Author: alohawild

Today was a strange mix of hanging out with Susie and Evan and being part of a 7/24 data conversion. I was constantly reading updates and, at the same time paying attention to Susie and then playing board games with Evan. It was a bit expensive as we tried a new grill place near Susie’s place that, while the food was good, was top-priced. Later, I had dinner out too, and Evan and I tried the Mexican place, Si Señor Mexican Restaurant, which was expensive, but this time the food and drinks matched the money. I went home after that and crashed.

Saturday started before 7, with me waking before my alarm and trying to go back to sleep–nope. I was up before the alarm. I padded over to the kitchen in my slippers, the floors are cold, and made liberal coffee with my French Press and a banana–having had a late dinner, I was not feeling the need for more than a banana. Then, I logged into work and my Apple and consumed all the email, texts, headlines, and Slack channel updates, so I would be ready for the status meetings and enjoy my day knowing what was happening in the world.

I participated in an hour of Zoom meetings from my home office. Most of the work was still happen in the evening, and there were no approvals of designs or other items for me. I just followed along. I did the short set of exercises and stretches using the new list–a few more things. These did leave me a bit winded and hungry. I showered, dressed, and packed all the computers to head to hummingbird house.

Aside: From taking my meds and doing my exercises, I was starving. I had a plain bagel in the car while driving.

Our road, Clarion, was a mess of refrozen melted snow with no plowing or treatment–the usual here in the Greater Portland Area. It was fun to take Air Volvo through the crunchy and slippery stuff. The main road, TV Highway, was wet, with part still covered with slushy snow. Folks were driving 30 mph on just wet roads and scared. Air Volvo passed many groups of cars waiting to do a pile-up and help the local economy with more bodywork. On the radio were ads for various body shops–with the unique driving skills in the area, I would expect the repair shops to be busy all year long.

The Beaverton crossover drive was actually scary. The roadways in places were shaded by pine trees, causing now washboard ice, and cars were braking (!) and sliding and having emergency lights on. Air Volvo was sliding, so I pulled more to the left where the slush was and drove past them with two good wheels–All-wheel drive. Unfortunately, there were sections of ice that were water covered and polished to a problematic level. I do not think you could walk across the ice without falling!

Despite sudden and unexpected ice, I reached Susie in Air Volvo without incident or scaring the passengers (me) in Tigard at 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. (Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116). Susie was thrilled to see me. Anassa, the weekend nurse aide, moved Susie to her rocking chair. We agreed on the movie Mary Poppins 2, which Susie did not remember and is not well-loved by Disney fans, but we tried it anyway. It is an enjoyable movie and follows close to the canon of the original film, but it has a troubled start with the bowl scene, and Susie did fall asleep during a goofy song and dance routine with Mary Poppins. Susie thought the movie was “fine.” Here is the best song: There is Nowhere to Go But Up.

Susie was showing signs of confusion and started again to falling asleep. She managed to talk to her mother for a bit, Leta, but she still looked sleepy or confused. Susie is safe and stable and seems happy.

After that, we left Susie with Anassa to get a snack and likely a nap. I went with a kiss and no tears in Susie’s eyes today.

Evan and I tried, as I wrote above, a new place for lunch nearby Susie, but it was not a success. So we next moved to Iron Tap Station, also nearby. It was under new management, with a couple brewing beer in their garage taking over. Evan tried their IPA and declared it the best he had had. The new owners also moved around the tables and enabled more lighting. Previously, we could only play during the day and by a window, but now we managed a couple of games even after the sun went down. Excellent.

I had their German-styled dark beer. Good.

We played two games there, and both were a bit long (one because I had to do that status meeting at 4:30 and approve some overtime and processes). We played Architects of the West Kindom, which was again in the car. It had been dumped out in Air Volvo’s cargo hold, and I repacked Architects of the West Kindom (with all add-ons and promos) and put it more carefully in the cargo hold.

I managed to win our two-person game by six points (the value of an easy building) by planning my end-game moves to build the Catherdral (having all the resources ready). It is my usual gameplay to work the Cathedral at the end of the game.

Architect of the West Kingdom is a worker placement game, with each turn being simple, but the options are vast, and the strategy is varied. The new rules from various add-ons make the gameplay less single-pathed. Overall the latest incarnation is enjoyable. But the rules and gameplay match no other game, so learning takes a bit of a while.

Next, we played a basic game of Vindication, adding Pets and Loot for the first time. After that, we decided not to add more rules (the Guild stuff). Evan had a frustrating game as I managed to take all but one proficiency tile (even with the rule you can only buy one a turn), own the best areas, and move around the gameboard, gaining more and more resources and points. Evan did manage to be ahead of my basic score when the game ended, but he was awarded no mastery tiles, and I plucked all but one. It was a crushing score that we did not bother to calculate.

Recalling the play, Evan went after a monster with one companion and no conviction and thus had no easy means to recover if the monster’s die roll was Death, which it was (having Conviction allows the player to save a companion). Adding all the promo items in the game includes more Treachery Cards, which do not count toward Mastery (but do count for some monster rewards–the Monster Card showing the backs of cards). Evan was unhappy to get one of those (he needed one of each type for his monster, which it counted for), as it did not count towards Mastery (meaning to get Mastery, he would need three more Traits, a nearly impossible task). He was frustrated much of the game. I have had luck turn against me, too; in the game, there is more luck in a two-person game.

My play was my usual style; I worked on getting Vindicated by quickly moving my potential to influence, thus avoiding running low on influence. I try to collect valuable companions (owning the first Inn) and use their powers to improve my play. I had two of the best influence-based companions, just blind luck, and explored, looking for more valuable resources. Having the best mix to collect proficiency tiles, I just went after them. My slow movement rate restrained me, but the resources giving tiles were all two steps away, so I just added resources as I moved, using them often to buy another proficiency tile and providing resources for my next turn. I played an enjoyable game of traveling the board three times.

After finishing the game, Evan and I, as I said above, had a fine dinner, and then I headed home. The roads were clear, but Air Volvo shuttered a few times as it slipped on black ice (a thin layer of perfectly smooth ice on a roadway). Nasty! The problem did not get worse, and the black ice was gone once out of Beaverton.

The snow was melting away on Clarion. The trash pickup never happened. Mail did not occur.

Well, that is all for Saturday. I was in bed early reading. But I did wake up a few times at night. A vibration in the house still wakes me from a dead sleep–I am attuned to Susie falling.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

The snow is beginning to melt, and the drive is improving. The solid-packed snow (ice) is finally disappearing from the major streets, but it is a hazard on any side street or shady area. The temperature did reach not cold, 45F (7C), and the grass, soil, rocks, and treated areas are clear. You can still find ice on wet sidewalks that will kill you if you are not careful walking. It seems safer to drive than to walk.

We have developed two styles of dress today, those who deny the reality of winter in t-shirts and summer shoes and those who embrace the winter and have coats, gloves, hats, and chains on their vehicles. I have gone both ways (as you dear readers would expect) with my coat and Air Force Ones and no traction devices on my all-weather tires on Air Volvo (automatic 4-wheel, anti-lock breaks, auto-breaking, and computer-assisted winter driving, WTF are the traction device for?!).

I also learned that a new gasoline XC60 is $55,000-70,000 now. Not quite twice what I bought Air Volvo for, but the electric one is slightly cheaper (?!) and would provide more tax credits in Oregon. Despite my desire to help pay for some of the sunk costs of an all-green infrastructure, I will continue using Air Volvo, as I need to cover $8,000 monthly in medical expenses. A new transportation medium will have to wait (The Van Electric is still a dream).

Today my CPA folks, Cornerstone Tax in Hillsboro, finished my taxes. I can reclaim over $20,000 in taxes (President Trump’s SALT changes still cost me $3,000 a year–I don’t blame him as he did what he said he would do) for 2022 to offset my expenses for Susie and my care last year. I am still building a portfolio of paperwork that is audit-proof. I don’t expect an audit, but I will be ready. Oregon, which excluded the SALT changes, was more generous than the Feds for a medical disaster (more than $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses). My statements about SALT are mine and not from my CPA.

So the morning started, like most Fridays, with me sleeping in until 7ish. I then take the first two hours of meetings on Zoom (no camera). I also read emails, texts, and Slack messages to keep up. I read the news, and you can find me reading NYT details while listening to Zoom status meetings. Like most at-home employees, I can read and listen simultaneously (I do not play Candy Crush).

Once the meetings stopped, I did my complete set of excises and stretches. Unfortunately, I forgot the new list in Air Volvo, and with the snow, I was not headed out there in the snow and only a robe with slippers. So imagine if I slipped–better not imagine that, actually.

Next was the usual shower and dressing. Yesterday I put on a dress shirt (blue), but I was not wearing a white shirt today, my other choice (I plan to acquire more colors soon). I like long-sleeved heavy cloth shirts with a t-shirt underneath for cold weather. A habit from Michigan and living in the Mid-Atlantic area (Washington-Baltimore Corridor). Today it was just a t-shirt. I did do the laundry today between meetings and trips–I like to have the dishes and laundry done on Friday–it makes the weekend easier.

I boarded Air Volvo and headed, again, West to the CPA. The roads, in the morning, were sloppy at best. There still were sections of major roads covered in packed snow, slippery. Folks were driving poorly, going slow and bunching up like a body shop owner’s dream. I was passing and getting away from folks. I saw many yellow lights, then red light turns at intersections. Nobody wanted to brake once they got started in an intersection (good plan).

I managed to get to Hillsboro without incident, and the worst risk was the sidewalks–slipping here and there in my Air Force Ones. I picked up the taxes and headed back East. I stopped by McDonald’s, thinking of Bob Wild (Dad), and ordered two cheeseburgers (Dad’s fav). I then headed to the hummingbird house, having to cross Beaverton. The roads were sloppy, where salt or the sun reached the streets, but shady areas or less traveled areas were compacted snow still, and Air Volvo shuttered a few times, moving sideways a few inches on the ice. I had no issues and never felt worried.

I reached Susie’s place and had Susie moved to a wheelchair and the social activity room. There we went over the taxes and how they worked this year. Susie seemed to understand. The refund will cover her expenses for about three months (perfect). Susie, with my help, managed to sign the documents.

We called Susie’s mother, Leta, and chatted for a while. We talked about taxes and Susie’s care. Susie was in pain. Her ankle hurt. I checked it, removing her sock and shoe, and she seemed OK–no skin issues. Jennifer, the nurse aide, checked it and thought the pain may be related to the stretching they did in the morning. I called back after 5PM, and Susie was OK–no pain. At the time, it was a worry. I did not get a picture as I was distracted by Susie’s pain.

I said my goodbyes, got a kiss, and headed back onto the melting, snow-covered roads. The afternoon sun was sunny here with a beautiful view of the coastal mountains and Mount Hood, and the higher temperatures cleared the streets (there are no plows in Beaverton, I understand). I stopped by the post office and mailed some bills. Next, I returned to Hillsboro and the CPA office. I brought the signed documents, and now they can transmit the results to the tax agencies–excellent.

As I was in Hillsboro, I stopped by the only open gaming store in the area, saw the owner who remembered me, and purchased a gift for Z’s 12th birthday. For such a small store, the stock in the place is always impressive. They have increased their paints for sale (I resisted) and got some advice on speed paints from Army Painter (use a protective coat if doing multiple coats of speed paints). Good to know.

I returned to the Volvo Cave with the main roads now primarily sloppy. 209th and our street, Clarion, are still a snow-covered adventure.

Once home, I returned to online work. I checked my phone and replied to any issues between driving trips (no texting and driving on snow-covered roads–it is also illegal). I did the 4:30 status meeting and then chatted with my team online. No issues. I will be watching online for the status meetings on Saturday.

After a short rest, I wrapped Z’s gift and headed to BJ’s Brewhouse. Mo was on today, and I managed to get a porkchop–there were only five left when I ordered. Mo ensured I was happy with dinner, and I was, and brought me coffee afterward.

I wrote the blog while drinking coffee and sipping almond liquor.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Today I dug out an old Barnes and Noble gift card pre-ordered On the Curry Trail: Chasing the Flavor That Seduced the World by Raghavan Iyer. I only know him by his cookbooks and kind comments when I send him a picture of something I cooked from 660 Curries. I read in the NYT that he is passing away from Colorectal cancer that has spread (the same kind I had). I love this man without ever having met him except in his books and tweets, and I would recommend his books and articles. He got me to cook Indian-style meals.

There are six to ten inches of snow around the Volvo Cave, depending on the wind and aerodynamics of the area. It is again cold tonight, refreezing the snow and the melt, 20F (-6.67C). I made my Physical Therapy (PT) appointment and visited Susie today using Air Volvo to push through the messy, slippery roads. My fellow drivers (who no longer apply some weird quantum legality driving system) mostly drove too slow, too close together, and scared. Nevertheless, I passed many of them and never felt worried about a sudden paint-loosing stop.

I sent a note early that I would not be coming into the office–the trip in was not worth the time and risk in my mind. Then, an hour later, Nike WHQ belatedly announced its closing. So at least the closure for Friday is already announced.

I started, like on Friday and Monday, sleeping in a bit, and began my day after 7. I had two hours of Zoom meetings on status and planning. After that, it was the usual thing with a few crises of the moment for me to resolve. Soon I was getting dressed and making lunch. I opened a can of corn and clam chowder (flavored with bacon as stated on the label) and turned on the oven, and heated some frozen Texas Toast to go with it (garlic and cheese bread). I also did the dishes and started the dishwasher, which heated the kitchen to a comfortable level with the oven and stove going.

I took all the food into the office in the house and followed along a bit at work. I also read the news and tried to keep up. Soon it was afternoon and time to leave for PT. I boarded Air Volvo after clearing the snow from the vehicle and headed to Bethany. My street, Clarion, was unplowed, with only one car trail. Four to six inches of snow. Air Volvo handles well (I thought I heard it giggle–it loves snow), and I was soon on a messy TV Highway. At this time, the road was packed down with snow and slippery, and folks were driving too slow (20 mph or less) and too close to each other. I passed them and went about 30ish and higher when the roadway was visible.

I connected by major streets to keep moving (I was worried about getting trapped behind a stuck car or worse) and reached PT early. Colin was happy to see me (most folks had canceled), and as his previous and next appointments were canceled, I got him for the whole time. He changed a few exercises and corrected one that I was not doing quite right.

After that, I headed in Air Volvo to the hummingbird house. The highway was wet, with only some snow left. Folks were driving slowly on just wet roads, more passing. I soon reached Susie’s place. There was less snow in Tigard, about four inches at most.

Susie was resting in her bed and was delighted to see me. We called her mother, and they chatted for quite some time. I was already getting messages from work, and I had a meeting at 4PM, so it was a brief visit today. Susie was sad about that, but it was a work day. No tears from either of us (I did cry later).

I crossed Beaverton and had no issues. Air Volvo did slip here and there, as I would expect. TV highway was a bit more melted but still sporting packed-down snow and unpacked snow. My neighbors were outside and waved and laughed that I was out driving. I was purposefully driving on the unmarked snow to create more trails on our street. Again, Air Volvo is unstoppable.

I did the meetings at home and then made a breaded porkchop for dinner. I microwaved some tiny potatoes and heated some frozen corn in a pan of water and a steamer mesh. I ate dinner in the kitchen, watching Public Broadcasting Nova shows; I bought the season on my laptop. I love to learn something while cooking and eating.

I took a nap, woke up, and then became depressed lying in bed. Finally, I got up and downloaded more proof of last year’s medical bills from my health insurance website (58 pages), paid some new bills, and started on the blog. I felt better now. I lost my auction bids on some beer stamps for my USA stamp collection (yes, I still collect stamps), but I was fine without paying too much.

I am getting tired again while writing, and that is something new. I do not usually get this tired.

Thanks for reading.

 

Just reading and relaxing tonight, so started on the blog late, 10ish. There are a few inches of snow now, and more are coming down. It will be 25F (-4C) tonight. The homeless people sleeping on the steps to the church, the side door, were taken to a warming station. I left them one of my emergency blankets from Air Volvo. I did not know what to do, so I left them a thermal and waterproof blanket. I will buy a new one for Air Volvo. I am relieved that they are safe.

It is Ash Wednesday, and snowing and cold. The roads are not plowed, and the salt is slowly melting some snow here and there. So folks are driving at 1/2 speed or slower. I had to pass folks as I did not want to stop suddenly when they panicked. Using all-weather tires that are well cared for, good alignment, and automatic four-wheel drive made it an easy night in Air Volvo. The braking is also computer controlled to prevent a spin-out.

I had dinner, for the first time, with Dondrea and Zophia, Z, on tonight’s snowy night. We had come from the Ash Wednesday service, which managed to fill two tables of folks and was pleasant and traditional without a sermon. We applied ashes to each other’s foreheads under the direction of the Revs. Wayne and Anne Weld-Martin.

Returning to the food, dinner was Mexican and excellent, and the place was busy despite the storm (or maybe because of it). Dondread and I both had Chili Verde Pork. I believe Z tried a Chili Relleno and an enchilada (cheese). I had a beer and then coffee finishing with flan. Z tried fried ice cream shared with Dondrea. It was a fun dinner.

Before this, I stayed at work until the snow started, as I had a 4:30 meeting. The afternoon was quiet, and I was doing some research. I had lunch at Jimmy John’s, a Night Club sandwich–A version of a grinder. It was good, and I listened to an Oregon Public Broadcasting interview at Lincoln Highschool in Portland with writer Patrick Radden Keefe, a reporting and writer at The New Yorker. He writes about true crime and describes how he writes to keep your interest. Often starting a new piece in an unexpected direction and slowly bringing the real story forward to keep the reader interested and focused. It was an interesting interview, and I will try to read more by Mr. Keefe.

Before lunch, I visited Susie, who was back in bed after breakfast. I called her mother, Leta, and Susie, and she chatted for quite some time. Leta is focusing on the pest problems in her house. Next, we called Barb, Susie’s sister, who works for a school and had a Snow Day in Michigan today. She and Susie chatted for a while. Soon, I was out of time and left with a kiss. Susie was visibly sad to see me leave, but no tears today. Always hard.

Before this, I was at work doing hours of Zoom meetings. A few crises of the moment arose. A typical Wednesday for me.

I started at 6 and did all my exercises and stretches.

Sorry, I am getting tired. I will stop there.

The backyard with snow at 10ish.

I should have called Dondrea earlier, she was already making dinner, so I am at BJ’s Brewhouse alone tonight for dinner. I have a beer and ordered Jambalaya already. Today was a trying day as performance issues in another system have the project on hold. We also have four production breaks that are in the process of being fixed and/or investigated, which also distracts us. Rajani has returned to work today, remote from home–I am back to architecting software solutions again. There is chaos in Nike IT, which is in the press, and I will not cover it here. So a chaotic, messy day.

The night was brutal, with breathing issues returning. I was tired and slept at 10ish. I dreamed I was at the bottom of a stony ravine and could not escape. The walls of the canyon are close and yellow and brown sandstone. I cannot see the sky; the light defuses down from above. If I tried to climb out, I could get stuck and not breathe. The area was in danger of collapsing, and I would be buried alive and not breathe, or it is clearly made from water action and could flood. The air is close and poor. Folks were calling down to me, and I would yell back.

I am at an airport in Europe. I want to go home. I am alone. I keep looking, and every time I do, the airport changes, and the desks and entrances move behind security gates. I keep trying to use my ticket to get to the following process. They seem endless and keep resetting to being further every time I blink. I am with the rental car now, starting over. Just arriving now, I am trying to find the door to the airport.

I woke up at 11ish and took my inhaler, could fall back to sleep and had no more nightmares. These dreams are harsh and occasionally happen when I sleep with asthma issues. I did wake at 3 to prove I was hydrated. I woke refreshed at 6 with my alarm.

I found the new bagels in the kitchen and a banana. I started the ritual of coffee (filling and turning on the electric kettle). Next, I did a short set of exercises and stretches as I did the whole set on Monday. After which, I completed the ritual of liberal coffee using my French Press. While not as great as an NYC bagel, the bagel was still a bagel, and I enjoyed it with cream cheese. Who would expect Hillsboro to produce such goodness!

It is Tuesday, and so it is a work-from-office day. I quickly absorbed all the information from the cornucopia of messages and emails that the shoe company provided this morning (and using the fancy word had nothing to do with improving my score on Grammarly–I really wanted to use it, honestly). I also assimilate all the news from CNN and the New York Times (same note) so that I am enamored (really) to persevere (alright, that was gratuitous). I next take a quick shower, dress, grab my laptop, and board Air Volvo in time to arrive without incident at my office building, Clubhouse.

Two hours clock time of mind-numbing meetings begin on Zoom with me in a small room listening, primarily, to status and making a few comments. The issues are ongoing; thus, the status, defect meetings and planning meetings all spin on the breaks and problems. Our building is empty of our colleagues as there is a planning meeting elsewhere. Just us working on the data conversions are still in the building calling into Zoom meetings.

I head out to see Susie and find lunch nearing 11. I reach her using the highways without incidents or witnessing any imaginative driving. I am careful not to run any pink lights as the traffic is heavy, and cars are caught in intersections, “smile for the camera.”

My sister Linda contacts me; I cannot arrange delivery for Mom Wild in Michigan as I am traveling, and my Apple Computer is home. I don’t like to do personal work on my Nike laptop (see comment about chaos), but I offer to cover the cost; another crisis resolved!

Susie is finishing her breakfast when I get there. I wait while she eats; she is handling the spoon and glasses without help today. She does choke a few times, but not seriously. She finishes everything, including a glass of Ensure. We move to the social activity room at the hummingbird house.

Susie is happy to connect with he mother, Leta. Leta is in her car talking to us, parked at her church. Leta just finished a Bible Study and was happy to chat. Leta has mice issues and possible raccoon issues in her house. She will need to fix the attic and the area between the floors. Time to evict the unwanted pests. We talk for a while, but it is time for me to go. Susie is sad that it is a short visit (she is not counting the time I waited) but understands. Jennifer, the live-in nurse aide, takes over, and I say goodbye with a kiss.

Aside: The Saturday Market returns on March 4, so we will have to plan a morning trip for Susie and maybe a stop at Kells for lunch.

My trip back includes some half-melted snow on highway 217. The rain comes down heavily, and there is some local flooding. Air Volvo’s connection to the road becomes more tentative. But, I arrive intact at Carl’s Jr. and have a Western Burger, a guilty pleasure, and listen to some Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) show on folks poaching muscles at the breach from Haystack Rock–it is a sanctuary, so it is illegal. I also heard a discussion about thinning and controlled burns to protect our Western forests. A very Oregon lunch.

I return to work and have more meetings. At 2ish, I head home as I have some medical items to schedule that I need to get on a calendar at work. I discovered I have a doc appointment on 9March and 11March Colonoscopy (rescheduled from Christmas time due to a bad cough). Susie’s appointment is in 11May (not March), and I am relieved. I scheduled a hearing test in May with new doctors for myself.

I do the last meeting at 4:30 and head here to write and enjoy a Fat Tuesday dinner.

Thanks for reading.