Day 14: Wednesday

I slept poorly, finally stopped getting up at 6AM, and then slept soundly until 9AM. My ears were stuffed, as was my nose, and I coughed for a while. My left ear is having some issues that are likely caused by the brain tumor and is even draining a bit. Ugh.

Despite the challenges, I rose and started on the Boxing Day blog. I write slowly as I had no plans for the day other than playing board games in the evening with Z during choir practice–we are returning to our regular schedule. I also surfed the Internet and read the news. As a liberal, I shook my head often, and I read the year-end essays recasting history and current events suggesting that liberalism is the source of all evil in the USA and history. I drank my fairly traded Rwanda coffee and did not finish many essays (Thank Kramers for the coffee).

I slowly wrote while drinking my coffee and reheated the eggs, sausage, and veggie scramble I had made the day before, and it was still good. I saw that Mariah texted and suggested meeting for lunch at Golden Valley Brewery in less than an hour–I noticed later in the morning. So, I finished the last few paragraphs and then rushed to publish them with a few pictures.

I showered with speed, and so on, and was soon aboard Air Volvo with fifteen minutes to cross northern Beaverton. Traffic was light, and extra-legal driving was at a minimum. One car was in the fast lane and then through construction at ten miles an hour below the speed limit. My close approach finally got them to change lanes. I was only a few minutes late.

Mariah informed me she had spent a few minutes hitting on the good-looking waiter. We both tried to be extra nice to the waiter and smiled often. I managed to get him to know my name. I am not gay, but I felt I should try too and see who got his phone number. A contest. Mariah was amused and told me she might return to the GVB without me next time. Next time, I will try to be a Wingman. All in good humor; even the waiter seemed to get it.

I ate half of an avocado BLT, and Mariah also had a sandwich, sliced beef, and cheese. We both had beers to wash it down. It was a nice chat.

After being silly for lunch, I headed to our local Barnes and Noble. There are so many new books and even some more Sherlock Holmes books! Instead, I found Dreyer’s English and got a trade paperback version (the larger paperback); I buy physical books on style and grammar. The book states on its cover, “An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style,” how could I resist that? I also have my account with the chain and got a slight discount, so I bought it. I am often tempted to head to Powell’s on more technical writing books and find a used copy, often a hardcover, at a reduced price, with the hardcover often priced below the new trade paperback’s price.

I headed home and soon arranged to meet The Smiths on the coast at their beach house on Thursday afternoon. I read the rules, The Law of Root, for the board game Root. I have not played the game since before the pandemic, and each player gets a faction with its own rules. In fact, each player is playing a different game, all placed in a shared framework and board. Quite amazing. The Smiths want to try it. It is a lot of rules!

I also reviewed Brass rules, as the two versions have slight differences that could easily be mixed up. I did see that we have not enforced the closest coal rule–matching in the games, but there were seldom choices in our usual play; I suspect we never broke that rule. The more loved version, Birmingham, rated number 1 for all games in Board Game Geeks, is easier and kinder. I like the slightly less loved version, Lancashire (ranked 20th best game).

I headed to the Shake Shack in Beaverton for dinner before playing games with Z and Andrew during choir practice. I had an avocado, bacon, and cheese single burger with fries and a Diet Coke. Just wonderful there. I read my Star Trek book, Wounded Sky, on my Kindle app on my phone. The app and my device can track what page I am on. I don’t carry the Kindle as I can read on my phone now. I cried through the words (I cried a few times today as I missed Susie) as it addressed death and creation–an excellent story.

Air Volvo got me to the church on time, and soon, Z selected Concordia as today’s game. We picked the map of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, which I have had for years, but I don’t remember playing it. The map is designed to play with the Salsa rules, so we had to make an easy adjustment of pulling some random extra cities from the ‘D’ bag (I have to draw bags as an improvement to the game from Board Game Geek)–We don’t play with salt.

I think I won the first game by just a few points; Z has this game down cold and even stacks out her cards and plans her turns four deep or more. I am just a bit more flexible. I captured the Weaver Card and built all the cloth trading posts worth twenty points at the end of the game. I was not sure I would win the whole game.

Concordia is a favorite game and is supplied with extra boards, so you can buy as much as you want after getting the game’s base. The more compressed boards are best for lower player counts, while the Mediterranean Sea base board suits any player count. The game has very simple turns, and end-of-game scoring is based on your play–my favorite instead of collecting strange goals from a random process. The game uses deck-building and resource-management mechanics, which are also favorites. Every play increases your resources and capabilities, making the game bright. Player interaction is not weak with purchasing personality cards from a shared market (get that Weaver Card before it is gone!), and building on an already built location is more expensive but possible.

Andrew joined us for a second three-person game on the same map, and we did a little resetting. It’s fun to try the same exact map again! Andrew had not played before, so we walked him through his turns, and soon, F**K, he was far ahead. Z had her turns and now planned five cards ahead with the same map, helping her to plot everything. Andrew sang in the choir practice, and we played while the Praise Band practiced. We managed to get about 1/2 way, and Andrew still was leading. We scored the game just to show Andrew how it is done. Next Wednesday, I hope to play a complete game with Andrew and not have him win in a partial game. Z scooted by my score, too. Yes, last place for me this time. But I had such plans! Ugh, foiled by an early ending. Next time!

I stopped by Safeway in Air Volvo after wishing everyone a good night and a Happy New Year while boarding at the church. Aw was checking; an Iraqi who has been making it work in the USA was happy to see me. We have talked for years about our family and are always happy to see each other. I got a pizza and a few crackers for a snack.

At the house, I cooked the pizza in the oven and watched more episodes of The Sandman. An excellent series on NetFlix that I wanted to rewatch before the new season is published. I ate most of the pizza but left one slice for breakfast.

I had trouble sleeping again, as I wanted to do much more. A problem I get on vacation. I want to do everything at once, even when sleeping. I finished my book, The Wounded Sky, and started back on Sherlock Holmes and read another story. I finally slept but was up a few times.

Thanks for reading.