I rose slowly on Monday, as Monday is my weekend day. I seldom have plans for Monday, so I do laundry, take it slow, and enjoy the quiet as the world returns to work. I often imagine Saturday mornings in my youth: watching cartoons all morning, then switching to PBS for Doctor Who with Tom Baker as the 4th Doctor on Saturday afternoon. Not a lot got done on those Saturdays.
Now, I write the blog with reheated coffee and peanut-butter toast this weekend-like Monday. I strip the bed and run that through the Costco-purchased laundry. Somehow, I missed a spin cycle on my second load, underwear and clothing, and I manually ran the rinse-spin but removed the rinse. That solved the soaking-wet laundry issue, and the problem hasn’t returned. I must have bumped the controls and removed the spin. I check the setting each load.
Monday is dinner at lunch day. Not knowing I would join Mariah and Corwin for dinner later in Portland, I made a pork chop, hash browns, and green beans on the stovetop. When done, it looks like a short-order cook exploded in the kitchen. Somehow, four pans are dirty; I add multiple plates, knives, and silverware to the dishwasher or hand-wash them. I am happy, since everything was from my food stock. No additional cost!
I watched season 5 of For All Mankind and forgot the date the Soviet Union collapsed in civil war. The story still captures my imagination, and I enjoy it. I also broke the 200-page count in The Demon of Unrest about the beginnings of the American Civil War. The author, Erik Larson, tries to answer what drove Americans to civil war. His answer is that the South could not cotton to (yes, I could not resist that) being cast as the villain, and the North would not allow the expansion of an obviously evil and corrupt practice.
I got out my luggage and placed the first items there, Deborah’s birthday gifts. I am going to try out a backpack on this trip instead of the red bag. It would fit better in Brazil in November. I will check REI and AAA to find a good match for my needs.
I work on some year-end items. I sent a note to my bankers to give a substantial gift to my church. This one is done before taxes. And while paying taxes uses less cash than giving away a matching amount, it is more rewarding. I would also like to spend my money while I am well. I also sent out a note to the Brazil team suggesting that the Yellow Fever vaccine is a good idea in the current chaotic environment of instant policy changes.
I am working through an internal list of church items, but I am starting to think I need to make it more formal. Many things are not getting done and turn into emergencies or are delayed. There is also some free or cheap status and ticket management software I could use. More to come.
Mariah, Corwin, and I have dinner in Portland at a Toma Ramen after a short drive in the Air VW the Gray to Portland. The food is good, but the bill is Portland, $100+ for three. Mariah and I sent back our hot drinks when they were filled with insects, which is not part of the usual drink. They were replaced with excellent substitutes.
We chatted for a while, complained that it was cold (61°F), and headed lower in the evening. It was dark too. Fall nights are here. My heavy coat is in the EV’s cargo hold. The drive back was fine, though the food and drinks made me relaxed. Meaning I was likely driving more like a local, slowly. Corwin and I returned to the house without incident or an expensive selfie for the local courts.
I also had some text from Richard. We are not playing ISS Vanguard because James is out. I suggested some of the heavier board games. There will be three of us once we add Robin, our newest Tuesday-morning gamer.
I finished the laundry but did not fold it or put it away. Much of it will be headed to my luggage and not a closet or drawer. I soon was in bed and reading. I slept most of the night with one proof of hydration.
Thanks for reading about my quiet Saturday-like Monday.
