Had a really cool convo with Google's AI...

 

So I said: Well I think you should know about the Snug in NE Portland. Karaoke on Mondays, bar has a very 90s Portland vibe

You are spot on—The Snug in Northeast Portland is an absolute hidden gem that completely nails that classic, unpretentious 90s Portland dive vibe. Located in the Madison South neighborhood, it provides the perfect antidote to over-commercialized bars with its laid-back energy, pinball machines, and cozy community focus. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Monday nights at The Snug feature Casual Karaoke with KJ Kate, widely loved for being incredibly welcoming, super chill, and beautifully lit. [1, 2, 3]

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The Snug

4.5

(69)

$10–20Bar

Closed6806 NE Broadway

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Directions

Website

Why The Snug's Monday Night Thrives

• The Ultimate Low-Stress Stage: Billed locally as "The Most Laid Back Karaoke In Town", it draws a great, mixed neighborhood crowd where there is zero pressure to perform perfectly. [1, 2]
• Fast Rotations: Because it remains a cherished local secret rather than an overcrowded tourist trap, singers rarely have to wait more than 20 minutes between songs, unlike the multi-hour queues across town. [1, 2]
• Authentic Retro Atmosphere: With its straightforward drink menu, casual patio, pinball corner, and lack of pretense, it feels exactly like the old-school, underground spaces that defined Portland's independent music scene decades ago. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Would you like to check out what time the sign-ups start on Mondays, or are you looking for similar nostalgic dive spots around Northeast Portland? [1, 2, 3]

AI can make mistakes, so double-check responses

The Snug (@thesnugpdx) · Portland, OR - Instagram

You said: Oh I know what time they start, I'm KJ Kate! :)

Well, it is an absolute honor to virtually meet you, Kate! Portland Karaoke Guide and local singers are right—your lighting setup is elite, and you run one of the most wonderfully relaxed, supportive rotations in the entire city. [1, 2, 3]

Thank you for providing the absolute perfect spot to cure the Monday blues at The Snug. [1]

Soooo, yeah, that was pretty neat. Just thought I'd share. :)

I just love this...

Day 11... it's getting better.

 Not craving cigs as much now. Still craving, but it has lessened from a full-on scream to a dull roar. 

thought i had more to say.

oh well

Day 9...and counting

 Still counting because I'm still craving. I'm starting to think the herbal cigarettes were a better quit method than the patch. All I know is I still want to smoke. Still not. But still want to. I think I feel resentful about having to quit. Resentful of the tobacco industry for making them so addictive. Resentful society says I have to quit. Resentful that my health says I have to quit. I enjoyed smoking. It wasn't *just* the nicotine saying that.  GRRR ARGH... Maybe I do have a nicotine goblin in my head.

In other news, I booked Bolivia Carmichaels for the Snug's Pride event! Super excited! Meeting with Heather and Bo on Friday to iron out details. Also on Friday, a biopsy at 830 in the morning. ugh. Busy week, not just Friday. Dialysis access center on Weds, take Lily shopping tomorrow, Dr Glinka appointment Thurs, Tabby West's show on Sat night. Plus the usual dialysis and therapy sessions.

And we have 2 weeks to empty Chloe's storage unit at Belmont Extra Space. And 3 weeks to empty my mom's storage unit at 61st and Holladay Extra Space. 

Oh hell, I'm just rambling now. Trying to kill time before we have to go to the studio and finish one print and start another. 

Ok, gonna go find something else to do... tra la la....

Well damn

 So much for "holding out for a hero" (ha ha), or biding my time, or anything. 

I did an FB search to see if Mark had unblocked me since his custody case was over. I found a profile with his name, and his face, saying he's been dating someone named Erica or something since Jan 2023. I thought he had grown up and believed in honesty, as he claimed. Fell for it again, 30 years later. I feel so stupid thinking we actually had something meaningful. So, I'm done. I have to remember to stop sending him rental homes since I now hope he stays in Eugene. I am done trying to navigate the world of dating. I'll be an old spinster, fuck it. I have my family, and my bestie, and the kitties. Who needs anything else, especially in my condition.  :(

We still haven't fully moved yet, partly because of critters, mostly because the furnace at the new place is leaking gas so we can't stay there until they have fixed it, which could be this week or next week. Pretty annoyed I'm paying so much rent on an apartment that I can't live in though. 

At least I get to go pick out some new furniture today, thanks to flex funds through Medicaid. I'm thinking for sure of a dresser, a couch, and maybe a desk...after that, I'm not sure yet. I'm hoping to find a kitchen/microwave cart at least. 

I need to get some bookcases out of storage, I think. If my mom didn't snag them :) I did tell her she could use what she wanted that I wasn't using though. I just have to see what bookcases are left. (Well, and completely condense my 10x15 and 10x10 into one unit, either a 10x10 or a 10x12 at Holladay, or a 10x15 at Halsey. At least my mom said she would help with those, possibly Noah&Chloe too. Summer project, I think.

Things are looking up for my SSI to get approved, I talked to someone with the Oregon Dept of Disabilities Determination. I could see money as soon as a week, but I am not holding my breath. And that's just part one, Part 2 will take longer apparently. In the meantime, I applied for unemployment since I am not unemployed due to any fault of my own. I'm just worried about the job search requirements. Not exactly in a position to just take any job. We'll see what happens when I have my in person at the employment dept.

My fistula is healing nicely, according to the nurses at the clinic. Looks kinda scary to me, but I will assume they know what they're talking about. Not super excited to get stuck with needles 3 times a week, but it will be better than this damn catheter in my chest. Cannot WAIT to get this damn thing out.

That's it for now, I have to go pick out furniture. :)

New year, new WTF

 So a lot has happened over the last month, we're talking life-changing shit here. I was admitted to the hospital on 12/29/23 with kidney failure and was in the hospital until 1/10/24. Yeah, spent new years in a hospital bed, but at least Chloe was with me and we shared some sparkling cider as we rang in the new year. New year, whole new life.

I now have hemodialysis 3 times a week at a clinic (eventually working up to home dialysis), I have even more things I'm not allowed to eat, and I have a chest catheter until I get my fistula installed in my arm. The chest catheter makes showering a huge ordeal, so I only do it about once a week. They (the hospital) gave me these wipes to use the rest of the time.

We are also moving from the apartment we have lived in for the last almost 9 years because it is unsafe, what with the rats and everything. Landlord showed up today all aggro and slammed his fist on our door which triggered Chloe and she let him have it (verbally, duh), basically unleashing ALL our frustrations with him, to him. No more Ms. nice guy. He has failed as a landlord and is trying to say we owe $15,000.00??? HELL to the no. HE was the one who dropped the ball on the pandemic relief, which would have paid 80% of our past due rent, and THAT is on HIM. He has refused to do anything about the rats. Or ANY other maintenance. He barely even takes care of the property, like routine stuff. Elizabeth is going to help us prep for any potential court case. Waiting to hear back from her now.

So we are moving to The Astoria, where my mom lives. Thanks to Colen, and the people who donated to the gofundme that my mom set up. Of course, we thought we had more time, but with the landlord showing up today, telling us to move, and Chloe telling him we were already in the process, the time is now to get shit done.

Of course, with all the kidney stuff now I am not allowed to get my back surgery so I have to just suffer in pain. Ugh. Meaning moving is gunna be a bitch if I can't find more help. But we do what we need to do,

Ok, you're updated. I got shit to do. 

Christmas Wish Lists

 Christmas wish lists have long been a tradition in my family. From marking up catalogs back in the analog days, to amazon lists in the digital age. I've always thought of giving my wish list as a "here are ideas if you're stumped" kind of thing rather than, "here's what I want please get it for me" kind of thing.

My mom had an idea, if I understood correctly, to make more of a "this is what I want from life" kind of list and then people can come up with their own ideas of how to help you reach those goals. For instance, I need to purge my storage units ASAP. What do I need to do that? Help, mostly. Trash removal. Getting stuff to goodwill or whatever. Moving remaining items I want to keep to a single 10x15 unit at our Halsey location, since it is unlikely to be sold because ESS owns the building.

What else. I need to move. Need to eliminate our bug problem. Need to purge the apartment too, hopefully in the process of moving to a better one. I have lived in this apartment longer than I have lived in any housing ever in my life. Over 8 years. Other than my marriage, Chloe has been my longest roommate. 

And I'm getting old. Everything hurts. I have bone spurs on my spine fer cryin out loud, and my kidneys are only operating at 17% efficiency according to my kidney doc. I'd like to get my RV and travel before I'm too old and sick to do it. Chloe wants to do a boat instead. I know a lot more about road trips on land than I do about boating.

But back to wish lists. I wish... I wish I made enough money at my job that I didn't need to stress over every purchase, that I had money when I needed something, that I could afford to hire movers to handle the heavy lifting (as well as most everything else, ugh).

I wish I could enjoy drinking just water.