October 2, 3 and 4, 2018. Oslo to Albuquerque and two days of illness.

October 2, 3 and 4, 2018. Oslo to Albuquerque and two days of illness.

On October 1 we went to sleep at 7:30 to try to get 6 or 7 hours sleep before awaking at 3:00 a.m. to get ready to leave Oslo.  Neither of us was feeling well.

October 2

We left the hotel a little before 4:00 and waited at the bus stop 1 block from the hotel Scandia Holberg for the airport bus which delivered us to the International airport around 5:40.  We made our Norwegian Airlines flight to London Gatwick, but everything then began to unravel.  We had to clear British customs, then go through a tiny security checkpoint that was backed up.  I became weak and it took me longer to walk to the gate and they had to hold the plane for us a few minutes, but we made our London to Dallas Norwegian flight, perhaps because Norwegian knew we were simply changing planes in London to a continuing Norwegian flight.  We sat three abreast in economy, but I enjoyed Timo in the seat next to mine.  We worked together on a trivial pursuits game and did rather well.  It was a long 9 hour and 45 minute flight, but they sold you drinks and after $30.00 of drinks and some of our salami and cheese on hard bread we began to feel better.

We were tired when we arrived in Denver at 1:00 but got a glimmer of hope when we saw there was an earlier United flight to Albuquerque than the 7:20 flight we were booked on, so after a big Dr. Pepper and apple pie at McDonalds we scurried to the gate.  We were lucky and ere able to get on the 3:40 flight and arrived a bit after 5:00 in Albuquerque.

We were tired and sick but happy to be home.

Suzette went to bed and I took a shower and dressed and drove to East Ocean and ordered a Vegetable No. 4, deep-fried Tofu with Mixed Vegetables, which is served with rice.  I ate about 1/3 and boxed the rest and took it home, stopping at Lowe’s on the way to pick up a fresh gallon of milk.

October 3. We woke up sick with diarrhea, and I was showing signs of muscle breakdown, so I made a Miso soup with some of the PPI Chinese vegetables and tofu, to which I added a minced shallot, and 8 chicken mini-wontons (Costco) and then went back to bed until 10:00 and then dressed and drove to my 10:45 podiatry appointment.  I am blessed to have discovered that Medicare will pay for a doctor to take care of your feet.

At 11:30 I drove to Albertsons and purchased four rib steaks for $5.97/lb., a jug of Tropicana orange juice, java chip ice cream, eggs, yogurt, two frozen haddock fillets for $7.99/lb., beautiful seedless red grapes for $.77/lb., and cream cheese.  The bill was $50 but with the 10% senior discount on the first Wednesday of every month, the total bill was $45.00.

I then drove to El Super for its Wednesday produce specials.  I bought Granny Smith apples for $.67/lb., red onion, cauliflower, and bananas for $.33/lb. Limes and papayas were $50/lb., lemons were $.98/lb.  I bought a large avocado for $.98, heads on Shrimp for $5.49/lb., a package of chocolate filled wafers for $1.09: and smoked pork cutlets for $3.29/lb..  I also bought 1 lb. of crema for $2.37.

I had intended to go to the bank and the library, but I was too tired.  I drove home, unloaded, and fell into bed after watching the stock market and my portfolio reach new highs at 2:00, while drinking a glass of orange juice.




I awoke at 4:30 and drove to the bank and the library to return Sapiens by Harari and pick up Summons to Memphis by Peter Taylor, our next book club selection.

I made it home around 6:00.  Suzette was feeling bad, so I ate a bowl of granola with about 2/3 cup of yogurt, a bit of milk, and a handful of grapes.

Suzette ate some yogurt.  That is pretty much the extent of our enthusiasm for food.

Suzette had a breakfast meeting so went to bed early and I fell asleep around 8:30 and slept until 5:00, if one can call the restless slumber we experienced sleep.

I woke up during the night and drank a cup of Earl Grey tea with a couple of chocolate wafers, which I find exceedingly easy the eat because they literally melt in your mouth.

October 4

We watched the news coverage of the Kavanaugh hearings and investigation and demonstrations by mostly women in Washington this morning until Suzette left for her meeting.

I then finished assembling the information needed to complete my 2017 federal and California taxes and sent it to the tax preparer.

I ate yogurt, granola, milk, and grapes for breakfast at 7:30 and at 11:30 made a Miso Soup with about ¼ lb. of minced chicken, chicken mini-wontons, 5 oz. of diced Tofu, plus most of the rest of the mixed Stir-Fried vegetables, plus dehydrated chicken stock, Chinese Cooking wine, and sesame oil.

After lunch I lay down to nap until 2:00 when I showered and dressed, paid Loyda, said hello to the washing machine repairmen and left for my 3:00 doctor’s appointment.

After seeing the doctor there were labs and then I drove to Costco to pick up my prescriptions and shop for a few food items.  I bought a 5 pack box of assorted Breton crackers on sale for $4.99, a wedge of Jarlsberg cheese, a 2.5 bag of fresh spinach, a box of mushrooms, and a container of Kirtland Greek Yogurt.  The idea was to get the ingredients necessary to make a mushroom, cheese, chicken, and spinach omelet for dinner.  As you can see I am building our inventory of ingredients every day, with a view to both filling the larder and designing menus that we can enjoy as we build back our inventory of food, by shopping at the stores with the best prices as we go.  For example, Costco’s price for Jarlsberg cheese was $5.55/lb., which is cheaper than its cost in Norway, where it is produced

After 4 hours of exertion I had to lie down when I returned home a bit before 6:00.  Suzette took over
the cooking duties and produced a beautiful and delicious mushroom, cheese, chicken, and spinach omelet for dinner.

We drank water with the omelet. After dinner I made a cup of chai!which I ate with four chocolate wafer cookies and two probiotic gummi bears.

Suzette went to bed at 7:30 and I followed at 8:00 and slept until 1:30, at which time I finished today’s blog.

Suzette awoke and both of us agreed that the more solid food at dinner made us feel better and that the contortions of pain in our stomachs were subsiding.

A take away from the Kavanaugh hearings and accusations by Dr. Ford and the accusations of a cover up of toy the FBI investigations.  It was clear to me that Dr. Ford is still experiencing trauma from the alleged sexual assault by Kavanaugh.  If she sued Kavanaugh for damages she is still suffering from his assault 36 years ago, she could do discovery and present the testimony of all of her witnesses.  If she prevailed in a court of law and got a judgment against Kavanaugh, the facts in that judgment could prove he lied to Congress,which is an impeachable crime and he could be removed from the bench.  I wonder if Trump has considered that possibility.  That by pushing the Kavannaugh nomination he will open up a whole new tort theory that may be used against him some day.

In thev70’s during the woman’s movement, we used to routinely argue mental cruelty as the basis for divorces in the days when a cause of action was required to be proven.  Most states have since adopted no fault divorce statutes that do not require proof of a cause of action for a divorce.

I think the me too movement is going to open up many men to potential liability for damages they cause to women they assault sexually.

There is already evidence that the courts are accepting sworn testimony by women of sexual assault as the basis for granting domestic violence injections.  Seeking damages for such actions seems a very small step further in the law.

Bon Appetit