were 1/2 off, and then the barista decided I should get two, doubling the deal. I heard a call for “Emily” for more goodies. I thought about showing up and claiming I was Emily. I seem to channel Monty Python after all the Python programming (The programming language Python is not named for the snake but for the show). While I didn’t do this, I mentioned it to the barista, who laughed quite hard, and Emily (who could hear the discussion) thought it quite funny.
I finally posted the blog while enjoying the quiet near a massive Monkey Puzzle tree. The sea captains would bring these Asain trees home, sell them, or give them to friends. You see them all over the area, as they are now a popular tree with nurseries, but some of the large Monkey Puzzle trees came from the old sea captains.
I took an indirect route home and stopped at The Laughing Planet for dinner. While not fast, it is always good. I had a Sante Fe, but as a bowl, not a burrito. I also had their mushroom soup, which came with corn chips. I updated some typos in the blog that Grammary missed (growl). I watched the start of the debates without sound and could not stand it after a few minutes. I enjoyed my dinner, thinking Laughing Planet was ironic for a debate night, more Monty Python thinking.
Back in Air Volvo, I stopped by and was granted access, but my task was unnecessary as word of the accident had spread to the people I was to contact. I wish folks well and return to The Volvo Cave.
Somewhere, I ordered my tickets for the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival in Portland on Kickstarter. I picked the Call of Cthulhu game add-on and VIP pass. I enjoyed it last time.
I showered (again) and headed to bed because I was tired and my thinking was fogging. It’s not time to cut code! I am not sure if it was the lack of sleep, exhaustion, vaccines, or just the continued impact of the surgery only 110 days ago. The answer is ‘Yes,’ I am sure. I read and finished one book and returned to Canadian murder mysteries.
I send a ‘good night’ text after getting the latest updates from Dondrea.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 