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I decided to take a break and write this Saturday morning. I am now in a rush, of course.

Friday is a work-from-home day at the shoe company, so there was no morning rush. I slept into 7AM and then went slow, cleaning up and dressing at 9ish. Breakfast, eating while listening to yet-another status meeting at 8:05, and break off at 8:30 for another overlapping status meeting that leadership decided should be overtopped of the production support status meeting and still has on Fridays. Fridays are supposed to be Zoom-free, but the project seldom follows the rules like this. It can be frustrating.

It is a summer-hours at Nike WHQ Friday; even with the project trying to horn in on that, I did manage to break away at 11:30ish. I made grilled cheese with chicken soup from a can for lunch. Again, trying to economize and reduce my meat intake (which failed later–but it was sooo good).

I packed the computer, cable, blue-tooth speaker, and Nemo’s War board game and headed out in Air Volvo. Nemo’s War is a solo board game that has been through a few Kickstarter projects and add-ons, which is my recommended purchase on Kickstarter. I then drove to hummingbird house without issue going across Beaverton and skipping the downtown section with its 20MPH zones. Folks were driving very slow in light traffic.

Aside: Games that have changed to a 2nd edition and had multiple Kickstarters are usually a good buy. Nemo’s War is a solo game (it tries to provide a multiplayer add-on–forget it) that has you play the storied captain from Jules Vernes’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The game is complex, the rules thick, and, like many solo and cooperative games, is controlled by a card deck with an elaborate set-up. Once I got the rules and set-up down, I enjoyed stopping by a bar, getting a table with plenty of light, and drinking a beer while pretending I was Nemo.

I reached Susie’s without incident. There is now a big red stop sign message on the entrance door. Covid-19 is still running through the place, but Susie is negative, and I tested negative too. Deciding it is essential Susie gets a visitor, I entered and was welcomed. Vanessa was the nursing aide today.

Susie was happy to see me, and we decided to go outside even with it approaching 90F (32C) in the sun. Vanessa got Susie into her wheelchair while I put my laptop in Susie’s room with the equipment I had brought. It is too hot for a running computer to be left in the car!

I quickly got Susie and me into the shade at a nice bench, for me, in Metzger Park. It was a hot but glorious sunny July day in Western Oregon. Still green with the butterflies and dragonflies everywhere and the forest fire smoke absent, so far. The heat had reduced the number of people playing in the park, and only the kids were running around. The adults moved slowly and looked a bit stunned. We did see two brave guys, one older, playing basketball covered in sweat–but the tennis courts were empty.

From our shading spot, we called Susie’s mother, Leta, and then called her aunt Joyce in North Carolina. Everyone was happy to see Susie in her bright shirt and outside in the shade trees. Nobody had as hot of weather as we did, but Michigan is always humid–something we don’t usually have, humidity. While warm, we were very comfortable in the shade–but temperatures were climbing, and it was time to head back in. Usually, our temperatures will rise one to two degrees an hour on 100+ days. You can actually feel the change with the low humidity, making you bake even in the shade.

Back in the cool house, we headed to the activity room. While Vanessa got Susie comfortable and safe in a recliner, I set up the scene and the laptop to play a movie. I keep a screen there for Susie. Plus, Susie has a nice TV set in her room on cable. And she has Alexa on the house account to play her music and anything else. I was joking with Venassas that she should order pizza with Alexa or anything else (the name is set to ‘Echo’ for all the obvious reasons). I think, as I have not tested it, that Alexa can only put something in your cart on Amazon. They have Alexa play music for Susie to get her started in the morning.

The movie today is a new one Susie has not seen before: The Lost City. This new movie stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe with Brad Pitt and is reworking an old film, Romancing the Stone (which has aged poorly). Daniel, using a primarily American accent, is the bad guy and manages to be creepy and passive-aggressive simultaneously. Sandra and Tatum are the focus and do a great job moving the story. Susie loved the movie, and I think a bit relieved to get to see a new film.

It was 3:30 now, and time for me to leave, and Susie’s face fell. She tried to be brave but was not ready for me to go after the movie. It is always heartbreaking to leave. Susie was distracted by Vanessa, and Vanessa promised they could always call me if she needed to talk to me. Vanessa talked about lunch and other mundane items with Susie; you can tell how well trained and good at their jobs are the folks of hummingbird house at moments like this. I left, haunted by the look on Susie’s face, but I kept going. Susie recovered and was talking about a snack with Vanessa when I left. Good.

It was 105F (always overstated) by Air Volvo, but it was hot inside on the black-on-black leather. So I crossed Beaverton with the AC at max! I reached the parking garage, not wanting the car to heat and willing to pay 1 hour an hour to not experience the prolonged afternoon heat when returning to Air Volvo.

I headed to Central Tap and grabbed a table and a few beers. I played Captain Nemo for the next few hours. I needed to unwind a bit between work and home stress. I was just becoming a stress puppy (beginning to like endless stress–“Stress me again; I am a good boy.” Pant. Pant). So I felt a bit more normal with some spice bar mix and two summer beers. Nemo’s War played better (I also think I got lucky) and avoided the immediate loss conditions by trying to mix my actions. I had to learn how to score as I never got this far and reached the “Failure” level for ‘explore’ styled Nemo (the game allows different settings for Captain Nemo play options and scoring). I was still proud.

I enjoyed the game more this time as I have learned enough rules, so I seldom have to look up rules now. The mechanics and choices are also more familiar to me, so I know when I have to start focusing on sinking ships. I spent too much time in this game upgrading the Nautilus (but who would not want all that gadgets?!) than exploring and causing revolts (yes, Captain Nemo is a force to resist the imperial powers running the world back in the late 1800s). Next time.

Lastly, I headed to the Mexican place, Pepitas. They were busy, and I got a seat, after being ignored, as usual, for ten minutes–don’t be offended. They do that to everyone. I went to the bar as it was just me. I sat at the very end and was far enough away to feel OK. I had Fajitas, the steak version. I wanted something good after all the veggies and low-meat meals. The waiter asked me again, and I said “steak” and then looked annoyed and asked again. The music was making it hard, and we both wore masks. She was saying ‘Tortillas,’ but I heard ‘Fajitas,’ we both laughed when we figured it out, and I answered correctly this time ‘flour.’

I had a diet coke which did not go well with dinner, but after drinking two beers earlier, it was best to slow down. A group took the chairs next to me on the bar, but we managed to still not be that close. My dinner was terrific, and I soon left.

It was a short trip home in Air Volvo, and I was soon asleep, a bit early for me. I needed some rest and to unwind a bit. So I practiced self-care: Beer, games, Fajitas, and a good movie with my gal.

Thanks for reading!

My morning started with me being released from self-isolation from exposure to Covid-19. That meant getting started at 6:15 and hopping into the shower, dressing, and then having breakfast. Today, rushed, I had peanut butter toast and the last of the yogurt with French press coffee that I nearly forgot and ended up drinking in the car in a travel cup.

I could not find my keys and got the spare set. This should have been a warning. Unfortunately, I forgot my wallet, which was under some chaos on the table with my usual car keys.

I reached the office at the shoe company Clubhouse building before 8 and learned that the command center was no longer in use. I found the small conference room in our area was not in use and settled there.

I did the first thirty minutes of status and then changed to the new software release, yes, I am starting on the next one, status meeting. This was followed by the global IT meeting; again, I saw only 1/2 of the meeting as I had another overlapping meeting before I had to stop watching the presentations, well done actually, and change to another meeting. That was an update meeting on another item on the new release. And yes, then another meeting, this a stand-up. Oh my, I was almost dizzy with changing the subject every thirty minutes and headed out.

I took Air Volvo to hummingbird house to finally see Susie. It had been three days and two Covid-19 home tests since we saw each other, and the longest time we had been apart since my cancer surgery in the week of Christmas 2021 (“don’t open to Christmas” had a different meaning that year). Even when I was ill from chemotherapy, I was only out for no more than two days. So I was pleased to be back!

Susie was thrilled to see me and Vanessa, the nurse aid for today, told me Susie was worried about me. Susie looked good and no longer tired. It was already over 85F (29.4C), so we did not go out to the park. Instead, we called Susie’s mother, and they chatted on FaceTime for about 15 minutes. Susie’s aunt Glenda called and texted, so we called them back on the East Coast, and they too talked with Susie. Anika, Susie’s niece, and Gene, Susie’s uncle, were also on the call. They had a pleasant chat on FaceTime.

Soon I was returning after getting a kiss goodbye from Susie. Next, I had a biz lunch and talked software with Scott. We meet once a week. I ordered the tofu, and he the wilted green beans. Vegetarian for us both.

I returned to work after that and had meetings and discussions most of the afternoon. It was just a bit quieter, but I was still busy. I headed out, deciding to skip the shindig in Portland for the project at 5:30, and was home about 4ish. I was just out of isolation and did not feel like risking a party.

I did attend some training instead of the party; from 5-7, I was in a Zoom meeting to learn about being an ally to underrepresented folks. The speaker was excellent, but the material was a little less practical than what I am used to. But, it is a tough topic, including privilege and how to self-correct, so maybe a more high-level discussion is more appropriate. Usually, training for IT is very goal-centric and has tests and proof of completion–as I said, this was not that way. I did like it.

I made a ham and cheese sandwich with a side of excellent pickles. I then was going to see a movie but fell asleep reading and missed the start time.

I then wrote the blog and had some cupcakes; I still have some lemon poppy muffins left. I then did remember to put out the trash and the recycling. My neighbor, who sold their house, was packing and moving out.

Thanks for reading.

I added this song to my collection today. It is an alternative rock piece: The Promise.

So far, no symptoms and tests are negative, so I will be back to work and seeing Susie on Thursday!

The owner of Allegiance Senior Care, the agency running hummingbird house, sent me this picture of Susie and said Susie was doing well. It is a higher resolution than I usually use, so it may take a bit to load.

Leta, Susie’s mom, and Glenda, her aunt, called Susie and had a friendly chat. I called and talked to Vanessa to check that Susie was well. Susie is fabulous.

I also got the tiny RMS Titanic model fixed today. As you might remember from a previous blog, the masts were broken. I made new masts from tiny brass pipes and wires. I primed the brass and then painted. I glued a tiny crow’s nest on the first mast made from a used piece of a plastic model that I need not need (HMS Dreadnought in 1/350 scale–about two feet). Modelers, like me, always keep the spares as they find use in later models. Here is the fixed model; it is a pretty model:

I am tempted to put smoke on the funnels with gray-black colored cotton. I have seen versions where the port holes are drilled out and the model lighted.

I also finished the movie 2010 Space Odyssey (the second movie). Again looking at the model potential and all those colors. HAL-9000 is a hero in this version and gets a few good lines.

I had two poached eggs on toast for breakfast with French press liberal coffee. Lunch was a GrubHub order, the vegetarian plate from the Gyro House adding Baba Ghanoush (cooked garlic and eggplant whipped into a dip loosely translated as “Dad’s Fav”). Dinner I forgot to eat and so had some cheese as a snack.

Work was online, and there were quite a few Zoom meetings starting at 8:05 and ending this evening at 5:05. I tried to work on some crises, but they are hard to solve, and it will be an ongoing challenge.

I slept until 7:30 and followed along all day on email, text, and Slack messages.

I was locked inside. I did water the roses, it was 94F, and Mister Lincoln was still flowering in the heat. The other repeat blooming roses have smaller roses; this is usual for repeating roses in mid-summer.

I started a new brain cookie as the WW2 book made me sad: Death and the Conjuror: A Locked-Room Mystery by Tom Mead. I like it so far, about 1/3 of the way through it. The author has adopted many words I have never seen before–I have so far refused to look them up. A magician consulting detective works for me.

The next model to be repaired is the Nautilus. This is not the Disney version, but a new model that keeps the steampunk look still and comes with internal space to see through the famous window in the side of the fictional submarine. The model I build also includes a lighting kit and sound. I originally had the boat (submarines are always boats, not ships) balanced on the giant squid, but this has caused the model to shake and finally break loose and be damaged.

Here is the model in 2013, finished and sitting on the giant squid with the lighting on. Unfortunately, it is now broken loose and has taken some light damage. I have some clear rod stock and will mount it to the base to make it more stable. The power plug in the base is also broken and needs to be reglued in place. I may order a case for it; it is a stunning model.

Aside: If you want to build one, here is some information on the hit here. Extra brass and lighting kits are available. I enjoyed building this one. I might have to build another one.

Continuing on the Nautilus theme, I have acquired the 3D print files for a Disney-styled version. I thought I would like that better than the figure supplied in my copy of the board game Nemo’s War. So I will get the resin printer going again and see if I can print a small enough one for the game.

Well, it has been an uneventful day, and I will end there. Today I did not go with a narrative as it was a quiet day locked in the house. Soon I will be free.

Some additions…

Today is Leta’s birthday, and I managed to get flowers delivered today. She loved them.

Susie and I will meet our new doctor on the 19th of September at 12:40. We will need to transport Susie. Legacy had Ruth call me, and she had some suggestions to reduce the cost of transporting Susie. I will also chat with Allegiance Senior Care and work out something reasonable.

October is the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, and I have another 500-word horror story to write. I am thinking of two possible themes. The experience of a cultist being sacrificed and then being rescued by a healing spell ruining his summoning of an evil god–from a gaming session. Or the story of a person in a nursing home from the damage of having his conscience being copied into a space creature and sharing in dreams of flying through space. I am leading to the second one.

Thank you for reading. I see from the statistics from WordPress about fifty people are reading the blog a day, on average. I also just paid the Grammarly bill of about $150 a year.

I will cover essential topics and summaries and then cover today’s narrative, which was mostly boring me locked down in the Volvo Cave.

Most importantly, I spoke to Hanna at the hummingbird house, where Susie resides, and Hanna reported that Susie was feeling better and ate well. No sign of Covid-19, but everyone is now wearing KN-95, and cleaning and sanitizer are heavily used at hummingbird house. Leta called Susie later and had a friendly chat, and Leta could understand Susie. Good!

Second, I passed my second Covid-19 test, so it is unlikely I will become infected. However, I will still isolate myself for three days (one full day completed). I will test again at the end unless symptoms surface. My asthma is making it hard these days. I start on my long weekends in August with the first long weekend, starting with taking this coming Monday off.

Another important detail is that I am trying to get a new doctor for Susie and me. Ours is retiring. I called the office, was on hold for a long time, and left a message. They called me back, and I tried to pick one, but they wanted an in-person visit for Susie. That means medical transport for a few to many hundreds of dollars, so I strongly suggested they provide a video meeting instead of me having to spend too much money. This meant they would have to call me back. I am still waiting. We will see.

Working at home at the shoe company, I was trying to follow up with previous crises of the moment that were not resolved at work. So I mainly asked for updates, checked issues’ details, and listened to status and staff meetings. So not an exciting narrative.

I did start reading a new book and took a few breaks to read today: Second World War by Anthony Beevor. Would you like a single volume with less than a 1,000-page retelling of the war that is well written and a page-turner (if you love history)? Then Mr. Beevor has done that impossible task. I did not know how terrible, no, I thought I knew, but I learned WWII was more terrible than I ever thought. I might have to take a break a few times from this. This is the war in Asia, Europe, and the rest of the world–a fantastic accomplishment to get it all into a book. I am on page 55.

Lastly, before starting a short narrative, it is hot: about 101F (39F) with low humidity and high air quality (here), and there are no fires nearby. I watered all my roses and will soon have to start with the lawn’s sprinklers.

Returning to a narrative style, I woke up my alarm, decided that would not happen, and reset the iPhone to 7:30. I did my meetings and dressed. Being late for a meeting that was not on my calendar but on my phone (how do you do that!?), but managing OK. I then tried to handle a few issues.

I made a grilled ham and cheddar cheese sandwich and found excellent pickles and had two of those. I fry the sandwich in butter and get the bread to brown a bit. Next, I get some water into the pan and cover it to make the hot steam cook the sandwich. I flip it again to ensure that if the bread gets damp that I cook it to be dry. Cut it on a plate. I used to make these grilled sandwiches for Susie and cut them into quarters for her. I miss cooking for her.

Work went on, and I made baked (microwaved) potatoes (two small ones) with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and bacon for dinner. I set the frozen cooked bacon (I buy precooked frozen bacon and keep it in the freezer) in the sun on the deck. It was almost hot when I retrieved it twenty minutes later! I cut up the bacon with kitchen shears, covered the potato, and added a green olive to each potato–remembering the look from Istanbul’s potato bars. I made and ate dinner listening to the hour-long status meeting at 5:05, as usual.

I finished the movie 2001 Space Odyssey. I have to admit I fast-forwarded the endless psychedelic parts. I wanted to look at the spaceships and shuttles. I also, of course, as you could imagine, love HAL-9000. I was looking at the colors and how the structures worked. I might build some kits someday.

I started the next film, 2010, and stopped after the SAL-9000 asked, “Will I dream?” My favorite part of 2010 is the computers and the creepiness. I will watch it more later in the week.

I did hear a new song that I will share. It is banjo rap, oh my–so good and so wrong: Stick Season.

I was very sad tonight, but I returned to my repairs for my RMS Titanic model and started listening to music, which helped. I might have to find more fun stories to read than WW2! And HMS Victory is calling me. I also have some wooden ones. Hmm, yes, I just need some time off. Next month!

Thank you for reading, and know we are all in this together–even when locked in the Volvo Cave.

Aside: I was looking at websites on the VW’s all-electric new bus, with self-driving, coming to the USA in 2023. Air Volvo might be replaced by The Bus Electic!

Today’s blog will be shorter and to the point. The hummingbird house has an outbreak of Covid. I have tested negative, and so has Susie. Susie was not feeling well, according to the nurses there. I have not gone to visit as this is too fluid of a situation for me to pop into. I will try to get there in a few days.

I have talked to the RN and some of the nursing aids. Unfortunately, my call last call was not returned. I am sure they are busy and will get back to me soon.

The day started with me being tired and my breathing issues coming back. I take my inhaler, but I sometimes feel like drowning in the air. I know that is not happening; it is just your mind playing tricks on you, but it is not a great feeling.

I woke at 6:15 and then decided that 7:30 was better. The extra hour did help. I had breakfast, yogurt, and a pair of small lemon poppy muffins I made yesterday. I listened to the 8:05 status meeting that ran over its time slot. I then got in the shower and dressed, thinking I was headed to hummingbird house today.

I had multiple calls from Michelle Nixon, the owner of the hummingbird house, and a note to listen to my voice mails. I missed the call while getting dressed. The message told me that Covid-19 may have come to the adult foster home.

I tested for Covid-19, and after 15 minutes, I was negative for the virus. I gave permission to test Susie; she was bi-weekly tested at Forest Grove, so this would be a normal process for her. When I got my last update from Brittany, the RN, Susie was negative but not feeling well.

I was not visiting today. I left a message to let Susie know.

The rest of the day was a bit of a blur. I managed to mess up my timesheet to my boss’s amusement–it took me three tries to get it right. I did follow along and helped with a crisis of the moment.

Lunch was leftover spaghetti I had delivered a few days with chicken parmesan. I was also using my inhaler a lot. Likely a reaction to the new stress of dealing with this. Also, not visiting Susie leaves me feeling inadequate and alone. I know nothing I can do but let the Covid-19 emergency play out and know that Susie and the folks are all bolstered by the follow-up vaccinations. I have had four shots. We are doing the right thing, but it sucks.

I will self-isolate for the next three days and test every day–I have all these test kits we never needed. Guess it is time to learn how to use them.

Here are my negative results with the verbose instructions with pictures. Yes, I swabbed myself. Sucks.

On instructions, I got a brilliant set of new instructions for the 1/100 HMS Victory plastic model I want to build someday (it is enormous) delivered from the Czech Republic today. The instructions include every rope and block to be constructed and strung, and the instructions create an assembly order that makes each process small steps. It also has clear painting instructions (not cheap at 60 Euros). In addition, I have bought sails, cannons, wood decks, and other components to enhance the model from the same source: HIS Models. I was so happy I sent them an email, and they replied, offering to provide any help when I start the build. In addition, they hope to see photos of the model when completed. Excellent.

During all this chaos, I finished replacing two more outlets in the house. I did cut the power to the house and just did the two replacements. I did slip with the pliers to get the wires out of the old outlets. Back in the 1970s, they had a push in technology for the plugs and lights. Now I am using the old-school stuff that requires creating a loop and placing the loop under a screw. Getting the wires out of the old stuff is a challenge. I finished them in about 15 minutes and tested the plugs; they were all good. One of the plugs I replaced with an expensive wall plug with C-USB power plugs.

Aside: I update the house occasionally, and when the light is bright, it is hard to see with the power out. I replaced almost all the incandescent lights with LED fixtures. Some I have replaced again as the LEDs fixtures can fail as they are both the light and the fixture. The LEDs use much less power, and cost less over time, I do not have to get on a ladder but once now to replace the light (I hope), and the LEDs produce little heat.

I made dinner listening to the last status meeting at 5:05. I defrosted a pork chop by just putting it outside and flipped it after 45 minutes. I found some frozen veggies and microwaved a potato. I was hungry. I made pan gravy for the chop, but I did overcook the chop on the stovetop. I usually use the oven to finish a chop, but it is a hot day, so just the stovetop for dinner today!

I chopped some garlic and fried it in butter with almond slices. I wilted the beans I took from the microwave with the goodness of butter, almonds, and garlic. Frozen green beans need a bit of kick to make them good. To be perfect, frozen corn niblets must be steamed in a basket with pepper and the lightest salt (show it the salt). I like adding butter to the frozen corn before the water gets hot. Sour cream for the potato and a bit of the pan gravy, and I add one green olive as I saw that done in Istanbul’s potato bars.

I finished dinner and finished the book The Club Dumas, trying to relax my breathing. I like the ending and the complexity of this book. The movie made from the book, The Ninth Gate, does a great job of resetting the story in New York and simplifying the insane plot of the book. I love both. But, it is hard going as the author does not make the characters very sympathetic–you have been warned.

I needed to relax, and over the last few years, I have looked at all the fabulous 2001 A Space Odyssey model kits. Some are even 3D printed! Many nice things with lighting kits and movie-matching layouts are available now. Thus, I put on, for free, the movie and watched it about 1/2 way. I did not remember the film very well. I did notice all the colors now, as all of that is reproduced in many models.

I wrote the blog and tried not to panic.

Thanks for reading!