Slow Going Monday

Sunday was such a disappointment with nausea and colon issues that Monday, I decided to go slow and avoid any chance of repeating Sunday. I rose before 8, soon found the kitchen (it is still in the same place), and started on coffee. Today, I used locally ground and roasted coffee from Hillsboro. I did start breakfast.

I sat in my chair in my work area, started my blog, and then called the TV Highway Automotive. We agreed I would be there in thirty minutes. I quickly poured the coffee into a travel cup and headed to the bathroom. There, I washed, shaved, and got ready for the day. Next, I unloaded all the games in Air Volvo. The cargo hold had four loads of games to carry, including some of the heaviest games, such as Scythe and Lisboa. With nothing to steal, as it is best not to tempt folks if the Air Volvo needs to stay at the repair place, I headed the few miles to TV Highway Automotive, which is so close that I drove right by it and had to turn around.

There is barely room to park in their lot, and all the bays are in use. I wrote the blog with the laptop on my lap while I saw them run the codes, look under the hood, and do other diagnostic steps. After I published the blog, a smiling technician informed me that the Air Volvo Check Engine Light has three codes this time, and they all point to the gas fill flap. Apparently, after 70K miles, the flap can no longer seal and provide the proper vacuum for drawing gas from the tank. It is not dangerous. He said it could be from the gas person; we have full service, and he reset the code, oiled the flag, and told me to drive it for a while and hope the code does not come back. No charge.

I am happy to drive an Air Volvo home, but it codes again. I called TV Highway Automotive, and they will order the hard-to-get part to replace the refueling flap for Air Volvo. Then, we can schedule a repair day. The Volvo is not at risk.

I stop at The Volvo Cave and grab my laptop. I head to Tom’s Pancake House to have breakfast that I did not make. It is now nearly noon, and the place is busy, but there is no waiting. I order ham, hash browns, poached eggs, and toast to go with their endless coffee. The ham was sliced as thin as bacon, fried, and had the right amount of salty and meaty flavors. I was happy my mouth could taste breakfast; it may have been the first breakfast I enjoyed since the surgery in May!

While there were many tempting things to do on Monday, I was going to rest the day away. Air Volvo returned me to The Volvo Cave. I rested and read. More Berlin in the 1930s with more drunken parties and then sudden loss as a friend in the story runs from his debts. I next read some of the rules for the newish Kickstarter board game Crisis 1914. I am having trouble understanding how to play, and the game was delivered right after the surgery, so I have not had a chance to play it. I nodded off, and my tummy seemed fine.

I rose, and Dondrea and I texted, but I was needed. Z had soccer practice, and I would take her to Garden Home Park at 6. I had plenty of time. I decided to try to do some work on SMS Derrflinger 1916 for the later afternoon. This work consists of cutting out a pinhead-sized etched brass and gluing it to the deck over the round coal circle representing the coal bin lid. I also scrapped some of the paint in the process, so I used The Pycho The Army Painter Brush to fix the paint. I lost four lids so far, but I have the stern port side lids done, and plenty of spares exist. It requires me to balance the tiny lid on a scalpel blade and drop it on the decking. Take another scalpel, tab it in some resin-based glue, tap the tiny circle with the glue, and then slide the part into the glue and push it down with the still-clean scalpel. I was able to do the last three without losing another tiny coal bunker lid.

Soon, it was time to board Air Volvo, and I crossed Beaverton without any issues or witnessing any extra-legal driving. I stopped by Chevron to refuel as I was early (the trip is +/- ten minutes for traffic) and told the gas jockey (it is full service still in Oregon, but not mandatory anymore) to hit the gas flap hard.

I was soon at Dondrea’s house, 15 minutes early. I texted my arrival and said not to hurry as I was early. Z appeared on time, and we then followed Volvo Nav to a point in a street (!) and soon discovered we were lost. I used the maps on my iPhone after heading to a large green area on Nav, which was a golf course, which obviously was not the park. It was just a short distraction, and soon, Z was delivered to soccer practice on time at the correct park.

I left and crossed Beaverton to The 649, but the tap house was full, and there was not even parking; strange for a Monday night. Remembering that 209th was now open, I headed back towards The Volvo Cave. I was thrilled to try the revised 209th (still with a few bits being finished) and cross TV Highway and 209th junction. I then headed to the nearby Aloha Mall and the local sushi place.

This is a track place and a favorite. I used to order from here on hard days in the pandemic. Monday’s track had no fish eggs, and I had to order some eel, but it was still all good and fresh. I had Miso soup with hot tea to finish out my light dinner. I stuck, with the exception of the eel, to the track. I was tempted to order a spice tuna roll, but that is best for two, and I found a Smoky Philadelphia roll with three pieces on the track that covered that need.

After paying my bill, I returned home and decided to return to growing orchids. Susie knows I love orchids and wanted me to grow them, but I never felt I had the time, and I felt the process was too complex in the past to be successful with my limited time and space. The Internet allows materials, plants, and information to be easily accessed, and small spaces may work. The main issue is to create cool temperatures at night for some Orchids that grow in mountains. That is a technical challenge I will work on once I get everything set up. Orchids like hot days and cold nights (50F).

I head to WildWood Taphouse with my laptop and Crisis 1914. There, I have one beer, read, and try to play the game, taking turns for the two-player set-up. The game takes me a while to start playing it. I do fail to understand the tension and card removal process. But the game is about brinksmanship. The major leaders who faced the start of WW1 are recreated in the game and given a chance to build prestige (victory points in this game) by using proper levels of diplomatic pressure by playing cards while not taking tension over a limit and losing by starting WW1. This is a mix of card play and deck management with a push-you-luck model and a need to outscore your opponents to get the most points. Each week, there are five weeks, is a round of play followed by scoring.

I am looking forward to trying this out once I learn the rules. I have a video released yesterday (!) to see what I missed. More to come.

I watch very little cable and no regular TV. I do like series, and I started rewatching one of my favorites, Sandman. I will be happy to finally get season two at the end of August. This series is violent and deals with disturbing subjects, but it surprises me. The protagonist, Dream the Endless, learns and grows and tells the story while, like a nightmare, never compromising on what he is.

I went to take my pills and decided to try some peach halves to accompany them. It is good to have some light food with these pills. I tried to open the Trader Joe’s jar, and it spilled all over me–you are warned. I pulled off the soaked and sticky shirt, tossed it towards The Machine, and cleaned up at the kitchen sink. I then had two hard-fought-for peach halves.

After that, I showered and crawled into bed. I read to find out what I got wrong in my attempt to play Crisis 1914. I also read some more of Berlin’s 1930s. My legs hurt, and proof of hydration repeated.

After that, I slept until 4ish. Thanks for reading.