Author: alohawild

Today, I started waking before my alarm, but I managed to fall back to sleep a few times. How my kidneys reloaded me for a second round in less than an hour is a mystery, but I finally got one more hour of sleep. I rose, found my slippers and robe, and went to the kitchen with no adventures on the way and made coffee, liberal, with the French Press and a NYC bagel with cream cheese. I took these to the office and read emails, Slack updates, and some news.

I cleaned up, dressed, boarded Air Volvo, and traveled to the Swift building at Nike WHQ in light traffic. I then proceeded with the usual status meetings for hours. I also approved various items to move to production and into quality assurance systems. I spent the morning reading emails, checking updates on Slack, and following along.

I decided I was out of sorts and left for lunch alone at the Cedar Hills McMenamins. I tried their dreaded Aztec salad again, which later gave me the same problems with my colon as last time. I hoped this had gone away as I had no reaction to some smaller bits of lettuce. No, it’s still an issue.

I decided to get a new iPhone as I noticed that my Nike Phone is covering lots of my personal business. It is not OK. I had at least used my own email (alohawild@mac.com) for personal items that require an email. So I decided to get a new phone.

I returned to change control and approved more items. We had a party at 3PM. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) folks are here to learn more about our solution going live soon for the USA, which is already in place for Greater China. There was a meet and greet with finger food (lots) and beer and wine. I had a pinot in a plastic cup. I resisted the food. I chatted with co-workers and said hello to many EMEA folks I have known for years.

I stepped out of the meet and greet to do the status meeting at 4PM. These were the usual items, and I am happy that we are not falling behind and that the breaks have been easily fixed so far. By 4:30, I was done and headed out.

The traffic was light, and soon I was home. Corwin and I headed out to the Verison store, and I bought a new phone for my private use. The sales guy, Joel, picked out a phone, case, and plan for me. I told him to give me what he would do for himself. He also copied my old phone data to my new phone, so I still have my contacts and music. Joel was able to get it all to work. Later, I got paperless billing to save $10 a month.

Corwin and I tried an older food joint, and the food was less than mediocre. As is my policy, I will not name the place, but it is an old family place–average food in the PNW for full prices is a crime. I will not be back.

I returned home and started on the blog. I am cold and began to write. Thanks for reading.

I rose at 4AM to prove I was hydrated, which is a diabetic thing. I rose at 4:20AM to get painkillers as my feet and legs hurt; I walked a lot this weekend, and now it was hurting. At 4:45AM, I got up and took my inhaler as I was having an asthma attack. At 5AM, I just said, f**k this, and started my day. I found my slippers (I had put them on every time) and my robe (ditto) and caught up on my email and news for the morning. I read the Slack updates on the project status. I read lots of FaceBook posts for fun; I have plenty of time.

I located a bagel-like product, I did not notice it was not one of the NYC bagels in the freezer, but it was still welcome. I toasted it and covered it with cream cheese and a few capers. It was a locally produced everything, bagel-like product, and I enjoyed it–even with a load of carbohydrates. I made liberal Fair Trade coffee in the French Press. I had a cup and finished the delicious bagel-like bread–it has been months since I risked the carbo-load.

Next, I cleaned up and dressed. One of my colleagues wanted to read one of my stories, a Howard story, and see my published story in 2600, so I printed a copy and found my copy in the magazine. I added that to my laptop, badge, and other required items to work from the office. I boarded an Air Volvo, which the rain and snow had mainly cleaned. I will someday get back to the car wash; it was backed up last weekend until there was a line in the street. Nope!

I got the stories to him, and he said he would have a look.

I was still early; there was no traffic, and the desk team was not in yet. My badge does open the door before the desk opens. I found my usual spot and then started to read more notes and items and follow along. We had the defect meeting, and I learned that our team had three defects for the project, one critical. Yikes, I am fully awake now. The release manager for our team and I said we were working to get the fixes moving. We did, and the fixes were in progress, and some were in place by the afternoon.

I approved fixes at the change control meetings and continued on until lunch. I headed to the cafe. I did not get past the pop-up food. I purchased Chinese-style beef, just a scoop, rice (also just a scoop), and steamed veggies. It was good and did not blow my calorie load, as the portions were small. Europe folks are visiting, and I missed having lunch with friends from Europe as I was done when they showed. Brad, my boss (today), discovered that the other pop-up station was doing curry–next time!

I returned to the office. I got a call from the church and decided to head home. Air Volvo had me home without incident and before school let out. I then emailed photos of Susie and her obituary to the church office–the information resides on my Apple computer. I spoke to the gal in charge of hospitality and will meet with her and the church folks on Sunday to review the event. I talked to Dan and the office to complete the bulletin for Susie’s Concert. Sound and video will be used for part of the service, which was discussed. I spent about an hour on arrangements and then called Susie’s sister, Barb, about the decisions so she could align the Michigan service. Rev. Anne thought I should change one thing, and now Pastor Steve will do the last part of the service without Rev. Anne. It seemed smoother to Anne, and I agree.

After that, I had a couple hours of Zoom meetings, including an architectural alignment discussion. I am sorry, but the details cannot be shared here. We had more emergency fixes, and I approved more production or QA changes. I was busy until after 5PM. Corwin sliced onions, potatoes, and carrots for me (all from Vancouver’s Farmer’s Market). After my last meeting, I defrosted stew beef, about two pounds, then browned the meat and added garlic, onions, and spices to make Hungarian goulash. I like to make it with veggies instead of putting it on noodles.

That takes about two hours. I watched another Avengers 1967 episode while cooking. I like the color episodes (there is only one season). I like the acting and the outrageous cold war stories.

The food had to be cooked on the stove for a while, so it was a late dinner. The food was terrific, with the potatoes picking up some of the seasoning. It still has a carbohydrate load, but it has excellent flavor. I might have had more than one bowl.

Corwin will have some when he is back from weightlifting. We are waiting for his glasses to show to get him back to the DMV and get his licenses. We both look forward to Corwin delivering food and starting to make some decent money. He agrees that he should get a chauffeur license in the future, save his money for a good car, and start doing Uber taxi-like driving, too. Maybe some real chauffeuring. Hopeful!

I travel to NYC in mid-March, and the following weekend is Susie’s Concert on 23 March, at 4PM, at First United Methodist Church, Beaverton, with John Nilsen. Come if you can, everyone is invited to a great concert. In Michigan, on 18 May, we will repeat this for East-based folks at 18 May, at 2PM at Grace United Methodist Church, Lansing. Everyone, especially ice skaters, is invited. It will be grand.

Thanks for reading. Tell your friends, or better yet, bring them to Susie’s Concert.

 

 

Monday started with waking before my alarm and rising just before 6:30AM. It is a return-to-the-office day after the shock and awe of the layoffs. It was strange not to see some people to whom I have been saying good morning for years.

Returning to the start of the day, I made coffee after rising and finding my slippers and robe. I found the last nectarine to go with it. I took my piece of fruit and coffee to the in-home office and read emails, Slack messages, and the news online to prepare for my day. I cleaned up and dressed. I remembered to rub Utterly Smooth 20% Urea (cow pee) into my feet and hands. This is recommended to delay/stop nerve issues from chemotherapy. It seems to work. My hands and feet, while a bit strange feeling–like in a glove, they work.

I arrive early, and one chair is empty, and I miss our friend. The whole day, I discussed what could be described as survivor guilt with directors and single contributors. Yikes, we all agree it was a brutal layoff and illogical. Everyone is trying to find meaning.

A plan for restructuring our group into a flatter organization using the older Nike idea of a house with pillars was shared with me. The house is a general capability; under that are pillars that deliver the capability. We will be rearranged into three pillars, but my boss, Brad, said I am effectively untethered. I will have to wait to learn my new duties and what pillar I am assigned to. I was not expecting to be so affected by this; I am a nervous wreck. I thought I had perfected my cynical view of corporate America, but I seem to care still. Scary. I must wait until Thursday or later to learn about my assignment and portfolio.

I did my status meetings, and the project is back on track and running testing despite the chaos. We have two status meetings again every day. The defect meeting was canceled as we have not yet begun to open defects. I did attend my change control meetings and approved changes to be applied to production.

The weather was chaotic, matching my mood, with rain and snow randomly switching back and forth. I was surprised to clean snow off the windshield of Air Volvo this morning! I watched the snow rain and back while listening to meetings and looking out the window. I usually sit in the same place.

At work, my greeting was, “Nice to see you,” and a handshake. Everyone smiled and was glad to be there. We would often steal a glance at where a chair was still empty when saying that. Nods would agree that it was sad.

I had lunch with Mihir and Jatin from the master data governance engineering team at the Nike cafe, my current team. There is a pop-option at the cafe, and I always pick it. The food was always good, not usually over-salted or huge calorie loads, and right there at the start. You also pay there and avoid the cashier line. Today, it was a fried shrimp po’boy–a sandwich. I was going to eat only the shrimp, but I was hungry and ate the bun and veggies. It also came with homemade potato chips. Oh my!

After returning, I decided I was cold and could finish from home. So I traveled home and was soon at the house. I had helped pay for Corwin’s new glasses, $650, to help him get his driver’s license by passing the eye test. The cash app was not allowing me to send large amounts to Corwin. We are still trying to figure that out. We did get it to take $201.

My new book on the SMS Derfflinger arrived today. I learned only a few days ago that 3D color reconstruction drawings were published. This long-gone warship, salvaged and then scrapped in 1946, was the greatest of the class of ships known as battlecruisers built in the early 1900s and served in WW1. This ship survived a smashing at Jutland 1916, the greatest battleship conflict in history, but was remembered as the Iron Dog after surviving. I was happy that it is still being remembered with a recent publication. The book is dedicated to Gary Staff, one of the best historians of WWI who wrote from the German Naval view, and his text describes the ship in the book (sadly, I learned that Mr. Staff passed away in 2015). The SMS Derfflinger was destroyed when it was scuttled by its own crew in 1918. The bells still survive.

I read my new book and the amazing color reconstructions while under a blanket. I could not get warm today. When I am stressed, I freeze, a gift from chemo. I finally checked in on work; nobody needed me after I was no longer shaking from the cold.

I made tacos for dinner. I add a can of chopped, seasoned tomatoes to my ground beef and taco spices (from a seasoning back–low salt). I heated the shells, which I like crunchy, and filled them with spicy meat and tomato mix, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream. Old comfort food, but good.

I then worked on this blog. I am freezing again with my sweater and electric throw helping.

I am stressed by the changes at work, Susie’s memorial is approaching, and I have surgery in May. Don’t know why I am stressed (wink).

Thanks for reading.

 

 

I woke just before the 7AM alarm. I cleaned up and dressed. I packed an overnight bag with my meds just in case something happens, and I can’t get back home today–flat tires, an unplanned connection with an elk, and other unfortunate events. I set the Nav on Air Volvo to Depoe Bay and headed west. I drive to Forest Grove to take Highway 47 and then  99W to Salem River Highway to reach The Coast. It is slightly overcast, and the sun rises in the East, so I have a leisurely drive without sunglasses.

As I approach The Coast, it gets damp, and the salty rain hits the windshield with the wipers running full out (set to automatic). The traffic is light, and I must be careful not to attract unwelcome local police by driving too fast. I am often ten-over and arrive at The D River State Park Beach at 9:45AM, forty-five minutes sooner than projected.

I am meeting Kathleen for lunch, but I send a text that I can entertain myself until noon. The D River Beach has a restroom and an incredible beach. Various car gypsies use the park on their travels as it is lovely and has facilities. A proletariat, not a rich man’s park. I walk on the beach, but my head gets wet. I left my hat at the house. It is about 47F (8.3C) with a strong wind, and when walking into the wind, you are pelted in the face with cold, salty mist.

There, on the beach park, I met a lovely young gal ranger in her make-up and nose ring. She loved my look. I wore a dress shirt with a pride tie under a blue sweater. I thanked her for her work; she was stocking the restrooms. A necessary but not glamorous job.

The kite store was open across from the beach, so I skipped over Highway 101 in Air Volvo. I bought a kite in the shape of a shark, nylon to survive the wet and salt, and inexpensive. I was tempted by a pirate sailing ship, but it required assembly, and I wondered how well it flew. So I went with simple, and I had a shark kite before. I also spotted an elegant red, white, and blue banner I bought. I had to ring the bell three times to get the shopkeeper to appear. She showed with a green pepper and a knife in her hands. I suggested she could finish what she started, but she put down the vegetable and knife and sold me the stuff. She thanked me for the business–I suspect her Sundays are not busy.

With the kite, I headed south. I stopped at Boiler Bay State Park (also with a bathroom), assembled the kite, and flew it. The wind was light. The park is a peninsula out into the Pacific surrounded by rocks. The ocean waves break and throw up a huge spray. I got the kite flying, which stayed in the sky for a while, but the air swirled, and the kite fell out of the sky. Wow. I relaunched it, and I have to fly it with great attention. I managed to take a picture and keep the kite flying. It was excellent fun. I laughed as it nearly crashed and finally spun into the ground again. I pack up the kite, undamaged, and head further south.

Later, add: The kite would sing for Kathleen. The kite string would sound music from the wind and the tension.

Kathleen will be delayed, so I have more time at Depoe Bay. I arrive there and park on the street, making a U-turn on 101 as it is still light morning traffic to get to a parking place. There are no whales today, but the sea levels are high enough to throw water into the sky and onto parked cars and viewers a bit too close. I watched the sea for a while and then went shopping. I found a few nice things I could not resist, including a hot sauce in a hand grenade-shaped bottle that I bought for Corwin–he loves it.

I walked my purchases to the cargo hold and got soaked by the spray.

Our meeting plans broke as the place was closed for renovations (?!). Instead, we meet at the Sea Hag on 101. It was a bit of a local dive/tourist trap, but the food was good, and the waiter was friendly but forgetful. He delivered the wrong food and then reversed the orders. I had the fried local oysters, and Kathleen had pasta with crab. I had fries and four small oysters, but they were perfect. We talked about work and Kathleen’s trials for rooms and cars.

I suggested we fly a kite, and Kathleen got in Air Volvo First Class, and we headed north to Boiler Bay. The winds and the rain were more now, and Kathleen could get the kite to the end of its string with only a few close calls. The shark’s kite tail seemed to swim in the sky, and a few birds looked like they were being chased by our sky shark.

Kathleen and I returned to Depoe Bay, and I dropped her off at her car. I turned Air Volvo around and set Nav for home. I stopped at the same D River State Paek Beach to use the facilities. I also called Leta, Susie’s mom, and Barb, my mom, from the pilot seat to tell them I was at the ocean thinking of them. They were both happy about the call.

I headed home and, in a few hours, was crossing Cooper’s Mountain to return home. I unloaded my goodies and soon worked with Corwin to make jambalaya for dinner. We ate it while watching the new Last Air Bender series, a marvelous version of the cartoon and comic book.

I am tired and thought it best to write the blog before I fall asleep.

And that takes us to now. Thanks for reading!

I rose after 7AM with no reason to hurry–the blog was done late last night. My night seemed dreamless as I did not regret waking. It was likely I dreamed but could not remember them, and so I welcomed Saturday morning. The forecast was wrong, and we had a lovely sunny day, but with a clear sky, it was cold, and I needed a coat to be comfortable. I was lazy and watched some videos and made liberal coffee. We were out of bananas, so I made two poached eggs on toast for a quick breakfast. Soon, the morning was leaving, and I had to be in Vancouver at 10AM. I cleaned up and dressed.

I boarded Air Volvo and headed north to Washington state. I had to cross Portland to get there, and the traffic was light and pleasant; I love flying in Air Volvo. I reached Vancouver without issue and soon was wandering around in circles. There are one-way streets, and the plan is hard to guess; I am early and remember parking was crazy. I head to a large parking lot, and you scan a code and pay a donation to the Farmer’s Market, which I was happy to do. The market was setting up, so I planned to return and shop.

I walked to the streets and finally spotted the tiny sign after walking around it a few times. I recognized the items on the walls and the games I had, and the folks were happy when I identified myself. They had my stuff ready. I told one, Jeff, how cool it must be to work in a gaming company. He did not react, as I suspect he gets that often. They took a picture of me with my stuff, and I left. I walked to the park and took a selfie with the loot.

I put the game parts in the cargo hold and walked to the now-running market. I walked the whole length and looked at all the goodies, farm fresh old by the farmers, and homemade items. I then bought veggies, frozen sausage, and multi-colored eggs instead of the white bleached-like eggs. I carried two loads to the cargo hold.

I then re-crossed Portland and returned to Beaverton. I picked up my suits from the dry cleaners–removing the absinthe spills from New Orleans. The family that runs the dry cleaners was outside enjoying the day. They were full of smiles, got my suits, and wished me a good day and to enjoy the sun. A little sun is like a happy drug for Oregonians, especially imports like me. I think we are drunk on vitamin D.

I next returned to the Volvo Cave and unloaded. My colon decided to play games, too. I did the cork and champagne (it sounds so much better than the experience) thing. Now emptied (ugh!), I headed out to get some gas and maybe get Air Volvo washed. The crows have returned to the Pollock-style painting on Air Volvo.

I was able to get gas, but the line of cars for the car wash was backed up into the street. Nope. I returned, picked up the rest of the board game Unsettled (the game I picked up the extensions for in Vancouver), and then wrapped Z’s birthday presents–she is 13, a teenager now. I had many amuse-bouche candy items and crafting items. I was going to assemble something for a game she has, but I thought it best to let Z do it. I printed a large letter Z. I used spray-on glue, one of my tricks, to mount the letter.

Next, I headed out to The 649. Stephen was the bartender today. Evan was there, and we started a tab; I got a beer and played two games of Unsettled with Evan. The time flew by as the game is immersive. In the last turn of the first game, I managed to keep my character conscious and dragged Evan’s character, unconscious, onto our spaceship, which took off in our repaired and powered engines. I find the game very intense and fun.

Unsettled, designed here in the Pacific Northwest, is a cooperative SciFi board game with the simple goal of completing the tasks needed to escape the risk without all of the characters going unconscious–dying. Or, as the designers say, “Space is dangerous; try not to die.” The game is an innovation as it is a framework in which a planet is inserted. There are many planets (I have them all but have not counted them lately), and the planets contain the detailed story and script of the game to plug into this framework. Three or more scripts are inside each planet to allow you to play the setting multiple times with a fresh story. Evan and I played two planets and survived both. We played the more challenging B story on the accessible starter planet and the easier A story on a more difficult planet. Evan thought the A story was too easy (I picked up a revision to that story that did make it easier), but I think we had too much good luck, and next time, it might be more challenging. We enjoyed the two games, about ninety minutes each, with the time hardly noticeable.

Evan got tacos, and I got the charcuterie board and shared it. We explained the game to quite a few onlookers. It is colorful. We said good night, and Evan is going to Canada next weekend, so no game next week. Air Volvo took me to Dondrea’s house.

I brought my gift and had cake after helping to sing Happy Birthday to Z. Z liked the mix of items I gave her–an unusually creative gift. Dondrea’s cake and cookies were insanely nice. After an hour or so, I headed home; I planned to travel to the coast in the morning to see the whales and later to have lunch with a friend, but I could not stay up late.

Air Volvo crossed Beaverton, and soon I was home. I started to finish my writing before it got late.

Thanks for reading!