On a basketball court. Playing with a ball of rags, try to get it in the hoop and it’s really hard. It goes up and it stays there. Try again.
December 9th, 2024
Watching the Nest cam, see Salem leaving and taking a bike with them. Go outside and someone is looking for them-I say they left with a bike. They ask me to show them, and I can’t get the video going-point it all around and the image is all blocky. Walk back to the porch and look around.
Getting in a jet, in the back. We start going, and I realize I need to put on my harness. We’re flying low, through power lines and trees. I get the harness on and the pilot accelerates. We’re going over flat snow covered land. He does some odd maneuver where the plane is pointed down and we’re going forward. The radio tells him to stop. We land and go slowly into a hotel. The manager talks to us and we back out. Go around the other side.
Walking through a crowded room. This cute girl comes to me and kisses me, hard. She says something silly.
December 4th, 2024
Walking through a crowded sidewalk. See Bob H and turn around to catch up with him. He says there’s a ghost following him and leaves. I see a big blond guy following him and stop him. He tries to push past me and I turn him around and punch him hard. Bob leaves and I follow. There’s lots of blond hair sticking everywhere and I pick it out of my mouth and leave.
Recipe: Multi-grain crockpot oatmeal
Here’s an easy overnight recipe for delicious oatmeal. Yummy and filling on a cold morning. I make this and the rice on the weekends during the Fall/Winter/Spring.
Ingredients:
2/3 cup Steel cut oats
2/3 cup of any or all: whole grain wheat, millet, barley, flaxseed, etc.
1/3 cup Raisins, cranberries, blueberries
1/3 cup Walnuts (optional)
2-3 tbsp Sugar/Brown sugar/honey
1-2 tbsp Butter
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Vanilla
2/3 cup Milk
4 cups Water
Preparation:
Mix all the dry ingredients in crockpot. Add butter, vanilla, milk and water. Stir.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high 2-4 hours.
Depending on the crockpot, it may stick to the sides-I tend to scrape it off periodically after 4 hours or so and mix in.
Serves 4-6.
Note: if you use whole grain wheat, it may need to be pre-cooked: simmer for about 45 minutes or microwave for about 25 or until the grains are plump and soft.
Recipe: Maze gohan
This is a recipe for rice with mixed vegetables. You can add other stuff as well-tofu, chicken, seasonal vegetables, etc. If you put the ingredients in the rice cooker before cooking you get takikomi gohan instead.
Ingredients:
2 measures rice
2 tbsp carrot
2 tbsp celery
2 tbsp shiitake mushroom
1 tbsp bamboo shoots
1 tbsp dried seaweed-wakame-reconstituted, sliced thin
1 tbsp green onion
1 tbsp bonito flakes
1/3 sheet of nori
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp miso
Sesame oil to taste
Preparation:
Wash, cook rice with 2 1/2 measures of water.
Julienne all the vegetables except the wakame and set aside. Slice the green onion.
Mix the sugar with a little water and microwave until dissolved.
Add the vinegar and adjust until sweet and sour are balanced.
Add the soy until all 3 flavors are in balance.
Add the miso, microwave for 30 seconds and whisk until no more lumps of miso are left.
After the rice is done, reconstitute the wakame, drain and slice into strips.
Toast the nori over a burner.
Mix the bonito flakes with the rice, then the rest of the vegetables except green onions.
Add the miso mixture and stir.
Drizzle sesame oil, add the green onions, tear up the nori into small pieces and sprinkle over the top.
If you don’t use all the miso, put it in a coffee cup, add hot water and some of the green onions.
Serves 2-4.
Holiday in between time
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Here we are again, the run up to the holidays. Thanksgiving is over, Christmas on the way. We are super broke until next week. Struggling with work stuff, and a nagging leg muscle issue. The joy of aging. I don’t want to think about the state of affairs-just dreading the next four years and beyond. At least I’m healthy-ish, my family is OK so far, I have a job and a place to live. I set up my guitar and stuff in the kitchen, and have played it a couple of times. Next the Kronos and actually making music?
Monday afternoon (10/21). Trying to figure out this query-I think everything is obfuscated. I need an ERD… Shari’s is gone. Wonder if we’ll ever see the comet.
Friday morning. Worked out for the first time in 3 weeks, so my leg starts hurting faster than normal. I really need to get it looked at. It’s definitely only when I’m in a sitting position… Pretty quiet week-got our HELOC, signing tomorrow. Driving people around-Claire from work, Salem from school, Erika from a movie downtown. Had to cut my workout short. Went to Erika’s Dr’s app’t on Weds., Not much else. No gamelan, and I think that’s it. Matt’s been sick, and one of my co-workers too. Taking something extra to help me sleep, and it seems to work. Doc wants us to keep a consistent sleep schedule.
Monday noon (10/28). Trying to get stuff done, end of sprint. Pretty quiet weekend-truncated workout Saturday, Salem to a show, pickup afterwards, signed docs, drove around, cool estate sale-an Alpha Juno 2!, guitars, Bose speakers, a literal crap ton of cd’s and vacuums. Only bought some cd’s-should’ve got one of the Bose, my Kronos is better than the Juno… Rained a lot-the back storm drain is flooding again.
Tuesday noon, trying to get these queries going. Salem went to the ER last night with back pain-they got brushed off. Frustrating. Didn’t get my workout in because of it. Maybe tonight.
Another Friday morning. Trying to get things done, but it’s not easy. Worked out Tuesday and last night. My leg is still not completely healed, so elliptical and light weights. Drove Salem and friends back from trick or treating in suburban OC. She didn’t feel well and took today off too. No gamelan-Mindy is feeling passed out from life.
Monday (11/4) Tomorrow is election day. Matt is anxious. Pretty quiet weekend. Lazed about Sat., worked out, picked up Claire from a show in St. Johns. Drove around Sun., made beef stew. Talked to Mike from gamelan at the binz, might be playing with his rock geezer friends.
Wednesday morning. I’ve gotta stop doomscrolling. We’re in for a bumpy ride. My middle child, the one who’s most vulnerable to discrimination and repression, says she’s an optimist. We shall see. I’m not feeling optimistic. I’m hoping reading this will help. I know that when Trump doesn’t come through with all the empty promises that the sheep believed, they’ll just blame the Democrats. Project 2025 is terrifying too. When 44% want reactionary authoritarianism hidden behind a populist, 41% want the same ‘ol, and 15% just sit it out, guess what wins? I wonder if the end game of this is the massive conflict that precipitates the culmination of the fourth turning? Worked out at the EastSi Deathletic Club Tuesday. I got a free week. Typical old school club-full amenities, older stuff, not optimal. It has one Nautilus machine-saw it from downstairs and thought it was a full set-that was a disappointment. Did tai chi in the studio-nice and quiet, but the floor is quite slippery when wearing kung fu shoes-I think I made my hips hurt worse. There’s a heavy bag in the other studio.
Friday morning (11/8). Afternoon. Evening. I’m running out of energy, and I’m sore. Worked out last night-faster tai chi with shoes, different elliptical, hit for a little in the racquetball court.
Monday noon, (11/11). Trying to get sources for all the data I need. Yuck. Pretty quiet weekend-skipped working out-sore hips and stuff. Salem’s play Friday night-Peter Pan origin story. They did well-they’re calm and natural on stage. Ferrying kids around, shopping, Erika went to breakfast with friend, Home Depot, etc., blowing and raking leaves.
Tuesday afternoon. Pretty quiet-start of sprint, 2 guys are on vacay, my stuff is a nightmare. Picked up Claire from work last night, drove Salem to school this morning. Laundry, flipped our bed. Need to workout and take Salem to work, then Claire to a show. Out of $$$-had to borrow from Matt. <sigh>
Monday late morning (11/17), noon, lunchtime. Trying to get this query/process going. It hasn’t been easy. Pretty quiet, no one home right now. Salem had a hard time getting up last week, but today was ok. The usual over the last week-worked out Tues/Thurs/Sat, driving around/people to/from stuff, breakfast on Sun., bill pays, shopping once I got paid.
Tuesday noonish. Afternoon. Trying to get data. One view is access borked. Workout last night-skipped tai chi-no time, but got a 30-10-30 in before picking up wife. Helped Salem get their room picked up.
Wednesday lunchtime. Not much going on-quiet evening, that’s about it. Cooked dinner, picked up people from work.
Sunday afternoon. Lazy day, busy yesterday. Quiet Friday. Worked out Thursday and last night. To a lame witchy thing, then NW to an oddities shop and bookstore, then Salem to a play in far Gresham-we ate at Del Taco, then drove around a bit.
Tuesday night (11/26). Have Thanksgiving off, so took tomorrow and Monday as well. Getting my app tested, seems ok, but a few pieces missing. Worked out last night, keep having to skip tai chi-keep having to pick people up. Helped Salem and her friend cook, took them to a gathering close by.
Thursday night. Lazy couple of days. Up late, slept in, reading, driving people around, a little shopping.
Tuesday noon (12/3), I think I’ll call this-should’ve done that before. No worries.
Wednesday morning-didn’t call it. Pretty quiet weekend-sleeping in, driving around, taking people to and from places, reading, working out, cooking, cleaning. Picked up some leaves-a little more to do. Need to clean and put up the spa. Helped Erika out a little at work. We are so out of ca$h.
Page 23, sentence 5: “Between the tenth and the thirteenth century, a technological boom produced the mechanical clock, the suction pump, the horizontal loom, the waterwheel, the windmill, and even, on both shores of the English Channel, the tidal mill,” Home; “Wisdom Chi Kung fills the whole brain and body with energy transformed by universal understanding.”, Basic Practices of the Universal Healing Tao; “My, what a coincidence!”, Pale Blue Dot, “”You’re lucky I’m in a good humor today, ” he whispered, “else I’d do the same to you. “”, The Alchemyst, “From his place kneeling on the ground, Josh watched in horror as two gelatinous hands reached for his twin’s throat”, The Magician, “”Iris is called the goddess of the rainbow because of her multicolored aura.” The Sorceress, “I’d forgotten how hard it can be, and it was just a few weeks in space.” Inhibitor Phase.
November 27, 2024
in a small airplane. It’s flying low, hugging the terrain. I’m thinking it’s going to land, but there are fuel tanks between us and the runway. The plane veers off and between tanks. The wings come off and we spin around. Get out and walk up to the hotel. Walk up to the room and put our stuff down.
November 22nd, 2024
Getting ready to play, setting up a nice twin. Sounds good, play a song, break it down and leave. Go out and walk down the street.
November 18th, 2024
Walking through a suburban neighborhood, it’s hilly and we have to park the car. We climb up and down-it’s like 2 sets of hills merging. The road ends, and we have to walk across the hills on grass. Go back around and talk to someone about it.
November 17th, 2024
Watching a golf course. It’s small and everything is close together. People are hitting balls from one hole to another.
Riding my bike, up a series of hills. I pull on the handlebars, and the right one comes up. I tighten it and ride onto the street. Go into a mall, get off the bike and start running to the other side. We’re racing-go up some stairs, down a ramp, and up another set of stairs to the end.
November 13th, 2024
Painting the walls and ceiling in the living room. Two guys are doing it and it’s not complete. They’re going all the way around, and it’s splotchy. Walk back to the corner and it’s beautifully textured. I’m quite impressed and say that Erika’s going to love it.
November 11th, 2024
Watching for a boat to come into view/dock. Walk along the shore looking past the breakwater. See a few boats coming in.
At the gym, working on weights. I’m adjusting my bench press weights. Do a huge amount for one rep. Go outside to get a run in. Some people are out on the track. Start a sprint.
November 9th, 2024
Going into the post office? facility with Glenn and Leon-hassle with getting me clearance. Finally get in, go to the main hall and start looking at the documents we’re working on. It’s a large rolling container piled with a ton of financial stuff for some company. Start looking through them with Glenn.
November 7th, 2024
Sitting in some guy’s office talking about a rock climbing competition in Venice and how he would’ve won with better partners. I say I can climb, but it’s been a while. They ask about levels and I say rock. I show them how much of an overhang I can handle.
At some festival, wandering around. We leave to go home, walk down a path and to a busy intersection. Erika wants to go to a science thing. I don’t have a shirt on, so we turn around so I can get my shirt.
October 31st, 2024
Getting set up for a gig with Robert F., in Italy. I’m trying to make some mushed bread thing and cut it into squares. It’s tall and hard to cut right. Get done and we get ready to leave.
October 28th, 2024
On a walkway/landing, there’s a big event. Look at all the different things going on on my tablet. Metallica is playing, then Anthrax and Slayer, all at the same time. I’m getting excited. Some band is in front of me and they start in. One guy plays a simple riff (ZZ Top?) and asks if anyone in the audience can play it. Some guy gets up and does it, but sort of stiff. I comment on it. The guy on stage asks for anyone else and no one wants to-he asks for a vote, and I call out that I’ll do it, just to make it a choice. I go up to the stage, they hand me a white Les Paul, I ask for a pick and do the riff without going to the amp.
October 27th, 2024
Driving with some girl. We’re in her cute Fiat, going down some valley. She’s talking about how the gears are really finicky. We go faster across the flat, and up the other side. It gets really steep and we have to back up. Get back down, and walk across the street to a park.
At work? There’s an odd machine for taking care of fish. We get it working and there are two fish in the tank at the bottom. I ask about feeding them, as the machine drops flakes into the tank. I get back to work, looking through a bunch of folders. Kitty from the 70’s show?! is looking over me, yelling that I’m not doing any work and what does my boss know. I continue looking through the folders.
October 24th, 2024
Hanging out with Beth F? or Kris. We’re at a flea market, sitting in a row of seats. I’m ready to go, and I ask her if she wants to leave. She says yes, and that she wants to suck my dick. I’m like OK, and we leave. End up standing waiting, and she won’t touch it.
October 21st, 2024
Waiting for the school bus. Get in line, and people are shoving. Two guys start shoving each other, and the bus driver kicks them off. We get off to watch them, but it’s over and the short guy is laid out. We get back on, and one girl is complaining about vision problems. I try to help her, and she gets better and sits down. She plays with herself, I go sit next to her. We get off the bus and we go find a place to do it. We walk around a bunch-up and down stairs, through the gym. They call my name for homeroom. I go find it and there’s a bunch of people there. I walk to the back and get a seat. They have a bunch of sweet wine in a long bottle. I shake it up and it’s 1/5th air. Take a bit and pour it on the table, go to light it. A bunch of guys come to do it too.
Summer is gone, fall is here. Next.
Please tip the writer. Whatever amount you like-every little bit helps, and I’ll do a shoutout. We are always short of cash, especially with a big mortgage. Let me know if you or someone you know needs web design/development-my rates aren’t bad, and I’m more than pretty good at it. Java/database/AWS/UI too. ThankYouVeryMuch!
Another month, another blog entry. Been in pain for a lot of it-I’m thinking CBD and acupuncture, especially after talking to Vera and getting tired of sitting in pain. Joy-been laying off working out because of it too. Not much else-the season is changing, and we’re coming up on an election: “the most important election of our lives.” Maybe…we’ll see. Politics is now entertainment, as is news. I’m a little tired of it all. Next.
Monday morning (9/16). The house is empty. Erika and Claire are at the Dr’s, Matt is getting his teeth cleaned, Salem is at school. I have work to do. Typical weekend-put up a banner and a wind chime, drove around, Thai lunch in Lake O-meh, workouts. Was going to make bagels for a last hurrah of summer, ran out of time. A bit of a mess with one car and multiple people needing rides. We put up a Harris/Walz banner.
Wednesday afternoon. Another empty house. Dentist yesterday-my teeth are fine, gums ok. Workout last night-I’m doing 30-10-30 only in Tuesday. Ran outside, a little sprinkly. Picked up Salem from work. Claire had the dentist’s today-a couple of fillings needed.
Thursday noon. Not much going on-gamelan, had to leave early because picking up Salem from work. Finishing up a project. Claire got their fillings.
Friday lunch. Really quite tired after eating. Had to take Salem to school late. Not much else-want to make bagels tonight. Erika is napping-she said she didn’t sleep well.
Monday first thing (9/23), sitting in the scrum. Busy weekend-workout Friday, took Erika to get a tattoo in Tigard, went to Uwajimaya instead of a thing, back to look for an estate sale, home, very tired. Started making bagels, picked up Salem at the Moda Center, the usual big concert traffic. Pissed off a prick by flipping him off after he ganked the turn line-he actually got out of his car and yelled at me-I didn’t engage-too much at risk when you fight on the street, especially at my skill level-he was from Washington, going into downtown Portland at 11 on a Saturday night… Did a bunch of yard work Sunday-edging, trimming, put up our no trespassing signs. Skipped workout, picked up Salem from work.
Tuesday morning, trying to get stuff done, but both jobs are stuck. Dag. Lunchtime-got stuff done, but those stuck jobs bother me.
Wednesday morning, in a meeting, had to get a lambda running, need to change up a couple of jobs. Also need to check on the stuck ones from yesterday. Had a plane dream last night. Fine workout-Tuesdays are 30-10-30, walk/run to save my glycogen, excellent t’ai chi. Picked up Salem early from work. My right glute/ham is quite sore, and sitting for any time is painful. We watched the last episode of Father Brown. Next season starts in 2025.
Wednesday night (10/2). Sort of skiving on this. Watching the Father Brown spin-off, Sister Boniface. Not much else-we’re doing gamelan at the Oregon pen, and rehearsing at PSU. Emptied the spa, as the pump was recalled and we’re getting a new one. Put up hanging rods in our alcove, have to re-do one set. Erika has diverticulitis, again. Salem get their shots and is miserable, Matt is getting a cold, Claire started a new job yesterday.
Thursday mid-morning. Not much happening. Gamelan was at L&C, the water did a job on the ceiling tiles, and Mindy said part of the carpet too, as they forgot to empty the dehumidifier in time. Brought my music home. Took the trash out. Going to rain tonight, so I need to cover the spa, check the porches, and Erika’s stuff. So. Much. Stuff. At least the robovac is working fine-and here it comes. Need to pay the late mortgage. Send us $$$ if you have some to spare-I need to work on money-making schemes-ID? Selling MAGA merch? Music? A second job? Ack…
Friday afternoon. It’s cold, wet, and dark out today. Had to break out the lights and the heater. Claire and Matt have colds.
Wednesday afternoon (10/9), we’re short of $$$, as usual. Erika got a job at EastSi Deathletic Club, Claire started their new job. My butt is better, but not healed completely, so I’m laying off the gym for a bit. I still can’t sit for very long-Erika got me topical painkiller, so sleeping is easier-I slipped on a wet doormat and really strained it. Had a virtual Dr’s to refresh my bp meds. Picked up Salem from the Schnitz last night, Koyaanisqatsi is getting a showing with the orchestra and the Glass Ensemble in November. Usual otherwise-been cooler and damp. I’ve been in the doghouse..
Tuesday evening (10/15), I’m going to call it, I think. I’m sort of out of the doghouse. Been not working out trying to recover my leg-almost there. Busy weekend trimming trees and bushes, cut the grass, blew out the leaves. Got the new spa pump. Been listening to Stewart Copeland talking a lot. Trying to finish the Jane Jacobs book.
Late Wednesday afternoon-finishing up work.
Saturday night (10/20). Have a headache. A bit of work, then drove around in Gresham-breakfast, outlet, craft, witchy, Del taco. Blew all the leaves in the front porch-many more to come. Train to psu and gamelan Thursday, day off, gig Friday.
Sunday afternoon-I think I’ll call this. Had to complete the work bit from yesterday-3 of 24 failed with throttling. Finished up the next book.
Page 23, sentence 5: “They harm us because we take them for granted.” The Death and Life of Great American Cities, “The sooner you’re finished here, the better.” The Untold Story.