Wednesday Art and Illness

I rose around 7 and discovered I had failed to assemble the coffee the night before. I ground the beans roasted here in Oregon and nearby in Hillsboro by Mom. Roasted by Mom is a local company that supports women and women growers (website). It is good to taste liberal coffee again and know that every cup is helping moms. And it was good to remember who I am: a liberal, and someone working to make the world better, and helping the world remember Justice with Compassion.

On Tuesday, I read a lot about Kirk’s assassination and a comedian losing his job. I am sorry about all of it. Grief comes with anger, I know, and assassinations come with fear. The combination is poisonous for democracies. But I get it.

I had trouble writing the blog as I would find myself thinking about the words and events instead of writing. I am thinking deeper about the events of the day lately. It took me until 11ish to finish it.

I finished off the cottage cheese and had a banana with that. I am trying to ensure I am not hungry and don’t eat out of turn. Just trying to stick to three meals of smaller-sized portions. So far, no more weight gain.

I updated my transactions in Quicken and watched my IRA investments. They are up more. The cut in rates will give some of my bond holdings (in the form of mutual funds and indexes) a temporary boost, as the financial instruments hold higher-paying bonds than what is currently available. These assets will slowly produce a lower yield as the cut starts to work into the new bonds purchased to replace those sold or reaching maturity. The only immediate impact of the cut is usually on car loans, which should, though there are many other factors, soon reduce.

Sadly, thinking about car loans, President Trump did not restore the car interest loan write-off. That would have helped all the regular Americans and the US Car manufacturing (even Elon). President Reagan’s 1986 tax changes dropped this. I remember my father and grandfather, both Reagan supporters, being outraged when they realized around 1988, the end of the Reagan Administration, they would now buy cars less often due to these changes and how hard this would hit Michigan. Now, imagine if these tax breaks were reinstated instead of the make-believe no-tax-on-tips deduction, which likely nobody can take (since individuals who receive tips do not typically itemize). It would have been good for everyone, except for the very rich. Hmmm.

Returning to my story for Tuesday, I published the blog and warmed up some pasta and Italian-style sausage for lunch, a smaller portion. I ate that while watching more of Apple+’s Foundation series. The acting, special effects, and camera work are excellent. The storyline is OK. I love space opera.

I next grab a copy of Analog Magazine, trying to read a few items from the ones I have just stacked and ignored, boarded Air VW the Gray, and took the EV to the TriMet MAX station. I wave my phone at the scanner, pay $2.80 via a virtual card, and wait a few minutes for my train. I am too excited to read much as I have missed walking in Portland.

I talk to Deborah a few times while riding the train (not shouting into the phone as many do) as she is between things on her long day. She is monitoring the start of classes, including the evening ones, in Michigan and working long hours. I reach the Teacher’s Fountain and Library stop and from there walk up the slight hill on Park Street. The Farmer’s Market runs in the park on Wednesday mornings from early to late afternoon; I did not know this. This will give me a reason to come earlier next time on a Wednesday.

I have a membership to the Portland Art Museum (PAM), and I am soon inside looking at a new display of various modern pieces. Some are new to me, and I did not know that Andy Warhol painted some of his posters with glitter. The neon piece made me think of Deborah.

The art is not part of PAM’s collection but from the local private Schnitzer Collection, made up of mostly prints and modern art. I learned there is another art museum to see, The Schnitzer Collection on display, which is open 5 days a week, 3-5, and longer on Saturday. It is free. Soon!

I did my usual walk through the usual displays and noticed the changes, and enjoyed the French Impressionists the most. PAM’s Monet’s “Lily Pads” painting was back in its usual place. No brighter after a cleaning, but showing a bit of fading too. I enjoy a walk through and try to visit every month.

Next, I walked to the MAX, used a free transfer to get to the Green Line, and took it over to Ground Kontrol. On the way, I met a tourist who asked for help, and I explained the MAX for her and had her get the app and a virtual card. She was looking at multiple trips and was headed to the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden.

I arrived one block from Ground Kontrol and soon had my ID checked and found some games to play. I keep my card under my driver’s license. I went to play one pinball game, and it broke and ate my credits. I was given a $5 card for my trouble. I could not even use that up as the play; I find this to be a time sink, but still, it was entertaining, a guilty pleasure. I tried, for the first time, the Star Wars Combat Pods — expensive, and managed to not blow up the Death Star on the easy mission — Total Fail. I was often flying upside down and crashing into things. It was quite entertaining and felt immersive (when I was not crashing or flying upside down). I will invest in more training. A pair of pilots wanted the machine after I was done, and I let more skilled flyers save the universe and ‘use the force.’

Next, I walked to the Chinese Garden and the ticket taker remembered me, “Hi, Michael.” There I walked around, enjoyed the quiet, had a tea and coconut party, and read. The waterfall was not running, and it was very quiet. I finished the excellent story “It Eats Metal” in Analog, which appeared in the March/April issue. A gal next to me sat and meditated, and I tried to not make too much noise. I was self-conscious of the sound of sipping tea and eating only a few feet from her.

Eschewing the Green Line, I walked back to the Red/Blue line, which heads west to Beaverton and Hillsboro. Along the way, I stop at Voodoo Donuts, which is not busy; there is no line. I stand at the door, the guard smiles, and waves me in. You can’t just walk in, like a donut vampire; you must be invited in to harvest. I bought three, including the Zombie, Portland Cream (so many inappropriate jokes), and a bacon maple bar. This is placed in the signature pink I-am-a-tourist-rob/ignore-me box.

 

I am not sure what has happened to Portland over the past couple of months while I have been traveling, but there are fewer homeless people (though I recognize some), and the smell of marijuana is less. The hot days drove some folks away, I am sure. School is back, and I suspect the smoking and vaping tourists are now fewer. The town felt to me like it was welcoming the rains, falls, and the change of seasons.

While the number of shuttered and ‘for lease’ buildings is distressing, I saw a few had signs of activity and recovery. It is not enough to make up for the 40% reduction in lunch traffic from before the pandemic and the great migration away from cities and to working from home. The incubators are gone, as are the shared workspaces to rent.

I took the Max back, paying another $2.80, for the short trip back to Beaverton. No drama on the trains or smells. It was back to what I remembered. Pleasant for urban transport.

I took the EV home and made a frozen Chicken Tikka meal for dinner. Deborah, now at the end of her day, talked to me about our day (and some of my complaints on a political nature that I will not recount here). I apologized for being boring to Deborah and received forgiveness. I wished her a good night as she was tired and had another long day on Thursday.

I work on my lesson notes for this Sunday.

I took painkillers, pills, and food. I was unsteady from the nearly 7,000 steps and the still soreness from the fall a few nights ago. My head is still bruised. There is no sign of a concussion or headache. I read, do the dishes, make coffee, and get to bed early.

I woke at 4 and was not feeling well. I could not get back to sleep. I finally rose, had some toast, and then returned to sleep at 5, and had wild dreams but not scary dreams until I woke before 7.

Thanks for reading.