Reports From the River

My scale misses me when I travel. Whenever I return from a trip, she lies about my weight. While flattering, there’s no way I could have lost poundage eating deep dish pizza in Chicago.

But the love wears thin in about a week when she suggests, in no uncertain terms, that that I’ve gained three pounds overnight. Another one today.

She misses me no more. Must be time to go somewhere.

This is a picture from this morning's walk. You can see the beach is back now that the river has receded. Not long ago, the river was up to the white-ish mark you can see on this bulkhead wall.

A blue heron landed at the water's edge beside me as I was taking this picture but flew away again before I could snap his picture.

On my walk, I saw the Russian guy. I have no idea if he's Russian or not. I just have this idea that he is. We used to see him walking every morning along with a woman and a child (wife and daughter?) but haven't seen them in a while. Today, it was just him.

I also came across the Hat Lady. We call her that because she is always wearing a big hat. She is usually wearing a long, flowing dress as well but we don't call her the Dress Lady. Today, she was wearing shorts and I confirmed that she has legs. Two. She was walking her fluffy white dogs. The dogs were not wearing hats, nor dresses, and had four legs each. 

Last night, the airplanes were flying west to east which is the direction they usually fly in the winter. Today, they are flying east to west. I am relieved as summer hasn't even started yet.

I've avoided work for as long as I possibly can this morning. If I can avoid work for just a couple more minutes, it will be afternoon and I will have successfully eschewed work for half a day.

It's possible I'll get some work done this afternoon. It's equally possible I will take a nap.

Who talks like this?

"We will make investments to modernize our key technology platform to enable more innovation and reduce our IT run rate spend over time. Additionally, we will invest to improve cross-channel client experiences and enhance our marketing and advertising capabilities. We’ll improve the service quality and consistency in our offices. This work is in process and we’ve already started to make some changes, including our decision to consolidate 400 smaller company-run offices. This action will help optimize our footprint and enable us to more effectively manage our field operations, elevate our talent and deliver more consistent quality to our clients.”

 Whatever that means.

H&R Block plans to close 400 tax prep offices | Accounting Today

Recommended

Last night, we went to see Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill at Portland Center Stage. In a word: not to be missed. (I realize that's more than one word but, really, it's not to be missed.)

Deidrie Henry is amazing as Billie Holiday in her final concert. Henry's voice is beautiful and her acting believable as she takes us on a journey of Billie Holiday's life.

Portland Center Stage at the Armory is a small enough venue that any seat is a good seat. We happened to sit in the third row where I was enthralled by Henry and her supporting cast, Abdul Hamid Royal on piano, James H. Leary on bass, and Charles Neal on drums. Henry, who delivers 99.9% of the play's dialog is both funny and deeply poignant and her interpretation of Billie Holiday's music was evocative and full of emotion.

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill runs through July 1st so if you're in the Portland area, get yourself a ticket. If you're not, you might consider making the trip. It's that good. (And maybe I'll take you out for dinner.)

I've been on buying spree lately. Clothes. I justify it as necessary upkeep. For example, I needed plain, white shirts. I needed to update.

Now, I need to clean out my closet and get rid of some old stuff which was a goal I set for 2018 anyway.

Or, I could just get new hangers, right?

When in doubt, nap.

My house is a mess and all I really want to do is clean it. But yesterday was a gloriously sunny day and I really couldn't justify staying indoors. The weather app on my phone indicated Sunday wouldn't be as nice so I figured whatever I had to do could wait one more day.

It was sunny again this morning and I was conflicted. Do I take advantage of the nice weather or do I stay home to do household chores?

The answer is neither.

A nap seemed the proper solution.

Lost in Translation

We don't have any travel plans for this weekend, an odd occurrence. I don't sit still for long. In May, I was somewhere else 15 days. Half the month.

This time, all I want to do is stay home, sleep, do some light chores around the house. Maybe do some cooking. Nest a little.

Last weekend, while passing through town, I dictated some of the things rattling around in my head - notes for future blog posts. It didn't translate well but I kind of like how it turned out so there:

To be not to be, present.

It’s easy to look up kids and say they are two plugged in. I was just at a family reunion when my grandson was denied his electronic toys. The first half day he was bored and so early. But the next day he found his niche niche truly beautiful thing. He played games with me playing games with his cousins he made up a venturous and he went exploring in the backyard. It’s child’s hoods should be.

But isn’t that true with us? Alone in a bar or a restaurant, are we more apt to open up app check our status, we are emails on our phones? Are we more likely to play a game I listen to a podcast rather than engaging neighbor?

The neighbor on the airplane was too fat to fit him in his chair. He was tattooed, peers,Can you wear a flannel shirt. He looks like a Brewer in the Pacific Northwest: conditioning to the affirmation and he were at had a full on facial hair.

On the flight home, we watched crazy stupid love. Sophomoric movie but we laughter asses off. My neighbor, on the other hand, watched murder on the Orient express. I couldn’t help but notice because we had watched it on the flight to Phoenix. As both our movies and then, I asked him how did you like it? He said he liked it but we both agree that the movie was slow but the acting was good he asked me have you read the book? I said I didn’t think I had. He said he thought the movie capture the book perfectly in that it was slow. But that’s Agatha Christie, he said.

Perceptions are only that.

Headline Starbucks stop selling coffee

I get emails from Starbucks every day. Maybe more than one. But they didn’t tell me it would be no longer selling French roast coffee beans in their stores. I found that out when I tried to buy some and they were sold out. It’s not that that hasn’t happened before, because it has. But they always we stock and I can always get my beans. Last time no French roast was to be found And the news was delivered that French roast was discontinued. Forever more. Systemwide.

I think I read they sold distribution lights for distribution in grocery stores or some other such thing. I need to look it up. But perhaps French roast will still be available in grocery stores.
No not everyone likes Starbucks and I know no one likes French roast but that’s what I’ve been drinking for the last 15 years. What am I to do? For Rhonda Justin and Italian roast, they offered.

I am concerned for the morning’s Brew. And so should you. Because have you met me? Have you met me before when first cuppa coffee, Justin, my neighbor? Have you ever seen me in a Grinch? That’s why am!

Since I drink Americano, methinks espresso roast is the way to go. I know my friends will encourage me to leave the books train find a local roasteri. They are right. I should. I should love my coffee like I like my beer, local.

OK, this is a challenge. I’m on a roll or I think I am. I’ve been meaning to write about the Port of Vancouver on the tour we took of it two weeks ago. It was amazing. Tour leader was knowledgeable to the point where I thought she had been there for 30 years. But when I looked at her file online, she had only been hired for years. She was engaging and had recent text now luggage stored in her head.

I was fascinating to learn major local commerce. Staggering, in fact. It’s worth a tour and if you can do it OK it’s free and be a give you a sandwich with chips. I can’t be beat. Why not?

I’m done but I’m sitting next to guy who looks a lot like Collin mockery from whose line is it anyway I think it’s really cool.

Girl with Jane Ormus gold aviator glasses. Unusually cool.