Tuesday Back to Lansing

My eyes and ears are still having trouble, and I woke up too early, but I managed to roll over and sleep until around 7. I rose, there were no cups, and I did not make coffee in my room. This drove me to shower and dress promptly, and then I wrote the blog in the lobby, where the complimentary breakfast is served with coffee.  There, I assembled my thoughts, even some preliminary travel plans, and composed a summary of Monday. Keith, part of the hotel staff, was running breakfast; I met him last Christmas, and we were both happy to see each other.

I had everything done by ten.

I took my hat, coat, and laptop to the Rental and soon discovered, while on the highways flying at 70mph+ (110kph+) speeds, that the sluggishness and poor steering faded and, rechristened, Air Nissan Rogue flew at Michigan travel speeds. Like many turbocharged lower cc engines, the thing was built for fast driving.

I reached the outskirts of Flint on Highway 75 and then went south on 69 to Lansing. The indirect route involves flying at speed for most of the way, often exceeding 80mph (130kph), and thus beating the more direct route, taking two hours, with a travel time of 90 minutes! Midwestern practicality again, who cares how you get there if it’s faster.

I arrived too early, but soon Leta arrived at Panera at the Lansing Mall (a ruin of its 1980s high-flying days when ‘greed was good’). We had lunch together and talked about life and Leta’s interview on Channel 10 local TV (here, while available) about her fundraising at 97 for this year’s Crop Hunger Walk. This event is sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church, Leta’s church, where I married Susie, her daughter. We also talked, sadly, that it was another year without Susie. Susie passed away on October 13, 2023.

I waited with Leta until the Lutherian Ladies appeared. A group of ladies who meet at Panera and have adopted Leta as an honorary Lutheran. I headed across Lansing to Haslett to see Mom Wild. She was waiting for me and wanted lunch, but first we did a quick tour of Haslett, Meridian, and East Lansing. We did not make it to the Michigan Capitol as Michigan Avenue is still being rebuilt, but we could see the familiar dome.

Olive Garden for the lunch specials, just getting in under the 3 end-of-lunch time. Mom had the scampi with pasta, and I had a second lunch: salad, soup, and breadsticks. For me, one bowl of veggie minestrone and some salad. Mom ate the shrimp, pasta, breadsticks, and a lot of salad.

Next, we stopped by the tobacco place and got mom her favorite vapes, a compromise that is acceptable to the facility, if used outside. On returning to Haslett Pointe, we sat in the rocking chairs and chatted, and Mom used her vapes. We also had a great waiter, and she packed a new salad, new breadsticks, and a dessert to go for us (with me just buying the dessert). All of this is stored in Mom Wild’s fridge.

A hello means a goodbye, and Mom Wild was ready for that. It was a good moment, as I promised to be back for Christmas, and Mom Wild was happy with vapes and dessert. The staff was already getting her dinner ready. I waved from Air Nissan Rogue, which was perfectly sized to carry Mom Wild’s walker and for her to get in and out of.

I took a messy, construction-filled trip back from Haslett to the end of Lansing and into Delta Township, near the highway that would take me back to Flint and then Detroit, where I’d have a chance to try the Texas Roadhouse again. Jesse and Linda, my sister and her husband, met me there minutes after I arrived. It was loud, there were no peanut shells on the floor like in the old days (now in a sealed bag, ignored in a bucket), and the space for dancing was small. The staff danced a few times, but it was a minor distraction, not the big deal it once was. The menu was very complex, trying to hide that a Texas Steak Combo started at $35. Linda had the kabobs, and I followed. I was buying Jesse his birthday steak, and he had an excellent sirloin. My bits of steak were removed from the metal implement (likely a safety thing) and were tiny bits. I was expecting big chunks of sirloin, but it turned out to be more like a stir-fry on a stick. The veggies were undercooked, too, and huge. This makes you think the steak bits are wrongly sized. Hmmm. I would say this chain has aged poorly (there is a pun in there, I think); I will return to the Longhorn Chain instead, as it, while everywhere, serves a quieter and better steak (but for a higher price). There was one just a few miles away. Next time!

We talked about travel and plans. Jesse and Linda are going fishing for salmon this week for Jesse’s 57th birthday (I think it is 57). The house in Oregon may be open around the 28th of March, as I plan to hit Europe with Deborah for her Spring Break (Deborah is a teacher). They might take up some house watching for me. We said our goodbyes.

I grabbed the bag of peanuts and ate some in the car as I headed back to the Greater Detroit area. I drove fast here and there, and the Air Nissan Rogue handled well even at 80+ speeds, almost as good as my EV, almost.

I discovered from Dondrea that the Church Council meeting is next week. Z was looking for help with Physics homework, but I missed Z because they had soccer practice. We might have done a Zoom for help.

Richard sent me an update on Ostia, a board game I like, and mentioned that an updated reprint is being offered for $79. I have the premium version, but I’m unsure if I need a revision that will not be as good. Richard suggests that if I like the game, I should get the revision. We have found that second editions often are much better than the original. Tempting.

I stumbled upon a new Nero Wolfe story on YouTube and decided to give it a try. It reset the detective in today, but I was disappointed that the story, while fascinating, did not properly honor the original. The story is read with just a digital version of Wolfe’s office shown. In this version, Wolfe discussed a case while eating (never!) and used ‘Excellent’ and not ‘Satisfactory’ like a bad take on Mr Burns. Fritz would never throw a cup of coffee, but might take the used cup away immediately to the trash. I will not be back. But the story was modern and excellent, with some parts well done and fitting for Nero. Maybe.

After that, I read British Murder and found my mind drifting, and soon realized my eyes were shut and I was inventing an alternative story. I turned off the lights with the shades lowered this time. I did not wake until the morning.

Thanks for reading.