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I find that I cannot add on any more than what I do. It is impossible to create a time debt and somehow, like Doctor Who, pay it back by making timey-wimey things work. Instead, you can fail at multiple items, possibly your health, and have a worse outcome. This is what happens to me now. To do something, I have to give up something. It is, unfortunately, a zero-sum game for me at this time.

Thus for me to make pancakes this morning at church for Easter meant I had to give something up–I was hoping otherwise, but it became true again. So I am now writing a blog for two days. These extra-long blogs seldom get fully read by my readers (I understand), but I will push through anyway so that at least today and yesterday are accounted for.

Starting Saturday, I slept in a bit and had a gorgeous, unbusy morning, as I had written the Friday blog on Friday and did not need to rush on Saturday morning (the Friday blog was one of the shorter ones). I even managed to make the last connections on the main board for my radio build–nothing says super-geek more than wearing the delicate perfume of solder in the morning. This includes a full Arduino microcontroller (a special version with soldering connections instead of headers for jumpers from Sparkfun but licensed as an actual blue-colored Arduino Pro 3.3V model–the finest Italian design) but is still lower-ish powered version. My design includes a 1Amp hour LiPo battery charged by an older model ‘B’ USB cable. I was excited to finish the last bit of this Saturday morning (but later, I learned I needed to add two 10K pull-down resisters–so two more things, and then I will be done with the main board).

I also packed up my copy of Windspan–I had purchased from Meeple Source some more wooden food recourse bits (for the European add-on that needs some more for some of its new mechanics). Last night, late, I glued together the wooden laser-cut replacement birdfeeder dice roller as mine was beginning to become tattered. I also packed a new collection (plus the European) for the Easter Bunny. I also finally broke down and bought the painted wooded first-player marker. The Easter Bunny proved with one too.

I also bought another dice roller from Esty that needs to be assembled and painted. It is a bit nicer but made from thicker particle board. I have used this before, and it must be primed and sealed, at least primed. I will build this one and compare it to the one from Meeple Source. I hope it fits in the box. I did not assemble that one last night as it will require more time.

Returning to the narrative on Saturday, I made breakfast of hard-boiled eggs and breakfast sausages. I baked a package of maple sausages for 45 minutes at 325F and boiled five eggs. I had a few for breakfast and packed the rest in glassware for later (thanks Glenda and Gene, for the glassware). Then, I finally headed to 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 showered, dressed, packed all the Easter Bunny items and my computer, just in case, and headed out in Air Volvo. Another damp but without flooding drive, and folks were still a bit stressed and driving poorly–Attention is required. First, I stopped by Corwin’s new place; he did not respond to calls or texts, so the Easter Bunny left a few items for him to discover later on Corwin’s place’s porch (he was thrilled with the Bunny’s choices).

I arrived with items for Susie without issue at about 11. The folks at the facility had broken up Susie’s balloons and decorated the hummingbird house with floating eggs, chicks, and bunnies–excellent. Susie got tulips and a Nike lunchpail as her new Easter basket (to be opened on Easter). Susie loved the flowers.

Anassa moved Susie to her rocking chair in her room, and we watched an old-ish Marvel movie, Captain Marvel. I think it is one of the best. Susie liked it. We stopped the movie to chat with her mother, Leta, on my iPhone via FaceTime. Leta was still without a stove (the fix is next week) but was having a good day. We finished the movie, and Susie looked tired; I kissed her goodbye and headed out.

I reached Portland in a mess of traffic, but I found Rogue’s Taphouse in SE without issue (except for taking an extra thirty minutes). Evan had beat me there, and I was happy to see enough light to play board games. I got a Deadguy Ale and Rockfish Fish & Chips–wonderful (and I was hungry). I brought the board game Scythe.

Evan looking silly.

Scythe is a 4X  and a Kickstarter game with all the premium materials and bright colors you expect when something is created via Social Media. It was one of the first Kickstarter games I bought, and I have painted all the figures (including the mechs and all the expansions except for AirShips). I have the most bling version I have seen of this game.

The game is set in the 1920s but in a steampunk world of SciFi where Tesla (not the car company) invented a new form of power that enabled huge machines and airships, and avoid the calamity of World War 1 and thus all the Imperialist powers still exist as minor kingdoms. The play is to explore, expand, and exploit with a light touch on the exterminate. It is one of my favorites, but I have been playing all these newer (for me) games, and Scythe has sat on the shelf.

On Saturday, we had to assemble two tables to play the game and have room for food and drinks (and we used the smaller board). We played the first game (Poland and Norway, white and blue, respectively) on opposite sides of the board. I efficiently combined Norse powers and resources and won by about six points- a close game. Evan was surprised when I finished the game with combat and managed a win.

We did not have much more time; I had a game with Richard at 6PM. So we reset, not having time to put away Scythe and get out another game, and finished about 3/4 of another game. Evan pulled that one out, and even if incomplete, it was clear he was ahead, as I had struggled with the efficiency of Poland (the same problem Evan had). Evan enjoyed Russia (red) for this game, while I took over his previous color. I beat Evan in some battles, and I think I might have pulled off a win while Evan recovered from the battle, but that is speculation. Evan was ahead when we ran out of time.

After paying the bill, putting away the game, loading up Air Volvo, and waving goodbye to Evan, I discovered I was running Air Volvo on fumes. Off to the nearest Shell. Even though it is the law that Oregon is a Full-Service state (like New Jersey), nobody was out, and everyone was filling their own cars. Thus I, not an attendant, refueled Air Volvo for the first time in years and the first time EVER in Oregon. I discovered that the diesel did not fit in the car (yikes), and then I completed the task without error. I could only put in $40 as that seemed the limit for this bizarre and slightly illegal process in Oregon.

Next, I had a car nearly rear-end me and throw a fit when a pedestrian decided to cross a white-lined crosswalk against the lights. You must stop even though you may doubt the sanity of the person trying to stop all the traffic, bodily. I actually spoke to the other driver and calmly pointed out that the person had started to walk, and that meant for us to stop by law; the driver then agreed and apologized for missing that. So, yes, in Portland, we calmly discuss the driving issues at stop lights.

Without giving further education lessons on driving, I reached Richard’s and Shawn (living now in Italy), and Caroline joined us. We learned how to play the board game Isle of Cats and played one game (I came in last).  This pattern-building game has a card system to create goals and turn order for play. While cute and cuddly, playing with various colored cats in shapes on your board and packing treasure in odd spots is not something I enjoy much. However, I might like it after a few more plays–I seldom like games on the first play.

Next, we tried a borrowed copy of Earth, something I had only heard about. This is a cross between the board games Arc Nova. Terraforming Mars, Wingspan, and some other pattern card games. In this board game, you are a Gaia spirit of an island that you build from cards using the currency of the game, dirt, to make it attractive to the goals of this play (randomly assigned). The game plays fast, and the goals are, I thought, hard to understand and written on cards (impossible to read from your seat), but I liked it as Shawn said it is not overly long like Arc Nova or Terraforming Mars. It reminded me more of Wingspan, which plays fast once you understand it. I scored last again, just a few points for third.

I drove home after the second game. The drive home was direct, and I took the rocket onramp, as I call it, to the bridge (the ramp is taller than the bridge and has two lanes changing to one). I was relieved there was no water on the ramp this time! Without incident or other educational items, I reached home.

I got the mail, discovered all the cool stuff I hoped would show in time for the Easter Bunny for Wingspan previously mentioned, and got to bed late.

Easter 2023

Sorry, this will be a two-day blog. I was up at 6AM and was happy to reheat the sausage and have some cold hard-boiled eggs I made yesterday for breakfast. I had some yogurt with them. Unfortunately, my back was out of sync with the rest of me, and I thought about stretching but ran out of time. So there was no time to do the blog, but I checked work (nothing I was needed for), email, and the Internet news.

Dressed in a sweater, dress shirt, and tie and carrying an apron and pancake flipper, Air Volvo took me to First United Methodist Church. I had loaded in the cargo hold two electric grills (I have collected two over the years of doing pancakes at the church) and Z’s Easter Bunny gifts from Meeple Source (the bits now loaded into plastic Easter Eggs).

I then helped where possible, mostly working with Z to make pancakes. I did help heat the sausage and served up the first breakfast at 9AM. Mostly things went OK with Z learning not to touch the hot grill with fingers (no real damage) and one overly zealous person restricting sausages to two to a customer (causing a dispute).

I had to leave as the time reached 10AM to see Susie. I walked out, changed back into my sweater, and boarded Air Volvo (I had told the church folks I could start but could not finish). I quickly crossed Beaverton to Tigard and was at Susie’s. While it was Easter, the cold rain and the likelihood of poor parking decided the matter for Susie, so no church.

When we don’t do church, I stay longer with Susie (as she is usually not worn out by the transfers and all the people at church–it tires her out for two days). If I take her, she will be sleepy and worn out when done. So instead, we moved to Susie’s room to watch some shows.

We opened Susie’s Nike lunchpail Easter Basket, and the other was another stuffed animal bunny (a Reeces Cup bunny with some chocolates), and some peeps that Susie always gets on Easter. She loved the new bunny and held on to it for a while just looking at it. We put the Nike lunchpail on a shelf.

Anassa moved Susie to her Rocking Chair (I held the chair to keep Susie safe during the transfer), and then we watched some shows on Susie’s TV. We have arranged for her to have all the same cable as I have here at the house (which does not get watched much here). I found Poker Face, a new show on Peacock that we like. It is a remaking of old shows like Rockford Files, and Colombo set now in modern times but with a 1970s vibe. Susie nodded off for a while, but we watched a second episode set on car racing that got Susie’s attention.

I headed for lunch while Susie got lunch from Anassa, the weekend nursing aide, at the table in hummingbird house. I headed to Red Robin for Easter lunch, and Natale was my bartender who was happy to see me and asked about my wife. I felt unwell today and had a larger salad and Diet Coke. The nausea was getting worse, but I am an old friend of nausea from chemotherapy and could easily withstand it and even eat. I enjoyed talking a bit with Natale and then returned.

I ignored nausea and, without throwing up, felt better later. Susie was tired (even hanging out with me makes her tired), and we moved her to her bed, put on M.A.S.H., and spent until about 4PM watching together. I also did a few things, including bidding on a Civil War Cotton Bond (it went for $300+, so I passed) on eBay on my Apple. Susie was sorry to see me leave, “I miss you.” But Susie agreed it was time for me to get home. I left Susie looking sad but already falling asleep in her blankets.

I returned home and made spaghetti with Vodka sauce (from a jar) with browned mild Italian-styled sausage. I was not in the mood for more ham and the usual Easter dinner. I was exhausted, and it was harder to do than I had planned.

I found another Science show on cable, Atom, on quantum mechanics. I found there are some excellent shows there. I ate a few bowls of dinner and then packed the rest away.

Finally, I got to the blog, taking two hours to write it.

Thanks for reading. Sorry, it is nearly 2500 words!

Covering the interesting parts of today, I am at Big’s Chicken, recommended by a friend, and I had an expensive chicken dinner–it was OK, but I must have missed the good stuff. Next time.

Good Friday service is tonight, so I am in Beaverton until 7PM. I put on a dress shirt, no tie, and a sweater to make this work.

Before this, I was at Susie’s place, the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard), at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Susie told me, at 4ish, that she did not want me to leave, so I agreed to stay a few more minutes after putting on Season 4 of M.A.S.H. for her (this is when BJ enters the show). I waited and watched the first twenty minutes of the show and then left with a kiss and a promise to return at 11ish on Saturday. Susie wants to watch a movie in her room on Saturday.

Next, I stopped by Target to get some Easter items and shopping for Susie. Jennifer gave me a list of things Susie needs (lotion, wash stuff, nail polish remover, and so on). I also found some Easter items for her and others. But, there were only three checkers, and the line took twenty minutes to reach a checker. Ugh! Then a huge truck parked me in, but at least the driver said, “I will be right there, and sorry there were no larger spots.” I will grant that Target parking spots seem non-standard (small), and he was at least polite while I waited for him to give me access to Air Volvo. But, f**k, talk about privileged people, yikes! The police drove by, but I decided not to wave them down; the nice policeperson from Tigard did not need this!

This a reminder that the rules only apply when they convenience the privileged.

Before this, I traveled from the house to Susie’s place without incident but in heavy traffic. However, I did witness some insane lane changes and interesting charging of intersections (those without cameras). I avoided unplanned contacts, and Air Volvo landed safely at the hummingbird house.

Susie was first in her chair, and we called her mother from the living room. They had a nice chat. Leta has a new issue; her hearing aid is no longer automatically switching to her phone. We managed and had a fun chat for twenty minutes or so. While Susie was talking to Leta, Jennifer gave me the shopping list for Susie (I used that for the aforementioned purchases at Target).

Jennifer then moved Susie to her room and bed, and I sat in a chair and connected to work. I followed along all afternoon and read about various crises of the moment. Our team was dealing with messy data from the sources, causing our processing to fail. Susie was happy to have me work in her room, but the screen on my laptops was too bright, and I had to turn them away from her so she could rest.

At about 3:30, I stopped and set up Susie so she could watch M.A.S.H. I watch with her for a while.

Moving back to the morning, starting even after 7AM, was hard. I am tired all day–I could close my eyes and sleep tired. The crushing sadness of yesterday has left me, at least. I am still sad and can cry easily, but I feel it has faded today.

Breakfast was liberal coffee, not too much coffee (literally not being too liberal with the ground coffee), yogurt, and a banana.

Next, I enjoyed hours of Zoom meetings on status and then had some ad hoc emergency Zoom meetings, unusual for a Friday. I was discussing how a program works and the issues we are facing while I was making Jambalaya for lunch. I had two bowls (no seafood is my style for this, just sausage, but cut length-wise, sliced into strips, and then into cubes), and put the rest away in the glassware from Glenda and Gene (thanks again).

After lunch, I headed over to Susie, as I said above.

So, sorry if the story today is not quite linear.

 

 

 

I spent a few moments before writing, getting the trash and the recycling out. I always think of Glenda (Susie’s Aunt) and her strong demands to do recycling. She inspired me to keep at it as she would tell you it costs you nothing to do the right thing. Glenda was here about a year ago to help find a solution for Susie. Glenda and I found the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. I miss Glenda and all her help, and I hope she will return soon to see the tulips and the trees again–It is time for the wet trip to the tulip fields!

Talking about friends and family, I had dinner with Mariah at Von Eberts in the Pearl District in Portland. We talked about a favorite topic, money, and 401K. We had the best wings (rumors are that the chickens lined up to be selected) with excellent beer products. I have their Volatile Substance, an IPA-style beer that has gone mad. I had a good darker beer to finish my wings (just six wings with celery). Von EBerts uses Toast to order by scanning the barcode at your table (we were at my favorite #13 with the best views of the screens) and then ordering and finally paying in the application on your phone. You can order from the bartender if you must.

We did not stay after dinner, and I headed to Powell’s (I was unwilling to return to the terrible traffic on wet Thursdays). There I found two discounted books, a college textbook that I did not use (we had a harder one) at Central Michigan University, and an 1800s text of the story of the Holy Grail (I thought it a good thing to get during Holy Week). Starbucks was closed (!), and so I stopped at the Southern-style joint, Screen Door, and had coffee with their version of pecan pie. The coffee and pie was a perfect ending, and I read a few bits of both books. Again, it seemed right to read an older copy of the textbook, Algorithms, and start the story of the Holy Grail on Mundy Thursday, drinking coffee and eating pie.

Aside: As I crossed the street in Portland, one clearly marked for crossing (double white lines), a white SUV charged the intersection and barely missed me. They called out, “Look next time,” which did not get a reaction from me. It would seem a fitting story for my end if I was crushed to death on the street in front of Powell’s City of Books in Portland in the rain while heading for dinner in the Pearl District. But they stopped.

A few of Powell’s from Air Volvo.

I found Air Volvo, parked underground and dry for $7,  and took all my treasures home, and while it was wet, local flooding was back (Air Volvo throwing puddles off the street in waves taller than the vehicle); I managed to return home without incident.

My upgrades for the Lisboa board game arrived in the mail today (cool metal coins to replace the paper coins and the Queen card variant representing the historic removal of the minister by the queen in Lisboa). More fun!

I also received the final information from a new solo role-playing game (RPG), Lampblack RPG. I liked the comic books I received from the Kickstarter, and unlike many Kickstarter projects, they quickly completed fulfillment of their previous projects. I ordered some extra copies and will get that soon, I expect–I have the print-and-play version delivered today. So nice!

Before all of this, I visited Susie at the hummingbird house. I brought my laptop and set up shop in Susie’s room while she rested. I logged on to work and followed along for a few hours. I was not there until nearly 2 as I had lunch at Nike WHQ and a meeting that I called into at 1PM. Susie was delighted to have me just hang out with her. We called Leta, her mother, and they talked for a while. Leta is still without a working stove but has a plumber scheduled next week to make the corrections to her gas line. They chatted on my iPhone using FaceTime to see each other.

Leta had sent Susie a pile of balloons for Easter. It is huge!

Susie was sleeping when I was heading to Portland, but I woke her to say goodbye. She was OK with me leaving but wanted to know when she would see me on Friday. I will be there sometime around 1 and might hang out again. I use my iPhone for a connection.

Aside: Nike strongly suggests we access to the Nike network through our phones (part of the Nike infrastructure) instead of using unknown connections. My Ziply Fly network at the Volvo Cave is secure, and I use that at home, but I use my phone when traveling. Also, I find the phone usually provides faster and cleaner connections.

Before this, I had lunch with Scott at the WHQ for Nike. Serena Williams (a building at Nike) has a nice cafeteria with an excellent salad bar. Scott and I both try to eat better, and this is perfect. We talked about Nike stuff (nothing to share here) and caught up–we try to meet every week at the WHQ.

After saying goodbye to Scott, I stopped in Mia Hamm (yes, another building) and used a chair there in the closed cafeteria (it should reopen soon as the buildings around are completing their remodeling–rumors are that we will move to one spring 2024) which resembles a library reading area now. I called my 1PM, and my colleagues, all newish hires in the pandemic, loved it when I used my phone to show them the nice area. It is a gorgeous area with a balcony for the sit-down restaurant, The Tarheel, upstairs (opening soon).

Obviously, I drove to campus before this, parked in the New York City Garage (yes, more fun names), and walked the wooded paths across the WHQ campus. I, on purpose, park in NYC as it means a fifteen-minute walk (the LA garage is closer). The walk is so lovely it is hard to describe. Nike Campus is an amazing place.

Moving backward to the morning, I was in the office before 8PM and did hours of Zoom calls on status. I requested updates on various tickets and tried to be helpful. We are headed to 7/24 on Wednesday with folks on shifts. I will cover the 8-4PM PDT shift and start approving items again, as we will be slightly shallow. We are excited to start the final testing for the July release and ramping up the Dec release testing too.

On a more personal note, I found myself profoundly sad and near tears much of the day. I am tired, and my emotions are too close to the surface. I was happy to get out to dinner and do something fun, which helped the sadness fade. I will have to return to my doctor if this continues. Depression is a side effect of surviving cancer. It is also a hazard for caregivers. I will get help if it worsens.

I started at 6AM and did do my basic stretching and exercises. It seemed that 6AM came just a few minutes after I slept. I will try to get some extra sleep this weekend, which will help with the sadness (hopefully).

I did make liberal coffee this morning, making it extra light as we liberals have been winning a lot now–don’t want to overdo the liberal, you know. I had a banana and yogurt with that.

I found the school buses on my way in, which delayed me a bit.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Holy Week. Enjoy Passover. And I hope the evening meals for Ramadan are going great. Indeed,  a very holy week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I was surprised as I went through the day that the news published opinions that the charges against the former president were weak or strong. As this blog is about my feeling and experience, I will cover this a bit. I read the charges, and I have followed along for the past year or so; even as a liberal and someone who is against Trump, I was hoping that there would be no charges. I believe that the country does not need this. I read in the press that the charges are so weak that the charges will be dismissed–that is a pipe dream. The charges are specific (there is no such thing in the USA as a non-specific crime) and based on the evidence we have already seen in Cohen’s convictions. These are neither weak nor strong charges–just alleged crimes that must be vetted and passed through the jury process. I am sorry for President Trump and the country; a distraction but one that must legally resolve. I am sad and proud at the same time.

Moving to the more important events, Susie was happy to see me around 11:15, and I stayed until she fell deeply asleep in her chair. Before that, she was excited to see me and was happy to talk to Leta, her mother. Leta was angry at Best Buy. She had purchased a new stove, but Leta’s gas connection in her kitchen is older, and they would not install her new stove. Leta has to upgrade the gas connection for the new stove, which will not be cheap–she is very unhappy. Now she has no working stove and two in her house. She was beside herself; I have been there. I had to upgrade the electrical plugs for my electric stove (the upgrade cost more than the stove). Susie nodded off a few times when we chatted about appliances.

Susie was sleepy today, and, as I said, I stayed until she was deep asleep–she was happy to rest with me there holding her hand. I kissed her goodbye as she fell back to sleep again. Susie was not sad today. I understand, as I used to like when I would fall asleep reading next to Susie–there is something special about just slipping away to a dream with your loved one next to you.

I stopped by Red Robin on the way back to work. They had Fox News on their big screen editorializing in the bar (usually, they have sports on the big screen), so I sat behind the beer handles so I could not see the screen. I had my usual chicken breasts and salad with a side of fries. I drink Diet Coke. The bartender at Red Robin asked everyone else in the bar if they needed anything and skipped me. Obviously, I was unwanted. I ignored the rudeness, and the bartender relented, refilled my drink, and asked me if I needed anything a few minutes later. I finished my lunch, it was good, and I paid through the terminal and gave a 20% tip to the bartender.

Moving to the evening, again staying with important events, I drove to the church at 4ish. Parked Air Volvo. I walked to the coffee shop and got a turkey sandwich on a bagel instead of bread. I ate it outside near their gas fire under a tent. Nice to eat outside. I believe the 1930s WPA built the streets in downtown Beaverton; I saw the curb still showing the marking while walking to get a sandwich.

After I ate my lunch, I waited for Z and Dondrea at First United Methodist Church. Wednesday is choir practice, and Z and I play board games while Z’s mother rehearses with the church band or choir. Today Z asked for my hardest game, Lisboa, and I had spent quite a few hours before re-reading the rules and remembering how to play. I have played Lisboa only a few times and never my copy. Lisboa was the masterwork of a game designer known for his complex games and was created through a Kickstart campaign. This means it is a premium game with excellent components and graphics and is physically huge. The game is a mess of six or more sets of separate rules and systems that smoothly connect to the other rules and systems. It is a challenge to know what to do each turn, and events drive the game toward its conclusion.

Z and I made a few mistakes, but we generally like the game and will likely play it again now that we have gotten some of the rules and systems down. Z and I just played a learning game, with Z mimicking what I did on my turn to learn the game. I would demonstrate each part of the game with my play, and she would try it then. I had to get out the rules a few times to understand what to do. We ran out of time (the two hours blew by without us evening noticing) as we entered the last half of the game. I have played a few of Vital Lacerda games, and I like his board game Lisboa best (but I am warming to his overly fiddly Weather Machine). Richard, the super-gamer I play in Portland on most Saturdays, loves Vital Lacerda’s games–so I play many of them.

Returning to tonight, Z was excited to try a really hard game. Z still thinks the board game Grand Hotel Austria is the real head-exploding game. Z liked Lisboa. I agree with Z, and we have not gotten to the champagne and waltzing rules for Grand Hotel! Soon!

I will skip the usual narrative of my day. Let’s focus on events (Trump), Susie, and Z. It is already late, and I was tired all day. I want to just sleep. Thank you for reading, and I hope this new focus approach work for you.

I am just covering my experience; I do not wish to upset Pro-Trump folks or criticize them.  I am unrepentingly liberal, and the blog covers my experiences.

 

The evening ended with Corwin joining me for dinner at Nonna Emilia Ristorante Italiano. I had the sausage with peppers, onions, and Corwin, a creamy seafood dish. We finished with a shared piece of Tiramisu. Corwin and I had not had dinner for some time, and it was nice to get caught up. We mostly talked about Dungeons and Dragons. I wrote an adventure for Corwin, and we need to play it someday. Mariah has agreed to play. He wants me to extend it to the original campaign size. I may find the time for that–we will see.

After that, I returned to Air Volvo and rested a bit. I got going again and started on this blog.

Turning to important topics, I visited Susie twice today. Leaving from work and risking Highway 26 to 217 three times today. I left first in the later morning and soon arrived at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Today’s weather was a mix of rain, sleet, and sun–changing randomly and even including local flooding.

Susie was in her recliner in the shared living room. We called Leta, Susie’s mother, and they chatted for a while on my iPhone using FaceTime so they could see each other. Susie was wide awake, had just finished breakfast, and chatted for a while. The TV was on Fox News and former President Trump’s indictment of 34 felony charges. All white-collar crimes related to cooking the books to hide a crime, the usual mobster charges. Of course, the Fox News hosts were editorializing instead of reporting. Something we have seen more of late in the media–the hosts (not just Fox) need to fill the time and keep folks watching. A spectacle sells.

I had to return to work, and Susie was not happy about that, but she grudgingly accepted my leaving and kissed me goodbye. I traveled the short distance, ate a rushed chicken bowl lunch at Chipotle Mexican Grill, and read the charges unsealed for Mr. Trump. The charges are like “check 00798′ and are crazily specific; nothing I expected. The trial was offered in January 2024, but the defense wants more time with a date in Spring 2024 requested. More to follow.

How bizarre. I only include this as we all expected a spectacle, not an accounting lesson.

I returned to the office with the weather changing every few minutes.

After 3:30, I headed back with Air Volvo and, with more traffic, reached Susie again. She was sleeping this time in her room, and I woke her. I brought the flowers that were in the cargo hold for Susie. I had forgotten to bring them in (being distracted, I think, by the events of today), so I returned, and Susie was thrilled to get flowers and more time with me today. Work had been quiet for me, so I thought it best to return today and finish what I started: Flowers for Susie!

Susie was happy to get more flowers, and I stayed with her for another thirty minutes or so. I returned home from there. The traffic was thick. The sleet caused local flooding. Air Volvo was in three inches of slush at some points–I have never seen these roads flood so fast. It was forty minutes to cross Beaverton and reach the Volvo Cave!

I will skip the usual narrative of getting up (ugh!) and enjoying liberal coffee ( yay!), and managing my exercises and stretches today. These things are the same most days.

I did finish the story part of the book Colin J. McRae: Confederate Financial Agent. As I wrote yesterday, McRae is a despicable slaver who used his skills as slave-raised cotton and trading cotton to finance the war in Europe. I learned in the rest of the book that he was shocked by the sudden end of the war; he was still supplying the war effort with supplies when the Confederacy collapsed. McRae was sued in Europe as the USA claimed all the assets of the Confederacy, but the USA refused to pay any of the debts of the CSA. The suits failed as McRae’s books showed he had no monies that belonged to the Confederacy. Later, despite saying he was broke, he found money to support Jefferson Davis (the former CSA president) and moved to Belize and founded a plantation of some sort there, and was buried there. Colin McRae refused to return to the USA.

It reads like a Clive Cussler book, and one imagines the finding of the wreck of a blockade runner with a clue that leads our heroes to find 100,000 sterling pound notes from 1865 in a cave in Belize on an abandoned plantation. Of course, the McRae family is under some new name, like a famous Billionaire (put name here, Soros?), and they also want the money. They cannot do it legally as the USA would seize the money. It is a race.

Just a daydream and fits today’s events (notice, you Trump supporters, I put Soros as the bad guy–just to make you smile). I may read more about McRae, as he seems the perfect villain.

Thanks for reading.