Raincharm’s Weblog

This is about yesterday. I had plans, you know the, I would like to get X done today, list. Some of this focused on Carl and friend’s upcoming trip to Oakland, with a side of Mariners.

The plans didn’t even last until I got out of bed. I heard “my phone isn’t charging and won’t hold a charge.”

The knowledge of charging issues was a few days old when the charging port was irreparably damaged (it had been in poor condition for a few years), and a charging puck had been purchased until the problem could be dealt with.

Initially, that plan was to use the puck and embark on a phone replacement after Carl’s trip. About 1 week was all.

But the inability to hold a charge meant that most phone uses, like maps and tickets, would be delegated to traveling companions. We were prepared to copy down a few important contacts, but that’s when Plan B was put into action.

Step 1: Make an appointment as early as possible. Ms game later … We did get a 10 AM appointment, but not at the store closest to our house, but reasonable.

Step 2: Either fix the charging issue or acquire a new phone. The new phone quickly became where we were headed.

And not 1 phone, but 2. My phone works fine, but it has a display issues with odd shading. The writing was on the wall that the 7 year old phone’s useful life was limited. And having the same phone makes supporting each other easier.

A bit of time to get to step 2 and identify the likely replacement phones. Samsung S22s, replacing S7s.

Then, the more arduous part of the experience began. Not really the payment part, but the transfer of all of our stuff on our old phones to the new phones.

A few issues that meant that this lasted until about 3 PM.

1. The old phones had to be charged, and stay charged during the transfer. Recall Carl’s phone‘s charging issues, but in the end it was my phone that had problems here because nobody was paying attention to it’s charge.

2. The old phone’s storage was a limiting factor on how much could be transferred by wireless connection at a time. Our old phones had something like 32 gigs compared to 128 in the new phones. This also explains our continual battle with not enough storage messages. It wasn’t our nominal number of pictures, but the space that apps use now compared with 7 years ago.

It took 3 separate transfer actions to transfer from each old to new phone. And 3 tries to get the messages from my old to new phone.

Another weird result is that some Apps that were only on my phone now show up on Carl’s as well. I think the reason may be a setting that allows devices in proximity to each other to share, and especially since most of our apps use the same email address.

This and all of the Apps that come with the phone that we don’t want or need, there is now the phone maintenance to be undertaken. At a minimum this meant changing the ring tone chosen as the default for alarms. More later, especially since Carl’s phone has left the station.

As noted before from beginning to end this lasted at least 5 hours. Because it was clear the transfer was going to take some time we could leave and return. This allowed us to finish a task that had been delayed until Carl’s return, a Costco run. As it happens, there was a Costco across the parking lot.

A few hundred dollars later the provisions were in the trunk and the transfers were still underway. And, because phones time out and need to be unlocked, we left our passcode with the phones and headed home to unload.

The provisions and Carl stayed home and I returned to our phones. I think Carl’s phone was done, but mine was in the midst of its travails with messages. About an hour or two later I was finally released to go home, again.

It was almost time for the rest of the day to begin. And we were off to the Mariner’s game. For those not following, the Mariner’s march to a potential post season is precarious. There are 4 teams fighting for 3 spots in the AL, including the AL West winner. And we are playing the Dodgers, who have a firm lock on the post season, because they’re a really good team.

Carl figured it might be a blowout early, with a top pitcher going for the Dodgers, and we could leave early to go home and try to finish some of those items on our Plan A list that was derailed earlier.

To the Mariner’s credit, they hung in through 10 innings. It was a good game. But in the 11th it got out of hand. So we left early, but not early enough for task completion.

On the plus side, we ran into friends we had not seen for a while on the train ride home.

Most of the Plan A chores were delayed until this morning. And most have been completed.

Carl and friends have departed, heading to tonight’s stop in Eugene, OR. I am almost at loose ends because the pressure of yesterday has been released, and I am mentally done.

As a final note, I want to share a fantastic picture taken by my sister. It’s much better than anything I have to offer today.

Mariners are now in 1st place in the AL West by themselves.

There is still a lot of season to go, so Anything Can Happen. (An old Ms motto) I mentioned this to my Dad during a phone call today. He was not overly impressed. (NY Yankees fan since he grew up in the Bronx.) I should have pointed out he was only 76 years old the last time this happened, in 2003.

So I managed to accomplish just a few small chores, both involving screwdrivers.

First up was the teeny tiny screws that hold the car fob battery in place. For this we have an equally teeny Phillips head screwdriver. I did only manage to get 3 of the 4 screws back in. A few have gotten slightly bent along their millimetres long length. It’s a 20-year old car, and I don’t know how many battery changes have been required.

Now that I think about it, I can’t remember if we got a new fob (at least one) when we lost an original. I left the fob on the bumper and drove to work. (Don’t ask, it involved scraping windows and trying to turn off lights in a neighbor’s car. ) This was when we discovered you can drive the car without the key. It’s only required to get it started.

Second up was replacing the telescoping handle on one of our suitcases. This is the second handle I have replaced. The first was on the matching suitcase in the spring. Travelpro provided the replacement handle, at no cost! 8 screws out, 8 screws back in, rezip the lining that hides the guts, rethread 2 straps, and done. The screws were all normal sized Phillips, although there were 3 different lengths to keep track of.

Oh, and I finished a book obtained from the little free library on Birch Point Road in upper Michigan. Who knew. Black Hills, by Nora Roberts if you are interested.

Not really a chore, but done.

I just want to get that down while I’m feeling that feeling again. It has been several years.

Yesterday’s game was tight, but the Mariners prevailed. This put them in first place in the AL West for the first time in 20 years. (Tied with the Rangers)

Today’s game ended up being a laugher. Is that a word? 15 to 2, Mariners hit 7 home runs, some sort of record I think.

It’s a happy time. But also more tense as there are now expectations.

After today’s day game, with temperatures in the 80s, we walked about a mile south, to get on the northbound train one stop south of our normal boarding location. The goal was to get more of a walk. We did, but it was perhaps a bit warmer than was good. So we stopped in a Whole Foods on the final walk home to get the fixings for a smakerel dinner.

Tomorrow I will try to accomplish something of note. Like a chore, or some work. I did pay bills this morning, so not a total baseball day.

And of course, being in a position where the playoffs are a real possibility means that we will soon be asked to pay for playoff tickets. This will pile on the 2024 season ticket payment coming up soon.

But still, it has been a few satisfying days of Mariner baseball.

Turn of the fiscal year. And of course a day to celebrate Carl.

And old man birthday boy.

Step 1 of my 3 step retirement plan has been completed.

Returned home, worked 2 days, and then entered the dreaded world of Covid. After managing to elude it for 3 years, it caught us. Carl first, Saturday, and me by Monday.

I figured it was likely after Carl got sick, so I ran necessary errands on Saturday and worked on time sensitive items on Sunday. I should be able to finish the time sensitive work tomorrow. Still sick, but my brain is working again.

Carl and my journey’s have been very similar, just 2 days apart. The first day was barely able to stay up, but long enough for a video Drs visit to get Paxlovid. I was able to pick it up for Carl, but had to have mine delivered. The second day was better, but still mostly horizontal. Not making any important decisions. Day 3 it feels like recovery is on the horizon, and attempts at doing things can happen. Day 4 for me is tomorrow, but Carl managed to do our laundry, so apparently more energy.

We’ve had to cancel some engagements, like baseball games and donating blood.

And I have to get better soon because I am flying back to Michigan in a bit. I guess I won’t worry quite as much about catching Covid this trip. We figure the likely infection locations were the Mets game or the flight back from NY, even though we were masked on all transit.

At least we got to enjoy a few fleeting flower moments before isolating ourselves in the house.

More time with E. Carl goes to a baseball game. We go on a walk that includes shopping. Some angst. Uber and heading home.

The primary reason for the trip was to get to know E better. And to see Ashlan and Allen. Time with E included the early morning play while his breakfast was being prepared. A few toys and keeping him on the bed/couch. This generally went reasonably well, and he never fell off, so we count it as a success. Most play time was in his play area. About 5′ by 7′ with a padded carpet, surrounded by linked plastic walls. Large enough to accommodate a grown person along with a growing, 26 pound child. Toys entered the enclosure and could be played with until they were unceremoniously flung. Stacking and nesting toys were favorites, along with the shapes that can slide along wire mazes. And especially a smallish container with a purple lid that could be opened and snapped shut. The best is finding exposed wood floor to bang toys against. Of course this activity is discouraged as they are trying to not annoy the downstairs neighbors.

I did get an opportunity to carry E about the hall for a while to distract from the crankies. We looked out of the windows next to the elevator and into the mirrors in the hallway. Oh, and I had a good 45 minute period of unsupervised (by either parent) play while an errand to find cat food was run. We survived.

Carl and Ashlan and two of her friends went to a Mets game on our last evening. The outing was a success, execpt that the Mets played poorly, and it wasn’t really good baseball. 5-0 Nationals win.

We did walk down to the waterfront overlooking Manhattan, twice. We were at the Gantry State Park, across the river from the UN. The first time Carl and I hung out for a while. The second trip was a hit-and-run version, and we slingshot back towards Trader Joe’s and some other grocery store. We wanted to refill their larder before we left town. Next time we need to have some meals in mind to make ahead of time. I find it hard to do on the fly.

They have been working their way through 100 foods for E to try. I think the plantain may have been the final food, although Ashlan was not pleased with how it turned out. E would be a fruititarian if given the choice.

As for angst, I didn’t have a work dream until the last night. But I did get a call on the last day gone that one of my longtime co-workers passed away. She had taken forced retirement (not forced by the office, but by health issues) about a year ago, and it all finally caught up to her. I miss her enthusiasm. A person who truly enjoyed Mondays. And the Seahawks. We do seem to be spending more time than is welcome learning about medical terms and tests.

On arrival in NYC we took the easy route, and got a cab to the apartment. Apparently it’s a flat fee from JFK to Manhattan, but not to Queens. It cost significantly more than the last visit, but then the price of gas is significantly higher too. And I didn’t cherish figuring out the Air Train and subways in the dark after a long day. For the trip back we ordered an Uber, that was not cheap, but more reasonable.

The airport terminal we were in, 7, was pretty uncrowded. Not extremely fast, but definitely not slow. We had left plenty of time for movement around the airport after our bus on the tarmac experience on arrival. None of that today. Walk in, security, find a place to chill and wait for boarding. Piece of cake.

I guess the next thing is to plan the next vacation. There are a few likely potential reasons to leave Seattle. We’ll see what happens next.

Two outings today. First up was a park visit with a few of E’s friends.

Second was a visit to the Jackie Robinson Museum. This included a subway ride. The N to be specific.

It’s only been open for a few months. We spent about 1-1/2 hours reading and looking at most of the exhibits. I learned a few new things as well as seeing evidence of things I thought I knew before.

And we made it back. On the R train to a station. Dinner and some shows, and Carl is snoozing on the couch, soon to be bed.

I feel like I should post a picture of a changing table here

Here is a very hard to decipher picture of planes back ends. I always thought that once I had exited the plane through the jetway, my time on the tarmac for that flight was over. Not so yesterday. We exited, walked for a while and were then directed to a staircase, down, and onto a bus. The bus took off across the tarmac, behind the planes being loaded and unloaded. Use your imagination with the picture, it was dark.

Finally back into the terminal and more walking. Finally to baggage claim and the taxi line. The taxi took about 45 minutes to an hour after we reached the front of the line. But we made it.

Today has been a tired day, with a group birthday party in the middle. Many babies and their parents.

Back at the ranch, everybody spends some time in the pen.

My victory for today was leaving work at 4:30. This is when the office closes. Yesterday it was 8:30 when I left. I am glad I stayed late yesterday. The work I accomplished yesterday made today manageable. Not that there weren’t a few bumps, or I should say edits, along the way. The first set of edits was welcome and expected. The last set came after I had printed and stuffed the letters into envelopes. So, there has been more recycling today than in the last few months together.

I had support from 2 other coworkers who made it possible to get where we got. They were wonderful to help, even though they had to participate in a science fair tonight.

The deadlines are at least partly of my making. Some dates have outside influences, but my taking 4 days off is on me.

My reward at home, a happy face and dinner.

Looking forward to a liesurly evening.

But Carl was