I could not sleep and finally rose early at 5:45; I could not return to sleep and found my way to the kitchen, which seemed farther away and too dark. I made coffee, fried two eggs, and added some dry toast (getting the bread from the freezer). I had plenty of time, but no banana or cereal left. I decided to make some eggs. I did add a small cup of jarred peaches to go with it.
With breakfast inside me, I wrote the blog and did the usual steps: mostly deleting the 100 or so emails that had accumulated. I retained the NY Times summary and the Semaphore email, then read them. I updated Quicken to consolidate expense transactions in one place and categorize them, mostly to ensure my money is going where I intend it to go. It is a discipline that keeps me safe.
Later, I would be in a line at US Bank and would transfer money from my IRA to pay all my bills. I want the AMEX near zero when I travel to Brazil. I am living now off of Social Security and my IRA earnings. So far, my insurance costs, mortgage, and car payment are all covered by these, plus all my travel, without going into the principal of my IRA. I do have a larger tax bill this year than I expected, but I am learning how all this works.
I write and manage to finish my blog before 10. I started the laundry; I even washed my coat on Monday. It was over five loads, smaller loads, but it still would not be finished until later (and actually my coat was not dry, and I had to start the dryer again for it).
I dressed and headed to the nearby Walgreens; it was still morning, and I discovered that my prescriptions (I took the last pill for two prescriptions this Monday morning) still had not been filled. It had been more than a week. This explains why I did not get multiple texts and calls to come and get my pills. I brought my Kindle in my pocket and read more of A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny. Thirty minutes later, I had my pills. I also bought shaving supplies and a small box of crackers for the trip, buy-one-and-get-one-free.
I was surprised by the wait at Walgreens, but I know all the RiteAides are gone, and many mail-in pharmacies are no longer covered by insurance. Today in Beaverton, Oregon, it may take days to fill a prescription. The results of unregulated health insurance practices (making it impossible to clear enough money on prescriptions without massive infrastructure) and corporate greed. Pharmacies are staffed not to serve their communities, but to maximize profit by reducing cost and service.
I waited next at Great Clips and was slightly clipped when the clippers hit my neck. Another apology, but I still tipped well, and I looked good. This was followed by US Bank, and I waited in another line. There, the teller and I worked out the acquisition of about $200 USD worth of Brazilian real (BRL), which I can pick up on Thursday. I signed the form and will be back. I later saw that the cash has already been withdrawn to cover the conversion, and the fee should be refunded, since I use US Bank Wealth Management and everything is free for me.
Brix is a newish restaurant at Reed Crossing in their strip mall. I sat at the bar and was surprised it wasn’t empty on a wet Monday. The steak and avocado heart salad was recommended, which was sort of Caesar-style. I loved it. The steak was marinated and had great flavor. It was a piece of sirloin, sliced, and I used their steak knife to cut it even smaller.
Christine, the bartender, served me an excellent red ale, and I read my book on my Kindle and ate. I ordered a coffee after, and then their excellent vanilla cheesecake, which you might think would be too plain, but it was light, creamy, and delicious. It was an excellent lunch and not overly expensive.
I returned home and found that the gum tree, just one, seemed to have exploded and bombed my house and gutters with its large, waxy leaves. But they are bright red and yellow. I picked up a few and let them dry in the house. Makes you want to get out the wax paper, bits of crayon, and an iron and be a kid again to create a collage for Thanksgiving and worthy of any refrigerator.
I nodded off in the comfy chair a few times and watched more Black Doves, season 2. The second season was less story and more gunfights at first, but then it started to tell the backstories of many of the characters. Funny to see the 1980s as the past and the days of Berlin. I am more used to the 1960s being the past.
Pablo, my neighbor, had his leaf blower out and cleared my driveway and walkway of leaves. He did the same for Chris next door. I thanked him.
I talked to Deborah here and there, but she was busy with chores and work too. I defrosted a pork chop; I am still working through my last trip to Costco from more than a month ago. I found egg noodles and boiled them while I tried to cook the pork chop in butter in a small non-stick frying pan with a lid. I measured the internal temperature to make sure it was done. I sprinkled some Moroccan-style spices to add more flavor. The noodles were tossed with butter and some sea salt. I had a little bowl of jarred peaches too.
The pork chop stayed juicy this time. I ate that while I watched the show and read my book. It was not late when that was done, and I set up the solo board game Plague of Dracula and played it with a few breaks for eating, watching Black Doves, and reading.
It was after 11 when I reached the final battle with Dracula and had only had Lucy turned and then staked. I had three hunters with stakes, and all with excellent weapons. I beat Dracula and had stakes left, and that ended the game with a win, my first with me getting all the rules right (I think).
I went to bed after that, made the bed, and put away some items. My lighter coat was still wet, and I let it spin in the dryer (it would still be damp on Tuesday morning, and I dried it again).
I was soon asleep. Thanks for reading!
