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From Lansing, Michigan, Fairfield Inn Eastwood, Room 201.

Again, I was tired last night, so I went to bed and now am writing at breakfast the next day.

Saturday was a sunny, clear day here in Michigan. I started with my alarm at 6AM and considered sleeping in more, but I had slept well and decided to start my day following the new time zone. Breakfast started at the hotel at 7AM. I showered, shaved, took my meds, applied Utterly Smooth (with +20% cow pee) to my hands and feet, and dressed. Today was a mixed day of temperatures, so I wore a dress shirt (slightly wrinkled from travel) under a floppy sweater with dark pants to complete my friendly corporate look (the exact look I use to fly First Class).

I walked down the stairs to the first floor and found breakfast nearly overflowing with adults sporting green and white. An MSU football game is at home today. I managed to find hot food after the hotel staff politely refilled the food. Biscuits (actually fresh) and gravy (industrially made) was an additional item to my first selections. It was a bit heavy, but I did not know what today would bring.

Next, I got into SS Ford, the impossibly huge–just as large on the outside, rental car, unmoored it, and headed into Lansing. I am still getting used to driving it as it all but demands one foot driving in combat boots–my Air Force Ones just slide off the pedal once in a while. So far, I have not had to take advantage of the damaged coverage.

I spotted all this pollution as I walked to SS Ford. It is so disappointing to see that the only clouds in the sky are sourced from this smoke stack. The color suggests coal smoke. It is not water vapor.

I parked in East Lansing despite the dire warning that it would be six dollars an hour because of an event (it was three bucks later). I was still too early for most shops, but I enjoyed the walk and intended to walk for a few hours in the MSU facing Michigan Avenue for old-time sake and to exercise. I found the MSU bookstore was open and supplied a constant supply of green and white team wear to fans headed to MSU, much of it Nike.

I do my usual perusal of the computer and mathematics textbook section–I like to see what we are teaching our new soon-to-be employees and interns. Python is the first language class now, not LISP-like or C. AI is also strongly represented, and Discrete Mathematics has been pushed into a joint textbook of Python. The $71 price used for a pattern recognition two-inch thick book did not impress me. But the mathematics textbook section had two books I wanted, one about Codes and another about Fourier analysis, and less than $40 price tag had me buy the Codes book. The other one, on Fourier analysis, was graduate level. While Fourier transformations always come up in robot and music stuff, I think I will need something more elementary as college math was in the 1980s for me. But, still, I was tempted. I left the MSU bookstore, not covered in green and white, but with a new book.

I walked all over the area, seeing what had changed and what was the same. The number of food joints, both high-end and fast food, was stunning. I counted three chicken wing food places, including two local versions. Beggar’s Banquet and El Azteco survived to continue to support quality food for the area. Pinball Petes, a treasured late-night stop for a younger me, will continue to ruin grade point averages with its basement location filled with video games and pool tables.

A homeless guy aggressively panhandled me, a new experience in this area, but I had no change. He left before I returned to Curious Books, my favorite haunt, and I sat on a bench, read Codes, and waited ten minutes for 10AM to come. Soon, the manager opened the door and rolled out the same carts I remember from years ago with cheap books. I entered to find the same shop, and the same smell of old books, dust, and a hint of mold welcomed me. They should make candles with the same scent and offer them on their website.

I found nothing I needed but bought a few small paperbacks, a Doctor Who, and a mystery for sort of cheap. I have ordered, from Oregon, some of their books on the 1920s and vintage magazines also from the same period. This is the time of H.P. Lovecraft’s stories and often the setting for Call of Chuthlu Role Playing Game adventures. But, today, just a few easy books to travel back.

Next, I headed to the capital area after paying my parking cost at a station to avoid hanging out the window of SS Ford trying to pay at the exit. There is a gaming store there, Summit Comics, that I always visit. I used Nav to get there and parked in front of the Bail Bondsman (A function we do not have in Oregon) and the old nut shop. I got some freshly roasted peanuts and a pound of cashews for Linda’s Party (my sister). Next, I wandered a bit. I was threateningly panhandled and was thus uncomfortable in the area. I did get a nice photo of the capital (I put that on Facebook). I found Summit Comics; I was there when the panhandler threatened me, and I walked by the shop, not seeing it as I was focused on not getting hurt when leaving the frustrated and screaming guy. Off my game by events, I did not find anything I needed, but I am always impressed by the store. They even had an old Dungeons and Dragons Judges’ Guild original adventure, one I used to have, for $30 for a mint copy. I demurred.

Leta, Susie’s mother, called me while I finished shopping, and I agreed to visit her. I acquired her address for the Nav; I don’t remember Lansing enough to travel from the center to Leta’s place without Nav. I managed to unmoor the SS Ford and found my way around some construction that the Nav did not recognize.

I soon found Leta’s house. The area was filled with broken trees piled by the roads. The storms of w few weeks ago had heavily damaged the area. One home still had a tree on it, and I saw an abandoned building with its roof ripped up and covered with a tree. Holmes Road was being resurfaced with gravel being glued to it–not my favorite road repair. I managed to get through the construction and arrive at Leta’s house. Leta was thrilled to see me, and we soon sat on her fantastic new deck. She was happy she had the trees taken down a few years ago, as the storm of a few weeks ago would have wrecked them. Apparently, further south, the damage is worse–I was impressed with what I saw. Trees were broken everywhere.

Leta grabbed her step stool and climbed into SS Ford. Pretty good for someone 95 years young! I will keep the stool in the SS Ford until my last meeting with Leta on Sunday when I take her to the wedding. We had lunch together at Panera Bread near the Lansing Mall, a few minutes from Leta’s home. I had soup and a chicken salad sandwich. We chatted over lunch. I then returned to Leta, braving the gravel again, to her home. We agreed she could use SS Ford for the wedding day.

Next was a nap; I rested briefly after SS Ford carried me back to the hotel. I was eating peanuts while driving, sometimes in the shell, but mainly opening them. I was getting more comfortable piloting SS Ford.

I called Mom Wild (Barb) and headed over to her house. Arriving without issue, I moored SS Ford. Mom Wild climbed into the bridge, and I loaded her walker into the cargo hold. We stopped to get some cigarettes for Mom Wild, but I forgot the carton (it was in a black bag that made it invisible at night) and will need to deliver them to Mom Wild later.

We took Highway 69 after driving to the end of Park Lake Road. We could have gone for the more scenic route, but 69 is a 75-mile-an-hour drive, and I wanted to drive SS Ford fast. You could not even feel that 80 I was driving–so smooth. This model is about $85,000 new, so I wanted to enjoy it. Unfortunately, the construction (lowered the speed to 60–not the 45 in Oregon but down to 60–yes, the midwest) more tested the handling and suspension than the speed.

The roads to Laingsburg, also with gravel glued to them, were as I remembered, except all the trees were taller. We arrived and soon lost the walker (I forgot to put it in SS Ford). Linda’s wedding party was meeting together for the first time for a low-key party at Linda’s home in Laingsburg.

As this is Linda’s party, I will just cover a few items. We had Greek food that was wonderful in a tent outside. I met the Best man, Jacob, Jesse’s (the groom) brother from North Carolina. I met Jesse’s family and some of Linda’s close friends. It was a pleasant, understated affair. I received a coaster with my name and the wedding date, plus a tie to wear.

Linda blocking a good photo. Jesse is sitting next to her.

After dark, it was time to leave (the mosquitos loved exotic Oregonian food), and I took Mom Wild home. There we had a crisis as the keys to the house were missing. They were found in the house after opening the unlocked door.

Today, Sunday, I have to print some pictures of Grandma Bailey (gone some time) to the memory table. I will get Mom Wild to the wedding (in her dress and me properly dressed for my role as family and spare groomsman.

Thanks for reading.

 

From Lansing, Michigan, Fairfield Inn Eastwood, Room 201.

I flew all night in my First Class seat on Delta. As it was the red-eye, there was no dinner on the plane; only drinks were served in First Class. I had eaten and had a local adult beverage while at PDX. When traveling, I always eat when I can, as you never know when you will eat again. On the plane, I read my newest book, Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel (A Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery Book 1), on my Kindle. The Kindle lights in the dark just enough to let you read, and I nodded off for an hour or maybe two. It was my usual reading/sleeping. I close my eyes without noticing and dream the next part of the story like I am reading it–I only notice that I am dreaming when the story seems to be about riding a plane and not a murder in Quebec! 

We arrive in Atlanta, and I am still not that tired. I put back on my shoes in my seat–proof that the physical therapy worked. I hoist my bag and laptop and head into the world’s busiest airport. The walk to the next gate makes up for the missed morning exercises! I have four hours in Georgia and now start to live in East Coast Time (-3 hours). I have a change of clothing, but I showered and shaved before leaving for the airport in Oregon–so I feel fine and only wash up a bit.

I sit for an hour waiting for the airport to wake up, and at 7AM, TGI Fridays opens for breakfast. I have coffee, and soon, southern-made Chicken and Waffles arrive. While my expectations of food in an airport are low (except for the award-winning Portland International-PDX), this was good.

I am no longer feeling out-of-sorts after consuming coffee and food, and my gate is ready soon–it is across from the restaurant. But it is still early, and that is a Denver Flight. I eat slowly and read emails and read news on my laptop as I have a few more hours left to my accidental tourist stay in Atlanta. The hour passes, and the Denver Flight is done, but then my plane arrives, but it must deplane and all that. Another hour spent reading burns away.

One hour before departure, as I was reminded by the Delta Agent, you can receive information and help for your flight. Seeing I followed directions and asked nicely, the agent smiled and was happy to replace my missing boarding pass (I left it on the previous flight) and was thrilled to hear I was headed to a family party, a wedding. The agent was more stern earlier when I asked too soon.

Finally, we board, and I get a front-row seat. Even with just 5’6″, I hit my head into the edge of an open overhead bin! Another Mike is sitting next to me, and he is an engineer who makes stuff and commutes from Texas and lives just outside of Windsor, Canada. He puts on his headphones and watches Yellowstone, which I see only on CC, and looking over, it looked like a good series. I am sleepy now (still early) and manage to rest for only a few minutes. In just a few hours, no food was offered again–even in First Class, we arrived in Detroit.

The new airport has aged since the last time I was there, ten years or more, and I add to my daily steps as I navigate its huge lone terminal. And it goes on forever as I have to walk most of A terminal’s length, which connects to the other terminal by a weird tunnel. If Dante had connected flight in this terminal, he would have had some new ideas for his most remembered work. I walk and arrive at my gate with 17 minutes to boarding. Excellent. A grumpy Delta Agent told me to read the sign when I checked that I was in the right place. Welcome to the Detriot Airport, I remember.

Happy to escape the place without a guide and a tour, I soon was on my tiny seat, First Class being 1-4 rows on the plane. Only the first four rows get a drink that is collected before take-off. Taxi time, the pilot tells us on the speakers, is fifteen minutes, and flying time is twenty-five minutes. It’s one of the few flights that you spend more time on the ground than flying!

I was worried about the short flight as I only saw one of my bags loaded onto the plane.

Linda, my sister, is unexpectedly at Capital City Airport, Lansing. Apparently, some of Jesse’s family are on the same plane. I hug her and say hello but then rush to the luggage and the car rental. Yes, my luggage is all there. I also spend forty minutes getting my rent-a-car at National. I was the first person in line!

I am trying to find my car and move my luggage in an organized fashion, but soon I see the Ford Excursion. It is so big I can barely get in. It has three rows of seats and room for luggage. Despite the National Agent telling me it has no Nav, it does, and soon, I am following its directions across Lansing.

Much has changed, but the way is familiar, and soon, I find my hotel in Eastwood. Everything goes swimmingly, and soon, I am in room 201 at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott. This one has more of a Courtyard vibe, and I like it. I unpack and restart my day by showering and shaving. I take my pills and take a two-hour nap.

I call Susie after I wake. I have an Echo Alexa device at Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. We used this device and my iPhone to do a video call, and Susie was happy to see me.

I get back into SS Ford; you don’t park this–you moor it. I remember returning to Mom Wild’s place–I called ahead, and she was ready. She loves SS Ford, but I must help her get into it. But she still loves it.

We arrive a bit early at Bravo in Eastwood. I put in a request for seven, which gets the usual, “Do you have a reservation?” and panic when I say, “No,” and just stare. They agree that 5:30 will be great. Soon, Linda, Meg, Jesse, Barb C, Leta, and Mom Wild come to dinner with me (Linda being late).

Dinner passes quickly, and I am now too tired to think straight. I manage to be sociable. Sorry, the small glass of wine did not improve my memory of dinner. Meg asked me a logic puzzle, but I managed to cover the solution points without having to work it all out–I apologized, but at that time, I was sleep-eating. Having traveled for years for work, I can always fake a dinner–we don’t precisely have training for this at the shoe company, but I have had many dinners with colleagues with jetlag. It was still a lovely time, and it was wonderful to see everyone.

I drove Mom Wild home and then returned to my hotel and slept from about 9 to the morning, getting up only for proof of hydration and taking my meds.

Thanks for reading!

I am sitting in the Deschutes Brewery Bar in PDX (PDX is the call letters for Portland International Airport and the name we call it) next to my gate. I am all checked in, and the bags are on their way. Security is done, and they somehow discovered that you can put all your stuff in one bin now. No more sorting computers from the rest. I used my Real ID today–I disagree with the politics associated with this card, but it works.

The drive to PDX from the Volvo Cave was the usual slow Thursday traffic, but as I left late, at 6:20PM, the heavy traffic was already gone. I was impressed by the tires in the tunnel neatly stacked on the side. The newish tires, still with chalk writing for various sizes, were along the walls, and I counted more than six. That must have been a bad day when those fell onto the road.

Portland has a graffiti problem again; I thought it was under control, but I could see that the artists must be bringing ladders. While pretty and interesting, it does not belong on our traffic signs. A few months ago, the city was cleaning it up, but it is new and bright and everywhere.

Before this, I was at the house preparing for the trip. I showered, shaved, and wore more formal clothing to match the First Class ticket. A dress shirt with clean dark blue pants, a sweater cover shirt, and Air Force One. The persona of a biz traveler, but friendly. I am ready for the all-nighter.

I finished the packing and discovered my Apple was not fully charged (!) and had not backed up the latest changes. So I rested while it spent all of that. I stopped the AC/Heat to the house–it will be a warmish weekend without me. I had my old (twenty-plus) luggage for suits loaded with my case and shirts for the wedding and a regular bag for the rest. It is red and carbon fiber and really indestructible, and once was hit by a truck–it is excellent.

Before this, I worked and did Zoom meetings from the home office. Nike WHQ had an all-day party today, so I had only a few things to do. I approved some more code and reviewed a few changes. I had come to the Volvo Cave from Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I went to visit her and then found lunch after. Susie was happy to see me when I arrived before noon.

Jennifer, who was very busy today, got Susie into her wheelchair, and we headed to Metzger Park. It was an excellent day with many clouds, but we could see some dark blue here and there. The dark blue means no smoke or smog, which is fantastic. We called Leta, Susie’s mother, and chatted for a while. Susie, while she was quiet, stayed awake and followed the conversation. Susie was sad when I had to leave, and she seems to understand I will be away for a few days. I did bring a paper copy of the email I sent for the folks scheduled to see Susie while I am away. Everything is set for me to be away for a few days.

Before this, I was at Nike WHQ in the Swift building doing various status and alignment meetings, all on Zoom. I was working a regular day even though it was a Nike party day as I was leaving for a few days.

Moving to the start of the day was hard, and I was tired all day. I did manage to ride the Immobile Scwhinn for thirty minutes and not travel 6.4 miles. Breakfast was at McDonald’s drive-thru, and sadly, I made no liberal coffee today. I unloaded the dishwasher, dried and put away the clothing, and cleaned the stovetop. I wanted no mess when I returned on Wednesday. The Egg McMuffin was good, but the hashbrowns should be skipped as it resemble oil-drenched cardboard.

They are calling the plane, and 1st class gets no meal. Interesting. Sorry for rushing!

Thanks for reading.

I will cover only the events today as I am running out of time and will travel tomorrow.

The morning came sooner than I hoped, and I was woken by my phone and discovered I had a 6:30 AM meeting, and I did not sleep until after midnight. Ugh! I had no time for bike riding and did a Nike meeting with India and locals here in Beaverton at 6:30. It was a good meeting, but it did take us from the USA a moment to get going.

Next, skipping work, I headed to see Susie in the late morning but had to travel across Beaverton instead of using the usually fast Highways–they were backed up by constructions. I got across Beaverton faster this time and soon was with Susie. We headed to Metzger Park next door and found a bench for me to sit on while we called Leta. Leta, Susie’s mother, was happy to connect with Susie, and we talked for about ten minutes.

The wasps were aggressive again. I turned around to not risk more of them–I ran into some out of the park too that did not like the wheelchair’s black spokes–no time for that. Susie felt a bit rushed, I am sure, but we were safe back in hummingbird house. I kissed Susie goodbye with a promise to return on Thursday.

The next event was lunch and dinner in Beaverton. I had a fantastic Brie and Apple sandwich from Paris Baguette (Beaverton), a chain I enjoyed in New York City. I got this on the way back from Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Dinner, after leaving work today, was at the Shack Shack, and a colorful gal with many piercings who took my order suggested it: Shack Burger with avocado slices. I was order number 42, and remembering my Douglas Adams, I obviously had the ultimate question burger.

Lastly, and I am running out of time tonight, I met Z and Dondrea at First United Church, and we played the board game Architect of the West Kingdom, and Andrew joined us for a partial third game. He enjoyed the game but acknowledged it was very complex. Z won the partial three-person game, but I crushed her in the early games, mostly getting lucky and beating her to finish the cathedral and earn twenty points. Andrew did well and put me in last place with his first game. Everyone enjoyed themselves. We play with all the expansions and promo items.

After that, I am here checking into my flight, packing, cleaning a bit, and getting ready for my flight on Thursday night.

Sorry for the rush. Thanks for reading!

 

I am in Red Robin with a lighter beer, a Blue Moon, and I ordered an Ensalda Platter with two Chicken Breasts, my usual. This is the joint near Men’s Warehouse in Tannesborn as I discovered I had no hole-less dress socks and spent $40 on overpriced but nice socks. I also walk in my Cole Haan black leather shoes (no brogue) to break them in. These are for Linda’s wedding and go nicely with the grey suit also from Men’s Warehouse. I travel to Michigan on Thursday-Friday.

Before this, I was home and received a new set of NYC bagels sent by Joyce. These are from Zabar’s. Most excellent. I froze most of them before they were stale. I will have a few poppie bagels before I freeze the rest. I searched the house for dress socks, none with holes were found, as I mentioned and went out shopping.

Moving back in time, I was trying to get home from work; I had to turn around as Baseline Road was blocked, and I found my way back by another road. I had spent most of the day at our new building, Swift, on Nike’s WHQ campus. It is a spacious building, but we are a bit squeezed in. I lost my workspace when I did some Zoom meetings in the enormous sunny Atrium–I hate to disturb folks, so I find a corner or room to talk in. I am not that guy taking full voice to his laptop mic in a crowded pod. When I returned, my place was taken. I collected my few items, returned to the Atrium, and enjoyed a window seat. I got a seat in the pod when some left for the day.

I also met with my boss, and while he was pleased to see progress, he wanted a pattern followed–I can align with that. He also told me to continue on my line of attack on the problems. So, it’s all good.

The view from outside of Swift.

Before this, I discovered that Highway 217 was either shut down or down to one lane as it was more parking lot than roadway. I got off the 217 and used back roads through Beaverton to reach Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Susie was waiting for me in her recliner in the shared living room when I arrived. She had already eaten and was waiting for me–I had called that I was slowed by traffic. Jennifer moved Susie to the wheelchair, and Susie and I headed to Metzger Park. It was a sunny, hot day in the low 80F (27C), and the park was full of preschool children and various parents. Only one sunny bench was not in use, and I sat there.

Using FaceTime, we talked to Leta, Susan’s mother, on my iPhone. Leta was on her way home, so we called her back later. We enjoyed the warm, hot sun, but Susie had no sun protection on her arms, so I soon moved on. We toured the park, seeing more babies and small children than usual–everyone getting that last dose of vitamin D before the endless gray comes to the Pacific Northwest and makes us all deficient (A real risk here: I have been deficient twice now). Susie and I reached the hummingbird house’s porch and called Leta back.

This time, Leta was home. Leta was tired of the hot, humid day and vowed to stay inside in the AC. Leta and Susie had a happy chat for about ten minutes. I talked to Leta about scheduling for the week. I plan to see her at least twice while in Michigan. Soon, I was out of time, and we rang off, and Susie was back with Jennifer. I left with a kiss. The trip back was slow as I had to re-cross Beaverton and then head to Nike WHQ using the local roads–the highways are usually much faster. I was finally back after spending forty minutes in traffic.

Starting back to the morning, I had trouble sleeping and took some Benadryl, which made raising at 6AM an emotional experience. I did not want to. I climbed out, added water to the kettle, and found the Immobile Schwinn. Watching ABC streaming news, 50% commercials, I did not travel 6.4 miles in thirty minutes of peddling. I had hot serial doctored with walnuts and dried cranberries for breakfast. Later, to celebrate our new building, Swift, we had another breakfast served with coffee. I had too much caffeine today–have to stay to three cups or less–yikes!

The earache is almost gone today. The painkillers and Linda’s suggestion for Benadryl seemed to work.

Thanks for reading.