Wednesday with Rain

Wednesday started with me sleeping past 8. I was catching up on my sleep after staying up late to help with a friend. I also had my flu and COVID-19 shot the day before, which may have slowed my start. As I suggested, it was a sluggish effort to make a NYC bagel (thanks, Joyce) with liberal coffee and a banana. I got all that together and looked outside to the gray and dampness. It is raining! Finally, we leave the high 90s (36C) and return to wet low 70s (22C). We had massive downpours, not the usual Oregon Mist, but we should return to normal. Air Quality is improving, but I cough and use my inhalers often. The rain should improve once the pollen and irritants from the forest fire smoke are washed out of the air.

Earning interest for my cash is working, but not as hard as I would like. After the US Bank changed the rates, I am earning only 2% on my high-interest, high-balance requirement savings account (I did not know they could do that), and the CD is making more than twice that, 4.6%, but I am unwilling to lock in more money for seven months. My small amount of stock is still crashing with the general instability of the current equities market, but my recent purchases are breaking even and paying dividends at over 4%. I am tempted to buy more Ford (F) and JP Morgan Preferred shares (JPM-D). Unfortunately, the bank’s shares are callable, and I expect when the rate cuts start (soon), the bank will call the shares after the second or third cut. Other boring companies that make good dividends that are cheap in the current instability may attract me. More to come, but I am in a buying mood with so many low prices and planning for medium to long-term horizons on these investments.

I wrote the blog for the morning and began getting updates from Dondrea about my need to play taxi. Our friend in OHSU got a room after spending the night on a gurney in the hallway of the Emergency Department (ED, but the ER to me). The plan was for a 2-ish release from the hospital, but Dondrea thought it would be later. I finished the blog just before noon, cleaned up, and dressed. I was going to have sushi, but I got a text from Dondrea, and I headed to Portland, getting a Whopper Jr with cheese for lunch in a drive-through. After facing some traffic, Air Volvo arrived in Portland, climbed the hill to reach OHSU, and headed to patient parking this time. There was no parking, and a security person explained that to me and sent me to Physician’s Parking. I found a spot open that said it was virtual permit-only parking, but I was already frustrated after twenty minutes of searching and decided f**k it and took the parking spot. I then found the entrance to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and asked for help. Where am I? Where is OHSU?

I learned I was a short walk from OHSU hospital and that my parking was correct (really?). I walked out of the Shriner’s area and up the hill, and there was a set of confusing signs, poorly arranged walkways (this is a drive to the hospital setting), and a tiny sign for OHSU. I found the Portland Tram (yes, we have one) that connects OHSU here on the hill with the building on the river. I was tempted to take it. But that was not OHSU on the end of that. I climbed more hills, walked in the street, climbed steps, and found myself in a lobby that showed signs that it might be a hospital. I asked the greeter why, yes, this is OHSU hospital. There being a gift shop should have convinced me.

I took a tour and did not know I was on the 9th floor at the entrance (yes, that is right). I took a down elevator and got to see the depths of the place. Then I reached the 10th, asked for help, found 10A, used the intercom to get the entrance, and there was our friend ready to leave. We then located the Rx place (another hill) and filled that. We then carefully walked back to Air Volvo. My friend wanted to get some fresh air and move a bit.

Air Volvo returned to Beaverton, and I delivered our friend to her home. It took only a few minutes for Air Volvo to reach home, and soon, I was packing and organizing for my trip. I also looked deeply into the Python code and was confused by how to get the Unicode chess characters to display.

Next, I texted Deborah and shared plans for the weekend in Chicago starting on Friday. We have a sketch of a plan. We plan to see The Book of Morman on Friday night and go to good pizza afterward. I fly all night and arrive too early on Friday. Deborah is trying to get a train. I will try the Art Institute near the hotel until we connect. All is hopeful that trains, taxis, and planes will all work.

Next, Corwin arrives, and we board Air Volvo to head to Portland to meet Mariah. I offer Corwin work to break down my old garden and restore the lawn. I also plan a small tree in the same area and will want a hole and tree installed later. Corwin will also eliminate the fallen and broken cement birdbath (it came with the house). A price for services rendered is accepted.

Traffic is still heavy even at the later hour, and Air Volvo misses the exit and drives through SE to reach Hopsworks on SE Powell, which is only a few minutes late. Corwin, Mariah, and I chat; the beer is good, and my sandwich, a Muffuletta, made cold, spicy, and huge, was fantastic. I give Corwin the other half for later.

Air Volvo gets us back; I am out of sorts after the chat in Portland. Corwin heads home after a chat about role-playing rules at The Volvo Cave, and I return to Python as more of a distraction from my unease. Corwin will mist the orchids for me once and refill their water trays.

I found the code for turning a virtual chess board into a print string online. I can now see how the internals of Python Chess are organized, and that helps. My Python is slowly returning to me, but I need examples of how to use this stuff.

Feeling more balanced, I shower and try to rest. Coughing and the coffee (I have a coffee after a beer if driving in the dark and rain–you need to be alert here) keep me up. I return to Louise Penny’s murder and crime novels set in French Canada and soon find myself dreaming up new text when holding my Kindle. It is time to sleep.

I wake often and sleep is hard. I finally enter deep sleep nearing 2. I wake at 5 and rise at 6. It is a travel day and it is always hard to sleep (the excitement).

Thanks for reading. Thurday includes an all-night flight so it will likely an early blog will be delivered from PDX before the flight. Friday and flying all night will likely be written on Saturday late.