My first full day in Lansing started with me rising at 6:30 local time (it still feels like 3:30 PDT) and getting down to the industrial breakfast in the Fairfield Inn Lobby. I rose, made coffee in the machine, reviewed my transactions in Quicken, watched the stock markets go up and down, and doom scrolled (as a liberal reading the news). The news was a strange mix of denials, lies, and outrages. Elon now says he would be lucky to make 15% of his goal, as he seems to have relearned math, and that the part of the government that provides most of the services is only 15% of the total of $6.75 trillion. That includes all the VA services, parks, giving to over governments, and also 15% of the education budget of North Dakota for the year (yes, ND assumed they would still get all the money from the Education Department–soon not to exist–to provide basic services). I stand back in awe of the extreme waste of time. Rumors are that China has agreed to replace all the lost US government payments and tighten its alliances with the rest of the world. Seems a costly loss, Elon.
But I then returned to writing the blog and enjoying my stay here in Lansing. The blog was 1,400+ words and took me until 10ish to finish. I did get to talk to Deborah on her drive in and back from work today. It is nice to be in the same time zone again and start and end our day together on the phone.
With the blog done, I left the hotel and drove to Mom Wild’s place. Mom was sleeping when I arrived, but was happy to see me after she woke. More of my postcards had shown up, and the bulb flowers for Easter arrived, too. Mom was excited to see the plants start to blossom and watered them, so I added more water. Mom loved the Queen Mary postcard and was excited to hear about Deborah and me on the ship for drinks, snacks, and some self-guided tours.
It was soon time for lunch, and Mom Wild agreed to do the dining room, and the staff led her to her seat, and I left. We will meet on Wednesday morning and at dinner for my birthday dinner at The Beggar’s Banquet.
I headed to Leta’s house and picked her up for lunch. Leta never took down her Christmas Tree and continues to decorate it for all the events. Today, it was an Easter Tree.
We decided on Cheddar’s for lunch and a Monte Cristo sandwich. The food, while well prepared, included American cheese and industrial deli-pack ham—it could have been great. But the jam was good, and the sandwich was cut into small parts. Sadly, we forgot Leta’s leftover sandwich in my car, which was not good when I spotted it later in the back seat. Oops!
After lunch, I dropped Leta off and headed to downtown Lansing and the Capital area. The wind was picking up and was brutal. There was snow or sleet (it was hard to tell), so I decided to forgo a stop at the state capital building today—it would have been a freezing walk to the entrance.
I had to do the ritual of parking and paying. The machines work fast now (they were terrible last time), allowing up to four hours of parking. It used to be limited to no more than an hour. This is a silly idea if you want to have lunch there. Lansing finally, after years, realized that you want people to park in downtown, shop, eat, and then leave. Better!
Instead, I found Summit Comics and Games, and they remembered me. I suspect that not that many hat-wearing gray-haired guys show up. I found a used copy of some Frostgrave material I did not have nor had seen for sale. Another role-playing game (RPG), I wish I had more time to play. I also found some comic books that intrigued me (they were a disappointment). I try to buy only things I cannot find in Oregon, and today they have something.
Next, I went to the Peanut Store. As I walked in, a patron of the store gave a peanut to a squirrel that seemed to be charging at tax for leaving the store, a peanut. Inside, I got a small bag of peanuts and their best mix, all under $10. The squirrel appeared, and I made my payment and then tried to photograph the rodent. It would have nothing to do with that; apparently, having things pointed at it from a human is uncomfortable. It ran into the street. Yikes, I was not going to have that on my mind, and I followed it into the street, blocked traffic, and it then, now that I was no longer pointing anything at it, followed me, peanut still in its mouth, expecting more food. I realized the traffic was the area’s security team, and they were laughing. Apparently, I went nuts! The squirrel was happy with a peanut last I saw it.
I found Ollie’s next to Summit and got some cards there. They had a coloring book of books that should never happen. I read some of the would-be titles to Deborah, who was free for a moment and called me, and we both laughed. If the book is there on my likely return in the holidays, I might get it. I found Air Hyundai Red and headed out.
From there, with some chaos from construction, I found Hoplite, another gaming store off of Michigan Avenue, and looked at their stuff. The store was more run-down than I remember, and the old gaming stuff was much reduced. I found nothing I could not get in Oregon. I heard a parent say that it was kids’ gaming day, that one of the kids had a rash, and there was concern. With measles now active in Michigan, too (where there is also a strong religious-based denial of vaccination), this was no minor issue. Hearing that and finding no unusual items, I left.
Aside: I had the measles, a very light case, in Middle School when it hit the school band, effectively spreading it to everyone. I also remember getting new shots for it and polio. Vaccination is the cheapest way to stay safe after avoidance; avoidance is not always possible, as my visit to the gaming store shows. I take all vaccinations; I am too busy to get sick, especially avoidable serious illnesses. Lastly, I have already done cancer, a brain tumor, and the death of a spouse. My life has already cost me pain and grief, and I am not losing it to a cheap thief like a known virus. Or in simple terms, RFK F**k Off! And I will remind you, dear readers, that this is toxic and not a cure: here.
Next, I return to my hotel, eat my peanuts, and read my comic books (which are not that interesting). I then travelled and met Jesse and Meg at Bobcat off of Michigan Avenue again within sight of the capital. Jesse is Linda’s (my sister) spouse, and Meg is their child. We enjoy some drinks and a meal in a train car. The car is from the 1900s and shows the ironwork and rivets of the early 1900s. It is hard to imagine that every one of those rivets was hand-carried in hot buckets and driven. The same metal and process as the Titanic, Queen Mary, and all the American Battleships. We had a lovely meal (though my food was odd), and soon I was back at my hotel, reading and trying to sleep. It was my first night having trouble sleeping. I should have walked more.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 