I will be rushing this writing today, as I am time-boxed to meet Barb, Susie’s sister, today in Portland.
I spent Friday not doing laundry and not cleaning the house. Instead, I got up and spent the morning writing the blog and three long emails to folks on the Brazil trip about currency and power adapters. The whole morning was over before I was ready for it to be.
I took all my power adapters, and only one was an N-type for Brazil. My Apple kits didn’t include this type, but it said a European one should work. Hmmm. I went on Amazon, found just the plug adapter for $7, and ordered two. It will easily fit in my PlugBug box.
Between the emails, blog, and my usual tasks, I spent the morning and didn’t get dressed until the afternoon. I ate a leftover Jersey Mike’s sub while doing all these tasks. Another quarter consumed. Again, time was gone.
I looked out my window while I did endless electronic paperwork, but the pheasant did not reappear. Through the day, I did hear the call of committees of geese (I have decided that they are more committee-like than a gaggle). I even dreamed of them as dream committees were heard in my dreams last night. The squirrels are busy searching the backyard for food, and I see them now consuming my apple tree’s windfall. A huge crow was alone in the backyard for a while. The local winter-staying hummingbirds are still whipping around the pine trees.
Our host in Brazil, Gordon G, sent us a note that we can buy some food in Panama, and that it would be best to have a few lower-denomination US bills for this part of the trip unless he said we wanted a lot of Panamanian currency. He also said that, for now, the USD is up about 10% in Brazil. Something we will hopefully enjoy (unless politics or events send the USD tumbling).
I met Joan S around 3ish for appetizers and drinks (water and Diet Coke for me), and we talked for hours. It was fun just to hang out for a while and take a break. We are both retired and yet insanely busy. She had the avocado egg rolls (I had two, so good) and, for me, flatbread with chicken, bacon, and avocado.
Back at the house, I did the dishes, reheated some coffee, and then settled in my chair. I binged-watched the other half of season one of Black Doves, a totally fun and wacky BBC spy story. Recommended. Season 2 was just released. I did not start it, but I finished season one.
It has the same appeal as John Wick: a criminal secret organization with rules and processes that are often calming, explained by their manager, Reed, and played with a force you can almost feel by Sarah-Jane Lancashire. The action scenes are shootouts and fight scenes that, while not as elaborate as in John Wick, are still fantastic.
I also got WhatsApp working with Dondrea, and we set up a shared group for all of us headed to Brazil and Gordon. I tried to get Venmo working, but my existing account has an old phone number and won’t unlock for me without that phone. I may have to create a new account with my alternative email. Hmmm.
I read after that and soon was asleep. Not an exciting day, but with 13 days left before Brazil, it might be good to have a few simple days.
Thanks for reading!
