Saturday Packing, Cleaning, Portland, Oh my!

Already, I must warn you, dear reader, that this blog will be a bit mundane. It’s a travel day to just the airport, but packing and cleaning are the primary focus. I have learned that I-84, MAX, and 216 will all be partially shut down to do, among other things, painting over graffiti. Getting to a 7:40 Sunday morning flight might become complex, and starting at 3 or 4 in the morning does not sound like an enjoyable start for the trip. Instead, I have a room at Aloft at PDX this Saturday night; they offer a 24-hour shuttle, and the MAX (if it is running) is also available just a block away.

Also, the mail never came while I was at the house until about 2:45 in the afternoon. Hmmm. Mom Wild’s card was still in the box with the flag up; I wrote it last night. I brought stamps in my luggage to keep up the daily card to Mom Wild while on the trip.

I rose at 7, having rolled over at 5 and 6 from the bright sunlight. Today promises to be hot, dry, and sunny, with temperatures expected to exceed 90°F (32°C). I started the laundry with the limited clothing and wore just the robe and slippers to wash everything. After making toast with butter and orange marmalade (not a good choice for a diabetic, but it is so good) to go with a banana and coffee already included in my breakfast. The coffee was started the night before, and then the timer started at 7:15. I immediately had a shower instead of waiting until the blog was done. I rinsed the shower of the Scrubbing Bubbles cleaner I had sprayed on the night before, before entering.

By ten, the blog was published, and the sheets from the bed were now in The Machine, and I was wearing the clothing washed after making the bed with the other sheets. I switch them every week.

I also cleaned the sink after finishing my usual morning routine, including shaving. Dressed, I also ran all the dishes and put them away, leaving the dishwasher slightly open to dry out while I was out. The AC was off, and when the Machine was done with washing and drying, I turned down the water heater to low. I killed the fan to be auto (meaning it will not run without the AC and heat, both turned off).

I ordered lunch delivered from Gyro House and had a massive lamb gyro with enough garlic to make me vampire-proof for the day. I could not finish it. As the dishwasher was done, I hand-washed my plate and delivered the wrapping to the trash outside.

I sent a text to Jeff, my fixer guy. He will stain-protect the deck while I am out on the upcoming cooler and dry days. He will look at rebuilding the gate and the locking. The wind is pushing them open and damaging one of them. I also suggested he place a ceiling fan and lights in the two bedrooms (not the office, which will not be improved with swirling papers). He can find time next week, and we will connect later on this. The deck was washed by him in the spring, and I noted that the wood appears to be more open and needs a preservative this season.

An Über came for me at 2:45 and for just over $16 (with a large tip) to the MAX stations, and soon I was riding in a train car headed to PDX. The headache returned with the pollen and my continued reading of Elric stories, as well as doom-scrolling on my phone. Though the news is more interesting of late and less depressing as Trump’s hold on the press and the realization of many that he is not working in their best interests (i.e., an inexplicable $2.7 trillion deficit budget, endangering civil rights for limited if any poltical gain, and nationalizing the National Guard against run-of-the-mill domestic protests). Things are looking up when Fox News was at a loss for how to spin it.

On the MAX was a gentleman dressed in all black, in a steampunk style. I commended him and got an old-style bow. He got off in Beaverton. Later, a woman in a steward outfit got on and we talked about travel for a bit. She told me she has been everywhere in the USA, but only to the airports. Kind of funny. Told her to try to get to the Richmond, Virginia Art Museum (she does mostly East Coast), as it has an extensive collection of Russian Fabergé Eggs.

Soon, I arrived at Cascade Station, got off the train, and rolled my bag to the hotel. There I got a comfy room, and the pool looks lovely. I rested and then came to the bar, got a beer, chips, and salsa, and wrote this blog.