It is now a clear sky evening in Oregon. We watched the weather change from cold and rainy to Oregon mist to clear. We are headed back to 80F highs (27C) this week. The eclipse is 14 Oct 2023, with mixed clouds and sun; Tigard will be 80% dark, and I have special glasses for a party at the hummingbird house. If we are overcast, we can use the pinhole eclipse-watching method–it does not need direct sunlight to work.

I got home at 9ish and then unloaded all the games from Air Volvo, as this weekend is the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, and then I started writing the blog (and planning my Festival). I have a VIP event on Thursday night, a Call of Cthulu Role Playing Game on Friday morning with the HPLHS (the folks that make some of the best props), and then the Festival starts at 7PM Friday. I am excited. I had my suits cleaned and will look more 1920s in a suit with a vest. I have a Homburg to wear with them.

Going backward, Z and I played the board game Z’s suggestion, Brass: Lancashire, a mean economic game with a complex resource usage model. We both love it, but this time, I did take some resources that Z planned on–mean games continue to limit options as they are played, and it is often to your advantage to take something the other player wanted. I got Z a few times, but she blocked me too. I recommend the game but be ready to be frustrated by your friends.

It took us the whole time to play with a delay for Z to do homework. I was not sure who had won until I totaled the score. Z was ahead in the first epoch, but I managed to build lots of level 2 coal mines in the first epoch that were ready to build my trains and network. Again, it is a harsh game, and I planned three turns out and across epochs. I was ahead by 13 at the end; I just managed to slide by Z.

Before this, I had my new standard Wednesday order at Shake Shack: an avocado, bacon, cheese, beef burger. All the food groups! The fries, while nothing great, are fresh and slightly crunchy. I was tempted to do the double patty as it is a smallish burger, but I think that is unwise if I want to lose ten pounds in six months!

Moving back in the day, I was at Nike WHQ, supporting the data conversions and reading and approving fixes and designs. I did talk to my boss about Susie’s status, as I like Brad to know what is happening.

Before this, I was at Susie’s place at Susie at Allegiance Senior Care LLC, 9925 SW 82nd. Ave. Portland (Tigard), OR 97223; phone (503) 246-4116. Susie was feeling more talkative and awake today, and we had a friendly chat with Leta, Susie’s mother, on a FaceTime video call. I usually only stay a short time, but I could stay a little longer today. I then stopped by Panera and had soup and a chicken almond 1/2 sandwich. I am coughing again and very tired. I thought some chicken soup and a small but good sandwich would be perfect. I was not overly sleepy from it later.

I had forgotten that lunch was provided in Swift today. I did get some chips later as a snack.

Moving back to the start of the day, I was not happy to be awakened from a deep sleep by my alarm. I then set it thirty minutes out, and seconds later, well, it seemed like that, it went off again. I rushed and managed to have cereal with milk and sliced banana with my liberal coffee. I did the usual things, and soon, I headed to the office and got there before my first meeting at 8.

I am tired and just had a 10PM meeting with India. Time to close this, and again, dear reader, thanks for being here with me.