Monday Docs and DS

It was another early rise, and my sleep was disturbed. I woke up cold and put on my robe to go back to sleep. I rose at 6:30 and stumbled out of bed, found my slippers, and turned on all the lights. The run rise is now after 7 as we head into winter. It was another clear night. I rose in the dark and turned on all the lights.

I am leaving for Michigan on Friday morning and need to pack and put the mail on hold (done).

I wrote the blog and had coffee for breakfast. I had to push the button as it is scheduled to start at 7. I made Mexican-grown coffee, locally roasted and ground. I searched my slightly fuzzy memory of Sunday on Monday morning. I assembled the events into a narrative, writing as I remembered.

I had a completely forgotten breakfast (having to walk into the kitchen and look around to remember it on Tuesday morning), consisting of waffles with sugar-free syrup and butter.

I was happy to get the blog out, jumped into the shower, and did all the usual things to get dressed and be ready. I was surprised to be prepared early and headed out. I talked to Deborah for a few moments. She had a funeral for a friend today and was sad. I spoke to her later and she shared that it was a wonderful but sad funeral in Laingsburg. I had tears flowing as she described it when I was later driving to Beaverton. Randy was a good man.

Today I was meeting with my oncologist, and my weight came in at 240, damn, back up. More salads! Those last six pounds are not leaving. My tests, blood work, were good (only one weird reading, but my doctor was unconcerned), and my CT scan, as I said before, was better than hoped. Two more scans left, and we are done. I spoke with the desk staff, and they may not accept Providence’s Obamacare version. I will have to call once I have details of potential insurance options in November, the so-called Open Enrollment.

It is good news when your primary concern with an oncologist is keeping insurance coverage!

I selected, after spending much time in Portland last week, to just drive back in light traffic. The Monday inbound traffic was awful, and it took me an hour to get through. I then had to find a parking slot in the hospital-provided garage. The spots are extra small, and it took me ten minutes of circling to find a regular-sized spot being vacated. Air VW the Gray is a smaller SUV, but even it would not fit (and be able to open the doors) in most remaining spaces. All the on-street parking was already taken.

I found it still early, a theme I continued to enjoy all day. Our local Powell’s drew me, and I looked for a book for my trip. I found an Agatha Christie paperback published in 19661 of a story I do not remember. I resisted the candy bars and expensive new books, escaping for less than $10. Next, I stopped at McMenamins Cedar Hills for lunch. There, I had an Aztec salad with chicken added and an iced tea. I also booked the Theology Pub for Thursday evening.

I nearly cried at the ending of my Agatha Christie book while eating my salad, Elephants Can Remember. I knew the ending, but it is sad and terrible. More like a dark Louise Penny story than the usual polite British murder with tea.

Somewhere in all of this travel, bookstores, and lunch, Meijer’s from Michigan called. Yes, they have my cake order, and yes, the updates are good. It would be ready as offered on Sunday, Deborah’s birthday.

Back home, the travel was easy, and I checked, finding that my Pathfinder Game for Monday night was canceled. I have delayed my laundry day so that it aligns better with my packing and travel on Friday. Time ran fast, and soon I was making dinner. I decided on pasta with a spicy jar sauce and ground beef. Corwin appeared and washed the windows. I am supporting his new business, and I like clean windows. We shared my dinner, and then we both headed out.

I attended a church meeting with the DS for our church and others, as my gaming had been canceled. And while it is unwise to criticize the central church leaders here, I must say that I was bored and a little depressed by the meeting. My nearly thirty years of working for a multinational corporation have taught me to demand a more organized and clear process when it comes to meetings and procedures. I resisted the temptation to take over and run a fast, to-the-point meeting. Instead, I tried to support the DS and be friendly (and ask only a few questions so the meeting would end on time).

I did learn that there is an interesting First Nations Version: An Indigenous Bible Translation of the New Testament, which is a paraphrase version, and is my least liked translation type. I have been told over and over by liberals that paraphrase versions are better, as they include a modern understanding of words. I have been told also over and over that they are better as they are more accurate and avoid, according to my conservative Christian friends, the liberal word smithing and woke teachings. I have also been told that only the King James version is truly accurate and comfortable. I would say that the NIV is easier to teach from, while the NRSV is more precise (from my readings of the underlying Greek) and includes notes on textual issues that are glossed over by other versions. Paraphrasing versions are unwelcome by me as I like to follow the original, but I understand the comfort they grant. 

The First Nations text was interesting as it includes cultural items from the First Nations people and also claims to be revised to better align with the historical culture of two thousand years ago. I am unsure of that, but it is an interesting re-write of a translation. And while I would never recommend a paraphrasing or amplified version, this one has some strong appeal.

With the meeting over, I headed home after saying goodnight. I tried not to growl.

I read and went to bed early, as I have been up early and sleeping poorly of late.

Thanks for reading.