Wednesday Taxi Service

Jeff appeared later this morning and continued with his upgrade work on the drainage here at Cheatu Wild. The block roots and muck were removed from the pipes installed years ago to direct the roof water from the gutters to the street. Some fittings were replaced. The front pipes are ready for use.

My day started with me sleeping in until 8ish and rising to the end of the Mexican coffee that was locally roasted and ground. I will use Trader Joe’s instant coffee for the one day before I travel. The Mexican coffee was good, and its bitterness, along with the Trump Administration’s attacks on Portland, reminded me of how important it is for us liberals to be vigilant. Mostly, I know, this is to fill the press with anything but the truth and Epstein news.

I write the blog and complete it by ten. Jeff appears around the same time and resumes his tasks. As often happens, every pipe and fitting resists, with some becoming warped due to the pressure of being buried. Jeff gets a trip back to hardware suppliers, but manages to get all of the initial fix-it work done and fills in the holes. Ready for the rains! Next, he is building a rain stone flow, like a small creek, in the backyard to take the water to the French drain. A partial load of river rock is inbound!

I am talking to Deborah on the phone (we try to start our days texting and talking, and end them the same way) when I open the fridge door and the cottage cheese (small curds) falls out and platters a serving on the floor. I make jokes about the whey finding a way as I clean up the mess. Most of the curds remain in the container, and I decided to have a bowl, as it seems to have insisted. The whey way (for our Mandalorian chefs).

Deborah had some folks to meet and tasks to complete, and rang off. I had some reheated pasta, because a small bowl of cottage cheese was not enough. I then connect with Joan S and head to her house.

I provide a taxi service for Joan S, taking her to her appointment. She sits in the back as her leg is in a brace. And we have a fast, surprisingly fast trip to Portland. We take the Steel Bridge and soon park at the Moda Center. Her appointment is there, and soon we are waiting. I have a few hours to kill and manage to get back to 6,000+ steps as I walk the Rose Quarter area.

There are many folks here, and I learn that Sleep Token, a hard-to-qualify band, is playing today, and a goth-like fan base is here in a long line. This is the merch line I am told. This is where official band T-shirts and other expensive items are available for purchase. I did not remember the band name, found them on my phone, and played some. Yes, I have heard them on KINK.FM and liked them.

ICE is on the other side of the river, approximately two miles away. Portland looks excellent on a cool gray day. I know some officials are touring the building, but there is nothing happening in Portland from my view at the Rose Quarter. The concerts are ongoing, as is the symphony, and Dracula is playing at The Keller.

Joan gets updated instructions, and soon we are returning to North Plains, her home, and I to Beaverton (though really Aloha and Reedville). I am waiting for a friend to update me on dinner plans. And while I wait,  rewatch the season three finale for Wednesday again. It was better the second time.

I also located an old adventure I wrote in 2012 for the 4E version of Dungeons and Dragons, it is meant for three plays, at least, and is 60 pages, 23,000+ words. It also uses all existing monsters, spells, and treasure, resulting in a larger number of encounters than the page count suggests. On Thursday, I will check with Clint, and he thinks that would be a good choice for their Thanksgiving gaming. I will extract a group of encounters to make a single play adventure and rework them for 5E.

I find I am alone for dinner and head to the Golden Valley Brewery as I cross Beaverton again. I sit at the bar and recognize one of the bartenders, and Devan, a new face, waits on me. This is not a cheap place, and I visit less now that I would rather spend my money on travel (and the caloric impact is unnecessary). I have a glass of wine, Merlot from Argentina, and the steak salad, and I add dessert with coffee. It was all good and familiar; they make excellent food here.

I return home in Air VW the Gray, plug it in, do the dishes, and read until 10. I am tired from walking, driving, and the season change. I sleep and wake a few times. I managed to sleep better this evening.

Thanks for reading.