I slept well, and I woke without an alarm at 6ish. I rolled over and did not rise until after 7. I considered just luxuriating in bed for the whole morning, but I rose as I had a CT scan in Portland at 11 and needed to cut the blog before I did that. I put on my slippers, skipped the robe, and found the kitchen (it is where I left it). The day was back to normal for September; it was grey, wet, and cool.
I made liberal coffee from Equal Exchange, French Roast, in my French press. To make a more complete breakfast, I added yogurt and a banana. I sat before my Apple and wrote while I ate, texted, and watched the news, primarily elections and politics. I was time-boxed and kept my focus on writing, with Wednesday’s story raking up over 1,100 words.
I assembled the story, posted it on Facebook, emailed the link, and headed to the bedroom and bathroom to clean up. Soon, dressed in a Maker shirt with the cat logo of Portland’s Maker community, I headed to Portland and Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. Traffic was surprisingly light, and I was soon quite early. I parked an Air Volvo in a tiny spot and had to squeeze out of the pilot seat. I managed not to ding any doors and reach the hospital. There was a shooting outside the hospital a few years ago, and now there are security checks and screening. The guards are in heavy vests but unarmed (that I could see). I passed and was sent to the second floor. There, I was checked in and given a wristband. I sat in the waiting room and was summoned to my CT scan before I could open my Kindle.
Even twenty minutes early, they had me change into hospital pants, locked my goods in a locker, and took me to the CT room. I was then IV’d and scanned. I closed my eyes for some of it as it is a small space, but it was not as hard as keeping calm in the MRI–yikes! There are two scans, with and without contrast. The contrast makes you feel warm everywhere; a few places seemed new to me. I have lost count of the CT scans I have had since enjoying colon cancer. I was done before my appointment start time; I squeezed into Air Volvo and returned to Beaverton without traffic.
The results were released in the afternoon. No cancer is spotted. The pre-existing conditions remain unchanged (liver nodules and stones not blocking my kidneys). Still, they detected a thickening of the bladder wall, which can mean I am having trouble passing urine (it comes too often, in my opinion), or, after reading online, I had chemo. Yes, I did. There may be a follow-up with my regular doctor. I meet with my oncologist next month, who may likely know if this is chemo.
Returning to the story, the rain has changed from Oregon Mist to rain. Without a plan, I arrive in Beaverton, stop at Trader Joe’s at Beaverton Town Center, and invest in groceries. I fill the little cart and get five bags for over $200, but I am out of most things. They have many of my favorite items, which are not cheap but high quality and not full of salt. I also grabbed some items for Corwin, Dondrea, and Z. I will get these favorites to them in the next week or so. All are shelf-stable.
The rain comes and soaks me while I load Air Volvo’s cargo hold. Everyone is wet and smiling. Only one umbrella is seen. I see a gal nearly lose her cart; it rolls away on the slight hill as she loads her vehicle; I offer to take her cart back, “I am already soaked,” I tell her. She agrees and surprises me to be a young, blond, pretty American in a head scarf. I was expecting a North African, as they are a new addition to the area. Another lesson on expectations! The rain punishes me for helping by increasing.
Tous Les Jours is in the same area. I purchased a breakfast roll with ham, cheese, garlic, and three croissants for the next few mornings. I ate the roll for lunch while traveling in Air Volvo, and while it was good (and there was enough garlic to stop multiple vampires), the sweat glaze was in sharp contrast with the contents. I would not get it again. The rain increased, and I was damp in the car, but like most Oregonians, I was happy.
After crossing Beaverton and Aloha, I unload the cargo at the Volvo Cave to reach unincorporated Reedville and my HQ, also known as Chateau Wild. I freeze most meat items but reserve the spatchcocked lemon and rosemary chicken to roast today. I get out the new crakers, putting them in a ziplock this time as they turn fast otherwise, and the pub cheese (with horseradish).
I saw some excellent low prices in an online auction for stamps. I tried to get a few old US stamps for gifts as the auction prices were so low. I missed out as I was not following along, and the stamps went for just a few bucks above my bid. It was a “perfect” auction, my name for it, where there were some expensive versions of US stamps to attract the investors and folks who want perfect versions for premium prices and leave the lesser stamps cheap. Prices for a decent stamp were 1/5 the usual price, and damaged versions, called placeholders, were 1/10 or lower. Next time!
This last week, I have not felt like doing much. This lazy feeling is new, and I am not sure I dislike it. I do the housework, but writing, coding, figure work, and board games have languished. Thus, I put Slow Horses, Apple+, on the cable and enjoyed the show. I watch three fast-paced episodes. I also read more Canadian murder stories. I roast the spatchcocked chicken and make wilted fresh green beans by steaming them first and then frying them in butter with fresh garlic and almond slices with some salt (I use unsalted butter). I boil and mash some potatoes (skins on) with just butter.
Aside: I met Martin Yen from the old cooking show “Yen Can Cook” at Nike, and he signed a cookbook for me. Nike cooks prepared some of Martin’s favorites in the cafeteria, including a wilted green bean dish, and he was there directing. The cooking classes at Nike with Martin had filled up, but I was happy to meet him by accident in the cafeteria. I have made a simpler version, but I have been thinking of him for years when I wilt some beans. I treasure the cookbook.
I ate dinner while watching Slow Horses. I had poured some wine to go with dinner. Susie got me a wine glass years ago with “Short Pour, Long Pour, Michael’s Pour” etched on it. I was on the Long Pour (Michael’s pour is near the top of the large wine glass). Sadly, I knocked over the glass onto the carpet. I then cleaned the wine from the brown carpet (the carpet hides dirt and spills). I finished my dinner with lemon, roasted rosemary chicken, wilted green beans with garlic and almonds, and mash. I got a bit more, but most were put away for later leftover meals.
I read and then returned to Kaggle, where I looked more closely at the data and code I had written previously to handle complex file structures. Sadly, I am unsure how my code worked from some years ago. I have forgotten most of Pandas, and this challenge is not straightforward with different data types. A set of describing items and then time series data that may be missing for some. Ugh. I wrote a few more lines and successfully scanned the data files. I restructured the code to match the structure better as I followed my thinking for a different ICE challenge that did not match. I think I will have to use some string extraction expression processing.
I went to bed early and read. I was still lazy and unready to dive fully into Python coding and fighting with Pandas.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 