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This is the 28May2022 story not 29May2022 when I wrote it.

Going backward and writing this the following day, Saturday ended with me going to bed after midnight. I had driven from Portland after dropping off Kathleen at her house just outside of Portland. This means I travel, luckily without issue or any traffic, all the way back across Portland and across Beaverton to get to the Volvo Cave. It was more challenging this time as I was tired from a busy day, and the rain made it harder to see and control Air Volvo, but it all was fine.

I fell right to sleep after reading a few pages.

Continuing with the narrative backward, we had met at Richard’s house in Portland across the river and not far from Lloyd Center at our usual time of 6:30. Kathleen wanted to play Arc Nova again. I started out well and fought Kathleen for the lead when I stalled. I could not get the normal animals for my zoo, this is a Euro resource management and worker placement game, and I spent quite a few turns searching for better animals, but none showed for me. I was obviously doing something wrong. It appears that I had not upgraded my animal abilities soon enough, and also, Richard was grabbing a lot of the easy animals.

Richard played a fantastic game and ended the game before Kathleen or I could even get close to a positive score. I did not enjoy Arc Nova as much as I was stalled for some of the game. But that was me and some misplays. I would still say this is the best game of its type. Next time!

We next played a short game, The Quacks of Quedlinburg. This is a quick game where you draw potion ingredients from a bag, and if the mix does not explode, you can draw more. It is a push-your-luck game. Richard had fully blinged his copy and has bags and potion component tokens made from plastic. It is fun, and I had terrible luck with the drawing today, which was very funny. I did lose, but I liked the game. Recommended.

I reached the games with Richard and Kathleen by Air Volvo without any events or increasing the crime rate in Beaverton or Portland. The rain was heavy at times.

Still going backward, I was at home for the afternoon reading and working on my balloon model. Many parts from eBay showed up in the mail today, and I was finally figuring out how I wanted the basket to look. This is a Dungeons and Dragon gaming model, and so it uses D&D physics; thus, the balloon can be smaller and able to fit on the gaming table better.

I stopped by the hardware and got some glue and a 1/2″ drill bit. I have decided to use a transparent rod to hold up the model and then try to suspend it from a hook. I drilled a hole into the balloon, and it was covered in styrofoam snow! Suddenly, as often happens with the DIY models, or kitbashing as it is often called, it is started to come together.

Before this, I had a late lunch and early dinner at Abhiruchi Indian Cusine in Beaverton. Since they reopened, I have not been there due to the pandemic making eating out a challenging life experience. Today, being Sunday and late, there was no buffet styled lunch. Instead, I ordered a plate with a little of everything, which was fine for me. The food is a bit spicy but tame by any standard. I enjoyed a quiet lunch-dinner and was happy to see the same owner working the cash register and their endless refilling of your water glass; I had forgotten about that. It seems that they can’t stand to see an empty water glass in the place.

I had come from the Hummingbird House where Susie is living now. She seems happy in her new Adult Foster Care digs. I got there as she was finishing breakfast. Jennifer was caring for everyone. About 1/2 of the residents are late risers taking some of the stress off of Jenifer. Today, the nurse was present, doing the new month’s paperwork, and closing the previous month. I answered a few questions about Susie’s health; they are still getting to understand her. I was glad they were asking me questions.

Next, Susie and I called Leta, Susie’s mom. Barb, Susan’s sister, was over at Leta’s house making Leta’s flowers ready for the summer. Using my iPhone and FaceTime, Leta gave us a visual tour of the flower and Barb working. Susie and Leta spoke for about ten minutes or maybe more.

Susie was finished with breakfast; I had my repast before heading over. We headed to the more private activity room, and I set up the screen and watched the second Harry Potter film: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This movie had the same director, and you can see the connection to the previous film (which we watched on Friday), but the lighting was better, and the kid actors were much better and, well, just barely kids. Overall, it is a better movie, and I have seen it many more times than the first.

Aside: This movie is noteworthy as the director seems to have guessed at the relationships to come in later books. For example, the awkwardness between two of the main characters, Hermione and Ron, hints at the future that has yet to be published. The director got it right.

The movie, about 2 1/2 hours long, seemed to fly by faster, and it was after lunchtime when we finished. I left Susie with a kiss as she would get some lunch and/or take a nap.

To start Saturday, I was up about 7:30ish and not rushing. I read my emails and got ready for the day. Finally, I was feeling a bit more rested.

It rained all day, and there is, again, two more inches of rain in the back corner of the French drain. The plan is to plant the area this year with grass to get rid of the muddy look and well the mud. Mushy grass is better than dark mud. I did buy some more grass seed, but it would have to float today, so maybe another week before I can do that.

I slept into 7:20ish and could have stayed there all day. I took off the day from work. The weeks of starting back to working at the office, moving Susie, and just living a more normal life have been hard and stressful. I am exhausted every day. So today, I would take it slower and return to a more relaxed speed. I planned to reach Susie at Hummingbird House around 10ish, so I could start slow.

Aside: I also had paid $7,400 to Allegiance Senior Care for the next month. I plan to keep Susie there for the foreseeable future as she seems to like it. I have put aside enough money to cover at least the next six months.

I watched the markets this morning; I had moved some money to my investment account and bought back into the market near the bottom (I hope). For those interested, I split my investments into Ford and Tesla–the primary electric car producers and likely take-over targets, I think. I used to have Ford stock before, and I am buying back at almost the same price I bought last time. My investments are, in two days, up 5%, with Ford rising slower than Tesla (but it pays a dividend).

I packed up and managed to avoid any events on the trip to Tigard. No police tickets this time.

Susie was not ready when I got there. While Susie was showering and dressing, I took the time to order my next vaccine at RiteAid on Sunday. It is time to get the latest update. I am going with the cocktail by adding Pfizer to my existing Moderna. This is my boaster for being over 50.

Susie had breakfast next, and having no plans, I just read my email and watched some cooking show on TV while Susie ate what Jennifer made her for breakfast. Scrambled eggs with potatoes were welcome, even pureed, and Susie ate most of her breakfast and enjoyed her strawberry milk drink.

Susie spoke to her mother, Leta, using my iPhone and FaceTime. They enjoyed a twenty-minute conversation. Susie’s speech has not improved much, but her energy level has increased, which helps.

After the call, Susie had more breakfast and then headed with me to the activity room. I put on the first Harry Potter movie, which I discovered is dark for my screens. So, it was difficult to make out the action all the time. But the sound was good, and we knew the story. I forgot how different the first movie was from the rest and how small the child actors were. But, I liked it again, and the first film follows the book quite close, which I have read at least twice.

Jennifer, who works and lives at Hummingbird House, checked in with us often while also working with the other residents. There are five residents, including Susie. We watched the whole movie, and then Susie headed to lunch.

I left with a kiss. I stopped at the Cheese Cake Factory for my lunch at Washington Square Mall, just minutes from Susie’s digs. I had to wait ten minutes for a table for one.

I had an intelligent waiter, Ashely, and we agreed on her fav salad, the Sante Fee, and a box to take 1/2 home. I planned to have the rest of the salad for dinner tonight. I also had a gin and tonic, a double, which made the meal feel festive. Next, I went with the Mango Lime Cheesecake, despite Ashley recommending a lighter Raspberry cream version. I love the lime version, and I used to make it.

I had not been back to the Cheese Cake Factory except to pick up a cheesecake since the pandemic’s start. I forgot how good their food is and how pleasant a meal is. I will be back soon!

I headed directly home in Air Volvo without any more events or increasing the crime numbers in Beaverton.

I just rested and putted about the house. I did get some work done on the ballon model, and some new parts showed today I need to finish, so that is great.

I had a bagel from New York City supplied by the Smiths, plus Jason and the rest of my salad for dinner. I had turned down another dinner with Mariah as I wanted to just stay in today.

I did some reading and then decided to get the blog done.

Looking at my roses, Mister Lincoln has bloomed. It is a huge hybrid tea rose.

The pink moss rose, ending up as a movie, is lovely (it is once-blooming so enjoy it now):

The Herbalist is starting to get going. It will bloom all summer but looks like a one-time blooming Lancaster Rose:

The painted rose, a forgotten variety called Picasso from the previous owners of Heritage Roses in St. Paul, Oregon, shows the painted look–you can almost see the brush strokes on the petals. It, too, is a multiple blooming rose:

Lastly, the China Rose, also called Old Blush, is blooming full-out and grown five feet tall after being cut back. This is the best rose I have gotten from it in years–it must love the rain:

The other roses will bloom soon. The newly planted roses do not have buds yet, so we might have to wait until next year for them.

Well, that is all I have for today.

The day all now spins around an unpleasant event, a traffic ticket. I managed to be seen by an officer of Beaverton when I touched my phone to have it call a number while driving. My hands-free was getting it wrong, so I reached over, pushed the listen button, and told my phone to call such-and-such, a crime in Oregon. It is a $265 ticket for the first offense. This was on 217 on my way back to work after seeing Susie, a road apparently packed with Beaverton’s finest watching you drive as you can’t obvious speed on the construction-filled road. Also, you can’t really change lanes that much, so much for getting a moving violation. So, while I am OK with this from a legal point of view, it still sucks. I also feel they should get a life–but that is just me grumbling.

The officer was kind and friendly and even explained that I was to be charged with a first offense. I could take a class to reduce the ticket to just $40. But, unfortunately, I can’t promise to show up at a class and see my sick wife every day–even an online one. So I paid the whole amount and signed it and mailed it this evening with the thought that I don’t need one more thing, a legal something, to do: Get it over with.

Aside: This time, I made a copy of the ticket as it is nearly impossible to know if a ticket was processed without noting the control number and date it was issued. The last ticket I had, a speeding ticket to the State of Oregon, was over ten years ago, but I remember that I failed to copy it and was scared it was lost in the mail, and I had no way of knowing if it was received.

So that event soured my day.

I was up at 6:30ish and managed to have breakfast of a banana and a bagel, a New York City poppy one delivered from NYC from the Smith plus Jason family. I learned today that Jason and Natasha will be here on Saturday but are too busy and tired for dinner. They are moving from NYC to Stanford to complete Natasha, now Doctor, internship. From the East to the West Coast and will spend a single day in Oregon.

After breakfast, I showered and dressed and was late for work, getting there at 8:10 or so. I had no meetings in the morning, so that was OK. I then handled a few items and headed out in Air Volvo off to raise the crime rate for Beaverton at 10:30, running late again. But, again, I managed no police entanglements or other events inbound to see Susie.

Susie was awake and watching TV in a recliner that she looked very comfortable sitting in. I called Susie’s mother, Leta, who was home this time, and they talked for fifteen minutes. I then sat with Susie for another ten minutes until my time ran out.

During these moments, my sister had rushed to check on my mother, Barbara Wild, who was not answering the phone or the door. Mom had just overslept and ignored or did not hear the phone and the knocks. But this had unsettled Linda and me, but everything was OK.

I left Susie with a kiss and began my life of criminality on Highway 217, often called the Devil’s Bowling Ally. It was full of traffic. I then committed my crime of getting frustrated with the failed voice control for hands-free on the Volvo. I remember looking in the mirror and wondering if they saw me push a button on my phone (amazed that they could see that through the tinted windows) or if I had an unpaid parking ticket or a brake light out. Nope, it was the phone use. No warning from the officer, but the funny printout from the thermal printer in the cop car that is a ticket now, no handwritten stuff anymore. My day ruined by the cheerful officer; I could leave, the policeman told me.

I returned to work, looked at some Python code, and did some magic with Cloud9 Amazon-based cloud servers. I managed some more coffee but limited my use of stairs as I was undoubtedly distracted now, and my coordination was not too good. I left at 5ish and drove Air Volvo with some caution, and left my phone on the car seat.

I got home and made a steak dinner (frozen New York Strip) with corn (also frozen). I fried the steak and then finished it in the oven. It was a bit overdone for me, but the thinner strips of steaks are hard to time right. I still enjoyed it and put today’s event behind me.

I read some more this evening. I finished The Destruction of the Steamboat Sultana a few days ago. It was a page-turner for me, and it contained a good description of the tribulations of the lives of Union prisoners in the American Civil War. The writing was good; the narration would make Shelby Foote happy, and the footnotes were extensive (unlike Mr. Foote’s books, but I would recommend his short book Stars in their Courses to understand the emotion of the ACW battle of Gettysburg). If you like history books like Dead Wake by Eric Larson, which I strongly recommend, you will like this one.

I am today back to brain cookies and SciFi reading. Now I am continuing the second book in a series: A Desolation Called Peace. I enjoyed the first book, and the second is holding up well, and I love Space Opera. I will likely be returning to other books, some more serious books, including one about US Constitutional words, but the recent politics has me running for brain cookies!

I was coding some Machine Learning today at work. I will be doing some of that over the holiday. It is just pure joy for me to code. But, again, I am tired after work and will try to get organized to finish my ballon model soon. I got some more parts in the mail today that I needed. Excellent!

 

 

Today I had trouble walking all day. I was cautious and took the elevator a few times at work. I am also exhausted, and I think this is a combination of coming back to work and just recovering from the chemotherapy and surgery. My doctor was not surprised that I tired quickly when I spoke to him last week.

So the morning had me running slow, and I was late to work, 8:10ish. I awoke to my alarm, and somehow it was already 6:30 when I was moved out of bed. I did get some coffee and a banana for breakfast and read all the email, text, and Slack messages before showering and dressing.

Today I had a few meetings, but I had a presentation to write for a new project I wanted to start. So I spent most of the day writing, reading, and creating a PowerPoint.

I did slip out, as usual, to Tigard to see Susie (her address is Portland). Hummingbird house was quiet when I got there, no hummingbirds to see, and Susie had fallen asleep in her recliner. Jennifer had gotten Susan going about 8ish and told me that the hummingbirds come early in the morning.

I woke Susie and gave her the phone to chat with her mother, Leta, on the phone via FaceTime. While the traffic was light, I could only spend a short time there as I needed to return to work within an hour or so. It is only 15 minutes travel time giving me about 30 minutes to visit on workdays.

Leta was just getting in her car when I called so she could chat while sitting in the car in the parking lot. Leta is volunteering again in Lansing, Michigan, where she lives. This gives her more and a reason to leave the house.

Soon, my time is up. I did sit with Susie for a few minutes, and today it was not as hard to say goodbye as Tuesday. She was sleepy again.

I returned to the shoe company and worked on my new project, and helped with a few crises of the moment. Then, without too much issue,  I managed the carpet-covered stairs and got another coffee to finish the day. Lunch was a savory and spicy crepe, again free. Nike and the program are still buying us coffee and lunch to celebrate our return to the office.

I sat through a few more meetings and headed out a bit early at 4ish. I then logged back in once Air Volvo landed me here at the Volvo Cave. I followed along with work items for a few hours while resting and reading.

I made a chef’s salad with now defrosted ham I had in the frig and the new lettuce. I also used Glenda’s celery and some aging carrots, and I used some of the Blue Cheese that has been around for a while. It was an excellent salad for lunch.

Michelle Smith called, and she brought over some NYC bagels; she and David just returned on the late flight on Monday/Tuesday from NYC. These were poppy bagels, my fav!

I walked Michelle around the house, showing her all the roses, many blooming now and a few new ones that will bloom later or next year. We also toured the new shower. The last time I saw Michelle, I was in mid-chemo. So it is nice to be able to do things now–the side effects are fading. We both agree that Glenda was amazing; the house looks so much better!

Dear reader, I am tired again tonight and more unsteady than I care to admit. So I think I will stop there. Thank you for reading.

This morning started at 6:15, with my alarm waking me from sleep. After that, it was a hard start, and I managed to rise to the occasion, looking much like Dracula. Tuesday is a rushed morning as I have an 8AM meeting, and I plan to do it from the office. This means jumping into the shower from the bed without first making and drinking coffee (gasp).

By the way, I still use Utterly Smooth with 2% Urea cream (that is cow pee) to help my hands and feet. Although I don’t know if it really works, my oncologist was happy I was still using it and rubbing the cream into my toes and fingers every day. I drop things now as my fingers are so smooth, yes, utterly smooth.

Next, I selected the red t-shirt with the battery symbol that nobody gets at work (it celebrates the 2032 coin cell used in many DIY projects). I could not wear it yesterday as I was going to a Star Trek movie.

I got to work just about 8ish after eating a banana and peanut butter toast with fresh liberal coffee at home. Yes, I am still drinking Fair Trade coffee, and it reminds me every day about all the good liberal causes. At Glenda’s (Susie’s Aunt) urging, I ordered a case direct from the vendor’s store in Portland and not from Amazon.

To continue with the narrative, I got a conference room–you can “invite” a conference room at the shoe company to your meeting to reserve it (if it “accepts,” it is your room). I hate to be that guy talking on Zoom in a room full of other people working on their laptops or having Zoom meetings. So instead, I find a conference room to be polite and to hear better. I can also remove my mask and be heard better.

After the meeting, I pop downstairs to get coffee, the stairs are much harder for me today, and I need to be careful. Coffee and lunch are still free–a welcome back from Nike and the program I am working on. I get a Starbucks Coffee (a bitter coffee) with cream. No sugar as I am diabetic and would regret the sugar.

I chat with the folks and help with a crisis of the moment and have an unscheduled meeting and had to be that guy as I did a short session of remote training from my desk–just a short one.

I then pop out of work and drive to Portland to see Susie, just 15 minutes away. She is still at breakfast when I get there. Jennifer is running the Hummingbird Home today (she lives there upstairs with her family and is always available) and told me she got Susie going about 9:15. When Susie can take a break from eating, we call her mother, Leta, and they have a video chat using FaceTime. Soon that is over, and my short visit ends, but Susie tells me that she does not want me to go. I understand, she has to face the whole day and night before I return; that has to be tough. But I need to get back to work, and Susie relents and agrees to me leaving.

It is always heartbreaking to leave and hard on days when Susie misses me. Unfortunately, I will not return that day as I still tire and find it hard to keep going in the evening. I can only manage short visits on workdays.

Air Volvo gets me back to work without incident. I take the elevator to the second floor of my building, Clubhouse, as I have some coordination issues, or it could be exhaustion; time to be careful.

I return to my desk and help with a few crises of the moment, but mostly the project is waiting for Tuesday when all the work begins to implement the new software and do the data conversions. I have waited for over five years to get here. It is exhilarating and boring at the same time. Perfect.

Lunch is from the truck; I have a chicken gyro, again free this week. I get a coffee at 3ish, and the stairs are not as hard this time.

The afternoon is quieter and filled with emails and some minor issues. Finally, I head out after 4ish. I have real problems on the stairs going down as my legs are not bending when I want them to. However, I manage to hold on to the railing and safely descend.

I had a simple trip back home to the Volvo Cave. My leg issues are not extended to the drive, “thank the maker,” as C3PO would say. I am home but freezing again at 70F. Put on a sweater, and take a very short nap while reading.

Corwin orders pizza for dinner; I have a slice. I also make ham, cheese sauce (pilfered from a Deluxe Mac and Cheese), and fire-roasted veggies (from the freezer). The sauce was average (not deluxe as one would expect), but still, it was good to use up the ham (from Easter and also frozen) and the frozen veggies.

I spoke on the phone with some friends and started on the blog, feeling tired again and just having the energy to write tonight.

Eighteen people died, mostly children, in a shooting incident in Texas. While the news is shocking and sad, it is strange that it is not as shocking now. It is a monthly event now in the USA.

It is Corwin’s Birthday on Wednesday, and I have provided him with an AMEX, and he can use it to buy a few days of hotel nights for his birthday. He is headed on a road trip to San Deigo for his birthday, lasting four days.

Aside: I prefer Corwin have the AMEX with him when he travels in case things go side-ways. And I forgot his birthday so covering 1/2 the hotel is a good gift.

Well, the tiredness is getting hard to resist. So I will not be working on my balloon model tonight. Thank you for reading. There are so many of you, and I am honored that you, dear reader, will still be following along. I will try not to start having a boring life!