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Going backward, I was home about 11:30 from Portland, was in bed before midnight, and fell asleep without much tossing and turning. Before turning in, I made a bagel with cream cheese when I got home as I had skipped dinner, and my night meds are best with food.

I had taken Air Volvo from Portland after dropping Kathleen at her house just outside of Portland. We had played together at Richard’s house not far from Lloyd Center Mall in Portland with Shawn. We played two four-person games tonight–we had the old group of four back.

We first played Vindication, my copy, and Rickard managed to win over Kathleen by a few honor points, with Shawn outpacing me on honor (victory points). I was teaching, so I was not always focused on winning, but I enjoyed the game, and it was nice to play with four people again. Vindication was designed in the greater Portland area, and I had some input into the design years ago. It is a worker placement and resource management game. It is a fav of mine.

We played Edo next, a worker placement and resources management with some competition and engine building. This was new for most of us, and Richard had some relearning. This was one of the hundreds of games that Richard owns, and he had replaced the paper coins with real currency; we got to use real metal coins–always an improvement. Richard is trying to play every game in his collection, so old favs are now hitting the table. Edo reminded me of a faster version of Concordia. This game has you pick three actions from cards you have and apply a certain amount of support for the action. You then move meeples, Samari, on a map to collect resources. You receive a payout for where your buildings are built and must pay rice (a white wooden marker) for workers, stone and wood for facilities, and so on. Edo was a fast game once you got the rules down and used interesting mechanics that were quickly learned. I scored at the bottom, but it was closer than I expected.

Before taking Air Volvo without events in light traffic to Portland, I was with Evan in Beaverton. We had a quick lunch at Pepita’s, a Mexican joint off Cedar Hills. Sadly, my food was just average today. But, on the other hand, my beer was cold and fresh.

From there, we drove over to central Beaverton, parked Air Volvo in the Beaverton parking garage, and took a few games to Central Taps, where Evan and I had another beer while playing the board game Pax Pamir with Evan. We used the automated player as a third player and then lost to it. I have tried to play this a few times, and this was the first time with three with the automata. I did not enjoy the play and just can’t find any love for this game. I will Pax Pamir to other games in my garage that are not played much. Unforently we did not have time for another game.

On the way back to the car, I said hello to the Beaverton officer who gave me a ticket for using my phone while driving. That surprised him, but I told the group of Beaverton’s finest that I never again touched my phone in the car again, and we all laughed. It was nice to see the police smile–the pandemic and protests have been hard on them.

Before Evan and I were in Beaverton, we were at Hummingbird House to be with Susie. I arrived there first in Air Volvo. The trip across Beaverton was uneventful. Susie was thrilled to see me, and we were soon outside, touring the park and the local area. Susie seemed to have recovered more from Covid-19 and was sitting up in her wheelchair and more responsive. We passed the magnolia tree we love and looked at all the repairs to fences.

We then headed into Metzger park, which was not as busy as yesterday, but there was more serious cooking with smoke rising from a BBQ that would have loved to have joined. We went all the way to the end and circled back. Susie likes the cedars.

We did not go four-wheeling on the path to the ravine with the salamanders and other protected dampish small critters.

We stopped for a photo that we sent out to folks.

Next, we started the old 1956 musical, High Society, after returning to the hummingbird house and got set up in the activity room. While a nice musical for its time, it has aged poorly in my mind, but Susie was singing along, and this is Grace Kelly’s last film, so it is always good. Grace Kelly even wears in the movie the jewelry from her engagement to the Prince of Monaco. She leaves Hollywood to be a princess.

We paused the movie about 1/2 way and talked to Susie’s mother, Leta, for a bit.

After the movie finished with a sudden resolution you often see in musicals of the 50s-60s, Susie was tired and was going to have lunch, so I and now Evan, who showed about 1/3 of the way into the movie, headed out. I got a kiss goodbye as Vanessa, the nurse aide for today, took over. Vanessa helps to make the transition easier by asking Susie questions about lunch and a nap when I leave. This stops Susie from getting sad and gets Susie back into the routines of the hummingbird house.

I started about 7:30ish and had breakfast, a bagel, and a banana with liberal coffee. I had managed to sleep until my alarm woke me. Better.

Thanks for reading. I have to make hot dogs and burgers at church this morning, so I am a bit rushed–sorry if I was not verbose enough.

Another morning on paid time off (PTO) started with me getting up at 6ish as I could not sleep through the morning. I did roll over a few times, but sleep would not return. I was up and made corned beef hash (from a can) and scrambled some eggs to go with it. Today the IKEA office furniture was coming between noon and 4PM, so I was stuck at the house for the morning.

I then wrote the blog for the previous day but completely spaced our Theology Pub Zoom church meeting.

At Thursday’s Pub, we discussed the great commission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. We discussed how we are uncomfortable with how many have used this over the years to excuse cruelty and even genocide. The group talked about it, and some of our move creative speakers went with the direct message of Christ was for folks to not be douchebags–not a word you would use at church, I am sure (if you are familiar with this slang, I have linked to the definition). Generally, the group agreed that the great commission comes with the additional requirement that true Christians are not going to do harm and need to be an excellent example before trying to spread the gospel. Also, we concluded that the creation story where God turns over domination of the earth to mankind was not meant as a license to exploit but to care for the world. We should be using science and technology, for example, to improve the air for us and the animals and plants of the world. We need to do the job that God started with, the creation and care for the world and become good stewards. This would mean mankind finally grew up and became the adults God expected. Finally, the great commission is not just about spreading the Word: Don’t be a douchebag, don’t exploit people or the world, and be a good steward; then spread the words of Jesus Christ.

Moving back to the narrative for Friday, I did some more creative writing for my new Dungeon and Dragons 5E adventure. I built another custom monster and made some corrections on the previous encounters. For those interested in adventure building, I started another encounter and decided that each level would have only a few rooms (I often make the map last as most of the work is the writing, and I don’t like the change your writing takes when you are just filling rooms on a map–instead make some good encounters and skip the time-wasting mapping in play).

I still had the salad from the pizza and salad I ordered on Thursday. I had a large salad plus a bit of cottage cheese later for lunch. I stacked the dishes and went on to the next thing while waiting for the IKEA items’ delivery.

I started to clean up the deck and repair the gas grill. I had ordered replacement parts and pulled out the ruined grill plates, and put new ones in their place. Unfortunately, someone left the grill on for a day and a half, and the heat ruined the grill plates (the oxidized and rusted to pieces–getting metal into food), so I finally paid for replacements. I have another part to replace as the bottom of the grill is falling out.

I moved the cooler back into the garage and took everything out of Air Volvo. The cooler was at the entrance, so when folks brought food over when I was ill with chemotherapy, they good put it in the cooler. Time to move on, and I was sort of proud that I got this far that the cooler could go back into the garage.

I checked my roses and trees.

I don’t know the name of this rose which is washed out by the heat but is still nice.

This is a rugosa rose originally from Japan and is often found on the coast as it is salt resistant.

The new climbing roses, Wedgwood, and English rose from David Austin are happy.

An unknown rose that came with the house back in 1996 and reportedly was transplanted from another house is doing well. It is grafted rose and likely as old or even older than me.

The Mountain Ash tree is full of berries making the birds very happy.

And a pioneer apple tree from the original farm is happy even after falling and being cut back. These are cider apples from the old days.

I texted Mariah, offering her a steak dinner if she would come over and help me deliver my gas grill to First United Methodist Church, Beaverton. I had told the church I would not wish to go through the hassle of moving my grill. I am more brittle after the cancer treatments, so I avoid straining my muscles again (Last week, I was almost to using a cane after I strained my legs too much). But, the church folks did not get it, so I moved my grill anyway. Mariah knows my condition and is strong too. So, I will be cooking on Sunday morning for the church BBQ. Not sure I even agree with the rate of infection from Covid-19 that this is OK. I would typically avoid something like this.

The IKEA delivery is here and over with. The guy put all the stuff in the new office, once Corwin’s room. I am now free.

Air Volvo reaches Susie without any incident. Susie is happy to see me, and we are soon out in the 85F (29.4C) sun with a cool breeze. The park, it being a Friday without school, is packed with kids and dogs. One little pug plays soccer with his head and runs the soccer ball all over the grass. The park requires leashed dogs. The pug owner lost the hold on the leash and just stood there watching the dog push the ball all around–quite funny.

Susie is feeling much better; last week, she was laid up with Covid-19, one of the new versions. We chat with Susie’s mother, Leta, in the park using the iPhone FaceTime. Susie was more communicative but kept getting distracted by everything in the park, including the soccer play pug that we even let Leta watch via the iPhone!

After we ended an extended call, Susie and I toured the park and got to the cedar trees, Susie’s fav, and even chatted with a few folks. I thanked the trustee of the park for putting gravel by the cement sidewalk. Apparently, he saw me popping the wheelchair onto the sidewalk, and he put down some crushed rock to smooth the way. It is much better now. We went to the exit of the park and then turned around.

We returned to the hummingbird house and sat on the porch for a while. I got Susie a glass of water from Jennifer, the nurse aide working today, and we sat there while Susie drank it. She did choke a lot. Susie forgets to go slow once in a while.

With the water drank and Susie looking sleepy from the warm air and the excitement of the park, it was time for her to have a nap. I left with a kiss and a promise to return on Saturday morning. Another reason I needed to deliver the grill on Friday. I also got a text from Richard about playing board games at his house on Saturday night–more reasons to get the grill moved today.

I went home, did some more organizing, and got the seats of Air Volvo down. Mariah appeared in her purring Challenger. I had her park it in front of my house, adding to my street cred, and we loaded, without incident, the grill into Air Volvo, now set for cargo flights. We delivered it to the church with me only slightly scratching the cargo area.

Dinner was fine New York Strips at Golden Valley Brewery. Jennifer (another one) was our waiter and knew Mariah. We had a great dinner, spending my new bonus money with abandon and enjoying a fine Malbec (red wine) with the steaks. Malbec is a fav of mine as it is excellent from South America and grows in adverse conditions–higher altitude, hot, and dry. I find a good Malbec is better than a good anything else–making it cheaper and still good.

After dinner, Mariah headed out with my extra corn starch–corn starch is used to stop pet birds from bleeding–who knew? I decided to build my chair. I bought a sort of expensive gaming chair from IKEA as I again seem to be more brittle and a good chair is needed for all the writing and computer stuff. I also have floor mats from IKEA for the wheels.

Unlike most IKEA stuff, this went together quickly without me needing two extra arms and five hands to put something together. IKEA is DIY furniture for aliens as far as I am concerned. The chair is comfortable and stiff–I think it is worth the investment.

After surviving my first IKEA build, I went to bed and fell quickly to sleep.

Thanks for reading again!

 

The morning started with me sleeping to 7ish and going slow. I made a simple breakfast of cereal with milk and 1.5 bananas (having some leftover banana from yesterday). I made Equal Exchange liberal-styled coffee that I make almost every morning since Trump was elected president. Just a reminder every morning that I am not with those guys, but always remembering Lincoln’s words (the first Republican president) “[w]ith malice towards none.” Lincoln’s assassin was there listening when those words were spoken, and Lincoln would die the next month. Brave words.

I decided to not do any housework or any minor repairs to the house today. I am more brittle after the chemotherapy and can easily overdo or even get hurt. So instead, I downloaded the Quicken items and updated and validated my information. I now keep records of where every dollar is going and coming from. The air and sky were clear–the smoke so far is staying away.

(This is Friday morning’s report. The air is bad in Bend and southern Oregon. We are at the blue dot near the upper edge to the left).

I wrote the blog and thought I sent it out by email. I had forgotten to read the URL I put in the email and instead sent out a video from Rocky Horror Picture Show, it was its anniversary too, and I had put the video in a Facebook post and accidentally sent that out instead of a link to the blog. Oops. I sent out a correction once Ernest sent a note to me.

Aside: Dr. Ernest leads the Hillsboro Python Machine Learning Meetup and is looking for a new sponsor that does not require Vax checks (we can’t promise the folks that just show up are vax’d). I am checking if I can use the church or possibly the Mason Lodge and cover the first couple of meetings. It was a great group before Covid-19 ended all of our meetings.

I made hot dogs for lunch with sides from the frig. I then headed to Safeway and the Party story. I had looked on the web and the site I found said the color for the 32nd wedding anniversary is lapis lazuli. So I found dark bluish-colored plates and napkins and bought lots of smallish Ben and Jerry’s ice cream (liberal and delicious ice cream) and locally made Neapolitan ice cream for Susie. I bought some red roses for Susie and a bunch for the hummingbird house.

I also put the wedding album in the car, so we could remember that day better. Air Volvo arrived without any events, and I carried my bounty into the hummingbird house. Jennifer, the nurse aide for today, helped arrange the flowers and the ice cream.

Susie and I were being pelted with bird seed.

And here is the whole wedding party.

Susie and I looked through the album while Jennifer offered some of the other residents ice cream and got the container open. I bought an ice cream scoop for the house; it worked very well.

After we had some ice cream with plenty left for Jennifer’s daughter (non-dairy Ben and Jerry’s) and anyone else, we headed out to the park. We found an empty and, more importantly, a dry bench in the park for me, and then we called Susan’s mother, Leta, to chat about the wedding back 32 years ago and normal things. Next, we tried for Linda Wild, but she was having her computer fixed at work by IT–no time for a call. I felt for her. We did reach Susie’s sister, Barbara, and they chatted for a while. We did talk about maybe doing a 30th and 35th combined wedding anniversary in three years. After Barb wrang off, we walked-rolled through the park.

I took Susie around the streets and back to the hummingbird house, making about 1/2 mile circle through Metzger Park. We sat and enjoyed the shade on the porch, and Susie started to get sleepy; she is only a week out of Covid-19, so she still tires easily. I headed out with a kiss, took the album with me, and boarded Air Volvo.

I spent the rest of the day writing and not doing any housework. I did read more of The Second World War and really enjoyed the narrative. I finished the Fall of France and the Battle for Britain. If you want that high-level view of the war, I have not read anything better. Recommended.

I got out some of my electronics as I wanted to build a light for Richard to go in a structure for a game. I found the Python M0 device and my Neo-Pixies strips (evil scientist laugh goes here).

I am still writing my next Dungeons and Dragons 5E adventure. I have 5,000 words and just getting started.

I decided to stop writing and reading and watch, again, the last Matrix movie. I bought a copy for my Mac and watched the start, but got tired and stopped, did the dishes, and went to bed early.

I did wake early, very early, on Friday morning. Maybe I should stay up later!

Thanks for reading!

The day started with my alarm getting me going at 6:15. It was a rushed morning as I had to be in the office at about 8ish. The morning status meetings are canceled, but the 5:05PM are longer and a bit more political now that there are fewer meetings and the project is approaching normal product support and the end of hyper care. So cereal and banana, liberal coffee, shower, dressed, and aboard Air Volvo with me arriving about 7:45.

Yes, escalation did happen, and we had to create messaging on one of the crises of the moment for leadership. Frustrating as the message did not prevent more escalations, leadership soon moved on to other issues, and we were clear for a while. All of this filled the early morning, but I could leave early to see Susie as the required alignment meeting on the escalating issues would be in the afternoon.

Air Volvo delivered me just about 10AM, and Susie was still eating breakfast. I waited thirty minutes for Susie to finish with me feeding Susie a few times. Jennifer, the nurse aide for today, also fed Susie a few times. Sometimes Susie can’t get the spoon and her hands to work. Mostly, she can do it, but once in a while, she can’t get the spoon to stay straight. Susie is using a special smaller spoon, and that helps. She can lift her own glass and drink her milk. Susie still chokes quickly, and all her food is blendered–she can drink liquids, but she has to go slow with small sips.

For our 32nd wedding anniversary, Linda and Barb Wild sent flowers.

After Susie finished breakfast, we called Susie’s mother on my iPhone using FaceTime. Leta was happy again to see Susie and today was a long call as I decided not to rush today and spend more time at hummingbird house. Next, we called Linda and Barb Wild to thank them for the flowers. Jessy, Linda’s boyfriend, was there making lunch. Linda had decided to work from home at Mom’s house in East Lansing, Michigan. They were thrilled to connect with us at hummingbird house from Chateau Wild East, as I used to call the house in East Landing. We chatted with the Easterner for a while, and they showed us a view of Jessy’s handiwork. It looked good.

It was 11ish, and I had to return to the shoe company and had an alignment meeting at 1PM on the escalating issue I could not be late for. So I was off with a kiss; Susie was visibly sad to have me leave. It can be heartbreaking.

I stopped by Carl’s Jr. and had a Western Burger for lunch; I love their stuff, but I try to have one only once a month. Then, I parked the car and ate it listening to public radio, OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting–the same broadcast for all of Oregon and parts of Washington. Unlike Michigan, for example, we have the same broadcast for radio and TV).

I soon returned in Air Volvo to the Clubhouse office building. The afternoon was filled with emotions as nobody liked to be recipients of an escalation. Nevertheless, we aligned and started to execute a plan that would show progress for leadership. The de-escalation was moving forward, as we call these.

We worked on the plan, and the emotions cooled; this is not my first escalation. “Smile and wave” was my suggestion to anyone feeling unhappy. It worked.

I left the shoe company at 4ish and was online at 5:05 for the hour-long, slightly political status meeting. Our issue was the last one to be reviewed, and by then, all the politics were already burned out, and everyone just wanted the meeting over. Perfect. Sorry, the details can not be recorded here.

Before the meeting, I printed all my paycheck stubs for the last few months after downloading them and emailing a PDF of each. More information to arrange for my meeting with the CPA next week. CPAs love paper.

While the meeting was going on, I reheated my Thai food leftovers eating wonton soup and Pud Thai. It was still excellent. I then rushed out and headed to First United Methodist Church, Beaverton. I was just a few minutes late.

Zophia, Dondrea’s girl, was there while Dondrea and the others did choir practice which is more like a Christian Rock rehearsal. I promised some board games for Zophia. We started with the Forbidden Island. This is a cooperative game; you work together, and the game is a lighter version of the same mechanics in the game Pandemic. This means the game starts off simple and without stress. Soon the game accelerates the collapse of the simulated island, and your team is rushing to finish before you lose a part of the island you need to succeed. Zophia liked it, and we played twice and won on the easy setting.

You can make out that we are escaping with not much Island left, each recovering two artifacts. I recommend this game to anyone who wants a fast cooperative game that requires some planning and tactics to win.

We tried Kill Doctor Lucky next, which did not play well for two players. I managed to kill the Doctor twice. I will have to bring a better two-person game as we never got passed two turns. I have a metal special edition Doctor Lucky figure, 28mm scale (Dungeons and Dragon sized), and brought painted figures to play instead of boring wooden pawns. So it looked good.

Zophia and I played chess next. I brought the silicone chess set (!), and we thought we would try a different version of chess where you take turns throwing pawns at the other person’s king. Whoever knocks the king over first wins. Zophia managed to win a lot. The chess pieces are indestructible and bounce a bit.

We played a more classic game of chess–no more throwing pieces, and Zophia showed she knew the game well and was able to build some good pawn structure, but moved the queen too much and was soon underdeveloped. The exchange of a knight for a bishop was good for me (usually, a bishop is ranked slightly higher than a knight). I exchanged my pawns in the middle and cleared a file to her king with my queen and rooks, after a castle, focused on her king. With Zophia underdeveloped and me pushing her queen around a bit to the side, she could not castle out of the easy trap, and I soon had her checkmated. It was not a bad game for someone her age–I had to work for it. I suspect she will get much better, and I will not win in the early mid-game.

After that, Zophia helped me load the games in the car, and Air Volvo headed home. I read a bit and went to sleep a bit early. My work week was over, and while I dreamed of work, I would not be back until two Mondays.

The morning started with me rushing just a bit after my 6:15AM alarm. I was up reading late, and so the morning came unbidden. I made liberal Equal Exchange Fair Trade Morning Blend coffee using my French press and combined that with yogurt and a banana to make a decent breakfast. Next, I rushed through my email and any pressing issues from work. I showered, dressed, headed out, and was at work by 8ish. I heard that smoke was starting in southern Oregon and was talking to my sister in the car about it; thus, I was a few minutes later at a desk.

Aside: There are fires now in northern California, and the smoke is in the south still. See https://www.oregonsmoke.org.

I had a few meetings and some suggestions to provide. The usual crises of the moment resurfaced, not unexpectedly, and I was busy in meetings and discussions until after 10:15ish. I then took Air Volvo, with cat prints on the windshield that only showed in the glare–ugh, to hummingbird house only fifteen minutes away from my office building, Clubhouse.

Susie was free from lockdown and happily sat with the other residents in her recliner in the living room. She had breakfast at the table; it was not served in her room. She was excited to see me, smiled, and gave me a kiss (on the mask). I, always masked, in hummingbird house, held her hand, and we talked a bit. I usually would take Susie to the park, but it was still 65F (18.3C) and overcast (with an ugly humidity of 80%).

Next, we called Susie’s mother, Leta, on my iPhone, and Leta was thrilled to see Susie via FaceTime. They chatted for a while, and I was running out of time. Soon, Susie was sad to see me have to leave already; with a kiss, I headed out.

I stopped by Jimmy Johns to grab a quick sandwich. I had to wait as they had a too-go sandwich box to build. I watch the sandwich guy grab a nest of lettuce, fill it with sandwich making, and carefully roll it and tape it. He then cut the roll into small sandwiches that the tape held together. Amazing. He then took a minute or two to make my Italian grinder, and I ate it in the car, avoiding Covid-19 and unmasked folks. I could not finish it and toss the rest.

Air Volvo soon had me back at the office building. After lunch, I had a few more crises of the moment and some discussions with various teammates at the shoe company. As usual, I took Air Volvo home at 4PM and then made dinner while listening to the 5:05 meeting. I avoided some political fireworks with one team that wanted to explode an issue, but nobody would raise to their bait.

Having just escaped and escalation, I was done for the day. I rested for a bit.

I read the rules for a couple of board games. Zophia, Dondrea’s girl, will be at the church for a few hours for choir practice on Wednesday night, so I will meet them there at 6PM and bring some games to try out. I have put chess, Forbidden Island, Kill Doctor Lucky, and the improved game from the same idea, Save Doctor Lucky (on the Titanic). I reviewed the rules of the board games to remember how to play (I know chess, of course).

I went out and got gas for Air Volvo, and the fill-up was down to $80.

Next, I had the car washed for $15. The price has gone up a lot. A cat had walked across my windshield, and I needed to fix that. I fantasized about putting up a picture of a cat and offering an award for making the cat lost while the car prints were expensively removed.

Before returning home and starting the blog, I stopped by McDonald’s and got a hot fudge sundae.

Today I also have two new forward-looking plans started. Air Volvo needs to return to the mothership once a year, and I have the car fully detailed then. I do this near the bonus time at Nike–this weekend. Sadly, to get a loaner car, I will have to wait until 19Sept2022, which is a two-day process. I ask the dealership to do all the maintenance and recall and software updates when I do this once a year.

Also, I have an appointment with a CPA in Hillsboro to discuss my tax situation and Susie’s illness. I also want to see what he thinks of retirement for me, possibly selling the house, renting the Volvo Cave, or, yes, keeping the house. I want to know if I can deduct the substantial medical expenses this or next year and how to make the most tax-efficient use of the stock option, IRA, and 401K. His name is Darrin, and I have visions of Bewitched, and I hope he can help. I need professional help with the expenses and how to keep paying out $8,000 in support for Susie and some money for others.

The new office furniture for my office is coming about 11AM on Friday.

The Internet connection is running fast again with a burst of 600 mbps.

Thursday is our 32nd wedding Anniversary.

Thank you for reading.