Friday With Car News

I rose at 5:20 because I wanted to talk with Deborah, which would have been more likely if I had started earlier. We did chat for a while in the morning. Eventually, I returned to writing and creating a blog about what had happened the day before. I found the IKEA coffee and combined it with hot water in my French Press to make a drinkable liquid. I also had a croissant and a banana for breakfast. I wrote all morning.

I discovered that I missed a day on my trip and called my hotel in Michigan. We added a new one-day reservation without having to change rooms to cover the missing night. I updated my trip plan in Tripit with the information. I also checked in my Hertz rental car reservation at Detroit Airport; my trip to Michigan and New Hampshire is just a week away.

Steve let me know that a second fruitcake arrived at his house. I told him to enjoy it. With two fruitcakes, he agreed with me that he and AJ are set for any disaster–a fruitcake will survive just about anything. I was worried that all the fruitcakes went to Steve, but one was reported delivered to the planned recipient, so it appears just one was a repeat.

I reheated my leftover IKEA meatballs, potatoes, and IKEA gravy for lunch. I had lingonberry jam with the meatballs. Wonderful. I watched another Battleship New Jersey video discussing another set of updates done to Battleship Wisconsin but did not get applied to NJ. I found the crane installed to move goods to the ship while at sea interesting. The crane system is still in use and can be spotted on more modern US Navy ships, but it was not added to the NJ. Also, the command center and admiral areas were rebuilt in Battleship Wisconsin with a Cold War look but not NJ; NJ was reactivated in the 1980s and served longer than the other US Fast Battleships and seemed to have gotten minimal updates to be brought back into service.

I also watched ShipHappens for more videos on repairing and rebuilding their WW2 wooden ship. While I watched the videos, I ran towels in The Machine. I made a mistake and did not set them to dry. I ran them for a few hours. The drying seems to be not working that well. I am concerned there is a lint blockage. I will have to check the instructions.

I heard about the Volvo. The news is expensive. The seal in the sunroof had failed, and the insides were flooded. F**k. The electronics are damaged, and the cable harness is failing. The computer is underwater, flooded, and failing. The interior has mold from the dampness. It is about $3000 to fix the damage, with luck that the cables can be repaired, and another $2500 to clean and dry out the Volvo. This is before we get to the 70,000-mile check, which will likely involve brakes and tires for another pile of money. F**k. I asked them to contact me if the repairs (not the whole thing) cost over $8,000 (or half of the value of the 2018 XC60).

The repairs will not be done before next year. Yes, the Volvo will be at the spa for a month! I will keep my Ford until I leave for Michigan now. If the car is not finished by my return, which is possible given the holidays and the complexity of the repairs, they will provide me with a loaner. While upsetting, I have had no major repairs on the Volvo until now. When I saw six warning lights, I knew it would be expensive (I estimated correctly at $1000 a light). Instead of buying a new car, I will fix this one.

I had traveled to Volvo to discuss the spend-a-thon on the Volvo, as it seemed to be an in-person discussion. The videos from the technician (yes, I have paid for videos) explaining the water damage were shown to me. I agreed and headed out.

I parked Air Ford (Escape) near the Beaverton Food Carts and walked a few wet blocks to Central Taps. I got a beer, a Harp–a favorite from Ireland, and set up the Decision Games’ Siege of Jerusalem 70AD wargame. I am playing this with Michael R on Monday and still trying to understand the setup and tactics. I also wanted to see if the place would work for gaming. The dark rainy sky and mood lighting meant the place was too dark for me to read the tiny print on the pieces. I used my phone light to see the pieces.

Even with the lighting issue, I sorted the rebels first (my word for the Jewish side) and soon began understanding the troop structure and some game mechanics. The rebels are divided into two sets of forces, colored green and blue, that operate independently. The setup restricts the rebels to their sections of Jerusalem, but they share the New City. I set them up first as they are less and their placement is more demanding.

The Roman forces comprised five legions, supporting troops, and allies (including Josephus, whose account survived). The setup is the classic placement near the map edge, which fits Titus’s historical camp locations. I assembled the Romans into their legions and assigned four to Titus and one to his son, fitting the original attack in 70 AD. With the Romans in place, I revised the rebel placement, who would set up second according to the rules to better defend the city against the apparent threat of Titus’s four legions. I better defended the Temple Mount as Titus’s son was on the Mount of Olives, threatening the East with one legion and powerful allied cavalry.

Aside: I remember from my tour in Israel that the Romans would have torn out all the olives for a clear view of the city, but some may have regrown from the roots and may still be there today. Unlikely, but possible.

I began understanding how to play the game with the troop makers on the board. The players, two with one representing the Romans and the other the rebel defenders, draw chits most with a number and activate leaders or stacks to that number. A count of three, for example, would allow Titus to activate all his legions and supporting troops. As in antiquity, losing a leader would be devastating, but risking them provides advantages you need to beat your enemy. Rebels, clearly stretched, are facing a considerable Roman force with a large city to defend. I suspect the New City will fall quickly, as it did in 70 AD in the first battles.

With the game ready but using my iPhone light to see the writing on the pieces, I studied the board and estimated the best tactics for the Romans and the rebel reactions. The Romans had the initiative, but siege weapons must be acquired and walls smashed. It will be hard to take the city. The rebels must snipe and waste the only resource the Romans don’t have, time. But facing five whole legions, plus supporting troops and allies, is harsh.

I put the game away, paid my bill for two beers, a second small red ale, and some peanuts, and walked in the rain to the food carts. I ordered noodles and walked around the carts to get some steps and to help my stiff legs and back work better while I waited. I was cold.

I took the spicy hot soup back to Air Ford (Escape), traveled on the wet roads with large puddles, and soon arrived home. Once in the kitchen, I assembled the soup, called Deborah, and slurped noodles while chatting with Deborah, who was headed to bed. The spiciness caused me to choke once, but I recovered and was more careful. It was delicious. Deborah said good night, and soon I was resting, too. I was freezing. The house was at a damp 66F (19C).

I adjusted the programming for the heat and will now keep the house warmer until 11PM. I wrote this blog.

Thanks for reading.