I became exhausted this Wednesday night and had to stop playing board games with Z. I had a few coughing attacks, one bad enough to alarm Z, but my emergency inhaler controlled that. So, it will be a shorter blog as I am sliding into nap time.
Going with the highlights, starting in the early hours, I woke up too warm to sleep (that has not happened in a while) and then had a short-lived but terrible leg cramp. The fall in the kitchen that slammed my left knee into the floor was also bothering me, and I was taking painkillers for that. So, sleep was troubled when I rose before 6:30.
I had coffee and a banana. I got out the drill and put two new holes in my belt. Mariah urged me to get a new belt (on its way) and to stop my pants from falling. It worked and will be better. A new belt is on its way. My weight increased to 158 (!), but my waist seemed smaller. I believe I am building muscle at the same time, and that is why my numbers are varying by ten pounds.
I was able to clean up and dress without issue and soon was in Air Volvo, headed to the Swift Building on the Nike WHQ campus. The traffic was heavy, and I had to wait ten minutes longer to reach the shoe company’s parking lot. Work was about processing and approving various changes. It was a usual day.
I left early and went to Barnes and Noble to buy a copy of the new game Wrymspan. I have a discount as a member, so it took no time to acquire the game and an electronics magazine I like. After that, I went to Happy Panda and ordered chicken with cashew nuts and mushrooms added to it. The bits of chicken in a light brown sauce were a crunch mix of celery, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and slightly undercooked mushrooms. Nothing that would help reduce my weight, but it was feel-good food. This over-plain rice and the usual spring roll and Hot and Sour soup was an excellent meal.
While consuming this crunchy mix, I read the rules for Wrymspan and later texted Richard and Kathleen for clarification. It was a pleasure to read and think.
I returned to work, and soon, my old boss, Brad, pointed out that the admin staff was serving margaritas, and we were relaxing and drinking. Sadly, much of the conversation is still about the wreckage from the recent layoffs and the new ones next week. Yes, margaritas were a good idea—we needed to party a bit.
Brad, my now-former boss, invited me and his previous MDG Engineering team for drinks and food. This was Brad saying goodbye, as the re-org had us leave Brad and move under another director. It was a nice dinner and drinks.
Next, I drove (ensuring I ate something to be sober) and soon reached First United Methodist Church without incident. Soon, Z and Dondrea arrived. We had cupcakes of a special cake made from bananas, pecans, and pineapple from scratch by Dondrea, carefully frosted with perfect roses and other flowers. Ashley, wearing a mask (she had been ill), joined us as her birthday was yesterday, as was mine, with the choir singing Happy Birthday. We had cupcakes to celebrate Ashley’s birthday and mine.
Z was excited to learn the Wingspan-like board game reworked with dragons, Wyrmspan. Z had it down soon and was crushing me. Z soon had an engine built, and I would watch as her turns would often be 1/2 again longer than mine. Z beat me by twenty points. I was too tired to play again. Z and I just chatted.
After that, I said goodnight to folks and headed home. I was soon writing.
Sorry for the rushed blog. Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 