Wednesday No Games

I am afraid that Wednesday is not that interesting. I did have what I call pumpkin quiche (pie) for breakfast with coffee, which I had assembled the night before. I wrote the blog as I watched the skies turn almost blue, and the waters had withdrawn here; my backyard is empty. Washington State, north of here, is in a tough spot, as it received more rain in the interior than Oregon did. Our rivers are high, but that is not usual for us, and they quickly return the water to the ocean. It was a lovely winter day with some Oregon Mist, and even a hummingbird checked out my roses for a meal (likely all the bugs it was looking for were washed away). I hope some ants were out there for the bird to find. The ground is still drying, and I saw the squirrels stay in the trees and on the fence tops.

I wrote the blog, happy to have survived without issues another river-of-rain event. I wrote my blog while I considered also a Christmas gift for Mom Wild. Jackson and Perkins supplied a gardenia for Mom for too much money. But that is true of all things. I have read and heard in news reports that health insurance companies (and a friend of mine works for one, and she assures me they are not getting rich either) are raising costs to employers by about 6%, twice inflation. Wages are reportedly rising for union and blue-collar workers, but not for service workers or white-collar workers. According to the reports, union contracts are coming due and reworked with 3% increases or better. I heard a Marketplace news report that in Phoenix, Arizona, the plumber and pipefitter union is training apprentices at a strong rate. According to the report, the new AI focus means more computer centers, which require extensive cooling and thus more pipes. Yes, high-tech needs pipes. I remember a Dr Who episode where the plumbing hints at the issue, and the Doctor says something like “Always check the plumbing.”

I met Scott at McMenamins Cedar Hills, changing the day to accommodate him picking up his daughter. We talked about travel and investments. We spoke about Nike and the changes there, with me speculating that the newest CEO needs to find a working solution soon or face the company being bought by some bored billionaire. It is always good to connect, and I think it is grounding to talk to Scott.

We said our goodbyes, not seeing each other again until after the holidays and in 2026. We are both slightly taken aback that we are talking about 2026 now! It is misty now, and I head out shopping. I went to the Washington Square Mall (which is in Oregon) and found a few items I was looking for. I waved at Santa and tipped my hat to him. I did not get my picture with him, but I thought about it.

I enjoyed my walk, but I missed Susie and Deborah. I’m still happy to be here and able to walk the mall and wave to Santa again, even alone. When I walked by the flowers, I thought I should get some for Susie, and then smiled as I tried to imagine which bunch Susie would pick; it was always the brightest and freshest colors when I would wheel her here in her last year. I would have to do the lifts and was trained to do that.

Shopping in Williams Sonoma (yes, I have an account there, I told the cashier), I resisted anything but gifts. In Made in Oregon, Deborah replied quickly with some sizing information. I am not really alone when I have my phone! It was great to do some shopping and walk. I did pass by The Cheesecake Factory, but I was tempted by a coffee drink and a dessert.

Instead, continuing my shopping, I took some messy highways (216-26) to Golden Valley Brewery (GVB) and sat at the bar. My bartender got me four gift cards and a Spanish Coffee. I remember back to the years when another place was open on Christmas, and the Dungeons & Dragons folks joined Susie and me for a Spanish Coffee and chips. It was a good holiday! It is the nature of holidays that they are full of memories. No tears for that, and I had a dessert too.

The EV got me home, and I fell asleep in the chair while watching a YouTube video about the last pre-dreadnought battleship in Japan (and, by strange accident of history, the only preserved British-built battleship). I woke, and Deborah and I were going to watch the current episode of Matlock, but I nodded off waiting. She had some work items surface. We connected and watched the show together, and then, it being late for Deborah, we said our good nights. It was wonderful to start and end our days together.

I made bread in the bread machine. I will get out the bread, slice it, and store it in the freezer on Thursday morning. I do not eat bread faster than mold appears!

Dinner was leftover Chicken, potato salad, and coleslaw.

I did the dishes, assembled the coffee, and saw it was getting late. I remembered to put out the trash.

I still sat down at the table, put on my eyeware (3x bifocals), and started on the Colonel Sherman T. Potter 28mm figure for some touch-ups. I had trouble with my eyewear, and repainted some of the figure when I realized the lack of 3D vision (one eye fogged) did not improve my painting (oops). But once I changed eyewear, I was able to correct the mistakes, and I think it is close. I will check again once all the paint is dry. I think a minor touch-up is needed. I have four more M.A.S.H. figures to go. There is also a Quansit hut and a helicopter to build to match. I enjoy painting figures.

I read The Chinese Maze Murders, which appeared in my books I purchased and had shipped from Boston. I have read the series before, but I could not resist getting one again for $6, less than a cup of good coffee. I enjoyed the crazy story, now set in the Ming rather than the Tang of the original. The cases to be solved were gleaned from historical Chinese imperial records and then rewritten into a story by a Dutch diplomat.