Author: alohawild

I woke on Sunday with my alarm. I had slept the night through, unusual for me, and I could not remember any dreams but knew I had traveled far and not comfortably in my phantasmagorical world. I started the morning by making coffee (the house elves had forgotten to set up the coffee maker and timer) and then loaded all my pants and most of my dress shirts, along with various other items, into The Machine and started it. This was the remains of my laundry from my latest trip, and I needed something to wear to church at 11.

I started the blog, and it was a challenging endeavor. I was tired today. While writing, I noticed that the house was strangely quiet; hmmm. The Machine had coded. The vibration detector had failed, and I needed to contact service. F**k! I restarted it. The laundry was wet, flooded, and soaped. “Why can’t the silly thing run the diagnosis before it soaks my clothes?” goes through my mind as I wish the souls of the engineers who designed The Machine to unprofitable eternities. And now there was twice the soap! I slopped the soaked clothing into a basket within the base of the machine. The basket is floating! The base has two inches of water, and the water is now pouring on the floor. F**k! I dry that up with towels, which I will have to wash too somehow!

I go online and learn how to enable the Spin option to run alone, and manage to restart it four times to get some water out. The code appears each time it tries to spin. The code on the vibration detector kicks once the spin starts. I will have to vacuum out the water.

I use my iPhone to make a repair request (the website said my appliance was not registered–it is). The happy voice on the phone (reached in a few minutes) has me reboot the appliance to no avail. I learn that The Machine (LG Combo Washer and Dryer) is about a month out of warranty, and they need to connect me to the service department (not warranty service). Jean takes over the call and explains this is a flat-rate repair of $345 plus a 15% reserve for taxes (I do explain that Oregon has no sales tax, but I am told I have no choice). I need to provide a credit card to place a hold on it for the amount. But they cannot schedule it before I am out of town. Instead, Jean will call me later when the schedule opens for next week. I am OK with that.

Meaning the water-soaked laundry would need to be done at a laundry mat (especially as it had two doses of soap); I need a big machine to swallow the soap. I have no pants. Hmmm. I decided a suit might work, and my blue suit (which was a tight fit) now seems like a good match. I have a dress shirt available that fits (some of the larger ones are still in my closet, and I could have faked it with one of them–vests hide a lot). The pride tie, my gold color pocket watch, and black shoes make it work. This is a suspenders-wearing suit (again, hidden by the vest). I am off to church in Air VW the Gray. I usher and keep busy. The usual AV is not available, and Z and others make it work (mostly).

Pastor Anne arrives after the service starts; she is giving the sermon (panic eases). Eric gives an excellent solo. I am a bit busy. Anne tells the story of how she was cheated out of a large sum of money, but despite this (a warning to others), she is okay, and the little suffering this has caused her and Wayne is nothing compared to what others have suffered and what could have happened. We were all shocked to hear about her misfortune, but we understood the message. We are blessed, and we need to remember that, even when things go wrong.

The offering started, and it was a jazzy take on a hymn, and I might have found some swing while passing the offering plate. I got a lot of smiles. Z was dancing, too, and we danced to the music from Mary Beth in the back. Not your usual Methodist filler music!

A man came in near the end of the service, and I offered him coffee, then got him a cup with cream and sugar. I find it best to offer when I am doing the usher duties to prevent any awkward moments. People who are homeless or stressed need to be seen, and a cup of coffee offered goes a long way to calm them.

I had to help someone, and he was gone. I walked the church halls to ensure he was not in the building. While he might have hidden, it was not likely, as he was clean and sober. I let Bill and Z know that he was missing, but shared with them that I thought he was not a risk.

I helped here and there and soon went to Red Robin for a quick lunch. I did have a side of fries with the two chicken breast version of the salad plate. Troy, the bartender, kept refilling my iced tea (I had a church meeting at 2:30, so beer was out).

I returned to the church and we covered the required Charge Conference Meeting to revise the pastor’s compensation package. It is a Methodist thing, and it was done in thirty minutes. Just church process and paperwork, and not controversy. Mainly because we had ensured that everyone knew the whats and whys before the meeting.

And it was good as my colon and generally my body was done with that day. I went home and soon began resting, feeling dizzy. The food, travel, and stress of the trip and returning home (the broken laundry) left me in bed, shivering, and sleeping.

I ordered, on Deborah’s suggestion, whom I spoke to at the start of my day and the end of her day, Doordash and various Chinese-style foods that I like. I finished the blog, although it was a difficult push to complete, and watched multiple YouTube videos (ShipHappens and Drachinifel) as well as some comedy.

I find the drain and empty some of the Machine but not the tub. I will need a wet vac.

I was too tired to mess with anything and dizzy. I went to bed. I woke every two hours to prove hydration. My dream was about being on a bus that was headed out, but I missed my stop, and now I needed to find a way back to connect. I needed to get back so I could do my laundry for my next trip. I just cannot wander off to some dream town; I need to get back. The dream repeated each time I went back to sleep and at another station. I woke up finally at 6:30, and I was home. Time to get that laundry done!

Thanks for reading!

I rose at 7 and started my day by running more laundry and getting more things in process. I logged into my accounts and transferred cash to pay my bills. I have my cash, the dividends, and interest to live on this year. I plan to sign up for Social Security when I turn 62 in April of 2026. I also sent an email to move a donation for the church from my retirement investments. It got out a card to Mom Wild and later collected the mail. I went through it, paid bills, and reviewed investments; it was a busy morning with paperwork and laundry.

I showered and dressed. Only my shorts had been in the first load of laundry; a more Pacific Northwest look today (except for shoes and socks, which were not the de rigueur sandals). I have another wool hat in the closet, and I put that on. I put my coat in the car. It is a rainy and cool Oregon Summer Day (the hot days start in mid-July).

I took Air VW the Gray to Dondrea’s house and dropped off some shirts and a tchotchke from the Nixon Library. They loved the shirt, and Dondrea loved the hotel-style keychain. We might have to get one from the Carter Library if we manage to add that to our church trip in November.

Next, I drove to the cleaners, and they are shortening my rainproof pants, which I got for the Iceland trip, in a few weeks. They will have that done before the trip. Next, I stopped at the Beaverton Food Carts at Beaverton Central. I got some gumbo and a beer for lunch. It was cold and wet, but I found a dry and heated stop under an awning and enjoyed the cool weather. Yes, it is kind of an Oregon thing to drink beer outside in the rain, but under something. The gumbo from one of the carts was excellent, with a sprinkle of filé powder on top. The dark no-okra version.  Excellent!

I had planned to stop by the house, but the rain and the traffic slowed me down. I remembered that it was Free RPG (Role-Playing Games, like Dungeons and Dragons) Day and stopped by the local gaming store, Aloha Guardian Games. The staff remembered me, and I received a free figure (you can always use another unpainted Mind Flayer) and some free rules for various RPGs. I learned that Chaosium renamed D100 to Basic Role-Playing Game (RPG), and a free summary of the revised system was available; I received a complimentary copy.

With my goodies acquired, I headed to Portland and the Lucky Labrador. Traffic was not heavy but slow with the reintroduction of rain to the Oregonians, who seem to have forgotten how to drive in wet weather, but that never stops them from changing three lanes at once and exiting (no matter how slow they are driving).

I parked on the street and used the Parking Kitty app to pay for my parking in front of Lucky Labrador, but it said it was illegal now to park there (!?). I then found free on-street parking around the corner (?!), and just parked there. I then walked inside and found a table, and soon had a beer, opened Scrivener, and started my Fantasy Novel.

I have two chapters in draft, and I went back through the text. It is always shocking when you come back and see all those wooden phrases and typos. Yikes! I noticed the file and book title had a typo! F**k!

I re-read it and liked the story and the first chapter. There were fixes here and there. I improved some wording and felt the story was much better now. The next chapter describes the conflict that defines the story. I did not get far into that chapter, and I am not sure what to explore in the next one.

It was great to write, edit, and rediscover the story. I ordered a BLT with chips, which went well with the beer. It was time to head to Richard’s. I paid the bill and found Air VW the Gray safe on the street.

I drove the fifteen minutes to cross to Richard’s area. We were just three of us and played the newly released board game Peaks (about $89 for the deluxe version). This was an enjoyable game with a neat, partially cooperative mechanism representing climbing mountains. For three players plus a teach for me, we played it all in 90 days. The final scoring was less complex than other games we have played. Richard was surprised that Lauren won (I came in last). The game has you play one of three actions: Rest (and Move), Prepare, and Climb. As I mentioned earlier, Climb allows others to join you (for a small discount to yourself), and acquiring resources never feels like a race (though it can often be challenging); it’s a fast, friendly, and fun game. I may buy this one! I love mountain climbing stories.

Equipment is acquired by improving your Prepare action. Lauren had started there, and I think that gave her an advantage. You need, as you can imagine, dear reader, equipment for the harder (and therefore more rewarding) climbs.

I look forward to playing this game again!

We next played the Cat in the Box card game. This is a highly rated game (72nd best family game on Board Game Geek!) and allows you to play with numbered cards, and you define the suit (by colors). I have not played it before. You bet on the number of tricks you will take, and only if you are right will you get a bonus based on the pattern of the cards you use (this needs a picture to explain). It took me a few plays to understand what I needed to do. It is fun. Recommended.

After that, we chatted for a while, and I got home late. The travel was without issue. I got into my PJs and was soon in bed, where I slept after taking my inhaler. I had some trouble breathing, and that cleared with just one puff. Need to do that puff sooner!

Thanks for reading!

Sorry, this blog is so late. I was tired and ill on Sunday.

 

 

We rose early as usual with the usual rush of a travel day. We packed as we dressed and made coffee. There were a few moments when we did not want to leave our happy hotel room bubble. We slowly sipped our coffee, and Deborah got us one last hotel Starbucks breakfast to go with it while we finished our packing and I wrote the blog. Although we will be seeing each other in early July, it was hard to leave our home for the last two weeks and the source of the Magic Kingdom, a beach, the La Brea Tar Pits, and saying goodbye again. We know that every ‘hello’ is also a ‘goodbye.’

One more ride together to the John Wayne Airport. It has just over twenty gates, and the three terminals serve as an organizational device, having no real meaning inside. Deborah and I were surprised by the short trip (last time it was an hour), and I arrived more than four hours early for my later flight, but I couldn’t check my bags. Deborah tried to tell me this, but walked over to terminal B (a short walk), and we waited forty minutes, enjoying more time together. The clock moved forward, and I was able to check my one bag (for free this time, thanks to my Alaska Visa). Deborah and I then enjoyed the security check and managed to not find any mistakes in our packing or new rules. John Wayne is a computer-out-of-your-bag check (Portland is a computer-left-in-bag check), and the security people were amazed by my Star Wars Fifth Order redlighting umbrella. Apparently, they see many light sabers, but few umbrellas. They let me keep it.

I reassembled and balanced, holding on to a table, to complete the re-shoe process. Deborah pointed at a lone chair, but I managed without taking the only chair in the area. She resisted eye-rolling, I believe.

Ruby’s, after the security check, offers an excellent breakfast, if almost too large. While we had food before, it is good to eat when you can while traveling, and Deborah was bouncing back to the Eastern Time Zone, meaning a spare breakfast was her late lunch. Soon, time was running too fast, and it sent us to Deborah’s gate, and a goodbye. Deborah arrived safely in Detroit later. Her planned shuttle got her home without incident.

I bought the book Coffee, Tea, or Me? on my Kindle. This is the republished version from 2003, accompanied by a new introduction. I purchased the book after Deborah and I wondered about the source of the text, “Coffee, Tea or Me?” while we were traveling. I read the book while waiting for my flight, about two hours after Deborah’s. I was getting sleepy and read only some of it, and then on the plane. I boarded the plane without issue and took my window seat. My seatmates ignored me, and I accepted their focus on entertainment on their phones.

My phone dongle, purchased at the airport, did not work. So I had no music or other entertainment. But I nodded off and woke up to get a coffee with cream, and then enjoyed the usual rough air as the plane approached the rivers, mountains, and desert before landing in Portland.

I found my luggage after walking around the security area, a strange feature of the PDX remodel that I do not care for. I managed to keep my hat and my new umbrella and found my checked bag. I schlepped all of that to the MAX and rode the train to Beaverton and beyond.

I read and ignored the loud person in the walker arguing on the phone. My fellow passengers were less happy, and someone left the train, and they visibly relaxed. I was facing the wrong way and oblivious to the risk.

I took the Willowcreek and 195th station, located on the edge of Beaverton and Hillsboro, and ordered an Uber to take me home. I thought about calling Corwin, but he has a motor issue with his truck, and just went with the Uber. Just as the sprinkles started (yes, I was about to unwrap my Fifth Order lightsaber umbrella), the Uber appeared.

I reached the house, and Corwin was there. He watched me unpack as he went over the issues with his truck. I have to admit that it was hard to follow his discussion as I started doing my laundry and unpacking. He made a pasta and shrimp dinner for me (thanks, Corwin). I had some of that. Corwin headed out for food deliveries, needing to raise cash to cover the repairs. I remember when it seemed like you worked just to afford your car repairs and rent. I had some pasta and shrimp and watched a Star Wars show I had seen before, but I thought it was good to watch some after such a long immersion last weekend!

I managed to get one round of laundry done before getting tired. I had cleaned the house before I left, and except for a slight musty smell from being closed up for so long, the house was pleasant. I lit a candle, and soon that faded too.

I crawled into my bed after getting in my PJs and soon slept and did not wake until 6ish, and rolled over to 7.

Thanks for reading!

The day ended here in the Hyatt Regency room 758 in the North Tower, with us tired out, mostly packed, and in bed. Sleep was broken by the usual is-it-time-to-get-up-and-fly worry. Including tomorrow, the trip has been 14 days in California, in Orange County.

We ended the trip on a strange note. Pete, our Uber driver from the La Brea area, offered us mints, water, and changes to the AC for the long journey across LA back to OC. The price to the La Brea Tar Pits was about $60, but with the adjustment for rush hour, our trip back was around $100, as we waited until 7 before ordering a ride in the Uber app. We had to pack, and we were both getting tired. Eventually, we took the first trip for $100 (with some offers for an early time approaching $200).

We walked to The Grove (and discovered that The Farmer’s Market was also there) from the La Brea Tar Pits, as it promised dinner, shopping, a possible movie, and a place to rest. LA is often like one long set of strip malls that never seem to stop. The barred windows and closed shops are frequently mixed with other shops that look excellent. In the Uber we took, we saw that Beverly Boulevard and La Brea Avenue were the end of an interesting neighborhood, featuring food joints and many Jewish services. I may need to take a winter trip and explore this area.

The Farmer’s Market was wonderful, located near The Grove, a high-end mall that seems to appear unexpectedly between lesser strip malls, and featured live music and excellent food. We walked the Market until after getting a more industrial dinner/snack at a higher-end restaurant, sticking primarily to Happy Hour items. Unlike Seattle or Portland, this one was open until 9 at night on work nights. Here is the website: Farmer’s Market Website.

Deborah’s phone was slowly dying. We switched to mine for maps. We walked for about an hour from the La Brea Tar Pits to The Grove and Farmer’s Market. We stopped by Craft Contemporary on our walk to visit their gift shop. We also enjoyed some of the LA County Museum of Art’s outdoor pieces (it was getting too late to get a ticket for LACMA).

Before all this, we took a cheaper Uber (the driver did not speak much English) for the seventy-minute trip to La Brea Tar Pits. It was a comfortable ride, but we initially did not spot the car at the hotel, and then we saw a car just waiting (it went from three minutes to there in seconds on the app). We arrived in the La Brea area, crossing from Orange County to Los Angeles. While traveling, we noticed a considerable amount of smoke in downtown LA, and we later learned it was not protests but a local fire. Getting out of the car, we immediately noticed the billboards for Smerfs and the smell of tar. I am not sure how they are connected.

The stuff is, as advertised, oozing out of the ground, and when we walked over some of the grass, it had a spongy feeling that got us to remain on the paths. There were also signs to keep your pets leashed, which in this area was a good idea. The owner and pet could become part of a permanent exhibit!

We were walking in one area, and a stake used to close off the area, which resembled a rain ditch, had the black substance come out of the ground. It would not be a place I would want to tread. There were also multiple pits of the black stuff and a lake of groundwater pooled over the sticky stuff. There were some models of mammoths stuck in the tar to add to the drama. It all smelled of petroleum and worse.

The museum is a collection of bones reassembled and descriptions of all the now-extinct animals that once roamed the area. The sabertoothed cat, a tiger, and giant elephants were reassembled and even modeled in life-like reconstructions. Even insects, fish, and birds fell to the stickiness.

There was a colossal skull, tusks, and the staff in a lab washing and cleaning more of the elephant-like bones. Wow! I got some postcards and a book on the history of the area. It was all interesting. I have always wanted to see this place where the goo pops out of the ground.

Once we had enjoyed enough of the bones, goo, and looking at the pits, we discovered a Mexican place nearby. There we had some chips and a few drinks. We rested for a bit, and the bartenders were friendly.

And from there we headed to The Grove, not knowing the Farmer’s Market was in the same area. That closes the circle. Thanks for reading!

Headed home on Friday. Deborah is flying back to the Detroit area, and I am headed to Beaverton, Oregon.

Joyce Hill, Susie’s aunt and the supplier of Zabar’s bagels to me all these years, passed away unexpectedly, and I will be heading to celebrate her life next week. When I write this blog, I always think of her reading it and all the fun comments she would make. I will miss her!

 

 

We went slow in the morning with breakfast acquired by Deborah from Starbucks. I rose at about 7 with Deborah up earlier and making coffee. We had a 12:40 Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel. It was a hot day in Anaheim (much more comfortable, to our surprise, at Huntington Beach), and we decided to get an Uber to Goofy’s Character Breakfast (and I just learned that Uber dropped the Ü, ugh!).

We arrived early and were able to explore and shop again. I have not been at these hotels in years, and it was interesting to see how they have been renewed for a new group of guests. They did not seem faded anymore. Like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” they now seem like a historical item that you enjoy seeing preserved and still in use.

(Later at the beach)

We were not the only adult couple in line for the Character Breakfast and were joyfully received and treated well by the cast members. Goofy greeted us for a photo (complimentary), and then we were seated, and soon Chip and Dale visited us. Pluto was also there and was happy to stop by (the sous-chef we learned). Minni Mouse would stop by later with repeat visits from the others.

Deborah finally got her Micky Mouse waffles (only available on the kids’ menu so far). The spread was a mix of lunch and breakfast, with lots of sweet offerings for anyone who wanted chocolate cake for breakfast. The bread pudding was excellent. The food, although buffet-style, was well-prepared and served in smaller portions. I got lots of things on two smaller plates; it seemed to fit the theme. Deborah was enchanted, and we both found our inner kids were happy and jumped up to see the next character. Goofy’s Character Breakfast is recommended.

 

We got a taxi driven by an East African immigrant, Osmon, back to our hotel. He waited for us for no charge. Osmon was happy to drive us to Huntington Beach and regaled us about the area and the cost of houses. While his trip cost more than an Uber, the car was comfortable, and it felt safe. The distance is about the same as the airport, and so the price was what we paid for our first ride – not cheap, but not terrible.

(To my surprise, this is not a joke sign. Apparently, chumming near the beach is considered unwise for the swimmers and surfers)

We called to be dropped off at Huntington Beach, and Osmon got us there without issue. It was another perfect California day, but the breeze was cool near the Pacific, and we did not feel the sun strike us while on the pier or on the beach. We walked the pier to the end and sat inside at the Broad Street Oyster Company and had some cold Diet Cokes and shared a bowl of clam strips and watched the folks fishing.

I saw a splash and a flash of white. The beach was shut down a few days ago after a Great White was seen jumping out of the water. Soon, there were more splashes, and it was two pods of Dolphins, apparently fishing too. It was an absolute joy to see them. Not a shark.

We walked back down the pier with Deborah and I investing in a few more items at a shop. We then walked the long march to the sea after removing our shoes, and for me, my socks as well. The bag for all the items purchased soon held our footwear.

The waves were tall enough to be over the heads of folks standing on the sand. We stayed in the shallows, but a few times the water splashed us good. At first, it seemed cold, but soon it was a comfort. Not Oregon’s cold Pacific waters that hurt to stand in.

We walked on the beach, and some folks were catching mole crabs (I know them as sand fleas). Deborah got to touch one and then saw how they dig in and realized they are everywhere in the surf. It is one of my favorite things to watch in the surf (from a distance in the cold Pacific Northwest waters). It was a marvelous time in the light surf.

We tried Fred’s Mexican Food for lunch/dinner. We were in the sun and we both felt off. We are unsure whether it was the heat, the margaritas, or the food. The Uber back was not well air-conditioned, and that did not improve things.

I spent the rest of the early evening with my colon demonstrating how much it could hold (and release) and nearly reversing the mararita process (which would have been most unpleasant). I managed to recover without causing a mess. Deborah and I just read, napped, and finally slept.

Thanks for reading!