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The day started with me dreaming about traveling and trying to get to the airport in time for my flight home from distant lands for work. I managed it in the dream and woke up on time, just before my alarm. I was thrilled to wake up rested without any COVID-19 and flu side effects. I had the vaccines on Saturday, and they made Sunday a tough day. I managed to get started and make an NYC bagel for breakfast, adding capers this time to the cream cheese. I was in the home office by 7PM with my bagel and liberal coffee summoned into existence by boiling water poured into my French Press.

I started my shift and enjoyed hours and hours of Zoom meetings on status. I captured issues for the master data engineering team and shared them. I approved some designs and some installs of software. After the Zoom meetings ended, I kept a close eye on the emails and Slack updates from the project. I did manage to slide in a shower and getting dressed between a few meetings.

While watching work on email and channels, I cut up a green pepper, sliced up spicy sausage into little squares (I cut it length-wise to make squares instead of across to make coin-like slices), and added in a can of Mexican-style stewed tomatoes after the frying sausage and green peppers started to stick to the pan. I then broke up the tomatoes with a spoon while stirring the frying items. I reduced the heat and let that all cook for a while. Next, I added in my favorite boxed Jambalaya mix (spices and rice), added enough water to make it look like soup, brought the mixture to a boil, reduced the heat, and covered. This cooks for 15 minutes. I then add a mix of seafood, all frozen, from Trader Joe’s. I add some more hot water and recover for ten more minutes. Done!

I started the laundry, as Monday is my usual laundry day.

I pulled out the ice maker and dumped the ice into a large bowl. I let the frozen solid ice maker melt outside. I did stop the ice maker after I heard the first dump into the frig. Oops.

Lunch was excellent! I watched more videos on YouTube, one from Nerd of the Rings and another from Battleship New Jersey’s channel, while eating. Both shows were nerdy, and I will not recount them here. I recommend these YouTube channels.

I put the Jambalaya pan on the ice and thus cooled down the food to store as leftovers. Ready now, I boarded Air Volvo with my two computers and the shoe company’s laptop. It is a wet and overcast Oregon day that becomes one of a parade of endless wet, gray days we see starting in November that some years only ends in July. The depression and suicide rates should not rise this week as we all want to see Wednesday and high 70F sunny days later this week. Enjoying and welcoming the rains (yes, I am one of those), Air Volvo quickly got me to Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

Susie is already in bed, and I bring in the purchases at Safeway I made on the way in. Two cases of Ensure, Extra Protean, and two bunches of flowers. One bouquet has a wooden owl, and Susie picks that for her room. The other one will be for the main table to share. The Safeway brand grocery store in Aloha is near our house; they have great flowers. Also, boxes of pasta were a buck (up to ten) today, and I got some fresh fruit for breakfast (bananas) and snacks (applies). That remains in the Volvo Cargo Storage.

Returning to Susie, Susie was resting and watching M.A.S.H. but was happy to have me visit. Using FaceTime to form a three-way call, we called Leta and Barb (her mother and sister, respectively) on my iPhone. Barb was sitting on her deck in Michigan relaxing on the hot, 80F (27C), and humid Michigan fall day. Leta was inside, sitting in a chair and relaxing in the AC. We talked briefly, with Susie “resting her eyes” a few times. We soon rang off. I stayed the afternoon with Susie.

I left as I was falling asleep, with a kiss at 4PM. The side effects of the vaccines are returning, and I am again feeling exhausted. I headed to Barnes and Noble (B&N) in messy traffic. The rain has slowed folks, and there were many back-ups. I soon was at B&N and bought my usual magazines: Electronic and model building periodicals.

Next, I headed to The Rock: Wood Fired Pizza and ordered a large red ale and an all-meat pizza. I love their pizza. I had this, as usual, with a side salad. Excellent this time. I will have a few slices left for breakfast–excellent for mornings.

And that takes us to now. I am writing the blog and will get a coffee in The Rock bar before I leave (or hot tea if they have no coffee).

Thanks for reading!

FYI: I was notified I did not place in the 500-word horror story this year. That makes it twice I was passed by after winning in 2021. Next year!

The COVID-19 and Flu vax are crushing me today. I was up at 7:30 to make my first meeting at 8:05, but I skipped the rest as I struggled to think clearly and answer questions. Not a good place to be in IT! I had an apple, some hot cereal, and oatmeal (low sugar) and made it through the first meeting without issues. Rajani took over today, and I just followed along on my phone–they did not need me.

I raided the freezer for lunch. I baked frozen clam strips, which were aging, along with potato pancakes. I have sour cream to go with them, and I cooked a whole box and saved some for tomorrow’s breakfast. I found some frozen corn on the cob (it is now in season), so I boiled this as I would prefer fresh, but I should finish my frozen stuff.

So, clam strips potato pancakes with sour cream and corn on the cob for lunch. Not bad.

I struggled with pain in my arm, joint pain, nausea, and exhaustion. I pushed through, got into Air Volvo, and managed to cross Beaverton without issue. The traffic was kind today–no amazing driving today. The weather was a perfect sunny fall day, and I think it cheered everyone. I soon arrived at Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

Anassa, the weekend nursing aide, said Susie was waiting for me and finished 1/2 an Ensure as I waited. Next, we went outside on the glorious fall day. Clear skies and hot sun made it pure joy. A Steller’s Jay was calling out excitedly at me, and I assume the lack of crows now resulted from these intense birds coming down from the mountains as we leave the hot 100+ days of August.

The park was busy, with little people getting a chance to use it on a perfect day, escorted by their parents. Dogs were out walking their humans while the sun could be enjoyed. Susie and I found a nice bench in the sun and soon made a three-way FaceTime video call with Susie’s sister, Barb, and her mother, Leta. We had a pleasant visit while Barb drove to take their dog, Sophia, to a lovely park. Leta was enjoying her birds in her new bird feeders. I had to bring the call to an end as I was fading from the side-effect of the vax again.

Susie with new socks of Portland Bridges from Powell’s.

Next, Susie and I tried to watch The Accountant, a favorite movie featuring Ben Affleck. Michelle and David Smith called, and we briefly chatted with them. They were on the coast working on their beach house. David was under the house working on some hot water pipes. I quoted Gandalf and suggested that there are many ancient things in the deep places. I also said if she heard David say, “You Shall Not Pass,” she should run for it. David laughed. David’s Bane was not likely under the beach house. It was good to catch up, and they got to say hello to Susie!

We returned to the movie, and Susie nodded off. I tried to be quiet, follow along on some work things, and watch the show (I like it). At 4PM, I left with a kiss. I know Susie felt it was a short visit as she slept through much of it, but I had to get some food and get moving (I was falling asleep and also feeling ill). Anassa took over, and Susie got some rest and later dinner.

I headed Air Volvo to the Oak Hills Brewery, part of McMcmenamins (a local chain), for an early light dinner. I had clam chowder with crackers and an iced tea. I tried to get focused on Dungeons and Dragons while eating. I also checked in, and was not needed at the shoe company.

Next, I drove only a few minutes to Cory’s house to play our Dungeons and Dragons game. The group has been meeting for over twenty years. We play for the Sunday Group, D&D, or Call of Cthulhu (CoC) Role Playing Game. We like both, and CoC provides interesting options to create or find props to play. Today, we are continuing with a long-term campaign on Spell Jammers (D&D in space on magical space flying sailing and other types of ships), which will have us increase to the maximum level in D&D, Twentieth.

In today’s game, we nearly were whipped out by one battle with slavers and hideous mind flayers. My character, War, an evil but lawful worshiper of War, almost had his brain eaten! We finally managed to drive that off. Before that, we barely escaped living and hungry asteroids. My character was swallowed multiple times. It was a close call.

We had a good time, and it is always better when it is a close call. I was struggling, as I said. The drive home was hard. When I am sick, I start to see things in the dark–I have to sometimes sleep with a light on.

I made it home safe, made a ham and cheese sandwich, and struggled through this blog. I hope to work on Monday.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

For the last day of September 2023, I was busy but did slow down in the early evening. I had my COVID-19 and Flu Vax on Saturday, and I was impacted as the evening started. It was a perfectly cool day with clear skies and dark blue, showing no smoke and little smog.

I woke before 7ish and then put the alarm off until 7:30. I then had to rush to make breakfast (hot oatmeal–low sugar–with dried cranberries and walnuts) and liberal coffee that I carried to the home office. I then did the usual reading of emails, Slack channel updates, and read some news (later, the US government did NOT shut down). I had two Zoom meetings, and I had then followed along. There were many breaks and process issues. I wrote the blog for Friday. I was busy all morning.

After managing a shower without events (the shower rod did not fall), I dressed, collected my computers, and boarded Air Volvo. There was only light traffic despite all of the holes The City of Beaverton has installed this summer. I arrived at Rite Aid Pharmacy.

I was disappointed that I had misread my appointment, and it was later in October (originally, it was Saturday, but somehow it moved, and I did not notice). As I was there, I asked for a Flu shot, and they said they could do that if I was willing to wait about 15 minutes. I replied I could wait. A different, young, pretty gal showed up with my vax and informed me they had a cancellation, so COVID-19 Moderna was ready for me. Yes, I am getting rejected vax (!?). The pharmacist then shot me up, and I enjoyed the Flu and Moderna vax side effects together. There was no waiting for deadly side effects (we know now that those effects are not caused by the vax). So I just thanked the staff and left with the paperwork.

I did ask them to update my yellow Vax card, which I have had since 1998. They said they don’t supply COVID-19 Vax cards now, but I wanted my records complete. They relented and agreed and wrote the information on my vax card. In the old days, I had to present that card with my passport for specific destinations.

So reinforced, I soon arrived at Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Susie was happy to see me and agreed it would be a good day to head out to Metzger Park next door with a coat. We went out and enjoyed a glorious, Oregon sunny fall day. It was warm in the sun and cold in the shade. We were drying out as the air was without humidity. I found a sunny bench, and from there, we called LetSusie’se’s mother) in Michigan on my iPhone using FaceTime to see each other. Leta and Susie chatted for a while about various things. Susie staying awake today, even in the warm sun. Susie was delighted to be outside again. I was already starting to drag a bit.

Susie and I returned to the hummingbird house, and then Susie sat in her bed while I got back to support work on my laptop. This time, I had only the Nike laptop. Susie had 1/2 an Ensure while we listened to some music. I had started a movie, but Susie fell asleep, so I tried to be quiet for a few hours. I had no more Zoom meetings on Saturday.

I kissed Susie goodbye at about 2PM when I headed out to meet Evan in Portland for lunch. Susie was sad that I was leaving, but she was not upset. She was sleepy but also wanted the lunch Anassa, the weekend day nursing aide, had offered. So I headed out and reached Von Eberts in less than thirty minutes–a fast trip. I found Table 14 in the bar; while 13 is my fav as it can see all the sport-covering screens, Table 14 is OK. I then used my phone to read the code and run their app to order. It is just the staff here, and they can take your order if you insist. I had a beer and an appetizer ordered before Evan arrived. He then ordered.

The lettuce-wrapped pork belly with kimchi was a great start. I had the smaller 4 wings with a salad for my lunch/dinner. Evan had his favorite pizza (a reworking of a standard model) and a few drinks.

Aside: The wings are so good, smoked, the rumors are that the chickens volunteer.

Next, and I was starting to drag, we moved to Starbucks across from Powell’s City of Books and played the board game Funance with the add-on. Evan was just a few coins behind my score, but I could not catch the machine player, who scored twenty more than me. We still like this new add-on, but it is hard to beat the machine player.

It seemed late to me, but I pushed through, and we got a counter seat at Screen Door and had pecan pie. There I had lots of coffee and pie. We had a view of the kitchen, and seeing all the food going out was fascinating: A triumph of frying chicken. I have only had salads and pie at this fried chicken and waffle joint, but all of it looked good and smelled great. I stuck to my pie.

Evan headed out while I decided to take Powell’s City Books for a spin. I found a 2020 Cocktail book celebrating 1920s drinks for 1/2 price, which is now added to my 1920s information collection. It includes a history of Prohibition in the USA as it marks the centennial of Prohibition.

On the way back, I accidentally closed the gaming store. I went in just before 7PM and searched for figures and other things I might need. At first, I was not sure why the clerk was so intense. But I then learned they had closed–what gaming store closes at 7PM on Saturday nights in the Fall! So I bought my figures and left.

At the house, I felt pain in all my joints, and the pie I had consumed was unsettled. I read and napped for a while. I then got up and painted the figures; I have speed paint I have been meaning to use, and a large Earth Element (they are dirt-colored) was a good option for a test of these strange paints. I slopped the paint on, and it did work. It is shaded and colored–these models are pre-primed, so you can just paint them. The spooky disembodied hands (Think Addam’s family) have one that is jumping. I removed the gorry bits with a file and painted it blue with speed paints. I will add a sword, and it will be a Spiritual Weapon marker for Dungeons and Dragons. Excellent. I also painted more on my Egyptian figure, but I was tired and did not want to try much. I did paint the eyes and some of the face and wings.

I was tired, so I read Agatha Christie’s Mrs. McGintry’s Dead while lying down. I bought my old yellowing paperback copy in East Lansing at Curious Books. It is one of the stories I remember from the BBC show, the only other version. I recommend the BBC version and the book version.

I tried to understand the rules of a new board game, Arabella. Board Game Geek states, “Arabella is an 18XX-themed roll-and-write for 1-4 players, set in Estonia.” I will have to watch a video. I could not sleep, so I tried rereading the rules, and it worked. I was asleep soon. That is not a good sign for this newly arrived-Kickstarter game.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

When I write this on Saturday, it is a bright, clear morning and cold, 48F (9C), with a high according to the forecast of 69F (20C). Friday was overcast and started rainy, but it slowly cleared to cloudy and, finally, clear skies late at night. Thus, when I visited Susie, we stayed inside as it was still damp and cool.

I started Friday, as usual, sleeping into 7ish and not waking for most of the night. The pains and coughing disappeared, and I only had to prove hydration once. My first meetings start at 8, so I had time to make breakfast of hot instant (low sugar) oatmeal, doctoring it with some dried cranberries (one of Susie’s favorite things that I agreed are just wonderful with a lot of punch for fewer calories) and some walnuts (also something Susie loves). I always have them, even when Susie is now in the hummingbird house. I put in only one pack of oatmeal (Susie would want two) and lots of hot water (Susie wants less water and used to look at me funny when I made instant oatmeal–obviously thinking, “You are doing it wrong!”). I then made coffee in the French Press with Liberal Coffee. When Susie and Corwin lived here, I would make a whole pot every morning and leave it for them when they got up. They would microwave it hot when it was time for them to rise. So, with all these good memories, I carried my bounty to the home office.

I have Ziply Fiber and a 1G connection on my laptops. I have Nike’s laptop and my own Apple in my office. My Nike laptop then tunnels to the Nike Network and reconnects with the WHQ mothership. I use the corporate machine to read work emails and updates on Slack channels. I used my Apple laptop to read my mail and update myself on the news (the US government is still headed to a budget-caused shutdown).

Work started at 8ish, and Zoom meetings ran until almost 10AM. It was the usual and obvious again. We are also, and I am happy to see it, carefully applying our processes to ensure that all installed software changes have been tested, approved by various levels, and with proper documentation–boring but necessary.

I managed to find a break at 10AM and discovered that the shower rod had fallen again. This time, I took some time to reinstall it with care and get it back in place. Unlike yesterday, I managed to not hit myself with the shower bar. My shower was uneventful.

I continued working in the office and made a taco salad with the last taco meat I had left. It was good with freshly chopped celery and carrots, too. I used sesame sticks instead of taco shells–excellent.

Next, I load a large bag of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) gaming stuff, the three rules books, and a desert map surface to play on into Air Volvo’s cargo hold. I also carried on my two laptops from the office. I then took Air Volvo to the Shell to refuel at an outrageous $5.09 for regular unleaded gas. Remember that Oregon has no sales tax, but still, it is a bit high. The West Coast of the USA has always paid a premium for gas. After allowing full service (no extra charge in Oregon, and we are now allowed to pump our own fuel), Air Volvo finally headed to Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

The construction on Hall Boulevard has become more intense, and the overpass of Highway 217 is messy now. I saw some daring crossing of five-lane roads and sudden jumps into turning lanes. Still, there were no collisions, as nobody was going fast enough to not tolerate our Portland Area’s passive/aggressive driving process. Air Volvo arrived at the hummingbird house undamaged.

Susie was happy to have me as a visitor, and we soon were set up in my Friday work-from-Susie’s-room configuration. Susie was set in her bed watching season three of M.A.S.H., starting with the episode when Colonel Potter was added to the cast. I followed along, read and approved various items, and then bored Susie to sleep with a meeting on data archiving. Susie did recognize Brad Jones on the Zoom meeting and sent a ‘Hi” to my boss.

It was good to keep Susie company all afternoon. I know she is seldom alone, but I am sure it gets lonely. At 4ish, I left with a kiss, and Jeniifer, the weekday nursing aide, was just finishing her shift.

Next was a whirlwind; I took Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave, got the mail, and reboarded. Next, I picked Corwin up about a mile away and pointed Air Volvo to Portland and Guardian Games in SE. We traversed Beaverton and Portland to reach the gaming store. There, I checked in with the friendly staff, and we got a large table right in the middle of a Magic: The Gathering drafting event (I don’t play this game, which I understand is quite fun, but as a buy-in, I am not prepared to do so). I had reserved a table, and the gaming store staff were excited to see some Dungeons and Dragons play and all of my monsters figures. I painted and made some, including a massive plastic lobster reworked into a giant scorpion-ish creature.

Kathleen arrived, and we started to play. As with D&D, the game seems to play fast and furious, but time burns just as quickly. It is a board game and Role Play Game (RPG) phenomenon that time just disappears when having fun. We managed to get Kathleen going, a first-time player, and I gave three NPC Knights to each player who also ran to supplied characters, all tenth level–so they are super-powered. Kathleen had little trouble (she is an incredible board gamer) picking up the RPG and looking at the players’ handbook to find spells to use.

I wrote the adventure with Corwin in mind, had played it with my regular group, and now Corwin and Kathleen got to try it. I have some red shirts (like I did before and will write into the adventure text) to allow for some excitement but less loss to the characters. One critical hit killed a red shirt, but they could revive the knight before he passed beyond magical help. The adventure is my imagination within the snug restrictions of D&D rules. Often, the players found no shortcuts and had to, in the end, pound away at my monsters–thus the red shirts supplied.

In one case, Kathleen and Corwin devised a unique solution to one challenge, and I let that work to their advantage. I thought it a good idea, and unlike some adventure writers, I will add a note to the encounter that using a Gust of Wind spell to blow away the cursed sand will be to their advantage. I like the idea.

The last encounter for the night was a pushover for them. I will have to rethink if turning my one undead creature should unwind the whole encounter, but still, it was a good solution. I let it work. The encounter mainly sets the theme, which works for the overall adventure. I may split up the single undead creature into multiples so that only some are turned, adding a rule to the encounter that one creature always resists turning. Thus, reduced, the encounter still continues as planned.

Corwin and Kathleen were happy and even excited with the game, and we will continue, likely two more gaming sessions to complete the adventure. And want to face the giant figure they saw–the former plastic lobster. I learned a few things, and as a story-telling Dungeon Master, I like to see where everything goes and let the player’s plans work. As a writer of D&D adventures, you learn that some encounters can unexpectedly be crushed, but often, another one is a hard fight. I enjoyed sharing my story.

The Guardian Games staff was helpful, and we did not know you cannot bring in drinks from outside (they sell alcohol, and thus this is not allowed). Food was available to be delivered. We were having so much fun we barely noticed the noise of the Magic card game.

I drove Kathleen home, recrossed Portland and Beaverton without issue, and arrived home at about 11PM with Popeye’s Chicken. I was in bed and soon asleep–It was a busy day!

Thanks for reading.

I am tired, and it has been a busy night. I have done figure work and collected Dungeons and Dragons terrain and figures. Corwin, Kathleen, and I plan to play. I seem to be running out of time today as I rest a few times.

I managed to drill pins in the bat wings and get the figure mounted on its base. I might use this one if we take two sessions to play the adventure, as the text is not done for the Incarnation of Death encounter.

I printed off character sheets and the adventure and packed everything I needed for Friday night.

Before this, I was at the 25+ Year Employee Annual Party, where all of us long-timers and some retired employees had drinks and some food. This year, they had food trucks. I had an excellent slice of pizza made in the truck! The CEO, John Donahue, comes and gives a short speech and then just hangs out with us. It is one of the few meetings where he does not command the room. We, the folks with 25+ years, have gone through many CEOs, and he seems to find pleasure in just being John in a party. He was wearing some cool kicks (Jordans), and I complimented him on them, introduced myself, and shook his hand like I do every year. He thanked me for my years of service and for introducing myself. Like I said, he gets to be just John.

The party was at the Nike Department of Archives (DNA), and they had some displays of how Nike stuff has changed over the years and some archivists to talk to. My boss, Brad Jones, who has thirty years of service, told stories about being the first employees in some building at WHQ to an archivist who enjoyed the story. So John, DNA, and all of us were happy to spend time together and share memories.

I had walked to the party with a fellow long-term IT guy, Jake. We have worked together for years and even met when Jake did a gig for Nike in Australia. It did rain on the way back, and, having left my hat in Air Volvo so I would not lose it at the party, I did get quite damp. It is Oregon, and I enjoyed the wet and cold. Susie’s old joke was that Satan sends all the Oregonians to Heaven–we are too wet to burn.

Going backward some more, I finally managed to get to Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Before that, I had a nice lunch meeting with my friend Scott at WHQ, and then Scott, a tour guide, showed me some of the updates to WHQ. The open Boston Deli and other old hangouts are now entirely changed. I made a whole circuit of Nike WHQ before getting into Air Volvo and reaching Susie. Thanks, Scott!

Susie was tired and nodding off in her recliner when I arrived. Jennifer, the weekday nurse aide, popped Susie into Susie’s kid-sized wheelchair, and I took her to the Social Activities Room–it was cold and damp, and Susie would rather stay in the warm house. Once arranged, I called Leta and Barb (Susie’s mother and sister, respectively) and had a three-way video call. Leta was home and told stories about squirrels unsuccessfully trying to breach her bird feeder. Barb was taking her dog to the park and was driving and soon had to ring off. It was a pleasant, short visit. Susie was falling asleep today during the call. When we were done, Susie and Jennifer decided Susie would nap in her bed for a while–Susie often sleeps in the afternoon.

Moving to the start, I was up at 6AM and said, “No.” I reset the alarm to 6:30, and what seemed a second later, the alarm went off. I rose and quickly made an NYC bagel (I still have a bag left, thanks, Joyce) and my last banana. I took this to the office with a cup of liberal coffee–Equal Exchange. I then rushed through the emails, status, and other updates. I read some news, too.

I went into the shower before dressing, which is not usually something to share. The shower rod has gone wonky and loosened and fell. Twice. Then, I picked it up, and the unbalanced length swung and hit me in the head. So yes, the vision is me, naked, wet, water spraying everywhere, and hitting myself with the shower rod. F**k. I was laughing so hard I, yes, hit myself again. Many folks have said I am one of the smartest people they know–maybe.

Slightly delayed by my shower issues, I arrived at WHQ and just made my first meeting. Folks are getting used to me leaving my cube and sitting by the window in the atrium and looking out into the rain while doing the status meetings. My hearing is mostly gone in my left ear now, so headphones are translating the left side into a jumble for me–not helpful, so I have to use just a speaker and talk back. I moved to the Swift Atrium to not bother anyone. The sound does not travel far if you speak into the window. There is some sound muffling material that works for the window seats.

The rest of my work was the usual and obvious stuff. I did have a friendly chat with my boss and a few other folks.

It was a pleasant and busy day. Thanks for reading.