Tuesday with Movie

Our weather in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) has been sunny, with blue sky in the clouds instead of endless rain and gray skies, with the leaves melting more than falling. The weather is returning to rain today, and it will rain through Halloween for the first time in years. We used to have soaked Halloweens, and this one appears to be returning us to that pattern.

I will try to decorate a tiny amount today.

The day started with me sleeping in until 8ish. I am slowly aligning to the PNW time, and my weight has stayed at 230 for a few days—just two extra pounds from The Big Easy. I have not got back to walking as every day seems to be filled with distractions, excellent distractions.

The morning starts with liberal coffee and pumpkin spice with pecans instant oatmeal from Trader Joe’s. The coffee makes me dream of a world without threats to aliens, a new world that follows the basics of human decency towards strangers and remembers God’s reminder (slightly updated), “You were strangers once–not garbage.” Hope is in the bottom of my cup along with grounds, tired and worn but still ready to jump into the world. Unlike the Greek story, my coffee releases Justice, Compassion, and Community with Hope. Drink liberal, and release Hope for the world.

I managed a few more words to my sermon during the day. Much is yet to be written, but I have been thinking about the words. I often think for days and then just capture the best, or maybe after NOLA, I should say distill these thoughts into a clear discussion-style speech, stirring it with a wash of emotions and a bit of bright orange rine for structure.

I write a short blog about Monday and then add a section about my options for driving to Michigan and maybe buying a used car for the trip. I’m asking you, dear readers, for input. I’m looking at used vehicles, especially Tesla Model 3.

With the blog done, I have tasks to complete; the small amount of laundry I generated is clean. I clean up and put on my pants, which, despite the weight being stable, seem to be falling off more. Crazy. What is my diet, you ask? I eat less, avoid fast and overly processed foods, have few snacks, travel, have much less stress (I am retired), and walk. I am also a guy, and it seems that older guys can lose weight more quickly than gals. Sorry, gals–an unfair advantage.

I received a book from NOLA; The Dauphine Street Books store mailed me a copy of the new edition, “revised and expanded,” of Guiding Spirits: The Haunting Experiences of a New Orleans Tour Guide. The store owner (I think he owns it), Steve, said it was from a local he knows, signed, and recommended as well researched. He mailed it to me for a few bucks.

Later, I get the board game extension Davy Jones’ Locker. It is shipped from Aloclek, the street I used to work from, and is only ten minutes away. Another Kickstarter fulfilled!

I board Air Volvo and head across Beaverton. Due to the lack of rain and the fact that I am between school opening and closing, the traffic is light and well-behaved. I get to Tous Les Jours and get a baguette with ham and cheese and a few croissants for breakfast. They have a microwave, and I heat my baguette with a sweat garlic wash and eat it. Still not that good. I will try to find something better (their croissants and bread are good).

I rush through shopping at Trader Joe’s and get my usual supplies and many frozen foods. While processed, they seem fresh, not over-processed, and thus fit my diet. I got four bags and a bill of nearly $200, $50 a bag. This is about three weeks or more for me. Yikes! I stopped by the 185th and TV Highway veggie and fruit stand and was shocked not to break $20 for fresh items that fill a bag. The contrast gets my attention.

I put this away and then called Deborah. We watched the last of this season together on a call for the whole show. We have become adept at sync-ing the show on our respective TVs, Deborah in the Midwest and me here in the PNW. The season was, I think, one of the best, with running jokes and even some physical comedy. We loved it.

After chatting and sending Deborah my 2600 Magazine article (PDF of the back issue), I rang off and soon headed to the Regal Evergreen Theater to meet Jack. We watched Conclave, the new non-Dan Brown movie about electing a pope. This is a slow political thriller with sudden revelations and twists that are unexpected and an obvious ending, but missed by the viewer as, like a magician, the show only hints at what is happening until the final reveal. I loved it. The actors make everything seem real, and the camera work is excellent. It reminds me more of the BBC than Hollywood. Recommended.

I drive Jack home and then return home. There I am, hungry again. I open a can of baked beans and the 1/2-sized cans and heat them on the stove. I have that with some potato chips. It’s an excellent meal.

I shower, get in my PJs, and read more of the Vampire Cookbook. The story turns against the vampires, and the recipes become more complex. It is not even 11, but I am falling asleep. I sleep the night except for waking to prove hydration at 2.

Thanks for reading!