I made a pot of coffee and bagels with thinly sliced salmon, capers, and cream cheese for breakfast. We finished our packing and managed to be ready for church. We boarded Air VW the Gray and reached the church just as it started. The previous service had overrun, making the Methodist service start a bit rocky.

Deborah and I sat together, and the service ran a bit long for Methodists. Pastor Ken’s sermon was focused on the Hebrew Scriptures again and its rules for Justice and the responsibilities of cities found this time in Isaiah 58 and 60. The sermon series is based on the Hebrew Scriptures and the concept of a righteous city (my words). We are called by God not only to live a good life but also to ensure that the poor are fed, clothed, and cared for. That Justice is proved by the status of the stranger, orphan, and widow in a nation’s cities, not their wealth or confidence in God. Ken covered this from multiple angles, and to be fair to him, I was rushing and kept hoping he was done.

Dondrea covered the offering (I often fill in for the ushers), but I did help put away the money, checks, and so on with Jack after the service. It is a two-person job to ensure they are not mishandled. I did this while Deborah got introduced to a few folks after church. Dondrea and Z were ready, and soon, Deborah and I headed to Dondrea’s house in the EV. Arriving just after Dondrea and Z arrived, we moved our bags to Dona’s Lexus (Dona is Dondrea’s mother). Dondrea took the wheel and got us to Union Station in Portland within sixty minutes of our train leaving. Dona then drove back home following navigation; Dona was still new to the area.

We had four economy seats on 518 to Seattle (518 goes to points beyond, including Canada); this is part of the Amtrack Cascade line that runs north from Portland and south Seattle. I grabbed a sandwich, Deborah a snack, and Dondrea and Z a few items. We did not know how soon food would be available on the train.

Soon, we lined up, learned it was important to line up soon (we had), and walked across the tracks to our train. We then walked to the near end of the train. We found seats, two on each side, put our bags overhead, and enjoyed the large seats and excitement. Trains come with 120V plugs, and soon, items were being charged.

It took about four hours to get there, with quite a few stops on the way. Unlike my cross-country trains, there were no long stops with a walk/smoke break (I don’t smoke, but I still walked). Deborah and I tried the snack car, and it was a walk through three cars to reach it (Business Class is on the other side of the snack car). I got a beer, and Deborah got a Diet Coke.

Just about the time it was getting tedious, the trip ended. We were at King Station and found a guy waving to us. We decided to try him, and he took cash (Dondrea covered it). It took him about ten minutes to reach the State Hotel. The hotel is a boutique hotel a block from Pike Street Market. The rooms were smaller but nice.

We knew they had a strange locked door policy for their lobby, and soon, the clerk let us in. Deborah got to our room, and Dondrea and Z were quickly checked into their room. After getting our rooms in order, we returned to the lobby and decided to consider Ivar’s Acres of Clams on Pier 54 for dinner. But we are in the hills and must find a way down to the pier. We walk and spot a staircase. Neither Dondrea nor I remember stairs being here (we think they are new) and were happy to see them lead down to the piers by the Ferris wheel.

We soon found Ivar’s and got a table looking at the now-dark waters of Elliott Bay. There we had a wonderful meal. We discovered that Ivar’s splits their meals with flair, and Dondrea and Z split soup and their meal. We shared Coconut Crusted Shrimp. Dondrea and Z split Cioppino Seafood and I tried a whole one (I did send more shrimp to Z). Deborah had the fried clams, cod, halibet, and shrimp. She was dream back to Howard Johnson’s clam stips. These were quite good. We all had a great meal.

 

Next, we returned by stairs to our hotel using the stairs, this time through the Pike Street Market, and walked a few blocks to learn again where everything was. We then had to climb up one hill that was quite steep. I was not ready for that. Dondrea provided me with some painkillers as I had bruised my foot. I had pressed down on it while at dinner and on the train, a bad habit. Once we reached the lobby of The State Hotel (now able to open the doors with our room keys), we sat and chatted for a while. It was early, but soon, we said our good nights.

Thanks for reading.

 

I’m sorry. We have been busy, and the break to write the blog did not appear until Saturday night.

Saturday

When we returned home Saturday evening, most of the snow was gone. It is raining and warm, and the snow will soon be a memory. Deborah did comment that I had not overstated the interesting driving of the Greater Portland Area drivers.

Starting tonight and going backward, Deborah and I have just returned to the house after watching “Mrs. Harrison,” a play at the Armory Theater in Portland’s Pearl District by R. Eric Thomas. This is a two-woman play that was quite good. I sadly had trouble hearing one of the actors; I have hearing loss in my surviving ear (the brain tumor I survived cost me the hearing and balance structures on my left side) that overlaps some voices, predominantly female words. Sitting with me in row F in orchestra seats (it was not the distance), Deborah heard fine. While I had some trouble following it, it worked for me, and I only wish I could have seen it again. I was tired after a long day, and I know my understanding of words sinks in the evening–CC on some shows already helps me. I expect glasses and hearing aids will not be far in the future for me.

The play was at the Armory, and we arrived from Screen Door. We had chicken and waffles at the southern-style place, and I put my second piece and part of Deborah’s in a box. It is a lot of food. We had fried okra (a first for Deborah) for an appetizer. We were early and sent to the bar while our table was ready, and we tried their Sazerac. This is an easy-to-drink boozy drink created originally in New Orleans and a favorite of mine (and Dondrea). Deborah had one, too, and thought it excellent.

Before this, we played video games at Ground Kontrol near Chinatown. We tried some old friends, like Space Invaders, Centipede, and the first version of the Asteroid games. We played a two-person version of the old Joust game with us, trying not to take each other. I tried some pinball and still am not good, but it lasts longer a few times. I tried the Doctor Who and Black Knight machines (The Addam’s Family machine was broken). Time flowed fast, and soon, we were headed to the Pearl District and dinner, as covered above.

Before this, we walked down to Chinatown and the Cheese-style garden. I have a membership with a visitor, so we got in for free. As we entered, the Lunar New Year celebration was winding down, but we still managed to get photos with the celebratory lions. Deborah loved the garden, and we made about two loops. You can make a multi-color print and buy some calligraphy, and Deborah selected some items. We finished with tea in the Tea House at the Garden; the garden closed at 4:30 this Saturday.

Before this, Air VW the Gray delivered us to Portland’s Pearl District, and we parked in a charging location. We would later move the EV to a regular space at 98% charge. It is unfair to leave an EV in a charging location when you are finished charging (and you can be charged for that). We walked to Powell’s City of Books and had a coffee there. A guy made flowers out of scrap paper in the coffee area at Powell’s and made the paper appear to dance and float in the air. I know the magic trick for this, and he did a fantastic job of the work. It is difficult to pull that off as street magic; excellent! Deborah and others were amazed by the show and his fantastic folding work.

Deborah and I headed upstairs to the Rare Book Room. At John King’s Books in Detroit, Deborah found some unique items and wonders. There is a strict limit to the number of people allowed in the room, so we had to wait. Deborah got a pass, and then I looked at something and returned to a line eight deep. I finally joined Deborah. There was a companion to the Hornblower books I loved to read when I was young ($150) and the identical translations I got at John King’s of Greek Tragities for the same price I paid ($100). Deborah discovered books that matched her personal collection of children’s books. Deborah noticed one of her items was mismarked, and while the price went up, the gal gave Deborah 10% off her purchase for her “sharp eyes.”

Powell’s had some miniature books made and sold in the Rare Book Room. I selected Henry V as a gift for Deborah. Deborah loved it.

Before this, we rose late, and I made scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon (extra crisp–but not burned–for Deborah).

Friday

Starting on Friday now and going forward, I woke to my alarm at 3:45 and texted Deborah. She was already at Detroit Airport (DTW) and headed to her plane to Seattle Airport (SeaTac). We texted back and forth, and around 4, I was out of bed. It was a difficult start. I followed along with Deborah’s progress, and she had WiFi on the plane, allowing texting once it was at cruise altitude. I used TripIt to track this trip, and soon, it warned of a delay in her second connecting flight to Portland (PDX) from SeaTac. A gate change also happened. Deborah arrived at SeaTac, reached her plane, and was about an hour late in PDX.

I took MAX into PDX as the winter weather still made transit complex and unpredictable. I parked Air VW the Gray at Willow Creek/185 MAX station and took the MAX in.  There were only a few minor delays, and I arrived there two hours early, plus the delayed time. I brought my Kindle and read.

Deborah appeared at the exit, and I waited in the stadium seating (I had gotten a Diet RC and pretzel at the Beer Hall as I showed signs of motion sickness). We were reunited and hugged. We got to MAX, and Deborah was impressed by our public transit. The snow was melting already. We reached the house without issue. The EV handled well in the snow.

Dinner was at Golden Valley Brewery (GVB) in Beaverton. For Valentine’s Day, we had prime rib, champagne, coffee drinks, and a shared dessert. Ross, who helped me set up the reservation, was our waiter. The food was terrific, and Deborah and I had a great time enjoying our first dinner in more than six weeks together.

We had a romantic two days and look forward to Sunday’s Amtrak trip to Seattle with Dondrea and Z.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

Yes, three inches of snow and 1/10 of an inch of ice shut down the Greater Portland Area.

I rose and looked outside at about 7 and soon had a rescheduling for Jeff, my fix-it guy who had remodeled the bathrooms and other upgrades at the house. He lives in the foothills of the Coastal Mountains, and the trip up and down was not to be trusted. Schools, governments, Nike WHQ (I still get the emails), and others were closed. We had 1 inch of snow, growing to about 2 (and another inch early Friday morning).

I rose and started the blog but forgot about it and lost all my focus. With the weather, I needed plans for Deborah, and I went to Safeway to get items before the general panic started or the weather went bad (sometimes the forecast is too optimistic; in the Pacific Northwest, you have to be ready). I got some food, flowers, and items I knew I needed. I unloaded those and sprinkled de-icer on the walkways and driveway.

One more load of laundry and dishes filled part of the morning. Cedar Hills McMenamins called asking if the church meeting was still on, and sadly, no, Dondrea and I had talked, and it was revised to a Zoom meeting for the weather. At a higher altitude than me, Scott decided it was best for him to enjoy the fire at home. I decided to try out Air VW the Gray in the snow and enjoyed a mostly easy trip. At TV Highway and 209th, the left turn signal is connected to a magnetic switch that detects a car in the lane. With the snow, we were not in the proper place (white lines with white snow is not a good combination), so we (I was not alone in the lane) turned safely to a red light turning signal.

On Thursday, Bob, often our waiter, had two customers for Lunch. The EV was the only vehicle in the parking lot when I arrived. We were both sitting near the wood fire. I had a bowl of their chili, a side of fries, and their Hammerhead beer. A few more folks appeared, and soon, all the seats near the fire were taken. We made a toast to the brave and enjoyed our lunch.

With the EV handling perfectly with anti-lock brakes, all-wheel-drive, and fine all-weather tires, I headed out across Beaverton. I headed into Hillsboro and the Target there. I parked and watched a late-model Jeep brand do ‘donuts’ in the snow. I waved and tipped my hat to them. They smiled and waved. I suspect they have waited all year to do that! Excellent!

I found what I needed, a few items for Deborah, and walked with care to Air VW the Gray. I got the EV home without much slipping or risk from other drivers. More folks were on the roads than I expected, but they tended toward the large pickup trucks and older model cars.

I talked to Deborah, who was thrilled to have a snow day before her travel day. Mom Wild had an off day, and I spoke to her four times. I realized I never finished the blog; finally, I got that written and published!

I promised myself I would sharpen the knives once I had the house better. I got out the knife sharpener and undulled my best knives. While not perfectly sharp, they were better when I was done. I recommend Global Knives (I love the incorporated handles).

I cleaned up the kitchen after making a ham and cheese omelet. I nearly burned the ham. I bought a spiral-cut ham that I will need to freeze at some point, but they are good in the frig for a while. I added no salt, but still, the omelet was good, but a three-egg omelet was too much food for me.

I watched more of season two of Babalon 5 and still find it a mixed bag. There is some terrible writing, but it is often funny. I remember season three being scary and dark; I was nearing the end of season two.

Next was the Zoom meeting. About eight folks for our Theology Pub meeting are now returning to our Zoom COVID-19 configuration due to the weather, including one person in Utah. Today’s topic was the loss of social capital in American life and the subsequent growth in loneliness. We agreed that the rise of social media, corporate marketing (i.e., ordering frozen veggies online, having the product delivered with no contact, and watching a video on cooking instead of going to a local market and getting fresh and meeting people and sharing recipes), and changes in how we live (more separate in our homes) contributed to the loss of social capital. Folks were being sold more media choices without increasing communication or interaction between people. A text message, while communication, is not social interaction, we claimed. We also agreed that there are many options available. However, the American distrust of institutions (Watergate, political tensions, level of activities to raise a family, education, and so on) makes joining suspect and the institutional resistance to new ideas and giving over authority to new people (a natural response) often causes folks to abandon organizations in a year or less.

We thought we should direct some words and maybe programs to welcome lonely people to the church. Perhaps some care facilities could send folks who wanted to join us. Bob mentioned that we should also remember to suggest other service organizations. We don’t see this as caused by folks refusing to be involved but as a pressure of American life to be isolated, something to be resisted.

After the meeting ended, I rested, did the dishes, and got the kitchen back in order. Then, growling, I noticed that my dusting needed to be repeated. F**k. But I went to bed after a shower and read more Canadian crime with many laughs as I started the next book. I slept soon after more Advil to get the coughing under control. I think it is helping with the inflammation from coughing and the cold.

I set the alarm to 3:45 to live some East Coast Time and contact Deborah as she heads out.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

Z had a school thing on Wednesday evening, so I won’t be gaming at First United Methodist tonight. Wednesday started with me trying to rise before 8. My nights are stretching late, and early starts are thus difficult. I got going 7ish and found liberal coffee and a banana. I added an everything bagel from Zabar’s in NYC (thanks, Joyce), toasted with cream cheese. I wrote the blog. I read the inescapably political news and updated my transactions for my accounts in Quicken.

I finished the blog and was dressing when Corwin called. The dentist had finished, but Corwin needed some help. We went to the pharmacy and got better drugs for $17. Corwin then spent the day at my home until late. The painkillers require no food for a few hours. I cleaned the bathroom and floors while he rested. I then headed to Safeway to get some cleaning items, flowers, and items for Deborah’s visit. I next stopped at the local Chinese place and ordered two bowls of soup, BBQ pork fried rice, and twice-cooked pork with cabbage (I ordered sweet and sour pork; they got that wrong, and I decided to try it; not bad).

I continued to clean and organize the house. I used the new cleaning supplies to wash the shower and floors. I put the rugs back. It is funny that I now have one from India, Turkey, and Morroco. Having them back in place and walking on them again was lovely.

I tried to make scones from a berry mix from the King Arthur Baking Company. I did not cut the mix into butter but instead mixed it like a cake mix. I also put in too much milk. I scooped the messy concoction onto a sprayed parchment paper-lined half-sheet metal pan. I backed it a little longer, and Corwin thought it was excellent. The butter melted into the cake-like structure, making it lucious. Corwin had two. I had some, too.

Corwin finished the leftover Chinese-style food. I shared the fortune cookie, and mine said, “Be prepared to modify your plan. It’ll be good for you!” Hmmm. I drove Corwin home. He was much better (and I heard from him on Thursday that he is good and has little or no pain).

(The new TARDIS update version)

I stayed up, finished a load of laundry, and made scones by cutting in the butter properly and using less milk. They were good and more familiar in form and structure. I headed to bed late. I showered and soon was in bed. I had no breathing issues, but I had taken painkillers to reduce any swelling in my lungs. Simple solution to complex issues.

I woke at 3ish. The temperature had fallen outside, and the wind was higher. The gate to the backyard was slamming into the house every few moments. It had woken me, and I proved hydration. I tried to ignore the slamming, but I put on my robe, grabbed a flashlight, added my slippers, and risked a late-night adventure. The latch was bent from the slamming, but I got it back in place with frustration and some strength (mainly of the former and various impolite words used to focus my actions). The gate was closed, and it stayed closed. I returned to bed; now I was tired and awake and cold. My mind wanders when I am exhausted and cold to horrors and scary things, and I become frightened. The solution is the same as when I was a kid, I turned on a light and read until I started to nod off. When I was a kid, it was Sword and Sorcery books; now, it is a mystery. I turned off the light and slept. “Music to Sleep By” from Alexa covered the house noises as the wind and temperature changes made the usual noises. I did not wake up until my alarm sounded. It was a rough morning.

Thanks for reading.

The blog was late yesterday as I had a game at Richard’s at 9, and the 6:30 alarm was ignored and replaced with a 7:30 wake-up. It did seem seconds later that it was 7:30. Richard sent a text that our usual 9:30 board game at his house in Portland was off. Instead, I agreed to a two-person game. I put Unsettled with some unplayed planet boxes, including Gniir, the frozen planet simulation.

I had enough time to start the blog, had some coffee, cleaned up, shaved, dressed, and got aboard Air VW the Gray and enjoyed the end of Portland’s and Beaverton’s rush hour. I arrived at 9:40ish and carried the game inside. I had to do a short teach as Ricard did not remember the game well. This is the local gaming company’s (Orange Nebula) take on making a cooperative game. This game is themed around the idea that we are a bunch of science folk traveling in their spaceship and exploring (or crashing landing on them or other SciFi disasters) alien worlds. The worlds have fantastic powers, and we science folks research and create useful breakthroughs. We search the world (or spaceship) to learn and discover. All the time, we are getting weaker. The goal is not to die and finish the objectives, which change for each planet, and the planets come with multiple scenarios.

As I suggested, we played Gniir, the ninth in the collection and a moderately complex challenge. We set it for a moderate level (Richard did not want to play in easy mode), messed up the first try, reset it, and got it right. The snow was a challenge, and soon, I reached the limit of distress for my character. Richard got lucky and was doing better. The planet components set the theme and options for the game, and this was an excellent challenge. I will avoid spoilers, but we finished the first scenario without dying. It was about two hours of play.

The base game of Unsettled costs about $90, some with two planets, and each additional planet costs about $18. Some add-ons, too, include fixes for some of the planet content. I have two sets of rules, too. I enjoy the game, but its total cost is about $400.

I thanked Richard (and enjoyed some of his treats while playing) and headed back home in the EV in light afternoon traffic. I decided to make a late lunch and early dinner. I had a steak in the frig covered in salt for a day that needed to be cooked. On returning, and the charge still high, I did not plug in the EV and left it outside as I had to arrange and sweep the garage again. I checked the propane and learned it was low, and the gas grill looked rusty. I scrapped off the rust and treated the grills with non-stick spray. Back inside!

I hammered the steak as it was tough and a lesser cut, though it resembled a NY Strip. I added, yes I know, more salt–large crystal sea salt. I got out the cast iron pan again, heated butter in it, and got a brown on the sides, but I did not get enough–next time. The steak was finished in a hot (400F) oven until it reached medium using an electronic thermometer.

I steamed fresh green beans that I broke and did not cut (I have been told the taste is better when you break them). I boiled potatoes and mashed them with the skins. I added some milk and butter, but I never got the right butter, milk, and salt flavor. Still, I liked them, and they, too, tasted fresh.

As the steak was tough, I sliced it with a kitchen knife and with the butter, salt, and heating. I ate 2/3 and put the rest away. I also had about 1/2 of the beans and potatoes left over. I packed that up, too. Lunch will be great on Wednesday!

I loaded Air VW the Gray and headed to Great Clips for a haircut and then a trip to Goodwill. I had a short wait on a Tuesday (it was a $16 cut day for seniors, but I do not qualify). The usual off-the-ears and biz cut. Next, I took the lamps, a statue of clowns, and a few other items to Goodwill. The statue has survived years but broke at Goodwill. It almost made me cry. Change is hard some days.

Working in the garage, I took the plywood and sawhorses down and put them away. There is now much more space in the garage. I finished my project, and the jewelry boxes are on their way. I swept the floor; where does all the dirt come from? I also cleaned up the mess from patching the wall. I put the EV in the now more spacious parking, plugged it in, and let it charge to 100% that evening.

The recycling was put in the proper container. Dishes were put away, and newly dirty ones were placed in the lesser LG dishwasher (not a smart appliance). I emptied the space below the main bath sink and discovered very old items; I decided to just bag it all.

I had a couple of snacks in the evening, but the one meal was good. I brought more order to the kitchen and cleaned the oven and countertops. I cleaned up some stains on the floor and dragged the box of parts that had been replaced in The Machine into the garage. I will toss them in a few weeks.

After getting ready for bed, I returned to and finished Glass Houses by Louise Penny, a crime and mystery novel. I cried for one character, but the story and poetry of the author embarrass me. I can’t write like that! This one is even more fun as the author holds back some knowledge to build the story for the reader. It was a fascinating approach to storytelling. This is twelve in the series, and I recommend the Inspector Gamache series and the lovely hard-to-find (and fictional) Three Pines Village. There is a TV version for those who want it more visual; I watched the first episode and thought it was slow-paced but enjoyable.

I could not find sleep, too tired to sleep, and my breathing was filled with coughing. I rose a few times and took some painkillers (Advil) and my emergency inhaler, and soon everything was quiet. It was inflammation. Soon, after midnight, I slept. I did not wake until my alarm and then dillydallied until 8.

Thanks for reading.