Author: alohawild

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.

 

My first full day in Lansing started with me rising at 6:30 local time (it still feels like 3:30 PDT) and getting down to the industrial breakfast in the Fairfield Inn Lobby. I rose, made coffee in the machine, reviewed my transactions in Quicken, watched the stock markets go up and down, and doom scrolled (as a liberal reading the news). The news was a strange mix of denials, lies, and outrages. Elon now says he would be lucky to make 15% of his goal, as he seems to have relearned math, and that the part of the government that provides most of the services is only 15% of the total of $6.75 trillion. That includes all the VA services, parks, giving to over governments, and also 15% of the education budget of North Dakota for the year (yes, ND assumed they would still get all the money from the Education Department–soon not to exist–to provide basic services). I stand back in awe of the extreme waste of time. Rumors are that China has agreed to replace all the lost US government payments and tighten its alliances with the rest of the world. Seems a costly loss, Elon.

But I then returned to writing the blog and enjoying my stay here in Lansing. The blog was 1,400+ words and took me until 10ish to finish. I did get to talk to Deborah on her drive in and back from work today. It is nice to be in the same time zone again and start and end our day together on the phone.

With the blog done, I left the hotel and drove to Mom Wild’s place. Mom was sleeping when I arrived, but was happy to see me after she woke. More of my postcards had shown up, and the bulb flowers for Easter arrived, too. Mom was excited to see the plants start to blossom and watered them, so I added more water. Mom loved the Queen Mary postcard and was excited to hear about Deborah and me on the ship for drinks, snacks, and some self-guided tours.

It was soon time for lunch, and Mom Wild agreed to do the dining room, and the staff led her to her seat, and I left. We will meet on Wednesday morning and at dinner for my birthday dinner at The Beggar’s Banquet.

I headed to Leta’s house and picked her up for lunch. Leta never took down her Christmas Tree and continues to decorate it for all the events. Today, it was an Easter Tree.

We decided on Cheddar’s for lunch and a Monte Cristo sandwich. The food, while well prepared, included American cheese and industrial deli-pack ham—it could have been great. But the jam was good, and the sandwich was cut into small parts. Sadly, we forgot Leta’s leftover sandwich in my car, which was not good when I spotted it later in the back seat. Oops!

After lunch, I dropped Leta off and headed to downtown Lansing and the Capital area. The wind was picking up and was brutal. There was snow or sleet (it was hard to tell), so I decided to forgo a stop at the state capital building today—it would have been a freezing walk to the entrance.

I had to do the ritual of parking and paying. The machines work fast now (they were terrible last time), allowing up to four hours of parking. It used to be limited to no more than an hour. This is a silly idea if you want to have lunch there. Lansing finally, after years, realized that you want people to park in downtown, shop, eat, and then leave. Better!

Instead, I found Summit Comics and Games, and they remembered me. I  suspect that not that many hat-wearing gray-haired guys show up. I found a used copy of some Frostgrave material I did not have nor had seen for sale. Another role-playing game (RPG), I wish I had more time to play. I also found some comic books that intrigued me (they were a disappointment). I try to buy only things I cannot find in Oregon, and today they have something.

Next, I went to the Peanut Store. As I walked in, a patron of the store gave a peanut to a squirrel that seemed to be charging at tax for leaving the store, a peanut. Inside, I got a small bag of peanuts and their best mix, all under $10. The squirrel appeared, and I made my payment and then tried to photograph the rodent. It would have nothing to do with that; apparently, having things pointed at it from a human is uncomfortable. It ran into the street. Yikes, I was not going to have that on my mind, and I followed it into the street, blocked traffic, and it then, now that I was no longer pointing anything at it, followed me, peanut still in its mouth, expecting more food. I realized the traffic was the area’s security team, and they were laughing. Apparently, I went nuts! The squirrel was happy with a peanut last I saw it.

I found Ollie’s next to Summit and got some cards there. They had a coloring book of books that should never happen. I read some of the would-be titles to Deborah, who was free for a moment and called me, and we both laughed. If the book is there on my likely return in the holidays, I might get it. I found Air Hyundai Red and headed out.

From there, with some chaos from construction, I found Hoplite, another gaming store off of Michigan Avenue, and looked at their stuff. The store was more run-down than I remember, and the old gaming stuff was much reduced. I found nothing I could not get in Oregon. I heard a parent say that it was kids’ gaming day, that one of the kids had a rash, and there was concern. With measles now active in Michigan, too (where there is also a strong religious-based denial of vaccination), this was no minor issue. Hearing that and finding no unusual items, I left.

Aside: I had the measles, a very light case, in Middle School when it hit the school band, effectively spreading it to everyone. I also remember getting new shots for it and polio. Vaccination is the cheapest way to stay safe after avoidance; avoidance is not always possible, as my visit to the gaming store shows. I take all vaccinations; I am too busy to get sick, especially avoidable serious illnesses. Lastly, I have already done cancer, a brain tumor, and the death of a spouse. My life has already cost me pain and grief, and I am not losing it to a cheap thief like a known virus. Or in simple terms, RFK F**k Off! And I will remind you, dear readers, that this is toxic and not a cure: here.

Next, I return to my hotel, eat my peanuts, and read my comic books (which are not that interesting). I then travelled and met Jesse and Meg at Bobcat off of Michigan Avenue again within sight of the capital. Jesse is Linda’s (my sister) spouse, and Meg is their child. We enjoy some drinks and a meal in a train car. The car is from the 1900s and shows the ironwork and rivets of the early 1900s. It is hard to imagine that every one of those rivets was hand-carried in hot buckets and driven. The same metal and process as the Titanic, Queen Mary, and all the American Battleships. We had a lovely meal (though my food was odd), and soon I was back at my hotel, reading and trying to sleep. It was my first night having trouble sleeping. I should have walked more.

Thanks for reading.

(sunrise over the hotel in Rochester Hills/Troy)

Monday is a change day, and I leave Rochester and the Greater Detroit Area for Lansing and East Lansing. I will miss Rochester and Deborah, but the bathroom door that can’t stay open and hits me will not be missed. I rise at 6:30 (3:30 PDT), and there is no coffee as the room was not reset the day before. I soon shower, shave, dress, and get ready. I had already started packing, but as this was a week trip, there was no need to do more than toss the clothing in. I started the blog, but it is a travel day and likely will be finished late. I also collected all my goods and made two trips to Air Hyundai Red. Soon, I had the laptop and wrote the blog while waiting for Deborah.

Soon, her blue mini drives by, and I meet Deborah for breakfast at the hotel. We spend part of the morning together eating breakfast. The last time we ate breakfast together was in February in Oregon. Off to work for Deborah, and me driving to Lansing. I checked out, and the staff remembered us from my last trip in the holidays.

The drive to Lansing has no direct route, so I headed north to Flint on Highway 75 and then cut over to Highway 69. Most of this was at speeds ten over the speed limit (or more), and the Hyundai often flew with traffic at 85. The roads are not smooth, and I did slow to 60 (the legal speed) for some construction, but they worked well at over 70 mph. Unlike the Portland Area, where a few miles can seem to be a lifetime of slow driving, the distances disappeared quickly, and I was in Lansing in ninety minutes.

I took a picture of the old hometown sign, Laingsburg, on Highway 69. I grew up with the repairs of Woodbury Road and the completion of Highway 69. Yes, we both are showing a bit of age now, but we can still move fast and get ‘er done.

I had stopped at the rest area before Lansing, proved the impact of too much coffee, and reset my Nav to head to Mom Wild’s new place. I finished 69 and entered Lansing and Haslett. I entered the wrong number into Nav but found the correct place after turning around. I use CarPlay and my phone map app to find my way in the red car.

I was soon checked into the facility, Brookdale Meridian Assisted Living, and met the director, Derrick, and he took me to Mom Wild’s room, A-9. The place has carpet and none of the terrible smells of these places. Excellent! Derrick woke Mom, who had slept in. I spent a few hours with Mom and gave her the sugar egg from Eastern Market. She had my cards and postcards, but the Easter bulb-based flowers had yet to arrive (it was delivered a few hours later). We talked for a few hours, and the staff carried away the ignored breakfast. Mom introduced me as her brother and referenced her hometown. We discussed Dad Wild and family items, but she remembered I was her son. All good. The words were just mixed up a bit.

Mom Wild said she was accepting the place now. At first, she told me, it was hard, but she now likes it, and her room is comfortable and arranged with multiple recliners. She also told me she apologized to my sister for being angry, and she is happy now.

It was time for lunch, and I got a text from Leta, Susie’s mother, that I could meet her at the usual Panera by Lansing Mall. Linda texted me, and we had set up dinner at Bravo, Mom’s fav. With dinner now on the schedule, we made our goodbyes (these trips I make are always full of hellos and goodbyes), and I set Nav for Lansing Mall and soon crossed Lansing with my memories of each location coming as I drove by. I always miss ‘Elric’ Anderson (he passed away unexpectedly last November) when I drive through all the places we used to visit in the distant past, which often seem like just yesterday. Susie is always with Leta and me when we meet (Susie has been gone for a while now).

Leta and I had a nice lunch together, and I had soup and half a chicken salad sandwich. We talked about the impacts Trump and DOGE were having on people and the fear that I might not get my Social Security next year. However, the Republicans in the Senate are not headed that way. Though Elon and company may mess up the government enough to prevent my application from being processed or, more likely, the processors will find non-existence errors in my application and then refuse me. That is the typical process of an authocratic government. I will be sixty-one on Wednesday and drawing immediately next year (62), assuming I can complete the process. I will also need health care from the end of 2025 until I am 65. I am now paying about $730 a month through a COBRA offering from Nike.

For my political friends, I am trying to be positive, and I understand the emotions of my Republican supporting readers. However, I do not agree with most of Trump’s agenda (I can’t find anything to agree with so far, but I will use the lighter wording as something might show up that I like). I believe the DOGE process, having been through the matching process of layoffs at Nike (every two to three years over 27 years), only increases chaos and expenses but allows for some very shallow claims of victory and some promotions of idiots. Sorry, my few Republican readers (and I value them), but it looks too familiar and wasteful to me. I never saw a layoff produce good results in the multinational company I worked for, Nike (and I remember a few missing critical backups of computer systems when responsible folks are lost).

I got a message that my room was ready at the Fairfield Inn at Eastwood, and I said goodbye to Leta (I will see her for my birthday). I headed to East Lansing and parked by MSU. I decided to finish the blog at El Azteco 2, an old fav. I invested in two house margaritas to finish the blog. The college year was winding up, and it was a warm, if windy day, and the town was full of college students walking and running. Different than my mid-winter visit last year. As usual, I headed to Curious Books, and the owner, Ray Walsh, was in the store. Now, a wreck of boxes of books were blocking the narrow walkways, as they were closing (still) their other location. Ray apologized to me for the mess, but it has been this way for years. I could not find the Elric book I was looking for (I will have to head back to Seattle’s Pike Place Market book store), but I found some other Elric books, a 1920s history of a Drake (I think), and a water stained $20 book of facimilies of letters from H.P. Lovecraft. Ray told me it was priced to move (I think he was thinking $25-$30, and I would have still bought it). He showed me a rare book he has for $2500, which covered more of H.P. Lovecraft’s writing. I took a picture to share it.

Ray took my business card and will have the books mailed to me for $7.50. Perfect. We shook hands, and I told him to look for me again in the winter. Another hello and goodbye.

I checked the MSU textbook store, but no intriguing math or computer books were for sale. I always check what is in the graduate level stuff. I still plan to pick up mathematics again.

With that, I returned to Air Hyundai Red and soon checked in at the hotel with a friendly staffer, Eli. We talked about Opera for a while. He might check out the movie theater presentation of the Met Opera on Saturdays or Wednesday night repeats. One of the elevators was broken, but these are still faster than the ones in Rochester!

I soon dragged all my stuff into the room, took off my shoes and sweater, and rested. I nodded off. I rose again after some chirps from my phone. Linda was headed out soon. I called Deborah again, and we mainly chatted about health (as we get older, we find this a more persistent topic); we miss each other already. Linda called, and I needed to move.

Linda beat me to Bravo, which is minutes away from the hotel. Mom was sitting in her rollator. Dinner was a bit industrial Italian with bits of greatness. The desserts were huge, bright, and perfect. The wine was overpriced but good (the glass cost was half the price of a bottle at a store). I could have done the salad and piccata better, but it was not terrible. Mom’s shrimp dinner, an appetizer, looked excellent (she ate them all).

With dinner and dessert inside us, yet another goodbye, I was back at my hotel. Mom Wild and Linda will see me again soon. I soon was in my PJs, reading and then sleeping. I missed a goodnight message from Deborah as I was asleep already. The rush of days and travel was adding up, and I got my first long sleep from the trip. I woke to adjust the heat and prove hydration. I remember dreams, pleasant, and woke without an alarm.

Thanks for reading.

We had plans for the Opera Cosi Fan Tutte at the Detroit Opera House at 2:30 today. You can read about the Mozart opera’s re-staging to a near-future Apple/Musk-like fictional company demo of a new AI-based robotic companion here. I think the opera has aged poorly, and a new staging and plot worked for me. The original music seemed to be retained. While there were only three performances, I believe this re-staging will appear elsewhere soon. I recommend it if you don’t mind dropping the dated setting, costumes, and the use of many updated jokes.

Returning to the start of the day, I rose at about 7, ignoring the alarm at first. It was early for me (4AM in PDT), and I made coffee as I showered, shaved, etc., and soon was ready. The Keurig uses rainforest-supporting coffee pods. Even in Michigan, I am drinking liberal coffee! Next, I grabbed my laptop and went to the lobby for the industrial breakfast that Thomas was serving. I greeted him, and he asked me about my plans for the day. Everyone wants to be seen and not treated as invisible.

The eggs were the same as every day—industrial—but the potatoes were better. The sausage was crunchy, slightly overcooked, but that did improve it. The coffee while not good, was thick and strong. My stomach rebelled a bit. I published the blog and headed to see Deborah.

At her house, I petted the dogs, and we skipped lunch as we would get some food at the Cadillac Café at the Opera. I had dress shoes, a whale tie Deborah gave me in Long Breach, and a dress shirt and vest. Deborah was lovely in a black dress. We took Air Hyundai Red to the Detroit Opera House, paying only $5 more to park at the Opera. I did not know the Opera House was across from the newish Tiger Stadium.

We were twenty minutes early and unfortunately left our coats behind; we discovered Detroit colder than expected. We were relieved when the door opened only five minutes late, and soon, we had a drink and food at Table 3 in the cafe. The box of snacks and first drinks were covered. We could also return at intermission for another drink and finish our food. We got coffee, and Deborah finished her lunch at that time.

We met some of Deborah’s friends who were enjoying a box. Eric and I were happy to finally meet.

The opera tonight was a re-staging (and replotting) of Mozart’s awful (I think it too dated) Cosi fan Tutte leaving the music, some of the usual confused identity, but tried to reframe it part of the Corporate Demo of robots that are imbued with AI and thus learn to love. The Musk/Jobs CEO was fun, and it often seemed like a corporate meeting. There were even the corporate feel-good videos that reminded me of Nike presentations.

The music, songs, and most of the words (but not the jokes) were original and wonderfully sung. Like the original, the plot and action become confused in the second act, but the darker themes take over, and we end in a Terminator-like ending. Seems perfect, and the audience cheered when Musk/Jobs style-CEO met his just reward. But the robots let the audience know they, too, have to pay. Then, it ends by singing the bright, everything will be an OK song that is actually the original’s ending. Even the late CEO is back, singing. Excellent. We loved it. The Detroit Free Press did not–recommended.

We returned to Rochester Hills, found Lucky’s, and enjoyed a meal of prime rib. We ordered the smaller cuts as we were not starved. Deborah still took half of her home. Mine was smaller, and I managed it. Dinner was great.

We returned to Deborah’s house and watched another Matlock episode (we are just past 1/2 way). Deborah would visit the hotel for breakfast in the morning, and we said our goodbyes.

I reached the hotel without issue and soon read and fell asleep, but I would waken twice to prove hydration.

Thanks for reading.