Author: alohawild

My sore tummy continued to make the day difficult. At the start of the morning, it was mostly faded by sleep and some painkillers, but eating made it worse and worse. By the evening, the bloating and discomfort were quite distracting, and I just read and did small chores. I tried the pink stuff, and that did not help, but the antacids, chewables, did seem to work.   I woke on Friday, the day I am writing this, and at first there was no sign of it, but the pain returned, and I had another antacid chewable.

I woke from forgotten dreams, tired and found my tummy hurt less, and that was a blessing, at first. I also got a text that Scott W was under the weather, so we would not meet for our usual weekly meeting. I texted Brad to let him know we were off. He joined us once and may continue to meet with us.

The discomfort soon reached a familiar level, and I wrote the blog with this slight distraction. It was not long, one of the few times under 500 words, but it was a day of mostly reading and trying to get better by not eating anything that would make it worse, but, alas, it seems anything makes it worse.

With the blog published and me running late, I slept in and then did not do very much of anything but surf the web and read depressing news reports. No coffee, as that and alcohol were not good for a sore tummy. Friends suggested that this might be the flu, but I do not have any respiratory issues. More like food poisoning or an allergy issue. I vote for the side effects of pills and creams used to fight my skin rash. Two of the creams have a long list of side effects, including flu-like symptoms.

On the skin rash side, things are finally improving. I spoke with the Dermatologist’s office and need to return for a test that was missed during my Monday visit. They briefed me again on how to use the meds, and the compounding pharmacy sent me a full tube of the same stuff I was using from samples ($35, as insurance refused to cover it). Sadly, I have lots of refills, suggesting this improvement will take some time to completely remove the rash. Also, the preferred treatment is injections (DIY infections), but that requires the aforementioned missed test.

On the lab results, my cholesterol is low (all types), which is vastly better than high. The rest were good or good enough. My doc sent me an OK after reviewing them, as did the Dermatologist.

I am feeling guilty that I am not getting more done. I took a shower late and then applied all the creams in the proper ritual. I should sing a chant while doing this. Corwin stopped by, found my unfinished bagel with cream cheese and salmon, and, when I was dressed, suggested he try a croissant too. We settled up for the cleaning he did last week. He both headed out as I was off to get some soup for lunch and do something.

Elephants Delicatessen was my stop, having decided on their “The Cure soup,” a version of chicken soup. It came with a piece of bread, and it was an excellent late lunch. I read the newest Analog SciFi Magazine introduction. I learned that Analog and some related zines were now under a startup company, but unlike CBS or the late and mostly zombie Washington Post, the editorial staff was retained, and the format will remain. The editor who wrote the piece did say there will be change, but most of these will be gradual and improve the reader’s experience.

I am letting my subscription lapse, not because of the changes, but because I cannot find the focus and time to read Analog. But it is excellent, inexpensive, and I recommend it. It is also small and great for travel. I was happy to at least read something from the newest issue.

With soup in me, and my tummy not happy about even chicken soup, I head to the comic book store. I review what is on the ‘back wall’ of the recent issues. I do not know the economics of these sales, but I suspect that unsold comics are destroyed and not paid for. I cannot imagine they are returned. I picked out three: Our Billiant Ruin: Horror at Crane Mansion (number 1), The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft (number 3), Disney Villains: Maleficent (number 5). Published by Dark Horse Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite, respectively. I talked to the staff for a bit and learned that Boom! and Dynamite were small publishers.

I read them later. The Disney one was interesting as it involves the villain against other creatures (a new story). The Lovecraft one art was a melted, horror-filled dream world. It seems more a pastiche than a comic, with a long text spread over two pages (an invented text, I think, as it does not have endless sentences). The story seems to be that there are two Lovecrafts: the man who dies after a failed, mostly uninteresting life, and the author and his material that will live on, spawning more and more writing. Ruin reminds me of some Doctor Who comics and, while interesting, won’t have me waiting for the next issue.

I returned home, and my tummy was unhappy. Sleepy time tea helped. I drove to Walgreens and got a bottle of the pink stuff and chewable antacids. Dinner was eight crackers. I read more Hornblower. Painkillers and antacids helped the most, and I was finally able to sleep around midnight. I read when I could not sleep.

Looking out my window, the trees still have bare limbs, but the robins and tiny birds fill my backyard. The small birds fly just over the robins, who ignore them as if they cannot even acknowledge such a rude display. I saw a huge white heron fly by (likely headed to a watered area to collect its fill of frogs). So far, no eagles or hawks have appeared for me; I heard many last year. I miss my jays and ducks, but changes in temperature have driven them to higher elevations and farther north. Our hummingbirds are still around, and I see them usually every day. The roses are cut back, and so they have less to search for the little bugs they enjoy. I do not spray the roses because the hummingbirds enjoy the insects, and I usually have strong, plentiful canes. I would rather feed the locals than have a perfect bloom.

I dream that I am traveling and I have trouble getting my luggage off trains and making my connections. I finally make a connection. Next, I am at a catered party with many work friends for a conference, and I keep spilling my food and making a mess. I just cannot get it together. I wake and manage to fall asleep. I rise after the sunrise.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

This will be a short blog as I was not feeling that well yesterday and spent most of the day reading in bed. It seems to be side effects from the anti-rash creams and meds. My tummy is sore, and I finally switched to liquids. Not much happened on Wednesday.

I rose after 7, and it was already bright out. The rains have stopped, and the big puddle in the back corner started to drain away. My tummy hurt, but I had no coffee or breakfast as I had a fasting blood test. I did drink some water, and it didn’t go well. I was uncomfortable.

I wrote the blog; it was hard going with the tummy issues and no coffee. I managed to finish by 10ish. I then showered and applied all the creams following directions with care. I then took my book, Captain Hornblower (a combination of three books written in the late 1930s), with me to the lab near my usual doc. I waited there for about an hour. Drop-ins get served last. I finally got my turn, and soon that was done.

La Provence is in the same area, and I went there for brunch and had coffee, water, and potato pancakes with poached eggs and bacon. This comes with an excellent croissant. It was a delicious meal after twelve hours without food, and my bartender, a young woman with braces and tattoos, helped me pick it out.

I read more in my book and could hear the water and smell the cannon fire, but I was surprised to see the N-word used by a side character, and my hero ignored it. It saddened me. I kept reading, and that did not happen again. The author was using it as an example of slang speech. My tummy was unhappy with me.

I went home and spent most of the afternoon reading in bed and suffering from tummy issues. Mariah sent a note to meet me at BJs, and I agreed. I took Air VW the Gray and was soon at a table drinking ginger ale with my usual waiter, Eric, whom I missed the last few times. Mariah joined, and we chatted while she had ribs and I had soup. I was distracted by tummy issues and she by work issues, but still it was a nice time.

I returned home and read more. I did the dishes and then read in bed for the rest of the night. I finally got sleepy around midnight as I finished the first of the three novels in the one book, Beat to Quarters. I took some painkillers as my legs and joints hurt and that helped and soon I was sleeping.

Thanks for reading.

I ignored my 6:30 alarm and instead rose at 7. I was just ready to start. I found the pre-ground coffee that has just about two loads left and used it. Coffee was soon ready, and I added salmon to my bagel with cream cheese and a banana. Instead of starting the blog, I had a game at Richard’s house at 9:30, I paid bills, and did my usual task of reading (mostly deleting) email, checking my balances, and updating Quicken to keep a clear overview of my expenses, earnings, and assets (liquid and illiquid). My Social Security application (I will soon be 62) is already past its 30-day estimated approval time in Kansas City; there is nothing complex in my employment history, so let’s hope that the government can still handle Social Security processes.

Yesterday was the State of the Union Speech, and I managed to watch a few minutes. The rambling, confused words, full of lies and attacks, had me turn it off and read a book. Just the usual President Chaos-Battleship.

I felt better-rested on Tuesday morning and was not in pain or experiencing side effects from the rash meds. I showered, then applied a complex regimen of three different creams that require me to wash my hands repeatedly. There are signs of improvement. I then finished with my usual teeth and shaving rituals. One more cream: Utterly Smooth with 20% Urea (cow pee) for hands and feet to stop or slow nerve issues from the chemotherapy (it seems to help, and I can tell when I forget it). Now properly assembled, I dress and soon board Air VW the Gray for my trip to Portland.

The traffic across Beaverton is slow and deep, with some lights taking three tries to get through. When I start on Highway 26, I see the advisory speed is depressingly low at 35 mph. I crawl the few miles to the tunnel, then find that Portland traffic is moving, at least, and I make it to Richard’s house a few minutes early!

James had some traffic issues and a mistake that sent him onto the highways instead of the backroads he usually takes to avoid traffic and reach Richard’s from Washington State. We were soon back at Tainted Grail, a cooperative board game in the style of role-playing. We have been stuck in chapter 7 for months, and today we were hopeful to finally progress the story. We had collected various secrets and believed that we knew where we needed to go.

We were surprised to actually end the chapter and start a new set of rules and new areas. It was now more of a computer game than a board game as we explored to gather resources to continue our progress. We pushed through, found a way-station to recharge us, and then off to the final battle. Arthur and Morgaine enter our story (Tainted Grail theme is a mix of Arthurian Legend, Lovecraft horror, and SciFi High Fantasy), and Richard is our champion, putting down the warriors that Morgaine throws at us. It was a sad (but I cannot cover it there as it is copyrighted stuff), but excellent ending. We managed to reach chapter 9 and packed it in late after 2 (we played longer as the material was interesting and surprisingly fun).

We performed the save process and will be back next week to see where the story takes us. We then headed out. I stopped at my usual lunch place, now happy hour, as I was so late, for a meal and to write the blog. I had a “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” beer and three meatball sliders. As I wrote, the stiffness and headache from the new meds (the creams can cause flu-like symptoms) returned. It was a difficult ride home.

I did talk to Deborah, who was now done with work in the Detroit area. I crawled into bed and slept. The migraine faded soon, but the exhaustion and body aches kept on impacting me. I made a salad for dinner, and my tummy was unhappy too, with the Italian-style dressing satisfying a craving for something garlicy and sharp, like vinegar.

I watched more of Star Trek: Other New Worlds, season 2, “The Lotus Eaters.” An amazing story of when you forgot who you are, but remained still yourself. Recommended.

Still not quite feeling well, I returned to the office with a cup of hot Sleepy Time Tea and wrote a letter for the church finances. I promised to help my church’s finance committee and the pastor with stewardship (i.e., money raising). I have a first draft of something to share soon.

With that done, I returned to my newest book on moss, which I picked up at the Hoyt Arboretum store: Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. It is lovely, and I used some of it from the letter I wrote.

I went to bed, reapplying the creams twice a day, but had trouble sleeping. I rose a few times and even started another book, Captain Hornblower stories, that I have not read since I was in my twenties. They are just as magical now as then. My mind was back to sailing the oceans during the Napoleonic Wars on a British man-of-war. Relaxed, I soon fell asleep while I wondered once again how I had never gone to sea.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

It rained and rained and rained. Deborah was back in Detroit, and I was alone in my home, listening to the Pacific Northwest cry out that Deborah was gone. My back corner filled, and the water almost reached the rose bush. As much flooding as the river-of-rain events.

I got up around 8 and made coffee by grinding more beans from the local veggie place. I read the email, updated my transactions to Quicken, and read some of the news. President Chaos-Battleship was working the press to prevent any news he did not like; he was less effective, as the reality of the Epstein files, the economy, and his ‘say anything’ style had begun to cost him. It was still hard to believe his comments about the US Women’s Hockey team.

I wrote the blog for most of the morning while also starting more laundry. With the blog done, I started in on my taxes, which consist of organizing all the various 1099s and like forms (funny not to have a W-2), totaling up my medical costs, and getting them from Quicken or letters I have from ACLU, OPB, and my church. I then wrote this information up and got it in a letter. All of this was then in a large envelope that I delivered to my accountant, Cornerstone in Hillsboro.

I parked on the street and walked in the rain to their office. The streets were full of water. Next, I walked in the rain for two blocks (happy to have my hat) and then waited for my turn at the office (it is the start of the busy season for tax people). I had to sign one more form, a release of information that I opted out of for Oregon. The folks at Cornerstone believe that, unless there is something missing or wrong, my taxes should be ready in two weeks.

I then drove, passing the house, to the otherside of Beaverton to the lab. I brought the dermatologist form with me. I was tested for various infections and liver issues. The new drug requires a check for these things. I have labs waiting for my regular doc, but I did not fast for them. I will try to get those done on Wednesday.

After filling three tubes, I drove home. But first, I stopped at Safeway and got the fixings for angel hair pasta with meatballs. Aws was my checker, and he was happy to see me. He lives here now, having left Iraq years ago. We quickly catch up, and we mostly say we are happy that we are both still here and going.

I return home, and time seems to be running away from me, sliding by me as I nod off in my chair in the living room after unloading the goodies from Safeway. It is soon dinner time. I baked the meatballs, heated the sauce from a jar (Trader Joe’s), and boiled some water. I also heat up garlic bread. Dinner was lovely, but my tummy did hurt afterward. Likely a side effect of meds.

I chatted and texted with Deborah here and there on Monday, but she took the red-eye to Detroit and was running out of steam fast. I read and called Corwin; he came and finished off the pasta, meatballs, and garlic bread (though he left me with 1/2 a loaf and 1 meatball). He brought his dog over, Hank, who seemed less nervous on this trip. We watched a few episodes of The Agency.

Corwin headed out, and I was soon reading in bed. I soon nodded off, turned off the lights, and slept.

Thanks for reading!

Deborah was returning to Michigan today, but not until the evening. When she rebooked her visit after family events, she decided to return to Michigan late and a day later than originally planned. This meant we had most of Sunday together.

I woke to Deborah playing word games, which she usually does, waiting for me to wake. The time difference means that Deborah is always waking ahead of me. I climbed out of bed, which was very comfy, and went to find the coffee. I am grinding beans for this implementation of coffee (to misuse a computer term) from the 185th Corner veggie market, “Gather, Darkness” roasted and gathered by Roasted By Mom, another liberal coffee product (and recommended). The ground coffee bean results set was installed in the coffee maker, the batch processes executed, and no failures were detected. Success! The users were satisfied with the results and signed off by having their cups refilled. With the high level of success, an after-action review is not scheduled at this time.

A light breakfast of bagels with various toppings was combined with coffee. We spent the morning together and later, around noon, found our way to Tom’s Pancakes in Beaverton for lunch or a second breakfast. I managed to get the laundry started and review some transactions in Quicken to finish 2025 and get it ready for tax paperwork.

Deborah had 1/2 of a huge omelet with veggies and cheese (I had the other half while writing this), hash browns, and raisin toast. I had bacon, poached eggs, and pancakes. While the breakfast was as expected, Deborah liked the place, but she thought the prices were high (they are). Waiters in Beaverton, according to the Internet, get about $21 an hour (with tips), while in other places they get about $15 an hour (with tips). The difference (and the impact of various taxes on earnings in the Greater Portland area, but not sales tax, which we don’t have) means a higher price at our Pacific Northwest restaurants.

The food was good, and we then headed, having brought better outdoor shoes and coats, to the Hoyt Arboretum in Washington Park, overlooking Portland and Beaverton. We first stopped at the visitor center, got a map, and advice from Elizabeth, who was working at the store. Later, we would get a few items, a poster, and hanging kit for Deborah and a book on moss for me. I find reading popular-science books by experts a chance to learn new things and concepts.

We walked the Redwood and Spruce trails, with many ups and downs and a few places that were starting to get steep. It was about an hour walk, and the trees and moss were peaceful and lovely. The trails are only squishy in a few places and never really muddy. We were in coats and waterproof shoes and boots for the rain and Oregon Mist, and enjoyed the walk and soon were warm, almost too warm, in our coats. No slips or falls. We did the bamboo, saw multiple types of redwoods, and I learned that coastal redwoods grow taller than giant sequoias but are not as massive. Still, the redwoods were impressive!

Deborah wants to return to the Hoyt Arboretum next time she is here (actually, every time she is here, she said). Deborah loves forests. With Deborah having set up my Apple Watch, I tracked my walk and closed many of my circles during it! We enjoyed our visit and quickly traveled home to clean up and then head to our airport, PDX. We stopped by the Columbia Employee Store as we headed home (it was AAA month, and Deborah got in with her membership card), and Deborah acquired another shirt. She loved the one she bought and wanted another color.

Aside: My watch is set to call for help if I fall.

The trip to PDX was quick and uneventful, and we both felt the weight of our long-distance relationship return. We will be back together in Salt Lake City in about 25 days, but it was soooo niiiice to be together at the house. I drop off Deborah, and we have the classic kiss, then text a few minutes later saying we already miss each other.

It was a fantastic last day together.

Next, I arrived at M@’s place only a few minutes late for our every two-week 2024 Dungeons & Dragons game. Our group avoids combat, and we spent much of our time working out ways to solve the adventure with minimal fighting. We did manage to unlock much of the adventure, but we had some complex problems when folks fell into a trap of sorts that will be resolved next session in March.

With that, I headed home and got word that Deborah’s plane had landed in Seattle. She was upgraded on the short flight to First Class, and would take, at 11:30 a Comfort seat back to Detroit all night. Deborah arrived safely in the morning and returned to work on Monday.

Thanks for reading.