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It is another desert morning on Friday. It is frosty cold (0C) in the morning and highs later in the 70s (21C). I rise at 6:30 on a work-from-home Friday and quickly make coffee and a bagel (thanks, Joyce) with cream cheese. We have a staff meeting at 7AM via Zoom to include India at the end of their day. Rajani covers mostly calendar and process items. While the meeting was discussing various processes, The Email arrived. Yes, layoffs, and yes, stay home all next week. We were expecting it, but everyone was surprised at how it affected them. The grief and anger returned.

I must admit, I am hoping to be selected because I am tired of this. Give me the package and leave my life alone. Pick me before you pick someone in the green card process who has bought a house, raised a family here in the USA, and sees India now as more of a place than home. Yes, I have over twenty-five years of experience, but it is time for someone else to have that. I am tired; let me rest.

But that never happens. I will likely go on at Nike, Inc. I will work until 2025 and likely 2026 to prove to myself that I am better and to thank my co-workers for letting me go on medical leave and then support my recovery. I will be there for them as they were for me. Be the future you want now. Do unto others as you would have done for yourself. Return kindness with kindness.

I also looked up the cost of traveling to the Maldives for a week starting next week, which is $2,500 for me…

Corwin wanted to make soup, so I managed to wash, after spilling many, the beans for soup. The beans need to be soaked overnight. So, I started this and will start the cooking process for lunch on Saturday morning. The ham bone is waiting to flavor the soup. Dondrea, I am sure, is smiling and nodding while reading this, as this is more of her style than mine.

Aside: This is a leftover from the pandemic when dried beans were impossible to find. I had ordered some from the Women’s Bean Project and still had one last set; Corwin wanted to make it. I strongly recommend their products as both good and good for the world. I just ordered some more.

As you, dear reader, can imagine, I was distracted all day. Still, I attended all the status and process meetings and even approved a few items. There was a software architect meeting (I am still treated as one even after losing that title and being relegated to the project’s basement like a steam shovel in the kids’ story). I spent the whole meeting listening. As this is a deep and complex discussion of Nike software work, I cannot repeat the details here.

While attending Zoom meetings, I made and ate a grilled ham and cheese and the remaining coleslaw. I did not have my camera on. Some details are best not shared on Zoom! I also put away the dishes; the mic is off, too.

My weight has flexed again to 255 pounds. My waistline and shape continue to change, suggesting I am improving. I believe I am exchanging flab for muscles, and that makes the flex happen. I fit in a restaurant booth today in Portland! That was a nice surprise. I am enjoying walking again (now that my belt is working, I have drilled two new holes, and I hold up my baggy pants).

On the less happy side, LL Bean back-ordered my new 40′ waist pants with a delivery date just after my brain surgery; I canceled the back-order. The new belt and one khaki-colored pair will appear soon (the pants must be shortened).

I discovered that the impossible-to-find add-on for Wyrmspan, my new favorite board game, was possibly available at Puddles Games and Puzzles in Portland. It was a lovely sunny day, and you could see the mountains, Mount Hood, the remains of St.Hellens, and just the tip of Rainier in the Seattle area. Glorious.

At 3PM, with the shoe company quieting to the usual nothing-to-see Friday and the shock-and-awe of layoffs, I decided to risk Friday traffic and find this store. Having been warned by online reports of a total traffic melt-down, I took the more scenic route, Canyon, to Highway 26 (called the Sunset Highway as it points at the sunset, making it a good reason to wash the car windshield and include sunglasses in your vehicle if headed west). The reports were wrong, and it is no surprise that Portland keeps telling the world, “No, don’t live here; it is terrible.” Nav took me into some traffic, but it was just a slow point, and soon, I arrived in the Grant Park neighborhood in NE Portland.

While enjoying Air Volvo, I did witness a truck pull out in front of a motorcycle as it dived for the turning lane in moderate traffic. I suspect the motorcyclist wanted a third arm to wave an obscene gesture as they drove around the commercial tuck. Air Volvo alarms did not ring as another car slowed while Air Volvo tried to merge behind it. Exciting. I also ignored some breathtaking lane changes while on bridges. It appears that sunny days in the Greater Portland area bring back the daring or foolish outside.

Puddles had parking in front, and I took advantage of that. “Why yes, we have two add-ons left,” I was happy to learn that I had acquired both. The spare one for a friend. I also found the mat for the card-based game Furnace and bought that, too. The selection of board games appeared more intact than usual, but soon, the place was full of kids, and school let out, and collector card games appeared to be the main focus of the store. Two tables were ready for games, which the younger folks took immediately as if they owned them. Feeling like an older gray-haired guy might be unwanted in this crowd (or accused of over-interest in the less-than-18 crowds), I was happy to leave with my purchases.

Aside: I noted that the young folks had gift cards, and it appeared that instead of latch-key kids, these kids were card traders and players, both young guys and gals. Mom and Dad parked them here until it was time for dinner, soccer, chess club, or whatever the kids do now. The school is across the street. The store sells the cards and provides play spaces. An interesting solution.

I found Tacovore, and after some difficulty going the other direction on Freemont, I found their parking lot. I grabbed Wyrmspan, my laptop, and one add-on and headed inside. They are one of the non-waiter Mexican-style places you find in Portland. You order, find a table, and bring a number. You bus your table (I felt guilty when I forgot, next time). Food, excellent food, is delivered.

I had the house margarita with chili and regular salt (I’m not sure I could do that much chili). Soon, Wyrmspan reloaded with cool coins and wooden food items for feeding dragons in my copy. I had to leave most new items in plastic bags as the provided containers did not fit the larger wooden components. Hmm.

I tried the blackened salmon taco and it was the best taco I had. I later tried the meat version, and it was too spicy for my taste, but I am sure it was great for those who want a more dragon-like meal, sticking to the Wyrmspan theme. The drink was excellent, and I was told, and can’t counter this, that it is the best margarita in Portland.

I headed home in Air Volvo, well-fed and ready to face traffic. My Nav was unhappy when I refused to use the onramp to Highway 26 and the tunnel as a parking lot, as that is what it had become. I continued on and found my way to Burnside and took it home after convincing, having to pull over, the Nav on Air Volvo that the scenic route, as it called it, was the only way. I enjoyed the trip, remembering my first time with Susie when we got lost and took Burnside to Portland. Also, most folks were parked on Highway 26, so it was light traffic. It was an excellent drive, but as I was traveling westward, it would have been better had I gotten the streaks of pollen and sticky off the windshield of an Air Volvo.

Returning with smiles, enjoying my day, and forgetting work, which I may never return to, I arrived at the Volvo Cave with no adventures or loss of paint. I rested and read Eric Cline’s new book, After 1177 BCE. The footnotes are extensive, the charts of the timelines work the cost of the book, and it makes me want to teach Sunday School again. Resist! Dr. Cline’s book includes recent work in the field and covers work from the 1800s to just a few years ago. I nap a few times and then keep reading for an excellent evening of learning new history and renewing what I already knew.

Not willing to let the day go, I headed to the 10PM showing of THE MINISTRY OF UNGENTLEMANLY WARFARE (2024), which is sort of a mix of John Wick movie violence and lack of plot-but-action-makes-up-for-it style, a WW2 thriller-like Guns of Navaroe, a femme fatale WW2 spy story, and Castle Wolfenstein video game recording. In other words, it is perfectly silly and perfectly fun. If you like John Wick movies, then this will fit the bill. It purports to be a true story found in the recently released WW2 Churchill documents and even includes pictures of the people portrayed.

I was out at 12:15 and considered visiting The 649 as Avery was closing today at 1AM today, but decided I was tired and she did not need another customer. I was soon home, showered, and nodding off to Eric’s story of the Edomites. I was soon asleep.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

Thursday, the last work-from-office day at Nike WHQ, started with waking just before 6:30. While I slept better, I seemed out of sorts and should have rolled over and called in. But instead, I rose, found my slippers, and headed to the home office. It was already bright and cloudless. It was also cold, even frosty, as we continued with the desert climate. Thus grumpy, I made coffee, liberal coffee, in my French press and got the last banana.

I returned to the home office and read the emails, Slack updates, and news. I managed to just finish the banana as the clock showed 7. I returned the coffee and the plate to the kitchen. The banana skin joined a growing pile of garbage. Apparently, Corwin is blind to the overflowing trash. I am wondering how high I can get it.

I cleaned up and dressed using my Harry’s razor, still with its first blade, which is fantastic (thanks, Lynn-Wolff’s). I was soon dressed, and I had a sweater over the T-shirt. It was frigid.

I arrive at the Swift Building at Nike WHQ, realizing it will be my last visit if I am let go next week. It was a strange feeling. Soon, habit takes over, and I am again doing status and processing Zoom calls until late morning. I also reviewed how the new process may work in a short whiteboarding session.

Next, I had lunch with Scott at the cafe, risking the salad bar, and I am happy to report no sudden adverse side effects. Kerry, a friend of mine at Nike for years and a Belgium Beer expert, joined us for lunch. We talked about work and, sadly, much about the re-org and changes that are soon coming.

I returned to Zoom calls in the afternoon and then decided it would be good to head home, but I did get a call from the plumbers first. I arranged for the plumbers to come next week to restructure the connection for the clothing washer (and combo dryer) and to snake the drain in the main bathtub.

Once home, I followed along, but there was no message from leadership on layoffs. We are surprised they are waiting so long, which does not make this easier. We believe the process is next week, and we will again be asked to work from home next week.

I received Eric Cline’s next book. He is a brilliant writer and archeologist. I strongly recommend this lecture. His newest book, After 1177 BCE, was just published. I have read most of his books, and I love his recorded lectures.

I had one more meeting at 5:45. I made tacos by defrosting the ground beef in water and then cooked it in a non-stick pan on the new stove. It was faster, and the temperature seemed more stable. I added a can of hot peppers and tomatoes and the usual low-salt taco mix. I let that cook in the meat without draining the beef. It is so good this way. I took the taco shells from the box, put cheese inside, and backed it so the cheese melted.

I found some lettuce on its last legs and cut out the good part. Thus, I had spicy, almost to the point of burning, tacos while I did the stand-up meeting until after 6 (18:00). I had four, so good, while I did the meeting. I put the rest away in glass storage (thanks, Gene and Glenda) for Corwin to find later.

I washed the towels on the floor in the new washer/dryer, emptied and reloaded the dishwasher, and ran it with a light load. I took out the trash in three bags and put out the garbage and recycling. The grumpiness faded after bringing order (and tacos) to the world, and I decided The 649 was a good choice for writing the blog.

The after-work and early dates were just leaving, and Avery and Natalia were briefly buried in cleaning tables and running drinks. The crowd is slower as the sun slides behind the hills, and they can talk more softly. It is always lovely to chat with them.

And that takes me to the current moment. Thanks for reading.

 

I became exhausted this Wednesday night and had to stop playing board games with Z. I had a few coughing attacks, one bad enough to alarm Z, but my emergency inhaler controlled that. So, it will be a shorter blog as I am sliding into nap time.

Going with the highlights, starting in the early hours, I woke up too warm to sleep (that has not happened in a while) and then had a short-lived but terrible leg cramp. The fall in the kitchen that slammed my left knee into the floor was also bothering me, and I was taking painkillers for that. So, sleep was troubled when I rose before 6:30.

I had coffee and a banana. I got out the drill and put two new holes in my belt. Mariah urged me to get a new belt (on its way) and to stop my pants from falling. It worked and will be better. A new belt is on its way. My weight increased to 158 (!), but my waist seemed smaller. I believe I am building muscle at the same time, and that is why my numbers are varying by ten pounds.

I was able to clean up and dress without issue and soon was in Air Volvo, headed to the Swift Building on the Nike WHQ campus. The traffic was heavy, and I had to wait ten minutes longer to reach the shoe company’s parking lot. Work was about processing and approving various changes. It was a usual day.

I left early and went to Barnes and Noble to buy a copy of the new game Wrymspan. I have a discount as a member, so it took no time to acquire the game and an electronics magazine I like. After that, I went to Happy Panda and ordered chicken with cashew nuts and mushrooms added to it. The bits of chicken in a light brown sauce were a crunch mix of celery, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and slightly undercooked mushrooms. Nothing that would help reduce my weight, but it was feel-good food. This over-plain rice and the usual spring roll and Hot and Sour soup was an excellent meal.

While consuming this crunchy mix, I read the rules for Wrymspan and later texted Richard and Kathleen for clarification. It was a pleasure to read and think.

I returned to work, and soon, my old boss, Brad, pointed out that the admin staff was serving margaritas, and we were relaxing and drinking. Sadly, much of the conversation is still about the wreckage from the recent layoffs and the new ones next week. Yes, margaritas were a good idea—we needed to party a bit.

Brad, my now-former boss, invited me and his previous MDG Engineering team for drinks and food. This was Brad saying goodbye, as the re-org had us leave Brad and move under another director. It was a nice dinner and drinks.

Next, I drove (ensuring I ate something to be sober) and soon reached First United Methodist Church without incident. Soon, Z and Dondrea arrived. We had cupcakes of a special cake made from bananas, pecans, and pineapple from scratch by Dondrea, carefully frosted with perfect roses and other flowers. Ashley, wearing a mask (she had been ill), joined us as her birthday was yesterday, as was mine, with the choir singing Happy Birthday. We had cupcakes to celebrate Ashley’s birthday and mine.

Z was excited to learn the Wingspan-like board game reworked with dragons, Wyrmspan. Z had it down soon and was crushing me. Z soon had an engine built, and I would watch as her turns would often be 1/2 again longer than mine. Z beat me by twenty points. I was too tired to play again. Z and I just chatted.

After that, I said goodnight to folks and headed home. I was soon writing.

Sorry for the rushed blog. Thanks for reading.

 

I woke up with the iPhone sending out sounds of messages. It was my 60th birthday, and I managed to sleep until 6:30. I thought I should have taken the day off, like most years, but today, I will try to summon the will to return to work. I found my slippers and rose; I have LL Bean felt PJs now and forgo the robe. I am warm.  I read the warm greetings and watched a card from the Lynn-Wolffs. Soon, I ran out of time and managed only a slip of liberal coffee from my French Press and a banana that I scarfed down.

I clean up and dress. I wear my blue Nike Metcon Turbo 2 shoes, which are not my usual Air Force Ones, and my Empire State T-shirt. My pants are a problem. I have shrunk, or they have grown. They are now falling off. Mariah insisted later that I purchase a smaller size from my usual LL Bean order; I ordered two pairs and a new belt. Let’s hope these will stay on.

I was in the office by about 8; the traffic was heavy but was moving, and I soon enjoyed a leadership meeting and more hours of meetings on various subjects, all on Zoom. I get a few birthday wish calls. I got a meeting notice for cake at 1:30 for my birthday, and I have to let folks know that it is OK to tell people I am 60 today. Birthdates are personal identifiable information (PII) data, and thus, they are protected. My IT folks are nervous to discuss my age and request that I release the information; I do. Yes, we will pass an audit even for birthdays!

I had lunch alone at the cafe and my usual at the pop-up. This time, it was a split chicken breast over Israeli couscous with a gravy that contained large bits of onions, small mushrooms, and other veggies. It was good. I read the news on Trump’s trial; he has become a class in obscure excuses in a legal setting.

When I returned, my team soon set up a nice party for me, and I served the cake. When I was a little kid, birthday people had to serve their own cake. By the later afternoon the cake was gone. I served extra frosting to the directors; they roasted me a few times. It was all in good fun, but I think the newer people are not used to the lack of decorum that is old Nike. But soon, they were laughing and enjoying the jokes.

Someone brought a pinata in the form of ’60’, but it was empty. I suggested we go to the supply of Advil, Tylenol, allergy meds, and other pills in small bags, making a true IT pinata. Meds instead of candy! That got lots of laughs; we did not do that.

After the cake, I walked through Core ERP’s area (my organization is Core ERP), invited folks for cake, and shook hands. Soon, the cake was gone; excellent.

I talked to some folks about my understanding of our upcoming work. Soon, I was out of time to meet Mariah at BJ’s for dinner. I thanked everyone again and headed out.

Eric, my usual waiter in the bar, was there, and Mariah soon appeared. I had the ribeye with a baked potato and a salad, and Mariah had their excellent double pork chop with bacon jam. I had a beer, Jerimiah Red, delivered by Eric without asking (a favorite), and then a gin and tonic on a cold but sunny day. I was thinking of the warm days to come. As it was my birthday, I ate the dessert–so wrong but so good: A macadamia nut cookie still warm with ice cream.

Mariah spent the evening giving me advice. I hold her in high regard, and she had much to say. I listened. Sadly, there were many requests for Mariah to repeat what she said. My hearing degradation becomes more apparent in social settings. Also, I fell in the kitchen yesterday when a moving mat used by the installer shifted under me while trying to stand. I landed back on the floor; my left knee slammed into the floor, and today, it is sore. My whole leg was locked into a cramp in the same area while sitting on the high chairs in the bar. It passed once I stretched the leg out over a chair. The problem is returning as I write the blog. Hmmm.

Mariah and I soon headed out. I returned home in Air Volvo. There, I went through the emails, found the Kickstarters, and updated the address and items I wanted. Ostia is a Macala-using board game that I enjoy. It was created, reprinted, and has add-ons supplied by the Kickstarter process. I selected my choices and will see the new stuff near the end of the year.

I received the paperwork to cash out $61 of Susie’s last remaining investment. They want a court order, so I may abandon the money. I am the surviving spouse, and they should recognize that, but we will see. Endless!

And then I started the blog, and that takes me to now. Thanks for reading!

I was home most of the day today as I needed to be home for the plumbers and the appliance installation.

I rose with my alarm, which seemed too early, as I had woken at 5AM and rolled over. I dreamed of traveling again, but the details evaporated as the day started. When I get this tumor stuff done, it seems like it is time to get back to traveling. I am thinking of New Orleans again or another crazy trip with driving to do museums in Chicago, Detroit, and then Lansing and the Old ‘burg (Laingsburg, Michigan 48848, for those who don’t know) for Linda’s last youngish birthday (59) on 23 July 2024. Folks will be welcome to overlap that trip and join me for museums (Chicago Field, Industrial, Arts, and then Detroit Arts). Details will wait after I recover. But yes, I am dreaming of travel.

I made liberal coffee in the French Press and had a banana with that. A light breakfast.

The plumber called around 8ish and said he was running late, and I should have expected him at 9:30. The appliance delivery, installation, and haul away were potentially at the same time. Oh my. I did the process Zoom call at 9 and a planning meeting afterward. Then, Rick, the plumber from Crown Plumbing, showed up, and he was done in just a few minutes as he was there to review the issues and provide an estimate in a few days and a date–likely in a week or so. They will replace the connections for the washer and the discharge to a more current setup with a little sink. Excellent.

Back to Zoom meetings. I met with my new boss, who asked me to help with a few items before I head out on Medical Leave about 15 May 2023 (I travel to Michigan for Susie’s Concert and fly back that same day, 18 May 2023). We discussed helping folks attend the technical conferences and how I can help.

We finished, and I was just starting on paperwork when I heard the truck. I spent the next two hours helping and watching as the dishwasher and stove were replaced. It took them a while to disconnect the dishwasher. I had turned off the power to the washer, not the dishwasher. They checked, and I fixed that. Yikes! The stove is not flush as the power cable is looped. We could fix it, but it will work as it is.

They hauled away the old ones, the boxes, and other packing stuff, and they were gone before 2PM. I was back online and worked until 4ish. I made a sandwich of shaved beef, cheddar slices, and cole slaw with Thousand Island Dressing. Corwin found my half sandwich from last night. I ate both halves as I was hungry.

I ran a few dishes in the dishwasher and tested all the burners on the stove. We had to burn off the transportation oil before I could use the stove. That is a bit smokey. I put on the vent fan.

I got out the slightly reduced Easter Ham and set it in a glass dish to make. I put Oregon black, not sweat, cherries in the dish; this was from a can. I peeled carrots and put them in some oil and seasoning to bake—they did dry out too much. Next time, I will steam them, cover them, and then uncover them. I made rice pilaf from a box as the starch.

I baked the carrots in the first oven and used the convection roast in the second oven. Fun! I used the cooking surface to make the rice pilaf in a saucepan. I used the whole stove! It works perfectly and heats much faster than the previous one.

I sliced off the baked ham and put the liquid and cherries on it. The carrots were passable. The pilaf was OK and made well. I think I am spoiled by my couscous.

Corwin was waiting for his paycheck. I paid for a tank of gas for him. While he borrowed my Amex, I raced to finish all the clean-up and packed the food in glass containers (thanks, Glenda). I was done before he returned and had the dishwasher on custom settings: A heavy load with regular dry but high-temperature water for three-plus hours.

With my AMEX card back, my bank card was lost–the AMEX is all I have, so I headed to The 649. I have put in a request for a replacement and locked down the card. Alexa immediately told me that my payments for her services were faltering. I fixed all of that. I already have the replacement card numbers (I printed out a picture of the virtual card) and put them in to make Alexa happy again.

I am now at The 649 writing and having a sour beer suggested by Avery, who bartends tonight. She is manually playing tunes, a DJ, and a bartender, as the sound system music selections are not working. I do recognize some of the music. It has a fast beat, and I can see Avery moving at the speed of the music. Mondays are often quiet, but she is keeping busy tonight. She is moving with the music. I saw her shaking a drink to the beat a moment ago.

Thanks for reading!