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I rose on Saturday with only the plans to receive flour and other goodies from King Arthur Flour Company and to see Z at her birthday party (she turned 14 on 28 Feb). As is my habit on Friday, I did the four days of laundry, and I put away clean clothing on Saturday morning. I washed my robe and a few items from yesterday. I doom scrolled, what us liberals call reading the news from the USA–primarily drenched in politics, updated my transactions in Quicken, and checked my 401K, trading in a narrow 1% range for months.

I expect the market to not change and certainly won’t rise. Our activist Federal Reserve may decide to raise interest rates as inflation is driven by events (i.e., bird flu, tariffs, trade wars, loss of control by the US government as it partially shut down from cuts and funding issues), so diving for financial cover is difficult. It seems to be a belt-in and hold-on. President Trump wants cheap money, and I expect he will ‘fire’ the Fed after that. The Bank of the USA may be recreated (with all the exciting risk) and be controlled, again, by congress and the President. The Federal Reserve notes currency replaced with new USA bills or Trump Bitcoins. Escape Pods are unavailable for me (or you, dear reader).

Leta, my mother-in-law has already worked out that she can live just on her teachers retirement when Social Security Checks stop coming (i.e., they fire the people who run the checks so nobody can send them, they bankrupt the USA next month with a default on debts, or other unexpected results of the executive orders and chaos in the USA government). Leta said she did not want to live through another Great Depression, but she sees all the signs of one coming. Leta, and others, are scared, “I don’t want to do the 1950s or 1930s again!”

Aside: Yes, I know some of my readers have a different opinion of what is happening in Washington and the US Government. I respect your right to believe what you want in the USA. The blog is what I experience from my point of view and is not meant to be a political statement.

I wrote the blog for the morning and skipped breakfast (all those bowls of jambalaya had me still full), just freshly ground coffee, locally roasted. It was another sunny, bright morning, and it seemed less cold. I soon opened the doors. I showered, shaved, and dressed. I reheated leftover jambalaya from yesterday (Tuesday is Fat Tuesday) and enjoyed it for lunch.

The flour, lots of it, mixes, and even soup mixes arrived. I put it all away. I am ready for more baking!

It was too nice a day to write (though I published the blog), so I boarded Air VW the Gray. I then headed to Cornell Farms, a family-owned nursery in the West Hills overlooking the Tualtin Valley (the valley I live in). It is lovely and has many things I think I need and some I would love to have, but the price keeps it a nice dream. I also no longer dig holes with my balance issues (no ladders, either) since the brain surgery. So anything I buy Corwin or someone else has to ‘install.’

For a Saturday, the travel was in moderate traffic, and the place was flooded with others like me who can be fair-weather gardeners. In my defense, I was there in the rain and the cold. I saw a huge BMW SUV back out of a ‘Compact Only’ space, blocking traffic in the complex parking areas (there are three little lots, all at different heights and skill levels). More of an unmooring than a pulling out. After two attempts and not missing any paint from others (including wheeled carts and people), the BMW was released, and a line of cars followed that had to give way for the full-sized SUV. I found an easier parking location and revelled in the smaller footprint of the ID.4 that I now drive. It is smaller, and the cameras and windows make it a pleasure to park.

I walked the gardens and sales area three times and enjoyed the options. I met David on the staff, and he agreed I should wait until I return from my March trip before planting a pomegranate tree in my backyard. Later, I found a propagated clipping of their colossal rose bush, now just beyond the twig phase, a bourbon rose bush that will grow 8′ tall. Yes! They had two left, and I took the more solid-looking one. Later, I called Corwin, and he said he would dig a hole as the selected location was filled with stones. I enjoyed a coffee and a cookie from their café. I managed to release my parking spot without causing a parking SNAFU; I tried to ignore all the vast and expensive SUVs parked (moored) in compact spaces.

At home, I got supplies from the garage, tried digging the small hole, and discovered the rocks. This will have to wait. I did take the rose fertilizer and spread it on the backyard roses. The tulips are starting, and while last year’s wet took some, most survived. I am happy to see them rising.

I reheated some more leftovers, pizza this time. I continued to read Elric stories and eat. I read on the cover that this book I found in Seattle is the corrected version of the story and published in the correct sequence. I had noticed that a later story, 1989, was in the middle of the book. Later, Michael Moorecock wrote a half-joke story of an intervention of a traveller in Elric’s story. It was fun. I am glad to see it placed in this book. I remember buying it and devouring a new Elric tale in the 1980s (The originals are from the 1960s).

I put away Elric and headed to Dondrea and Z’s place for Z’s birthday celebration. I arrived without much traffic and soon was munching on incredible cupcakes decorated with frosting moss and mushrooms. The cakes were books and moss and mushrooms. Dondrea is a master cake maker.

I stayed for a while, and Z liked the metal dragon coins and realistic resources for her copy of the board game Wrymspan. I was tired, and I even nodded off while reading and slept an hour in the afternoon. I returned home after hugs and offers of more cake—I demurred.

At home, I got the mail, which was slow, and got my earthquake insurance policy renewal. For just under $700 a year, I can get the house rebuilt for up to $744,000 with a 10% deductible (which I must spend first) and only $10,000 of required upgrades from the state/county. Hmmm. It is all that is offered now.

I reworked my TripIt version of Deborah and my trip to California. I also completed a driving plan—I intend to take Air VW the Gray to California. I am looking at Fresno, as I need to stop twice to limit driving to no more than 8 hours a day. Fresno is four hours from Long Beach; it works as a second stopover.

I soon read more Elric and then showered and read more, a super brain cookie. But, I feel my inner writer wants to return to my stories. I think I will drink deeply from Moorcock’s stories. I sleep after turning page after page.

I wake and have trouble sleeping. I seem fully awake, but soon sleeping again. I dream of being drafted and working for Trump and Musk in some workforce. I remember the furniture was all white, plain IKEA, as the lack of planning had us provide our own bunks and storage shelving and assemble them. I discovered I had ‘volunteered’ for a marathon (it came with the award first as that was how it was done now, I was told by Elon via an email) and needed to get in shape, and Clint was sending me texts on how to get in shape. Deborah was in a Michigan-based workforce and sending me advise too. I woke shaking my head. Yikes!

Thanks for reading!

I was tired from Thursday’s adventures and slept in late, after 8:30. I rose and made local liberal coffee, Equal Exchange, and then started my morning as usual. I read the doom-laden news and updated my transactions in Quicken. I was happy to hear from my accountant the previous evening that my taxes were nearly done. Cornerstone Tax Service in Hillsboro got them done in about a week. Excellent. I owe $1,000 and am looking at a refund of $2,000 from the state of Oregon. Nearly perfect, though I had made a substantial prepayment for a quarter when I realized that my interest and dividend earnings had no withholding and my refunds for last year were counting, too.

(Susie’s flower opened today)

I am looking forward to finishing 2024.

I started on the blog, running late already, and it was a long account as Thursday was packed. I wrote until almost noon. I spoke to Deborah and texted here and there. After a break, I showered, shaved, dressed, and was ready to start my afternoon. It is a no-sale day for us liberals, meaning I limited my purchases to local, a few items I could only get at a retailer, and a chance to walk.

Air VW the Gray got me to Powell’s without incident, and I walked through the store a few times. After deciding to pass on a Sunday School class, I resisted a few interesting books on New Testament Greek. My timing for the class did not work—I am traveling often, and thus, I will move on to other things. I have plenty to do!

Mary Beard had a new paperback book on Rome, Emperor of Rome, and I got a copy for about $22. I only buy books about history, gaming stuff, have lots of footnotes, or are about magic tricks. Fiction and so on are usually in my Kindle. I have not yet worked out my library membership, but I will try to get that working soon.

I also got a lovely chocolate bar, as Powell’s Beaverton has a large candy section and other items that are hard to resist. I stopped by New Season’s and bought the minimal items I needed: shrimp and sausage for jambalaya. It was a warm and sunny day, and I wanted to cook something from The Big Easy. I noticed that the store was nearly empty.

(Notice the words in the glass.)

Next door is the furniture and stuff store City Home. Chaz, I talked to the sales folks, and they told me this was their newest and largest store. They also just put out some new items.

(When I saw this setup, I thought of my sister. When I sent her a photo, she thanked me for decorating my guest room to her taste. I left the stuff at the store. I was tempted by other items.)

I stopped at The 185th Corner veggie place and loaded up; it is a local place. For $24, I had a large bag of green freshness (I would have paid twice that or more at New Season’s). I then spotted their coffee and got a bag for too much. I have to grind it. It was lovely and locally roasted.

I finished Kolchak: The Nightstaker by Jim Rice. I liked the story and the style and can recommend it if you can find it. This book is about all that the author was paid for. It was a different time in the 1970s, and an author often went unpaid. The author’s estate copyrighted this book from a Kickstarter created by a fan.

I started Elric of Melniboné, and this version, a collection of the first books, has most of the stories in the correct order. I forgot how much I liked Michael Moorcock’s writing and appreciated a book in the proper order. A brain cookie and I picked up this volume, of two, in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the used bookstore B L M F Literary Saloon. The second volume is still there, waiting for my return. A reason to return.

I chopped the onions, crying intensely, celery, green pepper, and garlic. I located rice and other items in the pantry and seasoning shelf. I primarily followed the New Orleans School of Cooking recipe and my memory of Chef Reneé’s instructions for Jambalaya. I could hear his laughter and locally accented voice as I chopped, ordered, assembled, and finally cooked. Mine was more fresh-tasting than the smokey flavor of Reneé’s version, with a slight kick, but still good. I used the chef’s trick of adding some veggies at the end to create a bite. I called Corwin, and he came over and had some; he pronounced it good. He took a large container with most of the shrimp (I used pealed and deveined shrimp). As I get older, shrimp has less appeal to me (unintentionally punned). The next version will host the addition of muscles, clams, and a white fish.

Corwin and I tried the new coffee after grinding it. ‘Gather, Darkness’ was perfect with the food. I must admit I had three bowls. I put Deborah on speaker, and she spoke with us for a while as we enjoyed New Orleans-style deliciousness. I finished the dishes; Corwin had done most of them. Then, I returned to reading.

I read until after midnight, enjoying my trip back to Melniboné. I thought it would be fun to tell precursor stories to Elric, but I will settle for the complex tales from the existing canon. I had trouble putting the book down.

I soon slept, and while I cannot remember my dreams, I suspect I walked the dreaming city of Imrryr on the Island of Melniboné and maybe caught a few sounds of the song of pain, and my heart quickened like a native.

Thanks for reading.

Going backward, I arrived at the house in Air VW the Gray at about 11:30, almost Friday. I put out the trash and lawn-waste containers, as our pickup date here is Friday. I then read a new physical book, The Devil and Sherlock Holmes by David Gann, until midnight, when I finished the first story. The book was a gift from Dondrea and Z.

I took the book to Portland and read it while on the MAX. I did not want to carry a Kindle and my phone. Yes, I can read my book on the iPhone, but the screen is smaller and backlit, which is harder on my eyes. This is the larger paperback version, so the print was easy and lighter. Also, if I lose it, I can easily replace it. I usually stick the Kindle in a coat pocket, but that was not today.

The day was warm, sunny, and shockingly dry. Once again, somehow Oregon switches back and forth from Pacific Northwest gray and endless rains to cloudless, warm sunny Northern California. Yes, a Schrödinger’s cat version of the local weather. Or, it is like randomly switching from 1980s bands like Nirvana and Tears for Fears. Yikes!

I thought it a perfect day for a concert and dinner in Portland. I switched to a dress shirt and a sweater vest to be warm as it will be a fabulous evening. I took the EV to the nearby Quatama MAX station and boarded after scanning the app on my phone. I found a comfortable seat in a near-empty train and read and doom-scrolled the news.

Deborah was available, so we chatted on the phone while I traveled and then walked through Portland, having left the train at the Library stop. The chess board in Director Park with giant chess pieces was set up, left at a sacrificial opening and just entering the midgame. It is an opening I have not seen before, and white seemed to have paid too much for its board position. The game was stopped with an offer for a queen exchange. I marveled at the board, and I am afraid I bored Deborah with my explanations of a chess setup she could not see. I returned after making a circle, and the queen exchange was declined. Makes me want to get back into chess. Hmmm. Later, the board was changed, and the chess game was no longer sensible. I was surprised by how shocked I was.

The chess pieces are put away each night at Director Park. I went back to look and maybe set up the game, but it was too late, and the pieces were safely resting somewhere. I suspect large chess pieces three feet tall would get up to some non-chess mischief if left out.

I rang off and walked to the mall and walked the river built into the floor like we did years ago when it had a glass lighted river (now it is filled with tile-like substance, but has LEDs here and there). Next, I headed to South Park (the local restaurant, not the cartoon), my old standby place for food and booze near Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Lee was my bartender, and Matt, the other bartender, poured me some heavy red I look for when I visit their bar. They never have average wines, and I seldom knew the wine they discovered. The food, while expensive, is near the best in Portland. I see more suits and travelers now, as this is an expense report joint, and less local. The cheap, excellent bar menu is now a memory. However, I was still early and got a 17% reduction on my bill. But I paid $1.50 to use a credit card, and the bill included a 20% tip. My bill was less than I expected.

I enjoyed their fish board, which included local smoked trout and salmon in various forms and one choice from the cheeses. The bread and butter were also good, and this was a large meal. However, I turned away from the mains, all of which were over $30. Adding homemade crackers, cheese, fresh bread and butter, and wine created an excellent and filling meal.

I was early to the show and walked around as I described, finally circling to the theater. I got lost once as twilight confused my sense of direction, but I found my way after spotting the towers now with lights. The Schnitzer was all lighted up. I read for a few minutes while sitting on a ledge until the doors opened. Tonight, they will show the movie Amadeus, a fictional story about Mozart and Antonio Salieri set in the early 1800s but with live choir and orchestra.

I bought the cheap seat that still had a good view, near my old season ticket seats in X, in a near-empty row on the upper balcony, row W seat 1. This row has a clear view, while the lower ones are blocked by people finding their seats. I remembered all this when ordering seats. Excellent. I was relieved that the movie was with CC, as my hearing was not great with words, but the music was clear and excellent. The crowd laughed at the jokes and comedy, and I could hear the breath intake when Salieri burns a cross in frustration with God.

I enjoyed the movie; many young folks saw it for the first time in the cheap seats. It surprised me that it has been forty years since its initial showing and winning a pile of awards. I forgot how good it was, and it was undoubtedly improved with live music.

After the show, I walked directly to the MAX as it was after 11 and MAX closes around midnight. I saw an older woman trip on the curb and fall. I helped her to her feet, and she thanked me and then walked on, no worse for wear, as you say.

Next, I found a comfortable seat on MAX. My app first complained that I had no money in my account (you have to draw cash and store it in the app instead, like NYC, get a charge for each use. I also paid for a virtual card to hold this money–ugh–but it was a one-time cost. I like NYC’s process better. Also, you must start the app to use it; NYC just charges you. Hmmm. I read my book until my station.

Moving back in the day, I started about 7 with my alarm and wrote the blog. I got coffee started in the French Press and had a light breakfast of toast, my milk bread, and yogurt. The blog took much of the morning. I connected with Dondrea on text and learned that Z’s 28 Feb birthday party was Saturday. I was free to see the movie tonight. I ordered tickets.

I showered and dressed. Air VW the Gray was still at 90% charge, meaning I had not plugged it in. I boarded the EV and met Scott at Cedar Hills McMenamins. I had a salad with some chicken added. Scott had a plant-based burger (they are great; I tried them). We had a Hammerhead beer and talked money and financial planning. We also covered experiences with aging parents. We both conclude that at a rate of 4-something % interest on short-duration CDs, we should pull cash, pay the taxes, and hold that for a few years to pay expenses. Any market fluctuations (caused by Trump’s tariffs and like actions, market crashes, war, disaster, or events) will not threaten paying our bills or make us withdraw at a loss. To be clear, get some investments out of the market into safe cash, with tax paid, and ready for bills. More on that later. After lunch and drinks, we headed our separate ways with plans to meet again next week.

Next, I returned home but also took care of church items that cannot be described here. I read and then wrote up some paperwork for the church. I did the dishes, changed my clothing, and headed to Portland for the movie and live music.

And that takes us, dear reader, full circle. Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

On Wednesday, I was less tired and found my way more easily. Dondrea was traveling, so there was no game on Wednesday night with Z. My alarm went off at 7, but I rolled over, and it was closer to 8 when I got coffee to start my day. It was time for liberal, Equal Exchange coffee in my French Press, which produces about two and a half mugs of the dark fluid that powers me in the morning. I have been drinking Fair Trader-certified coffee for most mornings since Trump was elected the first time. It is my reminder that we must do the right thing every day and how far we still have to go before we have Justice with Compassion and the Love of Community will settle into our community. I find Hope in every cup.

(What is the bright round thing in the sky?)

I wrote my blog for most of the morning. I added a banana and toast from my homemade milk bread with jam. I did the dishes, showered, and dressed. I boarded Air VW the Gray and tried out Carl Jrs for lunch. It is a guilty pleasure, and I enjoyed their Western Burger (bacon, onion rings, and other goodies) in the EV. The drive-through was blocked, forcing me to go inside–I have not been inside since the pandemic and forgot how nice and clean it looks. The clerk took my order with a smile, and soon, a line of folks were waiting, and we were just standing there. We were all nervous and not talking. We did not know what to do. I broke the ice by saying how strange it was to be inside. This got a smile, and soon we were chatting like usual, just like before the pandemic. I can see why people feel so alone now; fundamental social interactions are missing, and we are nervous to restart them.

With a hamburger, sin and all, inside me, I headed to Beaverton for an S/PRC church meeting. These are private and cannot be discussed here. An hour later, I was driving home and telling Deborah, who was driving home from work in Michigan, that I needed a drink. We often talk when we are traveling.

I stopped by Volvo and learned the process of having my late car towed away. I will donate the wreck to Oregon Public Radio. It was ruined by a sunroof leak that flooded the interior and, worse, impacted the computer and cables. This caused more than $18,000 in damage and is NOT covered by insurance. Ugh! I now drive a leased VW ID.4, an all-electric car I enjoy.

I was out of sorts but Deborah was free and we watched the last episode of Silo on Zoom and the end of season 2 did not disappoint. No spoilers. Deborah was a bit confused as she read the books, and the break in the story did not match the book. It was great, I thought, and I was feeling better. I was feeling better. It was terrific to see Deborah again (I had not seen her since I saw her walk into PDX). We might have to do more Zoom or FaceTime sessions.

The next installment is the Fall. I read that, unlike the books, the Silo story will go on intermixed with a pre-Silo story. Our next adventure is in March in California, where I will be the +1 for a business conference in Long Beach that Deborah is attending. I will work with Deborah on plans.

I got a shipment notice for my goodies from King Arthor Flour. It would be at Deborah’s house by Friday! My default address is Deborah’s, and my stuff is headed to Michigan! Deborah offered to mail it to me (but it is a lot of flour and other heavy items). Instead, Deborah gets a set of flour and baking items, too. I ordered another set, and this time, it was sent to my address. I called Deborah, and we laughed.

I read Kolchak and am just two chapters from finishing. The book and original movie were set in Las Vegas, but the TV show changes the setting to 1973-4 Chicago. It is interesting to read about the early 1970s version of Las Vegas. The book has Kolchak as a drunk on his way to an early, lonely death after being fired and blackballed. Still, a fascinating book, and I will have to look at the style. I like the way the first person is composed like a dictation.

My left ear (the one with no hearing) bothers me. I hope it will improve after washing it out and taking some painkillers. Ugh!

I was asleep before midnight but woke twice to prove hydration. I did dream, but I cannot recall the details. There were no marks on my neck this morning.

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

I rose at 6 with my alarm and climbed out of bed; there seemed to be a distance to this process. Next, I found my slippers and found my way to the kitchen, which also seemed further away. I was tired. I made coffee, liberal, and a plate with a banana and toast. I sliced a nice piece of milk bread I made a few days ago and put marmalade on it. But I would forget to put it back in the frig (it would have to be tossed).

Despite the listlessness, I wrote the blog and recreated yesterday’s story with more words than expected. I managed to get it published in time to enjoy a long shower and did not have to rush. I reviewed more of A Dummies Guide to Pre-Calculus. Corwin was coming over between 2 and 3, and I would teach him math. The first section was about line equations and inequities with grafting. I put a plan together in my head, intending to learn where Corwin was in his skills and go from there.

After that, I boarded Air VW the Gray and took it to Portland. Richard and James host a board game of Mansion of Madness, 2nd Edition, at Richard’s house. James bought a used copy with painted figures and then purchased some add-ons. He is still missing some pieces, but we can make it work.

The game works using an app that James runs on an iPad. It is a horror cooperative game with the possibility of going insane and effectively joining the other side. Each play is a unique story, usually including elements of Lovecraft, though one story I played was a Hollywood ghost horror plot. We have learned to separate, explore, and fight. The stories have timing elements that limit the length of the play, and we need to find things and do things to finish and slow the timing. The scenario used new rules with elixirs from an add-on that James had seen online and purchased.

It was an interesting and brutal scenario. My character was wounded and had a broken leg. Our play managed to unlock the puzzles and survive. It was after 1, about four hours of intense play. I took the EV home as I had to connect with Corwin next. I picked up a freshly made take-and-bake pizza from Papa Murphy’s, got it in the oven, and set my alarm for thirty minutes. I was deeply asleep when it went off. The house smelled of pizza.

The pizza is stuffed, and the top layer has expanded (there were no vents for steam cut in it) to a dome and was actually against the heating elements in the oven! Part of the smell was the pizza bits burning on the elements! I pulled it out, cut holes, settled it again, and cooked it more. Corwin showed up and put out a table for us to work and eat on. The pizza was good.

I spent ninety minutes with Corwin and covered all that I had prepared. I was primarily interested in what Corwin remembered and could still do. I demonstrated and then had him do the same kind of problem. I have trouble with dropping negative signs and skipping to the end too soon. I went slow and precise as I had learned over and over. Corwin started to copy this approach and saw its advantage as he could easily see what was happening. We did little pre-calculus but mostly elementary algebra and grafting. We covered inequalities, which is pre-calculus, and the parts you must memorize, and I had long forgotten about handling absolute values with inequalities.

Later in the evening, I would order a problem book and another copy of the how-to book from Dummies on Amazon. We will need more homework for Corwin, as he clearly needs to work on these problems to integrate this material into his skill sets. Corwin wants Calculus, but first, we need to tighten up algebra, trig, and graphing and get some discipline in problem-solving. This will get Corwin to Calculus.

I was tired and spent the rest of the late afternoon at home, doing little more than reading and eating some more pizza. I made tea to try to wake up. I ordered flour and other baking items from King Arthur Flour because I like their products, though Red Mill is excellent and often cheaper. Usually, I buy flour when it is on special, but this time, I was tired and just got what I needed.

I read about vampires until late. I crawled into bed and hoped that I would not dream of vampires. I have no memory of my dreams, but I woke rested with no strange marks on my neck.

Thanks for reading.