Porthole

Ninth week of the New Year

16

May 16th. one crazy day to go. Cool in Lisbon. Covid test at 13:30... if negative I'm good to go. I feel fine at the moment.

Matthew went with me to show me where the pharamcist was. 20 minutes and I have a spanky-new permission slip to return to my native land. It was easy; but, it's frustrating to travel to a country that treats everyone visiting there like a diseased non-human. Especially when their own good-old-boys refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated. Diseased-my-ass.

So... I've calmed down as I was very nervous. I need to arrange a pick up at 03:00.

And repack, pray that my underwear dries in time (it would be a cool cloudy day... ).

Write a post card or 5?

Said good-bye to Marco and Daniel from Danmarka. Said hello to Jeremy from South Korea and Juan Pablo from Bogota, Colombia.

17

Good-bye, 🇵🇹

Long day. No sleep. Jeremy helped pass the time. He was ill (stomach).

Taxi at 02:45. Cost 8,80 euros. No major problems with flights but what-a-pain.

Avoid flying through SLC (Salt Lake City) until they get the new airport finished (2026?). One hour to get through Customs/Security. Major fail. One of the most miserable airports I've ever been in. The old one was okay.

Paid extra for premium seat on 10 hour flight AMS-SLC. The seat was worth it. The food? s***ty. Worse ever, Delta! I watched "Love, Victor' and slept. Movie choice wasn't much better than typical White-America = piss-poor.

Birgit picked me up. Saw Billie Jo, Dylan, Jay. Made my day.

18

Up at 06:00. Long sleep.

I need to write the poem "Ice Cap" about the 'lift' as the weight-of-ice melts.

Saw Laxmi, Kathy, Don, Dalton, Monte... others. Yes, I've lost weight. Meal was so-so.

Price of gasoline is $4.39/gal; but, my values aren't dependent on price of a material product.

I'm trying to process the slaughter in Buffalo. I lived in that neighborhood, a short walk from the store. I didn't recognize the names of the dead but the carnage affects thousands.

Went off on someone blaming 'illegals'. Have little patience.

Napped. Damp day.

Room is bone dry. Put a pot of water on the radiator. Opened window. Need humidifier and/or air filter. Watered some plants. The neglect shows.

But the geraniums bloom regardless.

19

Up at 06:30. Now a damp chilly 39 degrees.

Breakfast = coffee and a fish sandwich.

Wrote a response to the shooting in Buffalo. "Build a Bridge" 

Sat with Billie Jo and Angie. They got my postcards.

20

Up at 06:45. 38 degrees. Snow on Mt. Dean Stone. Very cold May. Apples barely blooming. River rising, raging.

Making mushroom rice for breakfast.

Gasoline is $4.44/gal. We don't talk about butter or eggs.

Chicken parmesan for lunch. Sat with Laxmi.

21

Sleeping too much. Up at 06:45. 39 degrees.

Market Day.

I made my rounds: market, bank, post office, cafe... saw folks. Froze. Now after 2 and time to head home. At least it has warmed up somewhat. I could do without the wind.

Shannon ran into me! She lived below me 8 years ago. She's visiting with her partner Michele. Nice to chat with them both. We all froze.

Can't stay awake. So... knocked on Birgit's door and we had a pleasant chat. Trying to stay up later and adjust to this time zone.

22

Snowmist shrouding the mountains to the north but 43 degrees at 7 a.m. and it will warm up today.

Nice badge/awardicon for my old p-log. HM Quill.

I was supposed to come home tomorrow. Just as well that I cut my trip short. Weather has been miserable. Too cold windy outside and too dry inside. My health isn't great but at least I'm not sick and a nervous wreck.

22 is my favorite number and May is my favorite month. 22 May 22.

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