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I write down in a notebook by my pill bottles when I take my pills, and the results show I forget some nights. I seemed to have missed 1/2 of my doses this last week. Not good, but the night pills are not very important–so no serious loss there. I also noticed that one was running out, and now I have to pay an extra $20 to correct this. Usually, United Health Care sends me almost two sets of 90 days, but this time no. Instead, I had to order it. So I am being more diligent and watchful. I discovered another one that needs to be manually requested before it runs out–done!

The morning started at 7:30ish, with me resisting my alarm at 7AM and finally rising like a drunken magician assistant without the outfit (I have a robe). Poof, I rise. Coffee was located and assembled. Breakfast was still more muffins that were getting a bit stale–but I matched them this morning, so it was OK.

The night shift did not have a rough time, and I expected the usual slow and quiet Monday, working from home. A bit of a dull morning with hours of Zoom meetings. I got in all my exercises and took my pills. I finally got dressed and continued to follow along at work.

The morning was cold, and the sky was filled with cotton-candy clouds with our darker blue skies (the blue here is a bit darker than the East Coast, I think), but the forecast suggested a warmer and nicer afternoon. I stayed home for lunch, re-heated tagine-styled chicken from a few days ago, and watched a few YouTube videos on ships and shipwrecks. I also did my usual checks on Quicken, downloading all the newly available transactions and checking my recent re-alignment of investment priorities in my 401K (80% Stable Value (not bonds) and 20% Nike stock with NKE at $127 today)–everything is correct. I am passing on extreme volatility and will see if things are less scary this Halloween 2023. I usually realign once every year.

The roads are mostly dry, and my fellow drivers stopped hitting each on this first day of the working week. I saw a lot of pile up this weekend (?!). The weather was not nice enough to bring out Beaverton’s Finest. Still, I suspect they will be out as the rains stop for a while, with the forecast above 70F (21c) on Wednesday and becoming a sunny day on Friday in April with a California temperature of 84F (29C)–unheard of in Oregon. An Other Day of Sun from La La Land.

Air Volvo, with no alarms, reached Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Traffic was heavy, with the surprise hole installation starting all over Beaverton. The City of Beaverton has four seasons: Make holes, enjoy flooded and messy holes, partially fill holes and enjoy stressing your tires and suspension, and finally, repave as school starts. Beaverton, unlike many municipalities, often re-holes the same area over and over until reaching some new standard and then moves on.

Susie was sleeping in her recliner in the shared living room when I arrived after 1PM. I woke her, and Jennifer, the weekday nursing aide, got Susie comfy in her wheelchair with a zipped-up coat (Susie insisted) and her hat. Out to the now sun-break afternoon. The wind was still saying 50F (burr), but the sun said, “Why a coat.” The park was not yet busy as school was on today, but young kids were everywhere running around in shock that the grass was primarily dry and it was warm (well, sort of).

We found our favorite sunny bench and parked there for a bit. We called Leta–Susie’s mother and she was happy to see we were outside and enjoying the day. We chatted about the weather (it is only to get better here) and the new deck Leta is getting. We rang off and then took the long trip through the park. The tiny English daisy (I Googled this) got Susie’s attention growing as a weed in the park’s grass, and she loved all the flowers, “beautiful.” The tulips are out, and some of the late cherry trees are blooming. It was a lovely walk, and I also completed the walking part of my exercise.

I headed back after kissing Susie goodbye. I drove to Salt & Straw and got an ice cream cone. The scooper (what do you call folks that scoop ice cream) suggested I try some more, as I might want to order something different. So I tried a few, and the coffee with nuts will be my next cone (if still there when I stop by again).

I reached the Volvo Cave without incident, but I dodged more hole installations for most of the flight. My snail mail was full of new and exciting items. I have the new Lord of the Rings for Dungeons and Dragons 5E. This is a new edition (I have spent a lot of money on the previous one), and it closely matches the earlier version. The old material can be used with the new version, which is excellent. It is not as colorful as the earlier material, and the maps are more basic.

I also got a new Decisions Game issue on Panzer tanks. These are quarterly-created magazines with one subject, and I love reading them. The mail was full of fun.

I continued the day following along. I had a few colon issues, and this made me tired (best to not describe). I nodded off when reading for a minute to take a break, but woke with a start and went back to the office. My left ear and jaw hurt (I cannot hear out of my left ear for some time now and have a doc appointment for that). I took some Advil, and that went away.

I was done at 5:20ish with my shift and laid down to read, and woke at ten to seven! I decided a hamburger was needed and maybe some beer and people, so off to Imbrie Hall, a McMenamin’s joint. There I had a Ruby (beer) and a Captain Neon Burger (blue cheese and bacon) with fries. I am feeling better now.

I am enjoying a new book (and I might have read it too late last night): Ninefox Gambit (Machineries of Empire Book 1). This is space opera with the usual focus on a middle-ranked women officer, disgraced by doing the right thing and now finds herself at the center of a plot and battles. The focus here is on mathematics and establishing consistency with the current vision of the universe described by agreed to equations and stopping heretical equations being used by heretics called rot. I like it, and the main character is a soldier, a super mathematician who uses math to solve weapon issues and is mostly to attracted to girls. Fun so far.

Thanks for reading. I finished writing this at the bar with a cup of coffee to finish my dinner. The bartender wanted a shoutout, Brooke, at Imbrie Hall.

I am in Von Eberts Brewing in Portland’s Pearl District. I watched two movies with Susie today and then left Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I was there from about 1:30 to 5:15 with us watching the old animated Jungle Book and then the newer Beauty and the Beast but still painted cell film movie (except for part of the ballroom scene, which was Disney’s first CGI in a major film). Susie was delighted to spend the afternoon watching old movies on Disney+. We also called Susie’s mother, Leta, and chatted with her. Dondrea also called, and she got to talk to both of us. Susie had a wonderful afternoon, her words, and was sad when I left–but I put on M.A.S.H., and Susie was OK–Season two for a change.

I was going to go home, write the blog, clean up the house, and rest; instead, I headed to PDX and am having a pretzel with a locally made brewed product waiting for Evan before I order more. I am tired of being at 20625 SW Clarion Street, Beaverton (Aloha), Oregon 97003-1717, and being alone. So instead, I am here in Portland eating, drinking, writing, and ignoring most of the world’s problems.

I was given the day, Sunday, free as I worked 4-midnight on Saturday.

I had a taco salad or chili salad for lunch. I reheated the chili I had opened from a can a few days ago and then decided to use and pour it over salad greens, olives, carrots, celery, and other salad stuff. Sour cream in the place of salad dressing was good. I had this before heading to Susie’s.

I took the buttons I had mounted in the radio box on a wooden board and mixed epoxy clay to mold it. Unfortunately, I knocked two buttons off the board and had to use superglue to reattach them. They had left glue marks on the board, so it was likely I managed to get them back to their original place. I then hand-rolled the clay into ropes and weaved it through buttons to not break any more loose. New learning. I had too much clay and tried to model a nob, but the clay was too inflexible. You need to use it immediately and also a new learning. I am unsure if what I have will work as a mold, but if not, I can try again. It is all interesting to me.

I wrote the Saturday blog this morning and took my time, and tried not to rush. Saturday is always a busy day for me, and it takes some time to write that blog. I managed to sleep until 8ish, which is late for me. Time just seemed to run away from me this morning.

Breakfast was liberal coffee, an Equal Exchange brand, made in my French Press. I had a few muffins to go with it–I made them a few days ago.

I did see multiple car pile-ups today. Not sure what is happening, but folks are wrecking at about 35 mph and taking two or more cars with them. Air Volvo avoided all of these, but the collision alarm did happen when someone slowed unexpectedly without brake lights. Volvo is ever vigilant.

Well, that is about it. I am still waiting in PDX for Evan, but he is on his way. Thanks for reading.

It is harder to start writing this Sunday morning to record the life I lived on Saturday. I see this as not a record of political beliefs or the philosophy of living (I admit that my opinions do color the writing) but a description of living. I will push through as I cannot find a reason to stop, and while I regret the time spent some days, it seems inherently good to stop and remember. Let me start and hope, good readers, that it is worthy of your and my time today!

Yesterday, Saturday, started with me sleeping in (until 7:30ish) and then beginning a long day. I published Friday’s blog actually on Friday, so there is no reason to rush and get that done. The back and leg pain was back, and I decided to forgo housework and go slow. I made coffee, liberal, and had a few muffins I made a few days ago. I cut a piece of thin basswood and taped it inside the radio. I then temporarily glued the buttons in their original holes in the radio’s wooden box to the board. I will later wrap them in molding clay, cast them in acrylic, and place lighting behind them to make a visual display, as I don’t need these buttons.

The radio with the original buttons restored to their original location. The new window is done, and the cloth is reattached. The new faceplate (actually paper) with the new LCD mounted and LED (which will be less bright when in the box) are all visible. The strip of colored lights will be behind the acrylic replacement to be a light show. The veneer replacement/repairs are visible.

I also painted with black paint the white glue I used to attach the plastic window to hide it. It looks good now.

My tulips are finally flowered (I still have a set that has not blossomed). These are more like the eastern (Turkish) originals.

As usual, time just flies, and I am rushing to get dressed and head to see Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Traffic is more than usual, but the roads are wet, and the sky suggests the forecast was wrong–not a nice day so far. However, the parents of soccer-playing kids will not be daunted by Oregon mist, and the roads are full of would-be goal achievers.

Susie had just finished her breakfast when I arrived and was moved (Anassa is the weekend nursing aide) to her rocking chair in her bedroom. Susie is delighted to see me but is confident she does not want to try the misty Metzger Park next to the hummingbird house. Susie’s room has a window that points to the park, and she sometimes watches the basketball court not far from home. Susie can see that the court is still wet and covered with a few puddles–no, we are not going out there.

Evan will be late visiting today and will miss most of the movie for today: Hairspray (2007). I liked the film’s energy (it is an extensive reworking of the original), and Susie was singing along and noticeably brightened on Saturday. Besides the movie, we reached Leta, Susie’s mother, and Zeriada on the iPhone. Leta was happy to see Susie on FaceTime. Leta and Susie chatted happily for twenty minutes. We next called Zeriada, who was getting her hair done by her favorite, Gil, her son. We were happy to wish Zeriada a happy birthday and say hello to Gil. They are now in Texas.

Here is the ending for Hairspray(2007): here.

After the movie, I found lunch, played a quick game with Evan, and rushed back to the house for my 4-12:30 shift this Saturday. No game with Richard and friends in Portland today. Susie was ready for lunch (and likely a nap) and kissed me goodbye with no tears today.

Evan and I went to The 649 to play Vindication, using only the base items, but had lunch at the Mexican place, Tapatio: Mexican Restaurant, across the street–I remembered to order a smaller beer. I ordered a small beer at The 649 while Evan, knowing we were pressed for time, set up the board game.

Seldom does Vindication hinge on a single move, but the Arcane Tower held a seven-point item, and Evan beat me to it by one move. I fought back to lose only by four points, with the game swinging back and forth. Knowing that I was far behind after that good play by Evan, I took risks, and none paid off enough to give me the points I needed. It was a close game (four points), and we both played well. Next time!

Evan put the game away while I paid the bill at The 649, and I rushed home to make it there by 4PM. I started my shift with a status Zoom call and answered the roll call–mandatory. So, yes, we do check that needed folks are actually on the call.

I then started my work day that ended past midnight with the next status call at 12:30. As usual, I had trouble sleeping after my shift, but I finally slept at 2ish and woke again too early. During the shift, I got a few issues and helped route them, which were resolved. I also sorted my papers and closed my first three months of 2023–I keep paper copies of everything now. I planned to do this during the quiet times in my shift (loading data is full of exciting moments and boring hours of waiting). To manage all medical bills, tax avoidance, and my investments without creating a tax burden, I need proof and categorize everything in Quicken. So while I had quiet moments, I was punching holes and moving paper into notebooks. I use a four-inch binder for the first third of 2023 (I even did April 2023, which has arrived so far).

I ordered dinner from Happy Panda, just soup and appetizers, and it was delivered only a few minutes late by Door Dasher. I was hungry and got too much mustard on a shrimp which burned my throat and mouth. I was shocked and thought a 911 call from too much mustard would be a poor start for my shift, and I managed to calm my breathing and stop the painful issue. I dipped a shrimp in pure hot mustard when I was not paying attention–yikes!

Aside: After my chemotherapy, issues with breathing and another resultant ambulance ride still haunt my thinking. I overreact a bit to coughing. I know I do that, but it is hard to forget the chemo-caused feeling of dying from a closed-off airway (the side effect makes it feel like you are dying even when you have air and could quickly hyperventilate yourself in an emergency) and alone does not make feel more confident. I just have to calm down.

So a quiet and paperwork-filled evening while working and reading constant updates. I was glad to use the evening to clear a task that had to be done while supporting the data loads.

Thanks for reading. I hope this memory of Saturday was worth the time. I enjoyed remembering it. I had forgotten the flowers and the radio work until I saw the photos I had taken for the blog. Saturday was already vanishing, and I was happy to bring it back into existence.

 

Working from home means no rush and sleeping into a decadent 7:20ish this Friday. I also delayed dressing and all that until later and just drank liberal coffee, and today I had more oatmeal for breakfast. My legs and back still complained about yesterday’s workout and other items, and I decided not to do my stretches and exercises. However, I did enjoy three hours of Zoom meetings in the morning. Slipping (pun?) into the shower and dressing between the Zooming.

After my last Zoom meeting that morning, I decided to have lunch at the house. I had reheated North African-style chicken with preserved lemon for lunch. It was still spicy but calmer after resting in the frig for a day. While eating, I watched YouTube videos, Ship Happens, and Battle Ship New Jersey feeds. I also did the Discriminating Gamer’s top games for 2022 and provided some thoughts that Cody, who runs the channel, replied to. Dr. Cody, Ph.D. in history, is one of my go-to guys for games and history. Of course, he likes military stuff better than Euro, and I am the opposite, but still, I like to get his read on a board game before I buy it.

After that, I tried Air Volvo crossing Beaverton on this overcast gray-on-gray day. There were no issues, and the clouds seemed to have driven Beaverton’s Finest away, and I soon arrived at Susie’s place at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I had called ahead, and Susie was comfy in her bed and a comfy chair next to the bed. So I set up shop next to her.

Very comfy!

I had my Apple computer and Nike computer next to each other on a lowish table (during the pandemic, I would have a third screen up with Bloomberg News running, watching the impact of the pandemic on the stock market, +24% growth!?) So Susie was happy to have company, and I connected to Nike and was working the next three hours next to Susie.

Before I got serious about the work, I first called Susie’s mother, Leta, and they chatted for a while. Later, Dan Gray from church called and was thrilled to chat with Susie on speaker. After that, Susie dozed while I was online, sending messages on Slack channels, reading and approving specifications that needed fixes, and doing other usual tasks.

My shift ended at 4, and I headed out just before it ceased to make the 4:30 Zoom at the house. I made it just before it started–traffic was a bit heavier tonight. The last meeting, as usual for this point in the data conversions, was long.

I am taking the 4PM-12:00 shift on Saturday–all my gaming is canceled. A boring week-focused weekend, I am afraid.

I logged on to my company investment account and shifted all my 401K to stable value (not bonds) funds except for the 20% in Nike stock. I trust the shoe company, but the market shows signs of a massive bubble. From my experience, a strongly branded product like Nike can usually weather a crash. With Susie’s health and my surviving cancer, I need to not worry about the market for six months–I will move it for a while–I will reconsider on Halloween, a good enough day to decide how scary the markets are. I am up almost six percent for the year. As good as any time to snap on the safety belts.

I headed to BJ’s and had my fav, a porkchop, and an amaretto shot with coffee for my dessert. So there I was, surrounded by people and noise, and with Mo as my waiter ensuring dinner would be great, I wrote the blog and felt my spirits rise. Good food, familiar places and people, and the noise of life always helps.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

These are just highlights from today.

I was hours early for my survivor meeting with my oncologist, who is moving away. I will have a new one next time. My blood work was good, and my chances were better than good, his words, to be cured, and he gave me a printed-out care plan with follow-ups. A colonoscopy every three years. A CT scan should happen every six-twelve months. Finally, an oncology appointment with blood work every six months with my new doc.

While my labs still show mixed results, they are improving–doc was not worried. We shook hands, and he will soon start a practice in Hood River, Oregon. Eastern Oregon gets a brilliant doctor.

Before this, I was in Portland too early. So I parked Air Volvo in the hospital rack and walked in the rain. I was surprised to see three sets of end-of-the-world folks with the material at three intersections in the pouring rain. They were pleasant, smiling, and warmly dressed; they had good-quality coats, hats, and umbrellas. I tipped my hat to them, and they were friendly and polite.

I stopped by a tea shop, somehow on the top of a former house via two stairs. I had a cup of warm black tea; I told the guy behind the counter to pick the tea leaves for me. They had no lemon slices, so I had it plain. There was a table in what I guess was the apartment’s living room, now reworked into a tea shop, near a window. I sat there and read emails and approved a design on my phone (I can read the documents at Nike even on my phone–excellent). After enjoying the tea room, I returned to Air Volvo, got my Nike Laptop, and worked until my appointment. I had my Nike computer in the exam room, reading emails and Slack channel updates until the doc came in.

Moving further backward, I was at Elephant’s Delicatessen on 22nd Street in Portland for lunch. As usual, there was no room inside, so I ordered a Reuben to-go. Oh f**k, it was huge and wonderful, and I ate it all–I had a salad for dinner. I was wondering if my bloodwork today would have sauerkraut floating in it! I ate it in Air Volvo (I found a parking spot), which now smells like a delicatessen. I think we should make Reuben-scented Air Fresheners.

Before this decadence, I visited Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I had come from work and was there when Susie finished her breakfast. Jennifer said Susie had not slept well (Susie called out all night–then would not remember that; Susie talks, yells, and walks in her sleep–it could be exciting some nights; I know). Susie, while looking OK, was obviously tired. Nevertheless, she was delighted to see me.

I wheeled Susie, still in her wheelchair (she eats while seated in her wheelchair), to the social activity room and then called Leta, her mother. Leta was happy to see Susie using FaceTime on my iPhone. Leta is getting a new deck on her house to replace the porch, and the posts are getting set. Leta and Susie chatted for a while, with me joining the conversation here and there. Next, we called Susie’s sister, Barb, at work and spoke to her for a while–no FaceTime as Barb was still working. Susie was happy to talk to both of them but needed a nap. She let me go with a kiss as she started getting sleepy.

Work was before this, and I did hours of meetings and talked to a few folks. I also followed along when in Portland and answered a few items. No rest. I work the next three weekends, I believe.

The morning started early, at 6AM, with me rushing. I managed my complete set of stretches and exercises (which, with all the walking today, was quite a workout) and instant oatmeal (with dried cranberries and walnuts added)–low sugar heart healthy–with liberal coffee for breakfast.

Last night after finishing the blog, I managed to see the movie Renfield. This is an update on a Dracula movie with Nicholas Cage playing a comic and deadly Count–Full-on nuts Cage. While not always great, it was a mix of Nicholas Cage channeling Christopher Lee from LOTR (not Dracula) and the Renfield character playing John Wick meets Dracula. Violent, silly, and illogical, and with Shohreh Aghdashloo seemingly a walk-on as the evil mother. Awkwafina is a cop and, like a John Wick movie–never seems to miss a bad guy. I liked it, but it is not for everyone.

Aside: I first drove to Regal’s Movies on TV, but there were closed (the website is wrong), and then I drove across Beaverton to Cinemark, missing a few previews.

Lastly, while eating my salad for dinner, I watched the completion of this season’s Mandalorian. I liked it. I would say that the last three episodes brought the story back together, and I liked it. Recommended.

Thanks for reading.