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This morning started with me sleeping in a bit until 7ish. I then got up and logged on to the shoe company laptop and put up my out-of-office for just today. Even on my day off, I am on call for some items and covering a bit in the afternoon. I am always available.

I got Susie going, and we both had toast with peanut butter for breakfast. We then headed early to her Mohs surgery appointment in Portland with Dr. Allan. A brilliant microsurgeon that leaves only tiny marks and never threatens a nerve. We have done this many times. While traveling, the office called us and said they could take us early, so it worked that we left early.

To my surprise, the restrictions are relaxed, and I can stay with Susie and in the waiting room. So often I am waiting in the car until they call me. So it was a nice surprise to wait in the office. Of course, there were masks and face shields (both!) and social distancing. I felt safe there.

While waiting, I started a 500 word or less horror story based on the H.P. Lovecraft mythos. I have until Monday to enter the contest and possibly be published in a small pamphlet at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival next month. The winning story will be celebrated by a dramatic reading. I have my 496 words started in the waiting room.

Susie was happy that the tiny spot on her chin required no more than one treatment. The margins are clear in the first excise, and so we were home by noonish.

We stopped by and got Susie her fav of a Happy Meal with Apples. I had dad Wild’s fav of two cheeseburgers. I always think of him when I order it.

I completed the 500-word story while Susie rested. I have to admit I was exhausted by the week and the stress of supporting Susie. Caregiving comes with its own stress. So I took a couple of naps. I have the story almost polished. I will look again at it on Saturday to see what I missed and then submit it.

I have also thought of a second story that I might write. It is based on something Corwin said while I drove him to work. You have a tendency to drive where you are looking. We will see how it works out. 500 words story is concise.

I am finishing the fantastic book The Bookseller of Florance by Ross King. It is an expensive hardcover at $30, but the footnotes are easy to read in the physical format. If you love history and books, this is a great book. I did not know that the roman type is designed to match the Floranice antique writing style. That uppercase and lowercase letter words refer to the box used for typesetting. Ross King tells all this history in a narration centered on one bookseller. It is enjoyable and recommended.

I am still fatigued and will stop here. I hope you like the story for today.

 

The day started with me slipping a short nap after waking at 6:30 and seeing that I had no pressing items until 8. So, I was ready for the first meetings. I did read most of the email and Slack messages while listening. During the Zoom meeting, I was a bit direct with some folks. The details don’t belong here. Later today, we got an email from the senior team clearing this weekend as promised.

So after that political moment, I spent the rest of the morning in status meetings and alignment meetings to prepare for next week’s data conversions. I ordered lunch from the local Mexican place. I have to admit I barely tasted it. It was a strange and busy morning.

The afternoon was filled with more strange distracting moments. I stepped outside for a moment as it was a hot sunny (the 80s) clear day with no smoke. I saw my neighbor outside; I had not seen him for a bit, so I walked over. He looked terrible and told me not to approach.

He told me he has Covid-19 and gave it to his little daughter. His wife was well as she was vaccinated. His daughter and wife stayed with family while he fought Covid-19 mostly alone. He explained they isolated their daughter with her mother caring for her for two weeks; she was not seriously ill. Despite the fact he refused the vaccine, my heart still went out to him. Suffering and suffering alone and making your daughter ill–the worst. I wished him the best, and he assured me he was recovering and seemed to avoided Long Covid. As he has active Covid-19, likely Delta, there is very little I can do for him, but I will try to check on him.

The rest of the work at the shoe company paled to that problem. However, I did have hours more status and alignment meetings. I was done about 5ish.

Susie and I drove to meet Mariah at Golden Valley Brewery (GVB). We were early, so we stopped at Barnes and Noble Books. Unfortunately, they are closing the store. The next-door Office Depot is also closing, suggesting the owners are breaking or not renewing leases. I am very sad to lose our last chain bookstore in the area. We still have Powell’s and some local stores, but it seems strange to lose the chain store.

It was a short drive to the GVB, and Mariah met us there, and we had drinks, dinner, and even dessert. We discussed our trip to New York City coming up next month. Mariah has the NYC travel book I picked up at Barnes and Noble.

Everyone was careful in the GVB and masked. I saw an old friend, Fergus, at the GVB, and he said nice things about me being the reason SAP works at Nike. He is too kind. It was good to see him.

We drove home as the sunset was now at 8ish, clearly showing that fall is here. As usual, it was a sight to see the sun behind the Coastal Mountains. The yellows and bright colors in the sunset without the reds of smoke are always welcome now.

Thank you for reading. Please be safe out there!

Today started with me resting just a few extra minutes as I had a 7:30 meeting that I was dressed and cleaned up for. I was on time and ready. This was then followed by two additional hours of meetings with a short break and back to more meetings.

I managed to read emails, read and respond to the Slack channel texts, and listen and respond to the meetings all morning. I had to slip my breakfast and meds in a while listening. I have to take food with my pills.

Susie headed out to her spa day with Zeriada today. Usually, this is a Monday thing, but it was delayed this week. Folks saw me rushing around on camera. I forgot to turn it off.

I then had a short break and started on a trip for my sabbatical in October. It is only $216 to fly non-stop to New York City (Newark). So Susie, Mariah (a friend), and I will be headed to NYC on October 6 (red-eye) and staying for about a week until October 12th. The hotel near the garment district was more than the flight! Tickets for the Met have already been purchased. I will fill up other days with more adventures.

That was a nice distraction from work and other issues. It is funny how a little trip can really change your mood.

I had lunch from leftover Chinese Food from a few nights ago. Susie picked up her fav of a Chicken McNuggets Happy Meal with apple slices and an apple pie.

More meetings and some frustration as grandstanding and enrolling and to listen to on Zoom. I tried to help. I was happy to get it over. I did spend time while listening looking at Broadway Shows. I was sad that the Phantom of the Opera has yet to reopen. Looks like Chicago or Moulin Rouge or Wicked are likely what is available and not insanely expensive (Hamilton). Vaccination cards are likely required. We got ’em.

I was tired again today. I did not manage to do more than work and daydream about things to do in New York City today.

Dinner was New York Strips (Schwann’s) with potatoes and green beans (from Schwann’s).

Sorry, it was not a very interesting day. I was tired, and it is good to have a normal day in a pandemic. I hope you enjoyed following along.

I opened the Methodist Hymnal and turned to His Name Is Wonderful.

The day started just after 6:30, and I read emails and had breakfast. My meds require me to eat, so I usually have breakfast early while reading and starting my day.

I was ready in time, shiny and bright, for all the status meetings starting at 8. Hours of Zoom meetings. I also had some alignment meetings, so the whole morning was Zoom meetings.

I had no break for exercising this morning. I did walk around the house when I had a moment between meetings. I looked at the fence and enjoyed my little piece of Oregon I hold in stewardship. I noticed that the old fence that the ants had eaten the pine support boards, and one was now broken. The planking is old cedar and, while worn, is still strong. I will replace the board this weekend and screw it in. I will be doing it from the back, so I need to get screws just the right depth.

I have two climbing roses, bare roots, coming from David Austin’s website this spring 2022. I have never had a climber, and I thought some more pink roses would be nice. I have mostly darker shades.

I was looking at the fences to decide also where I want the roses. I am thinking of the newer fence to add a trellis for climbing. But I can now see the old fence and am tempted to put them there. Some of the posts would do well for the roses to climb.

Lunch was reheated Chinese-style soup from yesterday’s order. It was still great.

I then continued on with few crises of the moment and more Zoom meetings. Alignment meetings and a few status meetings. One left me a bit unhappy, but it is best to not share details here. My sabbatical starts in October. I will be happy for the break.

Susie was up and dressed in the afternoon, and I made her again Eggo Waffles with peanut butter for breakfast/lunch. Unfortunately, I heard there is a shortage of Eggos, so these could be the last Eggos in Paradise.

I was happy when the last meeting was completed at 5PM.

I fried frozen hamburger patties in a frying pan, adding a slice of cheddar to make cheese burgers with no buns. I opened a can of Bush beans and peaches to go with it. Susie had 1 and 1/2 patties and enjoyed all the sides. So today I was cheap eating what we have.

On another subject, my 401K is approaching an annualized return rate of 13%. That is more than I expected in such a strange year. Nike stock is backing off its $177 high and has lost ten bucks in the last two weeks. Nevertheless, I still believe in the positive growth of the market and the economy.

Concluding, I was tired and rested a few times. I am drained today. Sorry, it was not a very interesting day to share.

I went back to picking hymns again. I like this version of For the Healing of the Nations.

The day started at 6:30, with me waking just before my alarm. I then managed to log on to my work computer and prepare for the day. I made a bagel with cream cheese and a cup of coffee. Then, off to get ready.

I was few minutes late for the start of status meetings at 8, but I was at least all clean and shiny with the camera on. Zoom meetings went on for hours. I was frustrated as many issues and discussions were repeats of the weekend I just worked. I had to write an email explaining one issue that really made me unhappy.

Mariah texted me and had something to distract me. She needs me to drive with her to Portland to fit her newly assembled bike in Air Volvo and deliver it to her home in Forest Grove. So about 10ish, we were off to Portland.

I am always amazed at how much I love Portland when I drive into the city. Despite reports by Fox News and others of its total destruction, it is a lovely place still. We had enough traffic to remind us how nice it was to get there in just a few minutes.

We put the newly assembled by official and warranty-approved assemblers bike in Air Volvo. Then, despite the pull of Portland to stay and have a strange donut or something veggie, we turned right around and drove back to Beaverton and Aloha, Oregon. No traffic in the opposite direction, and soon we were back.

Gyro House was our next stop near the Volvo Cave (home). We enjoyed lunch there, and then we headed to Forest Grove. Mariah there took possession of the newest bike in Forest Grove and I returned home.

Susie gets going and has breakfast of Eggo waffles with peanut butter with coffee.

I managed to be on time for the next meetings. More status and alignment meetings. I also had a few emails and reviewed a design of some software, and commented on it.

I then rested for a bit; I am still tired from the short night. Working two weekends in a row is not helping. I also did a lot on the weekend and could use a weekend from my weekend!

After a few more hours of Zoom meetings, Slack messages, and emails, the day finally closed.

My neighbor Kathy needed some help. I drove Air Volvo and jump-started a car for her. Unfortunately, they did not have jumper cables. I keep a set in the replacement tire well in the back of Air Volvo. I had not done this with this car before, so I got out the car manual and found the hood release. I was surprised by how intimidating the motor looks with a big black piece bolted down on it.

The battery for newer Volvos is in the back. You have a special pin in the engine to jump the car. I had to locate them. A red plastic cover identifies the positive post, and a note next to the negative is stamped in the metal. I am cautious connecting everything, and we managed to start the other car and charge it without incident. Mission completed.

I order too much Chinese food from GrubHub. I will have lunch for a few days! I was tired and hungry when I ordered.

Susie and I watch the news together and eat Chinese food. The news is painful today. 10,000 people in Tokyo have no hospital bed. The covid-19 delta variant is crushing them. We in Oregon still have services still running with the help of the National Guard. You can still get a hospital bed and ICUs while precious are still available. We have plenty of ventilators, I read somewhere.

Thank you for reading. I was too tired and disorganized to play Roll20 today.

I went back to picking music out when thinking of all the people in Tokyo: On Eagles Wings.