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I am rediscovering Barnes and Noble as a place to write tonight, Monday night. I used to write in coffee and bookstores, wear noise-canceling headphones (primarily for dish noise), and listen to my playlists. Now, my hearing is having issues, and headphones are difficult, if not impossible, to use. But with the isolation of the pandemic, I still do social distancing and often wear a mask; I welcome the noises of being with people, especially after Susie’s left for her new care facilities. Also, my hearing issues mean I cannot understand conversations at a distance; it is all reassuring white noise.

I am writing with a cookie with fresh coffee with cream.

The morning started with me waiting until after 7 to get going, but making my first meeting at 8:05 (on Zoom). I discovered I had ample steel-cut oats and made oatmeal from scratch, adding brown sugar, walnuts, and dried cranberries once cooked. I completed that just as the status meeting started. I also made liberal coffee, Equal Exchange brand, in my French Press and had a mug.

I saw snow falling, half-melted, from the sky instead of rain. The sun appeared later, only to be replaced by rain again. It was a grey day, but the sunset with some blue skies and thick clouds was a wonder of colors.

The status meetings went on about every half hour, and a few crises of the moment surfaced. The data conversion did not run over the weekend and thus was now further behind on the calendar. The usual “let’s make it the lost time” suggestion from leadership got silent.

I re-heated the last of the pasta and chicken and had that for lunch. I showered and dressed between meetings. I found the strength and resolve to do all my stretching and exercises. More data issues arose as the data conversion started up. I spent the morning following along.

My last meeting was at 1PM, and I found I had the only action item from the meeting. I then 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. As I left my street, flying in Air Volvo, I saw a county motorcycle police with lights on and pulling over a car on 209th. The police were monitoring compliance with the stop signs and school crossing at 209th and Johnson Street. I was careful and did not draw the attention of the Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies.

I noticed various police as I traveled, and Air Volvo was careful not to draw attention to us. I noticed that the police, when making a right turn, took the right lane. The officer changed to the left lane the usual way. I wondered if we had a law for that; I would comply now with that (instead of doing both at the same time).

Susie was delighted to see me. She told me she missed me and that she needed me. I apologized for not being there before (I was there in the afternoon). Susie told me she missed me and needed me. It is hard as she gets lonely some days. We called her mother, and they chatted for a while and I let them go on as I had no meetings now. I handled one item at work while at Susie’s place by sending a note on my phone. Next, we called Susie’s sister, Barb, freshly back from a week’s trip with her hubby in Ireland. We talked about her trip and how she loved Ireland. Susie always wanted to go to Ireland, but we never fit it in. Soon, it was time to leave, and Susie said, “no.”

Susie had tears and said she did not want me to go. She needed me, and she was missing me. Susie wanted more time. We were watching old Golden Girl shows. Susie wanted me to stay, hold her hand, and rest a bit–like this weekend. She finally relented, sad, and let me go.

On the way back, I don’t remember much, as the emotions make it hard to focus. Air Volvo sort of goes on auto-pilot, and I arrive. I stopped at Safeway and quickly shopped for missing items (groceries) and selected flowers for Susie on Tuesday–the main reason for the stop. Aloha Safeway has wonderful fresh-cut flowers, which I have been bringing to Susie for years. There used to be a vase next to Susie in the living room at the Volvo Cave with the latest flower. Now the flowers are with her at the hummingbird house.

I reached the Volvo Cave, unloaded the cargo, and put it away. I logged on again to work and checked; no important messages awaited me, and I followed along for a bit. I read for a bit. I then heard from Mariah that we were not going to dinner, so I made tacos.

I defrosted the ground beef in the freezer for a while and got all the items ready for tacos. Once the microwave had the meat ready, I browned it in a pan, added taco seasoning (less salt version), and dumped a can of Mexican-styled stewed tomatoes into the pan. Sort of a chili-like taco–I like it this way. I cooked that breaking up the meat and the tomatoes. I put shredded Mexican cheese into the corn taco shells from a box. I heated that in the oven so the cheese melts in the shell. I added lettuce, sour cream, and meat to the taco shells. Wonderful, but again more chili than a taco.

I watched the second Batman animated movie, The Long Halloween (Part 2). Highly recommended if you can ignore the strange way it starts. The ending and the solution is mind-blowing (“how did I miss that,” goes through your mind). It was fun to watch it again and catch each misdirection now. Well done, indeed.

Next, I read some more, nodded off, decided I would not sleep through Monday night, and instead headed to Barnes and Noble. I wrote this blog there. I also met a director of security stuff at Nike (details are not appropriate here) I have known for years. He looked well. We were happy to see each other.

I find that living through the pandemic, I am so happy to see folks now; everyone smiles. It is so nice to see another survivor.

Today has been hard, as I am impossibly sad today. I miss Susie too. I tell myself, “day-by-day”; it not enough some days. But, the cookie, bookstore, and good reading material have helped.

On reading, I have been reading more of Elric’s latest book from Michael Moorcock, and I can recommend it. It is a set of short stories aligned with about book three in the original series–before he starts the end-of-the-world battles. I have also been reading the impossible to get Colin J. McRae: Confederate Financial Agent from the Institute of Naval Archaeology (INA). This is the story of the man who ran the finances in Europe for the Confederacy. While there is nothing from him (i.e., no dairy or recorded family stories), the financial records and letters, to some degree, have survived, and the INA (USA group) has found some of the blockade runner shipwrecks, and thus they have republished and re-edited the book.

While Mr. McRae is, as far as I am concerned, a despicable character, a slave owner, and worse (a businessman that would make Scrooge blush), it is he that built a family business in cotton and slavery such that when the Civil War dawned, he had the skills to enable the financing to buy goods and blockade runners in Europe for the Confederacy. His signature is on the old bonds for cotton you can find on eBay; indeed, I bid on one. His financing kept the flow of arms, ships, and cotton to pay for it flowing. McRae kept slavery going and made the war possible by supplying goods to Rebel states.

The book is fascinating, and its footnotes draw me in to learn more. I would love to find the story of the Union in Europe trying to stop the cotton bonds from floating. Also, INA has another book describing the Confederate blockade runner ships–I will buy that one soon from INA!

Aside: The photo of the cotton bond in the book is of a bond currently for sale for signature collectors (they are uniquely numbered). I have found the same type of bond and a far cheaper one on eBay, just three numbers higher. I can see Mr. McRae and other officials from banks and the Confederacy on the document.

Thank you for reading.

Aside: I received an email from HipStamps that they would help me with their Concierge Services. I must buy enough to be noticed. I thanked them but told them I was not organized enough to use their service. Interesting to draw that attention. 

I had just tried to repaint the radio box, and the product did not cover it and left the damage quite visible–not the look I wanted. I will have to re-sand and try again. I have checked on the Internet and ordered a gel stain and a spray-on satin finish. A setback.

The day started with me struggling to enjoy the morning at 6:30ish so I could be ready for church and write the blog. It was not easy because I was not in bed until after midnight. I found the office, started the laptops, and then walked to the kitchen and made coffee. There I decided to make pancakes, found a very expired buckwheat pancake mix, and decided to give it the last use. The pancakes were good but nearly creps thick as the mix would not rise. I like these, and they remind me of days in Laingsbury in the 1980s when the Lions Club and Business Association would make pancakes for the sidewalk sale; they made buckwheat.

I had pancakes with real maple syrup (if I am going to use sugar–only the best) and 1/2 a can of peaches while I wrote the blog this Sunday morning. Saturday was a busy day, so the blog took a few hours to write, and it still sounded rushed. Finally, I called the hummingbird house and checked with Anassa after 9ish. Susie is up and dressed and will be ready for church. That decided, I shower and dress in a dress shirt, tie, and sweater expecting to take Susie to Palm Sunday Service.

Just in case, I pack up the Apple computer and head out and take Air Volvo across a nearly empty Beaverton. I miss all the photo radar set up by Beaverton’s Finest on the main roads–that is why I use a more indirect route.

The morning started with rain and was cold but not cold enough to snow. Susie is uninterested in experiencing it and decides to stay at the hummingbird house today. Anassa gets Susie in her favorite chair, her rocking chair, and I sit next to her in another chair (one I have spent the night in before), and we decide on Frozen on Disney+. Susie sleeps through much of it but stays stable in her chair. I let her sleep and enjoy all the songs–I know most of them.

After the movie, Susie was looking for lunch and a rest. I stepped out for an hour and had an Ensalda Chicken Platter at Red Robin near Susie’s place and close to the Washington Square Mall. I was surprised they had finally replaced the missing door handle, and the place was filling up. I had my usual bartender, and she was happy to see me as I had been missing for a few weeks. As I had nobody to talk to, I ate pretty fast, and while I did not wear a mask, when folks sat next to me, I used the little machine and paid my tab.

Susie was in the living room when Air Volvo returned me to the hummingbird house. A Hallmark romantic movie played (all B or lesser actors), and Susie napped through most of it. I held her hand, sitting in her wheelchair next to her (she was in her recliner) while she fell asleep. She is happiest falling asleep with me holding her hand next to her. I believe it makes her feel like she is home.

I woke her to say goodbye, my back was hurting, and it was approaching the afternoon. Susie was fine with me leaving and kissed me goodbye–I am not sure she woke up all the way. I took Air Volvo home, noticing the photo radar on the other side of TV Highway. I reached home without police exposure.

I worked on the radio as I already described. I also found that Michael Moorcock had published a new Elric story, a prequel to the third book or so from what I can tell, and I read that on my Kindle. I decided to travel to Wildwood and have a few beers to finish the weekend instead of reading alone. I did reheat some of the pasta and chicken from a few days ago for dinner. That was good, and I watched a WW1 history video while eating it.

I then headed to Wildwood and wrote this blog.

Thanks for reading.

 

On starting late for me, 8ish, I was surprised to see so many good April Fool’s items on the Internet. I found a few interesting ones, took screenshots, and sent the image by iPhone, and others I posted on FaceBook. I sent Richard a request to play a mad game today, so we played Wonderland’s War for today’s Saturday Night game.

But, moving to Saturday morning, I made breakfast. I opened a can of hash from the pantry, found the non-stick pan (thanks, Steve), and fried some hash. I also got out the small non-stick pan and fried an egg to go over the hash. I made some toast with some low-sugar jam to go with that, just one slice.

I have decided to cook breakfast on the weekends. Using the food in the house is just a good idea, and taking the time and thought seems to help me focus a bit. It was also delicious.

Trying not to overeat, I placed 1/2 of the hash in a glass container (thanks, Gene and Glenda) for a snack later. It is too easy to finish all the food–trying to not do that. And a snack later is also so good.

I did sign back into work. I did my timesheet and checked that nobody was genuinely looking for our team to work this weekend. Getting a work-free weekend is unusual of late.

I wrote the blog and acquired tickets for the Dungeons and Dragons movie at the IMAX for Susie and myself. A wheelchair spot for her and a companion. Yes, just like Doctor Who, I am Susie’s companion.

Once I had written the blog, drank all of the French Press-produced liberal coffee, showered, and dressed, I boarded Air Volvo and took it to Susie’s place at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

Anassa, the weekend nursing aide, had Susie ready with her already having finished breakfast and her coat on. Susie was prepared for a movie. I wheeled her out to Air Volvo and followed the usual boarding procedure: I lifted Susie from the wheelchair, landed her on the seat edge, pivoted her in the seat, and then adjusted and belted her in. I then loaded the wheelchair into the cargo hold. It is a short flight to Bridgeport Village (a California-styled outdoor mall now being revised to better fit six months of rain) and Regal’s IMAX. We found our seats; I acquired popcorn and the usual items and waited for the movie. Evan met us at the cinema.

We got the start time, it was dark, and nothing happened. I thought the shadows or other wicked undead would rise any moment. Maybe a trap would take out an unwary person heading out to ask WTF of the staff. Instead, we stayed safe, protected, and fortified by popcorn, Diet Coke, and other items. Finally, ten minutes late, the movie started. Again, no undead arose that I witnessed.

The previous two D&D movies, even with a talented team of actors, could not save the poor script and the sort of random inclusion of D&D gaming content. No spoilers, but it was an excellent adventure sword and sorcery movie, one of the best, and unlike the Tolkien films with the weighty things to complete, this was just fun: More John Wick (or Gray Mouser and Fafhrd) than Narnia or Tolkien (and without the blood splatters). Susie, Evan, and I loved it.

Susie was leaning to the right and fighting to stay awake when I returned her to the hummingbird house after the movie (I had no problem loading her). Louis, one of the live-in nursing aides and Jennifer’s husband, was making dinner when we arrived, and he took over and got Susie comfortable. I called later, and he said she was sleeping soundly, but we agreed she would get up for some dinner.

Next, Evan met me at the Lucky Labrador in Portland, a bar and food joint with large tables and open seating that welcomes gamers. There I had a Czech-styles beer and a BLT sandwich–they make a great one. Evan had a few beers and a salad. There we played the board game Wingspan, the basic version, for two games.

The basic version has some issues with randomness, and Evan got to experience this with me, with me winning by about twenty points in the first game. Wingspan is a worker placement and resource management game with little player interaction from Stonemaier Games, which produces lovely but unique games. Wingspan’s game mechanisms are a bit obscure, but once you get them down, it is a fast and excellent (if a bit random) game. The bartender commented on how beautiful the game looked, and we had a few customers at the Luck Labrador stop-and-watch. We rushed through a second game, which was more even, but I still managed to pull out a win by just a few points. As the game ended, my internal count said I was behind, so I played a bird (card) worth the maximum (nine points) that had just come up, and that play won for me.

My time was out, and I paid the bill, crossed over Portland, leaving behind slightly seedy Hawthorn, and found the nice houses near Broadway, Richard lives in a nice neighborhood. Richard was ready to play Wonderland’s War when I arrived. This mad game is an example of an overbuilt Kickstarter game with bright colors and dudes on a board entirely done in custom figures fitting the Alice in Wonderland look. The game has two phases that are repeated three times. The Tea Party, when resources, goals, and upgrades are acquired in a slightly competitive rush at the party. The resources include getting more figures from Wonderland; I had the dormouse. Next, battles in five territories from the story. When battling, you pull resources from a bag, which can help or be madness. I went mad (I was playing the Hatter, so it seemed normal to me) in the last battle but still won. The game is a strange mix of resources planning and totally mad, pulling random good or bad things from a bag. Fun!

Richard crushed us with a 100+ score, with me lapped with a 62 score (good for me) and our other player struggling to learn the game making a lower but good first-time score.

Next, we played a card-based resource management game: 51st State. I learned the game and played it for an hour. Richard won, as expected, but I liked the game, and now that I understand it, I look forward to another fast game. The theme is post-apocalyptic, which I dislike, but the game did not focus on that.

After that, I drove home, taking the huge on-ramp to the tall bridge that felt like a rocket ship ramp rather than a roadway. I arrived home without incident or much traffic. I had the remaining hash as a snack with my pills, read for a few minutes, and fell asleep.

Thanks for reading.

 

I am writing this on 1April2023, and the online jokes are already on YouTube. The rains have paused, and the water is no longer pouring out of my house’s gutters like a broken pipe. When I drove home from Portland last night, Air Volvo flew through puddles halfway over the lane and tossed water as high as its roof. Being an overly polite Oregonian, I did look that there were no folks nearby, then Air Volvo crashed through the puddles–I think I can hear Air Volvo giggle.

It was Friday and a work-from-home day, so I slept into 7ish and did my first Zoom meeting at 8AM, a team meeting. The status meetings went on every half hour through the morning, all on Zoom. The general debate was that our project was two days late, and the weekend was not used to catch up on the lost time. Also, the long-running jobs could not be started on Friday night as originally planned. A clear weekend for everyone–yes.

I followed along as the project continued to run the preparational steps for the data conversions and made Clam Chowder for lunch with some garlic toast (premade in the freezer, Texas Toast brand). The effects of it being Friday and Spring Break started to show as the issues quieted. I headed out in Air Volvo to see Susie at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

The traffic was heavy as it was Friday afternoon in Beaverton, and the construction closed various lanes here and there. Without issue and seeing none of Beaverton’s Finest in the pouring rain giving out tickets, I slowly reached Susie’s place.

Susie was in bed, she often rests in the afternoons, but today she had tummy issues and was on her side in her bed. I had to wake her. She was delighted to see me, and we soon called Leta, her mother, on the iPhone. Leta and Susie chatted for some time, seeing each other on FaceTime–I held the phone as Susie was still on her side. Michelle Nixon, who runs the houses, brought in her grandbaby and let Susie hold the child. Susie was delighted, and Leta was still on the phone and happy to watch and talk to Michelle.

After the baby event, it was time for me to leave and Leta to ring off. Susie was disappointed, but no tears and my wet trip to the Volvo Cave was without incident or police involvement. I was tired today. I rested a bit, but kept checking in.

Mariah suggested Von Eberts in the Pearl District in Portland for an early dinner, and I agreed. Back to face Friday night (ugh!), wet traffic. I arrived at 5PM after taking an hour to travel from the Volvo Cave to Portland and saw the messy wet Friday parking situation and thus parked in the parking garage across the street from Von Eberts. Plenty of dry safe parking for a price.

There I had two beers, a set of the world’s best smoked, and then sauced wings. I heard that the wings are so good that the chickens volunteer. The food was great. There are no waiters, you have to use Toast to order, and then very helpful folks deliver your food. American baseball was on the big screens; it was the opening day. Mariah and I talked about some writing we have not done (someday!) and worked a bit. Mariah has finished another month’s end (part of her compensation is sales commission) above the target and was likely a leader this month–all good.

I headed to Powells and met a nice guy in the gaming section, and we talked about role-playing games. He did go Gamestorm and played mostly RPG games (I passed due to the continuing pandemic and all those other interesting colds, flu, and coughs out there now; next year!). I am sure we will see each other again, and we shook hands (I do that now and wash my hand) and exchanged names. While tempted, I managed to just look today. I also still social distance and so I had to wait here and there to get to a book. There are more wonderful cookbooks again–I resisted as I have two I am still reading.

I found the car, found the tiny paper you need to pay in my pocket, paid, and then left. As I have said, there are no issues returning home other than puddles.

I went to bed early. I read a bit, but I was too tired to read much. I have put away the brain cookies and returned to The Song of the Cell from the same author who wrote the history of cancer treatment in The Emperor of All Maladies, which I highly recommend (it won the Pulitzer). This newish book (everything about medicine predating the pandemic seems dated) is an excellent read, and the subject, cells, fascinates me.

I did not return to the radio project as I make mistakes when tired–no time to use glues, knives, hot soldering irons, and cutting wires! The wood box needs to sanded and coated. Next are the nobs, buttons, and casting the buttons into a light display. Soon!

I received more radio project parts, eyeing the next radio already received. I may try to make a PCB board now that I have done two of these. It is fun to code, construct, and assemble these projects.

Thanks for reading.

 

Beginning the narrative with the more important moments, I visited Susie at about 11AM after finishing her breakfast. I had no meetings from 10AM to 1PM, so I was not rushed like the previous days. Susie was also awake, not sleepy this time. She was delighted to see me early and happy when I told her I could stay longer today while I had to return to work; I was not rushed. I had traveled from work to Susie without issue; the hummingbird house is at the hummingbird house in Portland (Tigard) at 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.

We spent about forty minutes together. We called her mother, Leta, on the iPhone using FaceTime so they could see each other. Susie demonstrated that her right arm is working again, but her hand is weak from less use from the stroke of November 2021, which affected her right side, ability to swallow, and speech. I have to watch Susie in the wheelchair or the rocking chair as she can suddenly lean on the right side without knowing it and, if I am inattentive, fall. When Susie is tired, she is very prone to leaning to the right.

Susie was thrilled to talk to Leta and have me there, not rushed, and she was not sad or tired today–a change from yesterday. I showed Susie on my iPhone her sister Barb’s, who is traveling in Ireland with her husband Gordon, photographs on FaceBook, and some shopping pictures Barb sent me today. I was nearly an hour meeting with Susie when it was time to leave. Susie was yawning and ready to nap in her recliner in the living room. I could have used a nap too. I got a kiss goodbye, and Susie understood that I had to leave. No tears today.

Returning to the morning, I debated if I would get going at 6AM when the alarm went off. I went as far as resetting the alarm, but finally, wasting only five minutes, I just jumped out of bed. Then, I commanded light from Alexa and turned on all the lights. That helped.

I had cottage cheese (dusted with pepper, sea salt, and smoked paprika) and 1/2 a can of peaches. This was matched with liberal coffee made in my French Press. There were no ants in the kitchen, but a few appeared in the office and the bathroom. I may have to expand my efforts.

Before enjoying my repast or taking my meds, I did the basic exercises, which were a bit of a struggle as yesterday’s full set of stretches and exercises had left me stiff. Nevertheless, I pushed through the basic set. This gave me enough time not to rush breakfast and read some news and my personal emails. Of course, I also read all the work emails and Slack Channel updates. I like being prepared for the day and informed of the news.

After this, I showered and dried my long hair with a towel. It is getting thick again. I dressed, boarded Air Volvo at 7:30, and reached the office before 8AM. I then enjoyed hours of Zoom meetings. I take the rest of the coffee from the French Press as a thermal cup; I get more when I get a short break between meetings. The project buys everyone’s coffee from the coffee shop (they serve Starbucks, of course) until 10AM.

Aside: My oncologist’s office called and told me they were moving my appointment out as they needed my appointment for another patient; it was important that the patient see the oncologist soon. I was happy to oblige, as mine was just a survivor appointment. I was pleased to not need an emergency appointment and could move mine out to help. I am glad to help a fellow cancer patient!

Skipping to the end of the workday, I was back after eating lunch at Panera Bread. I was hoping the strawberry salad was back, but not yet here (Leta got one in Michigan), but instead had a chicken salad sandwich and a cup of broccoli cheddar soup. I did more meetings, one chaotic and the rest the usual status. I needed to do some chores at home, so I headed out at 3ish.

I got home in light traffic, just before the schools let out, and arrived and picked up some items. I then headed out to do the chores. I mailed a package to Zorida that had come back–the machine at the post office did not charge me enough postage, and it returned to me. I remailed it. I stopped by my bank’s ATM to have it refuse to deposit the $1 medical check. Puke. I will have to do this at a bank office (old school)–I put the check in the door of Air Volvo and will try to get that done. I gassed up the car at $4.09 (remember, we do not have sales tax) a gallon.

I returned and signed back in; no issues looking for me at the shoe company. I rested for a bit and checked again. Nope.

I boiled water, defrosted skinless and boneless chicken thighs, fried them in butter with Herbs de Province, salt, and smoked paprika, and heated Alfredo sauce from a bottle in a pan. I baked the browned but still undercooked chicken in a preheated oven for twenty minutes to finish cooking. To do this, I transferred the chicken to a glass pan; I cooked the chicken in my non-stick pan (thanks, Steve), and that pan should not go into the oven. Next, I cooked rigatoni pasta from a box and mixed it all together after splitting the chicken thighs on a cutting board. It was a bit plain (I had not marinated or broiled the chicken), but I still had a few bowls.

I packed the uneaten portion for leftovers in glassware (thanks, Gene and Glenda).

I watched The Long Halloween (part 1), an animated Batman movie that I strongly recommend and still watch over and over. It is fun to rewatch as I try to catch all the giveaways you miss in the first viewing. I will watch part 2 later.

I then returned to the office and worked on the wooden radio box for my project. I reglued some delaminating veneer and then replaced tiny bits here and there. I have some oak veneer (not finished) that I will dye to the correct color (I have the dye for my wooden models from OcCre in Spain–excellent stuff). I should then repaint the wood with stain and ploy I have already purchased. I staked a pile of books on the wood to push the veneer back in place (adding white glue to hold the new form).

I also watched the newest The Mandalorian episode. I found this one, Pirate, less believable. but still an excellent show.

I want to work on my radio project tonight, but I am tired. So I think I will read and fall asleep instead.

Thanks for reading.