Wednesday with Too Many Surprises

The morning started with me rising early, which has become my new habit since I began seeing Deborah, who resides in Michigan. Mom Wild also called at 8ish in a panic. A medical bill or hackers, we are unsure at the moment, called and demanded payment (likely a con). Instead of hanging up and ignoring it, she panicked and called me, demanding I move back to Michigan and help. Not happening. Linda is checking in on it.

With some drama and a pleasant early call from Deborah, I returned to writing and enjoyed liberal coffee. The coffee was leftover from yesterday and was easily microwaved. More liberal coffee was still inbound from the Portland Equal Exchange warehouse. I skipped breakfast as I had a dentist appointment that morning.

I did my usual reading of emails—lots—and then updated my Quicken. I had many transactions from my unplanned trip to Michigan, hopefully, the last ones and the payments for the next trip. Delta Airlines arranged all the hotels and flights on the next trip (19 Dec to 5 Jan), and I paid for them. I transferred enough money, logging on to US Bank, to cover the mortgage and the Visa Bill (I don’t carry a balance). I use the Visa as it gets me miles instead of the bank card (it gives access to my checking!) and the American Express (no miles).

I write, and around 10, I finish a short blog. I dress quickly, shave, and all that. I board Air Volvo. I notice that every idiot light is on. The parking brake has failed. F**k. Air Volvo locks down for safety and informs me that I must perform a ritual to unlock the gear shift. F**k. Even turning off the vehicle requires holding the nob until it finally shuts down.

The dentist was ready for me, and teeth 5 and 12 were repaired. The old fillings had failed, and it was time to upgrade. I panic easily now since the ER trip for breathing was caused by the chemo, meaning I had to count backward and also imagine events happening that would interest me so that I would not panic. Beaches and drinks with umbrellas were included in those thoughts. It was not easy, but I managed. The painkiller worked well and faster than I remember. The modern dentist uses light-activated and tooth-colored material instead of mercury-silver, which he smooths and finishes with some drilling. I was done in less than forty-five minutes, and my part of the bill was $105.

I returned to Air Volvo, which still had six lights on (I usually find it costs $1,000 per light in repairs–I was not happy). I searched the paper manual and then went to the one built into the display, searched it, and found the override process for the shifter. Take out the rubber mat in the drawer next to the shifter. There is a hole. Use a screwdriver and push the button in the hole. (I always carry a small toolbox in the cargo hold of Air Volvo for these cases and retrieve the screwdriver). It unlocked! I put the screwdriver back and reassembled the drawer.

The car would not move. The disabled brake was still locked. I read the instructions for unlocking the brake. Did not work on my first try. The vehicle would slam when I tried to move it, but it was still locked. I calmly turned off the car (having to hold the button like an old PC), put on my safety belt, and started the car (this is in the directions). The brake then unlocked. F**k, it is connected to the safety belt!

Air Volvo with most of the lights on the dash, I drove the car to the mothership. The warnings included the tires, brakes, traction control, and lane assist warning, but not the collusion warning (I checked the tires, too—all good). I left the car running and explained the issues to the Volvo service manager. I could tell they had no idea and certainly did not understand why I left it running (it will relock the shifter and parking brake when turned off). I was informed that it was a busy season, and with tomorrow being Thanksgiving, it is unlikely that they would get to diagnose the issues until Monday. Still, an hour of diagnosis was $250; they suspect it would be $750 for that alone. I did not blink, but depending on the repair cost (I am guessing $6,000-$9,000), their sales folks may call me (they will anyway). Deborah reminded me I am a Costco member, so I should get the Costco price. I told them to put that in the notes. I called Deborah to let her know I was OK after the dentist and got the Air Volvo working (sort of).

I took a Lyft home, paying for it myself, as the service guy said I needed to use the app, and the connection did not work (until later). My driver agreed that these expensive cars are expensive to fix and that his son’s experience with Audis was the same. He also told me he moved to Portland two years ago and still owned a house in Louisiana with more than 2,000 square feet worth $100K. He was shocked to learn the same house is over a million in Oregon. Yes, housing is expensive on the West Coast.

I spent the afternoon doing laundry and making a quiche with what I had in the frig. I cooked onion, added smoked pork and venison sausage, sliced some potatoes (Costco precooked and frozen ready-to-heat small potatoes), and mozzarella cheese. I added some green beans for color. I beat four eggs and poured them on. All this is a frozen pie crust. I baked it after adding sliced tomatoes on top for more color for about 35 minutes.

I had two pieces. It was lovely and delicious. I also had a candy bar, Equal Exchange.

While eating, I watched more YouTube videos from the USS Kidd and Battleship New Jersey museum staff. I learned that the USS Kidd is a revised Fletcher-class WW2 destroyer being repaired and restored to its 1945 look. The battleship is in a Cold War configuration of 1990 or thereabouts. USS Texas, another battleship (but over 100 years old), is set to its 1946 look and received spares from modern battleships when they were upgraded in the Cold War. USS Texas is still being repaired and homeless; hopefully, a city in Texas will soon volunteer to be a home for it. USS Texas’s staff knows how to clean and repair some WW2 guns, so some of the USS Kidd guns are now with USS Texas to be refreshed and sent back. New Jersey is back from repair and open again for tours. USS Kidd is still in drydock being repaired.

I did three loads of laundry and dishes and generally rested between loads. I am still tired and enjoy reading. Between the dentist and Air Volvo, I was ready to pull up the covers and hide!

I watched an old spy movie, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and enjoyed it. It is a slow Cold War British vs. Soviet story with the strange George Smiley and Control characters that define spymaster in the old stories. If you can do slow stories, it was excellent. I saw it years ago in the theater, but it was good for a few bucks from Apple.

I skipped dinner and enjoyed some mint tea (Morroco-style with caffeine) and potato chips.

I showered, read in bed, and then nodded off. I turned off the light and slept, dreaming of Cold War spies and wondering who could be the Soviet Mole. I woke early, now living in my new East and West time zone.

Thanks for reading!