Blog

The morning was a bit rushed as I had a meeting at 7AM. I started at 6ish and made coffee and got through some email and checked there was nothing I needed to do right then. I rushed getting ready and was ready just in time to get toast and breakfast as I started non-stop Zoom calls for two hours.

I had a break at 9. I had to handle Susie’s Physical Therapy appointment. I called to have it today and was told it was not booked for two. I left a message with Clare as we were expecting her.

I then ordered groceries from Safeway.com as we are starting to get a bit short, even toilet paper. I put in an order to have groceries delivered this early evening. It was three dollars cheaper.

I went for a walk. Today I managed to walk the full length of my usual walk. It is a thirty-minute walk. I was called by PT while walking. Clare is ill, so no PT today.

I noticed a lovely stream I walk by every time I make it all the way. It was time to share that.

I also noticed during my walk that the crows were not out during my walk this morning. Like me, I imagined they had status meetings and agile-style stand-up (fly-up?) meetings (or is that a murder).

I made a roast beef and cheddar sandwich for lunch. When Susie was up a little later, I got her some Eggo Waffles with peanut butter.

I started my new assignment today. I signed back into my old systems to do a bit of research. The assignment is to explain what the source is for some of the data sent from the Nike main accounting system to the data intelligence systems and planning systems. This main system is my former system, and I have to admit that I enjoy looking into it and helping someone use it, even if that is to replace my old software. Unlike most things built in this world, computer software needs to be replaced and destroyed. There should be no antique accounting systems in this world, and while my old system is not failing, it is time for it to go.

I was able to track down the source of the data for the “unknown” item and have another meeting on Monday to clarify my findings.

Mariah texted me if I wanted to have a late dinner. I have groceries coming from Safeway, I could not leave, and I offered to cook pork chops for all of us. That worked for Mariah.

I got out some frozen chops from Schwann’s and ran water over them to defrost them. I put potatoes in the oven—green beans, Schwann’s, with butter and almonds.

The potatoes ended up being finished in the microwave, and the bean’s microwave bag broke open from the bottom (!?) and dumped steaming water on the floor. I managed to get the beans in the pan with butter, almond slivers, butter, and salt without a mess. I was missed by the hot water.

Turning to the main dish, I first cook the chops in a pan on the stove in butter and olive oil. I sprinkle with good salt and generic Italian seasons. I fry and season both sides and flip often. Once about 1/2 done, I put the whole pan in the oven at 350F and cook five-six minutes on each side.

After pulling the pan from the over, I put a mitt on the handle. I take them out of the pan and make a pan gravy by adding butter and cream to the pan and stir up all the bits. I then add water and corn starch to give it some thickening. Usually, a little more water is needed to thin it out.

Note: I put an oven mitt over the handle of the pan as it is burning hot. Forget the mitt, and pain will come when you grab the pan’s handle, burning pain.

Slice up the chop and spoon the gravy over the pork.

We watched the end of the news and an old Top Gear episode. Mariah had not seen the crazy show before.

It not a bad evening.

15,811 people were vaccinated in Oregon yesterday. This number will increase as it takes 72 hours to get all the information. Our county, Washington, is just short of 6% vaccinated.

3,652 people died today in the USA from the virus. The death rate is showing signs of finally slowing.

I picked On Eagle’s Wings for today. I like this 2020 version.

 

Susie’s report came back about 27 hours later, and we learned that she had no signs of Covid-19. We knew it was unlikely that she was infected, but we still were worried. We ordered KFC for dinner to celebrate, and I have been writing while she reads from her Kindle.

My allergies are acting up, so I took some meds for that, and now I am extra sleepy. This will be short today.

I started the day at 6ish as usual for a Thursday, the messiest day of the week for me. I am double booked for much of the day in what seems like endless Zoom meetings. I listened and tried to help with any crises of the moment. It was mostly status meeting and listening to debates on how to load code, data, or configuration corrections today. I was distracted by checking on Susie and looking for test results on the Legacy Medical website.

I managed a short walk today. The crows were very loud, and I watched them drop snails from the phone lines and the now broken out snail. I have watched them drop them on cars. I think they laugh a lot.

I am careful at the crosswalks now. Yesterday a car waited for me at the 209th intersection at Reedville School, and the very impatient driver in the sporty car behind him suddenly swung around and tried to make a sudden right turn over me. I did resist anything thing inappropriate, but I did dip my hat at the driver who stopped.

We did not get the results until about 3ish. I finished my last meeting at 4ish and kept up on email until 5ish.

My old boss at Nike, Jimmy, reads the blog, and he was wondering if it was made into a movie; who do I see playing me. I like Danny DeVito’s friendly version from the movie Other People’s Money. Here is the intro I like so much: Other People’s Money Intro. Danny DeVito plays a corporate raider, but he is not evil or even dark. He also loves donuts.

Just a tranquil day with perfect results!

12,292 people received a vaccination in Oregon yesterday. The number will likely be revised up as more data will come in over 72 hours. Our county, Washington, has a 5.7% vaccinated so far.

3,908 people died from the virus today in the USA.

I went with my most fav hymn, This is My Song. This is a new 2020 version.

 

I had the phones ready for me. We were waiting for the scheduling of Susie’s Covid-19 test. Susie had a moderate fever yesterday, and they want to ensure that this is not asymptomatic Covid-19. We would be called this morning to arrange for the testing. I was up at 6ish as I had a 7AM meeting with the data migration team.

I managed to be on time and made breakfast, a bagel plus a banana, while the meeting went on. I think I drank half the pot of coffee by nine! I am feeling exhausted of late.

We got the call at about 9:15ish, and I dropped from another Zoom call and rallied Susie. We had to be in North West Portland at 10:55. So I got her going, and we were off a few minutes behind my plan, but Air Volvo delivered us early to Portland.

I used the nav in the car. I do no use the phone for this, and it got to the exact spot. I do have to update Air Volvo Nav once in a while for this to work better than a phone’s maps.

I forgot to get gas for Air Volvo. While we had 15 minutes, we found a gas station and filled up Air Volvo.

We then headed over, and Susie got the longest swab on the planet, at least that is what it looked like from her perspective, and she did not enjoy the process.

We will get results in 24-72 hours. I am logging on to Susie’s account with Legacy Medical to check about every few hours. So far, no results.

All the still surviving food places have tents to serve outside. There are also cocktails to go. We resisted that as we are being tested and need to lockdown.

I attended two more work Zoom status meetings after we stopped Burger King and got whoppers with cheese for lunch.

Being very tired, I rested and finally slept about an hour or so. We try not to be frightened by the prospect of facing the infection of Covid-19. It is hard not to be worried.

I ordered a ham and pineapple pizza thin crust for dinner (Susie’s fav) and a salad. We ate that while watching the news on PBS. Susie is feeling fine.

We saw that today is Holocaust Day on the news. People are alone today instead of meeting for this sad day. I wanted to call it out. Susie used to work at the Hebrew Home in Rockville, Maryland and many of her clients were survivors of the camps. It is important to remember.

I went back to writing my Dungeons and Dragons adventure re-write. I got a few more pages done. I am still working out the layout. I am also looking at the rules for using the open license (SRD5 for those who know these things) for this kind of writing. I have published Dungeons and Dragons adventures before (i.e., on Amazon Finding a Broken Sword), and it is all coming back to me.

I will try to get some rest and make it through the usual hectic that is my Thursday on Zoom for Nike.

We believe that we are part of Group 3 of Phase 1B in Washington County, Oregon. We should get our vaccine sometime after Valentine’s Day. The rather obscure rules are here in this hard to find website: https://covidvaccine.oregon.gov/.

10,942 people were vaccinated yesterday in Oregon. The final count is revised for 72 hours, so this number is low. We have over 5% of people vaccinated in our county: Washington.

3,912 people passed away from Covid-19 today in the USA.

I went with a hymn I could sing, and I love Johnny Cash’s version, In The Garden–Methodist Hymnal #314.

Susie has a Covid-19 test sometime tomorrow. We will be called to schedule a drive-thru test in the early morning. Susie may have asymptotic Covid-19. We will know in 24-hours or less if we have Covid-19.

Susie this morning developed symptoms that include a 101F fever, thirst, and exhaustion. These are atypical for Covid-19. I stopped working, canceled Susie’s physical therapy, and then spoke to the nurse, and later we spoke to our doctor.

Returning to the start, I slept into 7ish this morning and started with the first status meeting at 7:30. I did everything in a rush this morning to sneak in that extra 60 mins of rest. India is on Holiday today, Republic Day, and so the 7 was canceled.

I had non-stop meetings, some double-booked, until ten. While listening to the meetings, I uploaded my W-2 into Turbo Tax. I am getting my documents together and will likely finish my taxes in a few weeks. I suspect I will owe much this year.

I slipped in making a bagel and making coffee, of course, during all the meetings. I also had soup, beef veggie from a can, toast, and salad for lunch.

I then went for a walk and made lunch. I discovered Susie was ill at near noon when she was not up yet.

I spent the rest of the day talking to medical people and caring for Susie. The Tylenol I gave Susie, suggested by the nurse, seemed to bring the fever down. I checked Susie non-stop for hours. I lay down next to her, slept for 30 minutes, and then awoke and took Susie’s temperature. I have a touchless electronic device I ordered from Amazon for just this case.

I did manage to walk out into the heavy flakes of snow we had today. We had a light wet dusting today. It was fun to see the snow today.

Zeriada sent over soup and dinner. I made that for Susie after she was up. Susie’s fever is gone. It is unlikely then to be Covid-19.

We watched the animated movie Coco on Disney+ while eating. It is an excellent movie. It did make me cry, but those emotions were likely related to the events of the day.

I am reading Caste: The Origin of our Discontents. This was recommended by Jack Cone, and so far, I would recommend it. I am reading the Kindle version. It main discussion that race is actually a caste problem. It also points out that it is our country and, therefore, our problem to solve. I believe the author may be right, and I am enjoying learning this new viewpoint.

10,178 people were vaccinated today in Oregon. These numbers are updated for 72 hours, and it is likely the number will increase. More than 5% of our county, Washinton, is vaccinated.

4,045 people died today in the USA from the virus. This number suggests this will be the worst week in history for the USA, I am sorry to report.

I picked no hymn today, but I picked one of my favorite songs: Breathe (2AM).

Working backward this time. I am finishing The Last Emperox. I have loved this final book, and I am sad about the ending, but it works. I am a bit late writing as I wanted to get past the excitement of the main story’s resolution. I recommend the series.

I got a call from work, and, as there is no rest for the wicked, I have more work and a new problem to solve. I will start on that on Tuesday.

We picked up Chinese food from Taste of Sichuan. I was too tired after this weekend to cook another dinner today. Susie, Corwin, and I each picked something. We watched the news while we ate. I was catching up on what was happening.

Seven hours of Zoom calls, most status, was today. I made a salad for lunch and walked for 1/2 an hour today. I was a bit unsteady today and tired.

I received a lot of thanks today for working through the issues with my teams over the weekend. We will still working on some corrections today and the next couple of days, but the basic work was finished yesterday. Everyone seems happy.

This will be a short story today. I am tired. Today I had a few cookies. I eat one maybe once in six months. Today I had three!

6,182 people were vaccinated in Oregon on Sunday. The number will likely increase as the data takes as long as 72 hours to be collected. Washington County, where we live, is now at about 5% vaccinated.

1,897 people died of Covid-19 today in the USA.

I went with Now The Slience–Methodist Hymnal #619.