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Wednesday, I was home most of the day and suffered from a mixed-up tummy and colon issues. While I was not depressed (the colors did not run out of the day), it was a less-than-stellar day.

I had trouble sleeping and luxuriated in my comfy bed until 9, which is unusual for me. It was a cold but clear morning. We are having a sunglass-needed California morning rather than a Pacific Northwest gray. My climbing roses are reaching the top of my fence already. I got out the Neem Oil to treat two bushes for rust, which is new this year. When applied, the roses need to be dry, and I soak the leaves, hoping to drown the fungus. I should have blooms everywhere next week!

I found the coffee pot still hot when I finally reached the kitchen. It was not a long quest for the kitchen, but a long wait to get out of bed, put on slippers, and walk to the kitchen. There, I later acquired more coffee, a banana ($2.49 @ Costco for a larger bunch greener than I like), and more muffins starting to age. I brought these back to the office, continued to doom scroll (reading the news), update transactions on Quicken, and started on the blog.

Aside: At Costco, I watched some people reach deep into a box of bananas. Not something I would do. I still remember the horror movie about Banana Spiders. I know the box was repacked, and the yellow is from gassing the banana with sulfur (we eat unripe bananas in the USA, dyed to look ready), likely ending any hiding spiders. Still, I am not reaching into the box!

I wrote the blog until 11ish and published. I had my leftover half of a tuna fish sandwich from Subway for lunch. Then, I took a long shower and dressed.

I took my laptop with me to Wildwood using Air VW the Gray to get there. JR was there and we chatted a few times. I found a beer and sat outside in the sun to read Pastor Ken’s newest update on his book. I read the following two chapters and sent him some thoughts. Previously, Ken asked me not to be an editor but to look for flow and clarity.

I moved inside when some folks chatted loudly, and I could not focus. I tried a small glass of an IPA that, to me, tasted like a cleaning supply. I am not an IPA person, but I try them once and a while. The beer made me tired, and my tummy was upset again; I headed home.

I rested and read. I nodded off a few times (these little naps are not great for a good night’s sleep), but read more Canadian crime/mystery, set in Paris. Gaming was out tonight as Z was at play practice. Z is the title character and has lots to learn and do for the musical Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

I made a NYC bagel (thanks, Joyce, for the new ones from Zabar’s) with cream cheese for dinner. I had to unwrap the block, cut it, and spread it old-school style. It brought back memories. I used to get a bagel sandwich in Washington DC when I worked there in the 1980s, and it had a block of cream cheese between the bread; I had to ask for less and have them spread some on.

I read more and said good night to Deborah as she ended her day. The book made me cry, and I reacted more than I expected. I walked around the backyard and was calm. I recommend these books, even with the tears, the Chief Inspector Gamache novels. I am on the 17th one.

I started on the revised book (1930s) on Jutland 1916 (the greatest battleship battle). I have an original copy from 1923. I am surprised that this book is the source of most of the stories I have read. The revised version has added pages with letters and the original page. There are also texts referring to German sources that the 1920s version did not include (it had not been published yet). The revised version I have does not include the maps.

I forgot to assemble coffee, but I did the dishes and tried to sleep. I was waking up often and tossing and turning. I think I need more exercise and fewer naps!

Thanks for reading!

I was up at 7 for another gray morning. I was rushed as I had a board game 9:30 in Portland at Richard’s house. I was bringing Unsettled, a cooperative board game with a SciFi theme. We play cooperative games on Tuesday morning. I started the blog, got coffee (assembled the night before), and a muffin. But I did not get more than a few words down before I had to head out.

After a quick shower, dress, and all that, I was in Air VW the Gray headed to Portland. The traffic was thick and slow. While my syrup for my pancakes or jam for my toast is good this way, traffic is just frustrating. While in Beaverton, there was no chance of risking a speeding ticket! Highway 26, the Sunset Highway, was slow.

The signs on 26 went from ‘SLOW’ to ’35 MPH’, and suddenly, the traffic started to move. I wondered about the cause of the improvement (did the sign change give folks permission to go faster?). The driving, now at the end of rush hour, was chaotic, with folks, including myself, putting on blinkers and then sitting until someone let them in. It was very polite and very PDX. I was ten minutes late.

We decided on Unsettled; James was there and told us he has an unpunched copy. He was happy to learn the game. I picked the ‘B’ scenario for the ice planet Gniir, but we soon returned to ‘A’ as it was a continuation of the previous scenario and could not remember. Reset, we played and failed, and had time to start again. This time, we were more efficient, and by 1:30, we were on target to win. James had to leave, but we declared it a success as we knew how to win and had enough resources and health to finish. Next time, we will either try ‘B’ or another planet.

I drove home and stopped at Subway off of TV Highway for a veggie and tuna fish salad sub. I got the big one, as I would eat half today and then again tomorrow. I had them add all the fresh veggies and some hots. I love this sub, as the bread is fresh, the veggies are crunchy, and the tuna fish, while industrial, is fresh, too. I took my sub to the office, looked at the blog, and soon found myself sleepy. I curled up in my bed and slept a few hours, a privilege of being retired.

I rose, chatted, and then talked to Deborah a few times (her work day was over as she lives in Michigan and has a three-hour time difference), and then boarded the EV again. I was off to Costco and making some investments (I bought eggs).

There I found a few things I needed, but in sizes that make one have no doubt about the cause of the obesity issue in the US. I think I grew a pound just looking at the stuff! I got eggs (24) and a gallon of laundry detergent. I got shelf-stable milk (I don’t drink it, thus I need the small ones for baking). I got a few veggies as I was there, and the price was not terrible. I did not buy the three pound tub of cream cheese (f**k) but did get 8 packs of cream cheese (I will have to make a cheese cake I decided). Why anyone would want a tub that size (instead of a pack of smaller sizes) is beyond me. But Costco is often that way for me. It is just me at the house.

Today’s visit, just before the rush and on a Tuesday, meant the place was quieter. Many people there on weekends are angry and rushing, and my fellow shoppers sometimes push me aside. It was not a pleasant shopping experience. The pallets of $600 tall-as-me gun safes speak for our times—yes, pallets.

I took my load, somehow more than I planned, with the checking person telling me, ‘It is Costo’ when asked if I found what I needed. ‘More’ was my answer.  I got it in the VW and home. I unloaded and managed to squeeze it all in. Time was passing fast.

Andor, the Star Wars show, dropped three episodes, and my binge-watching filled my early evening with chats and texts with Deborah and Joan. I made a messy quiche with all those eggs and a frozen pie crust. I opened the ham and added that, chopped, to some slices of Swiss cheese (again from a large pack from Costco), which I also chopped. I finished it with sliced yellow bell pepper and put rings on the top.

It was OK and light (I did have two pieces). Andor was dark, moody, and complex. The rebels’ story was violent and full of emotions, desperate in a word. The Empire was cold, clean, and efficient, especially the character Dedra. It is an interesting mix, and Andor turns down a mission (he senses something is wrong, not knowing the Empire is setting up the rebels to cause the Empire to depopulate a planet).

I did the dishes, assembled liberal coffee for timed delivery on Wednesday morning, ordered more flour and mixes from King Arthur Flour (and a pan), and ordered more underwear, not from Amazon but directly from the company, one size smaller (!). I paid shipping, but got a discount. It appears to be cheaper than my last purchase on Amazon. Interesting.

Time was getting away from me, and I was not in bed reading until late. I enjoyed the Canadian murder/crime novel set in Paris, All the Devils Are Here: A Novel (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Book 16), and read even until late. Finally, I decided to sleep instead of staying up late. It is nearing the finish, and I am still confused, but it is perfect. I woke once before sunrise to prove hydration. 

Thanks for reading.

 

Monday was another gray Pacific Northwest day, more usual for April. There was little or no rain on Monday, a disappointment as our outdoors appears magical, glittering with some water in the gray light. I rose later, past 8. Monday is my Saturday. I have no plans, and everyone is back to work. I do laundry, bills, and other chores on Monday.

I wrote the blog, which took much of the morning. Deborah and I chatted by text and on the phone all through the day. Deborah is back to work. It was beyond 11 when I finished the blog, showered, shaved, dressed, and all that. I got cards in the mail in time for the mail person to get them. My mail was mostly junk on Monday. I boarded Air VW the Gray and took it to the nearby MAX station, boarded the Portland train, and read my Canadian-based crime/mystery book on my Kindle.

The train reached Pioneer Square in Portland without issue, and then we stopped. A train was broken before us, and it would be fifteen minutes or more to wait. I decided to walk. I walk the green/orange line and wonder why I never take this train. But I walked and soon found a place still serving lunch or breakfast with their specialty being grits: Mumbo Gumbo PDX. I got a seat at the dinner’s bar and noticed the place full of New Orleans Cafe Du Monde chicory coffee cans; I liked it immediately. I got coffee and their small breakfast with buttered grits. This is two eggs, ham, toast, and grits. Perfect. I had toast with peanut butter and coffee for breakfast; lunch could be light.

The food was excellent, and I promised I would return. I paid the bill (with a big tip), which was still no more than $20. Just off the Oak stop on the Green/Orange MAX line.

I enjoyed the walk to the Chinese-style garden and soon walked through it for a few hours. I passed on the tour and just walked through the place alone. Monday was quiet, and there were only about ten visitors at any time.

I also found someone collecting the flat and smooth stones that broke loose and cementing them back into the walkways. Again, this is a good thing for a quiet Monday. I was told that the garden needs some updates and repairs. After that discussion, I noticed the paths that needed work and saw that rocks collect just off the paths. You just get them and put them back with a bit of cement. Interesting!

I learned from Quinton, our tea server, that glass tea service is unavailable in the garden (I usually have it inside). People walk in the garden barefoot, and breaking glass on the path must be avoided. I did not know and was tempted to take off my shoes. Next time, when it is warmer! Instead, Quinton walks the tea refills to us, never risking dropping the glass pot. I also learned that wine is not served in the garden as, to everyone’s surprise, it stains the rocks.

I had a moon cake with my tea (way too much sugar and carbs for me) and just enjoyed the peace in the garden by the little lake. I read my book, sipped tea, and munched on the cake. My number was 42, and I thought it a good choice.

Thanking Quinton, the guides, and other staff, I headed back, walked to the MAX, remembered I wanted to play some pinball and old video games, and headed to Ground Kontrol. I did not know they closed some of the buildings on some days until the evening, restricting what I could play. But still, I could get a few games in. I enjoyed the new Jaws version pinball with scenes playing from the first movie while you play. I did hit the shark a few times. Old school Asteroids, Galaga, and a new version of Asteroids ate more into my card. No quarters or tokens now, A card taps to pay for a game. I was not as terrible as last time. More investment is necessary.

Deciding it would be good to head home, I waited for an Orange/Green MAX train, this time to Pioneer Square. I am feeling off from the tea and moon cake. I stopped at the food carts at ordered a small cheese stake from The Block. It was a lot of food, and I ate it while watching the folks. One guy searched through the trash and retrieved the cans (worth ten cents in Oregon). And while there may be better ones, the sandwich and cheese melted into the shaved steak were excellent. It was the best I had had.

Two excellent meals and new places made for a most amazing day in Portland! Then I boarded a Blue MAX back to Beaverton/Hillsboro, read on the train, and soon took the EV home.

At the house, I saw a squirrel out exploring the backyard. I watched as he/she dug up his/her supply of filberts that he/she had hidden in the lawn. The nuts are hard to open, and I have noticed that they plant them, sprout them, and enjoy them now, aged, split open, and likely tasty, like bean sprouts for us.

The rest of the night, I finished the laundry, put it away, and read my book.

Thanks for reading and sorry for being so late.

 

I usually rise at 7 with time to write this blog, but Sunday I woke at 4 and then 5, knew sleep was not returning, and rose to enjoy my day. I turned on the coffee I had assembled the night before and soon had toast with peanut butter and a banana with coffee to start my day. I wrote the blog, but as it was Sunday morning, Deborah called, and we chatted away much of the morning. I completed the blog and got to church at the last minute.

It was a cool, overcast morning, and nobody really wanted to get started. Dondrea mentioned at the start of church that the skies felt like a blanket and a reason to stay in bed and pull up your own covers. It was the Sunday after Easter, always poorly attended, and the choir and staff nearly outnumbered the rest of us!

The music was good, and I did the usher duty for the collection. I did not stand in the back as I was distracted and not focusing much on the church. Again, waking so early damaged my attention span. Pastor Ken gave the sermon and seemed to struggle with the lectionary text. These texts are Bible verses that are supplied for pastors every week. Today was hinting towards the rise of the Holy Spirit and the arrest of the apostles as recorded in The Acts. Ken said the officials, like many we see, took the expedient solution, repression, rather than the more risky choice of tolerance. But the officials are under the thumb of the very scary Roman Empire, which wants only order, trade, and most importantly, extracting cash. While often called taxes, I would characterize these payments more like protection money from an intolerant, violent group, Roman officials far from any oversight or appeal: Pay or face annihilation. Ken’s love of history came through, and he covered his realization that we, as the dominant authority (well off and Christian), must not repeat this mistake. It would be easy to let fear, expedience, and not love (or Justice or Compassion), drive our decisions.

I received a call from Mom Wild just before church (which is why I was almost late). She was lonely and needed someone to talk to. She wanted me to visit, but I won’t be there until July and only for a few days. She called again later and repeated the same request. Mom Wild is struggling in her new facility and also with memory issues.

Corwin met me in the street; he was walking over. We took the Air VW the Gray to Portland in slow-moving traffic. This is not usual on a Sunday. The usual forty minutes were an hour with Beaverton and Portland roads and highways stuffed with cars. I may start using the MAX and meeting near MAX locations for lunch.

We did find some parking off Hawthorn and soon met Mariah at Grassa on Hawthorn for a late lunch or early dinner. I have wanted to try their food for years. I had the baked pork ‘Sunday Ragu’ with freshly made rigatoni. They use more salt than I do, but it was excellent. We had some garlic bread with it (a separate charge) and resisted another $10 for a salad. The wine was good. Mariah and Corwin thought theirs were good (Corwin picked sausage and vodka sauce).

We chatted during lunch, and then we headed back. Traffic outbound was light. Corwin was soon on his way, and I took a nap. The lack of sleep, wine, food, and driving prepared me to sleep. A few hours later, I woke up more refreshed. Deborah and I texted and chatted a few more times now that I was awake. I wished Deborah a good night as she started to fall asleep. We often begin and end our days together by text or a call.

A new Doctor Who episode dropped, and I watched it with reheated pork roast and potatoes. I added baked beans to add some more flavor. I roasted the pork in the oven to get it warm. Using faster methods would have dried it out. The food was great, and the Doctor Who episode returned to a scary one full of jump scares. No spoilers. It was frightening, and I thought it was well done. It has been a while since they did one like this.

I debated and decided at the last minute for a late movie on a Sunday night. It was nearly empty when I was in the theater, as the previews were still showing. There is no reason to be early for the movies now with assigned seats and twenty minutes or more of ads and previews. Another woman was there a few rows back, and I apologized for invading her private viewing. She was gracious, and we laughed.

The Account 2 was an excellent assassin movie, and I have noticed that this theme is appearing often in action movies now. This film did not include Anna Kendrick, but many others did return and the movie picks up years later. The movie, like the first focus on The Accountant and now includes his brother and builds slow. The computer hacker scenes I loved. I enjoyed it and, with the warning this is a voilent movie with assassins, recommend it. Kathleen had told me on Saturday she liked it.

I was not home until about 11. I went to bed, read, and was hit by my Kindle when I fell asleep. I turned off the light, asked Alexa to put on music to sleep by and was soon deeply asleep.

I dreamed that my uncle visiting me here in Oregon. I have never dreamed of him before. He was his usual condisending self. I woke once to prove hydration and went back to sleep.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

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I watched a little of the funeral for the late Pope Francis. I remember seeing on TV the old movie The Shoes of the Fisherman when I was a child, and learning that there is a pope and an election. The more recent Conclave is a fun set of twists and turns, more like a Cold War spy movie (George Smiley as a cardinal). Dan Brown gets credit, too, for this movie, Angels & Demons. And the Godfather III movie includes papal intrigue. There is also a comedy in which an unknown was selected by accident, The Pope Must Diet. And lastly, The Road to Gandolfo is a comedy spy book that includes kidnapping a pope by the thriller writer Robert Ludlum (originally published under another name as it was too zany for his usual audience)–I enjoyed it years ago.

The point is that I experience the papacy and its election through books and movies. It seems unreal to me, obviously, I am not Catholic. However, one of the items on my list is the “Dan Brown Tour of Rome.”

I will miss Francis’s attempt to merge kindness and discipline. It seemed more of a personal struggle for Francis, who then extended it to the Catholic Church. I wish the conclave well and am betting on Cardinal Parolin, an Italian. He would continue Francis’s work as he is the head diplomat of the Holy See and an insider.

I rose late on Saturday, after 7:30, and the sun again appeared. I had turned off the heat and AC as we are now in the in-between times in Oregon. The house was just getting cold. It was another bright and sunny day in Oregon, which seemed more like California than April in the Pacific Northwest.

I started on the blog, rejoiced that coffee awaited me (I assembled it the night before and set the timer), and started on the blog in the office. My morning started with a text from Deborah, and we also talked for a while. I wrote fast, but at 9ish I showered and all that to make my show.

Today, Le Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) was shown locally in theaters at 10. The Met in NYC broadcasts and records the matinee show for some of its operas. Today, the Met used a spinning stage but revised the story to a 1930s look with suits, dresses, and even hairstyles, but no smoking. It was my first time seeing this Mozart opera. Though I thought it dragged a bit in the second half, it was fun, lovely music, and an enjoyable 4.5 hours.

The sound was troubled, the broadcast started too quiet, and it was not in sync for much of the show. I read the words often, so I did not see that problem. There were some dropped frames here and there. They gave rain checks to the audience. Still, I enjoyed the Opera and will try to make some more. I got a small bag of popcorn for the second half.

I was at loose ends for a few hours. I thought about heading to Portland for lunch, but instead found the Cedar Hills McMenamins and got a seat at the bar not far from the open door. My sweater vest worked as the desert wind was cold while the sun was hot. We often get cold winds from the high deserts; in the winter, it can be 20°F winds on a 30-40°F day. It will kill any tender plants. Thus, smarter gardeners plant those near the house and out of the wind.

I had a beer with fish and chips. While I sat at the bar, eating, I wrote the rest of the blog. I use my iPhone’s HotSpot for the Internet, never trusting the local connections.

I was late for lunch, about 2ish, and ordered dessert and coffee. The lemon cake was OK, but the berries with it were a mess. I thought we did better in Detroit at the cooking class. It was not as lovely, as often happens, as the picture.

I boarded Air VW the Gray and dared the Sunset Highway (26) on a sunny, warm Saturday. It was slow, but there were no accidents or construction, and I was surprised to quickly arrive at Guardian Games in SE Portland. There, I looked at the games and other role-playing game (RPG) items. I found a cheap ($23) stapled book adventure for the SciFi Horror RPG, Nietzsche’s Demon.

It was still early, and I was still at loose ends. I took the VF to Cargo’s parking. I saw that the Hair of the Dog bar, which once shared the parking, was defunct. The establishment was a favorite that did not come back strong after the pandemic and appears to be finally gone. Before the plague, their beer and food were proud and well executed. I remember the Chuck Norris Duck Wings were spicy–they had a kick. I had forgotten my hat there, and a week later, I found they were holding it for me; the bar will be missed!

When they reopened, the food was awful, and the beer was expensive. They did not last long. On Saturday, I walked by the For Rent sign, and a guy was sitting at the table drinking and looking unhappy. I almost stopped, but I decided I wanted to remember the place as I remembered it.

Instead, I entered Cargo. This store is a mix of imports, antiques, and miscellaneous paper items. I found some cards and breath mints in an Ouija-style. However, resisted some of the cool wall hangings and their new travel book section.

Next door is Malpractice, a high-end cocktail bar. I met the owner, Rick, and he had no recommendations. I picked something from their online menu: a boozy and interesting mixed beeswax and bourbon drink with hints of peach. A bit of mint was placed on a clip on the super-thin, tiny glass bowl-like martini glass. I would breathe in mint as I sipped, not mix it into the drink. It was a perfect fit. While not cheap, the drink was good, and I would like to try others. There is light food to go with the drinks. I will be back!

After giving out my cards, I headed back to the EV and traveled to Richard’s place. Soon, we were repeating the same board game as last time: Stupor Mundi, a deck-building and resource management game. I watched Richard have perfect combinations and score 50% higher than the next person. Yikes!

The game appears more like a race to get the perfect combination than an efficiency game. I struggled with my setup, and Kathleen said it was difficult when she played it. Each player has special superpowers and can acquire more. Blue, the side I was playing, was weak. I managed to just stay in third place with some misplays at the start as I had some trouble reading some cards and process. I was more careful for the rest of the game and watched Kathleen struggle a few times. It was not just me.

While I will play it, Stupor Mundi will not be in my collection. Victory is based on knowing what combinations to grab that complement your color’s special abilities. You then efficiently use your unstoppable advantage to win. Not that interesting to me, but my complaints may be unfair. I have played the game twice and still have not gotten it into my head. After the game, we talked politics, and I got home safe late in the VW. I had trouble sleeping and woke before sunrise at 5:30. I did turn the heat on as it was cold tonight (30s).

Thanks for reading.