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I am starting the blog early as I do not know how much time I will have to write today.

I ordered a place for one at the San Diego, The Prestige, with prime rib as my dinner. The show runs around $130 for the cheap seats and thirty more for front-row seats. Only two cheap seats were left. It is a magic theater, small, and more my fit than the discos and country music bars. More on that later–I have to be there yet.

Picking up from the last entry, I slept well with only a few interruptions. The wake-up call at 4:30 would have been better on Sunday morning, but this was a rooky move on my part. I forgot you never ask for one except the night before to ensure it is not done too early in your trip.

I work at 6ish, my usual time, then rolled over for my 7:30 alarm and started my day.

The shower took five minutes to get warm, which is also a usual thing at old hotels. If this was not a historically registered place, it would have already been knocked down and turned into some gleaming metal and glass addition to the skyline. Instead, it is now a glorious, renewed building with the class that Marriott brings to all its premier properties.

I, clean, dressed, and updated by reading emails and news, I headed downstairs to find food to go with my meds I had just taken. The coffee in the lobby is no longer the dreadful 1990s coffee but excellent and is always available (free) in the lobby, freshly made. I made a cup and tried the US Grant Grill, but the wait was twenty-five minutes at 8:30. Instead, I walked across the street and found Duncan Donuts, which was perfect. I picked an Old Fashion and let the person at the counter pick one more that “she thought I would need.” The glazed Old Fashion was selected, spending only a few bucks instead of the likely eyewatering bill for the hotel restaurant for breakfast. I ate outdoors in the bright Californian morning–the water report has changed to all sunny today with a high just under 70F (21C).

The homeless people, and there are many, were already on the move this morning. They are only partially clothed and may or may not have shoes. Their eyes are hollow, and they try not to make eye contact. Seeing so many poor folks intermixed with the tourists is a bit unnerving. San Diego has some of the most expensive rent in the USA at over $ 3,100 average monthly rent (over 250,000 rupees), undoubtedly impeding people from getting housing.

Aside: While, as a liberal, I have much to say about housing and helping folks, this blog is about my experiences, not my liberal beliefs.

The USS Midway CV-41 Museum opens at 10AM. I will start there. Expecting to spend a few hours walking the ship. Let’s hope for easy ladders.

Back at 2ish to the US Grant Hotel via an Uber for a few bucks. I spent the whole morning and part of the early afternoon aboard USS Midway CV-41, a museum ship. There are endless stairs (installed later) with a few elevators. The Engine Room and the Bridge on the Island were not accessible to the handicapped, and the original ladders are steep and crawl through narrow spaces.

It was fun, and my foot issues did not slow me down much. Some uneven surfaces on the flight or hangar deck were more of a threat than ladders or steps, I discovered. The island tour was first after walking the whole length of the hangar deck and then walking forward to the island. The tour was done in small groups as the spaces were tight. A docent takes you through the spaces. On the bridge, I was asked to dial the speed for the ship on the bridge equipment and accidentally set CV-41 at twenty knots in reverse, not impressing the docent at all. The ship, to my surprise, is more Cold War than WW2 until you get into the engines–which look like 1940s stuff. It was nice to see them instead of watching videos. CV-41 was decommissioned in 1992 and saw service in the first Iraq war.

USS Midway has a huge collection of jets on its flight deck from the 19502 until the 1990s, with many from American carriers that no longer exist or are being scrapped. If you are a naval jet person, this is the visit for you. On the hanger deck is a focus on WW2 planes, the history of carriers up to Midway’s construction and updates, and a focus on the namesake for the carrier, the Battle of Midway, June 1942. The theater includes 3D (no glasses required) reconstruction of people talking about the battle. It focuses on the people and the loss of life more than I expected. Usually, these things, especially Midway, are more Hollywood than history. I recommend it; it got my eyes wet–but my emotions are close to the surface, but I think it was a bit emotional.

Ship’s wheel.

Engine room controls. Troddle.

USS Midway was soon packed, the cheese burger from Cafe 41 was OK, and the book store–including used books, excellent. I resisted buying anything except a few coins for friends as I was traveling extra light this time. You can spend more time there, and the star of the show is always the ship.

I rested a bit and then took an Uber back to the US Grant Hotel. My driver and I talked about the economics of driving while he took me back to the hotel from the waterfront, and he said he would rather get fares at $4 each than wait hours at the airport for one good fare. He does like the fare to the airport as the Uber system then connects him with a fare back to San Diego. It is about an $8 fare from the airport to downtown, so he gets $16 for a short trip (the airport is in the city near downtown).

I called Leta, Susie’s mother, from the hangar deck, and we talked for a while. Leta was feeling better and could move more. She was happy to get a call from the USS Midway!

On returning to my hotel room, after giving the driver a good tip, I rested my feet and treated my left foot with Arnica and felt better. I also wrote more of the blog. I thought about getting a beer in the bar and writing, but I wanted to rest my feet a bit. I took a short nap. Ready to start again.

I started out at 4:30ish and headed to the US Grant Grill Bar and had a nice glass of wine. The bar was nearly full, and I took the chair at the end and let the bartender pick my wine; it was an excellent blend of Napa grapes. While I sat there, more and more people came to get a drink, all in suits or formalish dresses. Soon the bar was busy, and it was fun to watch the mixing and splashing as a dozen drinks suddenly had to be made.

It was the first bar I ever ate at, and remember the bartender telling me, “Always eat at the bar, the food is better, and there is better company.” I have followed that advice for years and commend it to my fellow travelers. I seldom eat in the hotel restaurant, but I do often order something at the bar.

I then headed to the Prestige Magic Dinner Show and bar, but it was not yet ready, so I walked around and settled at the Tipsy Crow and had a beer there. They had live music, and the electric guitar playing was excellent–or at least I enjoyed it. After that I returned and claimed the last seat, again, at the bar in the Prestige and watched magic and started on ginger ale and Jim Beam for my next drink. The show was at 7:15PM, and we enjoyed three magicians doing close magic, mostly card tricks, but also some old-school cup and balls and ring and thread work. All done better than I expected. I recognized a few from eIllusions which is based here in California, so I was not surprised. One was an elegant card forcing that I missed completely.

The entrance to the theater is through the fireplace but can only opened by an incantation and knocking three times. A young person got to do that; perfect. The dinner was excellent, with nothing over-salted; I had prime rib with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. They projected a cartoon on each table, and we watched a little chef make our dessert, and then a near-matching plate was set before us. Excellent!

The headliner finally was introduced and he did stage magic. I had not seen such old stuff in years. He did the rope, magically coming together and apart. He also did the money appearing in a lemon trick, a very old trick, indeed. This is when a person gives a large bill to the magician, who destroys it only to discover it inside a lemon. I was happy to see someone bring the trick back. He did a few more items, some metalism restyled as coincidence magic. He was good but a bit slow. He stretched out each trick more than I would have. Still nice to see perfect execution on what are some chancy old-school items.

After that, I headed off to Mr. Tempos. I heard the bands blasting last night, so I wanted to try it. I was carded (oh, that feels good at 59), and my license did not scan. Apparently, Oregon is not valid here, but the security guy smiled at me and told me he knew I was over 35. I was padded down for weapons.

The place was blasted with music played and screaming at top volume. The place was full of young people. I was older than anyone, including the security guards, by many years (decades, I think). I found the bar, and a tightly-clad gal got me a regular margarita on the rocks with salt. She looked happy to get an order she had to make instead of pouring from some machine. Another gal, the photographer, asked me if she could take my picture, I removed my hat and held it in my hand so my white-gray hair showed–they have proof that not everyone is just over 21 that comes there!

I was pointed at some unused tables and sat and watched the show. Girls in almost no clothing were parading around with one lifted like a queen on a toy car and waving a tequila bottle. The food was served at the tables. The band of horns, tubas, and drums played loud and the girls would make their parade every fifteen or so minutes. It was boiling with energy, and I enjoyed the fun. The margarita helped with the enjoyment.

I had one drink, demurred when asked about another, and walked back to the hotel after leaving. I was limping a bit. I returned to the hotel, packed, and finished the blog.

Thanks for reading this extra-long blog.

I will be running away from home a few times these months. I am just taking a break from the world, seeing what I want to see, and finding things I did not know I wanted. For example, San Diego is warm and dry and has all these ships and sailboats, but housing is higher than Portland, so I won’t be moving here soon–but it is nice. Also, I am almost ready to sign up a cook helper in some tall ship and head out. Of course, I started to get seasick on the iron-hulled tall ship Star of India in port, slightly rising and falling–so it is likely not a dream that could or should be fulfilled!

Starting from the f**king stupid early flight that boarded (!) at 5:20AM, you, dear reader, can imagine me stumbling at the sound of my alarm at 3AM. I showered, dressed, stuffed the last few things into my heavy carry-on gym bag, and, with lots of too-hot coffee, took Air Volvo to PDX. I found one of the ten parking spots left in the long-term parking garage at PDX. I then walked a lifetime from the garage to security on the A/B gates.

They boarded various names of groups, but not First Class. On Alaska Airlines, I learned it is PRI for Priority for what we would call First Class. Finally, on the plane, I discovered I left my new noise-reducing earbuds at the house. But it was a short flight, and the 737-8Max was a quieter plane. It also seemed to shake less, and I felt safer (I know the plane model’s history, but I am just sharing my experience) than older 737s I have taken.

They served a hot breakfast sandwich with fruit (in Priority Class), which I had with ginger ale (always my start on flights), but finished it with coffee. I then just relaxed and likely nodded off a few times–my neck hurt, so I suspect I slept sitting up without knowing it (a new thing I developed ten years ago–falling asleep without knowing it). We landed, and while the San Diego airport was in the competition for long walks, PDX still beat them.

The pain in my right heel is back. It hurt me all day and was not improved by the ladders on the various ships I explored today. I did get something at CVS Pharmacy later today, and it is helping. Until I treated it, the pain made the long walks more than unpleasant today.

But returning to the narrative, I went to the taxi line and took the first guy. He told me he had waited four hours for a fare today. He also demanded cash at the hotel; I paid him with the money I had and included a nice tip–I forgot to ask when I got in about credit cards–usually, you pay with credit cards for airport taxis. I would be more frustrated, but the trip was under $28 with a tip. Nothing to get mad about. An Uber, without the hassle, would have been a few bucks less.

US Grant Hotel, a favorite of mine from biz trips, is now managed by Marriott and owned by a local Native American Tribe as an investment. I forgot the pleasure of Marriott’s well-run hotels. I checked in with a smart and helpful person, paying the guy who carried my bags a $1 tip (just one light bag), who announced me to the desk person. The desk person, wearing a black mask perfectly straight, not only got me a room at 10AM (they were not busy this weekend; the desk person shared) but even booked my exit on Sunday, scheduling a wake-up call and taxi to get me to the airport. Again, you forget what bright and clean is like until you return to a Marriott property.

My room, 605, was perfect, and I unpacked my few items, worked out how to use the WiFi, and how to power all my devices. I then left the laptop powering. It looks like a book in its new case. I took the iPhone, returned to the entrance, and got a taxi to the wharf area and the Maritime Museum. I bought a pass for all the ships and skipped the harbor cruise. I had left my sweater, and it was too cool for me to ride a ship.

HMS Surprise (formally HMS Rose)

I had been here back in 2006 for a Nike biz trip, my first, about the same time of year, and then they had only a ferry from 1914, Berkley, and the iron-hulled sailing ship, the Star of India. Now they had added the HMS Rose (rebuilt to be the HMS Surprise from various movies–it is not a British ship, and the HMS is part of its name), a few others, including the USS Dolphin AGSS-555, a special deep-diving conventionally powered submarine–a retired submarine now a museum ship. I could see the mix of Cold War and U-boat technology when I toured it. It was a steep ladder and a cramped walk-through.

HMS Surprise‘s construction and structures made no sense to me. It appears to be a full-scale model and not really a reconstruction. For example, the two-level main gundeck deck was non-sensical for this type of warship, but it made walking easier. It was aging poorly; like most early recreations of 1800 wooden ships, the wood did not last. The Berkley was aging well. I took the steps into the engine room, a reciprocating engine like the Titanic’s and some WW1 ships. The ferry had been converted to oil and had replaced the boilers in the 1920s. The same was done to the surviving sister of Titanic, Olympic.

The public spaces of the ferry were filled with ship models–some of the best I have seen–I loved it. There were various nick-nacks too. For example, apparently, some fishermen found a rusted Japanese WW2 torpedo in their nets and lived to have its rusted remains in a case now on the Berkley (now there is a fishing story for you). Parts of cruise ships and liners were also on display. It’s a fun collection.

They have a full-sized galleon. It was interesting to see the differences between this ship and the modern SS California, a touring sailboat, and the model-like HMS Surprise. Apparently, the gallon sails, too, for tours of the harbor. It was fun to do all of these, but I saved the best for last.

SS California is well maintained.

The galleon.

The Star of India is real, an 1863 iron-hulled sailing ship with wooden masts and mostly hemp lines. It was a cargo and passenger-carrying ship in the past. Before becoming a display, its last jig was years in the finishing fleet fishing and packing salmon in the northern Pacific.

I went into the hold and the poop deck plus, of course, beside the main deck, I slipped on the ladder to the poop deck and abraded my hand. I was happy to accept that as a warning, and I did not try any more crazily steep ladders. I enjoyed taking pictures of things I have built or need to build again. I took many photos on SS California of the deck items as I have to make some for my models yet to be started.

I headed to the bar next to the Star of India and picked the upstairs place as it was not a doing topline a price for seafood. There, I had a few good local beers and mini-lobster tacos–excellent and not insanely expensive.

I found a trip back to the US Grant (it took Uber a while to find me a driver), and I took a nap for a few hours. The lack of sleep and pain was wearing on me. As I said before, I then walked to the local CSV Pharmacy and got some items, and the pain was more manageable. I also walked a bit and discovered the tourist area.

I returned to the hotel, prepared for more walking, and grabbed my sweater for the night. I then walked and found a Persian place. And while they were enthusiastic, their food was not the best I have had, I ate dinner, and I moved on. I walked at least four blocks until I found dessert at a Cuban place. I got coffee and flan, made here, and sat and wrote. The live music started at 7PM. It has been a fun night just sitting here, listening, people-watching, eating my dessert, and writing the blog.

Thanks for reading! Saturday is USS Midway CV-41, and some walking in San Diego during the day.

Aside: While I was eating Persian food, a homeless person grabbed my hat off the table, and I pulled it back from him–like you would do to a child. He seemed harmless, and I think it was just something he did. No harm to hat or person.

The day started with me sleeping until 8:30, which was unusual for me. I had a slice of my homemade bread with butter and low-sugar jam with liberal coffee (I used the last of the NYC coffee) for breakfast. I did more laundry and wrote the Friday blog, which was completed late in the morning. Leta and Barb (Susie’s sister and Leta’s daughter) called. Leta had Thanksgiving in the new facilities, The Willows. Leta showed me that she could move her arm and fingers a bit. Amazing for someone 95!

Leta can be found at The Willows, 3500 Coolidge Road, Room 302A, East Lansing, MI 48823.

I showered, dressed, and passed on lunch, as there was plenty to eat later. I logged onto Gethsemani Farms in Kentucky and ordered many fruitcakes, fudge, coffee, and jams to be sent to friends and family. It’s time to start the holidays and release the Krakon fruitcakes!

I had a few crackers and continued reading more Sherlock Holmes, a recently written version, and watching the BBC Sherlock’s first season. I forgot how good the initial seasons are. Also, I texted Corwin to rise. I eventually got a note back that he was moving.

Susie would have laughed at me. I started on the pop-overs too early and did not grease the pan enough. I had trouble getting them out of the special popover pan. I could hear her laughs as I made a few mistakes–the usual ones.

I brought some slightly popped popovers, a chilled pumpkin pie (using Vietnamese cinnamon this time that really added to the flavor and nutmeg I ground from a nut myself), and Purple Cow local wine. I picked up Corwin, and Wayne & Anne Weld-Martin were happy to have us. They made smoked turkey with two types of stuffing (one spicy), baked yams, and mashed potatoes. The salad was added late, forgotten in the kitchen. Apparently, the cranberry style is in dispute in the Weld-Martin home, with both jell and relish being offered. The wine was declared excellent (I was worried that 2016 was turning, but it was still more than drinkable). After the main course was inside us, the pumpkin pie was declared excellent, with a spray can of whipped cream used with discretion. The changes kicked it up, and Corwin thought it my best. The pie was velvety like a custard, but still with the strong pumpkin and spices flavors. A success (the recipe is in the previous blog–insanely simple).

Coffee and the three pet dogs, including a puppy, Jack Russell, who was happy and nuts, were enjoyed. Corwin was able to fix Wayne’s printer (the new network has to be programmed in on the little screen, which is not easy to do). I could not solve the Alexa issue.

After seconds of coffee (decaf) and Anne packing a bag of spare food for Corwin (I demurred any offers as I am traveling on Friday), I was back home packing after dropping off Corwin, folding, and getting ready to fly on a f**king to early from PDX. I put away the laundry, made the bed (I like to use clean sheets on the day I leave), and packed–just a gym bag for this two-day trip.

I then wrote this blog. Thanks for reading.

I am writing this on Thursday (not Saturday as I wrote originally!?) morning as I was up late. Somehow, it is sunny with blue skies on a Thanksgiving in the greater Portland area! I slept in, so I am a bit late writing, but I have no plans for today until the late afternoon.

Starting backward, I reached the Volvo Cave at 12:20AM, already Thanksgiving, from the short drive from the local strip mall’s Doctor Feelgood pool house and dive bar. Corwin, who used to live with us, and Andrew (Corwin’s best friend) had decided to tie one on and were slamming through Hefeweizen-styled beers. We talked and drank for an hour plus change, and I had two lighter beers. I got a text from Corwin while I was in the newly released movie Napoleon, and I called him after the movie and was invited to the nearby Doctor Feelgood.

This is a 2:30 runtime show; even then, it seemed abbreviated. As a subject, Napoleon would fill three movies or more of the same length. The last book I read by the same title was four inches thick. This movie was a spectacle, and the characters necessary shallow, but I enjoyed it. I think only camera work or clothing will likely earn awards, as the acting, while excellent, never seems to be more than a distant mirror of these impossible-to-know historical figures. Recommended if you like action films and don’t mind being part of the battles where there is blood everywhere.

Before this, I microwaved the last of the Indian-style chicken I had made a few days ago. Still excellent. I had been reading more newly written Sherlock Holmes and resting. Lunch had not settled well, and I regretted finishing most of the Cashew Chicken. I also had my colon deciding it wanted attention, and that meant a few sudden visits. I was experiencing the cork and champaign issues I have had before. After losing 25cm of my larger colon, the last bit, I cannot always feel the need to go, and things can get backed up, and I find I pop the cork and then need to run back to the restroom and empty the rest. So, the early afternoon was a partial loss.

I also booked my flights, hotel, and car for my next trip: San Antonio (again) and then driving to New Orleans. It’s always fun to set something in place that you look forward to. My crazy plan is to fly to San Antonio on Friday, 19th January, First Class, with enough luggage for a week (two bags checked, I think), hang out with Zorida for the weekend (and get a haircut), see more of San Antonio, and then on Monday 22nd January drive eight hours or more to New Orleans. I will be staying there at Le Richelieu in the French Quarter (they don’t charge parking for the smallish SUV I am renting). On Sunday, 28th January, I will return the SUV to the New Orleans Airport and return to Portland via a connection in Dallas, but sadly, only one flight is First Class.

Aside: First Class charges nothing for two pieces of checked luggage and does not do any extra charges for seats. I ran the trip as a cheap flight and discovered $60 a piece of luggage charges (each way!) and $200 for a reasonable seat on the flights. Thus, $60x2x2 + $200 equals Michael flies First Class. F**k it!

I baked a pumpkin pie. Yes, Glenda, I use my usual methods for canned pumpkin. This is the same pie I make every year, and while I used Vietnamese cinnamon and did plane off the nutmeg from a well a nutmeg, it is mostly the same.

I will not repeat the story here, but making this pie from the recipe from a can of Eagle Brand Condense Milk is a tradition. I think this recipe is now only found on their website, and I reproduce it for you all. There is still time to make one!

I did laundry, dishes, and paperwork while following along at work until about 4PM. It was a quiet afternoon, as you can imagine. I met Scott for lunch, and we went to the Chinese restaurant that left me stuffed. We talked about work (plotting?) and caught up. Scott found me in the nearly empty Swift Building (every time I write “Swift,” I think of Taylor Swift songs), and we then traveled to lunch (all Nike food service was closed for the holiday).

Three others and I showed up at the building. Jatin came and sent him home as it was cold (weekend heating), and all he would be doing was using Zoom anyway. I should have spent the day working from home.

Changing back to the start of the day, I was up at 6:30AM, giving myself a 30-minute break today, and had a quick breakfast of bread and coffee–my homemade bread smeared with butter and low-sugar jelly. I doubted the wisdom of going to work today but popped into Air Volvo armed with my Nike Laptop and badge. I arrived after experiencing non-traffic and parked in the best parking place–there was nobody there, I was sure now. The doors were locked, and I had to use my badge, which did work. The desk staff was there but agreed this was crazy as they had almost no customers. I was alone in my area, and as I said, the heat was on the weekend, and the lights were out. If you did not move enough for the sensors, the lights would turn off; it’s always a bit disconcerting when you are suddenly in the dark again (so many IT jokes come to mind–but I will forego the usual cynicism). I did the change control Zoom meeting, the only formal meeting I made today. I missed the group stand-up while talking to one of the others in the building. We were talking about data explosions and archiving, and I lost track of time (again, so many jokes and more of the usual cynicism).

Moving back, I slept well and was surprised by yet-another-Northern-California-like day in the Greater Portland Area. Sorry for the rest of the world, but Global Warming is making our winters less gray. We will miss you, Pacific Island nations, but at least we can rake our leaves when they are dry and crunchy now (oops, cynicism got in).

Thank you for reading, and for the locals, enjoy the first dry Thanksgiving weekend in memory!

I am enjoying the changing of laptops today. I can’t quite get the keys in the correct order or the right one. My Nike laptop and Apple are just a little different, and when I work on the Nike laptop all day, the Apple becomes a trial of backspaces and everything switching to capitals as I miss the shift and hit the shift lock instead. Tonight, after playing a game with Z at the church, the rains returned in the pure dark–no moon and indeed no stars. We were blessed with blue skies and leaves drying out for two days.

At Nike, I saw an army of ten men with leaf blowers forcing a wall of dried leaves into long walls to be sucked up by a vacuum truck. Getting rid of the leaves is life and death here. We need the rains and their resultant water to flow. We cannot have everything blocked by masses of leaves. We remove them and compost them. Otherwise, we face flooded homes and roads, deeply flooded.

Returning to the start of the day, I started after 6AM when my alarm went off. I had worked on yesterday’s blog beyond 11PM and woke to prove hydration a few times. I also am suffering with my arm hurting when I try to reach with it, and my left heel is sore, possibly ruining my trip to look at historical ships (not a buying trip) in San Diego (while I love nautical things, I get seasick easily). Dondrea has recommended Arnica gel, and that has helped some. I will not change my plans, but I might have to use more Ubers than I thought.

I rose and found the kitchen and the last banana, and I cut a slice of my baked bread (no-kneed bread from the NYT recipe) and covered it with butter and some low-sugar jelly. I made almost the last of the NYC Zabar’s grind (thanks, Smiths-Krammers) and carried the coffee and my breakfast to the office.

I did the usual reading of emails and Slack channel updates. Nothing was critical, so I went to my Apple, read the news and my emails. I downloaded the transactions from Quicken, but I have made a hash of the transfer to US Bank, so I need to spend some time rebalancing, finding the mistake, and catching up on the transactions.

I showered, dressed, and boarded Air Volvo, limping on my left side, and put my Nike laptop on the co-pilot seat (it is not heavy enough to trip the airbag–there is a display for that on a Volvo; you can tell the Volvo that the weight is packages and not a person and thereby turning off the airbag). I arrived at a near-empty parking lot and parked in the front. Nobody from my team other than my boss was in today.

With nobody in my area, I just did my Zoom calls sitting at my usual desk. I had to read and approve a few items. I also got clearance from my boss, Brad, to take another trip for the last full week of January. I blocked my calendar, updated other’s calendars that I would be out then, and put in for the time off. I saw that my official Paid Time Off (PTO) totals were three days higher now. The first correction has been done.

I contacted Grace United Methodist Church and now have the 18th of May reserved in Michigan for Susie’s Celebration.

I called Leta in the afternoon, and she was happy to answer, not from the hospital but from The Willows in Lansing for physical therapy. Leta was glad that one of the folks built a special splint for her hand to help reduce the swelling and help the nerves get back to working as expected.

Leta can be found at: The Willows, 3500 Coolidge Road, Room 302A, East Lansing, MI 48823.

I reached lunchtime and headed out of the buildings on an excellent, dry fall day like you would see in Northern California but not in the Pacific Northwest. Twenty years ago, we would not see the sun except for a few days in January for six months, but not now. Before, we would have hard freezes and black ice on the parking lots, with folks falling when getting out of their vehicles and getting hurt- yes, really. We are not seeing that now.

I have been meaning to try Frank’s Noodle House, so I drive a short distance and walk in. It is sit down, and I order a plate of noodles, which I got. It’s not the best thing for a diabetic! It was good, and I would say the handmade noodles were chewy and good, but not again. I will look for Pho or Korean instead. I like the broth and smaller noodles better.

Air Volvo returned me to Swift, and I parked in the front again. More folks have exited for the holidays, and it is getting quiet. I talked to my boss a few times about issues with data access, copying, and APIs; nothing I can share here. I return to my desk, alone in our area, and work for hours on getting the 2024 team vacation tracker ready. It is a tedious task to rebuild a calendar for 2024, but it has to be done, and I want to put my PTO in it, so I recreated the new calendar for 2024; it took hours of manual work. I did not mind refreshing my Excel skills on the more recent version, and it took me a while to remember and find all the new icons. All good.

I was done with that in the late afternoon and left a nearly empty Swift building, at 4ish. I headed to Beaverton and Shack Burger place. It was light traffic, and I soon found the strip mall was not yet busy. And I quickly found a parking spot. I had the avocado and bacon cheeseburger with fries and a small Diet Coke. It was terrific, and the burger was not that large. The fries were well-cooked and not oily. Excellent.

I reread the rules of the board game Ottoman Sunset while eating, looking for a way to improve my last play. I think I needed to use more resources to force back the invaders. This is a solo game with you playing a simulation of the Ottoman Empire (and the Young Turks) in 1914-1918–just survive the events of history to win. I was unsuccessful the first time I played it, and I need to play more aggressively from what I can fathom.

After food, Air Volvo took me in light traffic to First United Methodist Church in Beaverton, near the fountain and library, to meet Dondrea and Z. Z was free to play some games tonight. I was early and took a nap in Air Volvo, but soon Z and Dondrea showed up, and Z and I agreed on the board game Concordia, my all-time favorite game (thank you, Will, for teaching it to me so many years ago). As Z did not remember the game that well, we played the basic rules on the original board of the Roman Empire. In the game, each player is a Roman family trying to build the most efficient trading house. The players pay for resources and money to build new trading houses. Extra staff is represented by cards, and you can buy those for resources. The staff will generate money and resources and build trading houses. The game is played with each player playing a card, representing a staff member, and doing the simple actions the card allows. But the strategy is complicated, and the sequencing is mind-blowing.

Easy to play, simple, fast turns, and a challenge to sequence your actions to be efficient and fit with your purchased cards. The cards determine the scoring at the end. Z liked it again once she got into the game’s groove and scared me, but I managed to pull ahead by just ten points. A close game.

After the one game, it was a shorter night for choir practice tonight, we were done, and soon, the choir broke up. We also wished each other a lovely Thanksgiving, and I took Air Volvo back to the Volvo Cave. The rains returned as I drove back and would start to get heavy tonight. My lawn service works on Tuesday and all the leaves were gone–I am sure they enjoyed the dry leaves this time. That seldom happens, but maybe it is the new normal.

Well, that takes me full circle. Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving!