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The morning started with me getting going at about 7:30 this Sunday morning. Another perfect fall day here in Oregon with 85F (29.4C) sunny and rain free. I managed to write the blog in just about an hour and was ready in time to drive to church. Dan was ushering and wearing the same guy pride tie I was wearing.

The service features a sermon by our new pastor Rev. Ken Wytsma. But, what got my attention first was the hymn we sang, “Fairest Lord Jesus,” number 189 in the United Methodist Hymnal, translated from German by Joseph A Seiss. Rev. Seiss, a Lutheran in the late 1800s, wrote on the apocalypse and believed that bible study would reveal the modern beginning of the end times. He is among those scholars who influenced the movement now known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. I thought I had read about Rev. Seiss before.

Pastor Ken talked about how Jesus was calling people, young people, to him as folks to learn–we are covering the Gospel of Mathew, chapter 4. Pastor Ken pointed out that disciple can mean a learner. We must remember that we can only teach and help folks; we are not responsible for them accepting or learning. We must also remember that Jesus started his ministry almost like the first youth group–Hollywood often has 30+ folks playing the disciples, but most were very young.

I spoke to a few folks after the service. Most wanted me to send their love to Susie.

Next, I got a text from Mariah, and after waiting a bit, we met at Pastini near Powell’s (Mariah was selling back some books for credit) for lunch. I had a not quite hot pasta dish. However, the garlic bread is always hot and great. Mariah ordered a dinner entree and took some of it and the garlic bread for tonight’s dinner.

While waiting for Mariah, I bought the latest Cook’s magazine, which surprised me with the newest way to cook a Turkey–this year, you use a cooking stone under the roasting pan. Each year they have a new idea that is radically different than last year. This year they kept the baking powder rub for the skin recommended now for the last few years.

After lunch, I finally headed to the hummingbird house and was there just around 3PM. Susie was ready for a spin through the park–it was still a perfect day. Metzger Park was full of folks enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon. Again, the air was electric with the feeling of needing to exercise/play before the rains made it miserable in the park.

We called Leta, who was about to make her version of Panera’s poppy seed fruit salad. Apparently, you can buy the dressing and just then need the fruit. Leta and Susie chatted for a while. Soon the bright sun had us warm, so we said goodbye to Leta and headed back after visiting the cooler cedar area.

Next, we set up a movie in the activity room. Susie wanted a musical, and she picked Mama Mia Two. It has some good songs, one amazing dance scene(here is Waterloo), and some songs (here is Cher) that are unexpected and some that make me cry. It is an excellent conclusion to the first movie, so if you liked the first one, I recommend the second one. Susie was surprised as she could not remember the film (we watched it last month), but she had not remembered movies even before the stroke.

We finished the movie, and Susie was just a few minutes late for dinner. Anessa, the nursing aide for today, took over and got Susie ready for dinner. I left with a kiss.

I drove to Whole Foods and bought groceries. I was still in my tie and church shirt! I took four bags into the house and, after returning with Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave, I defrosted some ground beef and made Michigan (non-spicy) tomato-based chili. This was ready about 8:30ish, and I watched the House of Dragons’ newest episode. It was crazy and dark–I liked it.

Finally, I got to writing this blog with a load of clothing in the washer.

The morning started at 7:30, with me getting up after staying up late on Friday. Slow! I found one of the large yogurt containers (they look the same as small ones online, so I bought a lot of yogurt online!) and had that with a croissant and liberal coffee made in a French Press.

Next, I wrote the Friday blog. I usually write Friday and Saturday the following day. The Friday blog and getting dressed took me until about 10:15ish. After that, I headed to Tigard by crossing over Coopers Mountain. Strangely, the traffic on the back roads was worse, and folks were driving fast and furious. I was expecting something from a movie to happen a few times as pickup trucks swerved in and out of traffic, and SUVs (the new mini-van for soccer moms/dads) raced to get a coffee before heading into an all-day soccer festival for the little folks! Beaverton police did not seem interested in them, as pulling over a car full of kids and soccer stuff would be stressful for the officer.

Avoiding a paint loss from charging pickup and SUVs that telegraphed, “We are late,” I managed to reach the hummingbird house. Susie was in her chair, and Michelle, who manages the house, was in today. I had not seen Michelle in a while, and she and I chatted for a few minutes. Michelle put Susie in her wheelchair, and Susie and I headed out into a blue-skied warm morning in Metzger Park.

The park was busy with kids, and a wedding was being set up when we were there. One of the wedding party members drove an older model convertible (Cabrio) black Corvette. The mustache-wearing older driver used a walker to slowly join the party. He would not let mobility stop him from driving his classic American muscle car on a perfect fall Oregon day.

We moved to one of the few open benches as we passed the same guy we often see that has his old dog in a baby carriage. There were a couple of picnics, and the courts were all in use. There was excitement in the air–school was back in session, and it was fall and time to get serious about this exercise/playing before the rains began.

We called Leta, Susie’s mother, and we had a lovely chat. There were dogs everywhere getting walked (on a leash). Everyone was happy to see us, and we had lots of waves from patients and kids as they walked back while we sat on the bench in the cedars. A joy-filled Metzger Park on Saturday.

We headed back into the hummingbird house and watched the newest episode of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. Susie was surprised that she was not bored and sleeping. This latest episode is more like Fast and Furious does LOTR. It reminded me of the Three Musketeers movie done by the same group that does Resident Evil and the Umbrella Corporation; just a hoot and over the top. You could almost skip the other slow Lord of Maps-styled episodes and move to this episode.

Susie was disappointed; I had to leave a bit early this Saturday. I got a kiss and headed to Portland. But, I needed to get something to eat before I started a six-hour board game. So I stopped by Jimmy John’s for a to-go sandwich, reasoning I could eat it in the near perfectly clean Air Volvo. They had no sub bread, only lettuce wraps, for a sub. I ordered a tuna fish, thinking it would stick to the lettuce, and had it cut into quarters. And it would have worked if I had told them to hold the shredded lettuce that they added (!) to a lettuce wrap, more of salad in a salad than a wrap. I was covered in lettuce while driving in the usual twenty minutes of traffic to get to Richard’s in Portland. I tossed the remains (including an uneaten quarter) when arriving ten minutes early at Richard’s house.

Today was War Room 2nd Edition and a long game. This is a massive six-person game with complex rules. Groups of allies leave to discuss their moves which have to be written and then are switched out for the other allies. This simulation of World War 2 at a strategic level fought across the whole earth. It is available on Kickstarter, and mine arrived this week. It took hours to punch and prepare it!

I played the US and had to handle the Europe and Pacific fronts. My ally Richard was the UK and had four fronts, and he, unlike the US, was weak on every front. We attacked only Germany’s submarines (the Battle of the Atlantic) on the first turn, and Germany attacked Russia. The game started in 1942, so Japan and Germany are at their full expansion. For the WW2 Axis to win (Germany, Italy, and Japan), they must hold two of London, Moscow, and Eastern USA. The allies plus the Soviets need Berlin (Greater Germany) and Japan to win. A very long game, indeed.

We struggled to play as there were constant rules discussions and thus managed only two turns. We misplayed the stress rules and crushed UK (Richard) into economic collapse instead of just being a bit stressed (next time, we will divide a second time). Overall I was impressed that the designer of the old game Axis and Allies had created a faithful WW2 match, which was brutal and full of exciting choices.

I look forward to playing again and maybe getting through four or more turns!

Aside: War Room 2nd Edition will play for a lower player count, and you can decide to play a smaller campaign, such as Europe only. Time flies, and you are through two hours without evening noticing. The same thing I experience with the vast board game Twilight Imperium.

After the game and around 7PM, there was a short debrief discussion. We (Richard and I) had started an invasion of Norway and possibly Greater Germany and wished we could have played just one more turn to find out how that would have played. Japan was also going to attack Russia in the next turn. The US (me) had a large invasion army pointed at Japan. It would have been an exciting turn. Next time!

I left Richard’s and returned for my computer I left, and then headed for Broadway Grill for dinner and maybe some writing. I had a Mr. Toad’s Wild Red Ale to drink and a Twilight Zone pizza. This was followed by a coffee to make driving easier (not falling asleep). The place was busy, and my waiter, Sahara, was hopping. I finally was able to leave; it took me ten minutes to get Sahara’s attention.

I returned home, worked out what was wrong with the stress rules, and went to bed early.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

Working backward, I watched the latest episode of the Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power, staying up to almost 1AM, and it was a fast-moving and visually impressive show. The story is finally beginning to move as I expected. The show uses the slow-fast model from the Game of Thrones. It was worth staying up for.

Before that, Air Volvo brought me home from Richard’s house at about 11ish. We have a game of War Room 2nd Edition at 1:45 on Saturday. Richard and I spent hours setting up the game, then we reviewed the rules and checked our knowledge of the rules by proposing moves and attacks and seeing if we knew how to execute them. It is a new game, and the style is more Axis and Allies than other systems we play.

Richard’s photo he sent out the gang of six players on Saturday, “The table is set.”

After that, we played one board game, Furnance, that I had not played before. It uses cards that are a program of steps. It is up to you to run the cards in the most efficient order. The cards are bid on, and it uses a marker process that allows losing bids to be paid compensation from the bank. It was a fast and exciting game; I got to build and run little computer programs–very satisfying for me. I managed to sneak by Richard by one point, 57.

Before heading to Portland, I stopped by Rainy Day Games and learned that they have acquired to space next to them, the former Janes’s Paperbacks, and have tables and collectible card games, Dungeons and Dragons, and a huge collection of 40K in the new space. I could sit (my leg was still hurting, and standing was hard), and I read the new game’s rules.

Yes, I found something to buy. The board game Concordia has a solo version, Concordia Solitaria, now and, more importantly, I think, a two-person versus the machine game–that I want to play. It is now in English, convenient, and finally available at the local game store. Again, you might not be surprised, but I had enough points to get the new game for free, $29.95. I read the rules here and in Portland–I was a few minutes early for Richard.

Next, I went to Tammy’s Hobby store and purchased a plank-bending heating iron. The train guy, who has the best toys, reminded me to be careful as the heat can darken the planks without me noticing. I also told him I have learned that one does not soak the planks in some water. Just apply the heat with care. I learned that the drying of the mounted planks might create issues–it is better to do this with dry wood. The toy man was interested to learn about this change in the process. He wished me well.

Aside: I bought a new wooden ship kit to build. I hope I can find the time to build it–I suspect I will take a week off here and there and not travel and will work on the model. However, I could not resist it as it has a lightning kit and is a cutaway (shows the inside).

After that, I experienced minor traffic on my way into Portland. While it took me thirty minutes, it was still a fast trip. The haze from smoke and dampness hid the mountains from my view on the bridge–about six to ten stories in the air.

Before this, I was working from home as usual on a Friday. I had been ill the days before but was fully recovered. A software upgrade was running, and I had to follow along and help wherever possible.

Interestingly, one of my colleagues is headed home to see her mom in South Africa, her first time back in years; I wish her well–many folks are now making trips delayed by the pandemic and events. I feel for people with reduced immune systems (myself now and Susie, for example) who rightfully fear new variants still popping up like unwanted moles in a Wack-a-Mole game with vaccines instead of a hammer! We can’t travel. I wear a mask in groups and in conference rooms. Ventilation is improved in most places, but I dislike lines, parties, and events (I am not doing funerals). I wish all you travelers well; yes, be well!

Aside (grumble): David and I chatted while I was driving–not touching my phone. We are both shocked by the 20+% increase in insurance on our homes and cars. This is outside inflation, and even the new tradition in corporations of increasing prices by double the inflation rate (8% becomes 16%) while giving raises at the increase of wages (4%, held down by the refusal of most states to raise the minimum hourly rate) cannot explain this. David, bemused, says his assets are falling while his expenses are increasing–both at a fantastic rate! Buckle-up kids–this is going to be bumping!

I managed to step out of work and see Susie at the hummingbird house. The trip to Air Volvo was mainly uneventful. I was passed on the right side by a white pickup with massive tires and unexpectedly going fifty or more in twenty-five and weaving through traffic. He was a great driver, but I was shocked that Beaverton’s police had not jumped him.

A view of the area we call the cedar bench.

Susie was well and in her wheelchair when I got there. She was dressed for outside, so we headed out into Metzger Park. It was a dry day so far, but the skies were looking like fall and winter: grey with clouds. We chatted with Leta, Susie’s mother, who was just finishing shopping in Walmarts, with me sitting on the dry bench in the cedars.

I could only make it a quick trip. I soon had Susie back, and she was headed for sitting in her recliner in the living room after I got a kiss goodbye. Air Volvo then took me back the way I came over Cooper Mountain. The view is lovely, with the gray skies meeting the mountains and pouring over them in a few places. We love rain and clouds here, but Friday was a dry day, and the sun burned away the clouds in the early afternoon, exposing a perfect blue sky. A perfect fall morning!

I picked up three chicken pieces and had them for lunch/dinner. I did snack on some peanuts later, but I had a croissant and liberal coffee for breakfast and Popeye’s spicy chicken for lunch and dinner. I had to be in Richard’s and did not want to fit in more eating into my busy day; indeed, lunch was enough! That was a lot of food!

The morning was working online for the shoe company. I started at my usual 6:15 and showered and dressing about 9ish. I had slept well with no bad dreams.

 

 

Today was the start of my 27th year at Nike and also Nike’s earnings announcement. I will let you look up the Nike stuff on the Internet. My flu symptoms stopped, and the pain in my right leg was not terrible, but it worsened this evening. Standing is painful.

The day started with me working from home instead of returning to work, just in case. I started, as usual, at 6:15AM and was able to get going–I had enough sleep. I made breakfast of a croissant and coffee, liberal Fair Exchange. I then tried to catch up on the last few days’ events. Finally, I got a general feeling of what was going on.

I had a few meetings and was reminded that my colleagues were going on vacation, and I had to do the staging upgrade without them. I think I can manage, but my access to systems may be incomplete, but that is just a request away.

I also had a text from Tracy, the physical therapist helping Susie, and she was going on Thursday at 1:30 or so, but she revised this a few hours later to 12:30-1. Unforently, I was having lunch, having time now for leftover roast pork and coconut rice and a nice freshly made salad, I thought. So I rushed lunch a bit and then headed out.

Air Volvo crossed over Coopers Mountain in the light rain. It rained overnight, sometimes coming down heavy, and the world looked washed and ready for winter here in the Pacific Northwest. The gray months, delayed, are going. The view is still spectacular from the tall hill that is Coopers Mountain (just over 500 feet altitude or 152,4 meters). The Volvo Cave resides at 213 feet or 65 meters above sea level. I arrived before Tracy.

Today, when Tracy arrived a few minutes later, we tried more practice standing, turning, and sitting on a higher bed while using a short but stable stool. The bed is set to the same height as the seats in the back of the Volvo. Today, I grabbed the safety belt and helped Susie with Tracy guarding. We did that two times. Neither my leg nor my back caused me any issues, and Susie moved each time safely. We are ready for next week to try this in Air Volvo. Susie is helping and no longer feels like 98 pounds of noodles going everywhere; now, she just needs help with balance and turning. The belt helps me not hurt her (or myself). This is a big goal, and I will be thrilled to reach it even if Susie has to remain in the back seat of Air Volvo. Then, I can be ‘drive’n M’s Susie.’

We headed after Tracy left to the park. We took the colorful umbrella we got years ago when we went to a Circus du Soleil show in Portland. We went through the park. We called Glenda and Gene, Susie’s Aunt and Uncle, in North Carolina before hurricane Ian got there. We had a friendly chat–they are not worried about the damp coming their way. We talked to Leta, Susan’s mother, earlier. Later I called Leta and told her about the PT workout. Leta was concerned Susie was not strong enough, but I reassured Leta that Susie was standing on her own (it is her balance she has had problems with since the stroke nearly a year ago–she overcompensates and falls over to the left). I can hold her and help her move using the belt. I think we can, after almost three months, get into a car. Excellent!

Susie and I enjoyed the park; the cedars had drank all the rain in their branches and left the bench dry–so I rested there with her (my leg cramping). The regulars were using the park. We saw a pair under the gum trees sitting in their own chairs (dry) using laptops powered by a solar cell. They had a large older van I suspect they sleep in and are modern gypsies.

I had a meeting at 2PM, so I needed to get Susie back before the rains returned. We managed to hit the park with blue in the skies, but that is no guarantee in Oregon’s fall and winter. So I got a dry Susie to the hummingbird house, kissed her goodnight, and called into my meeting from the car.

I helped in the meeting, and we resolved some issues. I then drove home and checked back into work. Nobody needed me.

My tulips from the tulip festival were delivered today (the weak moment when I bought them was recorded in April in the blog, I believe). It is a lot of work to plant them, and I am not sure if I should plant them, feed them to the squirrels who will likely take some or most, or saute them with butter and avoid the whole frustration. Tulips Paella? I have over eighty to plant with crocuses. Do not eat crocuses (poison).

Next, I was tired of being home. I headed to BJ’s Brewhouse and had two beers and the California Flat Bred for dinner. Eric was my waiter; he always seemed there and helped me pick a light dinner. After some coffee and writing some more Dungeons and Dragons adventure, I headed home.

Arriving without issue in the rain in Air Volvo, I watched some more Lucifer episodes (Season 2, Episode 13 or so) and enjoyed them. I also texted back and force with Richard; we now have six players for Saturday for the War Room 2nd Edition board game–my newest one. I reviewed more of the rules and noticed that the US player will be stressed (the only player with serious choices between the Pacific and European theater).

I am looking forward to trying this beast of a game out on Saturday (1:30PM).

I saw Corwin for a few minutes as he had ordered something from Amazon and forgot to update his address. He came over and picked up the purchases I held for him. He is free this weekend, so we might meet up.

I finally got to the blog today. Thank you for reading. Enjoy the fall! Be well and stay dry!

I stayed home ill. I was holding on to a wastebasket for a while but managed not to throw up. I was filled with nervous energy for the morning, which was quite unpleasant. I slept into 8ish and then went very slow. I was not able to do very much. I watched some shows on Amazon Fire, including Lucifer, and rewatched Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power’s recent episode.

I had croissant loaf slices instead of toast. This, with liberal coffee, did not make me feel much better. I called the hummingbird house and let them know I would not be making it to see Susie. I later called and talked to Susie a bit. She was worried about me but sounded better today. I also called Leta to let her know I was home ill.

I took a Covid-19 test, negative, and reheated roast pork and coconut rice leftovers for lunch.

I wrote a bit of Dungeons and Dragons and napped, and then watched more cable. I tried the new Disney+ Andor new Star Wars series, which is slow and gritty, maybe too slow and gritty. I watched all the episodes back-to-back (four) and thought it was just OK.

I could not play games with Zophia tonight.

I ordered too much Chinese-styled food: Appetizers with soup and egg foo young. I ate a lot and felt better.

I am now writing the blog after reading it for a while.

Sorry for the short blog, and I will not make any observations today. I am going to rest and write some more.

Thanks for reading today. Sorry, it was a boring day.