Today 7Nov2023

Tuesday was a work-from-the-office day, and I woke with my alarm at 6AM. I felt ill. Everything hurt, and I moaned as I reached for my new slippers. I had thought I had a mix of asthma, COVID-19, and a cold–or grief. I wanted to just text Brad, my boss, that I not making it. I dragged myself to the kitchen and made NYC Zabar’s Grind coffee in the French Press and an NYC bagel (thanks, Smiths plus Jason and Joyce for the bagels) with cream cheese and some fruit containing yogurt. I was feeling normal now and carried the breakfast into the home office. There, I read the emails, Slack channels, and news to start my day.

But moving back to Monday night, after I finished the blog, I headed to Wildwood. There, I had one excellent Czech-styled brewed product and played the solo board game Nemo’s War. This, like most solo games, is a rules-heavy simulation with you controlling the Nautilus as Captain Nemo from the book (and old Disney movie, to some degree). It is a difficult balancing, and the game accelerates to a sudden ending that is important to complete. I enjoy it, and it is three hours to play. I closed Wildwood, finishing the scoring and putting away the game as the last guests paid their checks, just enough time. I finished the game without automatically losing, but I played too carefully, and my score was at the Failure level. Next time! I have won before.

After that, I headed home and went to bed after a snack, pecan pie, to not take my pills on an empty stomach. I read for a bit, back to murder mysteries set in Canada. Excellent. I was asleep, soon falling asleep with the Kindle in my hand. Susie would have laughed.

Returning to Tuesday, I rushed the morning, showered, and then dressed. I found my badge in my coat and boarded Air Volvo. All the board games are loaded, and I added Concordia to the pile in the cargo bay. I reached the Nike WHQ Swift building in time to grab a second breakfast (bacon!). I did hours or meetings on Zoom sitting in the window. I talked toward the window, and I managed to not disturb anyone as there was some sound dampening. My hearing is not working that well, and I can’t use headphones as the sound in my left ear garbles. Hearing aids are in my future, but I am resisting them for a bit longer.

I talk to folks and try to be a bit social. Everyone has been so kind about my grief, and I also have some items I would like to discuss. Eventually, Michelle V finds me and says some encouraging words, too–I was everywhere but not in any of my usual places. Sorry, Michelle V, and thank you!

Lunch is provided, but the line is long. Instead, I head to a nearby Thai place and have a non-spicy Massaman curry, a fav. I had to eat it slowly as it was heated to almost boiling when I received my entree. I burned my mouth on the first tiny bit and ordered some water, too. It was delicious, but next time, I will go with medium. I also have to look up how to make it. I genuinely enjoy it as it has potatoes and carrots with peanuts in an elegant sauce.

I returned to the office and continued with more Zoom meetings. I was not as tired as yesterday, but I headed out early as I had deliveries at the Volvo Cave. My copy of Ottoman Sunset arrived today (I also got an envelope that includes stickers to fix a misprint), and my book-like cover that fits my new black Apple laptop. I grew tired and rested for a few minutes. Then, I started again and made dinner, a large salad with chopped celery, carrots, and ham. To this, I added shredded Mexican-style cheese, olives, and sesame sticks, plus lettuce, of course.

I ate dinner in the office while watching YouTube videos from the Battleship New Jersey channel. This time, the curator discussed why the USS New Jersey was reactivated for the Vietnam War and not the other ships of the same class. The declassified official history of the ship, written in 1968, tells the story that New Jersey was just in better shape than the others. During the US Regan Administration, all the battleships of the Iowa class served again, with the fire-damaged Wisconsin being the last returned to service. It’s all interesting if you are a ship geek like me.

After dinner, I took Air Volvo to First United Methodist Church and waited for Z and Dondrea to arrive. They showed up at 6:30, as planned. Z and I then headed to Avia Coffee, as the church was full of groups, and squeezed the game Furnace on a small table. We were stacking the boxes on the window ledge as we had a tiny table.

Z remembered how to play, and I got twenty points ahead of her in the first game. We reset, and Z showed me how to play by crushing me with a score of 117. Andrew showed up, and we squeezed more and added him in. Three people is a much more complex game, and Andrew took us by twenty points–impressive as he had never played before.

Afterward, we were out of time and returned to the church to say goodbyes. I will miss church on Sunday as I am traveling to Texas on Friday. Air Volvo got me back home without incident.

Aside: I connected with Barb and Leta in Michigan. Leta is home, but her right arm is broken, and she is challenged to care for herself. She will be staying with Barb and her family until they can work out what needs to be done (surgery?). More to come.

I started on the blog. Thanks for reading.