Author: alohawild

It has been a year since I was laid off on April 20. It was the date my career at Nike ended, albeit with a massive package and two years of salary, insurance, etc. I remember this Monday as a work day. I did not even think about it on Sunday as it was Easter, and Z and I had pancakes to make. I was tired after that and stayed home, passing on various Easter Dinner offers. But there was a slight hint of melancholy on the anniversary day.

Looking back, I wish I had enjoyed my retirement longer. I do not think there was an opening until the layoff with its package appeared in my life, but I do not miss corporate life, and wish I had left it sooner. I remember having to do nearly impossible computer things with insane deadlines and swollen budgets invented by managers with sights set on higher office. The managers, directors, and vice presidents always assumed credit for success (I only had one project fail in all my years at Nike). The budget excess found a home with a wink and a nod in another failing project. Status meetings were often early or late to include other time zones. I am not missing my work at a multinational company at all.

Nike’s HR asked me to reconsider my departure due to my brain tumor. They wanted me, and it was kind of them, to put me back on the payroll and take medical leave instead. The recommendation was to let Nike’s generous leave policy cover me during my recovery. I took the layoff package and turned down an HR VP. It all worked out.

I enjoy owning my day and jealously protect it from volunteering possibilities. I have noticed that retired folks exchange one busy life for another. I want to do some new things and something different. I choose to travel, write, and play board games. I did take a church position that takes some focus, but I guard my choices.

With the passing of Susie, colon cancer, and surviving a brain tumor, I will try to enjoy life for a while.

Sunday started with me waking to find Deborah’s ‘Happy Easter’ text. I rose and found my laptop on my work table in the fireside room next to the kitchen. I woke early, pushed the start button on the coffee I had assembled the night before, and started on the blog. I had only an hour to write. I managed to get 3/4 of it done before I had to stop, time-boxed, and hopped into the shower. I did the usual things. Today, I put on a pride tie for Easter as it has all the Easter colors and a good message for the holy day. This is with a white shirt, dark blue slacks, and green sweater vest.

I loaded the cooled ham and butter. Yesterday, I put the grills and other items in Air VW the Gray’s cargo hold. It is a quick trip, and Jack lets me into the First United Methodist Church of Beaverton, where I start to unload. Dondrea and Z (Z is head of Hospitality at the church; anyone over 13 is considered a member and can serve on most committees, even lead) appeared, and we assembled the kitchen for pancake cooking and ham reheating.

I showed the secret electrical plug in the drawer, connected a short extension cord to it, and started up one grill. This was a shock to Methodist folks, as apparently, the knowledge of this plug was lost in the various personnel changes. I just smiled. The other two plugs on the other counter were also a surprise. My two grills and one borrowed were running after a quick wash.

Z and I soon updated our skills and made it through some practice pancakes, and we got out the ham for a taste. We thinned the batter, remembering it looked thin, but then the cakes thickened and worked. Our first ones, failures, were not cooked in the center, but looked good. Yikes!

The ham was well received. It was roasted at the house and then reheated with foil to prevent it from becoming pork jerky. I bought a cheap ($31) ham because the flavor is not overly done or too salty—just ham. I did not glaze or use cloves, as it would not be presented, but disassembled and served. I first put it out, but the ham was not coming apart as easily as I hoped. We had to slice it in the kitchen. I will have to get a larger one next time, as that would make it easier.

I let others serve, set up tables, decorate, and all of that. I find it best to let others take over, as these are Methodists. Methodists love to set up and arrange meals. It’s best to let them go. Soon, everything was ready.

Z and I raised a pile of pancakes with only a few takers. We had more workers than customers, but eventually the workers ate, and others showed up much later than the 9:30 start time, but it all worked. Z and I just made more hot pancakes. Hot food was always on top, and the heat radiated to the other food. Putting the new stuff on the bottom would have been more de rigueur, but the process would more likely make a mess. We just stacked ’em.

The food was good, and we had about twenty to thirty customers. We had one distressed older man who looked homeless and was angry, but seemed to like the company and the food. His hands shook, and he was pretty rude. But he liked the food, and I think he resisted enjoying himself. He was mostly ignored, but he never crossed any lines, and I never thought him a hazard. He attended the church service, and we could hear his voice here and there. He was from a more evangelical background and did not like the bilingual service. The last time I saw him, he was waving his hands and clearly unhappy with the service and experience. But he left without incident.

It is not the job of Christians to judge: He got breakfast, I brought him coffee, and we let him go with his complaints. Happy Easter!

This year’s sermons were less serious and focused on the joy in the Easter text in John. Our Pastor Ken and the Pastor of Principe de Paz (a group that also worships at our church in a Spanish service), Enrique Caldera, gave a message. Dondrea ensured the service ran according to plan and gave an Easter prayer. An egg hunt followed, with Dondrea discovering she was running that, too. A squirrel joined in and was last seen running away with a blue plastic egg.

We had cleaned up the kitchen, and I could head out. As I said, I demurred when offered Easter Dinner. I returned home, unloaded, and froze a few spare pancakes (according to the NYT, you reheat them in the oven). I soon stumbled into the bedroom. After an hour of rest, I sent a note that I was not joining dinner and made a salad for lunch. I include many olives from the Olive Pit I bought on my trip back.

After considerable effort, Deborah and I connected my iPad to her run of Matlock, and we shared/watched another episode. Deborah was catching up with her laundry and cleaning after spending a weekend together while we watched. I still like the show and speculate in my mind where it is headed. In this episode, we learned a few more things that should have been obvious, and my mind drew paths of possible solutions. Deborah rang off and headed to bed.

It was late afternoon, and I started on something I wanted to do all day. I rolled the bed out of the office and folded it. I sat at my desk and found it still like May 19, with even a church bulletin from that day. This was the day before my surgery, and Linda was using the office as a place to sleep during my recovery.

I grabbed my laptop, plugged it in again on my desk in my office, and started picking up the area. It was like waking up after a year. Here was the office I had set up, and I had one day left to get better—time to be better and enjoy this.

Somewhere in this story I finished the blog on Sunday.

It was dusty, and things were thrown here and there, but a coaster from a breakfast in Texas and postcards from New Orleans were still where I left them. The program from A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2023 is still saved. I felt welcomed. I was back home, though a disheveled home. Easter, April, and spring are all times to start again, some of the melancholy left, and the laptop was left in its usual place, plugged into its landing station (sadly, the fast cable is lost and my internet connection is still slow, but I will replace it soon). The backup drive is now plugged into the landing station.

I was tired, so I made dinner of baked beans with freshly made wheat bread. Then, I watched the first episode of Doctor Who’s new season. It was fast-paced and well put together, and I was surprised by the storyline. I would recommend it. And he wears a kilt for the first part of the filming, got to love that.

After that, I headed to bed early, 10PM, as the time zone change and workout in the kitchen started to slow me down. I soon slept, reading first, waking at 2, and then again before sunrise. There were pleasant, but forgotten dreams. Thanks for reading!

 

I rose after 7. I was still confused about what time zone I reside in. I started by reading a text from Deborah—she wishes me ‘good morning’ most mornings in her time zone while I sleep. I soon found the kitchen; it had not moved, and the coffee pot was full of liberal joy (fair-traded coffee). I took some mashed potatoes, chopped some onion fine, and added that and milk to the mix. I then broke an egg and beat all that together. I fried that in butter, and I remixed it when it got brown/dark. I opened a can of peaches and included half of them for breakfast; the rest went back in the frig. I stole some ham from the church ham that I started to bake while cooking breakfast. The potatoes needed salt (perfect for me), and I enjoyed breakfast.

I next started on the blog. I wrote about my first full day back in Oregon, Friday. I also did my usual download transactions into Quicken, many of which are still from my travels. I checked the news, but it was dark and not liberal. I spent a few hours writing.

I was still tired, I put away the laundry, did the dishes, and watched the gray and rain turn to a chilly sunny day. The wind, from the high desert, was cold, almost brutal without a coat, but the sun was hot and warm. I walked on my lawn and marveled at the blooms and roses with buds. The China rose was already blooming; it is always the first and last. The story of the rose is interesting: Wikipedia. My rosemary is blooming, and the local bees are happy with it.

I saw in the transactions that the earthquake insurance was paid. It is just under $700 a year, and insurance is now a significant expense for the house.

Natala was bartending at The 649, and soon I had a beer and was reading Pastor Ken’s manuscript. I read the introduction, ending, and first two paragraphs. He asked me to look at the flow and how to make it more approachable. I will read the first five chapters and see what I can suggest.

I sat outside and inside; when I got cold, I would change locations. I had soup, later a quesadilla, and two red ales. I left mid-afternoon as I could not shake the cold. I took Air VW the Gray back to the house.

Earlier, I had unloaded most of the games from the cargo hold and loaded cooking grills (I have two). I am helping to cook breakfast before church on Easter. I had cooled the ham and put in in the frig with plenty of tinfoil. I will take it with me on Easter morning. I crawled into bed and got warm again, nodding off a few times.

I rose before 5, put on my shoes, and boarded the EV. Traffic through Beaverton was slow as the unexpected sunshine brought people out. There was some slowing on Highway 26 inbound to Portland, but nothing unusual. I soon arrived at Richard’s, and Lauren was there, too. With Kathleen arriving a few minutes later, we had a four-person game.

Another Kickstarter had come in for Richard, and we were the first play (though Richard had played an online version) of Stupor Mundi, a deck-building and resource management game, with the usual over-the-top implementation from a Kickstarter. You build a castle for yourself with lovely 3D pieces. It is also a race-like game, like Concordia and Istanbul.

I was keeping up, but soon Richard flew to the top with Lauren chasing him. Kathleen was at the bottom until the last moment and pushed one point ahead of me. I came in later, but I liked the game and would want to play it again.

With the game over and Kathleen now with a car, I headed home. The night was dry, and the drive uneventful.

I was soon home, plugged in the EV, and in my PJs. I read for a while and soon fell asleep.

Thanks for reading.

I woke after waking and sleeping in different ways for my first whole night back in Oregon. I seemed to be confused about what time it was. But California seemed to have embraced its northern neighbor; it was sunny and warm!  I rose after 7, a pot of liberal joy having been prepared before I went to bed, waited for me. The fair trade coffee tasted hopeful. Despite the damp dew on the grass, I was happy to tour the backyard in the sunny morning in my PJs, seeing all my flowers, and hearing the birds singing and the insects buzzing. I opened the doors and turned off the heat. I was dreaming of Lala Land: here.

I opened the suitcase and my gym bag—my usual travel carry-on—piled clothing into groups and started The Machine. I had put aside my spare pants, shirt, socks, and underwear, which I carry in the gym bag (in case I need a change of clothing), to wear today. I planned to spend the morning and early afternoon writing and doing laundry. And that is what I did. Not very exciting, dear reader, I am afraid.

I added to the dishes, Corwin had cared for the orchids, checked the house for me, and left a few. I always tell him to take advantage of any food he wants in the house. The can of olives from the Olive Pit in California fit that bill.

The mail was delivered, including everything held. I send a letter to the post carrier when I am on a trip, and that works well with a redelivery day on my return. A book on Jutland (a reprint of a 1920s book, but sadly without the maps), the 5E Lord of the Rings role-playing game (RPG) newest book, and various bills and updates. My IRA is being invested, and I get lots of paperwork. While a bit overwhelming, getting this paper is a sign that your investments are being appropriately handled. No paperwork or wrong paperwork is a bad sign.

My second load is shirts and pants; I am happy to remove some dampness. Dress shirts can dry on the hanger. Soon, the load was done, and it was nearly 1:30, so I took Air VW the Gray to BJ’s Brewhouse for lunch. I sat at the bar, and while the food was good, the bartender was hard to deal with and spoiled my meal. I will avoid him next time and take a table.

I stopped by Safeway and got a spiral-sliced ham for church on Easter. We cook breakfast at 8ish, and ham will be served with pancakes. I got syrup and butter (but that will not be needed as Dondrea also got some). I saw a few nice steaks and got them.

When I returned home, I read some of the 5E LOTR RPG book, which was also a bit of a disappointment. The adventures were very basic, and the text repeated some material I already had (!). This was more of a supplement than the cutting-edge and complex Moria book they published before. Still, it is always good to read more extra-canonical LOTR material. The Moria and Shire books were fantastic. Someday, I will get to run a 5E LOTR-style Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

I lit the gas grill and dried it out; this process removed spider webs and other debris. I then let it cool off. I cleaned up the grills, but the metal still needs more care. I put out one of the steaks I got at Safeway with salt, pepper, and a meat rub.

I talked to Deborah on and off during the day. We are still getting used to returning to a long-distance relationship, and I keep looking for Deborah here. Though I know she is not here, I still miss her. We spent two weeks together in California in March and a week in April. It is fifty-one days until we meet in California again for one of Deborah’s work conferences. Deborah and I, after getting depressed with joint doom scrolling and other unhappy subjects, instead focused on the next trip, and I scheduled my flight to California. This time, I am not driving to LA. Been there. Done that (EV driven from Beaverton to Long Beach and back).

I boiled and mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and grilled the steak. Some rust stuck to my steak, which annoyed me. I will clean the grill again! Still, my meal was good.

Pastor Ken asked me to look at his new book. I started to read some, but I was too brain-dead from the trip to make that work. Running the laundry was about as complex a task as I could handle. I managed to get the dishes in the dishwasher, run it, finish the laundry, process the mail, and only nod off once.

I sat on my deck for dinner and caught up on my YouTube channels, Battleship New Jersey and ShipHappens. One mosquito showed up and tried to bite my arm. Somewhere, there is some stagnant water, as we seldom see this. Hmmm.

By 10, I was tired and soon crawled into my bed and tried to sleep. I woke a few times, but finally, I slept until the morning.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Thursday was a travel day. I had an 8-ish hour direct flight from Detroit (DTW) to Portland (PDX). I had to return Air Hyundai Red. I had one bag to check (for $35 on Delta), and I did not have a cheap seat, thus enabling me to have a seat assignment before I checked in for the flight the night before. I again pre-paid for the bag charge, avoiding pulling out a credit card at the bag tag process. I would hate to lose it or find I lost it at the last moment. I might become so discombobulated that I could put the card in my pocket and have it fall out (I have done that before), forget my phone, or leave my hat somewhere. I want my bag tagging to be as smooth as possible. I find that transitions are the most likely to cause you to forget something. Deborah has a Delta Credit Card, and her bags are free. Others I know who travel often have expensive credit cards to get various services and freebies while travelling. I am retired and cheap now, but I am tempted.

I was mostly packed and soon made coffee in the room. It had been cleaned the day before, and I had some coffee packs available (not a pod machine) for the machine. I finished the packing, more like throwing things in and sitting on the case to close, and then descended to the lobby to finish writing and partake of the industrial breakfast. The Fairfield Inn on a Thursday closes the breakfast at 9, and I was there after eight, getting much of the dregs of the earlier risers, but the staff, whom I thanked again, had added a few fresh items. It was still good and filling.

I use my HotSpot rather than the local WiFi. I do not trust that the hotel has good security, and I update my Quicken accounts daily. I am not interested in seeing how good my laptop encryption is versus some likely bored young person. They have all day, like squirrels raiding a bird feeder, to break in and get something. Instead, my phone creates the connection, unless the connection is poor.

I wrote a short blog post and published it. I went back to room 222, got my bag, computer, and suitcase, and put on my hat and coat. I had checked multiple times that I had everything and knew my dress shoes were already squished in my bag. I checked out, “yes, you email me,” and got in Air Hyundai Red and headed south in Lansing.

I thought about calling friends or family, but it is hard to enjoy much as the clock is ticking and I need to feel safe early at the airport. It was late morning, so I decided to see the fantastic farm/grocery store in Lansing: Horrocks Farm Market. My first impression was that it is almost out of Lansing near Holt. I found easy parking and walked in. It reminded me of many markets I have been to worldwide, but it smelled better, and there was just one vendor (and I could read the signs and understand the price without math). It brought back my recent memories of Eastern Market and the Olive Pit in California. I enjoyed walking through it and thought that next time, I would have to consider the hotel with a kitchen!

Deborah contacted me and suggested we meet for lunch at her work, which is in the general direction of the airport. I agreed. Nav sent me to Detroit through the city and back North to Deborah, making a kind of check-mark-like voyage.

I was surprised when Nav sent me off the highways and through the lovely town of Howell, as Highway 96 was blocked for construction and some incident. I had not been there, not that I remember, but I thought it was quaint and lake-filled. Soon, Nav had me on 4 and 4-lane fast-moving highways. Following the navigation, I had to switch to secondary roads as the highways were still being reconstructed.

It was nice to see Detroit again. Except for the construction incident, it was a great drive (mostly over 75), but soon, I was with Deborah, parking next to her Blue Mini. I was presented to various friends and co-workers playing the role of boyfriend. Deborah told me earlier I was being “inspected.” I was not in my dress shirt and vest, and was worried a floppy sweater over a T-shirt was not enough.

The folks smiled and thanked me for making Deborah happy, and I answered, hearing a few snickers, “My pleasure.” I passed inspection, and soon we headed to Leo’s Coney Island nearby.

I was tempted by the Greek-styled items but went with the plate of hot dogs, drink, and fries. The dogs were not microwaved but boiled, the buns steamed, the chilli thick and full of crushed beans, and the onions fresh. The French fries were well-made. All with a Diet Coke, as I had some problems with depression before, and it’s best not to self-medicate. Deborah had a spinach and cheese omelet.

Next, we scanned the area for game stores, and GOB (Guild of Blades) self-reporting as Michigan’s largest comic and game store was just a few minutes away. Deborah found two used games (the store uses a consignment process to sell unwanted games for store credit), and I marveled at the prices for some of the old Dungeons and Dragons stuff, now collectible, on my shelves.

‘Tick tock,’ and it was time to begin my travels home. Deborah and I said our goodbyes, and we were not ready to return to a long-distance relationship again. We were just in California for two weeks and will have to wait until June to see each other again. I boarded the Red Car, and Nav had me soon checking my rental back in, managing not to forget anything (transitions are always sudden when traveling, and so easy to miss something important). Next, I was off on a bus packed with no seats available (like last time) to Delta’s big hub terminal in Detroit.

I took the escalator up, and this time, my tags were printed for my bags. All the processes were working, and soon, I checked my bags. Today, there was a change of flow. The upstairs security check, previously only for pre-checks for TSA and a security partner, CLEAR, was now open to regular customers, with a short line.

Aside: CLEAR is a traded company, symbol YOU, and charges $199, plus $119 per year for more people (a couple would be $199 + $119). I watched as CLEAR terminals were used to validate people, and then the CLEAR-using customers were walked to a TSA agent by a CLEAR agent to finish the official process. It appeared that you were buying with CLEAR a faster line and with folks there to help you than with TSA PreCheck. I thought reselling TSA PreCheck, a $85 service, was a capitalistic wonder (reporting a net profit of 50% and a near 2% dividend).

I passed through security, using the shorter lines upstairs, without any issues, and remembered everything. The more chaotic lines downstairs were for folks who were not checking bags, had checked in, and had boarding passes. I’m not sure it would ever be faster that way. I took the escalator down to the main floor and found my gate.

Another Leo’s Coney Dog was next to my gate. They did not have Greek food at this one. I walked five gates to the Mezze, Mediterranean food, and got a large Sam Adams summer ale and a plate of starters (it is actually called a mezze when I order it in Turkey). I ate, drank, and wrote the blog. I talked to Deborah a few times on the phone. We are a bit sad to start the long-distance calls again, and we were just happy to talk while we were still in the same time zone!

The men’s room was ten gates away. I used them just before boarding. I was in 29F and group 5 and seemed to board before most (I suspect we had many cheaper flyers for Easter). I used my camera to make a video of the take-off. A new reel for me will soon be on Facebook. I watched two movies. Puss in Boots and John Wick 4 were good. I thought the films had an unusual connection to my thinking about existing politics.

I had a coffee without spilling it. The guy next to me did manage to dump his water on me, and I was damp for a bit. The plane landed without issue. I was dry, found my suitcase, and boarded the MAX, Portland’s light rail, to return to Beaverton. I waited thirty minutes to leave. A security guy was having a phone call, on speaker, that was about family issues and loud. It was annoying as nobody wanted to hear it, but we all ignored it, and soon he stopped.

I helped another passenger find his way, but his phone worked, too. I got off at Willow Creek and waited twenty minutes for an Über to show up. No issues, and I was soon home. The house was clean (I cleaned it before I left, but it smelled slightly stale; I used Febreze), and soon, I was in bed sleeping.

Thanks for reading!

It is now sixty-one years. I am still too many years from Medicare, and my COBRA insurance runs out in December ($780 a month). I must find health insurance soon to fill the gap until I am 65. I will be applying for Social Security before my 62nd birthday. Thus, sixty-one comes with challenges, but I knew they would come; I did not expect Trump and Elon to be the main risks.

My birthday was fantastic, and family and friends met me at The Beggar’s Banquet in East Lansing to celebrate it in the early evening. Deborah made a cake and brought it to the restaurant, beating me there by a few minutes. I picked up Leta at her house and got her there, using her handicap parking spot to get a closer parking spot.  We still had to walk a block.

There was a non-electric car parked in a charge parking spot, growl.

Dinner was chaotic, as our waiter was the only waiter on Thursday night. There were multiple large groups, including ours. The food was OK, but not as good as it once was (or my memory, like many, seems better than it was in the past). But the venue worked for a birthday party, and we all enjoyed the time. Deborah arranged and then lit the candles, and a familiar song was sung. I managed not to spit on the cake.

There was a slight sadness as Susie was not there, and ‘Elric’ Anderson, who was last seen by us at The Beggar’s Banquet, passed away in November. I am constantly distracted on my birthday as I think about all of them.

Remembering from the 2000s, I once had a birthday on a business trip in India. The hotel staff, learning I was there on my birthday, made me a cake. I was flying early, and they had it ready at 6AM. The staff and I enjoyed the cake before I caught my taxi to the airport for a day trip. Then, at AFS SAP in Bangalore, I also had a cake with the developers who work on the software I supported for Nike. It was kind, and everyone loves a party. On my return, the same day, the hotel bar had a small party for me. It was a crazy day!

I rose later in the morning (it was my birthday) and started on the blog once I was dressed. I picked a white dress shirt and green sweater vest. It is my birthday, and I like dress shirts. Breakfast was complimentary in the lobby, and I headed down to write the blog and have breakfast. I spent a few hours writing and, on my return to my room, discovered my room had been cleaned (they did not clean it yesterday). I then went down to the front desk, got a $20 broken, and gave a tip to the cleaning staff.

Next, I got my hat and coat (it was cold in Michigan and snowed on me yesterday), and headed out to see Mom Wild in Air Hyundai Red. In a blur, I crossed part of East Lansing, Lansing, and Haslett and arrived, only having to turn around once. Mom Wild was up and unhappy. I spent an hour trying to calm her and be supportive. Lunch came, and with promises to see her again that evening, I headed out.

While Deborah claims I missed many gas stations in the area, I did not see one for some time. I was of the opinion that you could buy pet food (there seemed to be stores everywhere for that) more easily than gas. I finally found a Shell station and then tried to remember the process for gas cars. I have an EV, and Oregon is a full-service state. I managed to perform the task, though the car was still running without loss or injury to myself, property, or others.

Next, I stopped by The People’s Kitchen, a high-end former food truck joint. It has a Mad-Max edgy decor, but the menu is high-end and imaginative. I sat at the bar. I was looking for something easy and soon had a delicious cup of soup, and they supplied a dessert at no charge. The drinks looked complex and likely expensive, but instead, I went for Diet Coke in a tiki glass as I did not want to nap today (my usual reaction to lunch drinks). I made the tip include the full price of the dessert and thanked them.

One of the staff asked me how old I was, and I replied 19. This got lots of laughs (they decided not to card me). David suggested later on a text that I should have picked something more believable, like 29. Hmmm.

And I think that will cover the day for what goes in the blog. It was a lovely trip this week. Thursday is a travel day, and I will just pack up, walk a bit, and then head to Detroit to return Air Hyundai Red and get on a plane home to Oregon.