Day 59: Sunday

I was playing Dungeons and Dragons 5E in our spell jammer campaign when the Swiftees won the Super Bowl. Tonight, my evil cleric and our bard had to negotiate an alliance between the humans, mind flayers, and space Drow (evil dark elves). While we would have enjoyed playing our usual combat-centric approach, it did not look like we could win. Instead, we roleplayed creating an alliance and were successful at that.

As part of the game, we also worked with a mind flayer (just ick), fought a dragon for a treasure, and acquired a new base. So, at least we got some combat in. It was a fun evening, and we will return to the story in late March, as many of us are traveling these coming weekends.

Moving back further, lunch was with Wayne and Anne Weld-Martin at Tom’s Pancake House. We met there after church and talked a bit about Susie’s concert. I have started on the plan for the service and concert. Anne was happy I was looking at the United Methodist Book of Worship but agreed that I could reduce it. I had most of a Denver Olmet with a pancake. I did not finish either. I am still trying to keep my calories under 2,030 each day.

After saying goodbye to the Weld-Martins, Air Volvo returned me to the Volvo Cave. There, I dropped the tie and dress shirt and did laundry. Corwin did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. Later, Corwin had a bucket of KFC for the Superbowl, “a tradition,” he told me. I rested for a bit.

I rose at 7:30 and spent the morning writing the blog. It took me just over two hours of clock time, but there was a break in there to make coffee and eat my banana for breakfast. Unlike tonight’s blog, it was a long story.

I was surprised to be ready early, cleaned up, and dressed. Today, a sweater over a dress shirt and a gay pride tie worked. I have lost weight, and my clothing is fitting again. My weight and this will happen, has stabilized at a new number. More walking or exercise will be needed to move to a new number. At least it is headed down.

For my brain surgery, I need to lose any weight I can. The pressure of your brain fluid is affected by your weight–who knew. Thus, it is good to have three months to have the surgery to cut some pounds.

I was early, so I started on the plan for Susie’s concert and formed an outline for the service part of the concert. As I worked, my emotions became impossible to control. I was crying while typing and working on the plan. I managed to get started. I will pick it up again on Monday. It was too hard to keep going today.

Air Volvo left at 10ish for First United Methodist, Beaverton. When I arrived at church before the service, I pulled up a chair in the back next to Rev.Dr. Wayne Martin. I helped him get up a few times. Others were there to help, too.

The service was the usual, but Pastor Ken Wystma’s sermon was long. He continued using Acts in the New Testament to argue for justice and doing the right thing. It is not OK to work just to better your condition without regard to others. While Pastor Ken had many examples and stories, his point was that focusing on our singular success, especially at the cost of others, is not following Jesus. It is important to keep listening and to understand other points of view. It is not about manipulating the media, people, and the law to realize our views but trying to understand what justice requires to get the best for everyone. Not you, y’all.

And that is my short blog for today. I am tired. Thank you for reading!