Monday Including Portland

I arrived at the house with Corwin after dinner and drinks at Hopswork in Portland with Mariah. There, I had a burger and a German-style beer, followed by a second smaller one made from rice and Japanese-style. I brought Mariah a cooking class kit from the New Orleans School of Cooking (NOSC). It has some spices, a roux whisk, a hot pad sporting NOSC in embroidery, and their class cookbook. It also has a large bag of grits.

Maria had a business trip to Chicago and liked the town, but not more than NYC. She visited the art museum and lots of places to eat. We talked about Chicago and what we enjoyed there.

I also wrote a few more lines in my Sunday sermon and talked to Dondrea about the scripture, hymns, and set up for All Saints Day, celebrated this Sunday at First United Methodist Church. Dondrea says it gets easier to work on a sermon as the date gets closer. Focus will come. I also looked at the translation of the scripture and validated it in Greek.

I read more of the Vampire Cookbook from NOLA. I am midway through the book, and it continues with the story of a not-so-honest bartender and murderous vampires that have escaped the Ursuline Convent and loose in the French Quarter, with a recipe after each Penny Dreadful-style story, now chapters (the chapters were initially printed as single magazines). I scanned and printed a copy of the lamb meatball recipe, which uses not bread but instead shredded onions to hold the meat together. I have to try this new technique. Expect some Google searches about how to do this. Exciting. I am defrosting some ground lamb I purchased in Vancouver’s Farmer’s Market  (the city across from Portland in Washington state, not the BC city).

I showered and dressed for bed. I read more Vampire stories and recipes, which made turning off all the lights and leaving the door open more thoughtful. I slept with forgotten dreams. I woke in 66F Orchid-loving temperatures at 5ish, rolled over, and slept until 8, getting back to my own time zone.

But let’s move now to the beginning of the day so we don’t miss the rest of the day; I rose at 7ish and was happy it was later. I was not tired, and my sleep was packed with forgotten dreams that left me neither scared nor breathless (from an asthma attack while dreaming) but happy. Susie and Dad were (I only vaguely remember the impressions from dreams) in my night. Coffee and liberal were made, and text was exchanged, including ‘good morning’ with friends nearby and more distant. Being Monday, most folks are working, so I get only a few replies here and there to text.

I did my usual long Sunday blog as Sunday was quite busy, with almost a whole weekend fitting into just one day. I also updated my Quicken transactions, checking for suspicious activity, updating some transactions not automatically attributed to an account, and correcting some imaginative assignments—about a 40% hit rate, meaning I have to check everything.

I reheated the frozen eggplant parmesan I made a few weeks ago for lunch. I also made a roux and tried to make homemade mac and cheese with New Orleans spices. While the spices were good, the pasta was not great, but next time, I will look for a better plan. It was just fun to play.

I planned to just put around the house, write, and then head to a movie, but Mariah and Corwin said they could meet in Portland, and I was welcome to join them. I accepted. Soon, Corwin was at the house, and we talked about Dungeons and Dragons. I described the insane game I played on Sunday, falling back into Old School patterns (smash-and-grab and avoid anything, not the goal) and not the video game take on D&D (fight everything and take every treasure) while driving in. Traffic was still slow, and lane changes were shocking in their risk-taking or maybe trust in fellow drivers not to just crash into them. One Tesla changed three lanes through fast-moving traffic to make their exit!

Now, for a long aside, with input from readers welcome, I am wondering about buying a used Tesla Model 3 and driving to Michigan for the holidays. I was thinking I needed a second car, and the cost of a rent-a-car in Michigan for about a three-week stay will be high, and the flights will not be cheap. I could also pack the car with some family items to be given to Barb and Susie’s family (some old rifles from Dad Ben, jewelry, and some art items). It would be a great adventure. And using a Tesla would be exciting and trying the self-driving would be fantastic.

Now, trying to charge a Tesla in the winter and driving on snow and ice would scare many, but can it be done? I have no information that it is impossible or worse than a gasoline car. But I can say that car rentals and flights are expensive, and I get nothing for them. Pay more, and I get a car. I want a self-driving car to try that.

I had hoped that the VW bus replacement would be for sale and that it would be the full version, but it is not ready, and the prices are headed to an insane 50K+ rate. A $20K used Tesla is looking good. There are Lincolns with low milage at this price and some excellent Mercedes (and lower prices).

A decent car rents for about $60 a day, and total coverage is the same (plus garbage fees they always find to add, and it is a good idea in winterly Michigan to have total coverage) for $120 a day. So, with gas, it is $3,000 for the rental for three weeks. The flights, getting the cheap ones, will be $1500 for the holidays. So that is $4500 or 1/5 of the cost of a used car (plus insurance). The hotels will be the usual mix of overpriced but comfy ones I pick.

For this trip to Michigan in December, I plan to spend some time in Detroit with friends and then in Laingsburg and Lansing for family during the weekdays and holidays—the holidays are mid-week this year. I may also take some long-distance trips to see the sights of Michigan on weekends.

So, dear readers, should we rent or buy and travel? Tesla? Mercedes? What are other good choices for winter in the Midwest and Oregon? Your input is welcome. I am leaning towards adventure, as usual.

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