Tuesday Games and Reading

I was up at 7 for another gray morning. I was rushed as I had a board game 9:30 in Portland at Richard’s house. I was bringing Unsettled, a cooperative board game with a SciFi theme. We play cooperative games on Tuesday morning. I started the blog, got coffee (assembled the night before), and a muffin. But I did not get more than a few words down before I had to head out.

After a quick shower, dress, and all that, I was in Air VW the Gray headed to Portland. The traffic was thick and slow. While my syrup for my pancakes or jam for my toast is good this way, traffic is just frustrating. While in Beaverton, there was no chance of risking a speeding ticket! Highway 26, the Sunset Highway, was slow.

The signs on 26 went from ‘SLOW’ to ’35 MPH’, and suddenly, the traffic started to move. I wondered about the cause of the improvement (did the sign change give folks permission to go faster?). The driving, now at the end of rush hour, was chaotic, with folks, including myself, putting on blinkers and then sitting until someone let them in. It was very polite and very PDX. I was ten minutes late.

We decided on Unsettled; James was there and told us he has an unpunched copy. He was happy to learn the game. I picked the ‘B’ scenario for the ice planet Gniir, but we soon returned to ‘A’ as it was a continuation of the previous scenario and could not remember. Reset, we played and failed, and had time to start again. This time, we were more efficient, and by 1:30, we were on target to win. James had to leave, but we declared it a success as we knew how to win and had enough resources and health to finish. Next time, we will either try ‘B’ or another planet.

I drove home and stopped at Subway off of TV Highway for a veggie and tuna fish salad sub. I got the big one, as I would eat half today and then again tomorrow. I had them add all the fresh veggies and some hots. I love this sub, as the bread is fresh, the veggies are crunchy, and the tuna fish, while industrial, is fresh, too. I took my sub to the office, looked at the blog, and soon found myself sleepy. I curled up in my bed and slept a few hours, a privilege of being retired.

I rose, chatted, and then talked to Deborah a few times (her work day was over as she lives in Michigan and has a three-hour time difference), and then boarded the EV again. I was off to Costco and making some investments (I bought eggs).

There I found a few things I needed, but in sizes that make one have no doubt about the cause of the obesity issue in the US. I think I grew a pound just looking at the stuff! I got eggs (24) and a gallon of laundry detergent. I got shelf-stable milk (I don’t drink it, thus I need the small ones for baking). I got a few veggies as I was there, and the price was not terrible. I did not buy the three pound tub of cream cheese (f**k) but did get 8 packs of cream cheese (I will have to make a cheese cake I decided). Why anyone would want a tub that size (instead of a pack of smaller sizes) is beyond me. But Costco is often that way for me. It is just me at the house.

Today’s visit, just before the rush and on a Tuesday, meant the place was quieter. Many people there on weekends are angry and rushing, and my fellow shoppers sometimes push me aside. It was not a pleasant shopping experience. The pallets of $600 tall-as-me gun safes speak for our times—yes, pallets.

I took my load, somehow more than I planned, with the checking person telling me, ‘It is Costo’ when asked if I found what I needed. ‘More’ was my answer.  I got it in the VW and home. I unloaded and managed to squeeze it all in. Time was passing fast.

Andor, the Star Wars show, dropped three episodes, and my binge-watching filled my early evening with chats and texts with Deborah and Joan. I made a messy quiche with all those eggs and a frozen pie crust. I opened the ham and added that, chopped, to some slices of Swiss cheese (again from a large pack from Costco), which I also chopped. I finished it with sliced yellow bell pepper and put rings on the top.

It was OK and light (I did have two pieces). Andor was dark, moody, and complex. The rebels’ story was violent and full of emotions, desperate in a word. The Empire was cold, clean, and efficient, especially the character Dedra. It is an interesting mix, and Andor turns down a mission (he senses something is wrong, not knowing the Empire is setting up the rebels to cause the Empire to depopulate a planet).

I did the dishes, assembled liberal coffee for timed delivery on Wednesday morning, ordered more flour and mixes from King Arthur Flour (and a pan), and ordered more underwear, not from Amazon but directly from the company, one size smaller (!). I paid shipping, but got a discount. It appears to be cheaper than my last purchase on Amazon. Interesting.

Time was getting away from me, and I was not in bed reading until late. I enjoyed the Canadian murder/crime novel set in Paris, All the Devils Are Here: A Novel (Chief Inspector Gamache Novel Book 16), and read even until late. Finally, I decided to sleep instead of staying up late. It is nearing the finish, and I am still confused, but it is perfect. I woke once before sunrise to prove hydration. 

Thanks for reading.