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My eyes and ears are still having trouble, and I woke up too early, but I managed to roll over and sleep until around 7. I rose, there were no cups, and I did not make coffee in my room. This drove me to shower and dress promptly, and then I wrote the blog in the lobby, where the complimentary breakfast is served with coffee.  There, I assembled my thoughts, even some preliminary travel plans, and composed a summary of Monday. Keith, part of the hotel staff, was running breakfast; I met him last Christmas, and we were both happy to see each other.

I had everything done by ten.

I took my hat, coat, and laptop to the Rental and soon discovered, while on the highways flying at 70mph+ (110kph+) speeds, that the sluggishness and poor steering faded and, rechristened, Air Nissan Rogue flew at Michigan travel speeds. Like many turbocharged lower cc engines, the thing was built for fast driving.

I reached the outskirts of Flint on Highway 75 and then went south on 69 to Lansing. The indirect route involves flying at speed for most of the way, often exceeding 80mph (130kph), and thus beating the more direct route, taking two hours, with a travel time of 90 minutes! Midwestern practicality again, who cares how you get there if it’s faster.

I arrived too early, but soon Leta arrived at Panera at the Lansing Mall (a ruin of its 1980s high-flying days when ‘greed was good’). We had lunch together and talked about life and Leta’s interview on Channel 10 local TV (here, while available) about her fundraising at 97 for this year’s Crop Hunger Walk. This event is sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church, Leta’s church, where I married Susie, her daughter. We also talked, sadly, that it was another year without Susie. Susie passed away on October 13, 2023.

I waited with Leta until the Lutherian Ladies appeared. A group of ladies who meet at Panera and have adopted Leta as an honorary Lutheran. I headed across Lansing to Haslett to see Mom Wild. She was waiting for me and wanted lunch, but first we did a quick tour of Haslett, Meridian, and East Lansing. We did not make it to the Michigan Capitol as Michigan Avenue is still being rebuilt, but we could see the familiar dome.

Olive Garden for the lunch specials, just getting in under the 3 end-of-lunch time. Mom had the scampi with pasta, and I had a second lunch: salad, soup, and breadsticks. For me, one bowl of veggie minestrone and some salad. Mom ate the shrimp, pasta, breadsticks, and a lot of salad.

Next, we stopped by the tobacco place and got mom her favorite vapes, a compromise that is acceptable to the facility, if used outside. On returning to Haslett Pointe, we sat in the rocking chairs and chatted, and Mom used her vapes. We also had a great waiter, and she packed a new salad, new breadsticks, and a dessert to go for us (with me just buying the dessert). All of this is stored in Mom Wild’s fridge.

A hello means a goodbye, and Mom Wild was ready for that. It was a good moment, as I promised to be back for Christmas, and Mom Wild was happy with vapes and dessert. The staff was already getting her dinner ready. I waved from Air Nissan Rogue, which was perfectly sized to carry Mom Wild’s walker and for her to get in and out of.

I took a messy, construction-filled trip back from Haslett to the end of Lansing and into Delta Township, near the highway that would take me back to Flint and then Detroit, where I’d have a chance to try the Texas Roadhouse again. Jesse and Linda, my sister and her husband, met me there minutes after I arrived. It was loud, there were no peanut shells on the floor like in the old days (now in a sealed bag, ignored in a bucket), and the space for dancing was small. The staff danced a few times, but it was a minor distraction, not the big deal it once was. The menu was very complex, trying to hide that a Texas Steak Combo started at $35. Linda had the kabobs, and I followed. I was buying Jesse his birthday steak, and he had an excellent sirloin. My bits of steak were removed from the metal implement (likely a safety thing) and were tiny bits. I was expecting big chunks of sirloin, but it turned out to be more like a stir-fry on a stick. The veggies were undercooked, too, and huge. This makes you think the steak bits are wrongly sized. Hmmm. I would say this chain has aged poorly (there is a pun in there, I think); I will return to the Longhorn Chain instead, as it, while everywhere, serves a quieter and better steak (but for a higher price). There was one just a few miles away. Next time!

We talked about travel and plans. Jesse and Linda are going fishing for salmon this week for Jesse’s 57th birthday (I think it is 57). The house in Oregon may be open around the 28th of March, as I plan to hit Europe with Deborah for her Spring Break (Deborah is a teacher). They might take up some house watching for me. We said our goodbyes.

I grabbed the bag of peanuts and ate some in the car as I headed back to the Greater Detroit area. I drove fast here and there, and the Air Nissan Rogue handled well even at 80+ speeds, almost as good as my EV, almost.

I discovered from Dondrea that the Church Council meeting is next week. Z was looking for help with Physics homework, but I missed Z because they had soccer practice. We might have done a Zoom for help.

Richard sent me an update on Ostia, a board game I like, and mentioned that an updated reprint is being offered for $79. I have the premium version, but I’m unsure if I need a revision that will not be as good. Richard suggests that if I like the game, I should get the revision. We have found that second editions often are much better than the original. Tempting.

I stumbled upon a new Nero Wolfe story on YouTube and decided to give it a try. It reset the detective in today, but I was disappointed that the story, while fascinating, did not properly honor the original. The story is read with just a digital version of Wolfe’s office shown. In this version, Wolfe discussed a case while eating (never!) and used ‘Excellent’ and not ‘Satisfactory’ like a bad take on Mr Burns. Fritz would never throw a cup of coffee, but might take the used cup away immediately to the trash. I will not be back. But the story was modern and excellent, with some parts well done and fitting for Nero. Maybe.

After that, I read British Murder and found my mind drifting, and soon realized my eyes were shut and I was inventing an alternative story. I turned off the lights with the shades lowered this time. I did not wake until the morning.

Thanks for reading.

It is likely to be a short blog as it was just a typical day together with Deborah and her son, Donovan. I rose tired and with poor sleep. My eyes, although improving, remain crusty, and my eyelids are still slightly swollen. I keep them clean and avoid rubbing or touching them. I have avoided drops for now.

I started at 5ish as sleep was not returning. This is another fun aspect of time changes. I can’t sleep in either time zone! I have trouble getting to sleep as I usually read, write, or even paint figures at night, and then I wake before sunrise anywhere. Thus, I sleep little in the first days. I nap in the afternoon, planned or not.

Aside: I recall drinking cup after cup of Turkish Tea in Istanbul during a work trip, when the accountants explained Turkish Statutory Reporting requirements in a dark room using PowerPoint on one afternoon a few days into the trip! I made it through it and was able to ask meaningful questions.

Returning to my story of Monday, I dressed and had the complimentary breakfast that is more or less the same in most hotels. I was able to write some of the blog, but I had not quite finished it when Deborah signaled it was time to get my car.

We bopped over in Donovan’s car. Deborah’s Mini was at her Mini guy’s place and would need a fix to the throttle body (an air valve) before it would be back to normal. I waited in a polite line at Enterprise, and a helpful clerk soon had a Nissan Rogue for me for a week. The staff, all younger folks, were disciplined, extremely polite, made eye contact, and processed the customer fast with clear statements. I was impressed, and it reminded me why I thought Midwesterners are the best at getting things done.

I was handed the keys to a gas-powered vehicle, and it took me a while to adjust to the lack of power and the wait for gears and things to fire (using the throttle body, I learned today). EVs are quicker. The steering was also old school and required more care than my fly-by-fire EV stuff. The screen was large, but I soon discovered it was just a version of buttons, and there was no CarPlay or Navigation. The shifting to Reverse and to Drive (or Manual with paddles on the steering wheel) was by moving a box in the center. The start was a button.

I managed to reach Deborah’s house with my iPhone leaning on the panel. We decided on lunch at Paul’s downtown, and we took the Rental there (No cool names for this thing). With little difficulty, we arrived intact, and I had a club sandwich, while Deborah had a wrap that she couldn’t finish. We then returned and spent the afternoon together.

We returned to Deborah’s house and made dinner. Deborah had put the ribs we got at the farmer’s market in the slow cooker with BBQ sauce, and the meat was done and falling apart. Deborah cut up the fresh beans, and I sliced the red potatoes in half (Deborah would have preferred quarters). We then baked them. It took about forty minutes (we had them at 350 and not 425, at first, a mistake). We’re watching more of season 1 of Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, as we try to finish the season now that the new one has begun. We almost finished an episode before dinner was ready. Donovan and I ate while Deborah took a call. It was good.

Deborah and I headed to the new TRON movie, but Donovan demurred. He was concerned that Jared Leto, the actor cast in the lead role, had ruined another movie. We rushed, with me almost going down the wrong way on one street (Deborah calmly corrected my error, no really), and we made it to the theater minutes before the show.

TRON Ares is a spectacle and a perfect continuation of the first movie, harvesting only the lightest items from the less-than-perfect second movie. I loved it and thought the wooden dialogue and stiffness of Jared Leto’s acting were perfect for the movie, reminding me how Arnold was perfect for his Terminator movies, especially as ‘Pops’ in his last(?) one. All the complaints are valid, but the movie is an excellent trip, especially for a computer geek like me. I loved the 3D printing lasers (which are insane; lasers don’t print, but it looked great), and it built supports that melted away. Anyone who, like me, did their own printing would love that effect (and be jealous as we hate cutting that stuff away).

If you are looking for geeky fun, watch TRON, the original, and then watch this one (or even the second one too). It is a wonder, and the music was good. Recommended. Deborah said to me, “Eric would have loved that movie.” I agree. We miss you, “Elric.”

I took Deborah home and then arrived at the hotel without any issues. I was able to sleep after reading until late. I dreamed of coding, writing, and old friends.

Thanks for reading.

 

Sleep can be difficult in new places and time zones. I woke often, and my eyes were still burning from the allergic reaction to the eye drops. I managed to rise around 8, which certainly did not feel late to my Pacific Time Zone-aligned body. I had breakfast at the hotel lobby and texted Deborah, who was checking on options after her car stopped working on Sunday morning.

I read my email, updated my transactions in Quicken, downloaded from all the fast-changing accounts (The investment accounts and IRA generally are manually maintained balances). I write and publish my daily blog of what happened that day. I am now unwilling to let a day pass without noting what happened. Every day (a lesson from Dad Wild) is precious and possibly your last sunrise.

I am wearing a sweater, which is good since, after the chemotherapy, I’ve become more susceptible to cold. I can be easily chilled. I often put a light jacket over that and a hat. I left my hat behind recently, and Deborah rescued it for me.

Deborah appears, and we spend some time together, and then head to the Koney Island (spelled there with a ‘K’, not a ‘C’) place for lunch. Deborah has an omelet, and I have two dogs with chili and onions, along with a Greek-style salad. Excellent. Deborah, using her son’s car, takes us back to her place, where I get to pet the dogs. We hang out and watch shows like Murders Only in the Building and the new Matlock. We discovered we had not finished the Matlock season, and thus we started on that, too. Season 2 is released on Sunday.

Without a car, we went for leftovers, and there is something great about having leftover prime rib from Lucky’s. We had ordered the larger cut, and so we both had a whole meal left. We reheated it in the microwave until it was hot. We cut up some of the colorful carrots we got at the Farmer’s Market and cooked them in the microwave. We both reheated some of the sides we got with the meal and then, with the dogs looking at us with sad eyes, consumed much of the dinner. Deborah got a roast-sized bit of prime rib and still could not finish it. That went back to the fridge.

We watched some more shows and enjoyed some of Costco’s margarita drinks (with tequila already mixed in) as we continued watching episodes. We enjoyed a quiet night, something we often don’t do when traveling. It was not light, but I was tired from drinking and eating.

I got an Uber and was soon whisked away by a friendly driver with a slight accent to my hotel. The driver and I talked about travel and places to visit, and he followed the map. I arrived without incident and gave the driver a good rating and tip.

Back in my room, I watched Dondrea’s sermon (here) on the church’s YouTube channel. It was an excellent sermon that covered some of the history, including the terrible stuff, about the Methodist Indian school that became Willamette University(see Jason Lee). Dondrea also covered that the country may not have a problem with polarization, but rather with grief. It may be the effects of grief, such as denial and anger. That may be the reason for our inability to have a conversation about issues: it is either grief about a lost past or a sense of peace. Grief is not logical or fact-based, which is reflected in many of today’s reactions. Pastor Ken made the connection to grief for us. Dondrea ended it with a scripture reading from the First Nation translation of Paul. It really fit the text and the direction of her sermon.

After watching and calling Dondrea (three hours earlier in time zone) to congratulate her on an excellent sermon, I read for a while and tried to sleep. Again, sleep was difficult.

Thanks for reading!

 

It was my first full day in Michigan, and I rose late at 8 when a text woke me. I had pulled the shades and woke in the dark. I was shocked as I must have turned off my alarm and rolled over without waking. This is why I set multiple alarms. It is so easy to do, and I might miss a flight or other important engagement.

I jumped in the shower, and my eyes were only slightly better. I put in some eye drops that use a preservative that can (and in my case does) cause swelling in your eyelids. Yikes! I have tossed the drops and hope my eyes will recover in a few days. They seem better.

Deborah is only a few minutes away, and she pops over, joins me for breakfast, and we spend some time together. Next, we head out to the local farmer’s market and get some veggies and ribs for a Sunday dinner. It is good to get some steps in.

I am fading with the eye issue, time change, and lack of sleep. We have a leisurely lunch at Panera Bread near my hotel, which helps, and then Deborah drops me off at my hotel. I lie down and puff, and two hours disappear. I was tired!

Deborah picks me up again, and we head to her house. I pet the dogs as we work out what to do. We have no plans for this weekend. The following weekend is busy. We decided on a movie and dinner, then headed out in Deborah’s Mini.

We get to just short of the highway when the car shuts off and switches to what Deborah calls limp-mode. The mini has an engine fault and now runs at half-power. This is what Deborah calls limp-mode. We get back to her house. Oil is added to no avail, and the car is down and needs to visit the mini mother ship. Having had a screw in my tire on Thursday, I understand the frustration of having plans broken by car issues. It is Saturday night, and we are glad a wrecker was not called for.

Instead, grounded, we order online for delivery of prime rib dinners from Lucky’s. We watched the first TRON movie (1982) that Deborah had never seen. It has been reworked by Disney and looks terrific on Deborah’s giant screen. The music is very basic and the same sounds, mostly, you would hear coming from the coin video game machine. I have played it again (poorly) at Ground Kontrol in Portland.

Disney has owned TRON since its inception and even produced a short-lived animated series (2012) that expanded on the story between the first two movies. The graphics showed some upgrades in the version we watched, and, having seen the original version unchanged a few years ago, it was quite an upgrade.

Deborah uses limp-mode to get me back to my hotel, and I try to sleep. I fail. I read and chat with Dondrea (three hours time difference), and we talk about her sermon. I read more and sleep sort of. Wake. Sleep. Wake. Sleep. And somewhere around three finally sleep on.

Thanks for reading.

Back in Michigan, I overslept this Saturday, the day I am writing this, because my alarm didn’t wake me.

On Friday, I was packed, the house was somewhat organized, and I had done some basic cleaning on Thursday when I woke up with my alarm at 6:30. I went to bed without writing the blog and had, which is often true before flying, poor sleep with me waking multiple times and checking the time. I had trouble reading the phone too.

I rose and discovered my eyes puffy and my eyelids swollen. Apparently, the eye drops contain a preservative to which I am allergic. We worked that out today, Saturday, as my eyes did it again this morning after I restarted the eyedrops. Deborah worked this out after I sent her a photo of the drops. I had acquired the drops on Thursday. Hmm.

This did not make things easier, and I called Deborah, slightly panicked as I was traveling, but already (not using the drops), the eyes were improving. I dressed after a quick shower, added the few things to my carry-on, my usual red Nike gym bag, and put on my hat and coat. It was 50°F (10 °C) in Oregon, with cloudy skies and hints of dampness. My neighbor Chris, who was working from home today since there was no school, called out, “Was I running away from home?” We talked for a few minutes, catching up, and then I headed out, rolling my bags to the TriMet 57 bus. I managed to wave the bus to stop for me and thanked the driver for his kindness. Spent $2.80 from the Hop App on my phone. I have heard TriMet is moving to a pure ‘tap’ system soon. Excellent.

The bus ride with my bags was uneventful, and I soon found myself waiting for a Red Line MAX train, also operated by TriMet, where I used a free transfer to pay. It is rush hour and I wait only 4 minutes. I record a video and add it to the #ShowMeYourHellhole tag for Jimmy Kimmel. He asked folks to post videos from Chicago, Portland, and other affected cities. I did.

I soon arrived at our airport, known unimaginably as PDX, which is also its call letters. I had talked to folks who were visitors on MAX about the area and suggested they return for more wine tours and enjoy the wine country west of Portland, where I live. I live within miles of various vineyards where grapes are grown.

At PDX, I left my phone on the scanner at Delta again as I followed the ritual of bag self-check, which has very few DIY actions, but I managed to retrieve it. Ugh! The belts are down at Delta bag check, and I rolled my bag to a generic bag area and handed it to a green-shirted person with an ID, who seemed happy to take and place it on the belt.

Next, I waited in a queue for about twenty minutes, walked past a dog, and then underwent two security checks. I thanked every TSA agent, all of whom were working during the shutdown, except the dog handler, who was busy, and I had to walk by as the dog checked me.

My box of chicken salad with crackers tripped the alarm. The TSA agent took the Lunchable, swabbed the box, and it checked out. The AI is trained to look for specific shapes and types of light, I was told, boxed chicken salad sets were tripping an alarm. I smiled and said, “I have done AI training before, and I understand that with each training, the AI may behave differently. As it sees chicken salad sets flagged as OK, it will change.” The TSA agent said, “Yes, the technology is still young,” and I thought he was a bit relieved that the human touch still works. We both smiled.

As often happens, I was talking to someone before the flight and found them next to me on the plane. Another person took the middle seat, and she brought a pizza. She dashed our hopes of having extra room; the flight was not full. I had acquired a bag of peanut M&M and a fruit and cheese box for the flight. I watched the previous TRON movie, which was better than I remembered it. We all politely watched shows and spoke only a few times. We ate and I finished the trip with a new series, CIA: The Agency. It was quite good.

I took a video of leaving Portland and posted that. I managed to get the wifi and Internet connected back on my phone. I had put my carry-on in the overhead after collecting my food and earphones, as I was feeling off (my eyes) and wanted to put my feet down and sleep if I felt like it. I did not sleep.

The plane landed, and I deplaned without issue. Soon, Deborah found me. Her drive in was messy, and she parked in valet; it is not much more than the garage and certainly easier. We waited about thirty minutes for my bag to appear, but its tag, which I had gotten when I bought the bag, was gone. It was supposed to be indestructible, with a metal cord. Hmmm. That tag has been to Casa Blanca, Iceland, and all over the USA. I will miss it.

(Deborah’s picture of sunset in Detroit)

The drive from DTW to my hotel was the usual fast-moving Detroit traffic. Soon we were at my hotel and checked in. The desk staff was happy to see me back and gave me the suite with the hot tub this time. We went next door and had dinner at the Grand Tavern. The staff there remembered us, and we had drinks and the fish and chips special.

Later, Deborah headed home, and I tried to sleep. It was hard to get to sleep due to the time difference. My eyelids swelled again. I was up and down all night. No good sleep for days.

I got a text and saw it was 8. I was not ready to start.

And that starts Saturday, thanks for reading!