I’ve spent much of my writing time this morning rebooting Google Chrome. Sometimes, I think my Microsoft computer is intentionally creating problems to force me to switch to Microsoft Edge as my search engine. As a result of this switch hassle, I am now back in business, with very little to say of importance today. 

We’ve had lots of company these past few days. Both of our guest rooms were filled for the first time ever in the four years we’ve owned this house. My wife’s youngest daughter, celebrating a birthday, and her niece came to town for different reasons. The niece is also staying with friends, while the birthday girl and her boyfriend are attending a wedding. We met his parents for dinner last night, as the relationship gets more serious. It is his cousins that are getting married here in Portland, so I don’t have to go. My wife and I will probably go to a movie, and there is no apparent reason for me to wear anything but my retirement uniform today.

I got to shop at the Columbia Employee Store yesterday thanks to an invitation from my wife’s company. By the way, I had to use the Men’s Room just after I entered the store. (See Post #677). After the slight delay, I then added a couple of new pairs of Prana (not Prada) jeans to my retirement uniform collection, along with a Columbia rain jacket. My last such water-proof jacket was ripped by the strong winds aboard the Viking Star to Athens. In thinking back to six months ago, I was running on the promenade deck of the boat and the pocket caught on a protruding stairway railing. My forward momentum caused me to twist completely around in the same strong winds that prevented us from docking in Olympia Greece. With the rainy season ahead here in Portland, I was able to replace the badly damaged coat at a reasonable cost.

I bought new shoes and socks at the convenient Chicago O’Hare Airport Johnston & Murphy store two days ago, once I used the nearby Men’s Room. However, since we had an hour or more to kill at the airport, it really didn’t seem like shopping. I also fulfilled a boxer shortage by ordering online at Tommy John, so the retirement uniform has been completely replenished and upgraded. No additional shopping will need to take place for some time. My wife is especially satisfied with the new blue-suede-shoes that present me with a dressier retirement look.

The Friday “Leadership Meeting” put my routine back on track. It had been two weeks since we had added points to our holiday party fund. The Beaverton Buffalo Wild Wings is our traditional meeting location, and they’ve lowered their prices on beer from $5 a mug to $5 for a pitcher of 3 mugs. This incentive alone will keep us there for the rest of the year, cashing in all our reward points for free food to celebrate the New Year.

This morning’s “Schnauzerthon” was another indication that my “homebody” harmony is back in tune. I.U. Football is on the tube, with Cubs baseball to follow. I’m in my favorite chair behind my home office desk, and I woke up in my own bed. Even better, I loaned my car to my step-daughter, so they’re out of the house, while I have no chance of doing anything or going anywhere. Instead, I’m enjoying some “my time.” If it weren’t for the computer hassles this morning, I would be in undisputed “Hometown Heaven.”