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The morning started early with the alarm and me ignoring Tuesday until about seven. I then managed to find my computers and log on to the shoe company and my home accounts. Not much is happening at work overnight; that is, there was nothing I could do anything about happening.

Looking at some of my emails, there are notes that I am still bidding on an actual ticket to the 1893 Columbus Expo in Chicago. I read about the Expo and have the tour book published back in the 1890s. I might write a story about Howard touring the Expo one of these days. It was in this Expo when the Midway and Ferris Wheel were invented. It always helps to have a few items from the historical place when you are writing about it.

Continuing the story, the day follows with three hours of meetings on status and alignment. Zooming the whole morning away. But then a call on the landline. Susie’s doctor’s appointment was canceled yesterday, and the office offers us a different doctor at 130ish today. We take the offer!

Susie gets going early, and I serve her the last of the instant oatmeal.  If I want oatmeal now, I will have to start the old fashion way. I do have those in the pantry. Or maybe I have grits in there–I love grits. It takes a while, but I enjoy making this stuff from scratch.

Next, I have a sandwich but discover that the bread is gone. The ham is the Olympia Provisions heart-shaped ham. My box of veggies and bag of meats arrived today. I decided to have some delivered (free delivery to Portland and near Portland). I got the beer and sausage combination too. It comes with two four-packs of well-made and local beer: Lager and IPA. So I had the cheese and ham for lunch.

We took Air Volvo in the afternoon to the docs. This was a younger women doc we had not met before. I think she was nervous as she actually read Susie’s chart and said she was not sure what to do. She was talking fast. But, in the end, the doc had a few ideas and strongly urged Susie to ride her bike and do her exercises as all the issues could be from not getting enough exercise.

We did blood work, and the tech was good and got all she needed in one not-so-painful poke. There were other tests that were easy.

I should mention that a National Guard guy at the doc office helping direct people and providing masks and PPE as needed. He is part of the activation of the Guard in Oregon. This is to help all medical people get through the surge by having the Guard troops take over some jobs. I thanked him for helping!

We headed home after that. Then, as usual, I got Susie a Happy Meal with apples. Also, while driving Air Volvo, I managed to call into a meeting and helped align another issue. Susie was welcomed to the Nike meeting on the call and offered many options to install some software patches. She demurred.

Back home, and I am tired and rest a bit and fall dead asleep. I could have woken next week! But, I managed to awaken late and make a later dinner of chops, Stove-top stuffing from a box, and fresh and sweet corn from the veggies delivered today. I just made a piece each, boiling it. So, we have three ears of corn left for the next dinner!

That is the summary for today.

On a sad and happy note (I am not sure which way to go), the last book, published after the writer’s death, of my fav Italian crime solver was released today: Riccardino (An Inspector Montalbano Mystery Book 28). I have it waiting in my Kindle for me. I cannot recommend this series more, but I warn you it is also very unpredictable and harsh, like the Inspector. I will miss waiting for the next book. 

That is all I have. My roses are about to do their last blooms. The trees are starting to turn away from the color green, and reds are now showing. The sun was out, and it was hot, nearly 80, this afternoon. But, everything is starting to feel damp and mossy again. It makes an Oregonian smile.

Thank you for reading.

 

Today started with a power failure at 3ish and went on to 10:15ish. This made the morning extra chaotic. On Mondays, I have to get Susie going in a cold unlighted house. It is still close enough to summer that the light is still bright. I also keep a super bright flashlight next to the bed–I could find my way with that to the darker parts of the house. Susie managed to get dressed, but she was quite confused by the cold, the lack of light, and me not dressed. We got Susie out with her driver at 9ish.

I managed to get my iPhone to work for the second status and an alignment meeting. We also had another alignment meeting at 10ish. Next, the power started about this time. After the meeting, I reset the clocks and took a shower in a lighted bathroom with hot water (there was likely hot water before, but the control for the water natural gas water heater is electric).

Getting caught up on email and text messages and Slack messages, I was ready to head to Portland. I drove Air Volvo to get a burger at Burger King with cheese. From there, I put on the Nav to the address of my new doc.

No details here, but I have a few old health issues, and we discussed solutions. More tests will follow to validate the information we have.

Before the doc, I had an hour to kill; I never trust traffic to Portland when it takes nearly two months to get a doc appointment. I have missed one once. So instead, I got to spend an hour walking and stopping by Starbucks for coffee and some banana nut bread.

I had forgotten about one of our Eastern-style food places. Belly dancing (masked) every night. Something I will have to try soon. Marrakesh is at the corner in the photo.

Back to work and then a bit of rest. I am fatigued from the chaos of the power loss and getting Susie out the door.  I also walked a mile or more in Portland to just release the stress.

Susie is white-faced and had some. I had some caregiving this late afternoon. Susie was too weak to get out of bed. I got her up, and she managed to get going again. I got her some cookies, I got three types she likes on Sunday, and she started to look better.

I make dinner of pan-fried burgers with cheese. Corn from Schwann’s. I microwave some potatoes and dress them up with sour cream and butter. It was a hit with Susie. Her color was back, and she was happy again.

Now moving backward to Sunday, I was feeling all the hours I have worked on Sunday. I was on the 8 and 8:30 calls. Nothing for me to do.

I got going slow. I did do a Zoom meeting with Church folks. I saw I was dressed and, while late, I managed to connect. It was pleasant to see some folks and chat a bit.

I picked up some drinks from Safeway for Dungeons and Dragons at 5:30 and the cookies mentioned above for Susie. I also fixed the entranceway light. After years and years, it finally burned out. It was a fluorescent bulb, which was the most high-tech bulb available last time I replaced it. This time it is LED. The fixture is waterproof and requires a ladder and work to open. The wind blows water into our house’s entranceway in the wettest winter. Having an electrical fire in the entrance of our home is silly, so I put a waterproof light fixture in years ago. I put a long-life bulb in as it is no fun to replace.

I also collected some lovely paperbacks I had read and exchanged them at Jan’s Book Exchange. I have been going there for a long time and Jan, who was running the store this Sunday, remembered me. I try to bring in any SciFi I finish as Jan can never keep SciFi in stock.

It was pouring rain often on Sunday, and it made all of us in Oregon happy to see the rain and just a tiny bit sad as we know summer is over now.

I picked up Susie’s fav Happy Meal for dinner. After that, I had the 4:30 status meeting at the shoe company.

I headed with Corwin to play Dungeons and Dragons 5E at Cory’s house. Our newly minted 8th level characters. We were hard-pressed a few times as we fought Mad Max-style in our Hell Warmachines. As a writer of Dungeons and Dragons adventures, Chain Devils are a difficult challenge and used with care, and they are even more interesting in this Thunderdome-like setting. I enjoyed the Warmachine battles again.

We also had a dungeon crawl, and that was a bit more predictable. Undead and more undead. So far, we survived our new level, and I did run my wizard almost out of spells.

Moving back to Saturday, more meetings again at 8ish and getting going again. I started some laundry and did the dishes. Evan and I communicated, and Susie was going early on Saturday. So we all met at the house and then left for the Mexican place across from The 649 Taphouse. We brought a few games.

Lunch was excellent, with Susie and Evan having drinks. I had my usual Soup and a taco. Evan and I shared a flan while Susie finished up. We then headed across the street to The 649.

I got a light-ish beer, and we played Vindication. The game was long, and I managed to pull ahead of Evan and stay there. I remember this time to upgrade my speed and to Vindicate my characters early. The speed upgrade and your character being Vindicated give you more options, and I used them. Every time I lose big, I am late in getting Vindicated and slow.

I talked Evan into trying a new game based on the movie Jaws. Jaws the Board Game has one player as the shark while the other player(s) playing Quint, Brody, and Hooper–the guys on the boat in the final battle with the shark. The game has, like the movie, an exploit and prevention act and the last act on the Orca. The first act has the human players trying to save people by closing beaches and pulling people out of the water. The board is a map of Amity. The shark simply munches and tries to hide. Quint has “barrels” like in the movie, and if two are attached to the shark, the last act begins.

The shark gets more shark powers for each victim and reduces the equipment available to the humans. Thus the shark is exploiting while the humans are preventing shark attacks. The final battle is played on the other side of the board once the humans finally get two barrels on the shark.

Next, the shark attacks the Orca, and when the crew, Brody, Quint, and Hooper, are in the water, they are munched. This happens as the shark quickly destroys parts of the Orca. The OK Orca is cardboard pieces that are flipped over if just damaged or removed when destroyed and turned into water (yikes!). In the game, the humans try to guess which of the three possible attacks the shark will make (from a deck of cards) and hurt the shark. The shark player wins by destroying the Orca or eating all the humans. The humans have to get through all the hit points of the shark to kill it and win (survive).

Evan, new to the game, got stuck with two barrels real fast. We switched board sides, and Evan’s shark just destroyed all but one tiny piece of the boat. I lost Hooper to the shark. I managed to finally attach a flare to the shark, and that finished it. I had one hit point left on Quint and Broad, and one tiny bit of boat left.

Jaws the Board Game is repetitive and maybe too focused on the theme and less on making an exciting game. It is also complex enough that it is not a “beer-and-peanuts” game. However, I will have to play it again a few times as I have learned that I never like a new game. So I would not say not to dive into this game, but the play is not as sharp as I want. I will have to go back into the “water” to see.

We played a fast game of The Lost Ruins of Arnak. Susie was falling asleep at this time instead of reading her book. She had another drink at The 649. Evan just totally crushed me in the game. Revenge for the first two games, I think. We then got Susie home and to bed.

I watched the horrible show Svengoolie on Me-TV showing the old Dracula movie. Svengoolie had mixed in the music soundtrack from the French version, and that really improved the film. Of course, Svengoolie and all the commercials ruined any suspense in the movie. I still liked it.

I am over time, but here is the rose Mr. Lincoln producing a fall rose.

And my lawn service, usually cutting everything, left me some rose hips for the other bush. I like to see the rose hips in the winter. The red color reminds you of the flowers.

And the rosemary is blooming again. Always welcome in the dark raining day of Oregon’s fall!

I hope you enjoyed the long post. I know it is hard to read long summaries like this. I was just too tired on Sunday to write. Thanks for reading!

So it has been a few days. Again, I am tired from my illness (I am improving slowly) and the 14-18 hours workdays for the shoe company. Last night I was too tired to cover the day.

Thursday started early with me up and ready for the meetings that were endless Zoom-ing, or so they felt. I was frustrated as we continued to have issues running our processes because others were not prepared for the volume of data and the speed and accuracy requirements. I cannot dwell on much of that here.

I would love to write the remarkable visions of the near shouting I had, but it is best not to cover that in a blog. It is unfair to make fun of people who cannot answer the charges here. But, it is tempting. I have new ideas for Howard’s stories and new models of villains to harvest. Thusly, I may yet profit from all the mind-destroying frustrating adventures of the last few days.

Mariah joined us , skipping to the evening on Thursday, and we enjoyed Thursday Night Football. We had the dinner box from Pizza Hut Delivered with Diet Pepsi. After opening one bottle that should have been opened half a decade ago, we found some drinkable wine, and all then switched to Diet Pepsi. There is lots of caffeine in Diet Pepsi, so we enjoyed the game wide awake. Washington DC against NY Giants, with Washington pulling it out at the end. The NY Giants played better, but Washington found their mojo a few times and kept the score matching–they got a field goal in with no time left to win.

It was a lovely night. I did keep up with the shoe company on my iPhone and checked online here and there.

Friday started early again, hoping to join a user group meeting instead of status meetings, but when I read the emails and messages in Slack, I had to do the status meetings. The same frustrating issues returned, and I calmly asked questions to try to understand the problems.

It is Friday; I had lunch with Udaya at Golden Valley Brewery. I had not seen him in 15 months, and it was nice to see each other and just chat.

I returned home by Air Volvo and was called by Zerida, and she suggested that she could cut my hair now. So I got back in the car and got my hair returned to my short, neat look.

The traffic back was terrible, and Corwin had to find a ride to work–I usually drive him to work around 2:45. Also, my boss called a meeting to discuss our issues. I managed to connect my iPhone to the discussion on my third try. Finally, I finished the session sitting in the Air Volvo pilot seat in the driveway at the Volvo Cave (home).

One more Zooming status meeting and I am tired. The health issues tire me out. I rest for an hour and then find the newly acquired and recommended Schwann’s Italian Chicken Cutlets. I bake them in the oven while I heat some Alfredo Sauce from a jar. I make angel hair pasta to go with it. Susie wanted seconds, so it must have worked.

I am sleepy and the data conversions were completed tonight. No serious work, I hope, over the weekend. I will just watch and try to be a tourist.

I found a new video by the Russian Christian singer that I often add to the blog. I hope you enjoyed the writing today and this music:

The day started at 6:30 with me reading email and Slack messages to get caught up on what happened overnight. I then got dressed and was ready for the first meeting at 8AM, all clean and shiny. We had hours of status meetings. We then had a workshop that went for more hours as we looked into various issues and plans.

The front door nob is not working and needs some maintenance. You can’t have a door you can’t open, especially if it is the front door. While the workshop was happening, I grabbed a screwdriver and some WD-40 and fixed the problem. I did not want a chance that the door would not open if Susie needed help. Fixed! I could listen while working on the door.

Next, I watched and talked about a demo of some exotic fix code that the shoe company wrote to handle issues that the vendor could not fix yet. I ordered Mexican Food delivered while the demo was performed and discussed. It was a success.

Susie got going a bit later, and I made her fav of Eggo Waffles with peanut butter.

We had update meetings all afternoon on plans for data conversions. We had to wait for certain events. Thus every hour, we had a meeting.

Finally, the last status meeting. More planning. Then Susie and I take off in Air Volvo to Wild Buffalo Wings (WBW). Mariah can’t make it; just the two of us.

They have Belgium beer on tap, Duvel. Susie has Mexican Beer. I order wings on special on Tuesday, and Susie orders a happy hour cheeseburger. We were surprised when told that someone bought our dinner and drinks. A nice surprise. I do order a coffee that I pay for myself as I am back to work after dinner.

WBW has careful use of masks, and cleaning is more than just a wipe. They really clean the tables. Masks go on the moment someone stands at a table. The staff and the customers all make me feel safe.

I take Air Volvo home. It is a wonderful bright sunset as we drive home. But, soon it will be gray and rainy. We miss the rain!

When home, I keep following along on my Nike laptop and iPhone while also reading a bit. I read for 15 minutes and then checked my phone. So far, I am not needed. I will stop at about 11ish tonight. India is already awake and helping.

It was a nice surprise that someone in WBW picked up our tab.

Turning to my reading, I am now reading a newish Star Wars book. I bought it the old-fashioned way at Powell’s and have a physical paperback. So strange now reading a new paperback after buying only hardback history books and kindle fiction. More on it in another blog.

I am at my time limit. I hope this is more than just a crazy outline. Thank you for reading!

It has been a complex weekend with me working 7/24 and the exhaustion forcing me to rest. So I had to give something up. The blog just could not get done this weekend.

It is now Monday, and I will cover the things I remember from this weekend.

Starting on Friday, it started early like most Fridays. I do not dress until later morning on Fridays now. I have the camera off for the mornings! I did all the status meetings. We are running the transactional data conversions practices over the weekend. Yes, my weekend is working a 7/24 schedule, grabbing rest when I can.

I turned down playing games this weekend with Richard and Kathleen and Evan.

Back to Friday, I also had a video meeting with a new doctor. It took me a month to get the introductory appointment. Details do not belong in a blog, but I will say I have an appointment during my sabbatical that involves drinking 4L of salty lemon-flavored liquid. I suggested mixing it with high-proof clear liquids, but I was informed that it would be better to use water. I was not sure after hearing what the procedure involves that being sober is good.

The rest of Friday afternoon online was my watching things run and chatting online.

Mariah, Susie, and I met at The 649 Taproom for dinner and had very nice mixed drinks. It was great for Susie to get out. Everyone is masked and very careful. The customers and the staff are very supportive of Susie and her walker. We had a nice time, and I got some nice pics.

We all headed home. I was resting at 10PM when I saw on my phone that I had a meeting. Things broke.

After hours and hours of discussion and work from teams all over the earth, we were able, very slowly, able to continue our data conversions. I was up to 2:30 Saturday morning.

I managed to crawl out of bed at 8ish, make the 8:30 meeting, and start working with the teams on multiple problems. All day I was online and working. I can’t share the details here. I had a few breaks but worked until 11:30PM.

I got Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner delivered for us as I was too busy and tired to cook.

Sunday, I started again at 8:30. I had managed more sleep, so it was not a difficult start. Again, the whole day was working on data conversions. Status meetings and some resolution and alignment meetings.

I also did laundry and dishes.

I ordered breakfast from Tom’s Pancake House. Susie had her fav of a scrambled egg with cheddar cheese and various sides. I ordered hash that was so sweat flavored it was almost a dessert. Last time for that from Tom’s.

I ordered Red Robin burgers for dinner. These were perfect. I never got outside on Sunday. I managed to stop about 10ish and got more sleep.

Today, Monday, was a more normal day. I was dressed and ready for the 8AM meeting. I started at 6:30, reading emails and getting caught up. India and Europe had been busy fixing the shoe company’s software.

More status meetings and a few alignment meetings. I also had a crisis of the moment. So I was busy until 10ish.

More tests. I drove Air Volvo to the lab to have more medical tests, stopped by a few places to get some painting (Blick’s) and reading supplies (Powell’s), and then lunch at Pastini in Cedar Hills Mall. The food was better this time. Last time it was just average, but this time the food was a step above and good. No wine but iced tea. I brought Susie back a tiramisu for later.

One of the magnolia trees at the mall had one last late bloom.

Returning home by Air Volvo, back to work, and still online, watching and helping where I can.

More meetings and soon the normal end-of-day, 5PM. Data conversions will run all night. India will take over in their morning.

I make pasta sauce from a jar (Paul Newman’s Sockarooni), orecchiette pasta, with hamburger fried until just browning. It was a bit plain, but I did have a few bowls.

The ants are back in the kitchen. I found them raiding my cheese for the pasta. One little ant was carrying away a piece of expensive cheese. I am afraid I moved the cheese and committed insecticide. I can’t believe they are back again!

The weather today was cold, 49F when I started, and cloudy in the morning. It was a wonderful sunny day at the end of the day. No smoke. The rains return at the end of the week. All of us Oregon-based folks can’t wait for the gray days of rain.

Thanks for reading and I am sorry if it seems more like a crazed outline than a blog. But that is what it was like! I will try not to miss again.