When I write this on Saturday, it is a bright, clear morning and cold, 48F (9C), with a high according to the forecast of 69F (20C). Friday was overcast and started rainy, but it slowly cleared to cloudy and, finally, clear skies late at night. Thus, when I visited Susie, we stayed inside as it was still damp and cool.
I started Friday, as usual, sleeping into 7ish and not waking for most of the night. The pains and coughing disappeared, and I only had to prove hydration once. My first meetings start at 8, so I had time to make breakfast of hot instant (low sugar) oatmeal, doctoring it with some dried cranberries (one of Susie’s favorite things that I agreed are just wonderful with a lot of punch for fewer calories) and some walnuts (also something Susie loves). I always have them, even when Susie is now in the hummingbird house. I put in only one pack of oatmeal (Susie would want two) and lots of hot water (Susie wants less water and used to look at me funny when I made instant oatmeal–obviously thinking, “You are doing it wrong!”). I then made coffee in the French Press with Liberal Coffee. When Susie and Corwin lived here, I would make a whole pot every morning and leave it for them when they got up. They would microwave it hot when it was time for them to rise. So, with all these good memories, I carried my bounty to the home office.
I have Ziply Fiber and a 1G connection on my laptops. I have Nike’s laptop and my own Apple in my office. My Nike laptop then tunnels to the Nike Network and reconnects with the WHQ mothership. I use the corporate machine to read work emails and updates on Slack channels. I used my Apple laptop to read my mail and update myself on the news (the US government is still headed to a budget-caused shutdown).
Work started at 8ish, and Zoom meetings ran until almost 10AM. It was the usual and obvious again. We are also, and I am happy to see it, carefully applying our processes to ensure that all installed software changes have been tested, approved by various levels, and with proper documentation–boring but necessary.
I managed to find a break at 10AM and discovered that the shower rod had fallen again. This time, I took some time to reinstall it with care and get it back in place. Unlike yesterday, I managed to not hit myself with the shower bar. My shower was uneventful.
I continued working in the office and made a taco salad with the last taco meat I had left. It was good with freshly chopped celery and carrots, too. I used sesame sticks instead of taco shells–excellent.
Next, I load a large bag of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) gaming stuff, the three rules books, and a desert map surface to play on into Air Volvo’s cargo hold. I also carried on my two laptops from the office. I then took Air Volvo to the Shell to refuel at an outrageous $5.09 for regular unleaded gas. Remember that Oregon has no sales tax, but still, it is a bit high. The West Coast of the USA has always paid a premium for gas. After allowing full service (no extra charge in Oregon, and we are now allowed to pump our own fuel), Air Volvo finally headed to Susie’s place at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116.
The construction on Hall Boulevard has become more intense, and the overpass of Highway 217 is messy now. I saw some daring crossing of five-lane roads and sudden jumps into turning lanes. Still, there were no collisions, as nobody was going fast enough to not tolerate our Portland Area’s passive/aggressive driving process. Air Volvo arrived at the hummingbird house undamaged.
Susie was happy to have me as a visitor, and we soon were set up in my Friday work-from-Susie’s-room configuration. Susie was set in her bed watching season three of M.A.S.H., starting with the episode when Colonel Potter was added to the cast. I followed along, read and approved various items, and then bored Susie to sleep with a meeting on data archiving. Susie did recognize Brad Jones on the Zoom meeting and sent a ‘Hi” to my boss.
It was good to keep Susie company all afternoon. I know she is seldom alone, but I am sure it gets lonely. At 4ish, I left with a kiss, and Jeniifer, the weekday nursing aide, was just finishing her shift.
Next was a whirlwind; I took Air Volvo to the Volvo Cave, got the mail, and reboarded. Next, I picked Corwin up about a mile away and pointed Air Volvo to Portland and Guardian Games in SE. We traversed Beaverton and Portland to reach the gaming store. There, I checked in with the friendly staff, and we got a large table right in the middle of a Magic: The Gathering drafting event (I don’t play this game, which I understand is quite fun, but as a buy-in, I am not prepared to do so). I had reserved a table, and the gaming store staff were excited to see some Dungeons and Dragons play and all of my monsters figures. I painted and made some, including a massive plastic lobster reworked into a giant scorpion-ish creature.
Kathleen arrived, and we started to play. As with D&D, the game seems to play fast and furious, but time burns just as quickly. It is a board game and Role Play Game (RPG) phenomenon that time just disappears when having fun. We managed to get Kathleen going, a first-time player, and I gave three NPC Knights to each player who also ran to supplied characters, all tenth level–so they are super-powered. Kathleen had little trouble (she is an incredible board gamer) picking up the RPG and looking at the players’ handbook to find spells to use.
I wrote the adventure with Corwin in mind, had played it with my regular group, and now Corwin and Kathleen got to try it. I have some red shirts (like I did before and will write into the adventure text) to allow for some excitement but less loss to the characters. One critical hit killed a red shirt, but they could revive the knight before he passed beyond magical help. The adventure is my imagination within the snug restrictions of D&D rules. Often, the players found no shortcuts and had to, in the end, pound away at my monsters–thus the red shirts supplied.
In one case, Kathleen and Corwin devised a unique solution to one challenge, and I let that work to their advantage. I thought it a good idea, and unlike some adventure writers, I will add a note to the encounter that using a Gust of Wind spell to blow away the cursed sand will be to their advantage. I like the idea.
The last encounter for the night was a pushover for them. I will have to rethink if turning my one undead creature should unwind the whole encounter, but still, it was a good solution. I let it work. The encounter mainly sets the theme, which works for the overall adventure. I may split up the single undead creature into multiples so that only some are turned, adding a rule to the encounter that one creature always resists turning. Thus, reduced, the encounter still continues as planned.
Corwin and Kathleen were happy and even excited with the game, and we will continue, likely two more gaming sessions to complete the adventure. And want to face the giant figure they saw–the former plastic lobster. I learned a few things, and as a story-telling Dungeon Master, I like to see where everything goes and let the player’s plans work. As a writer of D&D adventures, you learn that some encounters can unexpectedly be crushed, but often, another one is a hard fight. I enjoyed sharing my story.
The Guardian Games staff was helpful, and we did not know you cannot bring in drinks from outside (they sell alcohol, and thus this is not allowed). Food was available to be delivered. We were having so much fun we barely noticed the noise of the Magic card game.
I drove Kathleen home, recrossed Portland and Beaverton without issue, and arrived home at about 11PM with Popeye’s Chicken. I was in bed and soon asleep–It was a busy day!
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 