Tuesday Getting There

The blog was late yesterday as I had a game at Richard’s at 9, and the 6:30 alarm was ignored and replaced with a 7:30 wake-up. It did seem seconds later that it was 7:30. Richard sent a text that our usual 9:30 board game at his house in Portland was off. Instead, I agreed to a two-person game. I put Unsettled with some unplayed planet boxes, including Gniir, the frozen planet simulation.

I had enough time to start the blog, had some coffee, cleaned up, shaved, dressed, and got aboard Air VW the Gray and enjoyed the end of Portland’s and Beaverton’s rush hour. I arrived at 9:40ish and carried the game inside. I had to do a short teach as Ricard did not remember the game well. This is the local gaming company’s (Orange Nebula) take on making a cooperative game. This game is themed around the idea that we are a bunch of science folk traveling in their spaceship and exploring (or crashing landing on them or other SciFi disasters) alien worlds. The worlds have fantastic powers, and we science folks research and create useful breakthroughs. We search the world (or spaceship) to learn and discover. All the time, we are getting weaker. The goal is not to die and finish the objectives, which change for each planet, and the planets come with multiple scenarios.

As I suggested, we played Gniir, the ninth in the collection and a moderately complex challenge. We set it for a moderate level (Richard did not want to play in easy mode), messed up the first try, reset it, and got it right. The snow was a challenge, and soon, I reached the limit of distress for my character. Richard got lucky and was doing better. The planet components set the theme and options for the game, and this was an excellent challenge. I will avoid spoilers, but we finished the first scenario without dying. It was about two hours of play.

The base game of Unsettled costs about $90, some with two planets, and each additional planet costs about $18. Some add-ons, too, include fixes for some of the planet content. I have two sets of rules, too. I enjoy the game, but its total cost is about $400.

I thanked Richard (and enjoyed some of his treats while playing) and headed back home in the EV in light afternoon traffic. I decided to make a late lunch and early dinner. I had a steak in the frig covered in salt for a day that needed to be cooked. On returning, and the charge still high, I did not plug in the EV and left it outside as I had to arrange and sweep the garage again. I checked the propane and learned it was low, and the gas grill looked rusty. I scrapped off the rust and treated the grills with non-stick spray. Back inside!

I hammered the steak as it was tough and a lesser cut, though it resembled a NY Strip. I added, yes I know, more salt–large crystal sea salt. I got out the cast iron pan again, heated butter in it, and got a brown on the sides, but I did not get enough–next time. The steak was finished in a hot (400F) oven until it reached medium using an electronic thermometer.

I steamed fresh green beans that I broke and did not cut (I have been told the taste is better when you break them). I boiled potatoes and mashed them with the skins. I added some milk and butter, but I never got the right butter, milk, and salt flavor. Still, I liked them, and they, too, tasted fresh.

As the steak was tough, I sliced it with a kitchen knife and with the butter, salt, and heating. I ate 2/3 and put the rest away. I also had about 1/2 of the beans and potatoes left over. I packed that up, too. Lunch will be great on Wednesday!

I loaded Air VW the Gray and headed to Great Clips for a haircut and then a trip to Goodwill. I had a short wait on a Tuesday (it was a $16 cut day for seniors, but I do not qualify). The usual off-the-ears and biz cut. Next, I took the lamps, a statue of clowns, and a few other items to Goodwill. The statue has survived years but broke at Goodwill. It almost made me cry. Change is hard some days.

Working in the garage, I took the plywood and sawhorses down and put them away. There is now much more space in the garage. I finished my project, and the jewelry boxes are on their way. I swept the floor; where does all the dirt come from? I also cleaned up the mess from patching the wall. I put the EV in the now more spacious parking, plugged it in, and let it charge to 100% that evening.

The recycling was put in the proper container. Dishes were put away, and newly dirty ones were placed in the lesser LG dishwasher (not a smart appliance). I emptied the space below the main bath sink and discovered very old items; I decided to just bag it all.

I had a couple of snacks in the evening, but the one meal was good. I brought more order to the kitchen and cleaned the oven and countertops. I cleaned up some stains on the floor and dragged the box of parts that had been replaced in The Machine into the garage. I will toss them in a few weeks.

After getting ready for bed, I returned to and finished Glass Houses by Louise Penny, a crime and mystery novel. I cried for one character, but the story and poetry of the author embarrass me. I can’t write like that! This one is even more fun as the author holds back some knowledge to build the story for the reader. It was a fascinating approach to storytelling. This is twelve in the series, and I recommend the Inspector Gamache series and the lovely hard-to-find (and fictional) Three Pines Village. There is a TV version for those who want it more visual; I watched the first episode and thought it was slow-paced but enjoyable.

I could not find sleep, too tired to sleep, and my breathing was filled with coughing. I rose a few times and took some painkillers (Advil) and my emergency inhaler, and soon everything was quiet. It was inflammation. Soon, after midnight, I slept. I did not wake until my alarm and then dillydallied until 8.

Thanks for reading.