Author: alohawild

I am in Von Eberts Brewing in Portland’s Pearl District. I watched two movies with Susie today and then left Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I was there from about 1:30 to 5:15 with us watching the old animated Jungle Book and then the newer Beauty and the Beast but still painted cell film movie (except for part of the ballroom scene, which was Disney’s first CGI in a major film). Susie was delighted to spend the afternoon watching old movies on Disney+. We also called Susie’s mother, Leta, and chatted with her. Dondrea also called, and she got to talk to both of us. Susie had a wonderful afternoon, her words, and was sad when I left–but I put on M.A.S.H., and Susie was OK–Season two for a change.

I was going to go home, write the blog, clean up the house, and rest; instead, I headed to PDX and am having a pretzel with a locally made brewed product waiting for Evan before I order more. I am tired of being at 20625 SW Clarion Street, Beaverton (Aloha), Oregon 97003-1717, and being alone. So instead, I am here in Portland eating, drinking, writing, and ignoring most of the world’s problems.

I was given the day, Sunday, free as I worked 4-midnight on Saturday.

I had a taco salad or chili salad for lunch. I reheated the chili I had opened from a can a few days ago and then decided to use and pour it over salad greens, olives, carrots, celery, and other salad stuff. Sour cream in the place of salad dressing was good. I had this before heading to Susie’s.

I took the buttons I had mounted in the radio box on a wooden board and mixed epoxy clay to mold it. Unfortunately, I knocked two buttons off the board and had to use superglue to reattach them. They had left glue marks on the board, so it was likely I managed to get them back to their original place. I then hand-rolled the clay into ropes and weaved it through buttons to not break any more loose. New learning. I had too much clay and tried to model a nob, but the clay was too inflexible. You need to use it immediately and also a new learning. I am unsure if what I have will work as a mold, but if not, I can try again. It is all interesting to me.

I wrote the Saturday blog this morning and took my time, and tried not to rush. Saturday is always a busy day for me, and it takes some time to write that blog. I managed to sleep until 8ish, which is late for me. Time just seemed to run away from me this morning.

Breakfast was liberal coffee, an Equal Exchange brand, made in my French Press. I had a few muffins to go with it–I made them a few days ago.

I did see multiple car pile-ups today. Not sure what is happening, but folks are wrecking at about 35 mph and taking two or more cars with them. Air Volvo avoided all of these, but the collision alarm did happen when someone slowed unexpectedly without brake lights. Volvo is ever vigilant.

Well, that is about it. I am still waiting in PDX for Evan, but he is on his way. Thanks for reading.

It is harder to start writing this Sunday morning to record the life I lived on Saturday. I see this as not a record of political beliefs or the philosophy of living (I admit that my opinions do color the writing) but a description of living. I will push through as I cannot find a reason to stop, and while I regret the time spent some days, it seems inherently good to stop and remember. Let me start and hope, good readers, that it is worthy of your and my time today!

Yesterday, Saturday, started with me sleeping in (until 7:30ish) and then beginning a long day. I published Friday’s blog actually on Friday, so there is no reason to rush and get that done. The back and leg pain was back, and I decided to forgo housework and go slow. I made coffee, liberal, and had a few muffins I made a few days ago. I cut a piece of thin basswood and taped it inside the radio. I then temporarily glued the buttons in their original holes in the radio’s wooden box to the board. I will later wrap them in molding clay, cast them in acrylic, and place lighting behind them to make a visual display, as I don’t need these buttons.

The radio with the original buttons restored to their original location. The new window is done, and the cloth is reattached. The new faceplate (actually paper) with the new LCD mounted and LED (which will be less bright when in the box) are all visible. The strip of colored lights will be behind the acrylic replacement to be a light show. The veneer replacement/repairs are visible.

I also painted with black paint the white glue I used to attach the plastic window to hide it. It looks good now.

My tulips are finally flowered (I still have a set that has not blossomed). These are more like the eastern (Turkish) originals.

As usual, time just flies, and I am rushing to get dressed and head to see Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Traffic is more than usual, but the roads are wet, and the sky suggests the forecast was wrong–not a nice day so far. However, the parents of soccer-playing kids will not be daunted by Oregon mist, and the roads are full of would-be goal achievers.

Susie had just finished her breakfast when I arrived and was moved (Anassa is the weekend nursing aide) to her rocking chair in her bedroom. Susie is delighted to see me but is confident she does not want to try the misty Metzger Park next to the hummingbird house. Susie’s room has a window that points to the park, and she sometimes watches the basketball court not far from home. Susie can see that the court is still wet and covered with a few puddles–no, we are not going out there.

Evan will be late visiting today and will miss most of the movie for today: Hairspray (2007). I liked the film’s energy (it is an extensive reworking of the original), and Susie was singing along and noticeably brightened on Saturday. Besides the movie, we reached Leta, Susie’s mother, and Zeriada on the iPhone. Leta was happy to see Susie on FaceTime. Leta and Susie chatted happily for twenty minutes. We next called Zeriada, who was getting her hair done by her favorite, Gil, her son. We were happy to wish Zeriada a happy birthday and say hello to Gil. They are now in Texas.

Here is the ending for Hairspray(2007): here.

After the movie, I found lunch, played a quick game with Evan, and rushed back to the house for my 4-12:30 shift this Saturday. No game with Richard and friends in Portland today. Susie was ready for lunch (and likely a nap) and kissed me goodbye with no tears today.

Evan and I went to The 649 to play Vindication, using only the base items, but had lunch at the Mexican place, Tapatio: Mexican Restaurant, across the street–I remembered to order a smaller beer. I ordered a small beer at The 649 while Evan, knowing we were pressed for time, set up the board game.

Seldom does Vindication hinge on a single move, but the Arcane Tower held a seven-point item, and Evan beat me to it by one move. I fought back to lose only by four points, with the game swinging back and forth. Knowing that I was far behind after that good play by Evan, I took risks, and none paid off enough to give me the points I needed. It was a close game (four points), and we both played well. Next time!

Evan put the game away while I paid the bill at The 649, and I rushed home to make it there by 4PM. I started my shift with a status Zoom call and answered the roll call–mandatory. So, yes, we do check that needed folks are actually on the call.

I then started my work day that ended past midnight with the next status call at 12:30. As usual, I had trouble sleeping after my shift, but I finally slept at 2ish and woke again too early. During the shift, I got a few issues and helped route them, which were resolved. I also sorted my papers and closed my first three months of 2023–I keep paper copies of everything now. I planned to do this during the quiet times in my shift (loading data is full of exciting moments and boring hours of waiting). To manage all medical bills, tax avoidance, and my investments without creating a tax burden, I need proof and categorize everything in Quicken. So while I had quiet moments, I was punching holes and moving paper into notebooks. I use a four-inch binder for the first third of 2023 (I even did April 2023, which has arrived so far).

I ordered dinner from Happy Panda, just soup and appetizers, and it was delivered only a few minutes late by Door Dasher. I was hungry and got too much mustard on a shrimp which burned my throat and mouth. I was shocked and thought a 911 call from too much mustard would be a poor start for my shift, and I managed to calm my breathing and stop the painful issue. I dipped a shrimp in pure hot mustard when I was not paying attention–yikes!

Aside: After my chemotherapy, issues with breathing and another resultant ambulance ride still haunt my thinking. I overreact a bit to coughing. I know I do that, but it is hard to forget the chemo-caused feeling of dying from a closed-off airway (the side effect makes it feel like you are dying even when you have air and could quickly hyperventilate yourself in an emergency) and alone does not make feel more confident. I just have to calm down.

So a quiet and paperwork-filled evening while working and reading constant updates. I was glad to use the evening to clear a task that had to be done while supporting the data loads.

Thanks for reading. I hope this memory of Saturday was worth the time. I enjoyed remembering it. I had forgotten the flowers and the radio work until I saw the photos I had taken for the blog. Saturday was already vanishing, and I was happy to bring it back into existence.

 

Working from home means no rush and sleeping into a decadent 7:20ish this Friday. I also delayed dressing and all that until later and just drank liberal coffee, and today I had more oatmeal for breakfast. My legs and back still complained about yesterday’s workout and other items, and I decided not to do my stretches and exercises. However, I did enjoy three hours of Zoom meetings in the morning. Slipping (pun?) into the shower and dressing between the Zooming.

After my last Zoom meeting that morning, I decided to have lunch at the house. I had reheated North African-style chicken with preserved lemon for lunch. It was still spicy but calmer after resting in the frig for a day. While eating, I watched YouTube videos, Ship Happens, and Battle Ship New Jersey feeds. I also did the Discriminating Gamer’s top games for 2022 and provided some thoughts that Cody, who runs the channel, replied to. Dr. Cody, Ph.D. in history, is one of my go-to guys for games and history. Of course, he likes military stuff better than Euro, and I am the opposite, but still, I like to get his read on a board game before I buy it.

After that, I tried Air Volvo crossing Beaverton on this overcast gray-on-gray day. There were no issues, and the clouds seemed to have driven Beaverton’s Finest away, and I soon arrived at Susie’s place at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I had called ahead, and Susie was comfy in her bed and a comfy chair next to the bed. So I set up shop next to her.

Very comfy!

I had my Apple computer and Nike computer next to each other on a lowish table (during the pandemic, I would have a third screen up with Bloomberg News running, watching the impact of the pandemic on the stock market, +24% growth!?) So Susie was happy to have company, and I connected to Nike and was working the next three hours next to Susie.

Before I got serious about the work, I first called Susie’s mother, Leta, and they chatted for a while. Later, Dan Gray from church called and was thrilled to chat with Susie on speaker. After that, Susie dozed while I was online, sending messages on Slack channels, reading and approving specifications that needed fixes, and doing other usual tasks.

My shift ended at 4, and I headed out just before it ceased to make the 4:30 Zoom at the house. I made it just before it started–traffic was a bit heavier tonight. The last meeting, as usual for this point in the data conversions, was long.

I am taking the 4PM-12:00 shift on Saturday–all my gaming is canceled. A boring week-focused weekend, I am afraid.

I logged on to my company investment account and shifted all my 401K to stable value (not bonds) funds except for the 20% in Nike stock. I trust the shoe company, but the market shows signs of a massive bubble. From my experience, a strongly branded product like Nike can usually weather a crash. With Susie’s health and my surviving cancer, I need to not worry about the market for six months–I will move it for a while–I will reconsider on Halloween, a good enough day to decide how scary the markets are. I am up almost six percent for the year. As good as any time to snap on the safety belts.

I headed to BJ’s and had my fav, a porkchop, and an amaretto shot with coffee for my dessert. So there I was, surrounded by people and noise, and with Mo as my waiter ensuring dinner would be great, I wrote the blog and felt my spirits rise. Good food, familiar places and people, and the noise of life always helps.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

These are just highlights from today.

I was hours early for my survivor meeting with my oncologist, who is moving away. I will have a new one next time. My blood work was good, and my chances were better than good, his words, to be cured, and he gave me a printed-out care plan with follow-ups. A colonoscopy every three years. A CT scan should happen every six-twelve months. Finally, an oncology appointment with blood work every six months with my new doc.

While my labs still show mixed results, they are improving–doc was not worried. We shook hands, and he will soon start a practice in Hood River, Oregon. Eastern Oregon gets a brilliant doctor.

Before this, I was in Portland too early. So I parked Air Volvo in the hospital rack and walked in the rain. I was surprised to see three sets of end-of-the-world folks with the material at three intersections in the pouring rain. They were pleasant, smiling, and warmly dressed; they had good-quality coats, hats, and umbrellas. I tipped my hat to them, and they were friendly and polite.

I stopped by a tea shop, somehow on the top of a former house via two stairs. I had a cup of warm black tea; I told the guy behind the counter to pick the tea leaves for me. They had no lemon slices, so I had it plain. There was a table in what I guess was the apartment’s living room, now reworked into a tea shop, near a window. I sat there and read emails and approved a design on my phone (I can read the documents at Nike even on my phone–excellent). After enjoying the tea room, I returned to Air Volvo, got my Nike Laptop, and worked until my appointment. I had my Nike computer in the exam room, reading emails and Slack channel updates until the doc came in.

Moving further backward, I was at Elephant’s Delicatessen on 22nd Street in Portland for lunch. As usual, there was no room inside, so I ordered a Reuben to-go. Oh f**k, it was huge and wonderful, and I ate it all–I had a salad for dinner. I was wondering if my bloodwork today would have sauerkraut floating in it! I ate it in Air Volvo (I found a parking spot), which now smells like a delicatessen. I think we should make Reuben-scented Air Fresheners.

Before this decadence, I visited Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I had come from work and was there when Susie finished her breakfast. Jennifer said Susie had not slept well (Susie called out all night–then would not remember that; Susie talks, yells, and walks in her sleep–it could be exciting some nights; I know). Susie, while looking OK, was obviously tired. Nevertheless, she was delighted to see me.

I wheeled Susie, still in her wheelchair (she eats while seated in her wheelchair), to the social activity room and then called Leta, her mother. Leta was happy to see Susie using FaceTime on my iPhone. Leta is getting a new deck on her house to replace the porch, and the posts are getting set. Leta and Susie chatted for a while, with me joining the conversation here and there. Next, we called Susie’s sister, Barb, at work and spoke to her for a while–no FaceTime as Barb was still working. Susie was happy to talk to both of them but needed a nap. She let me go with a kiss as she started getting sleepy.

Work was before this, and I did hours of meetings and talked to a few folks. I also followed along when in Portland and answered a few items. No rest. I work the next three weekends, I believe.

The morning started early, at 6AM, with me rushing. I managed my complete set of stretches and exercises (which, with all the walking today, was quite a workout) and instant oatmeal (with dried cranberries and walnuts added)–low sugar heart healthy–with liberal coffee for breakfast.

Last night after finishing the blog, I managed to see the movie Renfield. This is an update on a Dracula movie with Nicholas Cage playing a comic and deadly Count–Full-on nuts Cage. While not always great, it was a mix of Nicholas Cage channeling Christopher Lee from LOTR (not Dracula) and the Renfield character playing John Wick meets Dracula. Violent, silly, and illogical, and with Shohreh Aghdashloo seemingly a walk-on as the evil mother. Awkwafina is a cop and, like a John Wick movie–never seems to miss a bad guy. I liked it, but it is not for everyone.

Aside: I first drove to Regal’s Movies on TV, but there were closed (the website is wrong), and then I drove across Beaverton to Cinemark, missing a few previews.

Lastly, while eating my salad for dinner, I watched the completion of this season’s Mandalorian. I liked it. I would say that the last three episodes brought the story back together, and I liked it. Recommended.

Thanks for reading.

 

Back to work today. So my morning was the usual wake at 6AM, rush to be in the office and start the first two hours of Zoom meetings. I managed to do my basic stretches and exercises this morning and then have instant oatmeal (adding dried cranberries and walnuts) and liberal coffee from my French Press.

Somehow going (and returning at 5ish), I find a school bus that slows me. The traffic was not heavy, and I had no issues in the morning. I spent hours in a conference room and even did some stretches while listening to defects, progress reports, and general status. I head out, stopping by to see some of my co-workers, now in the office as we start 7/24 data conversions, to see Susie at 5:15 at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

On the way, the traffic suddenly brakes on Highway 26, and I calmly slide into the shoulder instead of trying to slam my breaks on rain-soaked roads (it was even hailing again today). I am safe, but I am surprised that a commercial-painted pickup takes my place as I pull back into my lane. I am not sure the driver would have plunged into Air Volvo had I not immediately pulled back onto the main road, but the streets were slick with excess dampness. Yikes!

Susie was happy, I might even say delighted, to see me. The tummy and other issues are gone, and Susie is smiling and talkative. So much better than the weekend! Susie is happy to use my iPhone to call Leta, her mother, and see her using FaceTime. Susie is happy and awake, so the call lasts about twenty-five minutes. As it is a work day, I can only stay a short time, and there is no misery or sadness this time–she understands I have to return to work today. So I left with a kiss and no tears today.

I stop for a salad. Lunch is at Panera Bread and an excellent chicken berry salad with poppy dressing. I enjoy the salad while reading the news on my iPhone. Then, I return to work without new sudden stops via Highways 26 and 217, my usual way. There I have more Zoom meetings and follow along and help with a crisis of the moment.

I finish my 8-4 shift and return home enjoying, as I said, one school bus to slow me. Z has play practice, and her mother is in Seattle (Z is with Grandma), so there are no board games today. Instead, I cooked Tegine-style chicken with potatoes and carrots (instead of rice or couscous), adding preserved lemon, tagine spices (from a bottle), and green olives. Onions and garlic are cooked first on the stovetop, and then the rest is added. I then bake it for about an hour in a pot. While OK, the spices are a bit bright still, and there is not enough salt, but I will not add any (it is not good for me). Still good, and I had a few bowls while watching a 2001 science show on cable: Shock and Awe: The Story of Electricity. I would recommend the show, but Dr. Jim Al-Khalili’s best show (also on cable) is The Secrets of Quantum Mechanics. His other show Atom is an excellent history of physics. Again, I would recommend anything by Dr. Jim Al-Khalili.

I then took a nap, the Duvel beer I found in the frig being the leading cause of the nap. The Belgium beer, which translates as Devil, always affects me like two beers or a beer and a shot. Recommended only if you are not driving for a few hours!

I got back up and wrote this blog. I may head out to see a movie tonight.

Thanks for reading!