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We did 77 days in lockdown. It is now day 1 of working from home under Phase 1 of the re-opening plan. I have started a new count.

My wife was surprised to see me working from home as I told her the lockdown ended, it has, but I will continue to work from home. Susie was expecting me to drive to work today. Nike has some people back in the offices, but we are not even planned to return this quarter, after September 2020, if then.

I could not sleep last night, so I finished my novel, Maisie Dobbs book #4. I worked the weekend and had only a few hours of sleep and fell deep asleep on Sunday about 5PM after we delivered the big demo–I could not then fall back to sleep. I have my nights and days a bit mixed up. 6AM was hard today, but the afternoon was harder!

I was excited that the rules came in the mail from Pulp Alley today. I also bought the Fortune Cards and a book of scenarios–everything needed to play. This game system does not use a Game Master to run the game like most role-playing tabletop games do. Pulp Alley uses random cards and activation rules to run the game. A player is appointed the Director who runs the scenario and then is replaced as another play succeeds at a goal. The Director can stack the action to his or her advantage so it is also an advantage to be directing. I think the game will be an excellent role-playing experience–focusing on the play and less the mechanic. Also, you get two more characters to play in your “league.” This is something we use to do in old Dungeons and Dragons. It allows you more options than just playing one character all the time.

The writers seem to have harvested the best of Savage Worlds and Frost Grave with a bit of original Dungeons and Dragon simplicity I have not seen in a while. I will try to play some this week. It plays well for 1-4 players. I have found that four or more players do not work that well without a player running the game. These automated adventures become crowded and hard to manage with more than four players and four can be difficult. I did not buy the Solo deck and might regret that.

I first downloaded and printed out the start-up version with hand cut-out cards to try it.  I recommend trying that before making the investment; it is a bit expensive as it is not mass-produced. All the items are of high quality. And if you play, like I do, Call of Cthulhu you already have a bunch of 1920-1930 figures ready to be heroic. Those Darlek figures and The Doctor figures could be fun too.

I had Beefaroni for lunch with peaches. We still have a lot of canned pasta meals left from the emergency–Susie likes Beefaroni. It was not as terrible as the canned spaghetti and meatballs, and I added cheese. I still have a few cans left of the delicious peaches, DelMonte Freestone Peaches. A good and quick lunch.

Work became hard as meetings went on and on while I was starting to get very sleepy. I made it to 4PM.

I got a short 15 min. nap in to change gears and then made dinner. Porkchops, corn, and Stovetop stuffing from a box. I browned the chops in a pan and then put the pan in the oven to finish. It turned out a bit plain but good. Comfort food.

Safeway delivered the groceries tonight. At first we thought we had lost half the order to stocking issues at Safeway, but despite an email and a receipt that said half the order was lost–it was all there. I checked and I paid the whole amount too. I stopped shopping even with a mask and hand sanitizer when the virus started to show again in our area with higher infection rates. Also, wearing a mask has become a political statement and I am not willing to get involved with arguments with folks. I continue to wear a mask and be very careful.

We had a catch-up on our group that plays on-line Dungeons and Dragons using Roll20 on Mondays. We had folks traveling, and some could only come late, and I was not that well prepared yet, so this was just a quick meet-up online. I managed to get everyone’s characters transferred from the previous adventure and into the new experience: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. This is a vast adventure that has been translated into the electronic content in Roll20. We are continuing our campaign in this setting. Today was just to get everyone signed-in to the new game, each adventure is a new game in Roll20, and show the great reward they had earned from completing their last quest. One of the items I was proud of–I made it myself, a battle-ax that is self-aware and heals the welder and his/her/its allies when they do lots of damage. We will play our first actual game in the new setting next Monday. We had everyone fight a few monsters to check that everything was working.

For you who play Dungeons and Dragons, there is a new group headed down the Tavern Yawning Portal’s entrance the Mad Mage’s complex. Bets are being taken. 2-1, they will return. 3-1, they will never be heard from again. 4-1 they will return and bring great riches back with them and buy everyone a drink. Get your character’s bets in with your local DM!

The stock market was mostly up. President Trump tear-gassed the peaceful protesters after the market closed; we will see what will happen to the market with a new emergency. The experts think the investors have priced-in the risk of the virus to the economy and are now moving to post-virus thinking. Many of the experts believe this may be too risky. I did not make my goal today, my 401K improved to -1.86% loss for the year. I thought I would break even by June, close.

I watched the news and the riots. I am very unhappy with the tagging and breakage–just like everyone else. I angry with police and politicians trying to crush rights and killing people by direct violence or the violence of neglect. Also, I looked up the 1807 laws and know where we may be going. Soon I may be on the streets too.

Corwin was right, I should have gotten those high quality rebreathing masks. Originally for spray painting, but now I might need them for other uses.

The reports show the infection curve in the USA is falling. More than seven-hundred people died from the virus today in the USA. I found a very interesting version of this hymn today: Child So Lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I was online working all day. Our team had to deliver a data conversion today. We had to actually do a demonstration of the conversion. It took all day to get ready, and we had the software working within minutes of the deadline, but we did it at 4PM today and were accepted.

I spent most of the day online working with the team helping where I could.

Between work times, I was reading about the riots and protests all over the USA. I read the anarchist websites to understand how they protect themselves. I gave money to their bail-out fund (go-fund-me) and I could be targeted. The president declared the group terrorists and I willingly gave support.

Now before you email me about my poor choices, let me admit I likely do not agree with the folks I am helping to bailing-out, but I am willing to protect people’s right to protest this weekend. I am trying to act with compassion. When there is a fund for the damages, I will donate to it too.

I had lunch delivered, this last time–I plan to try lunch at a restaurant on Monday, from The Gyro House. I had an extra spicy lamb Gyro and ordered Susie a kid’s kabob lamb with fries. She had pizza instead. I had the lamb for dinner.

I have managed to start the next Howard story. Susie reviewed the Howard in Amsterdam and did not care for it. I did not explain the eldritch powers in the story, and so she was lost. I will consider adding a section with an educational film on the arcane horrors. Susie said the writing was good and clear.

Susie and I watched the news. She has been so disconnected that she did not know about the riots. We watched all the coverage of the riots, local and national, while she munch pizza, and I finished the lamb.

I then took a nap and am slept a bit long. The protests are continuing tonight. Susie is watching them now on TV.

It is reported that more than six-hundred people died from the virus here in the USA this Sunday. The national infection rate has also developed a strong negative slope–there is hope the limit has been reached and the rate will decline. So I went with the music for today from a Nobel Peace Prize Concert as it seemed to be needed: Queen Latifah “I know where I’ve been” 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

It has rained and thundered today. Not the typical Oregon mist but full-on rain with lightning and thunder!

The riots are happening all over the country. People are split about them. I hear that the rioters are no better than criminals or worse terrorists. With the later being available to shoot down. Others remind us what MLK said more than fifty years ago: “In the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear?” For me, I try to hear and to understand and not add to the anger.

I started the morning late as I was tired. I am working as needed all day and night for Nike. We are trying to write an emergency conversion program that normally takes a week in 48 hours. We are all on-line working, of course, remotely and using Microsoft Teams to connect along with email and Zoom meetings. It is a nearly dizzying mix of technology and desperation. In other words, routine computer software development work!

We stopped to watch the Falcon 9 launch the US crew into space.

This is a NASA photo (credits: NASA/Bill Ingalls).

I have been online all day and checking in with the developers and tried to help where I can. I just put in some code for them a few minutes ago. This makes this update late.

I did slip out to pick-up my order from the local gaming store, Rainy Day Games. Their online store was sort of working–my order duplicated and they had to cancel a spare game for me. It was so nice to see them all, masked, but we all know each other. One of them runs the local gaming convention, Game Storm. Another is a serious gamer and painter–we share painting advice and gaming suggestions. I bought the game Never Bring A Knife as it was on special. I got to be one of four people allowed in the store at a time. Social distancing being maintained at all times. So great to see these folks after three months!

I then ordered pizza from Papa Murphy’s (the take and bake place we have here in Oregon) using their phone app in Rainy Day Games’ parking lot sitting in my car. While I waited for the app to tell me the pizza was ready for pick-up, I read the rules of Never Bring A Knife. It has a minimum of four players to play and can play eight. It is another social deduction styled game simpler than Secret Hitler without the historical baggage and awful name. You are either a cop or a hardened criminal. You try to make the other side lose the game by dropping someone on the other side with guns and putting hits on them. But others can heal or block the person you hit, and then they may easily deduce that you are on the other side. The lead will then fly in your direction. It looks like fun!

With the rain and me working online all day, it was a good day for musicals. Susie watched “Rocket Man” first. I stepped in here and there to watch most of it–Elton John’s songs are so well done in the film–I stopped everything and sat and watched and listened. This was followed by “Rock of Ages,” which is set in 1987 in California. I graduated from college in 1986 and headed out to Washington DC and Maryland in 1987 to find work, so it has some appeal to me. I was going into software, not Rock and Roll, but the late 80s is well remembered by me. I like the music and the goofy acting and story.

A relaxing night with pizza and coding when needed at the shoe company.

During the movies, I made pizza.

I finished the re-write of my Howard story, “Howard in Amsterdam.” The finish for the first will be uploading to Grammarly and fix missed grammar items and then a final re-reading. Getting to the final editing of my previous story allows me finally to begin my newest story, “Howard’s Lockdown.” I have been thinking about what would happen to Howard in our lockdown. Time to write that story!

Reports have just over one-thousand people losing their lives to the virus today in the USA. Portland police report arresting thirty-one people tonight, and there are reports of tear gas possible use tonight. I found this song for today–something I found by accident: Let My Prayer Rise Up (Suba Mi Oracion).

 

 

 

On Monday Washington Country is leaving lockdown to enter Phase I of re-opening. Susie has a hair appointment (and other items) on Tuesday now with Zerida. Her driver will be picking her up. I have a hair-cut planned for Friday at 2:15, I am beginning to look the part of the mad scientist. I might drive to Portland on Friday and attend a board game. Yipee!

Work was full of Zoom conferences to discuss our deliverables. We are working, again, another weekend to deliver the project. Our delivery date, Sunday, is set by the head of IT at Nike. Today we delivered the first two significant items and all the more manageable parts. The delivery requires an actual demonstration of the software and sign-off by that we delivered to the requirements. It was a bit stressful day for our software writers! Unfortunately, the last major piece needs a re-write that we started today. The vendor software failed to deliver, so we are back to writing it. We have a demo planned, even as we write it, on Sunday. Thus I will be helping all weekend.

Usually, Friday is a half-day as Nike closes at noon. I did have meetings in the afternoon. Next weekend should be less complicated.

I noticed that our local German styled restaurant, Bargarten, had a website now and was offering pick-up orders. We ordered a growler of beer and sausage dinner for four for pick-up. I called them to make sure they wanted us to bring a growler, no–that is no longer allowed with the virus restrictions, and this was all new to them. We opened Bargarten! We are the first order. They are getting ready to open for seating on Monday, June 1st when Washington County opens, and so they were doing pick-up orders now. They, in masks, were happy to hand over the food and beer. The food and the apple strudel was lovely. The beer was even better!

I am happy to help re-launch Washington County a bit early with beer and sausages.

The book I ordered showed today, Mindset. This is the book the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Narayana Nadella, used to better define the culture he wants at Microsoft. I am reading it.

I am also reading the next Maise Dobbs novel. I like crime-mystery books set in the 1930s. I recommend her stories. 

With all the chaos in the country, I did what I can do. I donated to the NAACP and to our local mosque. I cannot solve injustice, but I can make it clear that I am for justice. 

The stock market went up and down. The head of The Fed took questions from the Internet on Bloomberg today and he stated that The Fed has kept it “powder dry” and can react to further events if needed. The president attacked China in a speech. The experts are beginning to talk that the market is already beyond the bottom and maybe in entering a bull market. The president suggested shooting down people. It was a strange news day.

Today the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 again the Oregon constitution that someone can be convicted 10 out of 12 by a jury. The ruling overturned a previous ruling in 1972 that confirmed this type of conviction. I was on a jury that convicted a very bad dude with 10 out of 12. I am saddened that we did not work to get unanimity in our jury, as we would have likely done that or have dead-locked, a better outcome. I read in the Court’s opinion and it is supported by conservative and liberal justices including the notorious RBG. I agree with it and am sorry to be involved in what apparently was an injustice. The ruling also brings an end to the concept that the 14th amendment does allow state laws to trump federal law in certain cases. States may not reduce their citizen’s rights that are granted in the Federal Constitution, in this case, the 6th amendment in the Bill of Rights (right to a trial).

Dinner was more beer and more German-style food.

The death rate in the USA for today is reported at about the same number as yesterday, just over one-thousand, two-hundred. I opened the Methodist Hymnal I have at the house, and it turned to page #476 Lonely the Boat, and I found only one version from a choir on YouTube. Enjoy!

 

Again, 5:30AM came too soon. I awoke with a toothache and asthma. I have a problem with my bite that is moving my teeth wrong. The dentist tried to fix it last time. I just need to be more gentle until it settles. Aspirin reduces swelling and got the pain under control. Inhalants reduced breathing issues.

Today was another working at home day–like usual. I handled email and a crisis of the moment a couple of times. We had a department Zoom meeting lead by the Chief Operating Officer, Andy Campion, at 7:30AM. The emergency was most of the discussion from Nike leadership. They wanted us to know that we have a plan and what the outline of it is. Then the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Narayana Nadella, was the special guest and he spoke about how he believes in growth for people and for Microsoft. Satya Nadella is a very dynamic speaker and came from an engineering background making him very popular with us. He recommended a book Mindset–his vision of the culture he wants for Microsoft is embodied in the book (clearly he suggests the same guidance for Nike). I ordered a paperback copy to be delivered during the meeting. It was strangely cheaper in the new paperback form than the Kindle version! It was a good meeting.

I continued in the morning with more meetings, emails, and a few crisis of the moment.

Lunch again was reheated Chinese food.

I took most of my afternoon meetings in Zoom on the deck. It was a wonderful day. The other people on the meeting stayed inside–I am not sure why. It was 89F today, but a nice breeze took the edge off the heat.

We had to start the AC today, again.

Susie was up late afternoon. She had a late breakfast. I took her for a drive and picked up some prescription and then got some tacos from Taco Bell for me for dinner (everyone else had just eaten a late lunch). This was my first time at Taco Bell in six months. The food was exactly the same as the last time I was there. The facemask, shields, touchless pay, and the food placed in a tray were aligned to the times.

Corwin made dinner for him, Evan, and Susie later: Pasta, cream sauce, chicken, and bacon.

My friend Richard, one of my Portland gaming connections, texted me to ask if I was ready to return to gaming. Sadly, I turned him down. I am not prepared to risk trips to Portland–I am not sure that Portland and Washinton country are ready to leave lockdown. Richard, let me know that I am missed. I miss playing Fridays to late and driving home from Portland. I love to drive my XC60 Volvo!

We got out Killer Bunnies. Evan got the magic carrot after most bunnies were lost to an asteroid impact. This is Susie’s favorite game. Always fun to get another play of this simple and funny game.

We then played Skull. Corwin and I both won one game. Skull is a bidding and bluffing game that is highly recommended by Will, who I lose a lot of games too. I keep a copy of the game in the car at his suggestion. It is small and easy to learn.

The stock market went up and then the President signed an executive order to try to end social media and the market tanked.

Over one-thousand, two-hundred people died today in the USA from the virus according to the reports. Today’s hymn is not known to me: O Splendor Of God’s Glory Bright – Zac Hicks + Cherry Creek Worship.