WordPress had an outage, and then I traveled; the blog is behind. Let me try to catch up!

Wednesday

Wednesday ended with me at home, bidding on some stamps on Hipstamps.com. Some US cut squares, which I do collect, were selling so cheaply that it was embarrassing. I managed to snag a few excellent 1880s pre-printed envelopes and wrapper postage. I saw the ongoing auction and connected to get a few nice items. I am ready to head to bed, but I need to write the blog tonight and then was distracted by the auction. Earlier today, I also purchased a proof of US Scott 164, which was great as the only known to exist in one stamp. My proof reportedly was in FDR’s collection (broken up and sold after his death) and is the only version of the stamp available. I did not expect to ever see one for auction. It was just under $70. Auction prices are often low (and also insanely high). There was lots of proof from FDR’s collection, and I do not think the 164 was noticed.

I tried to write this blog, but WordPress went offline, and I could not. I wanted to write Wednesday’s story before my travels started, but that was impossible. Instead, I took my pills, put on my PJs, and read for a while. I was soon falling asleep. I would wake at 1ish with a headache and need to prove hydration. I think I was dehydrated. After some painkillers and water, the headache stopped, and I slept until my alarm went off.

Before this, I was at First United Methodist Church (it’s best not to abbreviate that as FUMC on our signage) in Beaverton. It was choir practice, and the church sign was also being updated for Easter services for our church and the church that rents from us. There were many abbreviations, as we used plastic letters for that sign. Thus, the comment above.

I come to play board games with Z while the choir practices. Today, Andrew joined us for another game of Scythe while his wife, Ashley, practiced with the praise band. Z and Andrew were tied, and then Z, playing red (Russia), defeated Andrew playing black (Saxony) in battle (I filled in for him as he was singing in the choir), completing the enlistment goal and ending the game for a win of 8 or more. I was playing green (Albion) and was ten points behind as I was playing a problematic faction (it and purple–Japan can be difficult to play), and I did not quite get my strategy (hold the Factory) and my board values aligned. I will have to try it again.

Scythe is an efficiency race and 4X game. Z was very efficient and repeated the double star earning I did last time we played to win. Z learned and watched. It is a favorite game, and we may play it on a gaming night and try the campaign.

Before this, the day was just a blur of chores to get ready to travel. I mopped the floors, cleaned the toilets, did more laundry, and got the dishes done. A letter to stop the mail and re-deliver on my first full day back, Good Friday, was in the mailbox. I like the house clean when I get back (often I collapse for a few when back). I dusted the house. Where does that come from?

Breakfast was the last of the muffins I made a few days ago, with coffee from the new coffee machine (assembled the night before) and a banana. I would end up with two in my carry-on. I ate one in Salt Lake City, and one made it, beat up, to Michigan. I brought no snacks and swimming trunks (both a mistake). I closed my suitcase and added most of the needed items to my carry-on (cables, spare clothing, and some paper for the trip).

I deposited the check from the City of Portland. I forgot one of the checks yesterday when I went to the bank. I also stopped by Safeway and got more distilled vinegar and cleaning supplies (Swiffer mop things as I Swiffer for mopping). I stopped by King Bento and tried their special for lunch. There, by chance, I met a retired Nike IT person, Regina, whom I had not seen for years. She retired a few years before me and is doing well. The food was good but familiar.

I made more fridge pickles from the last cucumber. Three jars now. They should be great when I get back.

I slept well, I think–it is hard to remember now–and rose at 7ish with my alarm. I also connected with Deborah all day as I progressed through the steps to be ready to travel.

Thursday

I had two alarms in place for 5:30. With my loss of hearing on the left side from the brain tumor (MRI to check my status soon), I may not hear the alarm. I scheduled an Über to take me from home to the nearby MAX station at 6:45. Air VW the Gray was safe in the garage with 90+% charge. I would leave the keys at the house. I popped in the shower, shaved, etc., and was soon ready. I started this blog, but soon, it was time to go.

The Über was early; next, I waited for a train for 11 minutes. I used the Hop app to pay and track my fare; it was just a few dollars and an hour and a quarter trip to PDX. I arrived with 90 minutes to board my first flight to Salt Lake City. I got nervous as I am usually two or more hours early, but it was fine.

I could not get the terminal to print a tag for my bag. I went to the drop-off, and they fixed it and gave me a free bag for my trouble (usually $35). By then, I had booked two bags, and they cleared all of that. I have never had this kind of problem before. I did leave my phone on the machine. It is so easy to forget it as you have so much to do with screens, boarding passes, and bag tags (which failed for me). You place the phone on the screen. Hmmm. I retrieved my phone without issue.

Breakfast and coffee would be welcome. Security was the usual take things off and pass through here. There were no surprises this time. I stopped at Grassa, a few steps from security, and had breakfast there. The food is reasonably priced (all food at PDX must charge the ‘street’ price and not the usual 2x of airports) and excellent. I saw the same folks, and the manager remembered me from Christmas. They also made morning drinks, and I saw some vodka and coffee liqueurs made for breakfast. I just had coffee.

My gate was just a few minutes’ walk away. I found a charging station and plugged in my phone to charge it; it was already half-used. The plane, as usual from Portland, was full, and they were looking for 11 people to volunteer to take another flight. I was soon on the plane and watched an old movie for 3/4 of its length, China Town. We arrived in Salt Lake City without issue.

I had enough time to stop by Panera Bread for soup and a half-sandwich for a quick lunch. I ate only half of the sandwich because it was huge. Another passenger I saw on the MAX was headed to Indiana by many flights and missed food as the take-off times on apps, but boarding is 30 minutes earlier. Something I noticed and thus was rushing.

My seatmate was a young, huge man who was headed to MSU for a football tryout (American version). He was squished into the middle chair, and I was thus squished against the window. I watched the newish movie Conclave again, my first movie, China Town, was unavailable on this plane, and then watched a few episodes of Bobby Flay’s “Beat Bobby Flay ” on the Food Channel. The movie was terrific a second time (I had forgotten some parts), and the food show caused many laughs. Both are recommended (though it is best to stay away from the food channel unless I am ready for more hours in the kitchen).

The rest of the night was a blur as I trained and walked to baggage claim, searched and found nothing, and then the bags arrived. I took a bus to Hertz with my bags and found a hot red car in the gold section. I checked out with the gate (Gold means pick a car, get in, and drive to the gate) and supplied a new credit card (I need to update my online profile with a working card), and then I went, Air Hyundai Red, to the hotel without issue. I got CarPlay working without issue.

When I checked in, Deborah drove the short trip from her house to the hotel to welcome me and then returned home. Despite the time change, the hotel’s strange bed, and the sounds, I managed to sleep.

Thanks for reading the blog for two days.