Tuesday Again Busy

I rose early, having gone to bed early to fight the cough. The runny noise continues while the cough has stopped (or been reduced). Breathing is easy, and sleep comes on fast–I nodded off watching Classic Doctor Who on Tuesday early evening. I am writing this on Wednesday morning and feel much improved.

Part of the good feelings is that the car disaster is ending. Air VW is lovely, and I am learning how to drive it and its seemingly endless options. I am surprised that I am grieving for the XC60, remembering some of my favorite trips (M@ and I traveling to California comes to mind) and some of its features (I ordered a Tardis sticker on Etsy.com).

The problem with the past is that its view is clear, and you forget the terrible things, transforming it into a paradise. For example, the TV show Happy Days recreated a version of the 1950s without racism, the draft, the Cold War, or the Korean War. We forget that “It’s a Wonderful Life” was a disaster, and without divine rescue, the story would have had the bad guy win. George Bailey would have died from the manipulation of Mr. Potter. It is so important to remember this. Thus, while I will miss the XC60, I am excited to drive into the future with the Air VW, a ‘pure grey’ 2024 ID.4 AWD Pro. Dear readers, please trust the future and turn away from the past.

Another example that comes to mind is burning carbon products (wood, coal, hydrocarbons, and other versions). Since learning to make fire, humankind has added carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. We can see in this century that winter is hotter; Michiganders talk about missing the snow and how little they see of snow now on my last trip there. It is obvious; we cannot imagine another century of just pouring CO2 into the air. And why would we want to? Pumping CO2 to be used by plants, capturing it, and other obvious strategies seem to be the direction we must go. Taxing and making carbon more expensive seems less attractive, but I understand this, too, is a strategy. Again, we can look at our Happy Days version of memory, or we can try to turn to the future.

Putting aside my musings, I wrote, texted, and even updated Quicken with transactions, and soon, I was late. I had a game with Richard and James in Portland. I enjoyed Air VW the Gray (Steve’s name for the new vehicle) in the slow end-of-rush-hour traffic. I used CarPlay, though later, Corwin got the Nav going, and it better interfaces with the screens on Air VW the Gray. Soon, Air VW the Grey arrived at Richard’s, and we continued gaming. We played the next scenario in the RPG-styled board game Mansion of Madness, Second Edition, playing one for each Tuesday morning. The game uses an app to run the scenario, eliminating the need for a ‘Keeper’ to run the game and avoiding mistakes that haunted trying to play the first edition.

I found this scenario immersive, and soon, we were fighting for our characters’ lives. We had been unlucky, and the many clues seemed to delay us more than have us reach the conclusion. James and Richard, being board gamers, wanted every clue and goodie. I was less sure. Soon, we reached the summoning location and were late unlocking the final item. Poof, we were facing an unstoppable collection of Lovecraftian monsters. We died. Richard had gone insane and killed his character on purpose. I was slain, and soon James followed was gone too. Having read many Mythos stories, I think this one seemed about right, with our losses being part of the story. We will likely try again next week.

Air VW the Gray got me home with one set of extra-legal driving, having a pair of drivers change into my lane and then exit simultaneously on the front and back. They needed waltz music! Happy to survive with the paint still gray, I reached Beaverton.

I used the Electrify America app to find a fast charging station, and soon, it was plugging in and charging to 100%. While there, another matching ID.4 pulled in. She bought hers just last week and loved the ‘pure grey.’ While waiting, I walked to Subway and got a tuna sub. In forty-five minutes, I was at 100%, costing $0. I’m not sure I understand why, but I took the free power and headed home.

When I arrived, I plugged the car into a wall socket and saw that it would not charge above 80% for a wall socket. I overrode that and was unsurprised that it would take more than two hours to get 2% back. The physics of energy storage requires more and more energy as you approach 100%. I then started laundry and published the unfinished blog (I missed that Grammarly damaged the text again and later corrected it). I checked the charging to discover that a flock of evil birds had painted a new Pollock-like work on Air VW the Gray. F**K!

Air VW the Gray took me to the local carwash, and with two tries, we removed the fresh local art. The trees have overgrown my driveway, creating an excellent place for the local birds. I need to get the garage, which currently is smaller-on-the-inside, back to its former use (parking). Yikes, I parked on the street!

But before heading home, I went to the Oregon DMV and waited forty minutes to pay $106 for a replacement title for the Volvo. I can not yet sell the wreck. I need a title. Rituals were performed, and the summoning will take two to six weeks. As I waited months to learn of its loss, I can wait for the title.

Mariah suggested dinner in Portland, and Corwin agreed. Air VW the Gray gets us through the slow-moving traffic of a Tuesday night. Again, the lane changing from the most left lane, across the lanes, to exit requiring everyone to slow down and let the driver through could be put to music, a slow waltz (maybe this by Dmitri Shostakovich). I did not know about the alternative parking at Hopworks, and we parked on the street a few blocks away. While Corwin thinks Air VW the Gray would be a target of car thieves, I was of the opinion that just trying to find how to put it in Drive would stop any would-be thief if they had some marvelous hack for the fob controlled access (I still have to stop and think how to do it now).

We chatted about travel and how Mariah was disappointed in Chicago while I enjoyed it (Mariah was there for a biz trip right after my visit). I agreed with her the food experience there was not as good as a meal in Portland. I thought the cultural items made up for it, but she feels that NYC still is the best. And while I agree with her, the housing costs in NYC are insane, and I would not likely move there. I could imagine living in Chicago, enjoying the cultural items, and ignoring the food scene and inner-city issues. But, I would have to be a snowbird as I have had enough Mid-western winters, even with the climate change. For now, I will remain in the PNW. I have no plans to move (though cheap housing in NOLA is always tempting); I love the PNW.

I have a burger, and we share some chili fries. I have a Vienna-style Lager (think of the waltzing traffic). Soon, we broke up, but we could have talked for hours. Corwin, as I said, found the NAV and made it work. It flashes lights and talks me back home. I will have to use it more often!

We also listened to one of Corwin’s Spotify songs. And while I would not expect to like all the Norse words for Odin’s many names done as a rap to be good, it was excellent. Corwin accidentally discovers we have granted his phone not just access to the sound system, but he has control of the Air VW the Gray. Oops. We get control back to my phone! I have much to learn about this VW!

I soon am home, and Corwin takes his leave. Corwin wonders aloud if he could qualify for an ID.4 could that improve his income by giving rides and delivering food? At $269 a month, that would be less than he pays for gas. I don’t know if this would pencil-out for him, but it is an interesting question. I learned from the Tesla Uber drivers that they rent their cars.

I soon head to bed and sleep. I wake about 6ish but roll over. Thanks for reading!